Wednesday's Waif on Thursday

"Hi there! I'm Bella Ladybug.

As you can see, I'm a gorgeous tortie cat who knows how to enjoy the finer things in life, like treats, feather wands, and the laser dot."

"I also like to relax in nice, dark hiding places, which may be why they call me a "private investigator". I can be a little skittish at first, but I'm very curious and once I feel comfortable I love to explore.

I'll need an adjustment period in my new home to get used to me new surroundings and will do best with my own room for at least a week while we get to know each other through quiet interactions.

I feel best when I'm in control of introductions so I'll let you know when I feel secure enough to venture out and meet my new family. I can co-exist with other furry friends but will need time to introduce myself to them."

"I'm a sweet girl who adores attention and give lots of head butts, kisses, and purrs! My foster mom says I'm totally adorable, and now that I feel comfortable with her I like to initiate some quality petting time by touching her with my paw. (It's okay if you want to squee a little bit at that...)

Please, though...I need a home with no kids under 5 years old. Older kids are fine if they understand that sometimes a kitty needs her personal space."

"I'll do best in a calm, quiet home. Once I warm up we'll be best buds in no time.

I promise I'm worth a little patience and time! I've been here for 273 days now. I'm not strong on math, but that feels like an eternity to me in kitten years, wouldn't you agree?

Come meet me soon, please?

Love,
Bella Ladybug"

Bella's available today - and dying for her very own forever home for the new year! - at Allie's Alma Mater, Wayside Waifs.

***

One Word Wednesday

SNOW.

"Seriouslies, Allie. It's NOT my fault!"
(okay, maybe more than just one word....) 

***

 

Maxwell's Theory of Everything (move over Einstein)

Maxwell: Thank you all for joining me for this momentous occasion.

If I may, I have a few equations to share with you...
and a conclusion that might just rock the scientific community.

If you will kindly direct your attention to the equation on the screen....

That's right. I have proof that wormholes exist. And live, on this blog, we shall conduct the experiment to prove its existence.

As you can see by this diagram, the equation postulates the existence of
an Einstein-Rosen Bridge connecting 2 universes.

Please, step into my laboratory.

Allie: This isn't a lab, Maxie. It's the basement. And this is your litterbox.
Maxwell: Space capsule, Allie. And this is Launch Pad 3, on loan from Cape Canaveral.
Allie: Uh-huh. You keep telling yourself that, Four Eyes.

Maxwell: What my Lovely Assistant Allie means is that this capsule appears to be the source of a wormhole, connecting our universe to a parallel one.

The event horizon appears to be situated just beneath the litterbox, and also appears to be triggered by localized movement.

And certain...materials...are disappearing from our side of the wormhole.

Allie: What Maxie means is that his poo mysteriously disappears after each use.
Maxwell: That's what I was about to say, Allie.

And we're going to observe it back in Mission Control - as we stream it LIVE from a safe distance, by using our new Vimtag camera to record the phenomenon. 

Vimtag camera, set at optimum angle to record the wormhole as the event horizon forms!

Are you ready, Allie?
In T-minus 10... 9... 8... 7... 6...
(uh, feel free to click on the video any time...)



Allie: *sigh-h-h* Maxie, this high definition Vimtag footage, recorded on a mini SD card stored in the camera PROVES your, ah, refuse... doesn't really disappear.

It just gets dumped (yes, bad pun) into this drawer in the bottom....

 
Maxwell: Ah, I may have transposed a few numbers in my calculations....

I'll...have to get back to you on that. (someone call the media and cancel my press release...)

*** 
 

 We really like this camera, can you tell?
 
____________
FCC Disclaimer: This is a review and we were compensated for the time it took to create this post and tell you about the Vimtag Fujikam. All opinions are our own. We enjoyed ourselves immensely and thank Vimtag for the opportunity. We hope you had fun, as well. 
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'Toon Tuesdays on Monday

Another Toon Tuesday pre-empted: this time by tomorrow's MAJOR scientific discovery. 
Did Maxie really just discover the Theory of Everything...???

*** 

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Toon Tuesdays feature animal (and sometimes human) humor created by the peeps over at Shoebox Greetings (a tiny little division of Hallmark) - where our mom works, too!

Visions of Sugarplums, anyone?

Heard off screen...

Maxwell: Dood, look, she's smiling in her sleep.
Faraday: Then she's probably whapping you again for booping her, Maxie.
Maxwell: *sigh-h-h*  And it started out as such a nice day....

