Hello everyone, I'm back!
Ready for something more than posts about me playing nurse?
Me, too, um, hee, hee! ;-D
Doesn't this first picture look sooo cool?
Daddy, and I love his new camera (A Canon Powershot A1100 IS), and all he's done so far is just point, and shoot, nothing fancy.
All I have to do is look adorable, amusing, and interested.
No sweat! ;-D
This story is about taking care of your Human.
This story is about Strolling, and how cool it is.
This story is about meeting ones potential audience, Human, and Critter, up close, and personal, and making a good impression.
This story is about going where you may never have gone before, and about hanging in there, like a trooper, if you neglected to "Go" before you went, um, hee, hee! ;-D
Our last stroll was at Easter.
Today Daddy, and I, took our 4th Stroll.
At 3 hours, and 3, or 4, miles, it was our longest in time, and in distance.
It's been a while since my last poem, or song, and the last 2 weeks have been a bit stressful, what with Daddy, and his medical issues, so please forgive me if my new effort is not quite up to my usual standards...
My companion was my Daddy cool, The route was a circle quite long enough, The trip began by going up, then down, a mile The Pet Book section and the Magazines too, No yelling, no fights, no cops tossing us behind bars, So off to a park for squirrels we did seek, I don't know what it is, exactly, about the simple process of getting in for the ride, that spooks me... but think it might be related, in some way, to my life long displeasure at getting in my old, cramped, carrier. Anyway, Daddy didn't go to college for nothing! ;-D He brought out the treats when I hid under the table after leaping out of the Stroller. I so love Zuke's Natural Purrz Tender Chicken! They are just so, well, um, tender! ;-D I leaped on the bed, ate a half dozen, and before I knew it Daddy scooped me up, and dropped me in the stroller by the front door, not the back...and that was that. After a dozen more treats, and a bit of petting, I was purring, and ready to roll! ;-D When Daddy headed off in a direction we had not gone before I knew this Stroll was going to be different. Daddy needed this as much as I did, maybe more, just so we could bring back some sense of normalcy into our lives again, so I settled back, in my FUV (Feline Utility Vehicle) to see where we were headed. Your Human gets a workout that makes him, or her, healthier, while all you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride, either vocally commenting on the passing scene, or not, or interacting with anyone you may encounter, or not, as the spirit moves you. We passed over what is known as The Orange Crush, a spot in Orange County where 3 freeways that Humans use to drive their boxy vehicles on 4, or more, wheels everywhere they go, intersect. When I saw that it was all downhill after we reached the top I was glad my Pussycat Purrrrambulator had brakes! ;-D Once at the bottom we stopped a moment just to smell the flowers, and continued on our way past a drugstore, and hospital, until we came to the first of 2 shopping centers across the street from a mall. Daddy decided that the mall might be too much for me to handle, and as we headed toward the shopping centers we encountered 3 teenage girls who practically swooned at the sight of my handsome self... Well, OK, maybe not, but they DID find me, and Daddy most amusing, and interesting, I think. ;-D We encountered a woman, and her daughter, who also found us interesting, and then we went to Pier One Imports. Walking around inside Daddy asked the surprised female clerks if there was anything a Cat might find interesting in the store. When they said no Daddy pointed out the obvious...that everything in the store would be found interesting by a Cat, especially if it could be climbed on, or crawled inside, or used as a scratching post, if one had claws. ;-D This place was HUGE! The sight, and smell, of all that paper was so overwhelming that I just could not stop talking about it the moment we stepped inside! ;-D Within minutes a nice old lady approached Daddy to tell him she liked my ride, and thought I was a handsome Kitty who reminded her of her daughters Cat, who also was a Stroller Kitty. Everyone looked at us, looking up whenever they heard me excitedly yapping my gums, even though, unlike Daddy, they couldn't understand a word of Felinese. ;-D Most amusingly a clerk kept following us around, always nearby, but never obviously so (Or so he seemed to think), clearly keeping an eye on this weird man with his Cat in a carrier on wheels. He clearly must have expecting Daddy to toss something to me, and then we'd make a mad dash for the exits, or maybe he was expecting me to leap out, and go running around climbing on the shelves. Or maybe he read Daddy's "Ask me about my" Shirt, and, well, I don't know what that could have made him think! Silly man! ;-D I'm not only educated, and well mannered, but a writer, book lover, and New Journalist, and would never dream of behaving in such ways! Everybody else we encountered loved Daddy's shirt. ;-D Just sit right back and I'll spin a tale,
A tale of a long, long, trip
That started from our front door
Aboard my magnificent ride.
Of his driving skills I was sure.
As we set off this day
For a three hour stroll, a three hour stroll.
There was no chance that we'd get lost,
So down the street set off we fearless two
To go shopping no matter what the cost, to go shopping no matter what the cost.
Passing CVS
A Hospital too,
Pier One and some giggly teen girls,
Lots of cars
A Mother, her daughter in hand,
Giving us a smile. So this is the tale of what we saw along the way,
Of the bookstore clerk looking out for crime,
My amazement at seeing so many things,
The weather quite sublime.
Were well stocked, and looked their very best,
To meet so many humans, and two Dogs, made me a bit uncomfortable,
But nothing happened bad for which I feel very blessed.
Just a single hiss from me,
Everything went off calm and slow,
Most interesting as can be.
Our trip went more than another mile,
As we passed old homes, and pretty plants,
And finished our adventure, it made us both smile.
