Home, sweet home
Dec. 27th, 2006 08:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
icarusHello, everyone. We're back home. *Icarus slumps into a chair.* WG's already asleep.
WG's buddy "The Puppy" took care of fuzzhead while we were gone. Now, commander fuzzhead doesn't particularly like the Puppy. From some combination of the Puppy high personal-trainer energy and jealousy over WG's friendship (the kitty is ignored when the Puppy's here), fuzzhead cries when the Puppy tries to touch him and stares at him with a baleful glare reminiscent of Smaug in The Hobbit.
We hoped five days would give them a chance to bond, because the Puppy really loves cats (and aches to pet fuzzhead) and the commander is a very sweet if high-strung kitty. We also hoped our house could be a pleasant home pad for the Puppy as an escape from living on board ship.
The first sign all was not well in kitty-land was the look fuzzhead gave us from his tallest command post as we came through the door. I know that look. I've seen it on trapped housecats hiding under decks surrounded by helpful strangers armed with tuna and other treats trying to lure them to safety.
WG said later, "He was expecting The Puppy."
Once he realized it was us he came right down off his perch into WG's arms. He's been snuggling us like crazy, purring and soft, pliable, if tired.
The Puppy left us a note:
"Hi guys,
Welcome home. Mr. Monte Kincaid--" (his nickname for fuzzhead) "--is definitely missing you two. He just sits in his high tower and watches me. Ol' Monte will be Monte ... I shovelled his poop and fed him twice a day. He will dig having his kingdom back. Hope you had a great time ... I have the watch tonight--" (that's on his ship) "--from 3:15 to midnight.
Ciao,
[The Puppy]"
Oh, dear. This didn't go well at all.
The Puppy's schedule apparently changed, which will happen in his industry, and looking around it doesn't seem like he stayed here overnight as we originally planned. WG now tells me that he didn't tell the Puppy to use our bed in the note he left. The videos have moved but there's no sign the Puppy slept here, and every sign he didn't. The tea is untouched (the Puppy is a heavy tea drinker), the bed is exactly how I left it, the pillows on the couch are untouched. It looks like he steamed through twice a day, and spent a little time watching movies, but otherwise wasn't here.
The commander's not used to being alone. And apparently the Puppy didn't have the time to use the house as a homefront after all.
Next time, we ask Dan-the-Man to stay with Monte. He's retired, Monte adores him, and if we have ESPN he'll hang out all day. He'd made some positive (if noncommital) noises when we suggested it on Thanksgiving but the Puppy was the one without a home for the holidays.
Fuzzhead is exhausted, just cracked one sleepy eye at me from where he's curled up by the heater. Next time, no hopeful experiments: we'll get the person best for him.
Yes, Monte, we're happy we're home, too.
WG's buddy "The Puppy" took care of fuzzhead while we were gone. Now, commander fuzzhead doesn't particularly like the Puppy. From some combination of the Puppy high personal-trainer energy and jealousy over WG's friendship (the kitty is ignored when the Puppy's here), fuzzhead cries when the Puppy tries to touch him and stares at him with a baleful glare reminiscent of Smaug in The Hobbit.
We hoped five days would give them a chance to bond, because the Puppy really loves cats (and aches to pet fuzzhead) and the commander is a very sweet if high-strung kitty. We also hoped our house could be a pleasant home pad for the Puppy as an escape from living on board ship.
The first sign all was not well in kitty-land was the look fuzzhead gave us from his tallest command post as we came through the door. I know that look. I've seen it on trapped housecats hiding under decks surrounded by helpful strangers armed with tuna and other treats trying to lure them to safety.
WG said later, "He was expecting The Puppy."
Once he realized it was us he came right down off his perch into WG's arms. He's been snuggling us like crazy, purring and soft, pliable, if tired.
The Puppy left us a note:
"Hi guys,
Welcome home. Mr. Monte Kincaid--" (his nickname for fuzzhead) "--is definitely missing you two. He just sits in his high tower and watches me. Ol' Monte will be Monte ... I shovelled his poop and fed him twice a day. He will dig having his kingdom back. Hope you had a great time ... I have the watch tonight--" (that's on his ship) "--from 3:15 to midnight.
Ciao,
[The Puppy]"
Oh, dear. This didn't go well at all.
The Puppy's schedule apparently changed, which will happen in his industry, and looking around it doesn't seem like he stayed here overnight as we originally planned. WG now tells me that he didn't tell the Puppy to use our bed in the note he left. The videos have moved but there's no sign the Puppy slept here, and every sign he didn't. The tea is untouched (the Puppy is a heavy tea drinker), the bed is exactly how I left it, the pillows on the couch are untouched. It looks like he steamed through twice a day, and spent a little time watching movies, but otherwise wasn't here.
The commander's not used to being alone. And apparently the Puppy didn't have the time to use the house as a homefront after all.
Next time, we ask Dan-the-Man to stay with Monte. He's retired, Monte adores him, and if we have ESPN he'll hang out all day. He'd made some positive (if noncommital) noises when we suggested it on Thanksgiving but the Puppy was the one without a home for the holidays.
Fuzzhead is exhausted, just cracked one sleepy eye at me from where he's curled up by the heater. Next time, no hopeful experiments: we'll get the person best for him.
Yes, Monte, we're happy we're home, too.
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no subject
Date: 2006-12-29 06:32 am (UTC)~N~
no subject
Date: 2006-12-29 07:16 am (UTC)Icarus
P.S.
Date: 2006-12-29 07:18 am (UTC)Re: P.S.
Date: 2006-12-29 07:25 am (UTC)She kills EVERYTHING living in the area. COme spring, the birds will avoid our lawn, and the bull frogs twice her size will tremble in fear.
~N~
no subject
Date: 2006-12-29 12:02 pm (UTC)Even though my koala-cat-thing adores being patted by all and sundry he will only sit on me. Spent the entire christmas period sitting at my feet, as a head rest or doing his koala impression. Even though he had four other laps willing to take him. Same with the new housemate. Just goes right round her.
Everyone needs an escape from living shipside. *nods* Even if it doesn't go as quite to plan.
Oh.. welcome back. :)
no subject
Date: 2006-12-31 12:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-30 07:26 pm (UTC)Don't lose all hope that Monte and The Puppy haven't made any progress in their relationship. Even if you don't see immediate results, perhaps having left The Puppy as the one who was responsible for feeding etc. has impressed Monte enough that he'll be more inclined to be friendly (or at least less distant). Cats are funny creatures.
My brother came over the other day and petted Mzungu, much to her surprise and possibly horror. She allowed it for a a few seconds and then gave him a 'this petting thing isn't working for me' warning swat. But it was significant progress considering she normally isn't even in the same room as him.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-31 12:18 am (UTC)Icarus
no subject
Date: 2006-12-31 07:02 am (UTC)Still, it doesn't hurt to continue to hope that Monte will get past this.