Search Results for: pinto

Finding Joy in Naming A Kitten

July 26, 2016 |

In case you missed it, there has been a new addition to my household. No, not a baby, I’m still working on that. This is a new furry addition. I picked her out a week or so ago before my trip (I still need to tell you guys about that) and I brought her home last friday.

So far things are going pretty well. I was nervous bringing in a new kitty into Peanut’s home. However, I was optimistic because only a couple of years ago Peanut shared his home with two other furry buddies, a dog named Hurt and another kitty named Pinto. They all got along well, for the most part. Actually since Peanut has become an only pet he has become more needy and more aggressive. I felt like he needed a playmate to keep him company and to run around with. Also Peanut used to never be home alone between me, my parents, and the other pets. Now that it is just me and him he is on his own a lot. So I decided to get him a little sister.

Baby cat hanging out in the kennel while big cat works out his attitude over her arrival in the other room.

If things continue to go well I will give you cat lovers a post on how to bring a kitten into the home with an older male cat. In the meantime check out this video of Peanut letter her know who’s boss and that he was tired of playing. The fact that his claws were not out tells me he was not trying to hurt her.

Now for the answer to the question you’ve all been asking me. What is her name? Let me start by saying thanks for helping me. Naming a kitten can be tough. I love all of the suggestions you guys sent me on FB, Instagram, via text, and email. I wanted a name that would go well with Peanut so that when I called for them it would sound cute. One name was suggested more than any other. That name was Jelly. While it would be cute to call for Peanut and Jelly I didn’t go that way. The most interesting suggestion was Megan. While Megan is an awesome name for a person it just doesn’t seem right for a kitty. Two names that I really liked but I didn’t choose Hazel (short for hazelnut) and Pumpkin. I know enough about the names that I didn’t choose. Now for the name that I did choose! Peanut’s little sister’s name is Buttercup!!!

Both kitties getting along at dinner time.

Naming a Kitten is not easy. What do you think of her name? Have you ever introduced a new kitten into a home with an existing older cat?

7 Ways To Keep Your Cat Happy & Joyful

July 13, 2015 |

Finally! My person left the room long enough for me to take over her laptop and get a good blog post written. Not that her posts aren’t good but I know mine will be so much better. My name is Peanut. I am a 10 year old, male, black and white short hair cat. I actually prefer to be described as a tuxedo cat as my appearance is very important to me. I spend a considerable amount of my waking hours grooming.

It is my understanding that my person writes about being happier and having more joy. I guess I will stick to her topic and give you people some tips on how to keep your cats happy and joyful. My dog pal Hurt (may he pee on infinite hydrants in doggy heaven) wrote a similar post a while ago that you humans seemed to like. So here are my tips.

Keep the crunchies coming and the wet food too. Cat’s are independent creatures who take care of themselves but one thing we cannot do is open cans of food or get the box or bag of crunches out of the cabinet. Now if you leave the box or bag of crunchies on the floor or where I can get to it I will just help myself. Honestly, it just works better for everyone if you keep crunchies available all the time and put out the wet food out on time, I repeat, ON TIME. That way no one has to clean up ripped up cat food bags and boxes and no one has to have sore ankles from your kitty gently reminding you with their teeth that dinner is late.
Give us toys. I know the K9s have a significant share of the pet toy market but us cats like them too. Now one of the benefits of sharing your home with a feline is that we have inexpensive taste. My toy preference is for balls of used foil and the plastic tabs from cartons of juice. When my person is feeling generous I love feather toys or ones that I can bat around like this ball in the tube One day I’m going to get that ball out of there.
Share the bed. I know you think it’s your bed but who are we kidding. You sleep in it what 8 hours a day if your lucky. Who do you think is sleeping in it the other 16 hours? Us cats that’s who.
Don’t neglect our wardrobe. Like I said my appearance is important to me. I keep my fur shinny and clean always. But I love switching things up every now and then with a new collar. I like a little bling on my collars. A preference for shinny things is something me and my person have in common. Now in addition to my collars my wardrobe also includes a couple of outfits. Yes they make cat clothing too. That’s right clothes aren’t just for dogs anymore. Now your cat may not be as progressive as I am when it comes to clothing so proceed with caution. My preference is to save my clothing for Halloween and other holidays. My person knows not to overdue it.

