The Vineyards of Greece

Here I am at the Digenakis vineyards in Crete. They go on for miles and are so beautiful. I've found myself wandering in the countryside the past few days through various vineyards lost in thought. It's so peaceful and green. I stop into the wineries and try their various selections and so far the Digenakis Wines have been my favorites. My favorite wine was their Nympheos. It is a wine compsoed of the famous Greek variety Agiorgitiko along with the cosmoposlitan variety Cabernet Sauvignon. Very good!

Yesterday I visited the recently opened Thalassokosmos - which means Sea World. It is the largest aquarium in the southeast Meditteranean. Thirty two different tanks, fifty viewing ports... and over 1800 varieties of fish! I got soooo hungry!!! The guards got wary of the look in my eyes and I was escorted out before I could find a way into the actual tanks to catch a fresh dinner. But not to worry... Crete has several wonderful restaurants and I wandered into Zorbas Tavern in Analpsis and enjoyed a traditional Greek dinner before wandering over to Eleni Bar across the street to enjoy a nice scotch and cigar while listening to some great blues music.

Way To Go Cousin Donald!!!!

I'm so proud of my cousin Donald! According to mom's e-mail he finished his first 5K in the middle of the pack. I'm just impressed that he finished! That's a long way to run! She also said he's been bitten by the running bug so they may be going to some other races this spring and summer. Best of all, he was the top fund raiser... what a guy! I hope I can be just like him when I'm 14.

I'm still in Greece poking around the ancient ruins. I hope to get some more of my pictures downloaded tomorrow so I can get them posted here. I'd like to give a special shout out to Alana and promise to try to post more often! Check back soon!

Fabulous Greece! (and good luck cousin Donald!)

It's been almost a week since I last posted. I've had some problems travelling in Europe. I can't seem to get this money exchange stuff right, and I'm having problems finding internet cafes that I can use. To top that off my adapter cord for my digital camera is not European approved so I'm having to use disposable digital cameras and offload my pictures at the drug store... what a major inconvenience! But anyway... things are still beautiful!

Today I decided to travel to Greece in honor of my cousin Donald running in his first 5K race tomorrow. He is running in the Children's TLC Easter Seals Groundhog Race -- it's run completely underground! Mom works for Children's TLC Easter Seals. Anyway, not only is it cousin Donald's first 5K but he's also raised over $500 for the agency... I'm very proud of him. Since I can't be there to root him on in the morning I decided I'd check out Olympic Stadium in Athens and poke around here for a few days. I hope Donald got the Euros I sent him and that they accept foreign currency donations... I'll have to check with Mom when I get home.

Viva France!!!

I finally made it!!! I've been saving up to take a little vacation and I figured now is as good of a time as any so here I am in lovely Paris, France. I arrived early this morning after a long day of travelling yesterday. It's not easy to sneak aboard an airplane with the new security measures but I managed. Curled up on a nice Louis Vuitton suitcase and slept my way to Paris! I hope Mom got the note I left for her telling her not to worry (or schedule any appointments with that vet lady!)

The city is beautiful. Here I am in front of the Eiffel Tower. What an amazing structure. The views from the second floor -- magnifique! And the ride to the top! Aye!

I also visited the Louvre. The da Vinci's, the Monet's -- it's all so beautiful... a cat could spend hours wandering through it.

Tonight I am off to a wine tasting at a small bistro my cousin Jean Paul told me about. I think I'll spend at least one more day here then hop a train and see where I wind up next.

The best thing about Sunday mornings...

My favorite thing about Sunday mornings are the days when Dad gets up and goes to the store to get a paper, coffee and bagels with LOX! I love lox! I have a cousin in Israel who first introduced me to this delicacy and I am forever in debt to him for it. Lucky for me my dad likes lox too and he shares with me. I get my own plate on the coffee table and savor every last bite.

My head hurts!!!

Oh my goodness! That wine went right to my head!!! It hurts sooo bad!!! I should have stopped at two glasses of wine. I think I'm gonna be sick!

Another Saturday night and I ain't got no money...

