Four years meritorious service

I am in good graces with Chessie this week, commemorating four years of continuous service on her staff. I married into her family in 2001, and I have enjoyed being part of her family.

Here is Chessie, by the window of our apartment. As it is "going condo," get a good look of the green behind her. The next place might have a parking lot or an interstate overpass. Ah, the Washington DC area.

Today: "Next year, a bronze pin for your nametag!"

Good Friday Bird Blogging

Chessie is well, but not particularly photogenic this week. However, my wife and I take many more pictures of birds around our apartment than we do of the cat each week (at least, before she got her own blog.)

So, will the birds be to this blog what Mork, from Ork was to Happy Days? Or, have we Jumped the Shark?

Tonight: Titmouse, titmouse, and chickadee.

NCAA is for cats

A big purr-out to the Calvin College Knights, the alma mater of the kitty momma.
They play in Salem, VA tomorrow for 3rd place the championship of Division III NCAA basketball. Unfortunately, Chessie can't go. But she can show her support.
From Jan. 2004: Ever faithful/to Maroon and Gold

NASA is for cats

What is it about cats and exploration? If cats ruled the world, would space travel be exclusively for hunting new places to curl up, or does the curiosity of cats carry over also to basic research? What is it about a hole or opening they find so appealing? "Because it is there?"

Wait, they do rule the world, don't they?

Today: The Empress' New Clothes

p.s. Chessie herself chose to stick her head through the handhold of a plastic bag, and she was supervised at all times while the camera was dispatched.

God's spotlight shines on us all

So, Chessie got annoyed with me Thursday. She's leading me to the front door of the apartment, a strange request from my kitty girl. She's sniffing the outside as I crack open the door and is obviously interested. Therefore, I grab the leash and after initial consternation, she easily scales the stairs down to the first floor and to the landing below. She eyes the sun, but I am not ready to head out there. Upon returning to the apartment, I opened the blinds and she found that which she sought. Because unlike U2, I can't end a sentence in a preposition ("Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For").

Today: The Warmth-Seeking Hairball

It's good to be in the backyard

Chessie is feeling spry in her double-digit years, a little scared to be outside but quite interested in the flora around her. She doesn't seem to mind the weird daddy with the camera documenting here every step outside.

Today: A second romp through the snow
p.s. My wife and I take amateur nature photos, posting the best of our collection on the web at Aiy's Backyard. This is Chessie's first picture as part of the "backyard" behind our apartment building. Or "condo", as the unseen hand described by Adam Smith has dictated. Ugh.

EXCLUSIVE! MUST CREDIT CHESSIE, OF MARYLAND!

Dear readers, before you hear scurrilous rumors on the Internets, Chessie would like to make the following clarifications:

• Chessie has never denied that her given name is Chestnut, and she stands by her assertion that "Chessie" is easier to say. The fact that her medical records all have "Chessie" in them is not meant to conceal any prior life under the name "Chestnut."
• Chessie has never claimed to be exclusively from Maryland. She has lived the majority of her life in Madison, WI. Early on, she lived in a high-rise in Chicago.
• Though most of the Internet rumors about Chessie are false, she is indeed a toilet drinker. Because we expect other bloggers to pick up on the story, we're putting it out there ourselves.

From July 2003: The Awful Truth

• Despite what you might have read, Chessie has not taken anabolic steroids or other purr-enhancing drugs. She is working through her catnip addiction and appreciates your ongoing support.

Capturing the lioness within

Chessie is recovering well from dental surgery and from cyst removal. You can notice the purple thread just at her chin. Whether or not she forgives the visit to the vet, however is a matter of interpretation.

Today: To them, you are spaghetti dinner

It's 5 o'clock somewhere

Oh, Chessie was a brave girl this week fans, as she went to her veterinarian for dental work and to have a cyst removed. She's lived with the little cyst for years and I seriously doubt that it would have caused her harm. But, the new Vet says it had to go, so my furry companion has two sutures left over. Purple, matches her collar.

Since Christmas, we have owned an Audubon Singing Bird Clock. Once an hour (when not in darkness), the clock emits the birdsong of one of twelve birds pictured at the hours. After an initial synchronization to the 1:00 position, the picture matches the bird. I knew she liked 9:00, the Re-Wing Blackbird. Today, I caught her at 5:00 attentive to the Common Yellowthroat.

Today: Is today the day?

Snow depth? About one leg.

My wife and I decided to let Chessie take a look around at the great outdoors after the most recent snowfall. "The storm to end all storms" that didn't happen, of course.

Today: Rompin' through the Snow

A mouser, at heart

You cannot see it in this picture, but Chessie is following an orange mouse tethered on a string. It's her downtime between the evening greeting at the door and the the 3 am rush of energy she finds when her stomach reminds of her raison d'être.

Tonight: Vigilant, but not baited.


It is dreadfully cold here on the Eastern Seaboard and will snow tomorrow. I do not know how many feral cats there are around, or what can be done for the dark black one I think Chessie watches from our 2d story apartment. But a moment of prayer or contemplation on their behalf seems fitting.

Face in the crowd

From Chessie's dad: With the New Year's Eve-Day holidays falling on a Friday and Saturday this year, picture-taking of Chessie was pre-empted by First Night Annapolis, a trip to Caledon Natural Area, and watching the Wisconsin Badgers almost win the Outback Bowl.

Thankfully, Chessie waited for us - my wife took this picture of Chessie on the blanket my mom (her kittygrandma) made for her.
Today: Looking to 2005

Captured in silk, captured in electrons

As Chessie inpects "Otto, the lonely tree," a feline from China captured on a silk screen stands beside her. (And thanks to Fangjun for the gift from his home country, from our days in Wisconsin.)

Today: Santa's Accomplice

Merry Christmas to one and all!

Cat as carry-on

The Christmas holidays are upon us. Best wishes to you and yours as you travel this season.

Today: The Stowaway

UPDATE: Due to time constraints, I did not downscale the photo before posting. This is now corrected. - 24 Dec 2004 BMB.

Friday should be about the cat.

At a political weblog called Eschaton, the maintainer of the site posts pictures of his cats every Friday. I would like to share pictures of my cat, Chestnut (Chessie, Chess-Mess, Chessie Girl, etc.) with a simple web interface. Blogger is really effective for this sort of thing.

Today: Winter Repose