Happy Frootbat Friday!

It's Memorial Day Weekend. Goodness knows we all love 3 day weekends :). Mom cannot wait to sleep in tomorrow and perhaps on Sunday.

Purrs to you all!

Either I need to move some pillows or...

Get another couch?

I've only got one couch in the living room. So, I get to sit down only if I get to the couch before 9 and Chani. Sometimes, I lie down on the couch and I become part of the resting area with Chani on my chest and stomach while 9 sleeps on my legs.

This is slightly problematic if I have people over... Hmmm... maybe I'll have to get a nice comfy chair for me.

Comfy

Chani sleeping on the futon.

9 communing with the light on the cable box.

Mom's home! We're home!

Happy dance!!! We are all back home in our condo. On the way home from the Kitty Hotel, Chani just would not stop talking! She had so much to tell Mom about our time in the Kitty Hotel. Apparently, I headbutted Tami, the owner. Mom was shocked and slightly appalled because I never head butt her hehehe... though I gave her a mini one when she started to brush me. Still, this is something I reserve for certain people, just not Mom. I mean, after all, I sleep with Mom and keep her company when she works from home! How much more can she ask of me?

Mom says that she will start taking pictures of us and our condo again. She still has to put the guest room together AND get more boxes out of storage. Sheesh! How much stuff can one bean have?

Anyhow, we're going to enjoy our time with Mom this weekend and then start bugging her to take photos of us again.

purrs to everyone!!!
9

Ireland - Day 5

Ahh, the Irish weather. Of course, now that I'm inside, posting the photos of this morning and early afternoon... all taken in cloudy grey weather conditions, the sun is finally coming out. Blue skies abound! Grrrr...

Ah well, what can you do. We're in Dublin now. Along some of the brick buildings (formerly tenements) built by one of the Guiness family, lamp posts like the above line the streets. The thing about these tenements, they had indoor plumbing! Apparently, that was a big thing back in 1759.

The main altar of St. Patrick's Cathedral. This is actually an Anglican church, not a Catholic one. It's quite beautiful inside. There's some concert going on, so this is as close to the altar as we could get.

One of the stained glass windows in the Cathedral.

Another set of stained glass windows.

After the tour of St. Patrick's Cathedral (oh, the geek side of me has to say, I saw where Sir Richard Boyle... Boyle's law! for those science geeks out there hehe).

Anyhow, at Phoenix Park, we saw a this man with a hurling bat, hitting balls for his woofie. This dog was really active and just couldn't wait to chase and retrieve the ball being hit. He looked so excited and happy.

The Great Canal near by the hotel. I have to say, I'm not really fond of the Burlington hotel here in Dublin. The shower water temperature went from lukewarm to scalding a few times, and it flooded the bathroom. The beds are comfortable enough, but not quite... they're very light. I bumped into one and it moved... quite easily. And my view is very boring :( I guess that I just prefer the Killarney hotel. Ah well, what can you do but enjoy as bets you can.

Oh, one thing that Dublin is known for is the Georgian architecture. The doorways have these fanned arches and multi-color doors. This pink pair tickled my fancy. Apparently, the doors were all originally one color, black. But, when men would come home, they often went into the wrong door and into the wrong bed. The women of the town came up with the plan of varying the colors of the door and design of the arches. The men's excuse was then, "We're color blind." when they still ended up in the wrong house. Excuses. Excuses.

Ok, so tonight is my last night in Ireland. We head out early tomorrow. So, I won't be posting in the next few days. BUT, I will be getting my 9 and Chani back soon. Hooray!

Ireland - Day 4

Meet Colleen of Molanna View Farm near Killarney. She's and 18 year old retired shepherding dog who greets you as you visit the Farm. Molanna View Farm is a working dairy farm run by Patrick. The tourist part is run by his parents, Paddy and Margaret Fenton. I highly recommend visiting this farm if you ever visit Ireland. Margaret offers some of the best homemade scones and this Guinness cake that is simply amazing. Her tea is good too. One day, when I get back, I'll post those recipes which were kindly provided for us. Yum!

Here are a couple of calves who were resting outside the family home. Apparently, if cows are sitting in the field, it's going to rain. It may be an urban legend, but considering the grey skies, it might just be true. These guys were adorable! They looked so clean and their pink noses reminded me of 9 and Chani's.

