Kitteh Update 2/24/14: Run

I come home today to find Ocean's kittens more bright-eyed and alert.

They are also more mobile, moving out of the nest in each kitteh's desired direction.

Despite kitty mama Ocean's best efforts to shield them from getting caught on camera:

We're doomed.

Kitteh Update 2/23/14: New Home, Same Kittehs

Got them moved in to a new home:

It's on the back porch, an enclosed sun room where they can stay out of the way while I unpack, move furniture, re-pack, replace furniture, re-wire the intertubes, do laundry, unpack again, put up posters and wall hangings, move the furniture one more time, and then be forced to move out due to neighbors complaining I'm making too much of a racket.

Kitteh Update 2/20/14: They Aims To Misbehave

Still in the process of making the big move, meanwhile Ocean made a big move of her own again.  On the eve of prepping the heavy furniture, she decided the closet wasn't big enough for her growing baby kitties and moved them...

under the dresser in my bedroom.

/facepalm

As of this morning, one of them, the bravest most reckless of the kittehs, has wandered free from the huddled mass and made his way into the main floor of the bedroom where I'm terrified I'm gonna step on a kitteh.

That one is clearly Mal (aka Captain Malcolm Reynolds).

I'm going with the grey kitten as Inara, and one of the tuxedo kittens is looking like River... So I gotta figure out which ones are gonna be Zoe, Kaylee, Jayne and/or Wash.

While I'm Busy Moving, And Working On More Kitteh Pictures, Some Library-Related Stuff

For example, if anyone is starting, joining, or maintaining a book club - READ MY BOOKS cough - you might wanna check out OnTheBookcase.com by Reading Group Choices to see what books are out there that are being used by book clubs, complete with some questions/discussion materials and reviews.

Wouldn't hurt to sign up with Goodreads.com either and see about adding reviews to books you've read or need to read.

Counting Out All The Times I Have Ever Moved

I think my family is one big group of experts on moving.  Dad was a Navy pilot, so there was that... Then there was college, work, college, work, loss of work, new work...

I might not even be sure of the number during my early childhood, mom and dad would know for certain.  But here goes:

1. Navy housing, Albany GA (early early)
2. Neighborhood, Albany (until 4)
3. Kempsville, Virginia (5 to 6)

Dad retires from the Navy.  Family moves to Florida to be near mom's parents in New Port Richey.

4. Tarpon Springs, FL (6 to 7)
5. Palm Harbor, FL (7 to 18)

Graduation!  On to college!

6. Gainesville, FL (GO GATORS) - Dorm living (18)
7. Gainesville - Off-campus Gatorwood Apts. (19) - no longer there
8. Gainesville - Oxford Manor (20 to 21) - rooming with my brother
9. Gainesville - apartment complex I can't recall name of, for about a semester (22)
10. Palm Harbor - back home between colleges
11. Tampa, FL - Graduate School USF (GO BULLS) - off-campus house (renting a room) (23)
12. Palm Harbor - back home looking for work

Hired!  Working for Broward County Libraries!

13. Tamarac, FL - Southgate Apt. (24 to 27)
14. North Lauderdale, FL - Parrot's Landing just down the road but a bigger place (28)
15. North Lauderdale - Move into a bigger apt. at Parrot's Landing (29 to 30)

Parents insist that I build up equity in owning a place, so... townhouse shopping!

16. Coconut Creek, FL - forgot the name of the place but it's on Carambola Cir. S. (31 to 33)

Got a chance to work at an academic library with my alma mater so... Back to Gainesville!

17. Gainesville, FL - seven months in a nice apartment, I still had to house shop so
18. Gainesville - nice three-bed two-car garage place (33 to 36)

Like it or not, Palm Harbor / Tampa metro is too much of a home for me, so circling closer back home I get a job at Pasco County Libraries...

19. New Port Richey, FL - nice two-bed one-car garage villas in Millpond (36 to 43)

I unfortunately lose my job two years in living in New Port Richey, so there's 4 years there of my poor parents helping with the mortgage payments (the horror of a lousy housing market prevents selling).  Got a job offer finally by 2013 and so

20. Bartow, FL - nice two-bed apartment (43 to now).

And now, the latest, hopefully LAST move I'll ever have to do...

21. Mulberry, FL - nice two-bed two-car villas/condo (now)

Kitteh Update 2/13/14: The Doom Is Now

I said before that once the kitties opened their eyes I would be doomed?

