Handsome Boy

Yesterday, my housemate had to have her 11-year old Abyssinian, Pogo, the cat I affectionately referred to as The Dirty Bastard Cat, put down. He was diagnosed with lymphoma on Wednesday, took a turn for the worse in the night, and a decision was made to humanely let him go. Even though I claimed not to like cats and while I am an avowed dog person, I learned to love this little guy. I'm going to miss him.

Pogo and his favorite toy ever

Rest in peace, Pogo

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

Macro Cat

Cat in macro

This isn't a desperation post. I have plenty of other material from this partisan, politic, provincial, perched-on-the-Potomac 'burg for posting, but I liked these two photos, so they're today's material. The other night, I tried to take macro pictures of the Dirty Bastard Cat (aka Pogeaux the Red.) He was more interested in rubbing his face all over my lens than letting me photograph him. Somehow, though, I managed to get these two shots, which I rather like.

Moving in to scratch his furry face on my macro lens

To see other photos of Monsieur le Pogo,* go here, here, here, here, and here. Maybe Marley of Cheltenham Daily Photo is right: I should just start a blog for all the cat pictures I take...


*Pardon my bastardization of French. My second language is German.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 09/08

Desperado

Pogeaux the Red, soakin' up some rays and trying to decide whether
to chatter at the squirrel in the tree or just doze off.

I didn't get out for my walk yesterday evening, but I did get some exercise working in the yard. As a result, I have no new pictures. That said, here's a picture of the cat who lives in my house. He loves him some sunshine! And, rather than regale you with more pictures of Pogeaux the Red, there are no new pictures on Standing Room Only today.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

Two Things Challenge: In the Sky / On the Ground

In the Sky: Storm clouds over Fairfax

On the Ground: Beautiful landscaping

This week's Two Things Challenge was In the Sky/ On the Ground. I have a few groupings I thought worked well for this. I've been spending a couple of days a week out at my parent's home helping them with some home improvement projects. Fortunately, the weather has been pleasant and cool. The above photos were taken at or near my parents. The first: storm clouds as shot from Mom's and Dad's front yard. The second: landscaping at one of their neighbors. I love this house and its precise arrangement. It always looks so orderly. I especially like the Japanese maple mid-yard. I'm thinking of getting one of those for my yard.

(L) In the Sky: Graffiti in the header of the closet I was demolishing.

(R): On the Ground: The Dirty Bastard Cat playing with a bag of recycling in the office.

As mentioned above, I'm helping my parents with some renovations. Last week, one of my tasks was to demolish a closet in the guest bedroom. Years ago, this closet was a new addition to the room it's in. My brother was living at home at the time and helped with construction. This is his handwritting inside the closet, which I only noticed when I looked up. He was/is obviously a big X Files fan. The second picture is of the cat playing with a plastic bag full of recycling I had just gathered and was preparing to take out to the bin. After he fooled around with this for a bit, he then laid down on it and took a nap! Dumb cat. (Note: Don't panic. I just put the recycling in the bag. I didn't put the bag itself into the bin, only what was in it which was mostly paper.)

In the Sky: Sunrise after the storm

On the Ground: Little purple pansy

These last two I took a few days ago. I was up early, sitting in my office reading the news and email. When I looked up, I noticed we were about to have the most amazing sunrise. I threw a coat on over my pajamas, grabbed my camera and my keys, and dashed out the door. The first picture was taken from Fort Stevens Park. The second is in my driveway. I noticed this little pansy standing upright in the midst of elm seeds from my large and messy elm tree. I guess during the storm the previous night, it had blown from the neighbor's yard over to my driveway and landed (?) upright like this.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 5/08

Two Things Challenge: Native / Exotic

The National Museum of the American Indian:
America's homage to its native peoples

About the only thing truly, truly native in this town is the National Museum of the American Indian and its artifacts and exhibits. As none of us living in the United States can claim native status aside from the native tribes we displaced in the name of God, the King of England, the King of Spain, the King of France, exploration, religion, exploitation, or whatever other colonialist aspiration our ancestors might have had hundreds of years ago, my submission for Native is the NMAI.

In terms of exotic, I wanted to take pictures of the orchid exhibit this morning at the National Botanical Gardens, but they didn't open until 11:00 and I'd been up and out shooting cherry blossoms since 6:30 AM. I was cold and tired and wanted to get home to see the results of my photography. About the only Exotic thing in these parts is the Abyssinian cat that lives in my house. Abbies are a domesticated cat breed from Ethopia and are reportedly one of the oldest known breeds among cats.

I don't know if I'd call this cat "exotic" as much as I'd call him "lazy."
Being an Abyssinian makes him the former, but that's about it!

Usually abbies are sleek and trim, but this one is fat and happy. I'd be fat and happy, too, if my entire purpose in life was to loll around in the sun all day. Sheesh. (And yes, you've seen this cat before. He featured in the Two Things Challenge: Sun / Shadow. Just for the record: This is not my cat. It belongs to my housemate. I refer to it affectionately as The Dirty Bastard Cat.)

Side note: Technically speaking, Japanese cherry blossoms trees are exotic to the U.S. I suppose those could be my exotic entries for today, too!


Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 3/08

Two Things Challenge: Sun / Shadow

Sun and shadow reflected in the window
Wheaton Regional Library, Montgomery County, Maryland

Sun and shadow with cat and water bottle
In my home office, Washington, D.C.

Sun and shadow between buildings
Takoma Park, Maryland

This week's 2 Things Challenge was Sun / Shadow. Thankfully, we're moving out of winter and into spring. Put another way, the days are getting longer and the shadows are getting shorter!

I had so many pictures to choose from that already existed in my files, including a really, really cool picture of National Cathedral, but I decided to actually go out and find new subjects to fit this challenge and here they are: my interpretations of Sun / Shadow!


Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 3/08

El Gato

This is the cat that lives in my house. He's a feisty little beast. Some days, he likes me. Most days, he doesn't. I'm mostly ambivalent about him.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential (Janet M. Kincaid, 06/07)