Friday is cat day - From kitten to cat

Every single one of these cats are rescues, 
one way or another. 

I was the scruffiest kitten in the shelter.

But look how beautiful I turned out to be.

I was going to be taken to a shelter

But someone got there just in time.

After a death in the family, a new home had to be found for me.

I was taken all the way to Canada.

A breeder was going to get rid of me because I wasn't perfect..

I found someone who wasn't looking for perfection.

I was left on a balcony.

But someone gave me a home.

Friday is Cat Day - Just Relax

When people say "Sleeping like a baby", they obviously never had a baby. Now sleeping like a cat, that's more like it.

When I grow up, I'm gonna be this big.

What did you say? Time to get up ... I don't think so.

Whatever you do ... keep those legs closed.

Five more minutes.

I'm not talking to you right now. Can't you see I'm sleeping?

Sssssssst!

Visit my website at

www.connymanero.weebly.com

Apartment hunting tips

Apartment hunting can be a headache if you hop in your car without a plan.  Doing your homework before you decide to drive around aimlessly can make the process less of a frustration.  Apartment living has some benefits over home ownership like never having to worry about a flooded basement or a leaky roof.   An apartment also offers security, safety and the company of other residents.

When looking for a place of your own, the following apartment hunting tips might come in handy.

Do Your Research

If there is an address in an apartment rental ad, research the address with a web browser.  Through pictures and satellite images you will see the property and surrounding area.  You can also find out the location of any nearby shops, schools and churches.  A visual might save you a disappointing trip.

If you do like the property and neighborhood, take a walk and get the feel of the area.  Does it offer you everything you are looking for in terms of shopping, transportation, and entertainment?

Get a Second Opinion

When going apartment hunting, it’s a good idea to bring a family member or friend along.  Two pairs of eyes see more than one.  A companion can function as a sounding board and can help prevent you from “settling” on an unsuitable apartment just because you are frustrated.

Is the Apartment Right for You?

If you have lived in a house all your life, living in an apartment will be quite a change.  Not only are the living quarters much smaller, but you won’t have a backyard anymore. 

Will your furniture fit into a smaller space?  Do you have pets?  Many apartment buildings will not allow pets, or if they do, they will charge a higher monthly rent and will ask for a larger deposit.

Can you Afford It?

Before you start apartment hunting, look at you budget and hunt within your price range.  When talking to a prospective landlord, ask about extra costs such as parking and utilities.  Also check the fine print of your lease for specifics about the conditions under which your deposit will be returned when you leave.

Pay Attention to Details

When hunting for a place, you might see ads such as “cozy apartment” or “newly renovated” apartment for rent.  Cozy usually means small, while renovated might be nothing more than a thin coat of paint on the walls.

When visiting an apartment, be on the lookout for mouse and cockroach droppings.  Check not only the walls and floor, but the kitchen cabinets and drawers.

Test if all the windows and doors open smoothly and can be locked. 

See if the toilet flushes properly, and if you’re not a fan of low flow, turn on the shower to test the strength of the water.  Look at the ceiling for water stains.  If there are marks this could mean that the apartment above you has leaky pipes and mold could be present in the apartment.

If you like a particular apartment and you’re thinking about signing the lease, make note of any damages and have the landlord sign the document.  You don’t want to be held responsible for existing damages before you move in.

Talk to Other Tenants

If you are lucky enough to find tenants in the apartment you’re thinking of renting, talk to them privately.  They might be able to warn you of possible flaws or disturbing noises in the building, and whether or not management responds quickly when there are problems.

These are just a few apartment hunting tips.  By doing your homework and paying attention to important details, it is possible to find the apartment of your dreams. 

Do you like my blog? 

Sample my books at: www.connymanero.weebly.com

How to train your cat to use the litter box in 3 simple steps

Did you adopt a cat or kitten? Has this sweet addition to the family had an accident on the floor or carpet? Not to worry, cats are among the cleanest animals and in most cases training them to use the litter box is fairly easy. Cats are like people, they like a clean place to their business and they like it private.

Litter box location

When you try to pick a location for your cat’s litter box, think like a cat – where would you like the box to be? Not somewhere with lots of foot traffic or loud background noise as this will frighten kitty. Not somewhere where she eats, sleeps or plays. By way of eliminating, what is left? The bathroom is an obvious choice, so is the laundry room, the garage (if she has easy access to it) and even the balcony (weather permitting).

