Weekend Open Thread

For Caturday, here’s Miss Minnie, whose Instagram feed is a shrine to her unbearable cuteness. “I got short arms and curled ears,” says Minnie, and what else is there to say?

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151 thoughts on “Weekend Open Thread

  1. Tigger Jourard October 8, 2016 / 9:27 am

    Thanks to all the helpful comments from fellow Canadian Cutetropolis friends! Your feedback helped me decide not to wait – I’ve just ordered two copies of the 2017 Calendar from Lulu. So glad you created a calendar, Mike!

      • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 3:53 pm

        O got my notice that mine is on the way!

  2. Syd October 8, 2016 / 10:01 am

    SQUUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

  3. Phred's Mom October 8, 2016 / 10:01 am

    Mama reuniting with her babies is making me feel better about the world.
    Friday we spent wandering around Lancaster County, getting the best chocolate
    ever at Wilbur Chocolate in Lititz ( cutest town ever) and stopping at various
    farmers’s markets. Some Amish ladies had a great big yard sale at one of the
    farms, where we bought some of their handmade herbal soaps, and admired
    several beautifully done quilts. A gorgeous early Fall day and a good time.

    • allein ? October 8, 2016 / 10:14 am

      I went to college in Lancaster County (Elizabethtown); haven’t been out there in a while…though next year is a reunion year so hopefully I’ll get out there then.

      Slept in my own bed for the first time in almost 2 weeks last night with no wandering kitties. It was nice except I woke up with a headache.

      Miss Minnie has mouse ears!

      • Phred's Mom October 8, 2016 / 10:37 am

        I tell anyone going out to Lancaster County, if they want to see the best part,
        the farmland, get off the main roads, zig-zag back and forth off them.
        The main roads are so so commercialized and filled with ersatz PennDutch
        stuff, it will put you off. Stick to the farmstands and the back roads. Just fine.

        • allein ? October 8, 2016 / 12:03 pm

          When I drive out to school, I take the turnpike one exit past where most people would get off, and get off at Rt. 72 in Lebanon, come down past the Renaissance Faire, and take a long windy road from there all the way into Etown. It’s all pretty farmland, little traffic, and no commercialized crap.

      • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 12:16 pm

        I worked for years for as a free lance illustrator for Continental Press in Elizabethtown – went there for meetings many times.

        This week has been interesting – and PAINFUL! I’ve now had three PT sessions and the last one left me in tears but I know it’s the price I have to pay for getting back to full function. Am worried, tho’ about the almost constant pain in my forearm and hand. I can’t do any artwork – or much of anything else for any length of time. I have chopped a few veggies but I pay the price for that too. I admit to a certain amount of anxiety about it, hoping that someday – SOON – I’ll be able to draw and paint again. I have a Craft Show coming up and while I have some product left from other shows, and I am sharing a booth, I want to do some small things that I know sell well.

        End of Kvetch.

        Mike, I hope you had your pretzel.

        We have a surprise visitor in the form of my lovely sister-in-law. She was on her way back from Madrid and she lives in McClellanville, SC where Matthew has recently made landfall. Her flight brought her thru Philadelphia and she knew there wouldn’t be any flights to SC so she asked to lay over here! I’m thrilled to get to see her. She leads an interesting and peripatetic existence, having been for many years (now semi-retired) a “Greensman”, someone who works under the art director/set designer for movies, all her work having to do with horticulture. She recently worked on Marco Polo in both Hungary and Indonesia (where she said the smell of burning to make way for palm oil farms was overwhelming – makes me FURIOUS!) I always thought she should have a business card that read “Have Chainsaw, Will Travel”.

        • Faye October 8, 2016 / 1:11 pm

          Awww Murray C. I sympathize with your frustration at not being able to paint. I was sick for a week. Not being able to draw bothered me the most.

          Sorry for your pain as well. I’m gradually experiencing less hip/shoulder/neck pain for the first time in months.

          I know you will recover. Ask questions but don’t get into worry mode if you can help it.

        • debg October 8, 2016 / 1:25 pm

          Murray, I’m so sorry for your physical and emotional distress. Things WILL get better. If my cat can come home after 17 days of walkabout, miracles are for realsies.

          Your SIL sounds fascinating. I’ve had Marco Polo on my Netflix queue for ages and when I finally get to it, there will be the added touch of knowing someone who knows someone who worked on it!