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Help us feel safe and secure. The best way to help your cat feel safe and secure is to give them bags and boxes that are just the right size. I tell you from experience, they will snuggle on in.
Give us attention and affection. Now I know us cats are proud of our independence. But that doesn’t mean we don’t want rubs and stuff. We just want them when we are in the mood. We may not always come when you call our name. But we do like our people and will show it when we are ready. Don’t be surprised when we wind our bodies around your legs or find our way onto your lap when you lease expect it. That is your cue to initiate rubs. My preference is under the chin, behind the ears, and on the top of the head.
Keep us healthy. Honestly I don’t even want to include this tip but I want my person to like and publish this post when she discovers it on her laptop. Keep us healthy by taking us to the vet. I hate the vet. I’m not going to even pretend that I like it. I scream my head off as soon as my person sets foot outside of the house with me in the carrier. (Side note, I used to love getting in the carrier until she kept taking me to the vet every time I was in it). However my person insists that I must go and get a check up. Do you know where they put that thermometer??? I don’t even want to think about it.

There you have it. If you stick to these tips especially numbers 1-6 and only number 7 as needed your cat will be as happy and joyful as me.

How do you guys keep your cats happy?

Dear 2014, Goodbye & Good Riddance

December 29, 2014 |

Dear 2014,

You sucked! I know that’s kind of harsh and not very Joyful but I had high hopes for you and you let me down. I had hopes of love, career improvements, and improved social life. Instead you brought me the words “oh I have no intention of getting into any kind of relationship” from the one I thought I wanted followed by lots of very unfruitful dates, work stress, distance from friends, less people available to hang out with, lack of support from family when I really needed it, the lost of two pets, Hurty and Pinto, missing Blogalicious, plus my mom was sick way too often. All of that was just my life. Lets not forget 2 vanishing plans, Ebola, and the need for the #HandsUpDontShoot and #BlackLivesMatter movements. Don’t you see how you let me down 2014?

Now I’m not saying you didn’t do anything right 2014. There were many moments over the last 12 months that were very Joyful. One of the most joyful of these moments was attending Oprah’s the life you want tour. Seeing Oprah live is something that Id wanted to do since I first started watching her talk show when I was in college.

This year I wanted to become more confident. While I still have a ways to go, and plan to continue working on it in 2015, you did give me the confidence to wear a bikini for the first time ever 2014.

Other Joyful moments included hosting two Chasing Joy Brunch & Learn events, attending Women Get Social and Fit Retreat Philadelphia, watching my niece and two of my nephews graduate, celebrating my birthday with friends, getting dressed up for the Red Ball and for a 1920s themed party. Hmm… ok maybe you did not suck as much as I thought.

2014, I don’t know, maybe my expectations were too high?? I mean your main job was to carry me through the year and that you did. I am not ungrateful. Thank you 2014 for all of the Joyful moments above. Thank you for bringing my mom home from the hospital many times in 2014. Thank you for keeping my family whole, with no losses other than pets this year. Thank you for allowing me too have greater insight on who I can depend on. Thank you for allowing me to have paid all of my bills and remained in my home this year. Most of all 2014 thank you for helping me with something that has weighted heavily on me since I was a teen. Thank you for finally letting me find a church that I like.

2014, while I stand by my statement that you kind of sucked, its clear you were about business, keeping my family whole and blessing me with a place of worship. Thank you for all that you are and i accept all that you weren’t.

Good bye 2014.

How was 2014 for you? What would you say in your farewell letter.

The Worst And Best Of The Weekend

November 10, 2014 |

My friend Chrystina from ChrystinaNoel.com has a link up on Fridays. I normally don’t participate because I am busy with my own weekly #FlashbackFriday link up. Fortunately and unfortunately the events of this past weekend provided the perfect content for me to join in Chrystina’s link up.

Chrystina’s link up is called 1 down 1 up. The writing prompt for the link-up is to discuss the worst and best things to happen to you this week. The hashtag is #1down1up.

This weekend i definitely had a 1 down and 1 up.

