Squeedunk

What is a Year?

2017-12-12T07:10:00.001-08:00

December 12, 2016 we lost our sweet Nana Lou. Today, we are turning over the blog to Z-Girl. We'll be back again soon. ~The Squeedunk Gang

It's been a year. One year since I held her hands in mine. Her hands that used to make chicken soup when I was sick, and my peanut butter sandwiches for school lunches. The hands that scrubbed floors and did homework and wiped away rivers of tears. And applauded at dance recitals, choir concerts and school plays. The hands that used to help me cross the street, that wrapped themselves lovingly around every kitty that she had the chance to touch.

A year since I heard her say I love you to Julie and me. Despite her almost inability to speak in those last few hours before she passed, she was able to push out the words I love you multiple times.

A year since I saw those pretty blue eyes. Or felt her thick hair, or listened to her heartbeat as I lay my head on her chest. Our last motion together was her taking her final breath, an exhale that became my next inhale. I'll never, ever forget that moment.

What is a year, really? It's the time taken by a planet to make an orbit around the sun. And that measurement of this thing we call time has done nothing to dull the sadness, or shift the grief. It's just a way we humans experience our existence on this planet, in all its beauty and splendor.

Time. That ever confusing commodity, the one that we never have enough of when the situation is sublime, the one we can't hold on to, or recover, once it's slipped through our fingers.

I've had this ongoing internal dialogue about time that came in to focus when Joey passed away in 2002. I explored new depths with the concept when I turned 40 just a few years later. Is it any wonder that there are some songs that bring me to tears, chords and lyrics awakening cells within my body that ache to understand more about time? Similar to the shift I feel as spring begins to emerge, reminding me of the downward spiral we experienced leading up to Joey's passing. And now a new cellular dance has started, tethered to the year end holidays. Mom's cancer was diagnosed just prior to Thanksgiving in 2016. We buried her just before Christmas on December 17.

But for this moment in time, this December 12, I'll think not just of those days and minutes leading to her transition. There are far too many remarkable and ordinary instances that define MaryLou and I won't allow her passing to rewrite 83 years of her well lived life.

It's interesting how the mind switches from linear thinking to reviewing events in shuffle mode--a slide show of sorts. I hear her voice singing my name when I was a little girl, "Laura Lee, I love you." I can remember her asking First Grade Laura, "did those little hands work hard today?" Images flow of her with all of our cats, her rituals in feeding them or caring for them; always at least one curled up with her or supervising her as she went about her daily tasks. One of my favorite things to do was watch her get dressed to go out for dinner or to a party. Julie and I always wanted to be with her as she put on her makeup and selected her outfit. She eventually allowed us to help her by getting out her evening bag and shoes, or her jewelry. These are activities I undertake with the same cadence today.

The holidays bring on a different level of remembrance. Mom really loved to play Christmas music and decorate the house. It was a festive event and Julie and I loved helping her unveil the decorations that had been tucked away in the attic. We sang along with Glen Campbell and Peggy Lee, Sinatra and Dean Martin, the Chipmunks. As we got older, she started gifting to us our own decorations. I have multiple Snow Babies that she selected because they reminded her of me (Julie also received Snow Babies, hers matching her personality).

My Snow Babies, Mom's Santa shot glasses with assorted Christmas balls.

Some things just won't hold the same wonder or majesty again. Intellectually I know it's the cycle of life. Emotionally I continue to stretch my understanding of this plane and the next, the journey of the soul. The interconnectivity between this life and life everlasting. And as the river of tears flow, those hands that did everything to set me steady aren't here. I can't, in my human form, reach for them again. Yet I know rooted deep within me, deep inside the same cells that are searching for understanding, she is ever present. Not only do I have her DNA, I have love and compassion that she cultivated. Memories that continue to unfold and spin me around to instances that had gone underground as time has marched onward. I have her evening bags, other material possessions. And I will have her hand awaiting mine, beyond this earthly odyssey.

Here's to you, MaryLou. I miss you so.

This is Mom with my Uncle Harry at one of the Zaccardi weddings. I love it because you can see her beautiful smile. I have many photos to sort through and scan.

A sweet one, likely from her days as an American Airlines stewardess.

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field.
I'll meet you there.
Rumi

Coco Selfie

2017-12-10T14:17:00.001-08:00

It's Coco.
And it's Sunday. A purrfectly good day for us to share a selfie. And that selfie is of me, of course.

Last time we blogged Z-Girl promised a few photos of our newly finished front room. I'd just like to add that this is MY room. I love lounging on the big ottoman, I sleep inside the armoire, and also enjoy stretching out on the rug or the concrete floor, depending upon temperature and my mood. So of course, now everyone wants to hang up here. Valentina has her perch, and Manhattan really likes the ottoman. Now even that stripped foster cat Picasso likes take naps here. This is why I take refuge inside the armoire.

Please keep in mind that Z-Girl uses her iPhone, so these are native pictures. We'll see if we can invite Miss Wendy back to do a photo shoot when we get a replacement table and a nice mirror for the wall.

Allow me to explain what you see in this picture:
When entering the apartment, this is what you see to the left. The armoire is beautiful and is such a nice space for me. Z-Girl leaves the door ajar so I can go in and out as I please. There is also a dresser, and behind the dresser is a curtain with paper wall art hanging from an old piece of wood, suspended from the ceiling. Guess what is behind the curtain? Some of our litter boxes, and shelves to store extra cat food, our cat carriers, tools and some cleaning supplies! It's really nifty because for a long time, this was open and exposed. It didn't look very inviting at all.
The ottoman is in front of both white pieces, covered with a pretty AND snuggly blanket. The pillow on top of it is a style called Valentina! (we didn't name it--that's how it is listed for sale!!)

This picture shows the right side of the room, where you can see how the hallway runs. You will notice here the KittyPod by Iti and also the Pet Fusion scratcher. Vali and Manhattan love those and spend a lot of lounge time there. When Z-Girl hosts her big party every October, all of these items are moved to the bedroom area and they move along with them!!

This is another photo, with better lighting, that shows the entry table and chairs. Z-Girl is in search of a nice mirror to hang above the table and ultimately wants to replace this one. But it does the trick, for now.