Here's a little brook that runs right down the wall of the Molanna View Farm.

Next, we visited the Rock of Cashel. In view is a ruined Cistercian Abbey.

Some sheep running around outside the Rock.

The Rock itself.

Another view from the Rock. The graveyard here holds the remains of local families, but as one might guess, the space is limited. In the early 20th Century, the town wanted to stop burying people here, but the relatives of the buried wanted to be buried with their families. And so, they compromised. Two more generations can be buried here. The succeeding generations will be buried elsewhere.

Strangely, I haven't seen any pet cats about to take photos of. Makes me kind of sad :( This painting at the Rock House (down the road from the Rock of Cashel) had to do. Yes, I'm really starting to miss 9 and Chani. But, I'm still enjoying myself here!

Ireland - Day 3

Today was spent driving around the Ring of Kerry. Beautiful location unfortunately marred by overcast weather. Colors weren't as sharp in this round of photos. However, they were saved by some really cute lambs :)

The Lakes of Killarney

Lots of gorse in bloom.

Lobster holding a glass of Guiness... how very Irish.

Cute lamb#1

Cute lambs #2 and #3

Being a big Doctor Who fan from the Tom Baker Era, this store name just made me giggle...

Tulips in the Killarney Park

Walkway in the Killarney Park.
St. Mary's Cathedral, Killarney

Jaunting horses - apparently, riding in one of these is THE thing to do in Killarney. I didn't. I decided to walk around instead of taking the ride.

Ireland - Day 2

Today was a day for driving. We started with a walking tour of Waterford and then headed to Killarney. On the way, we drove through Dungarvan (photo of the Dungarvan harbor above).

We were supposed to have stopped at the Waterford Crystal factory, but it has closed. High salaries and the bad economy closed the famous factory. It's been bought out and the operation to create the crystal has been moved to the Czech Republich (I think). At any rate, if you have Waterford Crystal with the Waterford seahorse on the bottom, it will probably become a collector's item now.

Above is a dog being walked in Cobh (pronounced "Cove"). Lovely place where the Titanic launched from and where many of the Irish emmigrants to the U.S, Australia, Canada and other places left.

Blarney Castle. Yes, I kissed the most unhygenic tourist attraction ever. Not sure if it has given me the gift of the gab, considering I am already quite a talker as it is...

Beautiful red maple on the Blarney Castle grounds.

View of the manor outside Blarney Castle. I believe the owners of this area (they own the Blarney Woolen Mills too) live here.

Lovely woofie outside the Blarney Woolen Mills. This dog was very well behaved and posed quite nicely.

Paddywagon Tour bus. No, I'm not on this tour, but the name cracked me up.

Finally, a shot of the Methodist Church in Killarney, and my view from my hotel window (Killarney Avenue Hotel).

Ireland - Day 1

The trip over from San Francisco to Atlanta was uneventful as was the trip to Dublin. Still, waking up really early is not my forte, nor is taking two flights that start at 8:15 a.m. in one time zone and finish at 8:30 a.m. in another time zone. Plus, flying coach... ugh, cramped!

Still, I am very happy to be here. Adventure #1 getting from Dublin airport to Heuston (pronounced like "Houston") Station. Quick bus ride. Yay for quick! Thought it was pretty Irish to see the Guiness sign behind the station sign.

Here's the view from my room at the Granville Hotel in Waterford.

Continued view from my room.

Something that fascinates me is how we use different terminology from one English speaking country to another. Being American, I call Coke, Sprite, soda, etc "soft drinks". In Ireland, I kept hearing the word "minerals". Had no clue what they meant until I saw the menu... I like it! Though, I wonder about the mineral content in Coke...

I always joke that wherever I go, no matter how small the town, I can always find a Chinese restaurant. So, here's one near my hotel. Had to take a photo :D

And finally, a comic shop. Didn't take a photo of the people inside, but well, they looked no different from the people you find in comic shops in the States.

I did see one adorable woofy who looked like a cross between a wiener dog and a corgi. (Basically, he was a dachshund looking dog who was the size of a corg). He was very well behaved and although he was mostly black, he had a heartshaped white pattern on his behind. Didn't get a photo. Sorry!