  4. Gigi the cat lady October 8, 2016 / 10:10 am

    Rainy ☔️ Saturday here in Montreal, and I can’t put it off anymore, I have to go shopping for shoes. I had to repair my old pair of running shoes with duct tape so I really can’t put it off anymore. I detest shopping for shoes because :
    1 – they are expensive
    2- I always have problems finding my size (I have small feet and kids shoes don’t fit right)
    3 – Too often they finish at the bottom of my closet a waste of money, not being used because they hurt my feet when I wear them for longer than the 5 minutes in the store.
    Oh well, here we go again, wish me luck! ?

    • debg October 8, 2016 / 10:21 am

      I honestly have the best luck buying shoes online, Gigi. Shoebuy.com has free shipping on purchases *and* returns. I also find shoe-boots (shooties) the most comfortable for my tiny wide feet.

    • Elaine C Williamson October 8, 2016 / 12:23 pm

      My feet are small and narrow. I found I can find shoes that fit at Shoebuy.com or Shoemall.com. Both have free shipping and returns.

    • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 12:25 pm

      GiGi, I’ve got the opposite problem from yours – snowshoes for feet. I’ve had luck with Online Shoes and more recently with a company from England called Hotter. They have lovely, fun, kicky shoes as well as a small selection of athletic shoes.

      Some shoe places will let you take shoes home and walk around in them within the house so that you can see if they really fit. You need a bit of time – an hour? – or so to wear them – and be sure to shop for shoes later in the day.

      • Phred's Mom October 8, 2016 / 12:48 pm

        I’ve had some success with Hotter, also. I have their lace-up boots for the
        ankle support. Very good. Murray, what does your therapist say about the
        constant pain you’re experiencing? I admire your fortitude.

        • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 4:00 pm

          The Asst. Doc said that it might be a result of the nerve block – I think that’s why I’ve had some anxiety about it – does nerve damage (if that is what it is) get better???

          • Faye October 8, 2016 / 4:54 pm

            Yes. Your nerves regenerate and try to grow past an injury. I have had 3 thyroidectomies and you come out numb from you lower lip to your sternum. Your nerves have to reattach across the incision on your neck.

            I’ve had Bells Paulsey on the right side of my face. It took 2 years but everything works unless I get very cold or overtired. Feeling your nerves grow back is an odd feeling.

            • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 5:11 pm

              Thanks, Faye – I feel much more encouraged. This is all new to me, not having had any surgery before. The only other surgery I’ve had was wisdom teeth at around 17 and I was hit by a car when I was 6 – not a lot of medical intervention in my life.

              • Faye October 8, 2016 / 5:57 pm

                Like I said, don’t get into worrying. Ask questions. Ask nurses questions. They know details the docs don’t even think about. Nurses and PTs know more tricks and ins and outs of recuperating.

                I have been left with a few numb spots but everything on my body still works!

    • Mich Patt October 8, 2016 / 12:33 pm

      As to comfort, I’ve had success with buying, taking home, covering the bottom with masking/painter’s tape, and wearing around the house for a few hours to see if I like. The tape preserves the sole (almost typed soul… LOL!) so you can return them easy-peasy.

      As to cost, I’ve had success buying last year’s model/colour of athletic shoe each February when retailers are making space for the new and upcoming models. Usually get my fave $160 Asics for $80.

      I wish you all the luck in finding what you need!

    • Faye October 8, 2016 / 1:16 pm

      Hi Gigi I buy all my athletic shoes from Zappos.com. Free shipping and return. Big discounts. Easy site and easy returns.

    • N. Fritz October 8, 2016 / 2:16 pm

      Another member of the tiny feet club… I wear 3-3.5 in children’s and 4.5 in women’s. It’s really hard to find anything without Hello Kitty or velcro. Had the best luck on Naturalizer.com, and noticed that zappos doesn’t seem to offer small women’s sizes any more. Will look into shoebuy.com. Thanks for the tip, ladies!

    • Gigi the cat lady October 8, 2016 / 5:09 pm

      Thank all for the tips. I didn’t find anything today, I’ll look into some of the web addresses.

  5. allein ? October 8, 2016 / 10:15 am

    Good morning!

    • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 10:30 am

      Yep, I’m officially “DED” I believe the saying is. The unbearable cuteness of the puppy and the kitty has left me a shell of my former self. I’m going to stare at this all day, I’m a goner.

      PS I think Minnie belongs to a weird band named “Hiss”.

      • allein ? October 8, 2016 / 12:08 pm

      • allein ? October 8, 2016 / 12:09 pm

        • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 12:26 pm

          No. Where did this come from???? Did you just make this up??

          • allein ? October 8, 2016 / 12:37 pm

            The actual page the shirt image came from gave me a ‘not found’ error but I found a similar one on Amaon UK.