OK.... so it was Saturday night and I didn't have any money but Mom and Dad were going out so that left me at home with an unattended wine bar. I decided to do a little entertaining of my own. I knew I was serving a salmon flavored kibble so I wanted a nice white wine to go along. Nothing too overpowering ... possibly a nice woody Chardonnay or a lighter Riesling. I found just what I was looking for on the bottom shelf of the wine bar. I had a great time entertiaining and hid the empty bottles in the bottom of the trash can. Mom and Dad will never miss those bottles!

My Hero!!!

Mom and Dad brought home a new DVD last week... Shrek 2.. I LOVED IT! Especially Puss In Boots... now that's a cat! I want to be just like him but Mom keeps taking my knife away so I have not been able to practice my swordplay. I would like to recommend to him Nutramax Cat Food. It's what I eat and I've never had a furball!

It's SO Unfair!!!

OK... so Tuesday night Dad doesn't come home. Gone all night! Did not even show back up Wednesday morning. By my calculations he was gone well over 36 hours. (You'll remember I was gone a mere 20 hours in December) Well... I mention to Mom that Dad broke the rules and stayed out all night... he should have to be tutored too. It's only fair. What kind of an example is he setting if it's ok for him to stay out all night but not me! I sat up all night waiting for him to come home! Every car I heard I ran to the window. Sure enough, Wednesday night he comes sauntering in... LATE. He says he was out of town on "business" so it's ok. Um, hello... and I wasn't taking care of business when I was out??? He also says he told Mom where he was going before he went. I DID TOO!!! It's not my fault there is a language barrier (quite frankly she just never listens to me!) He also pointed out that he called to check in while he was gone... I DON'T HAVE A PHONE!!! They could at least get me one of those Migo phones from Verizon. That way I could call. But no... as it stands, no phone for me, I'm still supposed to have to go and get tutored and nothing happens to Dad. I think Mom likes him best.

On the bright side, my cousins are coming to spend the night tomorrow night. I like having other kids in the house. They are so much fun!

Two Things

This is another thing my Mom was looking at on the internet so I decided to give it a whirl.

• 2 names you go by
  Cosmosis Jones (my cousin Donald calls me that)
  Bubba Kitty (my mom calls me this)
  
• 2 parts of your heritage
  Scotch
  Irish
  
• 2 of your everyday essentials
  Kibble
  Fresh litter
  
• 2 things you are wearing right now
  Black Fur
  Fancy collar with a tag
  
• 2 things you want in a relationship (other than real love)
  Mutual grooming
  Scratching posts
  
• 2 truths
  I climb Christmas trees
  I lost my virginity in a wooded lot
• 2 physical things that appeal to you (in the opposite sex)
  short hair
  long tails
  
• 2 of your favorite hobbies
  napping in sunbeams
  chasing my tail
  
• 2 things you want really badly
  a four story scratching post
  my own car
  
• 2 places you want to go on vacation
  Europe
  South America
  
• 2 things you want to do before you die
  catch a mouse
  get a real paycheck
  
• 2 ways that you are stereotypically a dude/chick
  can't think of any
  
• 2 things you are thinking about now
  Where to sleep tonight
  How to open the front door
  
• 2 stores you shop at
  Petco
  Petsmart
• 2 people I would like to see take this quiz
  Dad
  Slutty Girl Cat Two Doors Down

New Year's Stuff

Mom found this website that had questions about 2005 - kind of a year in review thing and I decided to answer the questions so here goes...

1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before? I was born. How's that for something you've never done before!

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Being that I wasn't born I didn't make any last year. This year I resolve to be a better cat and cuddle with my mom more.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? I heard my birth mother had another litter.

4. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: I'm not really into lyrics.

5. What countries did you visit? None, but I'm hoping to go to Europe this spring.

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005? A bigger scratching post.

7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? June 12th... the day I was adopted.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? No noticeable damage to mom & dad's new living room furniture.

9. What was your biggest failure? Failure to figure out how to open the door myself.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nope.

11. What was the best thing you bought? Being that I have no money, I don't buy a lot of things. But I did buy my mom a collar for me for her birthday. Dad fronted me the money.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Mine -- always!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Grand-mewmew... she didn't get my anything for Christmas... not that I needed anything else but that's beside the point

14. Where did most of your money go? Cat nip and poker.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Meeting Santa.

