Cat Grandpa...

 

No, neither of our kitties have become parents.  You may have heard me mention that I feed Steph and Dan's cats when they are running late.  Today is one of those times.  Dan has a late meeting at school, Steph is going to a Guide Dog for the Blind meeting directly after work.

Steph writes it in our appointment book and I step in to do my job, making sure the grandcats are fed on time.

They are sweet cats.  Alfie is their special needs boy; he has a neurological disorder that causes seizures, so he has to have meds at specific times - that is the main reason I get called in if they are running late.  4 pills, twice a day.  He takes the pills without much fuss...

 The other two cats waiting while Alfie gets his meds...

 Food prep...

 Proof that the cats are getting their meals...

 I also send Steph a photo when I give them a treat during the day.  Steph has accused me of just using the same photo more than once.  Yes, that is bullshit.  A new photo each time, but the cats generally take their food and treats in the same position.  Today's shot above, is an exception, since Tango (the orange boy) is usually on the left.  I do the photos so she can see that her kitties are being well cared for, because I am that kind of a caring guy.

I told her that I would sent a photo of me, instead of the cats.  She welcomed that.  Probably didn't think I would.  My selfie skills are not sharp, but here is a photo of me after the kitties have been fed...

 I am dependable help.  And my only charge for this service is the opportunity to tease Steph a bit, telling her that I will be "charging extra for short notice" or some other smart-ass comment.  Mostly to make her feel guilty about taking advantage of my good nature... but, she doesn't feel guilty and I don't really have a good nature.  ;-)

Yesterday, I put a book that she has recently acquired in the photo of their treat time so she could see that I wasn't using the same photo over and over...

 Of course, she hasn't considered my Photoshop skills and how easy it would be for me to put any item into an image.  Which I wouldn't do.  But, I could.  ;-)

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And, because I like kitties... and photos of kitties... here are a couple shots I took today of our sweet little Stella...

 

It's Also A Jungle In Here...

 

If you saw the post from two days ago (It's a Jungle Out There), you may get this title.

Joan got another silk plant - well, actually, more of a small tree.  I have no idea if it will eventually go outside, but Stella was pretty excited to see a tree in the house...

 She's so cute.  As always, I am biased.  But, look at that cute little face.

It Pays To Advertise...

 

Advertising isn't what it used to be.  For a lot of businesses, it is more effective to hire a social media manager to get the word out about their products... make "free" posts on FaceBook, Instagram, etc, regarding your stuff.

It worked on me.

Today, Joan wanted to stop at a rain gutter manufacturer and get a length of downspout to add to the bottom of one of our existing downspouts to route the water further away from the house.  The company that did our rain gutters couldn't sell us a 10' piece of downspout, but they gave us the name of their supplier.

We stopped there today and bought a 10' section.  For those keeping track, it just fits in the Equinox.  After that, Joan asked me where I wanted to have lunch.  I have been craving a burger (out) for several days - I have been seeing posts on Facebook for Shake Shack, and suggested a new one about 5 miles from where we picked up the section of gutter.

IF we have been to one of these before, I don't remember it.  I knew I liked the burgers at Steak & Shake, but not the same thing.  So, off to the Shake Shack...

 Like many other fast food places, they want you to wait on yourself...

 Easy enough, but then they also want a tip after you are done waiting on yourself.  From my perspective, there should be an "employee discount" when you wait on yourself.  But, I digress.

The burgers were good.  The shake was excellent.  The sides (fries and onion rings) were plentiful; nothing exceptional.  Not inexpensive.  We voted: we'd eat here again, but not go out of our way to get here.  This is a new location, in a new shopping area.  The interior is kind of austere - nothing fancy about it...

 This has not unseated our favorite burger places: Smashburger and Five Guys.  But, another option.

It's A Jungle Out There...

 

If you said "Randy Newman, the theme from the show Monk," you get 15 bonus points.  If you said, "Burkhard Dallwitz, 2008," you also get 15 bonus points.  If you said, "A line from the Jimmy Buffett song Fruitcakes: 'Stay in touch with my insanity really is the only way. It's a jungle out there, kiddies, have a very fruitful day'," you are my people and you get 20 bonus points.

It was only (only?) 88º when I took Murphy outside just before 7:00 this morning.  A break from starting the day in the 90s.  Murphy walked about a bit...

 Stella still shows no interest in going outside.  I am OK with that - she can run and jump like a spider monkey.  But, she keeps an eye on everything from the patio door...

 

Look To The Sky...

 

No, not a full moon or a SpaceX launch.  The weather around the state just digs in why we haven't gone anywhere somewhat local in the van.  This evening, there are flash flood warnings in Pinal County, southeast of us.  Areas along the Mogollon Rim had flooding over the weekend.  Seems it has been a lot of that over the last couple months.  Well, that and forest fires and big wind.

We did the "get it out, put it away thing" over the weekend and today.  Took down the umbrellas, flag, cover over the hot tub, and put away patio furniture cushions...

The umbrella laying down in that image is bigger than the rest - it takes both of us to pull it out of the stand and just put it on the ground.  Everything else is in the shed.  30% chance of thunderstorms tonight, 40% tomorrow and Wednesday.

Looking to the southeast...

 Looks ominous to me.  But, Murph and I got some outdoor time...

 The last bit of light on the furry boy.

 

Each One Is Special...

 

I read this today - it made me think of each of the great felines that have been a part of our family...

 Yep.

 

The Pitter-Patter of Little Feet...

 

The band?  No, that's Little Feat - this is feet.  Four of them.  No, we did not get another feline.

Steph and Dan were gone overnight - they made a run to California to pick up another Guide Dog for the Blind puppy.  I have been kitty-sitting (and feeding) while they were gone.  All good here on the home front.

I got a text from Steph today with the Check In app, telling me that they would be home around 4:35.

Joan and I went out for lunch around 1:30, in between kitty feeding - our two and their three are on different schedules.  And sure enough, right at 4:25 I got the "we have arrived home" notice.

As I went into their house from the side door, Steph was coming in from the front door... with a bundle wrapped in a towel.  "Can you hold her?  I have to use the bathroom.  Right now!"

When Steph came out, she unwrapped the puppy to show me.  Yep, she is puppy cute.  "Now, the puppy needs to pee."  Unfortunately, a heavy rain broke out just as Steph was coming in the door.  So, she had to wait for a bit for the rain to pass before taking the new puppy outside.  Dan took over...

 Cute, huh?  The puppy.  Some would call Dan ruggedly handsome rather than cute.  But, I digress.  The puppy's name is Natalia.  She is going to be called Natty (I may be spelling that wrong).  Another puppy raiser is going to take her for a couple months to get her trained enough that Steph and Dan can take her to work; Steph will have that raiser's puppy (Vinnie) during that time.

My kitty-sitting is done - I am off the clock now.

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Earlier today, I got some good guitar time in.  Working in my music room, I tried out several different effects pedals with the new guitar.  Two hours went by quickly.  Still in the "honeymoon phase" with the guitar and the new amp.