The Lump in the Middle

Marcus:  Jaaaaaaan!  Percy didn't get up.  He's still in bed.

Jan:  No, he's not still in bed.  And stop racing around the bed screeching.

Marcus:  Yes, he is.  See the lump in the middle?  That's Percy.

Jan:  Well, that's okay.  He's an old cat and he's staying warm.  Let him sleep.

Marcus:  That's not fair!  You make me get off the bed when you get up and you don't let me go back to my bed the rest of the day.  You even put a couple of gates across it to block me.

Jan:  That's my bed, and you usually manage to find a spot to perch regardless of how I block you.  And if you remember, you have a comfortable bed of your own.

Percy:  Hey, you two, this lump in the bed is trying to sleep.  Wake me when breakfast is served.


Tomorrow is Halloween, so we thought we would post a couple of non-edited "Halloween" photos from our front porch.  Yes, that is our friend the spider from Open Invitation to Marcus.

Thanks to all of you who assured us this is a good spider.  Except on Halloween.  Come visit it if you dare.

 Happy Halloween.

Oh, and before we forget again, we won the washable piddle pads from the giveaway over at Dezi's World.  Thank you, Dezi and Raena.  Jan says they are really nice and handy to have around with older cats.  Uh, wait, who is she calling old?

We are participating in Happy Tuesday blog hop. Stop by Comedy Plus to see other posts or to join the fun.

Merci Was Sleeping

Marcus:  HEY, GUYS, GUESS WHAT!

Percy: Shhhhh!  Merci is sleeping.  You'll wake her up.

Marcus:  She should get up and come outside to play a rousing game of fetch with me. 

Percy:  She's old.  She needs her rest, not a rousing game of fetch.  One day you'll be old and want to sleep all the time too.

Marcus:  No, I'm never going to get old and sleepy.  If I do, who will keep Jan awake when she starts nodding off at 1 a.m.?

Percy:  I think the question would be more like, when you are old, who will awaken you at 1 a.m. so you can annoy the daylights out of Jan?

Marcus:  Don't worry.  I'll read the directions to learn how to reset Jan's alarm clock.

Percy:  And I suppose you'll borrow her glasses to read them?

Marcus:  But I have perfect vision.  Oh ... you mean when I supposedly get older.

Percy:  Yes, when you grow old, you will have to borrow Jan's reading glasses to see the dial and wear a hearing aid to hear the alarm.

Marcus:  Then I definitely don't want to grow old.

Percy:  You don't have a choice.  If you live long enough,  you will grow old.  By then you won't mind.  You'll have accepted it.   Merci did.  Where are you going?

Marcus:  To apologize to Merci for yelling when I entered the room.

Percy: But she's sleeping.  You'll wake her up!

Cyndi:  Spyder and Gracie are our interview subjects this week.  They don't have a blog yet but plan to.  You can read Presenting Spider and Gracie at Mousebreath.


We are joining the Pet Parade hosted by Rascal and Rocco and co-hosted by Bionic Basil and Barking from the Bayou.

Percy Finds New Beds

Marcus:  Hey, Percy, why are you sleeping on Jan's knit hat and scarf?

Percy:  Jan left them here for me to sleep on.

Marcus:  Are you sure?  She was wearing them because she was cold sitting at the computer.

Percy:  She took them off and left the room.  I'm sleeping on them; ergo, she left them here for me to sleep on.

Marcus:  You're probably right.  If she wanted them, she would have reclaimed them by now.

Percy:  Please turn out the light as you leave the room.

Percy:  It wasn't very nice of Jan to wake me the other night to demand back her scarf, but she left this on Marcus's crate.  It's soft and warm and she knows I like to sleep up here, so it must have been put here for me.

Marcus:  Hey, Percy, you get off my new blankie!  Stella Rose sent it to me (Marcus Has A Blankie), not you.

Percy:  You're not using it right now, but I'm ready for a nap.  Can we discuss this later?

Marcus:  No, you didn't ask my permission.  If you don't move right now, I'm going to pull my blankie out from under you!

Percy:  You'll shred it with your teeth if you do that, and how would you explain to Stella Rose that you destroyed her present?

Marcus:  Oh, no, you're right.  I can't do that.  So what can I do to get you to give me back my blankie?

Percy:  You can wait until after I finish my nap and I will return it to you.

Marcus:  Oh, okay.  How long do you think you'll need it for your nap?

Percy:  Just until tomorrow morning.

Marcus:  But it's only 8 a.m.  You can't possibly sleep for 24 hours.

Percy:  I can on something this soft and warm.  Would you ask the others to keep the noise down so I can rest?

Marcus:  Certainly, and I'll bring you a cup of hot apple cider and a bowl of already chewed kibble.  Would you like me to use the litter pan for you too?

Percy:  Don't be silly.  I'd rather have a cup of hot nip cider. And please turn out the light as you leave the room.   

A Spot of My Own

Rusty: *Yawn*  I've been sleeping so much better since Jan gave me my own pillow.

Cyndi:  She didn't give you a pillow.  She just put an extra pillow on the bed and you appropriated it.

Rusty:  Well, I'm very thankful for it.

