Sorry updates have not been as regular. No internet at home right now, but i'll try to be more proactive about finding update spots.
*****
The kittens and I had a visit with Joanie and Roy this weekend! If you don't recall, Joanie and Roy are the wonderful couple who opened their home and their hearts to dozens of cats over the last six years or so, including my Ronan and Pandora. Currently, they have two adult cats of their own - Patty Riley, Peaches and Bubbles - and two foster kittens, Timmy and Taz.
Embarassingly, the kittens were not on their best behaviour. Ronan was positively terrified of Timmy (who is so small he just fits on my right hand), hissing and growling his way through the afternoon, while Pandora spent most of her time curled up inside a kitty condo in the corner. Needless to say, I was embarrassed by my kittens' lack of maturity.
Ronan made his way from bedroom to kitchen and back to the sitting room. At one point, he explored the bathroom and Timmy, fascinated by this larger orange beast, followed him inside, essentially cornering him. As poor Timmy sat bewildered Ronan stalked about the white tiles, hissing and hacking his displeasure and fear. What a big baby.
Pandora moved from the kitty condo to behind the armchair and back again several times. That was the extent of her exploration.
After several hours, Ronan allowed himself to receive belly rubs. He also followed Roy to the kitchen a few times and entertained himself with some of the jingly toys beside the fireplace. Pandora warmed up finally and licked Joanie's hands a few times. They were both quite emotionally exhausted by home-time. Always the positive ones in any situation, Joanie and Roy expressed understanding that the kittens were probably very overwhelmed by all the new stimuli (although they did seem to remember by the time we left that they had, in fact, been in the home before) and were sure they would be better behaved next time.
Yes. We have been invited back.
I hope the kittens are a little less dramatic next time.
Showing posts with label Roy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Roy. Show all posts
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
The Naming of Felines
You ought to read Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Elliot if you have not yet already. The inspiration and lyrics behind Tony award-winning musical Cats, this book of poems is a veritable Who's-Who of funny cat behaviour.
There is poem called "The Naming of Cats" which addresses the idea of these furry friends having three names: their Family names ("Peter, Augustus, Alozo or James"), their Peculiar Names ("Names that never belong to more than one cat...") and their True Names which are secret. I will (obviously) never know what Ronan and Pandora's True Names are but I refuse to give them silly and undignified Family names. And as for Peculiar Names, well, that's between the three of us.
Ronan Jamieson Fenriz
Ronan is a traditional name associated with both Nordic and Celtic roots, although my Israeli friend Shiri informs me it is also name found in the Hebrew language.
In the Nordic language, however, it means "Little Seal" which is extremely appropriate if you've ever seen Ronan try to run on a slippery tile floor.
Jamieson was the original name his Fostermom Joannie and Fosterdad Roy called him. Lovely Irish lady Joannie is married to Newfoundland-born gentleman Roy and the tradition of excellent whiskey is alive in both Ireland and the Canadian east coast. He has also been called "Jimmy" for short by them at various points in his foster-stay in their home. I felt it was appropriate to honour these wonderful people by keeping this name as part of Ronan's full title.
Fenriz. Here's where my music geek comes out in full force. Any self-respecting metalhead will know immediately that Fenriz is the drummer/lyricist of Norwegian Black Metal band Dark Throne. Avid musicologist and unwitting humourist, Gylve Nagell aka. Fenriz is a hardcore softie through and through. He is simultaneously bad-ass and adorable.
***
Pandora Rune
Pandora was the name given to her originally by Fosterdad Roy who took one look at her and said, "That's Pandora". And thus she was. She uncompromisingly refused to answer to any other name since that day and seemed secretly pleased when Joannie or Roy would commend her with "Oh, Pandora, you're so dark and mysterious!" Traditionally, it is a Greek name meaning "Gift to all".
Rune is what I had chosen as her name when i discovered I was applying to adopt two kittens and not just one (story to follow in a future post), but she just wasn't down with it. She would steadfastly ignore me if I tried any name on her but "Pandora". For that she would turn her keen eyes towards me as if saying, 'Yes, THAT is my name. Not this "Rune" person you keep calling'. But "Rune" is so lovely, Scandinavian (Nordic and Celtic) in origin (Joannie was again pleased), and means "secret lore" (thereby appropriately paired with a "dark and mysterious" kitty). I also like to think of Rune as being associated with the idea of Truth because of its use in ancient and modern divination practices to determine clarification of situations past, present or future.
There is poem called "The Naming of Cats" which addresses the idea of these furry friends having three names: their Family names ("Peter, Augustus, Alozo or James"), their Peculiar Names ("Names that never belong to more than one cat...") and their True Names which are secret. I will (obviously) never know what Ronan and Pandora's True Names are but I refuse to give them silly and undignified Family names. And as for Peculiar Names, well, that's between the three of us.
Ronan Jamieson Fenriz
Ronan is a traditional name associated with both Nordic and Celtic roots, although my Israeli friend Shiri informs me it is also name found in the Hebrew language.
In the Nordic language, however, it means "Little Seal" which is extremely appropriate if you've ever seen Ronan try to run on a slippery tile floor.
Jamieson was the original name his Fostermom Joannie and Fosterdad Roy called him. Lovely Irish lady Joannie is married to Newfoundland-born gentleman Roy and the tradition of excellent whiskey is alive in both Ireland and the Canadian east coast. He has also been called "Jimmy" for short by them at various points in his foster-stay in their home. I felt it was appropriate to honour these wonderful people by keeping this name as part of Ronan's full title.
Fenriz. Here's where my music geek comes out in full force. Any self-respecting metalhead will know immediately that Fenriz is the drummer/lyricist of Norwegian Black Metal band Dark Throne. Avid musicologist and unwitting humourist, Gylve Nagell aka. Fenriz is a hardcore softie through and through. He is simultaneously bad-ass and adorable.
***
Pandora Rune
Pandora was the name given to her originally by Fosterdad Roy who took one look at her and said, "That's Pandora". And thus she was. She uncompromisingly refused to answer to any other name since that day and seemed secretly pleased when Joannie or Roy would commend her with "Oh, Pandora, you're so dark and mysterious!" Traditionally, it is a Greek name meaning "Gift to all".
Rune is what I had chosen as her name when i discovered I was applying to adopt two kittens and not just one (story to follow in a future post), but she just wasn't down with it. She would steadfastly ignore me if I tried any name on her but "Pandora". For that she would turn her keen eyes towards me as if saying, 'Yes, THAT is my name. Not this "Rune" person you keep calling'. But "Rune" is so lovely, Scandinavian (Nordic and Celtic) in origin (Joannie was again pleased), and means "secret lore" (thereby appropriately paired with a "dark and mysterious" kitty). I also like to think of Rune as being associated with the idea of Truth because of its use in ancient and modern divination practices to determine clarification of situations past, present or future.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)