My Bad Week

By Harry

As you know, I've really been liking Brussels--nice big apartment, big windows for people/bird watching and my new status as a sophisticated European cat--but this week has been the worst. I'm actually shunning my humans at the moment and thought I'd make a list to explain why I've begun exiting rooms whenever they enter.

Harry's Formal List of Complaints

1. Excessive entertaining I. I, personally, do not really care for people. They always want to pet me and pick me up...no respect for personal space; it's really very irritating. Unfortunately, my humans do not share my opinion of their race and insist on throwing parties...constantly. Two weekends ago, my mother hosted a brunch for some of her girlfriends, which would have been fine except that I was locked in the bedroom during the meal and then paraded around like a show cat afterwards so that guests could fawn over me before leaving. And, I wasn't even offered any quiche...so rude.

2. Excessive entertaining II. Last weekend, my humans spent all day Saturday rearranging furniture and cooking. Mom was constantly shooing me out of the kitchen when I tried to sample the hors d'oeuvres, and dad insisted on using that terrifying vacuum to remove all of my beautiful hair from the carpets...so ungrateful. Then, as soon as the party started, I was locked in the bedroom (again!) and wasn't let out until 3 a.m. when all the guests had left. I was so exhausted from the trauma that I spent all yesterday sleeping!

3. Ribbons. I love ribbons. Seriously, ribbon is up there with tuna, ham, and plastic bags as one my favorite foods. I discovered my love for ribbon two years ago when I ate a lovely red one off a Christmas present my humans had received from a friend (they seemed oddly panicked) and have looked forward to birthdays and Christmases ever since, hoping that I might get to try ribbon again. So, you can imagine my displeasure last week when my humans sat there wrapping presents and didn't even offer me any ribbon. In fact, it seemed like they were going out of their way to keep the ribbon from me, which I frankly don't appreciate.

4. The tote bag. I may not have been able to eat any ribbon, but I did get to eat the entire handle of a tote bag. It was a delicious meal, but I got in so much trouble for it. I don't really understand why--it was just sitting out there, waiting to be eaten.

5. Stolen Christmas presents. A package arrived last weekend from my grandparents, and I know that it contained a present for me. I heard the rattling and I could smell the catnip. I tried to grab the present, but my humans took it and locked it away for unknown reasons. I bet they play with it when I'm not around...it makes me so mad.

6. My sickly mother. My mother got sick last week and has been so grumpy ever since. We haven't been playing as much as usual, so I'm a little bored and tired of watching her mope around. Buck up, mom!

I thought I'd end my blog with a shot of me on my favorite couch. (It travelled with us from D.C.) I know, I look mad, but it's been a trying week. Handsome cat though, don't you think?