Nothing Says Winter For Kitties Like Blankets and Shopping

This winter has just been exhausting. Even though I haven't left the house except to go the vet that one time, between the shopping and napping, I just haven't had much time to myself. I mean, I've watched some TV, and the blankets are always nice, but sometimes a kitty just needs to be, you know what I mean?

Luckily, it's Christmas season, so I've got a little time to catch up, take a snooze, and shop online for presents for all my kitty pals in the townhouse complex.

Riding in Cars With Hippos

Katie and I went to the vet on Wednesday. I did not appreciate such things, as I am generally a kitten who does not like to leave the house. I wouldn't say that I'm agoraphobic purr se, but I have totally enjoyed the ways in which I have not had to leave the house since moving to Purr-chester this July. I tried to make my concerns known in the car on the way there, and my meows were met with much fawning. As usual, the vet was incredibly nice to me (the public loves me!) and hopefully the fleas that seem to have infested my beautiful fur will be solved soon by the medicine they gave me.

Plus, Katie made me ride in my carrier (even though I had my favorite purple blanket, so it wasn't all that bad) and we all know I prefer to lay on the console and glance out at the world around me.


Purrs and Smooches,
Hippo

Hippo-dailies!

Peekaboo!

I caved and decided that if Katie and my auntie Karly could do this Holidailies thing, the Hippo-bear could too. Plus, it can be my Christmas Present to all my adoring fans out there. The thoughts I conjure for the month will probably not be as long as my normal Monday entries, but I promise there will be photographs, and that I will try to delve deep into my kitty subconscious to find many anecdotes and personal facts that you might have missed between the sumptuous white fur and cute button nose.

But for today, a little game of hide and seek; it is one of my favorites. Baxter tells me that the Rochester debaters are really into Connect 4, but I consider that beneath my tiger-like intelligence. Hiding and then pouncing is a much more useful skill.



Purrs and Smooches,

Hippo

The Many-faced Napitude of the Elusive Hippo-bear

It was a Hippolicious holiday weekend, and though I kept my feasting to chow and catnip, I am really not in significant need of tryptophan anyway. I suppose chipotle cheddar mashed potatoes would help me get a nice little kitten nap as well, or maybe they would just give me enough spice to fire a run up and down the stairs.

Irregardless, there was no shortage of kitten-like naps over this long weekend. There were as many different varieties of nappage as there were situations over the weekend. On Thursday for instance, Baxter and Katie divided their time fairly evenly between frantic kitchen antics and time on the couch. Hence I divided my time between keeping their spots warm for them:



and snuggling with Katie as she waited for rolls to rise, pie crusts to bake or cakes to cool nearby:



Those were not my only types of sleep of course, since I had to sneak in fairly quick naps (for a Hippo at least) while my friends went out to see a play:



and also got the opportunity to have day long napstravaganzas while the crazy people who keep me in chow went shopping on the day after the turkey-bird:



Anyway you slice it, Hippos love to nap and we do it very well. There is virtually no where that I cannot sleep and virtually no time I can’t enjoy it. More proof is necessary. I submit my final exhibit; even if the impromptu pile of laundry at the bottom of the stairs is only going to be there for an hour or so, I can squeeze in a couple of persian-riffic snoozes.



Alright, blogging, not surprisingly, makes me a tired Hippo. Off to look for something soft and cuddly…like me!

Purrs and Smooches,

Hippo

Meowy Purr-sgiving!

As we approach this Thanksgiving season, my Hippo-ness is aware that there is a great feast ahead. All my human friends will sit down at the table with a giant bird, some delicious mashed potatoes, and various other delights. While I might choose to take a lick of the whipped cream when no one is watching, I for the most part prefer to stick with chow.

While I understand that Thanksgiving is a gluttonous holiday for you folks, when it comes to the Hippo-bear, every day is a chance to eat to my little Persian heart is content. I admit that I am not the cleanest kitten on the planet, and I occasionally have a tendency to well, be less than perfectly contained:


You might say (I’m a meower, but I’m not the only purr…) that I could be a cleaner kitten. But, I say to you, why don’t you try to eat the delightful Country Bread Stuffing with Smoked Ham and Goat Cheese that Baxter is making this Thursday with your adorably flat Persian face smashed into the bowl. I think you’ll end up much messier and far less glorious.

Anyway, I am extremely thankful to have laps to lay on, couches to curl up on, blankets to snooze on and great friends and admirers throughout the world. I will join you all on Thursday, as deep in my chow as you are in gravy. Happy Turkey Day everyone!


Purrs and Smooches,

Hippo

Debate Hippo

So I must admit, weekends where there are debate tournaments but only one of my friends Katie or Baxter is gone are my favorite kind of debate weekends. It's not that I don't enjoy being alone, because I do. This pretty kitty likes to have time for introspection and pondering the uni-purr-se, but I also like to have a friend at my demand, should I need anything. This weekend, with Katie at home and Baxter at the Wake Forest Debate Tournament in Winston-Salem, NC, was perfect. Katie did laundry, so I got plenty of chances to dart in and out of the laundry room (which they insist on keeping locked much of the time, and which I totally do not understand, as there are cobwebs to run into and spiders to bat, not to mention large machinery to hide behind). We watched much TV, including 3 movies, and a few episodes of the View, which I heart, as I purr Rosie O'Donnell.