            • Faye October 8, 2016 / 1:18 pm

              Now I’m ded from kitty, puppy and HISS.

              • debg October 8, 2016 / 1:26 pm

                Yeah, you guys are killing me.

  6. debg October 8, 2016 / 10:23 am

    That is an adorably cute cat, though (nuff warning) I wish Munchkins hadn’t been bred into existence–cats need their long legs!

    I’m spending this entire weekend at home, cuddling George Weasleybrat (that’s his punishment). Got some knitting for work to get done, and some small DIY projects around the house. But I don’t have to be anywhere, so it’s time to relax.

    Still working on the little black cat in my bathroom, Scorpius. He’s terrified of me–still, even after toona! I’ll spend some time reading in there and talking to him. Vet visit on Thursday or Friday will tell me more.

    • Gigi the cat lady October 8, 2016 / 10:51 am

      My Isis was like that, it took months for her to trust us, for a long time we could only pet her with our toes, for some reason she wasn’t afraid of naked feet.

      • debg October 8, 2016 / 11:05 am

        Cats are weird.

        • Amyliz October 8, 2016 / 11:38 am

          And that’s why we love them!

      • belphebe October 9, 2016 / 1:33 pm

        Cats and feet: Years ago, a friend who is in a wheelchair had a couple of very shy cats. When I went to visit, the mama cat would come over cautiously and sniff around my feet. Eventually, I started petting her with my toes and she liked it enough that when I came to visit, she would check the shoes first to see who the visitor was, and then come over and demand attention. If I remember correctly, eventually the other cat started doing the same thing.

        • Murray C. October 9, 2016 / 9:38 pm

          My cat used to rub against my toes to the point that I thought I must have catnip growing between them.

    • Mich Patt October 8, 2016 / 12:17 pm

      I’ve been on vacation for two weeks so I’m so happy to read this morning that George Weasleybrat is home! 🙂

      • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 12:26 pm

        ISn’t it nice to get such good news. From what I see below you had a wonderful vacation – good for you!

        • Mich Patt October 8, 2016 / 12:36 pm

          Thanks, Murray! It was really lovely.

          Sorry to hear your PT is so painful (albeit probably productive). I can certainly understand your low-level anxiety about your forearm and hand. Hang in there! The body changes so much as it heals. Worrying now is like worrying about the weather forecast for three weeks from now. It’ll change, amiright?!

          And your sis-in-law sounds super duper interesting! How nice to have a bonus visit.

          • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 12:55 pm

            I love your comment about the body changing and the weather – I see a video of me with rising hysteria in my voice and you smacking me across the jib (with a fish if you like) to bring me back to a state of reason. ?

            • Faye October 8, 2016 / 1:21 pm

              Smack with a wet fish, then. Like they used to say, get ahold of yourself woman! Or some good chocolate liquor.

              • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 4:03 pm

                I’m more of a Jack Daniels gal.?But I appreciate the thought.

                • Faye October 8, 2016 / 4:56 pm

                  Oh no problem. Jack Daniels Honey Liquor. Awesome over ice.

                  • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 5:27 pm

                    Went to a dinner gathering in Virginia, old money family, food very basic – good, but basic. Dessert was vanilla ice cream with Jack Daniels – and it was FABulous!!!!

                    • Faye October 8, 2016 / 5:58 pm

                      Ooo I’ll remember that.

                    • allein ? October 8, 2016 / 7:12 pm

                      Godiva chocolate liqueur over ice cream is yummy, too. Vanilla or mint chocolate chip (I recommend a brand that is not colored green…).

    • Elaine C Williamson October 8, 2016 / 12:26 pm

      Munchkins resulted from a genetic mutation if that makes you feel better.

      • Mich Patt October 8, 2016 / 12:36 pm

        Totally!

        • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 12:57 pm

          And we love Doxies and Corgis with their little short legs – bred for a purpose, I realize, but genetically modified.

      • debg October 8, 2016 / 1:27 pm

        It does! Thanks, Elaine. Aren’t they bred now, though, to fulfill our unending desire for cuteness?

    • dubravkamcvmd October 8, 2016 / 12:27 pm

      I missed the news that he was found/came back. It’s wonderful!What a relief!

    • Faye October 8, 2016 / 1:24 pm

      Give George a kiss for me. I’m so happy for you both that he is home.

      Maybe George was having trouble herding the black kittie to your house. Scorpious is a wonderful name.