On the wall we have paintings by artist friends. We live in an artist live/work space so Z-Girl has accumulated pieces that she is so happy about having as part of a collection. The best part about each piece is that she knows the artists personally so it makes them really special.

This room is designed as a dressing room, as it is closer to the bathroom than the bedroom area; and it's away from the windows! But it doubles as a sitting room, and triples as our kitty powder room.

Hope you enjoyed getting to see my crib.

We are joining in the Sunday Blog Hop, at The Cat on My Head, why don't you hop on over to see some other cool blogs?

Coco, out.

Rocky Mountain High: The Trip to Colorado

2017-10-21T10:38:00.002-07:00

Today we are letting Z-Girl post about her trip to Colorado. It's hard to believe that was a month ago!

The Girls at Squeedunk

Lulu sleeps.

Fresh air. Beautiful surroundings. A multitude of hiking and panoramic scenes to experience. Frozen Dead Guy. This is Us, marathon style. Zipping around in a sports car. Butterfly migration. Sunrises over the mountains. Cementing a friendship.

And of course: meeting celebricats Katie and Waffles, in the fur!

In September, I journeyed to Colorado. *Unless* the week I spent inside a Sheraton Conference Center in the Denver area for my orientation at PricewaterhouseCoopers back in 1999 would qualify, this was my first real visit to the Centennial State.

It was a long overdue vacation, on the heels of a year-long project. No time off for 15 months, the loss of my mom, and a decline in self care (as evidenced by passing out in my kitchen from dehydration in July) led me to plan for a trip where balancing activity with respite was on the agenda every day.

At BlogPaws 2016, I met Debbie Glovatsky in person for the first time. But Debbie and I had already collaborated on a number of projects. My blog design, including business cards. Then some branding for a project with a client in NY. And finally developing my professional logo and business cards. I am an avid fan of her blog, Glogirly, and was already reading before she adopted Waffles. We discussed getting together after the conference, and with her move to CO in 2017 and my project rolloff date of September1, it was perfect timing for me to plan a trip.

Debbie lives in an area close to Rocky Mountain National Park, Eldorado Canyon State Park and a few other areas of interest. Her house is situated on 16 acres with a challenging hike downhill. Because she had posted some beautiful photos to Facebook, when she invited me to visit, I said yes immediately!

Each day we were able to choose from a variety of outdoor activities that were accompanied by spectacular views, challenging walks, scenic drives and fresh air-- remember, I live in an urban area--so fresh air is exhilarating!

A few highlights via iPhone photos are below. And for my photography buff friends, yes, one day I will learn how to properly adjust and size my photos.

If you know me, then you know snakes are the thing I fear the most on this planet. We did see one (NOT a rattler) on the trail. Thankfully, Debbie didn't have to resuscitate me...Eldorado Canyon State Park, Rattlesnake Gulch Trail Head

Water falling over rock, Eldorado Canyon State Park

I made it to the top of Rattlesnake Gulch Trail. Behind Debbie and me in the distance is the Continental Divide, Eldorado Canyon State Park

Red Rocks

Frozen Dead Guy, Nederland. Interesting story with an entire celebration each year called Frozen Dead Guy Days. Read about it here.

We also stopped in Idaho Springs, home of the Great Rocky Mountain Gold Rush, for lunch on our way back from Red Rocks.
Each morning I was greeted with a different and glorious sunrise through the picture windows of the guest room.
And my buddy Waffles would come in to ensure that I was awake and ready to address the day.

Here is Waffles, just waiting to join in the discussion. I didn't have my iPhone handy when he undertook his morning patrols, but I can tell you there was purring involved. He also curled up on me during couch time.

I must regale you with the thrill of meeting the illustrious Katie. If you missed the blog posts that Glogirly wrote during and following my visit, check them out here and here. Because I touched Katie. I actually pet her. Three pets to be exact. And, she didn't exactly hide in the closet my entire visit! She talked to me a few times and circled around while Glogirly and I watched This is Us (Season One) in binge mode.

Katie. She is so soft and silky. And has the sweetest meow.

We also had the pleasure of experiencing the fleeting and simply marvelous migration of Painted Lady butterflies. After returning from one of our day trips, Debbie called me to the kitchen. As she grabbed her camera, I followed her outside to witness a flurry of butterflies who stopped by her property on their migratory path. We were astonished by the sheer volume of butterflies, and how they departed as quickly and quietly as they arrived. A Google search revealed that they had been on the local news the night prior! Perhaps Debbie will post some of the snapshots she took that day, as I wasn't quick enough to grab my iPhone.

I'd like to thank Debbie not just for hosting me, but for planning out fascinating day trips and helping me on the challenging hikes; for laughing together and for opening her home to me. I hope that some time in the future, I'll meet Gloman. He wasn't in CO at the time of this trip--but if I'm lucky, there will be a next time!!

We saw this on a bench in Eldorado Canyon. I love it, and I hope to move my life into a place where I not just accept this truth, but live it.

This is Z-Girl. Over and out.

Sunday Selfie with Lulu and the Window Sill

2017-10-08T14:05:00.000-07:00

Hi, it's Lulu.

One of my favorite spots in the warehouse apartment is on the window sill.

Today it's a bit dreary and a little rainy which means I can watch the rain fall on the roof of the building across the street. It's a comforting sight, especially because I'm inside where I can stay dry.

Meanwhile, Z-Girl is busily pulling out her Halloween decorations and setting up for a party this weekend. This means that I'll hide under the bed or in the closet and it also means I won't be alone. We don't all get along but when there is a group of people visiting we ban together and share the hideaway spaces. Don't tell anyone but I'm going to try to hide in the pillows because it is nice and comfy, what with the silk and the velvet:

We hope our furiends are having a nice Sunday. I see the vacuum cleaner--geesh! Z-Girl and her cleaning.

We are part of a blog hop! Join our friends at The Cat on My Head to see more selfies!

Lulu, out.

Easy Sunday with Foster Failure Mimi

2017-10-01T12:21:00.004-07:00

They call me Mimi.

I'm also something known as a foster failure, which sounds like a bad thing but for me it's been a pretty good deal.

I've been in the Warehouse apartment for almost two years. And boy do I have the scoop on *everything* here. I'll share more about all I've learned some other time.

