Couch 223: Jan 4: Darn Tootin'!

That would make me crazy. Were you at least zooming it? I would wear pajama pants just because. And not just ANY pajama pants!

I have just gone all online this time.

Oh yeah, there were 75 people on Zoom and 0 in the classroom.

No pjs. My school is livestreaming select classes as a showcase ("see, we can too teach effectively like this and charge full tuition!") and this is one of them.

ETA: Looking online, looks like I could teach to Minnie Mouse, or the Power Rangers, or Baby Shark, or Anna and Elsa, or Joe Biden, or Captain America...the possibilities are endless.

My mother sent me a box with a bunch of old stuff in it - pictures, drawings, stuff like that. I found a letter in there that she wrote to me when I was 16 in which she admitted that she was overprotective and overbearing. I don't recall what instigated the writing of this letter, but something must have happened. Funny, but I don't want to ask her why she wrote this, even all these years later. At least I wasn't imagining how controlling I felt she was (my memories are fuzzy at best). This will be good fodder for therapy.

I am so sad. It appears that Penelope escaped at some point today while the window guy was here. H was keeping an eye out and talking to the window guy the whole time he was working, so she had to have been crafty to sneak past him. We wanted to close her in another room while he was here but she wouldn't let us catch her so h just watched and never saw her at all. So we have no idea how she got out or even if she did. But it's been almost 6 hours now since the guy left, we've put out their evening food, the other 2 ate but she hasn't come out yet. I think she's really gone this time. Trying to console myself that she was a feral and it is what she wanted. It's supposed to rain tonight and be cold and she is going to be miserable if she's out there. I wonder if she will come home. She's never escaped before so I don't even know if she knows her way back here if she wanders too far.

Yet still holding out hope that after we shut down the house and go to bed tonight, she'll come out from wherever she is hiding.

Didn’t you think one of the other cats escaped once but he was stuck inside the futon? Maybe Penelope found another hideaway.

I hope Penelope returns soon!

My cats have always been in and out cats -but sometimes they go missing for a couple of days and have been fine.
But things to do if she isn't back in a few hours one of the things that has helped the most is her litter box outside. I have helped friends whose indoor cats (often named gertrude and alice) have gotten out for a good adventure come back with the litter box within a few days.

Gertrude and Alice? Not Martina and Rita Mae? Or Ellen and Portia?

It’s just Gertrude and Alice seem so uncatlike.

That's a really good idea thank you. I'll put one of their boxes out there now.

Yeah... good memory. We thought about that and turned the futon and both couches over and she wasn't inside any of them unfortunately. we put some food and water outside and per sd's recommendation I'm gonna go put one of the litter boxes outside too. We dug through the closets too. if she's in here, she's found a masterful hiding spot.

You forget I am old. And my person was a GS scholar. But there are scores of long dead cats named:

Gertrude and Alice
Djuna and Thelma
Natalie and Romaine
Virginia and Vita

Seriously I have had personal acquaintance with numerous cats (both mine and friends) who have gone missing for several days to over a week who pop back up.
In the most extreme case we had to get a live trap - but that was after two weeks and an unfortunate unrequited romance (which is how we knew where to try the cage).

Of course also never underestimate their ability to disappear and yet be right there

Yes, they are good at doing that last thing.

Along with a litter box, food and water, I put a blanket in a box outside too.

Do you have other animals in your neighborhood that would eat cat food at night?
If so, you might want to consider taking it up until very early morning light or sitting out quietly to see if she comes to it because other animals could keep her away. That might be more of a problem around here where raccoon and possum jamborees happen at regular interval

Possum jamboree

I love the idea of possums and raccoons sitting in a circle singing ging gang goolie and tugging their woggles

I once lost a dog in my house. Not a little dog either, she was 50+ pounds. Looked and looked. Went outside. Started to panic. Finally found her somewhere (I can't remember where) in the house. Seems like cats would have an easier time hiding if they wanted to. I hope she appears soon. I know you must be worried about her.

I went to the next journal on my list to send out my story after another rejection today (at least it was personalized). Was all set when I noticed the journal is for kids ages 8-13.

Oops. Might not be the best market for a story about a On the other hand...it might teach them life sucks and the sooner they realize that the better off they will be.

Run to costco after you collect!!! Not worth the extra stress.

I really do feel all over the place. I've been waking up with anxiety attacks for a while. Peak at 4.45am but they calm down after an hour or so.

Originally said I couldn't do today's extra morning session with R as I have classes, but we finished early. I messaged asking if it was still available. The message was read but he didn't reply. Said I could wait until tomorrow when my old slot was open but I don't think I want that anymore. I've been doing my usual to and froing. Don't think normal talk therapy can touch this phase right now. Not surewhat to do.

A dramatic panda :

Morning couchies! Well, I still don't know where she was hiding but Penelope came sauntering over when I got up this morning and went out to the kitchen to look outside - she was in the house all along some super-duper-secret place. We turned this place upside down last night trying to find her. I am so relieved after tossing and turning all night!

Boy she did not like that repair guy!!

Apparently!! He seemed ok to us! She's a little booger

Maybe you could buy a GPS collar for them.