Binkomonster!

The Binkster.

Binky. Tonight you are away from home, and we hear you are comfortably resting (and tired). It's no wonder. You've had a bad spell these past few days. But I know you are hanging in there. You're a strong one buddy. I know you aren't ready to give up. Not yet. You still have fight, vim, vigor and pestilence left in that lovely fuzzy frame of yours. Im hoping that the Hogwarts medical wing for animals magical wizards can work their magic. Some fluids. Some insulin. Most importantly, some nutrients. Seeing you not want to even eat these past few days has been the biggest shock of all. You who LIVE for the stray morsel of food. I want that Binky back. I know you are old and grey, and getting to the twilight, but both the CTO and CEO don't believe you are end line just yet. Not you buddy. So please, keep fighting ok? More snuggles await. And more attitude from the whipper-snappers. But most importantly, your forever home awaits. It's not the same without you.

Memo #12: 2012. And a Recap.

To:         The CEO, and the VeePee

From:    The CTO

My lovely executive staff. Where to start? The past 5 weeks have been, by definition, a whirlwind. Let me rewind the clock back and give an abbreviated summary:

Week One- Thanksgiving. Big meal. Small gathering. All the decorations get busted out. Including the Hogwarts train (our VeePee now becomes a train operator/engineer).

Week Two- Me. Stressing about my trip to India. Heartburn. Anxiety. Not enjoying the Xmas music/holiday/lights enough.

Week Three- Off to India I go. Great flights. Great folks. But really tired. 10 hours of solid meetings for 3 days is rough going for anyone. Lots of data to soak in and ponder. Time to lose myself in personal contemplation. Temple trip. Stayed on the exercise wagon. Some stress about local food, but learned to let the 'inner Bourdain' out. Everything turned out ok. And hey, got some cool threads to boot!

Week Four- Back! We cram all of our holiday parties into one weekend. Along with the packing for the holiday trip. Jet lag is an understatement. But it all gets done. Stressing about the feline board members, but come to realize, they are in good hands.

Week Five- At the airport, on a plane again. Cocktail midflight, and then, on touchdown, the fastest holiday week I've ever experienced. Our usual BG run. 11 Madison Park! The drive to Buffalo.  Shopping for last minute presents, wrapping of presents, unwrapping of presents, more get togethers. Kuni's! Giving Premiere Wine+Liquor too much $$.

Week Six - The drive back to NYC. Our usual run to Bruno Cucinelli and Beretta. A surprising haul at Marina. Otto (meh). Oyster Bar (mmmmm). The Pegu Club (AWESOME). And New Year. With a bit of Guggenheim, a dash of Long Island Children's Museum, and a sprinkle of Children's Museum of Manhattan thrown in for good measure. Have fallen off the exercise wagon and been left behind (argh).

And today? On a plane (thanks Virgin), on our way back home to moderate (55 degrees) vs super chilled (sub zero) temperatures. And back to a ton of work, but new ideas and adventures waiting. The promise has been made to leave the holiday lights hanging, so we'll be enjoying some LED goodness until well into January. There are a raft of packages winding their way to the abode. Tanks to clean. Soft cat fluff/tumbleweeds to vacuum up. But also, some cuddles to be had, and some gym equipment and pools waiting for usage. There is sadness that the holiday is over. Sadness that we are leaving the recreational offices and staff, but the realization that our paths and challenges await. And recognition that we've had a great opportunity of downtime to recharge and connect. Gratefulness abounds.

 

Here's to a Delightful 2012. Happy New Year.

Memo #11: The Time. It Flies.

Dearest VeePee.