      • debg October 8, 2016 / 1:28 pm

        It’s that Harry Potter thing I’ve got going. The Cursed Child script wasn’t a universal hit, from what I understand, but Scorpius Malfoy was a truly delightful and charming character. Who would have thought I could love a Malfoy!?

        George is getting many kisses from all of you these days.

        • Faye October 8, 2016 / 2:13 pm

          Ah, Scorpious. I am one of the few humans left on Earth who are not into HP. Nothing against it. Too big a commitment for me. Lol.

          • allein ? October 8, 2016 / 2:16 pm

            I like HP but I’m not a fanatic. I own and have read all the books, but I did not run out to buy the new screenplay. I might wait until Christmas…haven’t decided yet. I also can’t rattle off obscure details like some people can.

            • debg October 8, 2016 / 2:39 pm

              I am one of those people. If I could make a living from HP and Lord of the Rings trivia, I’d be a gazillionaire.

              • allein ? October 8, 2016 / 7:14 pm

                I tried to read the Hobbit once but I couldn’t get into it. I was dragged to all the LOTR movies, though.

            • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 4:05 pm

              I’m sort of in that boat, too – I would like to read the script. But you, Allein, seem to be able to rattle off a lot of other bits of pop culture – truth be told many of you seem to have your fingers on the modern pulse! I am often so impressed – and often baffled!

              • allein ? October 8, 2016 / 4:08 pm

                Google.

                • Faye October 8, 2016 / 4:58 pm

                  Yup!

  7. Duckie ? October 8, 2016 / 11:29 am

    Miss Minnie looks like baby Simba at the beginning of Lion King.

  8. Mich Patt October 8, 2016 / 12:26 pm

    Minnie is totally adorable and I agree with DebG — wish Munchkins weren’t bred. I can’t help but feel sorry for them and/or wonder if they have health issues thanks for inbreeding and human interference. Doesn’t stop me from wanting to snorgle her though… 😀

    Though CuteOverload is officially off the airwaves, I’m SO GLAD this survived: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEnQJnYsrl8
    It’s a regularly-sung ditty in our house.

    Just back from 11 days in the southwest… Vegas, Lake Havasu City, Yuma, Salton City, Joshua Tree, Twenty-Nine Palms, Boulder City (hubster’s home town) and home. We put 1530 miles on the rental car and loved every freakin’ moment of the dry heat and Mexican cuisine. We’re back in Vancouver BC now with cold-ish temps and wet weather. Forever grateful we were able to go and now forever grateful to be back to cuddle the cat (whose loyalty shifted 100% in favour of our full-time cat sitter).

    What’s the update on hurricane/storm Matthew, Nicole, and fellow Cutetopolites? Everyone safe?

    • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 12:32 pm

      The video right after that one was about what it would be like if wild animals ate fast food and it’s VERY funny – worth a look.

      • Mich Patt October 8, 2016 / 12:42 pm

        LOL! Funny indeed. 🙂

      • debg October 8, 2016 / 2:40 pm

        I just saw it on FB and laughed until I cried.

  9. Elaine C Williamson October 8, 2016 / 12:29 pm

    Miss Minnie reminds me of Nermal, world’s cutest kitten. He smugly told Garfield he would always be small and cute because he was a midget.

    • allein ? October 8, 2016 / 12:40 pm

      I love Nermal!

  10. Birdcage October 8, 2016 / 12:30 pm

    It’s Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend so I am prepping my house for family tomorrow and a big turkey dinner with all the fixings. I was really looking forward to the busy work around the house today – I don’t love cleaning but I love a clean house, Unfortunately, I woke up with a bad, bad headache and have barely been able to function. Waiting for a pair of tylenol to kick in so that I can get the kitchen and bathrooms cleaned. The groceries are thankfully all purchased and the table is set so I figure I can afford this hour of couch time with my eyes closed praying for pain relief.

    Was at the Adele concert in Toronto last night – OMG she’s so great. What a strong, powerful voice and a wonderful show. It may be the best concert I’ve ever seen.

    • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 12:35 pm

      Aw, Birdcage, I do hope you feel better soon. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow – be especially thankful that you are in Canada and not here in the middle of this Blankety Blank Blank election. I feel like I have to shower constantly as more and more horrors are revealed. sigh.

      • Phred's Mom October 8, 2016 / 1:18 pm

        I do miss Adlai Stevenson.

        • debg October 8, 2016 / 1:30 pm

          I’m actually starting to miss Nixon. /snark

          Seriously, Nixon’s resignation is the first big event I can remember from my life. I was 7 at the time and it made a lasting impression.