As I've mentioned before...I've made it difficult for Daddy to put me in the Stroller for a Stroll, hee, hee. ;-DStrolling is a way for you, and your Human, to bond as you safely explore the outside world in a way that is much safer for you than wandering out in the yard, or down the street, unsupervised.
Our next stop was the nearby Barnes & Noble Bookstore.
The Pet Book Section of this store was amazing!
Why?
Because, for some reason, beyond my understanding, there were more books about Dogs, than about Cats on the shelves.
Somebody needs to talk to whoever does the ordering, I swear!
At least there were copies of all the Chicken Soup Cat Books, and the Dewey Book, among others.
The Pet Magazine Section had more material about Dogs, Birds, and Horses, than about Cats, as well.
Daddy bought 4 Quamut.com Charts, and almost convinced the cashier that I was the one would would pay for the purchase!
As we left another employee complemented me, and outside Daddy had a nice couple of ladies help take our picture despite my sudden shyness which meant that Daddy kept having to turn the Stroller around until I quit turning my back, completely, long enough for a picture to be taken. ;-D
I don't look, annoyed, or embarrassed, in that picture, do I?
The Charts? One on Organic Food, one on Healthy Eating, one on Planning Meals, and one on Digital Photography.
Try as I might I could not find one on Catnip Recipes, and Responsible 'Nipping Tips. ;-D
As interesting as things had been so far, that was nothing compared to what happened next!
When we wandered passed the stores in the shopping center with a Mother's Market we met a couple of Dogs taking their own Humans out for the day!
First up was Moe, age 9, a shy, well dressed, fellow who glanced at me sideways while clinging to one of his Humans.
Neither one of us said anything to the other, but hope I came across as friendly towards him, just as I felt the friendly vibes coming from him. ;-D
We found ourselves suddenly surrounded by a half dozen curious Humans who thought Moe, and I, handsome, and adorable, and so Daddy introduced us to everyone, telling them about the Cat, and Dog, Blogging Communities, and passing out my card as he'd done a few times already on our Stroll.
Our next encounter was a tad embarrasing for me. ;-D
The impetuosity of youth can be disconcerting, especially when the impetuous one is an overly friendly, and exciteable female...of the Canine Persuasion. ;-D
Two year old Jada took one look at me, and apparently fell head over heels in love.
Or maybe not...
She was very eager to chat, that's for sure, and while I was just as curious I WAS briefly taken aback by how strong she came on to me, and...hissed at her moments after Daddy took this picture.
Daddy, and Jada's Humans, including a very nice boy, and another woman, all thought this amusing...
Me? I was embarrassed, and was glad to see that Jada didn't take umbrage at my brief unfriendliness. ;-D
After Daddy passed out more cards, and explained about the Blogosphere again, and chatted with the young boy, we continued on our way.
We went over to the Santiago Creek Trail, and saw, up close, a half a dozen squirrels, acting, well, squirrelly, but they were moving too fast, and were too far away, for the 3 pics Daddy took to show them to good effect.
We finally left the shopping district, and headed home.
Our route took us through one of the oldest residential districts in Santa Ana, Floral Park, with its beautiful homes, and gardens.
When we came to the Sarah May Downie Memorial Garden, on Flower St., built in 1951, we encountered a couple of teenage boys, with bicycles, sitting on one of the benches.
We continued on our way, admiring the trees, and flowers, and even an old tree house in one yard which had a plaque on it, dedicated to a long ago child.
We came across a bunch of cactus, some of which had a lot of thorns on them.
It was right about then that I finally became aware of an urgent need to, um, use the Litter Box.
Luckily we were only a few blocks from home.
I crossed my hind legs, tossed up a prayer to The Ceiling Cat, & held on for dear life the rest of the way home! ;-D
When we got home, and after I, um, took care of business, Daddy rewarded me with a few more treats, and I settled down in my tower for a nice long nap. ;-D
I hope you enjoyed reading about my Stroll, and learned some things, especially about how much fun, and interesting Strolling can be.
You are too funny in your stroller.
I love it.
What a great way for you both to get out and get some exercise.
Keep strolling.
Posted by: Harry Spotter | May 24, 2010 at 06:14 AM
How we enjoyed your travels Nikita and Daddy.
You met some interesting people, and Dogs, and saw some different places - you are very good in your stroller.
Nikita we think we might have freaked out when that dog came up so close but you held your ground.
We hope your Daddy's tests go well - we are sure you are doing an excellent job of looking out for him and keeping him in order.
Luv Hannah & Lucy
Posted by: Hannah and Lucy | May 24, 2010 at 07:36 AM
Wow, yoo got to go into a book store?
Dat's cool!
Da only one of us who's effur been inside a store is Sadie, and dat was at Petco to get a claw trim back before dad learned to hold her pointy side out so mom could clip them.
Yoor becoming a well traveled kitty!
Posted by: Zippy, Sadie and Speedy | May 24, 2010 at 11:02 AM
WOW, Nikita!
What an interesting and exciting adventure you both had.
Don't worry about hissing at the friendly dog, it's ok to be a little bit frightened when such things happen.
It's lovely to see that you have taken to strolling so well, and you are both making lovely new friends!
Whicky Wuudler
PS: Make sure your Daddy doesn't overdo things.
PPS: That top picture of you looking all owlish is beautiful.
Posted by: Everycat | May 25, 2010 at 03:55 AM
Wowie!!
We are going to have our Mom get a stroller for us!!
That looked like the coolest walk ever!!
Your TX furiends,
Posted by: Life From A Cat's Perspective | May 28, 2010 at 10:30 PM