1 Down
I’ll start with the bad news. This weekend my cat Pinto passed away. She was actually my dad’s cat. I wrote the following tribute to her online.

RIP to my dad’s loyal cat Pinto. He picked her out over 14 years ago. He named her pinto after the Pinto Stallion variety of horses. He wanted her all to himself stating only he’d be allowed to feed her because she was “his cat”. She remained loyal to him even after he died. She grieved for him noticeable even losing some fur.

She eventualy learned to tolerate me and my mom. Allowing us to tend to her. Acknowledging us with eye rolls and sharp meows for food that could only be translated as “food now damn it” Lol. She did allow me to put a St. Patrick’s day hat on her once for my birthday and also learned to tolerate the other furry family members who came after her.

She will be missed. I’ll imagine her sitting beside my dad in heaven along with Hurt getting head rubs. Back with her person. The one she picked out over 14 years ago.
RIP Pinto.

1 Up
I love dressing up. I like to put on a beautiful dress and have my hair done, kick my makeup up a notch, grab a sparkly clutch and some jewelry and head out. It just so happens that I clean up pretty well and enjoy the transformation. I also happen to like dressing up in costume. Wearing a wig and an outfit that’s outside of my normal repertoire is exciting.

I think I love dressing up and dressing in costume so much because it allows me to show another side of myself. Not a hidden side just a side that I don’t often have a chance to display. People tend to have a view of me that is far more conservative and shy than i truly am. I enjoy shaking that view up a bit.

This weekend i had the chance to both dress up and in costume. I was invited to a 1920s themed party. I was not sure what to wear at first but I lucked out and found a cute dress, gloves, a head band, hair clip, and wig to transform me into a 1920s version of myself. I even Googled1920s makeup, went heavier on the blush than normal am managed to finally get the smokey eye right. I had a great time in my ensemble and am even reconsidering my “I don’t wear wigs”.

I enjoyed participating in the #1Down1Up linky. It reminds us that nothing is all bad. Even when we have really bad experiences there is often something else happening that can give us a reason to smile and find some Joy.

How was your weekend? I hope it was heavy on the 1 ups and light on the 1 downs and that you were able to find some joy.

My Life In Numbers

September 11, 2013 |

I enjoy getting to know my blogger friends. I hope you will enjoy learning a little bit about me. Here is my life in numbers.

1 is the number of pups that bring me Joy. If you keep up with me on Facebook you know his name is Hurty!!

2 is the number of crazy cats that keep me entertained. Peanut and Pinto are there names.

3 is the number of brothers I have. All older.

4 is the number of years I have been at my current position, aka the day job.

5 is the number of times I have been outside of the country. I’ve visited Bermuda, Canada, Jamaica, and the Bahamas twice.

6 is the number of nieces and nephews I have.

7 is the number of hours of sleep I should get every night. Sadly I get as little as 5 sometimes. I know I must do better.

8 is the number of years I have been a homeowner.

9 is for 9th grade. The year I transitioned back to public school from a Christian school.

10 is for 10 pound weights. These are the heaviest weights that I have at home for at home workouts.

11 is the number of years it has been since I graduated college. Time flies.

12 is for October 12 when I will be attending the Curvy Closets fashion show. Philly fashion events are cool.

13 is for Friday the 13, the day when I’ll be making an announcement on the blog.

14 is a good approximate age for my dog. He is a senior 🙂

15 is the age I was when I had my 1st boyfriend.

16 is the age I was when I applied for my first job. I did not get it.

17 is for my birthday!!!

18 is the age I was when I was the first black person to ever be awarded a scholarship from my dad’s Local Teamsters Union.

19 was how old I was when I started working retail at Strawbridges

20 was my age when I 1st fell in love.

21 was the year my dad threw me a birthday party at a bar.

22 is the age I was when I graduated from Temple University. #IBleedCherryAndWhite #TempleMade

23 is the number of days until Blogalicious!!! My favorite Blog Conference.

24 is for that TV show that everyone loved. The one where the entire season was supposed to be on day or something. Yeah, I never saw a single episode.