    • Faye October 8, 2016 / 5:59 pm

      Happy Thanksgiving Birdcage.

  11. April October 8, 2016 / 12:33 pm

    Going to a wedding today….should be quite a big production. I just want to stay at the reception long enough to see the father of the bride do his famous table-top belly dance once he’s had a few. ?

    • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 12:36 pm

      VIDEO!!!!?

      • Phred's Mom October 8, 2016 / 12:57 pm

        Don’t know if I can handle a video of THAT!
        Yikes!

      • Phred's Mom October 8, 2016 / 1:19 pm

        Don’t think I could handle that video.

        • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 4:07 pm

          Fred’s Mom, how did you end up with two avatars!?????

          • Phred'sMom October 8, 2016 / 5:27 pm

            Beats me. I thought my first comment didn’t post, so left, came back
            and posted again.

      • debg October 8, 2016 / 1:31 pm

        I second that! Pix or it didn’t happen.

        • April October 9, 2016 / 1:07 am

          Oh piffle! NO belly dance this time? It figures…I finally make it to one of this family’s soirees and it was the rare occasion that he didn’t dance…he wasn’t imbibing much either so I’m sure that had a lot to do with it. Oh well…..

          • Phred's Mom October 9, 2016 / 6:31 am

            Dommage! How disappointing! Mama must have laid down
            the law. I saw a guy belly-dance once, at a Middle-east themed
            fair, but he was young, nicely built, and I must say, a treat to watch.

          • Murray C. October 9, 2016 / 8:11 am

            PIFFLE! Now there’s an underused word – love it.

  12. Patty October 8, 2016 / 1:41 pm

    That is a really adorable kitten.

    My weekend is another crochet fest, I am finally getting close to being done with the baby blanket I’ve been working on.

    My daughter is adjusting to life with the foster baby, I’ve been helping out a lot, which is not a burden, it means I get to see my grankids all the time. My 3 yr old granddaughter told me I am the baby’s Great Aunt Meemaw, which I think is hilarious.

    My disabled brother got his food stamp allowance, so I will have to go to the grocery store today. I dislike shopping in general, and I dislike having to carry his groceries up to his apartment, then going home and carrying my own groceries into the house. I wish my local store would deliver groceries, I’d pay extra for that.

    ETA: I forgot, my youngest daughter’s indoor cat got out a couple months ago, and day before yesterday she delivered 5 kittens. I guess Grace could use a playmate, so I will adopt one when they are ready. Keysa (the daughter) is ashamed because she didn’t get her kitty spayed, but has plans to do it as soon as the kittens are weaned.

    • Faye October 8, 2016 / 2:15 pm

      Ooo fresh kitties.

      • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 4:09 pm

        Faye! It sounds like you’re in a grocery squeezing them, f’heaven’s sake!!?

        • Faye October 8, 2016 / 5:00 pm

          I stopped off at the kitty factory. How did you know?

    • allein ? October 8, 2016 / 2:34 pm

      Need kitty pictures!!!!!

      • Patty October 8, 2016 / 6:08 pm

        Fresh kittens, all 5 of them.

        • Patty October 8, 2016 / 6:11 pm

          She said these two are her favorites.

          • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 6:43 pm

            oooooh, fresh kitties – to paraphrase Faye. (gently squeezes)

          • Faye October 8, 2016 / 8:05 pm

            Thank you Patty!

            Sniff sniff. Yes. Amazingly fresh.

            Tiny creatures. That one on the right has great markings.

            Besides the taileos my fav kitty thing is when their eyes change color. And vibrating purring when they eat first foods.

          • Jan October 8, 2016 / 8:19 pm

            SQUEEEEEEE!

        • allein ? October 8, 2016 / 7:08 pm

          Thank you!

    • Duckie ? October 8, 2016 / 4:29 pm

      Patty, you do know that talking about baby animals that you have direct access to thoroughly obligates you to provide pictures!

  13. Jan October 8, 2016 / 1:47 pm

    Happy ‘Tocktober! Lily celebrates in style, but as of yet hasn’t grasped the concept of a ‘privacy tail.’

    • Faye October 8, 2016 / 2:17 pm

      Too cute and innocent for privacy tail. Love her hidden markings.

      • Jan October 8, 2016 / 4:13 pm

        Ha! Innocent of what?? ?

        • Faye October 8, 2016 / 5:02 pm

          I take that back. Even the wee kittah is far from innocent.

    • debg October 8, 2016 / 2:41 pm

      Oh, sweet gorgeous girl!

    • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 4:10 pm

      Splendid kitty!

