House Sitting

So this wonderful summer week I am spending in Cascade at my grandparents' house.  They left to visit my uncle Kenny in Kansas.  Well, since I am spending my summer not doing too much with a broken arm they so graciously asked if I would be willing to stay here and take care of the cats.  Yes, plural.  As in multiple cats.  If you have read my other posts you know from my pet peeves blog, I don't really care for cats.  But, that's okay because I love Grandma and Grandpa.  So, I agreed to look after the house and cats.  Side note, I do like YouTube videos of cats...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtX8nswnUKU

Today is day1 of Cat Watching.  For those of you who know Jackson, you know that sometimes he can be quite the mischievous little thing (or big, he is a little overweight).  Anyway, I know you are all dying to know how my first afternoon went, so I've decided to fill you all in.  Yes, you read correctly so relax! 

Okay, so I arrived at Grandma and Grandpa's this afternoon.  I said hi to Jackson and he just meowed back.  I could tell he was feeling a little lonely.  I checked to make sure he had food and water and then asked him if he would like to be brushed.  He didn't exactly say yes, just meowed a little more and jumped up on the bar stool.   At this point, I thought, "Yes!  I'm in!"  So we hung out for awhile.  He looked out the window, I looked at the TV (and my paper I should be writing instead of doing this). 

During this time I also about had a heart attack from the coo coo clock cooing the time to me.  But that is neither here nor there.  Jackson is not the only feline around this place.  Grandma and Grandpa also have a multitude of cats living in their shed.  As I headed out the door to check on those little monsters, I tried calling for them.  They are a little skittish, but they love Grandpa.  He goes out the door and starts talking to them in a weird voice and they all come running toward him.  Some even lay down at his feet.  Needless to say, my version of Grandpa's "cat voice" is not so good.  All the cats outside the shed went running in away from me.  But, you know, that's fine.  I would rather them run away then gang up on me and eat me alive.  I fed the cats outside.  Only got hissed at three times by the same mean tom cat.  And I manage to get the big door (for city people, its a big door on barns and machine sheds that hangs from a track and you have to slide it open or shut) anyway, I managed to get the door shut with one hand.  You're right, I am so strong, I'm glad you noticed. 

Well, I came back inside and started on some of my laundry.  And that's when I noticed it.  Jackson had peed on my clothes.  I brushed it off though.  It would be a long week if I held a grudge, and I know he doesn't really like me and misses Grandma and Grandpa.  So, I didn't scold him.  Partially because he has bit and clawed me in the past and I didn't want to be bit again. Score:  Jackson 1 Melissa 0.  I put in a load of laundry and went back to the Teen Mom marathon.  It's a guilty pleasure, okay?  When the machines beeped I went in to switch my clothes.  As I flipped on the light it was like I pissed off the world's largest mountain lion.  Jackson hissed at me and I screamed.  How was I to know he was in there eating some of his kitty food?  Then he hissed again and I said, "Jackson, I'm sorry, I didn't know you were in here."  He hissed yet again, obviously not backing down.  So, I left the room.  Jackson had won the battle, the score Jackson 2 Melissa 0.

A little while later, I was putting some of my laundry in the bedroom.  As I left the room Jackson was walking in.  He hissed at me again, but this time I hissed back.  I have a pretty intimidating hiss.  Jackson ran under the table and hissed again.  I hissed back and walked on by.  I had won this battle.  Jackson 2 Melissa 1. 

After about 20 minutes, I got up to get a glass of water and we met yet again.  Jackson hissed, I hissed, Jackson looked scared.  Ha! I had beat the cat yet again, and the score becomes even, Jackson 2 Melissa 2.  We were stuck at a stalemate.  So I got out Jackson's brush and tried talking to him.  He wanted nothing to do with it and ignored me.  But, at least he didn't hiss at me again.  As I sit here writing this, Jackson is laying on the bed I am intended to sleep in.  Does he win the war?  Should I sleep somewhere else, or should I risk my life and climb into bed with the cat? I feel like I can't let him win, but I like the way my face looks and I don't want him to scratch it into oblivion in my sleep. 

I think I am going to attempt to sleep in the same bed....So if I never blog again, you'll know why. 

Until we meet again blogosphere.