DiNozzo's Affection

This morning I jumped in bed with Jen as I often do when she sleeps late.  It used to be about getting her up to feed me, but now I just like the extra attention.  Plus I like to sleep on the bed after she’s made it.  She was just about to get up when I came in the room, so she told me it was okay to jump up and hung out with me for a little bit.  Not that I always wait for her permission to jump onto the bed, but if she’s up, it’s better to wait than accidentally scratch her because she moved (or accidentally get smacked in the face).

Lately, DiNozzo is often with Jen.  He’s been really clingy since Loki passed away, and he has decided to cling to Jen most of the time.  Usually she will pet both of us, and if he gets aggressive, she shields me and tells him to go away.  This morning, she was ignoring him and only paying attention to me.  DiNozzo then shocked us both: he gave me a headbutt and licked my forehead!  This is the stuff he used to do with Loki, never with me.  He then was sniffing my ears and gave me another headbutt.

Maybe we will be friends after all.  I don’t see us ever being as close as he and Loki were, but it is a move in the right direction.  Jen says I need to stop ambushing him because he doesn’t like it.  What can I say?  That’s how I express affection!  Jen should know that—I’m always smacking her legs or trying to push her down the stairs.  Not really, but she needs to move faster when it’s food time.

I Miss the Birds

Installing siding makes a lot of noise!

I haven't been sitting at my favorite window much since they cut down my tree. The humans had to move everything off the patio for the siding installation, so the only thing out there is a table that is too big to fit inside. It's just so empty...

Most of the patio stuff went to the basement, but there are parts of Jen’s greenhouse in the dining room. I went into the basement again and it was so full! More than usual! Patio chairs, the top of Jen’s greenhouse, a couple plant stands, and a bunch of stuff that was outside.

It was easier for me to stay out of Jen’s reach because there were more places for me to hide, so I ended up locked in the basement for about two hours. Then, when Jen came down to move the laundry to the dryer, I decided I was ready to leave. I was extra nice to her after that since I knew I wasn’t supposed to be down there.

My favorite window is now just a place to get some sun. Before, there were always birds and squirrels outside, hunting for food or just chilling in my lilac tree. Yes, I considered that to be MY tree. It was where I liked to rest when I was homeless, giving me a good hiding spot and plenty of shade. Now it's gone, and so are the birds, so I see no point in looking out the window. I’ll nap on the bench, but there is nothing to watch outside.

Jordan’s window isn’t as entertaining either. You can see more from there, but they cut the tree branches—well, “butchered” is the term Jen uses, and I can see her point. The branches were just hacked off randomly, leaving dead branches while killing healthy ones. There are still squirrels and birds, they are just farther away than they used to be. I hate this.

They started pounding on the walls to install the siding. I was concerned and was watching them to make sure they weren’t trying to destroy my house! Jen is worried that the birds in the wall will get stuck, but we think that as long as they get to that spot before the birds are nesting, the pounding will drive them out long enough for the guy to cover the hole.

We hope that’s what will happen. Neither of us want birds to die from being trapped in the wall. That would just be terrible!

My Lilac is Gone!

I was bad again yesterday and ran outside.  Jen was doing something in the garden and I saw a chance, so I took it.  She didn’t even try to stop me.

When I got out there, I noticed that my favorite tree is gone!  I could see from the window that it wasn’t there, but it just didn’t actually hit me until I went outside.  The lilac that I sat under when I was homeless was just a stump!

I knew Jen was really upset the other day about something, but I wasn’t sure what.  Now I understand: it was because they cut down her lilac and Rose of Sharon.  They are putting up siding in the complex and we are the last row to get it.  They said they can’t install it with the tall plants, so they cut them down.

Jen said they will grow back, but it will take years.  This is why she really wanted to buy a house in 2019.  Stupid cancer ruined everything.  Without the lilac, it felt way too exposed outside and I didn’t feel safe.  As soon as Jen opened the door to come back outside, I ran past her and up the steps.  I know I’m not supposed to go out anyway, and now it just doesn’t feel safe.

No wonder there have been fewer birds lately.  Where are they supposed to sit???