  14. Faye October 8, 2016 / 2:24 pm

    Everyone I know is at NYCComicon. They are dressed up like killer nurses from Silent Hill and a game called Killer Alice (in wonderland).
    Sweet gentle people who wouldn’t hurt a fly. Go figure.

    I’ll send Mike some pics. Maybe he can post.

    I am a total newshound so the election debacle is right up my ally. I watch live news. Then I watch the news reports. Then I watch the shows about how the news was reported.

    I can remember the Nixon/Kennedy debate. It is very sad to see how far we have lowered what should be intelligent political discourse. So many uneducated electorate and politicians taking the true meaning of democracy for granted. Sigh.

    I am happy to report that I had a drawing in my head for a month that I couldn’t get on paper until today. After three or four false starts over two weeks it just flowed out in a continuous swoop today.

    I’ll post it on my website tomorrow. It’s title is BROUGHT TO LIGHT. It is about me experiencing much less PTSD symptoms lately! Yay!

    • Laura October 8, 2016 / 2:50 pm

      I’m enjoying the craziness of politics somewhat — although the campaign’s urgent request for ASAP production of two items at 11:00 last night (!!) was perhaps a bit beyond the pale. The Candidate has been busy with her staff preparing for tomorrow’s debate, so her surrogates (when did that become a term of art in politics?) have been out speechifying endlessly. We’ve all become converts of Elizabeth Warren’s speechmaking, though — wow, can she ever deliver a powerful speech! She has ’em practically bouncing off the walls with excitement! It’s quite entertaining. And I, too, am enjoying the debacle — I’ve suspected something that would bring about a debacle would show up eventually, although not this specifically, so I’m just laughing my behind off.

      Anyway, so this week was CRAZY busy. Nonstop demands for rush work all day and some evenings. I just crashed last night and slept as late as I felt like today, which I desperately needed.

      Matthew missed us here on the west coast of Florida, except for a LOT of rain. The outer bands dumped a ridiculous amount on us, mostly Thursday night. I see the folks in the Carolinas are getting it now; I hope they don’t get washed away.

      Hang in there, Murray. Recovery will feel very slow until suddenly, poof! you’re back to normal. Don’t give up yet, you’ll get there soon!

      And I saw and commented last night, but I am SO glad George is finally back home! Silly feline, going walkabout for so long, worrying your human so! I do hope he has the good sense to stay where the meals and adoration arrive regularly from now on. That certainly happened with my Emily; after she came back home from her 17-day walkabout (what is it with cats being gone 17 days?), she never went near the door again, to my great relief. So I hope George takes the same dim view of being out there in the big bad world on his own!

      Have a good weekend, everybody. And I want pics or, preferably, video of the wedding reception, too! That sounds fabulously silly!!

      • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 4:14 pm

        Wow, you are right in the middle of it Laura – you are a gallant as far as I’m concerned. And thanks for the good words. I thank everyone for their good words, it’s a great help.

    • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 4:10 pm

      Faye, looking forward to seeing it.

      • Faye October 8, 2016 / 6:01 pm

        Thank you!

  15. N. Fritz October 8, 2016 / 2:28 pm

    It was a productive day here… I went to the town fair, drove to the nearest big town to replace my printer cartridge (15% off… so I bought 4), stopped by a local gorge where I scored a unique b-day present for my mom and got to hang out with the caretaker (one of my favorite people, with whom I made plans to go to a concert next Friday). Came home and planned all my semester exams and entered them into our administrative software, then went out to dinner with my neighbor at the Greek restaurant down the street. Whew! Good thing there’s Sunday to recover!

  16. Not That Mike The Other Mike October 8, 2016 / 3:10 pm

    Faye asked me to post some images of her friends at ComicCon. I’ll just leave these here and she can fill you in on the details.

    • Faye October 8, 2016 / 5:11 pm

      Thank you Mike!

      Top two pics: NYCComicon. Nurses from Silent Hill. Bloody Alice in wonderland.

      Bottom pic: Last years NYCComicon. Sailor Moon characters.

      Nurses = my housemate and her daughter.
      Alice= cousin.

      They go to Comicon every single year.

      In my old age I am lucky to be surrounded with young friends who force me to stay up to date on life.

  17. murkle46 October 8, 2016 / 4:16 pm

    • Duckie ? October 8, 2016 / 4:32 pm

      Murkle, I didn’t know it was possible to snort an entire croissant out the nose while laughing.

      • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 5:03 pm

        Duckie, with all of the various and sundry things you have confessed to snorting out of your nose I’m developing a picture of you having the most capacious proboscis in the WORLD – which is making me snort things out of my nose. But I’m an amateur.

