AMAZON

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

A Christmas Present, Sort of

Do you remember back in July when I requested your input regarding which photograph of Alex to submit in a contest of pet photos? As I later wrote ( I think) one of the two Alex photos I submitted and was chosen to be published in something called the International Library of Photography. Of course, I was advised that I could purchase the book for about the same amount of money I spent on a semester’s worth of theology books when I was in seminary. I did not accept the offer.

However, more recently I was offered a plaque commemorating the photo and, since the price was about what a tank of gasoline now costs, I took them up on the offer. Yeah, I knew the contest was just a set up to sell pet lovers like me stuff, but I succumbed. I am considering the wall hanging a sort of Christmas present to Alex and me.

Below is a scan of the plaque:




I scanned it because, when I attempted to photograph it hanging on the wall, the photos all came out like this:




If you are wondering what I am doing writing a blog at 2:00 a.m., it is because my housemate is still outside catting around. Alex and I went to bed early—about 10:00 p.m.—and were snuggling under the comforter until about midnight when the furball climbed from beneath the comforter and sat on my head , awakening me, and demanding to go outside. Of course I always do as he commands and so I got up and opened the front door, figuring that when Alex discovered how cold it is outside he would give up on his idea of a midnight stroll and we could go back to bed.

Unfortunately, it is not cold outside—the temperature is 48 F—so the furball scampered out and leaped off the porch. I am awaiting his return so I can contentedly return to bed without worrying about the silly cat.

ADDENDUM: 2:57 a.m.

The furball returned home about ten minutes ago after almost three hours of catting around outside and he is now pestering me to go back to bed. I am obeying his command, as usual.



30 comments:

  1. Great photo!, we have 2 owner cats, brother and sister, the boy nips my fingers while im asleep to get my attention lol

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  2. What a great plaque ... your Alex is a gorgeous kitty.
    What's with cats, wanting to play around in the early hours. My Bambi wakes me to play around 3am lately ... but I won't let her outside (against the law here, to have cats outside at night !!) ... so I have to put up with it !!
    Anyway, Nick, I am just dropping by to say HI, and to wish you and Alex a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.
    Hope to be able to drop by more often in the new year.
    Take care, hugs, Meow

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  3. That is a very nice Xmas present.

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  4. What a nice little plaque, it turned out very nice.

    Cats seem to have a way of getting your attention when you are sleeping. They know how to be real annoying and given a chance, they also know how to make each paw feel like they are 1000 pounds when they walk across you. I do not know how they do it. I am glad Alex enjoyed his catting around and you were able to get back to sleep.

    I hope Alex lets you have a wonderful day... :)

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  5. You should get a dog - seriously Mutts just goes to sleep and stays asleep all night..

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  6. Oh its a cats life, if reincarnation exists I coming back as a cat with an owner just like you!
    What a superb Christmas gift, but shouldn't you have waited till the 25th?

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  7. Although it is only the 19th, thought I would pop over (I am expecting things to get a little bit hectic over the next few days)
    to wish you and yours (especially Alex) a fantastic Christmas and a happy and healthy 2008.
    :)

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  8. I've got 3 tubby furballs - they're about 2in long and look like this... and one of them keeps escaping

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  9. I'm not sure why, but the phrase "The Stepford Cat-'owner'" comes to mind.

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  10. POLGARA: Alex sometimes seems to chew on my fngers, too. I believe he is reliving nursing on his momma cat. I think that is a male thing.


    MEOW: Yes, I found the plaque to be more impressive that I thought it would be. I now hangs in the hallway where Alex’s photo can be displayed to all visitors.

    Merry Christmas, Connie, and many blessings to you.


    JOSHUA: Thank you. Someday I may return to Cannelton for a day visit. Many years have passed, my friend.

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  11. A tripod and an incandescant white balance setting on the camera would do the trick.

    ~Oswegan

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  12. Our cats always do what we call the 'Kitty high-speed 500' at about 5am. I have to duck under the covers and wait for it to end if I want to avoid injury. Weirdo cats... :)

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  13. BARMAN: I have learned that Alex has his ways of getting my attention, sleeping or awake. Last night, as I was writing the addendum to this post, he put his calls into my leg and, when I jumped up, the furball walked serenely to the bedroom doorway and stood there waiting for me to get into the bed so that he could follow. Alex will not leap on the bed until I am in it and situated with the cover over me. I do not know why!

    MUTLEY: “The cat could very well be man's best friend but would never stoop to admitting it. ~ Doug Larson

    QUEENIE: Reincarnation as a cat doesn’t sound too bad. “Cats are intended to teach us that not everything in nature has a function.” ~ Anonymous

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  14. AZZITIZZ: And a Merry Christmas to you, too. Alex says, “Meow.”

    GLEDWOOD: Welcome to Nick’s Bytes. I had one of those furballs once who put Houdini to shame.

    RIMSHOT: Stepford cat owner? That sounds rather sinister.

    OSWEGAN: I thought about using the tripod after my first failures; I didn’t think about changing the settings. But, hey, it was after 2:00 a.m. and my brain wasn’t really in gear.

    COURTNEY: I stay beneath the covers, too. Never know what the silly cat will do. (Sometimes I believe that Alex considers me a toy).

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  15. Very nice! Yanno, the more I read about Alex, the more I want to be your little kitten. (That sounded perverted, huh?) Welp----they finally pegged me right!!!

    Hope you're doing terrific! Tell Alex I said hi!

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  16. I love the plaque! Merry Christmas Nick and Alex.

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  17. My mother took one of her cats for a manicure this morning, the vet suggested that the other should come back for an ultra sound scan and a urine test
    getting on for £500
    Its cheaper to visit a doctor.
    The one that had the manicure has had £1000 of dental work done this year (two extractions)
    The moral of the story/
    DONT BUY A CAT!

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  18. DEB: You can be my kitten anytime you want. Alex is a wonderful housemate, but our conversations are far from intellectually stimulating.

    LAURIE: And a very Merry Christmas to you, too.

    THE HITCH: That’s a lot of money for cat care! Alex has cost me a bundle, but not nearly that much. We do love our pets, don’t we.

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  19. That's a nice looking plaque.

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  20. We are such suckers, aren't we? We know it's a scam but we pay up anyway because we love our pets. And why not when the pet is question is as handsome as Alex?

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  21. hehehe. i hope alex is properly grateful and suitably impressed.

    he does make a handsome figure for your wall, ey?

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  22. A very nice gift, for you and Alex!
    I would love to get a kitten, but I just don't know about being owned!!!!

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  23. Nice present, Nick. Does Alex always wake you up to let him out to play?

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  24. Wow, that's a nice memento to have, Nick. At least you have proof you've been published!

    As for Alex catting around in the snow...shame on him! Doesn't he know warm is much better for those sorts of pussyfooting shenanigans.

    Have a wonderful Christmas Nick and Alex.

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  25. That's GREAT!

    Wow, I wish I was a cat and that you would adopt me. I think it's a fine plan.

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  26. I guess you just have to understand the 'feline mind'.... MEN! ;)

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  27. and we always obey our masters don't we...
    i love the plaque nick!!!

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  28. Of course, I was advised that I could purchase the book for about the same amount of money I spent on a semester’s worth of theology books when I was in seminary. I did not accept the offer.

    ` Er, yeah, I learned after entering a couple things like that, it's just a scam. Pretty much everyone's photo 'wins', but you have to shell out a fortune for a book which may or may not exist.

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