this cat does not do rain....

... unless I can be dried off with a nice warm fluffy towel.  Which I am told, there was not a single one to be found at the Vintage Marketplace in Springfield, Ohio.  So I am very happy to report that I had the foresight to stay  h. o. m. e. I can see that I amaze you with my keen senses, leaving you speechless since I don't hear you...

So while I was at home, where it was also cold and rainy, I was inside snoozing in comfort.
Meanwhile 400 miles away, she unloaded in the rain...

two hours into set up and it's still dry in the tent

four hours into set up -
note lunch on table....cookies and water

...sold in the rain and froze her tail off in the rain.  Such dedication for me and the acquisition of monies for my catnip! I should keep her right? Better to send her out into the rain, than risk freezing my whiskers off and getting drenched.  The results would be horrific! My fur would take days to return to it's glorious shine and my whiskers or lack thereof.... oh my fur stands on end just thinking about it! Let's move on, shall we.....

It was so cold, one very kind customer took pity on her numb fingers and gave her their extra set of gloves on Saturday.  If you are reading this, a huge thank mew!!!!  If her fingers had gotten frostbite, however would she feed me?!?  It really was that cold!  Four shirts and a heavy sweatshirt on Friday was not enough.  So on Saturday she wore four shirts, a denim jacket AND a sweatshirt trying to stay warm.

So now you've got a feel for how bad the weather was.  And you might be dreading what I'm about to tell you regarding the show sales.....

There were very few people on Saturday due to the cold, rain and hail.  A day that should have been the best of the three days.  It was the worst sales on record for a Saturday.  And that's thirteen years worth of sales data.

However, sales were very good on Friday and 45 minutes before closing on Sunday.

 The afternoon sun and warmer temperatures Sunday afternoon certainly helped convince a few people to come out. And sure made it a lot nicer for load up.

This show was probably one of the craziest, unpredictable, out of the norm show sales yet.  But in the end when the trailer was packed and she was ready to go....

....there was very little to pack up! 

How purrfect is that?!!!

So you see, it was all good!

Now where is my catnip?!?!!

post show horrors

Sometimes when she returns from a show, she becomes a no-show.

How's that you may ask.  Well being older than dirt and dinosaurs, she is quite simply about as good as what you find in my litter box.  If you need a photo, leave me your email and I'll send you one.  A picture that is. Not the litterbox contents.

Anyway, so as I was saying..... it may take a few days to get back into the daily order of life and responsibilities.  Things like remembering it's time for my snacks, plumping up my bed, fixing my dinner, and other such critical matters.

This time however, things were different when she got home.  Her show space was outside and included (at no extra charge) rain during set up on Thursday.  Storms were rolling in Friday evening which meant that some of the merchandise was put back in the trailer, the tent lowered and everything else sheltered as much as possible.  During the night, a generous thunderstorm left 3 1/2 inches of rain during Friday evening and early Saturday morning.  Saturday arrival was a very pleasant challenge.  Rain drenched merchandise due to a collapsed canopy on the tent.  The recovery time of approximately 2 hours needed to remove water from everything.

So you can fairly presume (notice I didn't use the word "assume") that I needed to go into hiding before she returned home.  No, I am not a coward, simply a very smart feline.  Indeed!

To my great surprise, she was still functional and went right to work cleaning the screened in porch.  Pulling the garden hose in and moving furniture out.  To the driveway and deck.  I suspect that if the driveway display had been more appealing, we probably could have had a sold out garage sale.  Instead, I believe I saw several cars speed up.  No doubt for fear that something might jump out in front of them from our driveway.  Can't say I blame them. (Sorry, no photo...some things just should not be shown for fear of liability from shock, heart attacks and other such mental trauma induced ailments)

After two days of cleaning pollen, dust and unknown specimens of alien life from every surface on the porch, things began to take shape again.  A new.  Some things did not return into the porch, some did and there was even a new addition when the loveseat from the kitchen area was banished moved out there.

And this year, Halloween decor would make a comeback.  Last year, I sent her to the Country Living show in both Columbus, Ohio and Atlanta, Georgia so Halloween didn't stop here.  This year however, out came boxes and bags and a bit of imagination that was still left after the show.  And here's what she accomplished.....

And....she added a little bit of Halloween inside the house too!

And if I wasn't already scared.... she took the time to make two handmade medallions.  Check out the black one below and the cat on the pumpkin in the following photo.

Okay, so now I've shown you a large part of what took place right after she returned home.  With energy.  And her mind intact.  Well at least a good percentage of what she left with (which isn't necessarily alot but...)  Is it any wonder at all, why my whiskers are trembling?!?!  I mean this is unprecedented!

And I was even thinking of placing an ad here, requesting a temporary vacation with any one of you wonderful souls.  But I needed to clear my mind as to find the right words so as to invoke great pity......

....... so I went for a walk through my catnip patch......