Some of them are opening their eyes.

I'm going to start kitteh-proofing the entire universe.  Be right back.

Work Anniversary

I started work at Bartow Public Library on Feb. 11, 2013.  Here I am one year later.

I'd like to think I'm doing well.

Things To Know About Kittehs

1) They are so cute.
2) They wobble so cute.
3) They will open their eyes within 7 to 10 days of birthing.
4) Ocean's kittehs were born 7 days ago.
5) The second her kittehs open their eyes I am doomed.
6) They will learn to crawl into everything, everywhere.
7) They do not feel pity, or fear, or remorse.
8) They are soooooo cute.

Did I mention I am doomed?

Kitteh Update 02/09: New Digs

Ocean decided to move again.  This time to a boxed-off corner of one of the closets.

I got a chance to lay down a towel after I took this photo, but still this is a situation because 1) I'm in the middle of moving to a new place and those boxes she's using as a nest are scheduled for relocation, and 2) she's gonna run out of places to nest.  I don't think the mama cats re-use the same spot.

Still, she did the move right as I was sitting there at the computer working on stuff (buying a Saturday ticket to this year's Orlando MegaCon), and I didn't even realize she was carrying her babies into the closet until I heard a tiny "mew".

Also, my downstairs neighbors (did I ever tell you I have a celebrity for a neighbor?) found out about the kittehs and they came by to take a look and go "awwwwwwwwww".  Mama Ocean was a bit defensive but relaxed a little once she recognized them (she had hung with them during her pre-adoption phase last November).

Caturday with the Kittehs

Kitties are still doing well.  Although sleepy.

Kitty Mama is resting after breakfast...

The workplace is thinking my new nickname is Papa Kitty.

Kitteh Update 02/06/14: A New Bed for Kitties

Today while I was at work, Ocean decided it was time to move her litter to a more secure location (it's instinctual to move the nest for mama cats).  So she chose the underside of the kitchen cabinet next to the sink.

It's not the healthiest place in the universe to put kittehs, I(n)M(y)H(uman)O(pinion).  While I was home during lunch break, I made the effort - ever so gently - of moving each kitten to an open bookshelf with a towel-lined box I had set up.

Ocean is currently amenable to the new digs, but I guarantee her stubborn feline instinct will kick back in.  So I'm tying down the door handles to the cabinets with rope.

Meanwhile, best picture so far.  Finally got a good shot of Ocean's face and that of the babies.  Ocean was purring as I took the picture.

Kitteh Update 02/05/14: Feeding Time!

The six kittehs seem to be doing alright, all of them still lining up to get at the mama for milking.

I am starting to worry if the kittehs are pooping/urinating.  If so, gotta figure out how to clear them out to clean up.

Kitteh Update 2/4/14

There are still six kittehs.

Ocean has left her birthing cave to come out and eat and meow at me.  I've rubbed her backside and all - gosh she's gotten thinner - but am a bit wary of picking her up, she may still be sensitive.

When she jumps up at me to get on my chest for hugs, I'll know she's feeling better.

No further pics.  All there is right now is a lump of wriggling furry kittehs.  Other than the grey kitteh, there's no way to distinguish one from another.

I Don't Know Nothing About Birthing Kitties (UPDATE)

Turns out Ocean really was pregnant.

Last night Feb. 2nd she gave birth to three kittens (that I could see and hear).  You can see the tail of one of them next to her head in that photo.

I've been told cats are pregnant over nine weeks.  So... counting back... she got knocked up mid-November, just before I got around to adopting her.  Now it's a question of hunting that SOB tomcat down that did this to her and... SNIP SNIP...

I got a box laid out with a towel nearby, so she can transfer over her kittens to a cleaner place.  Left food and water nearby.  I have no idea what else I need to do.

Update: (2/3/14 6:10 pm EST) AAAAAAA I was off on the kitteh count.  Ocean gave birth to SIX KITTEHS.  SIX!  AHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhh...

On the other hand I could name them all after the crew of the Serenity... Mal, Zoe, Wash, Kaylee, Jayne, Inara...

Update Update: Here's a second picture of the kittehs.

There's one, two, a third behind the second, the grey kitteh is fourth, then a fifth kitteh and then a sixth with his/her tail end up.  Two of the cats look like solid black cats, one grey, two with white facial markings like their mother.  The sixth is dark but I can't tell yet if he/she has white mixed in...