25 is the age I was when My parents got married. I was the maid of honor, best woman, photographer, florist, and the witness. It was pretty cool 🙂

26 is for 26 years ago when I got a banana seat bike that was pink and white with flowers on the seat and a basket.

27 is for 2700. That is the room number of one of the offices I worked in where I had the most fun, learned the most, and made many friends.

28 is the age I was when I met the man I thought I would marry. I thought wrong. LOL

29 is the year I lost my dad and first felt like an adult. 29 is also the age I was when I started Chasing Joy 🙂

30 is the age I was when I visited Bermuda. I found the views beautiful but I was a little disappointed with the sand. It was not a pink as I expected. I guess I was expecting it to be magenta or something.

31 is for 3.1 miles. That’s how far a 5k run is. I have completed one (had to walk some of it) and am contemplating another.

32 is for 32 weeks early. That’s right, I was a preemie. I had things to do so I needed to get here early 🙂

33 is my current age and the year I wrote about my life in numbers.

What numbers have had significance in your life? If you do a life in numbers post be sure to post a link in the comments so I can check it out.

Flashback Friday: The Joy of Hurt

September 14, 2012 |

Happy Friday!!!

This Friday’s Flashback, The Joy of Hurt, is about one of my favorite furry fellas, my dog Hurt. He is really an awesome dog. Full of personality and super sweet. Almost two years ago I found out he had cancer. Since then he has had surgery and is now doing great. I know this is because of my and your prayers. My Flashback was a prayer request on behalf of Hurt and a reminder that prayer does work! Thanks to all who prayed and I ask that you continue to pray for my furry family (Peanut, Hurt, and Pinto).

Flashback Friday is a great way to rediscover our earlier works and discover some new blogs. If this is your first Flashback here is the deal. Flashback Friday is where we Flashback to our older blog posts and give them new life through the power of the linky! Just pick out your link and add it below. You can also post a link to your Flashback post on the Chasing Joy Facebook Page. Use hashtags #FBF or #FlashbackFriday on twitter to advertise your Flashback post.

Add your link below and be sure to check out AT LEAST TWO other Flashback posts. I suggest the two listed before your post to make it easy. Please leave a comment saying why you selected your Flashback post and what you thought about the other Flashback posts. I’m looking forward to reading all of your Flashbacks.

*Don’t forget to grab the I am Chasing Joy and Flashback Friday buttons!
**Also invite some of your blogging buddies to join the Linky too!

Way to go Hurt! Way to go Wednesday!!!

July 25, 2012 |

Way to go Wednesday! Way to go Wednesday is where we say way to go to our friends and family on Facebook and Twitter to celebrate their accomplishments. I am saying Way to go to my dog Hurt! (I did not name him)

Hurt Loves the Holidays!!!!

I have three pets. One dog, Hurt and two cats, Peanut and Pinto. Today I am saying Way to go to Hurt for giving me so much joy for three years now. I don’t remember the day Hurt became a permanent resident of my house but I know it was about three years ago. Now I love all of my furry friends equally but I’m shouting out Hurt because he was the one I initially did not want.

Hurt likes Peanut even though Peanut can be a bully.

Hurt belonged to my ex boyfriend’s mother. I was asked to take him in by the Ex. I initially said no. A dog is a lot of work compared to cats with the walking and the grooming. But the Ex and my dad double teamed me and I gave in. Three years later I can say Hurt is the best thing I got out of that relationship. So way to go Hurt for giving us so much Joy.

Pinto is closer to Hurts age. She does not quite trust him but every now and then they kick it.

Hurt always roots for the home team.

Sometimes Hurt can even get a little Crazy!!!

Do you have pets? What kind? How do they bring you Joy?

Dear Dad… I’m Chasing Joy

August 23, 2011 |

Dear Dad,

I cannot believe in a few days it will be two years since you went to rest. Time does fly. I still miss you more than is possible to express. Obviously your passing is not a good memory for me and neither is your funeral. But they are not my worst memories. Your passing was peaceful. Your funeral was how I know you wanted it to be and I take pride in that. My worst memory is when the doctors made it clear to us that you were not going to recover. Trying to hold onto my faith and belief in miracles yet surrendering to the reality of what was happening. The sadness. The disappointment. The fear. The pain. The knowledge that I was going to have to be strong. The faith that the strength would come from somewhere… and it did.