Take the cat’s age into consideration and make the litter box easily accessible. An older cat might have arthritis and might have troubles climbing a staircase or climbing over furniture to get to her box.

While some cats like the privacy of an enclosed litter box, the majority likes their box open. Use unscented litter and place an old carpet or towel in front of the box so that kitty isn’t left with litter on her paws or between her toes.

An appropriate litter box

Litter boxes available in pet stores are generally suitable for most cats. As a rule of thumb a litter box should be the length of a cat’s body. Kittens do not need a small box, but extra large cats might need an extra large box.

If you’re not in favor of emptying the litter box, you have options. You can make use of cat litter liners, which you can just tie up and disposed of, or you can buy disposable cat litter trays. Disposable trays are a little more expensive than regular trays that have to be filled with litter, but super easy to use.

The litter

There are many types of cat litter available. There’s the regular sandy type, but there also clay, shredded paper and wood pellets. Try to avoid litter with anti-bacterial elements or strong perfumes. A fresh scent might seem attractive to you, but might be too much for your cat. Remember, a cat’s sense of smell is much more advanced than yours.

How to train your cat

Step 1 – Show her where to go

When you bring a new cat or kitten into your home, show her where her litter box is and put her in the box. Cats might be smart, but they’re not that smart that they instinctively know where to go. Either pick her up and show her her private little bathroom, or encourage her to follow you.

Step 2 - After meals

Few cats use their litter box right after a meal but you could try to put her in her litter box after she’s eaten or had a drink. This might lead her to associate food with poop and water with pee. Don’t force her to stay in her box though. Forcing her will create fear. Simply put her in the box, talk to her in a soft tone of voice what the box is for and leave it at that. Kitty will probably have a look, sniff around and jump out of the box. Leave it up to her.

Step 3 – Praise her

If you notice that kitty has used her litter box, lavish her with praise. While petting her say “Good kitty” or “Smart kitty” or anything else that makes it clear how pleased you are.

Accidents happen

Should your cat or kitten have an accident, don’t punish her. Never yell or spank her. Cats don’t understand negative enforcement and yelling or any other type of punishment will only frighten her. Should you find a poopie on the floor or a wet spot on the carpet, show her the accident and then put her in her box.

When you clean up the mess, place the damp tissue or the poopie in the box. The scent will lure her to use this place for future relief.

To discourage her from using the wrong place again, thoroughly clean the accident spot. Soak up most of the urine with tissue paper, sprinkle with plain baking soda (no cleaning agents added), and vacuum. Repeat if necessary.

Litter box maintenance

Once your cat uses her litter box on a regular basis, keep the box as clean as possible. Scoop out poopies on a regular basis and wash the box at least once a week. Just like you prefer a clean toilet, so does your cat.

Cats are naturally clean and smart, and training should require little or no effort.

Do you like my blog? You might like my books too. Sample them at: www.connymanero.weebly.com

Friday is cat day - Life in a box

Most cat owners spent a significant amount of money on toys and soft bedding, while all it takes is a box.

SSSST ... I'M PLAYING HIDE AND SEEK I'M STILL TAKEN MEASUREMENTS NOT A WORD! WANNA JOIN ME ... THERE'S ROOM TO SPARE I'M DREAMING OF A 300 I NEED TO STRETCH MY LEGS HIDE .... ... AND SEEK I HOPE THE SHOES FIT BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GETTING THIS BOX BACK JUST CLOSE THE FLAPS AND LET ME BE THIS IS NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE 0 Comments Leave a Reply.

Memory Man by David Baldacci

I like a good murder now and then. So while I mainly read novels of a romantic nature, when I need a break from lovesick men and women and their antics, I go looking for a mystery novel.

Having read a “The Hit” and “The Innocent” by David Baldacci’s, I returned to the mystery writer and selected “Memory Man”.

Where it comes to novels, I’m quite demanding. The story has to grab me from the first page, even from the first paragraph. And “Memory Man” did just that.

Synopsis - Amazon

Amos Decker's life changed forever--twice.

The first time was on the gridiron. A big, towering athlete, he was the only person from his hometown of Burlington ever to go pro. But his career ended before it had a chance to begin. On his very first play, a violent helmet-to-helmet collision knocked him off the field for good, and left him with an improbable side effect--he can never forget anything.