Marlene's trip

9 and Chani were not too happy to go to the Kitty Hotel. They hissed at the cage, at the towel, at each other. I'm sure they will calm down soon enough, but I feel such guilt! Yes, I shall have to find some lovely toys or treats for them in Ireland.

Currently, I'm sitting at the Atlanta airport waiting for my connecting flight to Dublin. I have a 3 hour layover and have managed to waste one of those hours paying bills, eating some really bad for me deep fried food at TGI Fridays.

I've been ogling some rolling bags that might fit under the seat in front of me AND carry my camera and my laptop and such... I don't mind carrying my laptop about, BUT it makes my back pack so heavy.

Sigh...

Can't wait to get to Ireland. Do I need to post photos of the Atlanta airport?

Don't worry, Chani

I'll keep you clean. And really, Mom still loves us lots.

What?!?!?!

Furfriends, I have some disturbing news. Mom has just informed us that she is leaving us! She is taking us to the Kitty Hotel tomorrow while she goes off gallivanting across some Pond to a place nicknamed "The Emerald Isle". How dare she not take us with her!

9 did not want to give Mom love at all when she told us this. He has since forgiven her, but I'm not too happy about it. I'll be sure to give her a lot of guilt by not looking at her when she puts me in my room at the Kitty Hotel (I'm an excellent drama Princess and can make Mom feel guilt better than Grandma!)

Well, at least she will meet Grandma and Grandpa over there, and she promises to take lots of pictures and think of us every day. Grrrr...

I shall do my best to have fun at the Kitty Hotel (I'm much better at it than 9), but I'm not too happy about this!

Note from Marlene: Yes, everyone, I'll be heading off to Ireland on Friday. I'm hoping that the Icelandic volcano does not close Dublin Airport. According to the weather forecast, I shall be experiencing a lot of lovely rain and cold temperatures (remember, I'm a wimpy Californian... anything below 60 degree F (15.5 degree C) is cold for me... this whole 14 degrees C high and 7 degree C low is a bit much for me! I'll only be gone for about 5 days and yes, I'll miss 9 and Chani dearly! But, I will take photos and my laptop, so I might post some images from my trip here.

Nose kisses

Chani really is patient with 9, especially when 9 decides to clean the places Chani missed. Nuff said ;)

At long last!!! The Dwindling Box Jungle and our new digs

Finally, I get to post! We had to give Mom a tremendous amount of gentle reminders that you all out in blog land want to see us and how we are adjusting to our new home. This past weekend, Mom had a pottery sale, a wedding to attend AND a surprise birthday party. Talk about not giving us our proper due attention. However, we forgave her.

Here I am in my cat cup that is on a computer desk positioned perfectly under our bedroom window. I'm a gorgeous kitty I know. Unfortunately, Mom has moved the desk back into the dining room/office for this black and white keyed thingy she hasn't played on in a couple of years and there was a strange stain on the cat cup pad. She took it apart to wash and hasn't done that yet. Goodness, she is so crazy busy.

Here are more pictures of Grandma's living room. All of those pieces are now in our condo (except some pottery) and Grandma has a nice clear living room again. She's happy though she misses us. Grandpa misses us too, but he comes in to visit us as often as he can. It's nice that he has a key to the condo. We miss them too. 9 always goes up to visit with Grandma and Grandpa when they visit. I play a little hard to get. But, Grandpa always makes sure to pick me up and pet me.
So, how about some photos of us in our new condo!

Here is 9 checking out some stairs that lead down into the sunken living room.

Here is our specially built eating area. It's pretty nice! Mom has since lined it and will paint it eventually. But, for right now, it's just peachy (yes, a bad pun, I know!)

Here I am checking out some tools that Phil left. Boy, he made a lot of noise when he visited. We always hid when he was here but came out to explore as soon as he was gone!

9 hid in the kitty condo when Phil was here. He wanted to use his laser eyes, but didn't come out at all. When he did come out, he ran immediately to our bedroom... And speaking of bedrooms, here it is!!!
Mom has her lovely purple bedroom and bed set. It's sooo nice sleeping with her in a big Queen sized bed! So much room to push Mom around on while she sleeps.

Mom promises to post more now that we're getting settled. After all, she has to show you the office, the living room and the guest bedroom...