Here I am in one of my favorite spots, sleeping on Z-Girls bed and snuggled with one of her shirts (Go Ravens!)

For today, I wanted to post my selfie and ask all of our furiends to have an Easy Sunday.

We at Squeedunk also want to pause for some of our furiends in the blogosphere who have gone to the Rainbow Bridge: Phoebe of 15 and Meowing, and Zuzu of Colehaus Cats both departed for their journeys this week and we are so very sad. We are still mourning the loss of Zoe from Animal Shelter Volunteer Life and missed the opportunity to join the Blog Hop in her honor last week.

Fly free sweet kitties, and may their human families adjust to loving their soul and spirit without their physical presence in their homes. We know the sadness is unspeakable.

So friends, snuggle with someone you love. Find joy in a moonbeam or a soft meow.
This is Mimi, over and out.

It's a BlogHop! You can visit our friends at The Cat on My Head to learn more about the hop!

Phoebe's BlogHop

A long hiatus, and now a journey...

2017-09-15T07:55:00.002-07:00

Hi everyone, it's Valentina.

Goodness gracious, how long does a cat have to wait to post to her blog? Can it really be that seasons have come and gone and we've been silent?

This is me, demanding time on the computer for blogging.

We really hope our furiends are doing well, and want to remind you that we are active on our Instagram account. Z-girl is pretty good about putting photos of us there, so if you miss us please follow @squeedunkcats

Here are some highlights about life in the Warehouse apartment.

Z-girl finally finished the decor by sectioning off our litter box area and giving us privacy. She also purchased a big armoire to house more of her stuff. Coco loves to nap inside. This means the front of the apartment is now a dressing room and sitting area, with a private kitty litter box haven. We'll post some photos of that transformation soon. Really, we will.

Manhattan had a health scare in the summer--she had a gland burst open. (Pardon the word, but it was an anal gland--yikes!). Because M is so smart she alerted Z-girl who whisked her to the emergency vet, where they performed a quick surgery to clean it out and repair the rupture. Manhattan went to our regular vet a month later for a check-up and dental procedure. She lost one tooth; the rest looked healthy, so they were polished and she was given a clean bill of health. Z-girl just has to pay more attention to gland maintenance!

Manhattan gazing at the morning lights, July 2017

Bessie and Lulu are doing just fine. They are constantly monitoring the activities outside our window (ongoing, annoying construction), and have grown to be great teachers for the various foster cats we've had in and out of the apartment over the past two years.

Bessie is guarding her banana. Lulu gets annoyed when Z-girl takes photos.

And in June, Z-girl tried to re-home Mimi, our foster girl who is now known as the Foster Failure.

Mimi is 9 years old, and while she loves the warehouse apartment, she doesn't enjoy other kitties. She gets along with some of us, but truly prefers to be left alone (she craves human companionship, not feline...). Z-girl thought it was worth a try, and so PAD PAWS found a *wonderful* option for her: with a male cat who is 15 years old, who had recently lost his long-time pal. The couple who adopted Mimi really worked to help her acclimate, giving her all the time and proper space to integrate. After a few weeks it was clear that Mimi was not blending in, and not a good companion to the existing housecat. So the decision was made for Z-girl to pick her up and bring her home.

Should there be a situation where an adopter could provide Mimi with the human love and safety she deserves, with no other pets, Z-girl would re-home her. Mimi forgave Z-girl after about a week and has resumed her sleeping spot on the bed with Bessie and Lulu during the night hours. The story ends well for the 15 year old cat seeking a friend: another kitty in need was adopted, and has adjusted well! We are super happy for everyone.

Coco. What can I tell you about Coco. She's the Queen here, you know. She liked me when I first arrived, but everyone else has had to endure a hazing period.

That's me washing Coco's ears when I was a baby. We used to snuggle, but not anymore.

She won't admit this, but I'm going to let you in on a secret: Coco has not been as difficult on our fosters as she was with Manhattan, Bessie and Lulu when they first arrived. SHHHH.....

And yes, we do have *another* foster in the apartment right now. Her name is Picasso. Z-girl and the PAD PAWS team of Denise and Natalie were putting food down in a location by a bank. For a long time they joked that they were just feeding seagulls. Even Z-girl wanted to stop the routine, but Natalie had this feeling that there was a cat on the premises. One day, Picasso showed herself to Z-girl, who had the weeknight routine of feeding on her way home from work. Picasso was so pretty and sweet, and the team decided it was time to get her this spring. So they trapped her, and discovered her tail was injured.

Luckily, she was rescued just in time and her tail was saved! It's a good thing too because her FAVORITE toy is her tail. She plays with it ALL THE TIME! She is still not allowing human touch, but she comes to the kitchen and asks for her food, and she comes out when there are guests in the apartment, and sleeps beside the bed. So we think it's just a matter of time before petting is permitted.

Here is pretty Picasso. I'll admit, I get a little jealous when she is in the window where I want to sit. But I don't mind when she comes to the kitchen to ask for her food!

She will be available for adoption through PAD PAWS soon. Z-girl thinks she is going to be an adorable addition to someone's home.

There's more to tell about PAD PAWS and kitties who are looking for homes. Another blog topic! A wonderful post was written by our friend's Lola The Rescued Cat in August about Otis, Milo and Cami who really, really need to find a furever home. If anyone can open their hearts to 3 senior, bonded cats this crew are the best! You can also follow them on Instagram @operationtwelvetinypaws.

This is Otis and Cami, where PAD PAWS used to feed them. This spot has now been demolished and is just one of the construction sites in Jersey City. Progress is not always positive.

Z-girl asked me to thank everyone for their kindness. Some of you have donated to PAD PAWS causes; others have helped us by promoting our requests for fosters and contributions. Still others have responded to us on Facebook and Instagram during our hiatus, to offer support and love.

Photo by Wendy Ploger

And now, Z-girl prepares to go on a much needed vacation. Can you guess where she is headed? Read Glogirly's blog post to find out more!

This is Valentina, over and OUT!

Sunday Selfie: Sunbeams and such

2017-03-05T18:00:00.000-08:00

Manhattan here on this Selfie Sunday.

Some of our readers may already know that Z-girl's mama--our Nana--passed away on December 12, 2016. We've all been very sad and are doing a great job of being faithful caretakers. Our girl has needed lots of snuggles and purrs.

