An animal-filled weekend

[sienamystic]

So this whole weekend, Lincoln has hosted the Llama Grand National Championships, and boy, if you think Bemo and I weren't taking advantage of that, you haven't been paying attention. We got over to the arena too late to see the llamas compete in the obstacle course (they jump over stuff! And walk backwards! And things of that nature!) but we walked around and met a great variety of them and now I'm wondering if llamas may trump alpacas in my For When We Get The Bed and Breakfast pipedream. Lots of people there were selling llama wool and unspun skeins, but nothing that I craved, so I escaped without damage to my pocketbook.

Today, we drove up to Omaha to pick up Ratchet, who is a very large, blobby, orange cat - very Morris in appearance, actually. While likely to become friendly eventually, he is at the moment hidden under a cabinet in the office, growling at anything that moves (unless you offer treats, at which point he stops growling long enough to scarf them up). He belongs to the cousin of a friend, who has had to move in with her folks and can't keep him - her mom is terribly allergic and starts having trouble breathing if she's exposed to him for very long, so he's been kept in a bedroom. I felt a bit like a baby-snatcher when we went to pick him up, because there were a lot of tears happening (not just his owner, but her parents as well) and I wonder if part of them hopes this two-week trial will fail entirely so we bring him back to them, but we'll see. If he can forgive us and settle into the house, and if my two girls can get over themselves and accept him, I think we'd be very happy with him as part of the family. If not, he goes back to Omaha and they'll have to work out another home for him.

I'm trying not to get attached to him very quickly, because Grace and Kit may express their extreme displeasure, but he is a very sweet boy, and I do hope this turns out well.

(His owner is on my Facebook friendslist, and is that a bit awkward. I posted something like, "currently have a new kitty grumbling under his breath in the office" and she wrote under it, "I can't decide whether to like this or not." Yipes.)

Comments

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

He sounds like a cat of character - I hope everything works out.

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

There are a lot of variables at play - my oldest, grumpiest cat has had in the past a fondness for snuggly boy cats, but it may not take this time. And he has to get over his "I hate the world" attitude. But I hope we can come to terms, because my husband has wanted a giant, dumb orange cat that likes to snuggle for a while now, and this guy seems to fit the bill.

[swooop.livejournal.com]

One of the best cats I ever had was a big ole ginger tom (and I mean BIG--my vet swore he was half mountain lion)named Micah. They're great cats.

I know about the awkward too, since Dave's owner was on my FB list...

I hope he works out for you. Ratchet is a great name for a cat.

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

Ratchet is big *and* chubby, so he's quite funny to see wedged under our printer stand!

He's apparently named after a video game character from a game I haven't heard of, but the name is a great name.

[(Anonymous)]

Your llama comment makes me think of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgkYHhG18uc My mom occasionally asks me if I remember this. I need to send it to her too. :)


~Kate-h

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

Oh my gosh, I haven't thought of that in years! And now it's stuck in my head.

We were thinking of "Llama llama duck" though.

[stakebait.livejournal.com]

Backwards llamas? How did i not know this awesomeness was in the world! Are there pictures? Video?

[nigita.livejournal.com]

Great icon!

Big blobby orange tabby = love. Hope you keep him.