***

We're entering this in the Sunday Selfies blog hop, hosted by the kitties over at The Cat on my Head.

Head on over and see all the other great entries!

Boxing Day

Allie: Ahhh-h-h. It's good to be Queen.

And now we know the reason behind Maxie's Week of Discontent.

Maxwell: uh, Allie, is it my turn yet???

Happy Boxing Day!

***

Er, ah. Festivus Friday?

You may have noticed Maxwell was less than enthused about yesterday's Occupy Box event.

He doesn't look much happier in this one does he?
Stay tuned on Caturday to find out why.

Meh. Times two.

***

***

Wishing all who celebrate 
a very Happy Christmas!

 ***

Thursday's Woes

Meh.

***

The Shocking Truth

The Saga Continues...

When last we left our intrepid reporter, Faraday was convinced Allie was eating HIS dinner.
(Any takers on whether or not he got a DNA sample without bloodshed? Nah, didn't think so....)

Maxwell: Dood, instead of cleaning out Momma's savings account with that laser grid (it is returnable, I hope) you might try something else...

Someone tell Tom Cruise to come get his Laser Grid.

Maxwell: What about a Vimtag Camera?

Talk about Plug-n-Play. This was a snap: plug in,
download app, wait 50 seconds: BOOM, instant feed.

Maxwell: You can control it manually from anywhere - your computer, your mobile phone, your iPawd... It's especially easy on mobile devices, where a simple paw swipe left or right sends the camera panning across the room. And it swivels almost 360 degrees. Talk about having eyes in the back of your head!

And it's wireless. (Unlike the current one the humans have, which won't work anywhere without an ethernet cable, and doesn't move at all).

And you can communicate. BOTH ways. Just think of the possibilities.

Faraday: Well, why didn't you say so, Maxie?
Maxwell: Uh, dood, I just did....

Later that day... 

Faraday checks out all his Vimtag feeds on his computer.
*cough* simulated *cough*

Faraday: Check out my Mission Control! I have Security Vimtags EVERYWHERE.
Purrfect coverage, and so easy to operate remotely. See?
I had Mommy demo it for you. Watch the mouse (in yellow circle) navigate through the app:

HOLY CAT! I can DVR BirdTV while I'm napping, and binge-watch all my favorite episodes any time I want! Sweeeeeeeet!

So...the answer we've all been dying to hear:

WHODUNIT?

Faraday: Seriouslies, Maxie?  Seriouslies?!?!?!?

*** 

From the momma: 
Personally, I love this and am going to order a second one.

It's SO much better than the one I have. It's true, you get what you pay for:

My old camera?
 - Has to be wired. Can only use in ONE location
 - Has no capabilites. At all.
 - Was a total pain to set up.

 The Vimtag?
- Works wirelessly in every area of my house
- I can hear them, they can hear me
- Genuine plug-n-play, and easy to operate.

I was in St. Louis this weekend testing it -- it's so cute to see the cats try to find me when I use the 2-way microphone!

____________
FCC Disclaimer: While this is a review and we were compensated for the time it took to photograph and tell you about the Vimtag Fujikam, we giggled all the way through the creation of this. We hope you had fun, too. All opinions are our own. 
_____________

The Mystery of the Missing Meal

Faraday: Things have been a little lean around here.
Be honest, now. Do I look a bit gaunt to you?

Lately, I've been coming down to my breakfast bowl, only to find THIS.

That's right. EMPTY.

Now, I know Mommy's been busy and all but seriouslies, she'd never forget to feed me.
Besides, it's obvious that these are fresh remains, and not that crusted-over from last night stuff.

Is it a coincidence that Allie's sitting on Maxie's lounger, staring at me? I think not.

I say it's time to do a little

First things first:
Collecting incriminating evidence is VERY important.

DNA Swab: CHECK.

Next, you need tools to catch your suspect unawares. 

She'll never see this one coming...

Invisible Pressure-Sensitive Mat: CHECK.

Maxwell: Pressure--??
Dood, that's not high-tech. It's just a bunch of double-stick TAPE.

Your point, Maxie???

And I just got my PAW stuck in it.

Faraday: Wait - DON'T MOVE, Maxie. You'll get the sensors out of alignment.
And are you sure that's your fur and not Allie's?? Let me just grab my tweezers....

However...
You do make a point. Maybe I'd better get online and order...

(cue theme music from Mission: Impossible)

A LASER GRID.