With the rush of holidays on the heels of Nana Lou's services, then work, then getting caught up with life, Z-girl just hasn't been up for blogging. She wants to write, but her energy has been low. Don't despair--we are getting our food and fresh water, our boxes are clean. Blankets nice and fluffy. Our routine mostly in tact. And Z-girl is eating, sleeping and for the most part, taking care of life's chores. Some things slip but nothing mission critical. She says her mama would want her to take good care of herself, and of us. And to keep helping other kitties get homes.

I asked Z-girl to please post this photo of me on our cat shelves.

Yesterday a wonderful sunbeam was bouncing off the ceiling and it captivated me. Z-girl says she wonders why I'm so enchanted...

I can't tell anyone what, or who I see in the rays that make their way through our windows. Or why I'm meowing. It's part of my mystique.

Maybe, just maybe Nana Lou bounced in on a beam to visit Z-girl. What do you think?

This is a blog hop hosted by our friends at The Cat on My Head.

We hope to be back sometime soon, cuz we miss our furiends.
This is Manhattan, over and out.

A Few Photos of Our Catification

2016-11-12T07:28:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone!

It's me, Manhattan and I'm here on a Caturday to share with you some beautiful photos of the Warehouse apartment, and our catification!

We've talked so much about this project over the last few years. It took awhile because some things were custom made for us. Other things just took longer than we hoped, but it doesn't matter cuz now it's done!

I hid during the photo shoot, which is sad to Z-girl because I scale these shelves often. Wendy Ploger took all of the photos on our page today (except the last one), and we want to thank her for her time and her talent.

Here is Valentina. You can't see any of the catification, but doesn't she look beautiful on the bench? Photo by Wendy Ploger.

Coco roared for the camera. Actually, she was yawning but she is fierce! Photo by Wendy Ploger.

Here's the desk. We love climbing above it and using these steps to go between the windows. It's fun when there is more than one of us perched here, too! Photo by Wendy Ploger.

This gives you a nice view of the installation around the closet and across the bed. I love to go up there in the middle of the night. And talk to the moonbeams. Photo by Wendy Ploger.

And here is Z-girl with Miss Andrea, the designer of our whole catification installation! She's so nice. Photo by Wendy Ploger.

It's Caturday so I'm busy taking naps in the sunshine. We hope wherever you may be that you are enjoying your day, too!

This is Manhattan, out!

Sunday Selfies for September

2016-09-25T15:36:00.003-07:00

Hi everybody....
Try to remember, the kind of September when life was slow, and oh so mellow...
("Try to Remember", from the musical The Fantasticks)

Z-Girl says that life hasn't been slow for a long while. Maybe this is why September almost slipped away without nary a selfies post from us. Since we are so incredibly behind, we thought we'd share a few of our recent favorites.

Coco loves to lounge on the sofa

Manhattan really digs the flokati baby rugs from PAD PAWS...

Bessie claims the bed as her main territory

Lulu loves the armoire~mostly for perching on top, but sometimes inside...

And Valentina insists on sleeping beside Z-girl whenever she's on the computer...

We haven't been around lately, so are hopping around today to see how all our blog pals are doing. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, furiends!

This is a BlogHop hosted by our furiends at Cat on My Head. Join in the fun!

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day

2016-08-28T17:45:00.002-07:00

It's a bittersweet offer, to take part in today's blog hop: Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day 2016.

On the positive side, it's special to have a place and a date to share stories about those we've loved and lost. Z-girl gets tears in her eyes when she thinks about the process of losing her beloved kitties over the years. For most of her life she's had at least 1 cat living with her so as you can imagine that means this could be a lengthy post.

We at Squeedunk decided to honor a sweet kitty rescued early in 2016 from the PAD (Powerhouse Arts District). His name was Norman, and he was nearly starved when he was found during normal feeding rounds by PAD PAWS trapper/rescuer/fairy cat-mother extraordinaire, Natalie.

Norman after his rescue, he was undernourished and frail.

We were uncertain if Norman would make it through his first night, much less at all. January's cold and his fragile state were surely a lethal combination for this boy who appeared out of nowhere. This is the confounding world of rescue: PAD PAWS were scheduled to trap a stable colony of four, but diverted those plans when he was discovered. We needed to usher this unknown cat to safety--clearly he urgently required help.

What a gentle soul--always happy for a soft place to sleep, and consistent offering of food and love he received from us and an angel of a foster mama (thank you, Gina). Norman had a multitude of health issues with complex diagnoses requiring frequent veterinary intervention. Yet he seemed to understand that everything was designed to help him recover so he could live out his life in a loving adoptive home. We marveled at his rebounds and sent lots of purrs when he was up against another health problem.

And then one day in May--after things seemed to be going so well for this tabby boy--he had what we believe was a stroke (or stroke-like event) and he was unable to recover. He died peacefully in his foster home, and his entire support system was profoundly saddened by this unforeseen turn of events.

Who knows what traits we could have shared with you about his personality if he had lived longer. Was he a mighty hunter of wand toys? Would he have enjoyed smelling Thanksgiving Dinner cooking and waited patiently for his turkey portion? So many questions unanswered, especially--why was he on the streets in the first place and how did he survive as long as he did?

To properly remember him we'd like you to know he had a sweet disposition coupled with a strong determination to live. He was so loved by his foster mom Gina--that she retains his ashes. Her daughter made greeting cards with a picture of 3 of the 4 PAD PAWS kitties who were set to be rescued the night Norman was found in their feeding area. She thoughtfully dedicated the design in Norman's memory, kindly noted on the back of each card.

Five months may not be a long time to have known love and kindness but we believe that in his passing, Norman released into the universe the goodness bestowed upon him and that has returned into humanity to support and inspire others. Just like we know the memory of this tenderhearted kitty, who lived each day we knew him with such gratitude, motivates us to continue our mission to rescue and rehome. This post is for Norman, and other outdoor kitties who were too sick or unable to survive the ravages of living in the elements before we were able to intercede. Maybe you had a home, maybe you never did. You are not forgotten, dear ones. We remember you. And on occasion we can still see you in the shadows, waiting for your meal service. We'll meet you--beyond this plane, in a space that knows only love. Until then, our angels, continue to shepherd those who departed the Earth alone.