This weekend, though, I decided that the best thing for me to do to get to see a little more of the country would be to debate for the University of Rochester. So I started by exercizing my jaw, getting ready to read aloud.


I did some speed drills, but all they did was make my mouth tired.


Then I decided to take a break, do a little research, and gear up for much work.


After all that hard work, I thought about writing some arguments out, practicing my second affirmative constructive, but then I decided that it would be better to take a nap in my tub.

I Have a Hobby, I Maintain the World's Largest Collection of Sea Shells, Perhaps You've Seen It, I Keep it Scattered On Beaches All Over the World

Meowy meow. With Halloween in the past and the insanity of the constant buzz surrounding the question of how adorable I would be in my lobster costume behind me, I am a fairly laid back kitten until Thanksgiving time. Baxter and Katie were around all weekend, petting me, brushing me, and generally enjoying what I like to call the Hipposity of the world. There were admittedly large stretches where they had taken off to places that seemed to be either work at the debate office, a trip to the Orchestra and a Packers’ game.

So I have developed a new primary hobby, as the quote from one of my favorite comedians above indicates. (Steven Wright, by the way. One liners fit my attention span.) It is not done to the exclusion of my other hobbies, like eating chow, batting at string or playing on the stairs. My brand new hobby:



That is correct. Sitting on the back of the couch. You might be tempted to say, “Hey Hippo. How’s it goin. Lovely day isn’t it. Oh, you haven’t been to the window today to see the weather outside? You should, its lovely. Anyway, I don’t think that sitting on the back of the couch itself necessarily constitutes a hobby.” I would say this to you, however: 1) Your argument contradicts itself. I have been so busy in my hobby that I have not even made it over to the beautiful window today to look outside. 2) You obviously know little about sitting on the back of the couch. Here’s a brief rundown.

You can sit in multiple directions, to analyze the geometry of the living room, to look alternately at the stairs, the TV, the kitchen, or either the front or back door. Here is me checking out the patio.



You can wrap your tail around your face, either to curl up all like an adorable red panda or to do a Darkwing Duck impression. Darkwing Duck is a great show by the way, I have been downloading reruns. Anyway, here I am, wrapped up like a Hippo in a blanket, aka, The Hippo Burrito.



But for the most part I am still just attempting to master the most basic component of sitting on the back of the couch. Some would say it was the preliminaries, but in reality, it is like the serve is to tennis, like putting is to golf. It takes more practice than you think, but I am putting in my hours. Cuz ladies and gents, the meat and potatoes of sitting on the back of the couch, is napping. And I will leave you with one last shot as I get back to my hobby of the week.



Purrs and Smooches,

Hippo

Many Meows and Purrs for a Happy Halloween!!!

As promised, I bring you the updated version of Hippo Costume-palooza, 2006 edition. This year, I decided to be . . .

A Lobster!

Here is Baxter and I, all dressed up and celebrating the Meow-lo-ween.


I do have to admit, I am not entirely sure that I was pleased to be wearing the outfit. I mean, I am completely adorable, but I am adorable every day. And today was a big day in the grooming department - I had a bath, Katie brushed me too much, I was blow dried twice and am still not completely, AND I had to wear a halloween costume?


But at least Baxter looks cute.


Note that I also helped Katie carve a spectacular pumpkin.


And then I ended the night with a little dance in my hat, because it was slightly bothersome but also incredibly fun to dance around the townhouse.


Happy Halloween!!!!

Almost Happy Meow-loween!

I know that this pretty Hippopotameow promised a picture of my secret Halloween costume, and I am afraid that I am going to have to disappoint you all, my dear readers. I have not yet taken my holiday bath, which means I am not yet willing to subject myself to photographic memory in my lovely costume. Its stunning color choices make it necessary that my fur be as white and pristine as possible, and I just did not have time to bathe today. Over the weekend I was pretty low key, even though Baxter told me explicitly I could have a costume party, but I thought it better to save my thunder for the actual Halloween day.

I did think that I should give you a little taste of the awesomeness that is me in a costume. So if you'll recall, exhibit A: my halloween costume last year. I was a dragon.


Exhibit B? My Christmas Costume. I was a snow-cat.


Exhibit C? My Easter Costume, 2005.


Exhibit D? My getting fixed Baby Costume, May 2005.


Exhibit E? My Easter costume from this year, which was beautiful.


And finally, Exhibit F. The Dress Katie bought me for the upcoming holiday party season.


What this means for you? Tomorrow there will be a special super-duper non-Monday edition of Hippo Blogging, wherein I show you my lovely and as-yet undisclosed Halloween costume.

Why Do You Meow Me Up, Buttercup?

What could be a better way to start a weekend than this sign?