......and that's when the real horror hit me.  My catnip was gone!!!! Every last leaf and twig of it!!!!

.......She's been into my catnip!!!! 

.....certainly explains A LOT.....but no worries.....

.....that patch of catnip was still there because.....

....... I'd seen the neighbors dog in there. Standing on three legs......

.......now who's horrified.... MOL...... yes, a very smart feline indeed!

Honk, honk, yeh beep, beep!

Yeah, I know.  Where the heck have I been?

Well it's not so much where I"ve been as much as where I am going.

Places.  And big wide open spaces.

On the road again.  Just can't wait to get on the road again.....

Going places that I've never ever been.....

Just can't wait to get on the road again....

Officer, what'dya mean I need a license?

Well kitty turds. He's probably just jealous cause I've got it all going on.....

Fine.

I'm goin' take my catnip and go home.  "She" on the other hand is going to have to drag this load to Springfield, Ohio for the Fall Extravaganza.

Can't ever say I didn't try and help though.....

Romeo equals Genius

Sometimes, I don't know what she'd do without me to manage her life.  I mean really.

Things that seem like a big deal to her, well are they really such a big deal?  I mean I can easily see the solution to these problems.  But without me to solve them?  Well can you imagine the state of her whiskers without me to solve these crisis'?!?  Me neither.  

Today a potential tangle of whiskers of GRAND proportions was narrowly averted.  As in within a whisker width of narrowness.  

You may remember from my last post that she has a show coming up.  Soon.  

Very soon.  

The issue started last Thursday when her and Dad notice that the truck stinks like gasoline. Ah well drive it anyway, they say.  Made it down the road five or six miles.  Truck still reaks of gasoline.  

Stop to eat. But Dad pops the hood first to check and see if anything obvious is wrong. Purrhaps there is a problem.  

Gas is running down the side of the engine casing in waves.  Purrhaps? Yes, purrhaps this is a problem.  Dad calls for roadside assistance.  Even though he is in a parking lot not the side of a road.  

Roadside assistance calls tow truck and fire department.  Fuel leak requires fire department.  Really?  

Yes, really!

Truck is towed home (where it can catch fire in a comfortable location and we can roast marshmellows and weinies).  Although Dad told me it was towed home because they met someone in the parking lot who seemed knowledgeable and nice and he offered to fix the truck.  Cheaper than what the dealership would charge.  (You know I would never have chosen this purrsonally right?) But nice, knowledgeable ..... well.....that doesn't always fix a truck does it?

Monday rolls around and Dad is told that the required part for repair is still missing in action.  Dad gives up and calls tow truck again to have truck hauled.  This time to dealership. Cost isn't free this time, it's $66 worth of towing.  There go next months cat snacks.  Ah, might as well, truck didn't burst into flames in the yard and they have already used the grill to cook the weinies and Dad ate all the marshmellows for comfort food.

The truck is towed and several hours pass.  I decide that everything is under control.  Or so I thought it was.....until she checked the weather for Springfield Ohio (where the show is)

Oops, I think I see yet another potential issue brewing.  Unloading is Thursday; show is Friday through Sunday; load out is Sunday.  Hmmmm.

Being the company problem solver and all around go to man, I tell her that wet weather shouldn't be a problem.  Just bring towels for the wet customers.  It's always won me over and it's not like she doesn't know how.....

She reminds me that her customers are not cats.  Hmpfh.  What does she know - everyone loves a dry towel when it's raining and they are all wet!  

But in an effort to keep her happy, I come up with another solution.  Actually one solution for TWO so called problems!  

Transportation! AND a trailer that isn't overkill since she is concerned whether she is bringing too much inventory when there might not be anyone shopping in the rain.  And not only that but when no one buys it she has to load it all up again.  In the rain. 

Hey wait, I think I've solved THREE problems not just two! I am some kind of genius!  Think I'll get a raise for my ingenuity????  OMGOSH I am so excited my whiskers are curling!!!!!

And what does she say to this genius?  

"Romeo, that won't work, what if people come anyway? It's better to have a whole trailer load of inventory. If it's really bad when I unload, I just will leave some of it in the trailer."

Okay, I tell her, I get this - you want to bring the regular trailer so just in case, you'll have enough inventory.  Sheesh, alright already wish she'd make up her mind.  That's what I recommended early on. 

On days like this is it any wonder I have grey fur mixed in with the tabby???? 

 It's been a full day so I think I deserve a nap at the very least, don't you?

But before I doze off I wanted to let you know the dealership called.  The fuel rails needed to be replaced. $900 worth of fuel rails. They are shipping the part over night from Atlanta and the truck should be ready by noon tomorrow.  She leaves on Wednesday first thing.

And if for some reason the part doesn't make it, I've already figured out a solution!  See for yourself:

Genius right?!!  I know.  Purrhaps you understand better why I'm in charge here.

See? No worries! 

While she's gone, I'll have a lot of free time....so just drop me a line if you need any advice.

Have a great week!