www.amazon.com
Introduction to living with Trygg, the Tabby Cat who moved in.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0058JZG3O
Showing posts with label a cat and consulting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label a cat and consulting. Show all posts
Friday, July 1, 2011
Trygg's Modest Volume of Essays Published
Trygg's Modest Volume of Furline Antics.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0058JZG3O
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0058JZG3O
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Trygg, FfD. (Felidae felis domesticus)
Things have been relatively uneventful. Trygg is serious about getting his G.E.D. However, it’s more than that. This effort is spring boarding him to further his education in other areas.
The other day, Trygg was working hard on his vocabulary. (I think his having heard Gloria Borger use the word “prebuttal” motivated him.)
“How are you doing with your vocabulary list?”
“Veni vidi vici.”
(Veni, vidi, vici?)
“You’re studying Latin?”
“Felidae, felis, domesticus.” Trygg holds up, Latin Made Simple. “Of course, there is nothing simple about Latin, he explains.
“Then, why Latin?”
“It is the basis for the five romance languages. French, Spanish, Romanian, Italian, Portuguese.”
“Keep up the good work.”
I have an uneasy feeling about this. Trygg seems to be overly sensitive about missing an education. He told me he wanted to be the first kitten in his family to graduate from High School.
He is good at Scrabble, and I remind him of that.
He is good at Scrabble, and I remind him of that.
“It is not about becoming pedantic. It’s about becoming a more cultured and refined cat.”
At this point I realise I will have to do something in the way of positive feedback. Positive reinforcement. Just buying him a leather-bound notebook and a nice pen won’t do it.
I decide to buy him something nice. Something special. Something wrapped in paper and a ribbon.
When I arrive home, I give to Trygg. He looks at it with suspicion.
“Is something wrong?”
“Why did you buy this for me? Is this some sort of palliative? Something to ameliorate my negative feelings about my education?
“Positive reinforcement of negative behaviour is a disincentive to motivation.”
That quieted him down for a moment. He opened the gift. He smiled.
Trygg got up, put the CD of The Brandenburg Concertos into the slot of our laptop, and listened quietly to the music. Then he came over and gave me a hug.
“I’m sorry I was so abrasive.”
“I want what’s best for you, Trygg.”
Trygg put his books away and began folding the napkins. I go to start dinner. After dinner, Trygg begins playing with the wrapping paper and ribbons. No matter how far he is planning to go in life, he is still my Trygg.
Even the cat winks =^.~=
Regards,
Slim
Copyright © 2011 Robert Asken
All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Trygg Tries the Guilt Trip--it worked.
He chowed down on the dry food. Then the canned food then went out, then came back and went through the routine again. I asked him when is he going to follow me to the table and rub my head when I eat?
He did.
Big mistake.
He kept walking in and out of the bedroom waiting for me to leave this morning. Sitting on the bed watching me. I pet him good-bye.
Even the cat winks =^.~=
Regards,
Slim
Copyright © 2011 Slim Fairview
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
I Know I've Discussed This With Trygg Before
Trygg decides to invite his friends over for a brunch. An early morning breakfast actually.
"That is not the problem," I said. "I like your friends. I don't mind your inviting them. I just like to be given some advance notice, that's all."
Did you know that 2:30 comes twice a day?
Trygg wakes me up at 2:30. Not for the breakfast, but to go out. He goes out, I go back to bed. Trygg comes back at 4:30. I go back to bed. Trygg wakes me up at 5:00 to watch him eat. So far, so good.
"Oh, by the way, I invited a few friends for breakfast."
There I am, 5:30 in the morning, pouring out the dry food into little buffet trays, sorting through the canned food, preparing an assortment. I put some of the dry food on the front porch because it is raining and I don't want Trygg's friends to get wet. Soon it stops. I set up the buffet on the back porch.
Pood and friend show up. Friend likes canned food. Pood likes dry food. Buddy's two are there. The older one eats friend's food. The younger one sits off to the side. Cali couldn't make it.
The Penguin came but he had to leave early. (It seems to be a cat thing. Normally, getting at it with a friend is not sociable. For Trygg, this seems to be the custom.) Trygg and The Penguin go running off together. (Actually, The Penguin goes running off--Trygg goes running after him.)
All in all, it was pretty nice. I was invited, but I preferred to sit on the sofa and drink coffee. After they leave, I help Trygg clean up. I collect the cans and the trays, Trygg fills the sink, I do the dishes, and Trygg dries.
