We started our annual financial audit last week at work. The audit was originally scheduled for last May, but my surgery caused everything to be postponed. So the auditors showed up last week. I spent about an hour reviewing the finances with them and then, as I was about to leave, one of them (Kristen) asked me if I knew anyone who might want a kitten. She told me a little about her and said she would sent me an email with her picture. When I returned to my office, the email was waiting on my computer…and the decision was made the minute I saw her. I walked back over to the room they were using and told Kristen she was a very bad person for throwing such temptation out there…and then told her I would take the kitten!

I wouldn’t have been tempted had the audit not been postponed. I was perfectly happy with Nate and Hayes and had made up my mind not to get any additional cats. In fact, I’ve had the opportunity to get other cats over the past few months and declined to do so. Everything was working out so well with Nate and Hayes and I just didn’t want to screw that up. Both of them now go outdoors, and neither goes very far away. Mostly they stay in my backyard. I can easily get them in at night–much more easily than with most of my other cats at that age. So I really didn’t plan on getting another cat for quite some time. Until I saw her picture.

I decided to name her Sophie at the suggestion of Patrick. He mentioned that Sophie was the love interest of both Nate and Hayes in the movie ‘Nate and Hayes’. It sounded good to me, so Sophie it was. Kristen dropped her off last night and everything went well. Both Nate and Hayes seemed okay with this new addition, although I don’t think they realized she was here to stay!

Sophie is gradually acclimating herself to our home. She hid away under the buffet last night for a few hours since Nate couldn’t get under there. Finally she realized it was okay to come out and she has spent most of the day today playing with cat toys as well as getting to know her ‘brothers’. She has also caused a few problems.

As I was sitting on the loveseat in the family room watching tv, all of sudden I felt great warmth next to me. Sophie was standing there peeing! Even though I had put her in both of the two litter boxes numerous times, somehow that didn’t register with her. So, after stripping the slipcover off the loveseat, I got out the small litter box that I used when I first got Nate and Hayes and set it up just outside the family room in my office. That was all it took and Sophie began using it.

Next came the wires behind my tv. After both Sophie and Nate started chasing each other behind the tv (and disconnected the satellite 5-6 times!), I made a makeshift barricade with pillows to keep them out. I stuffed pillows under the tv stand and put one next to the tv stand on either side, propped up with small end tables. After a few readjustments it seems to be working.

What was I thinking? I now remember all the craziness I went through with Nate and Hayes! And things were finally beginning to calm down around here. And now the craziness begins anew. But she is awfully cute. And I think she and Nate are going to have lots of fun together. Hayes, on the other hand, pretty much sits back and watches.

Speaking of Hayes, I took him to the vet this morning. He now weighs 17 pounds!!! He is officially on a diet and I am dismantling the automatic feeders. Part of his problem has to do with the fact that he is partially blind and doesn’t do much in the way of exercising ’cause he can’t see where he’s going. And he’s too big to jump the way Nate does. The vet has referred me to an animal eye specialist to see if there’s anything we can do about his eyesight. We’ll see what happens. Meanwhile, I’m hoping the diet helps…and that Nate doesn’t drive me nuts whining for food!

Finally, Patrick went to DC this weekend to attend the Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear. He had a great time and said it was so worth going. Tomorrow he’ll be doing touristy stuff visiting monuments, etc. And then on Monday he leaves for New York City where he’ll meet up with Veronica! They’ll spend 2-3 days doing all the NY things like visiting the Empire State Bldg, the Statue of Liberty, Times Square and Central Park. What a great trip!

Whew! A long post, but lots to write about. That’s what happens when lots of stuff occurs in just a few days. And tomorrow is Halloween. So have a spooky one…and don’t eat all the leftover candy!