Category: Cats

A serious cat

~ Patrick O'Grady ~ 29 Comments
Chief of Staff Mia Sopaipilla prepares the Turkenbunker for The Commander.
Chief of Staff Mia Sopaipilla prepares the Turkenbunker for The Commander.

Sigh. Arm warmers and knee warmers yesterday, everything warmers today. And I haven’t even been outside yet.

Herself and I had planned to catch this evening’s opening of the Coen brothers’ latest, “Inside Llewyn Davis,” but you know what they say about the best-laid plans.

The brothers chatted with Terry Gross on “Fresh Air” the other day, and Field Marshal Turkish von Turkenstein (commander, 1st Feline Home Defense Force) was appalled to hear them libeling cats so freely.

The Commander inspects his (purely defensive) chemical-weapons stockpile.
The Commander inspects his (purely defensive) chemical-weapons stockpile.

Discussing the honor and privilege of persuading a cat to participate in their latest film, Ethan spake thusly:

“In ‘True Grit’ we had a vulture, a trained vulture … that was a pain and that was even — by vulture standards — probably a stupid vulture, and that was frustrating. But I would take a vulture over a cat. The cat was just horrible.”

As a consequence, the Turk’ has declared war on the Coen brothers, and we are forbidden to see the film.

It’s censorship, true, but what are we to do? This is war.

The TurkenCam® goes live

~ Patrick O'Grady ~ 19 Comments
Your host, Field Marshal Turkish von Turkenstein (commander, 1st Feline Home Defense Regiment).
Your host, Field Marshal Turkish von Turkenstein (commander, 1st Feline Home Defense Regiment).

Live from the Tower of Power at the ultra-posh Chez Dog in cosmopolitan Bibleburg, it’s the TurkenCam!

• Late update: I’m taking ‘Is Lordship off line for a bit while I sift through some options to this beat-up old USB webcam and take a bit of healthful outdoor exercise.

• Even later update: Anyone dying to see KittyVision® in TurkenScope© will be sorely disappointed with me and my antiquated technology. Dead batteries, lost cables and general ineptitude have delayed production of our Magical Menagerie Tour. But don’t touch that dial. …

Homicidal Psycho Jungle Cat

~ Patrick O'Grady ~ 8 Comments
"Homicidal Psycho Jungle Cat" was the title of one of Bill Watterson's "Calvin and Hobbes" collections. It's also a pretty apt description of Turkish.
“Homicidal Psycho Jungle Cat” was the title of one of Bill Watterson’s “Calvin and Hobbes” collections. It’s also a pretty apt description of Turkish. When he’s awake, anyway.

The Hobbes to my Calvin enjoys a snooze in the sunshine.

Speaking of which, were you aware that there’s a documentary about Bill Watterson and his creations? True fact — “Dear Mr. Watterson” premiered yesterday, and NPR carried an item about it this morning.

“Calvin and Hobbes” is one of my favorite strips.  I have a dozen or so of Watterson’s books, and tried to get an interview with him back when I worked for The New Mexican (through a minion, he declined, as he does pretty much any invitation to chat with the press; smart fella).

I made the mistake of listening to the NPR piece, and now I’m going to have to thumb through a few of Watterson’s books, goddamnit. If you’d like to take a bumpy trip down memory lane on your toboggan, with your best friend for company, you can read “Calvin and Hobbes” online at GoComics.com.

Happy birthday, Mary

~ Patrick O'Grady ~ 19 Comments

My mom-in-law, Mary Pigeon, turns (mumblemumble) today, and the kinfolk are throwing her a birthday bash in Sin City.

I was unable to attend, Nov. 5 being the day I always wash my scalp, so I thought I’d slap together this little video by way of atonement.

Happy birthday, Mary — and many more.

P.S.: Whadja get me for your birthday?