I must say, I did not actually attend the kitty show, mostly because I had much napping and kitty chow eating to do, but I sent my missives (i.e. Katie and Baxter) to check out the scene and see if any of the kitties there were worthy of being my friend. Turns out there were more kitties there of the Persian variety even than the Siamese kitties for which the cat show was named. Alas, however, they did not bring me a friend. They did bring me a new toy that I am just getting the hang of, so I will save pictures of it for later.

--
I know everyone around me is wondering the same thing: what is this pretty kitty going to be for Halloween? I have my costume all ready to go, but I don't think that I will reveal it just yet. Instead, I will show you my practice costume, a dress that Katie was kind enough to get for me on clearance at Target.


Am I not the most adorable Hippopotameow on the planet? I mean, who else could make this dress look so spec-cat-ular?


Next week: My Costume! If you're lucky, I'll even take a picture with a Care Bear, also in costume.

Big Weekend in Hippoland!

Hello! A very tired meow to all my readers, because its been a busy weekend for the Hippo bear. Katie and Baxter decided not to leave town this weekend, but did decide to spend most of their time away from their house. I overheard something about running a tournament, but to be honest, I am generally so fascinated by other catnip flavored toys or the beauty of my own fur to pay attention to what others are saying.



They did decide to stop back at the house occasionally on each day, really with just enough time to ruin my typical Saturday debate weekend schedule:

6:00 am: wake up: race up/down stairs to attack first available piece of dangling textiles

6:15 am: scratch green scratchy-house to wake up my claws and get in a good stretch

6:23 am: nap

8:00 am: Hippo snacks for breakfast, maybe sneak a nip of cream
8:20 am: post breakfast nap
10:00 am: continued napping
12:00 noon: brief moping while lamenting the lack of laps within which to sit, ultimately resolved by finding a pile of laundry, blankets or electrical cords
1:00 pm: start drinking cream
3:30 pm: hard cream drinking afternoon nap
5:00 pm: wake up to have a brief snack and recover for the big night ahead
7:00 pm: party

7:30 pm: nap

9:05 pm: Party!

9:09 pm: nap

10:17 pm: PARTY!!!!
10:21 pm: nap
10:23 pm: party
10:26 pm: nap

And so on. Instead of this pretty reasonable schedule mixing work and play, I had to leave whatever cozy nest I had created to investigate the people stopping by to put things in the fridge or pick up insane amounts of mustard. That’s not even to mention the amount of different guests that visited the Hippo pad. At one point there were six people in one room of the house! Everyone was very nice and paid a pretty reasonable amount of attention to my beauty, even though I made myself scarce during the hard partying. I have noticed that people drinking a lot of beer sometimes act like Hippos after one too many pinches of nip, so it was probably the safest all around play. I managed to gather that the visitors included Kathryn, Joe, Jen and Christy (well Ken and Gordie too, but they are always dropping by) all of whom share the same “leave my adorable persian cat for the weekend to attend a debate tournament” mentality. There was a lot of discussion of mackerel, though I for some reason no one offered me any tasty fish.

Anyway, I have been told that this weekend I will be cuddling on the couch while watching football with my favorite people. While this is exciting for me, I am actually even happier for Katie and Baxter, who must be very very tired of being without me. Even the best camera phone movies do not compare to living meowing Hipposity.

Purrs and Smooches,

Hippo

Hippo's Love Song for Baxter

Katie and Baxter are in Kentucky this weekend for a debate tournament, which means that I have left to my lonesome for four days. Though I love having parties and slurping bowlful after bowlful of cream, I miss my Baxter. For the past year or so, I had really liked sitting with Katie more. We got up in the mornings together, checked our email together, and she is always willing to pet me and brush me and make me all pretty. And I still love Katie. She takes care of me. But as of late, Baxter and I's love affair has grown, and I love sitting in his lap.


Baxter always sits on the couch with his recliner out so there is plenty of space for this pretty kitty to lounge and stretch.


He changes my litterbox rapidly and always keeps food in my awesome Green Bay Packer Bowl.


He is always willing to sleep and smooch with me in bed.


He even shakes the feather so that we can cuddle while we bat at fun kitty toys.


Smooches for Baxter!

The Ballad of a Kitten and Her Feather

I must admit that this whole Baxter and Katie going out of town thing is really getting old. I mean, I like the parties and the unlimited chow and cream, but I also really like Baxter and Katie, and when they are out of town, who will I lay with in the mornings? There is no one to pick me up and play games, no one to cuddle with in the middle of the night, and no one to brush and pet me. As you can see, this is not my favorite state of affairs. I am perturbed.

More than that, though, I am forlorn. Sad and crushed that there will be no one to play with me.

At this point, only my feather is here to comfort me. We lay together and wish for Katie and Baxter. I reach my arms out towards the feather, and the feather reaches back.

Maybe if I give them this look, Katie and Baxter will just stay home?

Until then, I will be looking and Waiting.

Luckily, as it Monday, they have returned to me! We will run and frolic and play and smooch until Friday. I mean, who could resist this Hippo Bear?