The second time was at home nearly two decades later. Now a police detective, Decker returned from a stakeout one evening and entered a nightmare--his wife, young daughter, and brother-in-law had been murdered.

His family destroyed, their killer's identity as mysterious as the motive behind the crime, and unable to forget a single detail from that horrible night, Decker finds his world collapsing around him. He leaves the police force, loses his home, and winds up on the street, taking piecemeal jobs as a private investigator when he can.

But over a year later, a man turns himself in to the police and confesses to the murders. At the same time a horrific event nearly brings Burlington to its knees, and Decker is called back in to help with this investigation. Decker also seizes his chance to learn what really happened to his family that night. To uncover the stunning truth, he must use his remarkable gifts and confront the burdens that go along with them. He must endure the memories he would much rather forget. And he may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

On Amazon.com, “Memory Man” counts 3,958 reviews, of which 63% give the book five stars.

I tend to agree with them. As soon as I started reading, I couldn’t stop. Computer work was forgotten, even going to bed was forgotten and when I eventually did go to bed, I took “Memory Man” with me.

What I particularly like about the hero of this story, is that he’s not the typical tall, dark and handsome man. On the contrary, he’s an older man and he’s fat. He’s has one distinctive quality though … an extraordinary memory. Hence the name … Memory Man.

Do you like the blog? Visit www.connymanero.weebly.com 

and sample my books. 

You might like them.

Father's Day Around the World

Father’s Day celebrates fatherhood.  Not just biological fathers, but grandfathers, foster fathers, stepfathers or any other father figures.  While the majority of the world celebrates dads on the third Sunday of June, Father’s Day around the world is also celebrated in other months as well.

History of Father’s Day

Father’s Day was first celebrated in Spokane, Washington and was the brainchild of Sonara Smart Dodd in 1910.  A year earlier she had suggested that mothers should have a day of celebration.  When her idea proved a success, she felt it was only fair that father’s should have a special day too.

Father’s Day in America

Although every country honors their fathers in a different way, cards, thoughtful gifts, candy and even flowers are the order of the day.  In the absence of a gift, spending time with your dad and doing something he enjoys is perhaps the most appreciated gift of all.

Father’s Day in Australia

Down under, Father’s Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of September.  While children surprise their dad with a thoughtful gift, clubs and societies honor the day too.  Breakfast meetings for fathers, a fun sports event or a program that brings families together are all popular in Australia.

Father’s Day in South Africa

In South Africa, people like to barbeque, or as they call it “braai”.  Father’s Day, or “Vader dag” in South African, is the perfect opportunity to get together with family and friends and gather around the “burner” to cook dad’s favorite meal.  Taking into account that June in South Africa is a winter month, the temperature can be a gamble for an outside celebration.

Father’s Day in Germany

In Germany Father’s Day, or “Vadertag” as the Germans say, is celebrated slightly differently.  For starters the day is always celebrated 40 days after Easter on Ascension Day.  In addition to presenting fathers with presents, some men and boys go on a hiking trip, dragging a wagon of beer or wine along with them.

Father’s Day in Poland

In Poland, Father’s Day (Dzień Ojca), is celebrated on June 23.  While children spoil their fathers, mothers are hard at work in the kitchen preparing one or several of dad’s favorite foods.  Dishes such as sauerkraut with sausage (known as bigos), stuffed dumplings (pierogi), stuffed cabbage rolls (golabki) and sweet noodle pudding (kufel) are eaten with gusto.

Father’s Day in France

French fathers get the royal treatment on Father’s Day (Fête des Pères).  It’s not unusual for a French dad to wake up on the third Sunday in June and get his breakfast of coffee and croissants in bed.  Wine or fashion items are preferred gifts, but something handmade will do just as well.  Some French fathers also like to treat their families to a restaurant meal on Father’s Day.

Father’s Day in Italy

Father’s Day (Festa del Papa) is celebrated in Italy on March 19, the day of the St. Joseph Feast.  Italian households are abuzz with activity on this day, cooking dad’s favorite meal served with wine or “grappa”, along with cookies and breads.  Gifts often include a card with St. Joseph or a key ring or pendant with a picture of the saint.

Except for the dates, Father’s Day around the world isn’t all that different.  Fathers and father figures are honored by those who love them.

Please visit me and more of my work at: www.connymanero.weebly.com