"You're not planning to use paper napkins," I'd said to Trygg that morning.
"We're cats, Slim. We lick ourselves clean."
"Right."
Sometimes I think cats do that just to cut down on the laundry. I won't say anything to Trygg, though, because I don't want to hurt his feelings. Also, I don't care much for ironing napkins and Trygg does a good job of it. Also, it lets him feel not only like he's contributing, but also that he truly is a part of the family.
After everything is put away, Trygg goes out, again. I go to make a cream-cheese sandwich on toast and have another cup of coffee. Later, Trygg comes back, hops on the bed and goes to sleep. I leave. Even the cat winks. =^.~=
Regards,
Slim
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
Monday, April 4, 2011
Trygg Signs Up For His G.E.D.
I'm sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper. Trygg hops up on the far end. I can see he has a notebook and two pencils. One is tucked behind his ear. They are both sharp. I assume he is going to do the crossword puzzle. (We still have this thing about whether to do it in pen or pencil.)
I can also see a copy of Cat Fancy magazine tucked into his notebook. I gave him the subscription because I assumed he'd like it. At first there was a problem.
"Why would I want that? I am not a fancy cat."
"It's Cat Fancy not Fancy Cat. It's basically a magazine for..." I pause. Trygg gives me that knowing look. It's a magazine for people who fancy (like) cats.
"Okay, I'll try it. Thanks."
It turns out he likes it. It's also a marketing tool. He circles articles and leaves the magazine around where I can see them.
Today, however, Trygg is neither reading the magazine nor doing the crossword. He is looking furtive, if not guilty.
"Doing anything special?"
"No. No, no. Just flipping through a few things."
I don't say anything. Then he asks,
"What's our zip code?"
"Why?"
"No reason."
"Trygg?"
"All right. I'm just filling out a form."
"What for?"
Trygg looks away. I realise then that it's not guilt. It's embarrassment. I slide over next to him.
"What is it, Trygg? You know you can tell me anything. And you usually do."
"Well, when I first moved in, there was something I didn't tell you about me."
"What?"
"I never got my High School Diploma." He looks down. "So, I'm signing up for my G.E.D. I just didn't want you to know, that's all. I figured I'd tell you about it when I got it. If I get it."
"Trygg. That's nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, I'm really quite proud of you. Not only are you going for your G.E.D. but you took the initiative to get the information. I really am proud of you, Trygg."
Trygg looked up at me and smiled.
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
"Will you help me?"
"Help?"
"Yes. You know. You told me you started out in life as an English majored. Then you switched to Finance. I figured maybe you could help me with the English and the Math part."
"All right. But I won't do your work for you. You have to do your own work."
"Okay. And you'll help me with the History part too, right? I mean after all--"
"After all, what?"
"Well, I mean, when you were at school you had current events, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"Then you can help me with the History part too."
"Okay, I'll help with the History part too."
Trygg smiled. We filled out the application, I got an envelope and stamps and we walked to the Post Office together. After, I bought two ice-cream sodas sodas and we sat in one of the back booths for a little bonding time.
I am so proud of Trygg.
Even the cat winks =^.~=
Regards,
Slim
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
I can also see a copy of Cat Fancy magazine tucked into his notebook. I gave him the subscription because I assumed he'd like it. At first there was a problem.
"Why would I want that? I am not a fancy cat."
"It's Cat Fancy not Fancy Cat. It's basically a magazine for..." I pause. Trygg gives me that knowing look. It's a magazine for people who fancy (like) cats.
"Okay, I'll try it. Thanks."
It turns out he likes it. It's also a marketing tool. He circles articles and leaves the magazine around where I can see them.
Today, however, Trygg is neither reading the magazine nor doing the crossword. He is looking furtive, if not guilty.
"Doing anything special?"
"No. No, no. Just flipping through a few things."
I don't say anything. Then he asks,
"What's our zip code?"
"Why?"
"No reason."
"Trygg?"
"All right. I'm just filling out a form."
"What for?"
Trygg looks away. I realise then that it's not guilt. It's embarrassment. I slide over next to him.
"What is it, Trygg? You know you can tell me anything. And you usually do."
"Well, when I first moved in, there was something I didn't tell you about me."
"What?"
"I never got my High School Diploma." He looks down. "So, I'm signing up for my G.E.D. I just didn't want you to know, that's all. I figured I'd tell you about it when I got it. If I get it."