I tell you about my feelings not to relive them. Just to acknowledge that this is how I felt. And also to let you know that while I do have this memory, worst then all others, it does not haunt me. It does not haunt me because there is nothing that I could have done differently. But most of all it does not haunt me because you would not want me to let it. And everyone knows I listen to my Dad 🙂

So, while I miss you terribly and have some painful memories of losing you I am not living in sadness, disappointment, fear, or pain. Instead I am living a life in pursuit of happiness. I am Chasing Joy. I remember you telling me “the party aint going to find you, you got to go out and find the party!!!” I have been looking for the party and writing about it. I know you would be proud of me; happy that I have taken up writing (I remember the Christmas story you wrote :-); and excited about the adventures Chasing Joy will give me.

I am doing well and improving all the time (I know you think I’m perfect but there is always room to improve). I still spend more money than you think I should but I also still save. I still have my “good job”. I’m still looking for the right guy. The one you’d secretly like but never admit it. Oh and I ran a 5k. You would have loved that 🙂

Mom is doing good too. Retired and having fun, but not too much fun, at “The Game”. Things are as you would have predicted with the boys. The grandkids are happy and growing into awesome young people, confident, smart and attractive. And none of them seem short… LOL. The youngest grandson is athletic and loves to dance. I wonder where he got that from 🙂

I don’t see your siblings too much. That is still really painful to see them without you. But thanks to Facebook and Twitter, computer stuff that you wouldn’t really understand, I know they are well.

We are all doing well because you prepared us.

Thank you,

Love me.

PS… Pinto is getting old but she is still greedy. Peanut is still bad (you may have been right about that crack cat thing). I still have Hurt. He is doing really good for old guy. Mom takes him for walks and everthing now 🙂

The Joy of Pets

June 23, 2011 |

Recently someone told me he never had/would have a pet because they are “pointless and a waste of money”. Well he certainly could not say that if he saw this face.

LOOK AT ME!!!!

My cat’s Peanut and Pinto and dog Hurt bring a little Joy to my life every day. Do you have pets? Does their presence bring Joy to your life?

Feel Good Friday – The Joy of Hurt Continued

December 4, 2010 |

Happy Feel Good Friday!!

Today I am feeling good becaue my prayers have been answered. Last month in my post
The Joy of Hurt I told you about what a wonderful doggie he is and how his Vet thought he may have cancer. Unfortunatley, the Vet was right. This last month has been filled with tests, labs, bloodwork, emergency visitis, follow up appontiments and lots and lots of Money$$$$ But yesterday Hurt had surgery to remove the cancerous lump.

Why so much talk, worry, and money about a dog? While many of you already understand I know that is exactly what some of you are wondering. I have always had pets, actually cats. Hurt is my first dog. Animals have their own personalities. They become members of your family. They do things that make you laugh and smile. They offer comfort and company. They are dependent upon you which fits perfectly with people’s natural desire to feel needed and useful. Pets are loyal, consistent, and are basically living, breathing, usually furry vessels of Joy.

Hurt is all these things and more. He also filled a void. I got Hurt right after my dad was diagnosed with Cancer. His owner could not take care of him any longer and he’d be able to keep my dad company. So Hurt joined our family that also included two cats Peanut and Pinto. Unfortunately my dad passed away within months of his diagnosis. While It would be impossible for anyone, let alone a dog, to fill the void left by my dad, for a little dog Hurt has done a pretty good job. He has been a new source of love and affection for me. He has greeted me every time I come home with so much excitement, jumping, panting, and licking whether I’ve been gone one hour or one week; distracting me from the fact that my dad is not there to greet me. His silly dog antics have given me and my mom really good laughs during a pretty rough period. Oh an added bonus his walks have definitely helped me lose a couple pounds. Hurt has been a true source of Joy.

So although right now Hurt is sore, a little high (or maybe a lot, who knows) from his pain medicine, and has a really awful scar, I am feeling really good that his tumor has been removed. He is cancer free, on the road to recovery, and continuing to bring me the kind of Joy that only a pet can.

How do your pets bring you Joy???

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