16. What song will always remind you of 2005? Memories from CATS.... the only music I really know.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer... I was adopted into it though.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Laying in sunbeams.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Trying to catch the mouse in the little round tube.. it's a fruitless effort.

20. How did you spend Christmas? I stayed home with Mom and Dad and a lot of my human relatives came to visit. It was a lot of fun. I got a lot of really neat presents.

22. Did you fall in love in 2005? Mom says it was actually lust... with slutty girl cat two doors down.

23. How many one-night stands? One... don't tell mom (she's still hoping I was just out playing poker)

24. What was your favorite TV program? Wife Swap. I think they should do a cat version.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? No.

26. What was the best book you read? Another Cat at the Door

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? The musical ornament on the Christmas tree.. if I pressed up against it while climbing it would play a cute little tune.

28. What did you want and get? A new scratching post.

30. What was your favorite film of this year? I didn't see any movies this year.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I was born.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? More one night stands.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005? I always go with basic black.

34. What kept you sane? Cat nip

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Jennifer Aniston --- ME-OW!!!

36. What political issue stirred you the most? Abortion controversies. When you come from a species with a 63 day gestation period... ya really gotta consider these things.

37. Who did you miss? Slutty Girl Cat Two Doors Down

38. Who was the best new person (people) you met? My mom and dad.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005: In the end the only thing that matters is someone in the house can buy kibble. The rest is just details.

A New Bag!!!

Mom said I was like a real kid (duh! -- what does she think I am, a cat???) that it doesn't matter what you buy me I like the bag it came in the most. It is true, I do like bags. But there are different quality of bags. Target and grocery store bags are ok to bat around at. Small bags are nothing but a nuisance because you can only get a paw in them. However, the other day she brought home the perfect bag. It's bright orange, big enough to sit in and has great rope handles. She got it from some kid named Eddie apparently, I think his last name is Bauer. I have had loads of fun with this bag. Dad asked Mom yesterday when he was cleaning the living room if he should throw it out. HELLO! I do not think so! It is not everyday that you come across a bag of this caliber. It comfortably holds a ten pound cat, it's sturdy enough to jump in and flop over... not to mention with all the abuse I've given it ... not one rip! It had to have been made in the USA... probably by a union worker.

Is this January???

I have always heard and have recently read on the internet that January in Kansas City is supposed to be cold with snow. Where do these people get their facts??? It's been in the upper 50s with sunshine the past few days. It's warm enough Mom and Dad have been letting me go out on the deck to explore. I need to get out there and sweep up the dead leaves, I managed to fluff out the lounge chairs a bit. I love exploring on the deck - and climing the screen door -- but don't mention that part to Mom and Dad or they might not let me go out anymore... they're so sissy!

I got a condo

Santa brought me this wonderful two story condo and I absolutely love it. It is not only a climbing toy but also a scratching toy so it serves two purposes. The inside is great to go hide in when I do not want to be disturbed. It also hides my toys from others who may be trying to play with them. My favorite part is the top though. I love to climb up there and observe the world around me. I can see all of the living room and the kitchen from my perch. It is also very comfortable for napping.

A Great Book

Mom's been reading me this great new book. It's Called "Another Cat At The Door" by C.W. Gusewelle. It's an awesome book. More people should write books about the cats in their lives. It's fine literature and makes the person reading it feel better about themselves (especially if they own a cat!)

I have NO privacy!!!

My Mom is a scrapbooker... so in her world everything I do is soooo cute. Drives me crazy. I have absolutely no privacy sometimes! The camera makes a noise when she turns it on so when I'm really not in the mood I will run and hide. However, sometimes she just sneaks up on me. Come on... aren't there laws about photographing someone in the bath tub! I would pull the shower curtain except I did that a few times when I was younger... those things aren't really mde out of very sturdy materials and Mom and Dad weren't thrilled about the holes I created. Maybe I'll call the DA and check into filing some sort of photo-stalking charges... but then again, she cleans my litter box and feeds me so if she were to go away my life might not be as cushy as it is now. Perhaps I can reason with her... or just get used to having my photo taken anytime.