Annabelle leaped onto end of the computer table and strode toward me. I looked up from Facebook. Daddy! Daddy, she said excitedly, I just had a brilliant idea. Annabelle! Why is your tail wet? I asked her. You’re leaving a trail of water. Are you dragging it through your water dish? No, of course not!  … Continue reading 104. PERFUMES BY ANNABELLE →

Annabelle jumped onto my bed where I was lying in a semi-prone position. What are you reading? she asked. A new mystery.  Do you like it? It’s too early to tell.  It’s set in the nineteenth century, but the characters don’t seem to be in the same period. I hope it gets better. I closed … Continue reading 103. NEW GHOST IN TOWN →

Okay, Annabelle said. You never did finish your story, you know. That’s right! Thatch added. Finish the story! What story? I asked. About the Pfizer? You know, the Pfizer Prize. Pfizer? Prize? I was puzzled. I don’t know what you mean, Thatch. I think he means your prize for Stephen Sondheim, Annabelle said. Yes! That! … Continue reading 102. ANNABELLE AND MR. PULITZER →

One morning while I fought to stay awake and focus on what emails I really wanted to delete immediately, Thatch said to me, There’s this looked trunk in the basement. What, Thatch? I looked up in bewilderment. Didn’t Annabelle tell you? I don’t think so. I fought back a yawn and failed. So, what did … Continue reading 101. THE MYSTERY OF THE LOCKED TRUNK →

Annabelle! You are working my last nerve, Missy! I was having dinner when Annabelle decided she was bored watching me eat, so she leaped from the table to the top of the chest of drawers.  Her kick sent my glass flying and juice ended up all over me and the table.   Cute, Missy, I … Continue reading 100. THE SARCATSICKS →

I limped into the apartment with my walker, took the two Chewy.com cartons out of my shopping bag, tossed them into the living area, and hobbled into the room. Annabelle, Thatch, and Stella, sleeping on my bed jumped up at the sound of the cartons hitting the floor. What’s in those boxes? Annabelle asked. Treats … Continue reading 99. PAINS AND PULITZERS →

It had been one hell of a morning. On my way from taking the recyclables and trash to the basement I had stopped to pick up yesterday’s mail. A large carton containing kitty treats waited for me in the lobby. I decided to unpack it there, put the treats into the large bag hanging from … Continue reading 98. OH, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING! →

Annabelle, get out of the bag. Now! I have to leave. Not. I’m coming with you. No, you’re not. It was 8:30. The cats had their breakfast at 6:00. By 8:15 I had had my two cups of coffee and my own breakfast, cleaned their dishes and litter, taken my morning meds, and dressed for … Continue reading 97. STOP! YOU’RE KILLING ME →

After begging to be petted, which I did for a good 10-15 minutes. Stella had bitten my hand.  And it hurt! Since she refuses to speak English, I never know if she’s playing extra rough or angry.  Stella, I said rather severely, you have major oral aggression issues. She gave me a puzzled look for … Continue reading 96. AFTER THE PROCEDURE →

Kitty cleanup finished, I loaded up my shopping bag with the recyclable paper trash, an empty carton of kitty litter, and a bag of dirty kitty litter, looped its handles over the handlebars of my walker, put on my mask, and headed off to the basement.  It had been a good morning so far.  All … Continue reading 95. ERKS REDUX →