Norman enjoying a snuggly bed and the spoils of a wonderful foster family.

Z-girl would also like to say she remembers and will see again: Maggie, Jiggs, Pyewacket, Jezebel, Puffin, Punkin, Chaucer, Aristotle and Duffy. Purrs and eternal love, my babies.

This is a Blog Hop. Click to read more stories from our blogging friends, and to find out how you can join in and make sure a beloved pet from your life is remembered.

It's All Greek to Me...

2016-07-13T11:14:00.000-07:00

Lulu: Hey every-pawty! It's Wordless Wednesday. So I'll keep this short and sweet.

Today, Z-girl brought out the suitcase.

I don't like it when I see luggage. It means Z-girl is leaving.

She is going away to celebrate with our Aunt Natalie in Greece. Aunt Natalie has a big birthday. Z-girl had one last year and so these two think they need to leave the PAD and celebrate on an island with other cats. And the ridiculously blue waters of the Aegean Sea. And Greek cats. (Do they understand English?)

Santorini, Greece. Photo from foundtheworld.com

We have great company here in the Warehouse Apartment. A pet sitter and then some of our friends from the building check on us and make sure everything's running smoothly.

My view of the PAD isn't as spectacular as what she will experience, but honestly I am happy to be inside and we will all snuggle in our normal comfy spots until she returns.

Until then, we won't be visiting any blogs. We have one post planned for July 15, so I ask you to stop by then! We hope our furiends will understand and look forward to getting caught up with everyone when Z-girl is back.

Be advised that the FBI (Feline Bureau of Investigation) will be inspecting her luggage for any signs of Greek kitties....I'll provide a full report. Stay tuned.

This is Lulu, over and out!

BlogPaws Re-cap from the Warehouse Apartment

2016-07-01T15:01:00.000-07:00

Coco: Hi everyone.

If you are a pet blogger you may know that Z-girl attended the BlogPaws Conference in Chandler, Arizona from June 23-25.

We survived while she was away. Well, there was one little kerfuffle that we kept under wraps until Z-girl returned. Manhattan mysteriously escaped from the apartment. No details have been disclosed at this time, but what we know thus far is that Jerome, our building Superintendent, saw The Divine Miss M (the tuxedo, not the singing sensation) sitting outside our door and used his key to let her back inside. Our cat sitter was *shocked and amazed* that Manhattan is such a deft escape artist.

She's known for her shelf climbing. Who knew she also will go out-through-the- in door?

Meanwhile, Z-girl was hanging out with cat bloggers and spending time gazing at nifty items in the Cat Style Lounge. She even attended a Yappy Hour on Thursday evening and a Happy Meowr on Friday.

Was there catnip at Happy Meowr?

And then she was able to sit with the cat bloggers and shake, shake, shake the pink tambourine from Glogirly during the coveted Nose-to-Nose Awards on Saturday evening. Many of our furriends were nominated for awards, so it was extra-special for her to be there to support the wins and even the losses. A blogger may not have left with an award in their suitcase, but each nominee is wonderful and their blog, special post, photo or video is captivating-- in our humble opinion. Z-girl shared all the highlights and we are so proud of everyone. We are tickled that our friend Glogirly won for Best Humor Blog! We laugh our fluff off whenever we read the antics of Katie and Waffles.

Hey Glogirly! Next year, could you please add feathers to this thing? Purrs, Valentina

Above all, Z-girl tells us that meeting like-minded people was the best part of the whole experience. She's been talking nonstop about the humans behind the blogs, and the pets they love. We think she made a bunch of new furiends and we are really happy about that. Especially if they always send her home with bags of swag like she was toting after this trip!

In closing, I'll share one more fun photo: Z-girl with Kate Benjamin, of Hauspanther.

Kate is a catification expert and we've all watched her on My Cat From Hell with Jackson Galaxy. We studied their first book when the catification was under design in the apartment. So it was a true pleasure for Z-girl to spend time in the Cat Style Lounge, and a great surprise to win an item for us girls! We are patiently awaiting the UPS delivery so we can show you something new! Some of the items we live with and love are featured on her website already. That's cuz we are a group of super-cool cats.

That's a wrap! This is Coco, over and OUT.

Monday with Manhattan, the Carrot and the Pepper

2016-06-20T07:02:00.001-07:00

Manhattan: Hey everybody. I'm here on Z-girl's bed, hanging out with the catnip carrot. I love the catnip carrot.

Okay, so I *also* love the catnip chili pepper.

Today is Monday. It's a beautiful day outside so the sunshine is streaming through our warehouse windows, and we kitties have been randomly chasing various toys all morning. Z-girl is preparing to leave us on Wednesday to attend her very first BlogPaws Conference in Arizona. That means the packing frenzy is starting.

This conference is exciting for all of us in the Warehouse apartment for a few reasons:

* Z-girl is hungry to learn more about blogging. She knows that she will be schooled in a lot of topics that will advance her knowledge. We kitties hope this translates to visiting with our readers more frequently than we have during the course of the past 6 months!

* We have heard through the Catnip Vine that there is something called a Swag Bag that each blogger receives when they attend the conference. And we've heard that there should be MORE swag for us kitties than for Z-girl. If she has to leave us the very least she can do is come back with some goodies!

* Meeting like minded people is something that Z-girl has touted as the most special part of attending BlogPaws. She is especially excited to meet Glogirly's Debbie Glovatsky, who offered a free BlogPaws conference pass a few weeks ago that Z-girl was able to claim! Within a few short hours, the flight was booked and plans were set. In addition, Z-girl will see Deb Barnes from Zee & Zoey's Cat Chronicles and Dawn White from Lola the Rescued Cat. She met both of them briefly last year, and is thrilled to have the chance to see them again while immersed in an environment that cultivates creativity.

* Promoting PAD PAWS as well as our blog is an important mission. All of us are seeking new pathways to connect our blog and the ongoing efforts of the non-profit Z-girl helped found, expanding our reach to help cats, dogs and other animals in need.

What isn't so exciting is her departure. We have grown accustomed to being together since Z-girl has had a lot of contracts over the past three years where she works from home more than in an office. So much so that Valentina sits in a chair next to Z-girl at her desk.