Buddy:  So Rusty gets a pillow of his own and I can't even have a spot of my own.  Everywhere I go, there you are, Marcus.

Marcus:  Oh, you know you love having me around.

Buddy:  Well, if you have to hang around, could you please learn to turn around!  Here we are again with your head facing the other way and your butt facing me. 

Marcus:  It isn't possible for my butt to face you.

Buddy:  Why not?

Marcus:  Because my face is at the other end.


We have a lot to be thankful for as 2016 is being hustled offstage and 2017 is waiting impatiently in the wings.  We so appreciate friends and faithful visitors that encourage us and even laugh at our bad jokes when we post.  Thank you for your faithfulness.  

We are joining the Thankful Thursday blog hop at Brian's Home.

Marcus's Best Feature

Marcus:  You see who gets to sleep comfortably on the bed.  I just get to hang out on the edge while Buddy gets to stretch out with his own blankie.

Percy:  Stop complaining.  You guys are blocked from the bed during the day but at that time the heat wasn't on and Buddy was cold so he was allowed to sleep on the bed.  And you're hanging over the edge because you wanted to squeeze in the picture. 

Buddy:  Hey, I'm just now seeing this picture.  Why is your butt in my face, Marcus? 

Marcus:  Because ... uh, because ... uh ...

Percy:  Don't look at me.  I'd like to hear the answer too.

Buddy:  Because it's your best feature?

Marcus:  Of course not.  My eyes are my best feature. 

Buddy:  You do know your eyes are at the opposite end of your body?

Over te Horizon

Rusty:  Why are we posting this picture?

Micah:  That's what the sky looked like at sundown a week ago yesterday.

Rusty:  Oh, yeah, beautiful reds and yellow against black.

Micah:  Well, that's  how Jan said she feels today.

Rusty:  I'd hate to be the one to break it to her but she must be colorblind.  She's more apt to be black and blue than red and yellow.

Micah:  No, I don't mean she feels colorful.  It's been a busy week and she's very, very tired.  Something about at the end of the day the sun drops over the horizon and -

Rusty:  And Jan wants to drop over there, too?  You do know she's terrified of heights, don't you!

Micah:  Yes, I know that, but what she wants is to fall into bed for a good long rest.

Rusty:  You know what that means, don't you?

Micah:  Yes, it means she's turning off the alarm and we're all going to get some extra peace and quiet around here tonight.

Rusty:  I'll go check the status of the food bowls and then warm up Jan's pillow..  You can go organize the others to make sure Buddy's steps are beside the bed and his quilt waiting for him.  The dogs need to take a quick run outside.  And don't forget to make sure the night light is on so Jan doesn't fall over her own feet in the dark.  Did I forget anything?

Micah:  Yes, you forgot to say please.

UPDATE: Yes, we put Jan down for a long winter nap but she has already popped back up again. In our haste we misspelled "the" in the title.  (How does one misspell the?)  We are just discovering the mistake - 12 hours after it published - so correcting it would only cause a whole new set of problems.  Have a good laugh.  Your turn will come.  :)


We are joining the Pet Parade hosted by Rascal and Rocco, Basil the Bionic Cat, Barking from the Bayou and Owned by a husky.

Sneaky Devils

 Buddy:  Look at Micah.  He really loves, loves, loves his scratcher lounge.  

Percy:  He looks like a sleeping angel in these pictures.  No one would recognize him for the sneaky devil he is in real life. 

Buddy:  Micah would probably say the same thing about you, Percy.  After all, it's not a one-sided feud.  You antagonize each other.

Percy:  This opportunity is too good to pass up.  I think I'll just sneak up and whap him a good one in the head.  That should keep him sleeping with one eye open for a week. 

Buddy:  I'll go make sure the first aid kit is handy for both of you.

Percy:  Good idea.  He'll need some patching up.

Buddy:  Here, Percy, I found the first aid kit.  Percy?

Percy:  Zzzzzzzz.

Buddy:  Drat!  I was looking forward to refereeing a cat fight.  Should I give a Tarzan yell to wake them both up or should I let them sleep?    Decisions, decisions.  I think I need a nap to think it over.

Hearing Aid Alarm Clock

Merci:  I need a hearing aid.  Does anyone have an extra hearing aid?

Cyndi:  I don't think anyone who uses one carries a spare.  Why are you asking?

Merci:  I need one.   You know my hearing is pretty well shot.

Cyndi:  I sure do.  For some time now the whole neighborhood has been listening to Jan yell for you.  At the top of her lungs, no less.

Merci:  Well, at least she has figured out she either has to come touch me or give a high-pitched whistle.

Cyndi:  I like it when she tells you it's time to come in from the dog pen with a spray bottle.  I didn't realize a  bottle could spray that distance.

Merci:  It's not so neat when I'm standing around enjoying the quiet and suddenly water starts raining on me.

Cyndi:  You have to admit it's a better solution than Jan yelling late at night and waking the neighbors.

Merci:  She could come get me.

Cyndi:  You know how she hates those back steps, especially in the dark.  Plus, she could fall in one of those holes you or Marcus keep digging.  But why would you suddenly want a hearing aid?