I recall the last time I sat down to pen a missive to you, seemed to be only yesterday. But checking our archives it appears my memory is way faulty. Memo 10 went out to commemorate your 2 years in office. And now? We are past the three year mark. In truth, I meant to put this together earlier this summer. But the season being what it is, our calendars have been chock full. And October promises no respite. More adventures, more things to do. Before you know it, your last year in the company of only the executive staff will be winding down and you will be on your way to start your formal education. So, I'm grabbing a slice of the temporal pie today to stop and treasure just how much you've grown, and the evolution of your personality. It's amazing to me that from the little squishy, soft thing you were, we now have a little person on two feet, running around at 100mph, and chattering at the equivalent speed. You have developed into quite the train baron round these parts. There isnt a surface of the castle that hasnt been graced by a train track or one of the many Thomas the Tank engine trains. And now the fascination with cars begins. So its trains, cars, all manner of locomotive transport stuffed in every nook and cranny. In any other space available? Books. Squishy, stuffed animals or musical instruments. It has been a constant challenge to keep the chaos in check so that in walking through, one remembers that adults still live here too. But we don't mind. Your happy face, cute little cheeks and burbling voice relaying some kind of train disaster story to us is well worth it.

I continue to marvel at how quickly the time goes. And Im trying to make sure Im enjoying every piece of it I can. Every afternoon nap. Every morning slog up the stairs to get 'nai-nai' and cereal. Every time you come in to sleep with me because you are scared (and the CEO has to take the sleeping quarters upstairs). I try and memorize the contours of your precious little face, and hands/arms, feet. Keeping in mind that you won't be like this for long. Before I know it, you will be the gangly 6 year old, the sullen 12 year old, and then packing things for the college sojourn. Sigh. I love the time spent with you. Explaining things. Putting complicated lego models together only for you to destroy them. Spending time at your train table trying to figure out some order in your train yard of  disarray. Sitting on the porch and having you sit next to me in your little 'mini-me' chair. I may seem distracted at times. And I may lose my temper. But its all the small stuff. I'm working on trying 'not to sweat it'. And I still have some hills to climb there. But like you, I'm learning. So have patience with me. Just like both the CEO and I are investing a great amount back into you.

We all look forward to a wonderful Fall season. Aquathon has come and passed. You earned another medal to add to your stack (along with a few more ribbons from swim class). We've done our usual pass at the Renaissance Faire. And this month? Halloweeeeeeeeeen, and all the fun it promises (the pumpkin patch, trick or treat, your new costume)......

Stay curious little one. The world is a tough place, and the most important thing is for you never to stop wondering, and never to doubt yourself. Here's hoping we can instill both of those tenets very strongly..

Love you,

CTO (better known as 'Mama')

And the Tribe Deprecates by One....

WOoby.

Oh little woman, where do I begin? You came into our hearts and home 10 years ago. Picking you out at the shelter, you seemed such a quiet thing. Then the fangs came out on the ride home. And then the yowling and screaming. You've always been a skittish one. I wish your forever home could have been a better experience for you, (instead of always hiding behind the laundry or the bookshelves). But I think you did take your moments when you could get them. Especially with Binky. I know he is going to miss your paw-rub service. And as much as you hated BooBoo with a passion, I think he is going to miss the thrill of the chase and ambush. I of course wonder if the stress of all that didnt hasten you prematurely to a departure.

The house will be a quieter place. And we will be without the only other female in our tribe. There will be a corner of my heart that is empty and hurts until we get to the point where I can just focus on the 'remembering fondly'. And explaining this all to the VeePee? Yes, another challenge. Not grasping it quite yet, and for that I am grateful. The CEO and CTO have had their collective hands full today trying to control emotions. I for one will admit that the sadness is consuming me. Nothing to do though but ride it out. Been here before. A year ago exactly. Different scale, but same basic ride.  Not a fan of it either, but the benefit of wisdom/age is the acceptance of the fact that a life must have its sunshine, just as it must have the rain.

My vision is that she is free from pain. Free from suffering. Bouncing across the Rainbow Bridge, unafraid of anyone or anything. And most importantly, free from fear.

Love you little kitty. We all do. Just wish we had been given more time.

xo