Vali is not happy with the conference call topic du jour.

There will be photos posted to Instagram during the conference. Do you follow us there? Z-girl has her own account and *finally* established one for us a few months back. You can follow her @lzaccardi AND follow us @squeedunkcats. Also, you can follow PAD PAWS @padpawsrescue.

Have a wonderful Monday, everyone. Today is full of possibilities!

Manhattan, out.

Caturday reflections with Lulu

2016-06-04T11:54:00.005-07:00

Lulu: Hey there everyone!

It's Caturday, and I am having a great day now that Z-girl is back from a few days away.

Our hiatus from October til May kept us from sharing some of our news. You saw on our Sunday Selfie post that a foster girl named Mimi came to live with us. We hope she finds a furever home soon. She's a nice cat who just wants a human to love.

One of the most exciting things in MY opinion is the completion of the cat walk over the bed!!

I'm the only Squeedunk cat who has tried it out. I *love* it!!!

AND I would do it more if Z-girl would put a step down shelf for me by her wardrobe (she promises this is next...)

I can't see how to get up to the shelves from here, but I can get back down to the armoire when I'm on the cat walk...it results in a nice, loud thud!

We hope all of our furiends have a great Caturday!

Lulu, out!

Sunday Selfie with Mimi the Foster Kitty

2016-05-29T12:18:00.002-07:00

BESSIE: Hi everyone, this is Bessie.

This is me, in a rare appearance on the purple rug. I'm working on how to blend in with Coco, Valentina and Manhattan so I too can hang out in the living room space.

It's Easy Sunday for all of us in the cat blogosphere, and we are taking full advantage of that.

Z-girl asked me to introduce our foster kitty, Mimi. She's looking for a furever home and we hope that by sharing her story we can find the right cat guardian to come forward.

Mimi was in a high kill shelter in NYC. We hate that kitties who go there have a nearly certain death sentence but it's a fact. So when Z-girl saw that at 7 years old she was listed as a SENIOR, she knew that she didn't stand a chance. At the very last minute, Z-girl had her pulled and she's been here in the Warehouse apartment ever since.

Here's what all of us Squeedunk cats can tell you about Mimi:

* She is a healthy and spayed 8 year old girl (she's had a birthday since she came to live with us)

* Loves to play so much that she will take over a game of laser dot and chase anything that Z-girl throws

* Enjoys our cat shelves--she climbed all the way to the top shelf AND THEN jumped on to the pipes that run the width of the apartment; we were all mesmerized!

* Mimi is quite social and chatty, but not loud at all; she is just talkative when she comes to sit on Z-girl's lap, or around dinner time

* She gets along well with other cats, but likely would be happier in a home with one or two cats instead of 5 because she does enjoy being pet, scratched and sitting with her guardian

Here is Mimi, with her banana catnip toy. She has a white belly and paws, and a nice tabby coat.

Please spread the word that Mimi wants to find a home.

This is a blog-hop! Please visit all of our friends at The Cat on My Head for more Sunday Selfies!

This is Bessie, out!

In 7th Heaven with Valentina...

2016-05-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

Valentina: Today is my 7th Gotcha Day. This is me, with my baby blues and kitten-tude, posing for my debut photo. I was adorable, I know.

This is one of the photos that was sent to Z-girl, informing her that I was coming to live at the Warehouse Apartment. The people who rescued my litter didn't ask her. They just said that I suited her personality and that was that. She said she wasn't sure if she wanted me. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

Z-girl had adopted Coco in September. When I was born in April the rescuer contacted Z-girl and said it was clear I belonged in her apartment together with Coco (who is my half sister). Her heart melted when she first saw my baby pictures and then of course when she met me, that sealed the deal. I fell in love with her right away and she with me.

That's me playing under the tulle over the red chair. It's gone now and much of our tulle has been reduced but there's enough to keep us happy.

That's me with one of my siblings, right before we were ushered to our adoptive families. Z-girl says I was the cutest of the whole bunch. I think she's right...

Suffice it to say, I would have lived as an outdoor kitty if the kind rescuer had not helped me find a furever home. Same for my siblings--we were all placed with good cat guardians. We sure hope other humans will make room in their homes and hearts for animals in need. Z-girl tries to help rehome cats in need--from kittens to adult or even senior kitties--with the right adoptive family for each situation. Spread the word! Together, we can change the world!

Hoping you enjoy your Caturday. It's special for us here in the Warehouse apartment, and even more special now that we are blogging again!

Valentina, out!

Celebrating 10 years of rescue in the PAD!

2016-05-25T08:55:00.001-07:00

For our readers who are local, please join us tonight to celebrate 10 years of rescue in the Powerhouse Arts District (PAD).

We will be at Departed Soles @150 Bay Street, downtown from 6:30-9P. Great craft beer (award winning!) along with like minded animal lovers and some goodies for sale!

Can't make it but want to support us? Please consider adopting, fostering or donating!

www.padpaws.org/donate

And remember: Manhattan, Bessie and Lulu are ALL successful PAD PAWS rescues!

Manattan (top), after her life-saving surgery and Bessie (mama cat) along with the Captain (now living in the NJ suburbs) and Lulu--her two surviving kittens.

Thank you for your support!

Z-girl

Mother's Day Selfie with Bessie

2016-05-08T15:37:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone,
It's Bessie.
Did you know that of all the Squeedunk cats, I'm the only one who is a mom?

That's right. Lulu is my daughter.

So it was fitting that at 4am today I was the first one to offer my Happy Mother's Day wishes to Z-girl, don't you think?

We are wishing all the mothers of the world a happy day. Whether you are a biological mom, a foster mom, an adoptive mom, or a motherly figure to a loving being. All moms in the animal kingdom: thank you for all you do.

Z-girl asked me to share this photo; not a selfie, but a beautiful memory:

Z-girl with her mama, Mary Lou, sometime in 1965.

We are participating in the Sunday Selfie Blog Hop! Join the fun and see many of our friends at The Cat on my Head!

This is Bessie, over and out!

Time to break the silence

2016-05-06T19:08:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, Valentina here.

We've been quiet for a long time. Z-girl wants me to tell you we are all doing well, and really hope you'll follow as we resume posting to our blog.

