Mornings With Colby

After I boot the kids off to the bus to their destination called school, after my hayburners are turned out with their breakfast, once Yooper is situated with his cup of java along with my laptop(which he has now claimed as his) and ESPN's Sportscenter, I sit down with my cup of coffee and surf the web. My time alone. My morning routine to get caught up with the world and friends. Problem is, I'm not alone.

This is my morning ritual. This is a picture of a cat, not one of Mini Me's stuffed animals. She keeps me company and makes sure I don't spend my entire time fixated on my computer monitor. She would rather my attention be totally on her.

Hi there! I'm Colby. I can't see very well nor can I hear but I'm the queen around here.

Meet Colby. "Miss Colby Cheese" we call her because unlike these black and white photos you see, she is an orange tabby. And well, Yooper thought naming her Colby described her coloring. It is like naming your chocolate colored dog Hershey or your black and white bunny Peppermint Patty. Seriously? Did I have to tell you all that? You already knew about the Colby cheese part right?

She's our really, really old cat. Close to being an antique model. Cats don't age much older than her. We think she is a 90's model. 1991 or 1990. Umm, yeah. She is that old. Yooper isn't 100% sure when he acquired her as a kitten. But she was with him when he was in veterinary school if that provides any information about her age. Let's just say she's been in our household for a very, very, very long time.

She's the nicest cat though. She's never seen a sick day in her life. She's never been a bothersome cat either. Well except for her ongoing meowing and howling she will do as she wanders aimlessly through out our home during the night or as Yooper is napping in his chair. And since her hearing is all but gone, we have nicknamed her Deaf Cat Talking. Our last really old cat we called Dead Cat Walking because she was older than dirt. Animals live forever around here. I won't even go into discussing my 34 1/2 year old horse.

Colby is not one who jumps on kitchen counters or finds places to leave her territorial markings. Unlike some cats I've known through the years. She's been the perfect kitty cat. She's a cool cat. She's the one who ventures down to see everyone during Superbowl parties. She has a thing for men too. When Yooper's friends stop by for a visit, guess who is perched on one of their knees?

"Hi Colby. Yes I see you. No I don't have my bowl of raison bran crunch cereal yet. I know you are impatiently waiting for it so you can lick the milk out of the bowl. Colby, you need to move over so I can mouse-click. "

Yes, this is how my morning ritual goes. Coffee, internet, wireless mouse, calendar lying open so I can plan my day, my week, my life and one very old kittah.

And when she has had her fill of the last drops of milk I leave her from my cereal bowl, this is what happens next. Cat nap. Under the warm desk light. Basking away dreaming of days gone by.

Probably dreaming about when her little buddy gets home from school so she can be loved on some more and adored. Yep, Colby is the queen around here.