        • Duckie ? October 8, 2016 / 5:27 pm

          My nose is very small and delicate (autocorrect says delicious), which was s why I complain. If it were as capacious as you believe, snorting wouldn’t be such an issue.
          And Faye, they were plain. Never tried a chocolate one before.

          • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 5:33 pm

            So, you’re not snorting so much as extruding??And of course it’s delicious – you keep snorting food!!!!

            • Faye October 8, 2016 / 8:09 pm

              Extruding. Ded.

      • Faye October 8, 2016 / 5:05 pm

        Chocolate or plain?

  18. Duckie ? October 8, 2016 / 5:03 pm

    I’m Cricket sitting again. I was drinking some tea, and he got curious and wandered over to the mug. I unthinkingly tipped the mug a bit, and Birdbrain helped himself to my vanilla Earl Grey tea!
    Brat!

  19. Amyliz October 8, 2016 / 5:41 pm

    Beautiful fall day here. Went to the dollar store to replenish the supply of little treasures in my birthday bag at work. (Kids get to choose a gift on their birthday.)

    Then wandered around the book fair in the downtown area. (My town was named “A City of Literature” by UNESCO a few years ago.) Bought a novel, “Hard-Wired”, written by a local author. I know am behind the times but I just finished reading “The Kite Runner”. Engrossing and disturbing at the same time.

    Now relaxing at home. Have homemade marina sauce cooking in the crock pot and it sure smells good…just needs another hour or so!
    Enjoy the rest of the weekend, everyone!

    • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 6:00 pm

      Amyliz, what is it you do with children? (Sometimes I have trouble keeping everyone’s activities, bio info, etc. in order) It sounds like your kids must adore that they can have a thoughtful treat on their birthdays – wonderful!

      I just read a book written by a woman who participates in my aquatics class – her father was a survivor of the Holocaust. He managed to avoid going to a camp by spending all that time – years – hiding in the woods with his wife and various family members. It was so harrowing, and simply the daughter accurately recording her father’s words. She was actually born in a displaced persons camp after the war. So amazing to have an arc back to something that you know but of which you have no direct experience.

      • Amyliz October 8, 2016 / 6:29 pm

        Murray, isn’t it incredible what seemingly “ordinary” people go through?

        I work for a non-profit, social service agency and one of the services we offer is child care. I am the lead teacher in the program for two-year-olds. We serve mainly low-income, minority families and our goal for children is to prepare them to be successful when they start school. When I hear certain politicians demeaning the very people we work with, it makes my blood boil! This website, and all the lovely people who comment here, help me keep my sanity so thank you!

        • Murray C. October 8, 2016 / 6:38 pm

          It is amazing – I often look at a group of people – anywhere, really, train station, walking about – and think about how each and every one has stories.

          Wow, two-year-olds. There must be many opportunities for everything from hair-tearing to riotous mirth. YOU must have stories!?

          • Amyliz October 8, 2016 / 7:03 pm

            Oh I do! Every single day, my patience is put to the test but I laugh every day, too! One of my little girls actually turns two tomorrow so we celebrated her birthday yesterday. She misunderstood and thought the whole birthday bag was for her but, in the end, was content with a bottle of bubbles!

            • Amyliz October 8, 2016 / 7:06 pm

              Oh and thank goodness for my awesome assistant teacher! I don’t know what I would do without her!

  20. murkle46 October 8, 2016 / 7:22 pm


    big fluffy lynx

    • benvolio October 8, 2016 / 7:52 pm

      OMG, the PAWS…..

    • Murray C. October 9, 2016 / 11:28 am

      WOW! I’ll bet that’s some industrial strength fluffage to bury your face into.

  21. murkle46 October 8, 2016 / 7:24 pm

    dyingsincebirth via Android615 pts1d
    I tried to look it up on the Internet, but the lynx was broken. Hahaha. I will just see myself to the door

    • Amyliz October 8, 2016 / 7:32 pm

      Groan! 😀

  22. allein ? October 9, 2016 / 12:13 am

    Night-night.

  23. Jan October 9, 2016 / 9:59 am

    Good morning all! For your a.m. giggle, here’s Lily playing with her Doppelganger in the window.

    • Dubravkamcvmd October 9, 2016 / 10:09 am

      Awwww! She is adorable, and fearless!

    • allein ? October 9, 2016 / 10:21 am

      Cute! I love the one spot on the back of her neck.