In upcoming posts we'll share with you the latest catification improvements and some important updates from PAD PAWS. Of course you'll be privy to our day to day antics.

For those of you who were reading us regularly, we are truly sorry we went AWOL. We love to be a part of the cat blogosphere!

Valentina, over and out.

Reflections and News from Bessie

2015-10-17T08:37:00.006-07:00

Hi Everyone Bessie here.

Z-girl wants me to tell all of you that we didn't miss National Feral Cat Day. You see, every day here is Feral Cat Day.

This is me, looking at myself in the mirrored dresser. Bins of wool sweaters sitting out during the Great Moth Cleanse Extravaganza....

Our message is simple: be kind to all animals. Don't assume that because you see someone living on the street they are sick or dangerous. Offer a helping paw.

Many of you are aware that PAD Paws is the non-profit organization that was founded around the in-progress efforts of our Aunt Natalie, Aunt Denise, and Z-Girl. They've been feeding, rehabilitating, rescuing and rehoming cats for years. PAD stands for the Powerhouse Arts District (our neighborhood in Jersey City). And you may remember that Lulu (my daughter) and I were once street cats.

Here I am with baby Lulu and my son, the Captain (who is living with his adoptive mama and brother Chance). This is July of 2011. We all had fleas and were underfed.

I'm happy to tell a wonderful end to a long story. After many failed attempts, Aunt Natalie was finally able to rescue another mama kitty who lived under our Warehouse apartment (same place where Z-Girl and Natalie rescued Manhattan). Her name is Stella.

Stella loving the comforts of soft blankets and quiet evenings inside.

She had multiple litters of kittens. Aunt Natalie patiently trapped each one and immediately had them vetted and in foster care. The last litter was trapped in August, and by September everyone had furever homes. We think that the entire saga unfolded perfectly. You see, when the last batch of kittens were rescued it left Stella all alone and searching the dangerous streets for her babies. I know that feeling--when I was rescued the Captain and Lulu were left on their own. I cried and cried while sitting in my trap. For 24 hours I cried non stop. Once we were reunited (the photo of the three of us above is proof) I stopped crying and attended to my babies.

After the victorious capture of Stella, Aunt Natalie was able to reunite her with the youngest kittens and she spent a few weeks grooming and snuggling them. She didn't even mind when they left her a few times to go to Adoption Days. So when each one was removed from her cage to go to their new homes, Stella handled it gracefully and didn't cry. Now she is in what Aunt Natalie calls feral kitty rehabilitation. This means she is being fostered with other cats so that she can observe and learn to trust that humans can be loving. I hear that she has made amazing progress. Stella had been outside for a long time, foraging for food, surviving harsh weather conditions. It is said that some cats don't transition well from outside to inside. PAD Paws has yet to find a cat who wants to be outside again. Perhaps it's because living in the shadows in the PAD is dangerous and unpredictable.

In the midst of attempting to catch Stella earlier this year, the Don of the PAD entered a trap one day. Puck finally had enough and went into a trap set for Stella. We considered his rescue to be a major victory because he had eluded Z-Girl and Aunt Natalie's attempts for over 4 years. He's now adjusted to being inside, is curious and content. He's like me--not allowing anyone to pet him (yet). But I have great faith that Puck will change his mind one day. I'll have to call him on my iCarrot phone and let him know how to play it for maximum return...

Uh, Puck...you are the purrfect picture of a Fat Cat. You just need a top hat and a cigar, buddy...

If you want to read some of the PAD Paws success stories, see our Rescue Me tab.

If you want to support the efforts of PAD Paws, please go to www.padpawsrescue.org and click on DONATE. Your contribution is tax deductible and will go to food and vet care for cats, dogs, birds and possibly other animals.

Enjoy your CATurday furiends.

Bessie, out.

CATurday in the Warehouse apartment

2015-10-10T07:12:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone, it's Lulu

It's Caturday and I haven't blogged lately, so I thought I'd post today so you can hear things from my point of view.

Last you heard mama Bessie and I were at the vet. Z-Girl had us stay for three nights and we didn't like that very much. We were in separate cages and there were dogs and other cats that came in and out all day. No velvet, no soft bed. No pets and no treats. Sure--we were safe. And we had our teeth cleaned and nails clipped. But it was no spa.

Z-Girl brought us home after the Bug Dr. (yes, that's the name of the company) left and we hid for about 4 hours as she put the apartment back together. So much plastic everywhere to protect furniture and clothing! Once her bed was made again we were happy and that night we woke her up almost every hour for re-assuring pets. We purred and let her know we were grateful to be back in our sanctuary. Together.

Thankfully the moth spraying is in the rearview mirror. The final chapter is the return of our beloved purple rug and another newer rug. They've been out for cleaning for over two months. Z-Girl said she had to get a person with letters after his name to write a stern email and place a call to the rug cleaning people because she's gotten something called the run around (that sounds like fun to me--especially if the laser dot is involved). We'll let you know what happens.

Now for an exciting progress update: installation of cat shelves above Z-Girl's desk. You may know there are plans to connect all the shelves in a cat super-highway. This is the beginning of that project:

This is me on the window looking at a new shelf.

Manhattan is the catification pioneer so I let her test everything before I try it myself. The installation is clean looking and there is even a box for us to climb in to perch while Z-Girl works. She put Valentina inside the box and as you can see Vali was not very happy:

Valentina in the box above Z-Girl's desk. Not loving her location...

Manhattan makes the maiden voyage...

Conquers the top of the installation...

And contemplates the jump to the pipes from the shelves. Oh boy.

I watched Manhattan and chirped because it looks like a lot of fun. No one knows but I tried one shelf in the dark hours Thursday. I am a night warrior so I do my best work when Z-Girl is asleep. I fit on the smaller shelf and now I am mapping out my journey to the top.

Me with my ninja carrot. It doubles as a mobile device.

I think I'll end here and let someone else give you the updates on the JCAST (Jersey City Artist Studio Tour) and PAD Paws progress.

It is Caturday, after all. There's sun puddles and naps to chase. Peace to our friends. Thanks for all of your encouraging words on Facebook and Instagram and here on our blog during our moth saga. We hope that you will enjoy our return to normalcy.

