A small collection of poignant photos of fairly cute cats, extracted from other webpages on this site.
You may not find this terribly rewarding unless you're included here, so this is a good time for casual and random browsers to turn back before they get too caught up in the sweep and majesty of the proceedings
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The joys of sitting out on the lawn by the lake on a fine day, but . . . reading's more difficult when the cats want in on it. 2 September 2023.
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Something has caught the cats' attention.
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Choupette is scowling.
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Melvin is scowling. (They don't appreciate being disturbed.)
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The water level's way down -- the hydrobike's essentially in drydock now. Melvin may be contemplating joining us but . . .
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. . . he'd always rather just watch.
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Thinking 'bon voyage' in cat talk, and . . .
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. . . pausing for a drink.
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Choupette pretending to be asleep, 9 September 2023
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The day begins with the customary Eternal Vigilance.
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Much later, settled in, awaiting the evening TV time (or awaiting someone opening that box of Greenie cat treats on the table; those are nightly simultaneous events)
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Look who's noticed that there's a suitcase out. Determined not to be left behind. But this isn't for the Big One -- we're just going down to Wausau for the annual Birds in Art exhibition. Back soon.
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Back up north now, to wonder why Melvin the Doge persists in treating septic tank lids as his regal throne
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Emery and Choupette are playing about on the trampoline, when . . .
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. . . Choupette tackles a project of her own.
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-- What you lookin' at, Buster?!
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[ -- Back off, don't antagonize her. ]
[Four photos apparently taken by Emery's mom Meryl]
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Now we're on the road again, with bored cats. We're in Ignace, Michigan, by the Mackinac Bridge, and we forgot to tell them when we'd be back from dinner.
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The next morning, Choupette is anxious to find out what's going on outside.
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Too much traveling and stress has made Choupette wary, perhaps -- she's reluctant to come out.
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That said, she has always been an appallingly bad or a not quite so bad traveler, but on this entire trip she has been very nearly perfect -- like Melvin, settling down and sleeping through 5 or 6 hours.
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The next day, across Ohio around Columbus, on I-70 around Wheeling, WV, and a bit of Pennsylvania, and south to Morgantown, WV. We're not great fans of Morgantown, but the Cranberry is just a few miles east of the downtown on I-68 and we've stopped here several times, once with a few days for some local hiking in the Coopers Rock State Forest.
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-- We're going out to dinner now, guys, don't be anxious; we'll be back soon. That's a promise.
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-- You'd better be!
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As we pull out for home, we must be careful not to leave anybody behind.
Back in Staunton
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Careering down the Interstates over 4½ days, we've made it to the Old Y in Staunton, 21 September 2023, and the cats are resuming their acquaintance with their favorite catnapping accessories.
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Melvin's adopted a new favorite hideout.
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Choupette is constantly seeking new ways to frighten the old dad.
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It's usually Choupette who begins these frequent bagarres with a speedy ambush . . .
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. . . which usually ends in a standoff after a few minutes.
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It's not easy to tell, but Choupette is happy to be home and contentedly up on her perch.
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Or grabbing a quick snooze on the side of the bathtub.
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She's been a little more wary and watchful very recently, as if . . .
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. . . she suspects that all of this elaborate luggage packing might not include her. 'Don't leave us behind!'
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But we did. We're in Italy now for a month.