      My kitties didn’t really react to the “other” kitty in the mirror when they were little…though they did go looking behind the mirror trying to find it. (The mirror was on the floor, leaning against the wall, so there was a little space behind it.)

    • Murray C. October 9, 2016 / 11:30 am

      Oh my heavens, Jan, you do have your hands full with that little Wild Child! SO funny – and BOUNCEY!

      • Jan October 9, 2016 / 6:32 pm

        Yep, so bouncy that she should be named Tigger! (I shall have to start referring to her as my ‘wild child’ it’s so appropriate!)

    • Faye October 9, 2016 / 3:55 pm

      Jan I truly enjoyed watching your Lily play. The side jumping thing is an unknown kitty technique for me. I also thought it was so funny that Lily’s mousie was part of the action.

      She’s lovely.

      • Jan October 9, 2016 / 6:38 pm

        The side jump is performed on on practically every surface in my house; walls, doors, me… I think she’d probably do it off the ceiling if she could jump that high! The mousie is always part of the action, although she’s misplaced it today and I can’t find it, so she’s not very happy at all!

  24. fkaWaldenPond October 9, 2016 / 10:53 am

    Hey all! have a great remainder of the weekend; down to Dad’s place in Niagara on the Lake for Canadian Thanksgiving. To my fellow Canadians, eat well and hopefully little family, extended family or adopted family drama!

    • Murray C. October 9, 2016 / 11:33 am

      TO all our Canadian fellow Cuteropolitans (?) have a very Happy Thanksgiving and think of us fondly down here caught in the mire.

      • fkaWalden\pond October 9, 2016 / 9:42 pm

        oh my goodness (attempting to bang this out on my dad’s computer\ keyboard which is similar to typing out a missive from Turkey in the mid 2000’s\\\0 \murray c. my family has its own splendid mire that could rival, well, what is happening on the tv right now. ) food was pretty darn good though \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\;\0

    • Duckie ? October 9, 2016 / 9:42 pm

      FKAWaldenpond, we will eat well and hopefully have little family at all.
      Lol ?

  25. Phred's Mom October 9, 2016 / 12:52 pm

    Happy Thanksgiving!
    Got to day two of the doll show and scored a few little
    goodies to accessorize my doll house. It’s sobering to
    see dolls one played with as a kid selling for yuge! prices
    because they are old and collectible. *sigh*

    • Murray C. October 9, 2016 / 9:46 pm

      Isn’t it, tho’. I have a book called “I Had One of Those” and it’s full of that sort of thing. I do have quite a few of my early toys – I took pretty good care of them, tho’ none of them are in original boxes or any such compulsive behavior.

  26. Patty October 9, 2016 / 3:10 pm

    My daughter sent me a picture of Alice with her kittens. The kittens get lost in the floof that is Alice.

    • Alice Shortcake October 9, 2016 / 3:24 pm

      Awwwww! I’m just getting over the death of my cat Daisy in August and can’t see a photo of a cute cat without wanting to give one a home. Alas, it isn’t practical to do so I’ll have to rely on Cutetropolis for my daily fix of feline fabulousness.

    • Faye October 9, 2016 / 3:57 pm

      Wonderful picture Patty. Mom cat is beautiful.

    • Murray C. October 9, 2016 / 9:48 pm

      That is a voluptuosity (made THAT one up!) of fluff. Durned cute, I have to say.

  27. Alice Shortcake October 9, 2016 / 3:19 pm

    Yesterday I travelled from York to Birmingham to see a ballet at the Hippodrome Theatre. Back in the 80s and 90s I was a regular visitor to both the city and the theatre, but I haven’t been there since 1997 and didn’t know that during the last decade the train station and a large chunk of the city centre had been razed flat and rebuilt! I didn’t recognise a damn thing, got hopelessly lost, had to ask for directions and finally reached the theatre with minutes to spare before the show began. Even the front of house area had been rebuilt! It was a surreal experience – I felt like a character in a fairy tale who wakes up after a century-long sleep in a completely changed world…

    • Murray C. October 9, 2016 / 9:53 pm

      How DARE they! That’s enough to jar your preserves. That had to be so disorienting and somewhat disheartening. I hope the changes were improvements? (I somehow doubt it…)

  28. Alice Shortcake October 10, 2016 / 6:54 am

    Shopaholics will love the new Birmingham – I preferred the old one.

    *Brandishes ear trumpet and Zimmer frame*

    • Jan October 10, 2016 / 9:53 am

      Being a fan of Stephanie Cole and “Waiting for God” I am pleased that I know what a Zimmer frame is! 🙂

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