Whatever *that* really means...

Lulu, out.

Sunday Selfie and The Squeedunk Cats Update

2015-09-20T06:58:00.001-07:00

It's Manhattan. And this is Sunday Selfie day, so I'm submitting my photo for today's blog hop:

Me on the shabby chic white shelves.

Z-Girl said I can give some updates on things in the Warehouse apartment:

Maybe you know, maybe you don't but we have been in a battle with cloth moths for a number of months. Our building is over 100 years old, and we love living here. Once we realized that we had a moth problem we had to get to work quickly. That meant removing two beloved flokati rugs and throwing them out. So Bessie and Lulu lost their cozy spot under the bed and Valentina lost her front room rug for lounging. Z-Girl also had to send three other wool rugs out for cleaning and moth proofing. She emptied closets and cleaned and sprayed peppermint oil and sent all wool to the dry cleaners.

These moths reportedly only respond to a toxic spray that has to be applied when no felines or humans (other than the one with a gas mask) are present. In August, Z-Girl made a plan and crated Coco, Valentina and me and brought us to an empty apartment. Bessie and Lulu are a different story though cuz they don't allow anyone to pick them up. Long story short, all human efforts to crate and remove them for the scheduled spray appointment failed. Maybe Z-Girl can tell you more about that day later because there were some successes and a few lessons learned.

Fast forward to a few days ago. She called Dr. Santiago, who is the really nice Dr. that spayed Bessie and cared for her, Lulu and the Captain (Lulu's brother) when they were first rescued. The Good Dr. came with a net and was able to catch both Bessie and Lulu! They made him run all over the apartment. He said he didn't have to go to the gym that day because he got a good workout catching them. It was a little scary cuz I hide under the bed with them and I thought he was gonna try to catch me with that black net thing. Phew! I stayed behind.

Bessie and Lulu have had their teeth and ears cleaned, nails trimmed and had full exams. They are still at the hospital, just for safe keeping until the Bug Doctor treats the apartment tomorrow.

And that means Coco, Valentina and I have to be transported to an office space and camp out with Z-Girl during the spraying. We will be emptying closets and covering fabric furniture all day today. Okay, Z-Girl will be doing that and we will be napping. It is Sunday.

We don't believe in wishing days away, but Z-Girl says she is looking forward to tomorrow evening, when all 5 Squeedunk kitties are in the apartment safe and sound.

Whatever your Sunday and upcoming week has in store, we hope it's easy and successful.

This is a Blog Hop. Please visit our friends at The Cat on My Head for more fun selfies!

Manhattan, out.

PS I will not go willingly into a crate tomorrow. I may be small, but I'm scrappy.

Sunday Selfies: Waiting for the Purple Rug

2015-09-06T17:06:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone, It's Valentina.

It's Sunday, and we have not been participating in Sunday Selfies lately. But we are today.

Here I am with my patented flippy paw stretch. Notice that I'm on a rug pad instead of my nice purple wool rug. That's cuz it's been at the cleaner place for a few weeks. We'll explain more later.

This is me showing off my flippy paw stretch.

Even without my favorite spot, I've had a nice and easy weekend sunning myself in the Warehouse apartment.

We hope that you enjoyed yours!

Sunday Selfies is a blog hop. Check out our other furiends by visiting The Cat on My Head!

Valentina, over and out.

7th Heaven and Caturday

2015-08-08T10:41:00.001-07:00

Happy World Cat Day!
Happy Caturday!

And above all, Happy 7th Birthday to my beautiful, sweet, precocious, and playful Coco Chanel!

I had no idea on August 8, 2008 that I was in for an e-mail that would change my life. An urgent plea to adopt a little tabby kitten who had been returned after only one night with her first adoptive hu-mom (she was allergic). Coco spent the next 7 days in a cage at a vet's office while her rescuer searched for a willing heart to provide a happy home. I saw her little white paws and gorgeous coat and just couldn't say no...

The money shot. Coco, August 2008.

We hope all our furiends have a fabulous day today! We'll be celebrating with rounds of naps while nestled in sun puddles.

This is Z-Girl, out.

Monday Musings: Lulu's Paws for PAD Paws

2015-08-03T02:00:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody! It's Lulu. Can you tell from my white paws?

This is me on one of my cat shelves. Z-Girl puts a ribbon on one level and I typically pull it down. It's a game we play.

Did you know that 4 years ago my mama Bessie and I were rescued from the streets here in the PAD of Jersey City? Not long after our Great Capture we came to stay with Z-Girl. She was going to foster us but we fell in love with her and she with us so we stayed.

This is the hole where we lived before our Great Rescue in July of 2011.

This is Mama Bessie (right), with me and my brother the Captain (he lives in a wonderful home elsewhere) after our 26 hour rescue mission.

Now, Aunt Natalie, Miss Denise and Z-Girl have transformed their rescue team into a non profit called PAD Paws. Their goal is to be a positive solution to the feral cat population in our area and support the same missions across the US, and even the world. Maybe this sounds like a dream. All change starts with a lofty vision. This is just the beginning, furiends.

What's Happening Today @ PAD Paws?

For adoption: 3 kittens who have been fixed, vetted and socialized. Meet Adrian Brody, Anjelica Huston and Audrey Hepburn. They are just over 5 months and almost as cute as I was as a tot. Playful, sweet and ready for furever homes.

Adrian Brody (male, healthy, neutered)

Anjelica Huston (female, spayed, healthy)

Audrey Hepburn (female, spayed, healthy)

They too were born on the streets of the PAD. There are also 4 adult cats who need loving homes. As a former Jersey City street kitty, my mama Bessie wants me to tell you that all cats deserve the same spoils that have been granted to us: safety, softness and full bellies.

To learn more about PAD Paw adoptable cats please visit:
PAD Paws Adoptables

If you are unable to adopt at this time donations to help support current and upcoming rescue missions are greatly appreciated.

PAD Paws will have exciting news to share about the progress made by forging partnerships with other local rescue teams and open discussions with the officials in Jersey City.

Thank mew for reading our blog and your continued support.
Lulu, out.

Z-Girl adds: Our readers and our fellow pet bloggers provide much inspiration to our rescue and rehoming efforts. Together we can change the world!