"Trygg. That's nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, I'm really quite proud of you. Not only are you going for your G.E.D. but you took the initiative to get the information. I really am proud of you, Trygg."
Trygg looked up at me and smiled.
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
"Will you help me?"
"Help?"
"Yes. You know. You told me you started out in life as an English majored. Then you switched to Finance. I figured maybe you could help me with the English and the Math part."
"All right. But I won't do your work for you. You have to do your own work."
"Okay. And you'll help me with the History part too, right? I mean after all--"
"After all, what?"
"Well, I mean, when you were at school you had current events, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"Then you can help me with the History part too."
"Okay, I'll help with the History part too."
Trygg smiled. We filled out the application, I got an envelope and stamps and we walked to the Post Office together. After, I bought two ice-cream sodas sodas and we sat in one of the back booths for a little bonding time.
I am so proud of Trygg.
Even the cat winks =^.~=
Regards,
Slim
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Trygg Becomes a Consultant
There was a joke back in the 80s.
"What are you doing now?"
"I'm writing a screenplay."
"Everybody's writing a screenplay."
Trygg does not find that funny. He's decided to become a consultant. What upset him the most was not that I didn't take him seriously, but that I didn't understand the joke.
"You don't get it, do you? Everyone's becoming a consultant."
"Okay."
Trygg opens up his notebook and takes out the pen I'd given him as a gift. At first, I thought he just wanted to show his gratitude by using the pen to show me he likes it. He calls the notebook and pen his think pad and stylus.
"You've heard the expression, "It's like trying to herd cats?""
"Yes."
"Okay, here is the real problem. Say you decide you want to try to herd cats. So, you make a sackful of tuna sandwiches thinking that will attract the cats. Well, you're half right. What happens is this: One cat walks off looking for a jar of gherkins. Another cat goes rooting through the cupboard looking for the crisps. Another cat wants a napkin. Who wants whole wheat? Who wants it on a roll? Who's on a low-carb diet? You see? Now, instead of an organised herd of cats, you have chaos."
"A catastrophe."
Trygg doesn't smile. "May I?"
"This is like the story about who's going to hang the bell around the cat's neck. Simple solutions may work better than complex solutions; but simplistic solutions routinely don't work. That is why you need a consultant."
"To explain what?"
"Cats."
"I have you for that."
"True. However, there are many people who share space with cats yet have no idea what we're like. Hence, they have problems."
"Unintended consequences?"
"There is no such thing as unintended consequences. Only unwanted consequences."
"Which is why you've decided to become a consultant."
"Exactly. Case in point: Isn't it almost time for lunch?"
"I'm making tuna. Care to join me?"
"Hold the mayo."
Even the cat winks =^.~=
Regards,
Slim
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
"What are you doing now?"
"I'm writing a screenplay."
"Everybody's writing a screenplay."
Trygg does not find that funny. He's decided to become a consultant. What upset him the most was not that I didn't take him seriously, but that I didn't understand the joke.
"You don't get it, do you? Everyone's becoming a consultant."
"Okay."
Trygg opens up his notebook and takes out the pen I'd given him as a gift. At first, I thought he just wanted to show his gratitude by using the pen to show me he likes it. He calls the notebook and pen his think pad and stylus.
"You've heard the expression, "It's like trying to herd cats?""
"Yes."
"Okay, here is the real problem. Say you decide you want to try to herd cats. So, you make a sackful of tuna sandwiches thinking that will attract the cats. Well, you're half right. What happens is this: One cat walks off looking for a jar of gherkins. Another cat goes rooting through the cupboard looking for the crisps. Another cat wants a napkin. Who wants whole wheat? Who wants it on a roll? Who's on a low-carb diet? You see? Now, instead of an organised herd of cats, you have chaos."
"A catastrophe."
Trygg doesn't smile. "May I?"
"This is like the story about who's going to hang the bell around the cat's neck. Simple solutions may work better than complex solutions; but simplistic solutions routinely don't work. That is why you need a consultant."
"To explain what?"
"Cats."
"I have you for that."
"True. However, there are many people who share space with cats yet have no idea what we're like. Hence, they have problems."
"Unintended consequences?"
"There is no such thing as unintended consequences. Only unwanted consequences."
"Which is why you've decided to become a consultant."
"Exactly. Case in point: Isn't it almost time for lunch?"
"I'm making tuna. Care to join me?"
"Hold the mayo."
Even the cat winks =^.~=
Regards,
Slim
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
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