a day to celebrate.

********

angelo buttertoast jones. 

my friend. 

today is his birthday. 

already. 

again. 

i decided to honour him and share a couple of his stories. 

*  #1  *

last weekend, it was "shot clinic" time. you know, where you load up all the animals 

and drive them to the clinic

and stand in line 

and 

everyone is meowing and barking and pawing 

and some of the pet owners don't mind and think it's all rather sweet

but

then you see some with facial expressions like they just sucked a big ol' lemon. 

well. 

i was standing at the counter with angelo

and 

way over there across the room was mister pencilfox with zig and pinto. 

poor mister angelo. 

he's in a kennel crate

and

when it's our turn to go into the exam room for vaccines, 
the sweet little tech coaxes him out of his kennel

and 

right then and there he becomes sick all over the floor. 

yup. 

my cat. 

but sweet little vet tech cleans it all up and fawns all over angelo. 

poor kitty. poor dear kitty, she says. 

once we came home, he slept for 48 hours solid. 

straight through. 

that's when i bought him a catnip toy. 

you know. 

you've been sick a-bed and mom brings you toys and comic books

and lets you stay in your pajamas 'til you feel all better. 

*  #2  *

earlier this week. 

the weather was warm and sunny and mister pencilfox let all the animals outdoors

while he was working on some man-project. 

angelo was on the deck, hunting for birds. 

he made a quick jump at a redpoll 

and 

OHMYGOSH

instead of landing back on the deck railing

he went over the edge

and 

somersault'd and cartwheel'd

and grabbed at the air 'til he hit the ground. 

on all fours, i need to add. 

mister pencilfox witnessed the whole carnival act. 

he reported that angelo sat on the ground a moment, dazed. 

and then got back on his feet 

acting like nothing had happened. 

nothing at all. 

and he's intact. 

no injuries. 

****

that's my boy. 

see why i celebrate his birthday 

and 

carry home organic catnip for the party?

come on over. 

we're celebrating all night long. 

life is good. 

especially for angelo buttertoast jones. 

he'll let you roll in catnip if you wish....

********