Merci:  Because Mr. Doug was here Sunday and I almost missed him.  He was standing right beside me and I almost slept through his visit.

Cyndi:  He was only here a few minutes and he stood just a couple feet away telling Jan how to connect the new modem switch.   How could you sleep through Marcus's wild greeting?

Merci:  I didn't hear him.  Mr. Doug is my favorite person.

Cyndi:  I wouldn't announce that to Jan.

Merci:  You're right.  He's my favorite human other than Jan.  If he hadn't wakened me, I would have missed a rare opportunity to see him.  At my age, there might not be that many opportunities left.

Cyndi:  Hmm, what you need is a hearing aid alarm clock and it just so happens we have one of those right here in this house.

Merci:  We do?  Where is it?

Cyndi:  Asleep in his crate with the door open.

Merci:  You can't mean Marcus!

Marcus:  Hey, I heard my name.  Is it dinnertime?

Cyndi:  Not yet, but Merci needs a hearing aid alarm clock. With all the noise you make, you're perfect for the position.

Marcus:  Okay, but I hear overtime pays better so I'll work overtime hours first and then we can fit regular hours into my schedule.

Cyndi:  But you can't work overtime until ....

Merci:  Never mind.  He lives in his own universe.

Jan, Are You There?

Rusty:  Hello, anybody home?

Jan, are you there?

Where did you go?  You left the camera on.

Oh, there you are.  On the other side of the camera.  Asleep.

*rubs paws together*

Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!!!!!

Oh, I'm sorry, did I wake you?

Rockabye, Buddy

Percy:  Rockabye, Buddy, curled up on the bed.
             Visions of chicken roll inside your head.
             When the alarm rings, you'll lumber outside.
             I'll get your blanket while you pee and poop.

I know that doesn't rhyme, but the truth is the truth!  By the time he finishes his morning bathroom routine, I'll be curled up under his blanket sound asleep.  I  hope he doesn't then decide to return and sleep on top of the blanket.

We hope all our friends along the Eastern coastline are coming safely through Hurricane Matthew.  We know many have evacuated and some are awaiting the storm in their homes.  You are all in our prayers. 


We are joining the Pet Parade hosted by Rascal and Rocco, Basil the Bionic Cat, Barking from the Bayou and Owned by a husky.  

Asleep At The Keyboard

Cyndi:  Did you miss us?  Seriously, you didn't even notice we were missing?  But we didn't post two days last week.  Surely someone missed us!

Buddy:  Hmmm, guess not.  It was all Jan's fault.  She -

Cyndi:  Let's leave them guessing.

Buddy:   But it's really simple.  Jan kept sitting down in our computer chair last week and falling asleep at the keyboard. 

Cyndi:  And you know how we all like naps.

Buddy:  So we forgot about posting and joined her.

Cyndi:  It's that time again.  *yawn, stretch*  I think I'll just lie down here and ....

Buddy:  zzzzzzzzz

Penthouse Elevator

Merci:  I just love our new bed.

Taylor:  Why didn't you sleep on the old one.

Merci:  The bigger dogs would get there first and there wasn't room for me.  I am finally sleeping comfortably too.

Taylor:  Have you gained weight or has Jan gotten weaker?

Merci:  Excuse me?  You would actually ask a senior gal if she has gained weight? 

Taylor:  Well, I've noticed when you go over and paw the bed for Jan's attention, she doesn't just reach out and pull you onto the bed any more.  Now she has to stand up, pick you up and put you on the bed.

Merci:  Weaker.  Jan has definitely gotten weaker.

Taylor:  Why don't you just use Buddy's two-step stool and climb in bed yourself?

Merci:  I don't want to.  I like the ride to the penthouse.

Taylor:  What?  We don't have a penthouse.

Merci:  It's an analogy.  Think about it.  Buddy and Marcus have to climb the stairs.  I just call for the elevator.

Show Some Modesty

Cyndi: Pssst, Percy, wake up.

Percy:  Zzzzzzzz, zzzzzst.

Merci:  Percy, show some modesty! 

Percy:  Zsssss, zzzzst.

Merci:  You're going to be embarrassed when you see your pictures posted on the blog. 

Percy:  Zsssss, zzzzzst. 

Cyndi:  Forget it, Merci.  Percy's a guy. Not much embarrasses a guy.

Merci:  You're right.  He'll probably sell copies on Amazon.

We are joining the Pet Parade blog hop with hosts Rascal and Rocco,  Bionic Basil, Barking From the Bayou and Owned by a Husky. 

See you Monday.

Keeping Buddy Company

Merci:  Oh, here you are.  I thought you were going to help me teach Taylor how to knot Jan's shoelaces?

Percy:  Shhhh.  Buddy is tired.

Merci:  So come help me and let him sleep in peace.

Percy:  Not right now.  Buddy needs me.

Merci:  But you're not doing anything.

Percy:  Yes, I am.  I'm keeping Buddy company while he sleeps.

Merci:  But he doesn't know you're there.

Percy:  That's okay.  I said I would.  I think I'll stay. 


Join Pepi Smart Dog and friends for the Thankful Thursday blog hop.