Maxwell: Dood. Overkill much?
                I have a better idea....

*** 

 So whodunit? 

Stay tuned for Part 2, this Wednesday.

*** 

 

 

'Toon Tuesdays on Monday

(because we have a 2-part cliffhanger that begins tomorrow and we aren't THAT cruel ;-)

*** 

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Toon Tuesdays feature animal (and sometimes human) humor created by the peeps over at Shoebox Greetings (a tiny little division of Hallmark) - where our mom works, too!

Cleanup on aisle 3 #SundaySelfie

Lick, lick, lickety-lick....

***

We're entering this in the Sunday Selfies blog hop, hosted by the kitties over at The Cat on my Head.

Head on over and see all the other great entries!

{52 Snapshots} Week 51: Friend

'Dis Fortune Cookie is my FRIEND, Mommy.

I love nomming it.

Uhm, dood, we think that's a bit of a stretch for the word "Friend"....
 

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We're participating in the {52 Snapshots of Life} themed photo challenge, hosted by the Lazy Pit Bull Check out more photos at their site!
 
 

You don't mess with a girlcat's box.

Remember the photo of Allie and her box from Wednesday ?


Allie: You're breathing on my box, Maxie.
Maxwell: It's a free world, Allie, I can breathe wherever I want to.

Allie: I recognize that expression, Maxie. Don't even think about touching my box.

Allie: GET THAT PAW DOWN! NOW!

Maxwell: Seriously, Allie, that's harsh.
Allie: Just keep your distance and no one gets hurt.

I'll be watching you....

Girlcats Rule.

***

A Labor of Love

Often I find myself procrastinating when writing a post like this. You know, the ones that dig deep into emotion. The ones that find you grasping for words to express yourself.

It began earlier this fall, when I stumbled upon the results of a study on the type of content people enjoyed and trusted the most when online.

 Turns out we all love funny videos. But ranked #2 are the "cause" videos: those touching, thoughtful ones that tug at your heart, that rally like-minded people who believe in - well, a cause.
I'd been working on a ton of video projects for work. And they were looking for more ideas. More ways to get the word out, to build awareness about Hallmark and our products.

I'd already been jokingly labeled as "the one who will put a cat in any video she can."
Uhm, gee, I wonder why... Hey, I managed to place cats in at least 6 of them. See?

So I asked The Question.

"We're partnering with Best Friends Animal Society to help find loving homes for shelter pets. One that is connected to our plush dog named Jingle, a homeless dog who found his boy. What if we reached out to people and asked them to share with us what their hopes and dreams are for the future of companion animals? What if that became a video?"

I love it when my vocation and my avocation - my passion for helping homeless animals - align.

Two and a half months, and dozens of Facebook chats and emails later, I had a script. It came straight from the letters, video and audio files sent in from pet bloggers, animal lovers, foster moms and shelter volunteers - from as far away as New Zealand.

A few screenshots from my POV as we edit the video

It took some time to piece it all together. Hunting for just the right music alone was a monumental task. And everyone involved, including me, wondered when it would ever, ever see the light of day.

Do you recognize any of these stars? From left: Glogirly's Waffles, Island Cats' Ernie and Amy Shojai with her Karma.

Yesterday, it premiered.

This video was truly a labor of love.  These are messages from the heart, and I was honored to be able to represent the ones speaking.

Many thanks to:

Connie from Tails from the Foster Kittens
Linda from Savannah's Paw Tracks
Debbie from Glogirly
Jeanne from Random Felines
Julie from Cats Herd You
Marjorie from Dash Kitten
Sam from Vegas Rock Dog
Susan from Life with Dogs and Cats
Stephanie from Snotface Ferret
Dawn from Pet Product Review
Kevin from Animal Shelter Volunteer Life
Sue from The Island Cats
Melissa from Barking from the Bayou
Jenny from Pixel Blue Eyes
Paula from Sweet Purrfections
Jenny from As the World Purrs
Ann of My Pawsitively Pets
Pet behavior consultant Amy Shojai of shojai.com

Special thanks to the non bloggers who also participated, such as Amy's husband Lee, Wayside Waifs' extraordinary cat whisperer, Jen... and Fred & Bison's mom Vanessa.

I hope I did you proud.

One Word Wednesday

Mine.

***

'Toon Tuesdays

*** 

_____

Toon Tuesdays feature animal (and sometimes human) humor created by the peeps over at Shoebox Greetings (a tiny little division of Hallmark) - where our mom works, too!