Aby-a-Day – July 31: Jake’s first ArtBeat (Friday Flashback)

Jacoby went to his first ArtBeat in 2010.

He was amazing. He was just over a year old, but he hadn’t been with me a year yet.

We didn’t have a stroller yet. We used his Snoozer Rollaround carrier. But it was partially because of ArtBeat that I decided to investigate getting a stroller for Jake.

Jake took to ArtBeat like a natural.

The best interaction was with a boy named Jason.

Jason was developmentally challenged, and he was a sweetheart. He loved Jake and even gave me a big hug. It was the moment that I knew that Jake would be a good therapy cat, and that we’d be a good therapy team. I’ll really miss going to ArtBeat…it’s really a very special event.

Aby-a-Day – July 30: Art Beat Loops

As we do every July, Jacoby and I went to Somerville’s ArtBeat festival. This year’s theme was “Loops.”

As always, we stopped to visit our friend Kim at Stella Marie Soap.

She’s always so happy to see me and Jake.

We also stopped to look at the M.U.S.C.R.A.T. bus.

With its ears, it reminds me of the Cat Tank in the webcomic Stand Still Stay Silent.

This year, there was a lot of sidewalk chalk art. Some that you were allowed to touch…

…And some that you weren’t.

All in all, we had a really gerat time, the two of us.

It was a little bittersweet, though, since we probably won’t be able to go next year.

And our unbroken string of ArtBeat dogcat tags (16 for me, 6 for Jake), will have to come to an end.

Aby-a-Day – July 29: Wordless Wednesday (“1.21 GIGAWATTS!!!”)

Aby-a-Day – July 28: Kitty cut-up (Cartoon Tuesday)

Another work of art from my childhood:

This is a paper cut-out collage. I think I must have done this in preschool or kindergarten when I was four or five years old. Something tells me I ran out of time making it, because it seems to me I’d have done the back legs in green, too.

Aby-a-Day – July 27: Face-off (Miniature Monday)

Here’s the slightly creepy side of ball-jointed dolls:

Their faces come off! They’re actually held on by super-strong magnets.

This is done so that, if you want to, you can change your doll’s facial expressions, or have open- and closed-mouth variations. So while it may look a little…weird…it’s actually pretty cool!

Aby-a-Day: July 26: Home sweet T station

cats are known for their homing sense. And Jacoby’s is as strong as any cat’s.

As I’ve mentioned many times, he knows which T stop we live at.

Not only that, he knows the stop before our stop.

Once the doors close on that stop, he’s all ready for it to be our turn.

“Open, open, open!”

When we do get off at our stop, Jake knows exactly where we’re going.

Of course, we don’t take the escalator anymore, especially with his stroller.

But he knows where the elevator is.

“Why do all these doors take so long to open!?”

Jake is such an city cat. Riding in an elevator is just everyday routine.

And, like any urban dweller, he’s quite impatient with how long the ascent takes, no matter how quick a trip it is.

“Are we there yet?”

“Seriously? How is it possible that we are still on this elevator? Plus, it kind of smells like pee in here…I didn’t think you humans did that?”

Finally, the door opens!

Jake knows we have to take a second elevator to the street level.

As we approach the elevator to the street, he gets excited and stands up in his stroller.

I think he does that to make it feel like he’s going faster.

He waits impatiently for the doors to open.

Another (shorter) ride up and…

At last! The doors part and he is outside on the street!

The traffic and noise of Dorchester Ave. don’t bother him at all.

In fact, I think it bothers him less than being stuck in the smelly elevator did!

Aby-a-Day – July 25: “Stop” (Saturday Photo Hunt)

This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Stop.”

And here is the famous Strollercat at the Davis Square T stop.

Just doing what Strollercat does…

…waiting for a train…

…so he can go for a ride!

Abys are Everywhere: “See this trophy? I won it. It’s mine”

Abyfriend Emilie shared this awesome photo with me that was posted on I Can Has Cheezburger via

I can’t read all of the trophy, but I can see that it was awarded by the Canadian Cat Association to the Best Abyssinian. Now, when I did a Google search, I found Jacoby’s brother Dillin showing as the best Abyssinian for the 2014-15 season! Holy cow! I had no idea. Now, I don’t think that the Aby in this photo is Dillin (mainly because the Reddit user says it’s their aunt’s Aby)…but does anyone know who it is?

Aby-a-Day – July 24: Portraiture (Fashion Friday)

At ArtBeat this year there was a young woman, Angela DeCarlis, doing pencil portraits.

Of course, I wanted to get one done of Jacoby and me.

She sketched me first, and while we waited Jake had a lot of attention from passersby.

Once she had me down, she had me pose with Jake.

While we were posing together, Rachel from the Somerville Arts Council passed by – she was one of the people in charge of the Copy Cat Festival we were part of a couple of years ago!

She took these photos of me and Jake while we were sitting. I’m showing off our ArtBeat tags.

If Jake looks a little grumpy on my lap, it’s because he just really wanted to back in his stroller. That’s his safe zone, his territory – and also the secret to how I’m able to go to places like ArtBeat with him. As long as he’s got his stroller, he’s happy.

And here’s how our portrait turned out! I kind of wish I was smiling…but other than that, it’s pretty dead-on. What do you think?

Aby-a-Day – July 23: Stroller Attachment Disorder

When we ride the T in Boston, Jacoby generally stays in his stroller.

Which makes sense; it’s his movable territory, and he feels secure there.

But sometimes he wants to get out and explore.

And, if the train is fairly empty, I let him.

But it’s funny: when he’s had enough exploring…

…he jumps right back into his stroller…

…where he feels safe and secure. And this, I think, is the answer to the oft-asked question, “How do you manage to take him places?” It’s because of his stroller; when Jake feels secure, nothing fazes him.

Aby-a-Day – July 22: Wordless Wednesday (Jake and the Cat from Outer Space)

Aby-a-Day – July 21: The eyes have it (Cartoon Tuesday)

More from my childhood archive. I am just enthralled by the eyes on the purple cat.

I drew this in 1969, when I was four years old.

Aby-a-Day – July 20: Snapshots of ArtBeat (Hipstamatic Monday)

This past weekend was ArtBeat, Somerville’s infamous art festival.

As always, Jacoby and I went out to participate. It’s been a while since we’ve been out together, since Jake’s not currently doing therapy work. He really seemed to miss his stroller!

He also seemed to have missed riding the T.

At least, he seemed to be happy to be out and about meeting people and getting admired.

I have to admit, I’ve missed going places with him, too.

Once we got to Davis Square, I got our tags. This is my 16th one!

Jake got his tag, too, of course. This is his 6th ArtBeat – he’s been coming with me since 2010.

We had our traditional lunch – Redbones BBQ!

It was a bittersweet ArtBeat, though, since it’s probably the last one we’ll be able to go to.

It was a long day, and tiring in a good way. When we got home, we just relaxed in the art room, me on my cushions and Jake on his S-curve.

Aby-a-Day – July 19: Friends when it matters

As I mention often, Angel doesn’t always want to be around Jacoby. She hisses at him all the time in the apartment.

But when we’re outside, or at the vet, she sticks to him like glue.

Given the choice between being on her own and being next to Jake, she chooses to be near Jake.

See? No hissing here!

Although Angel does look a little chagrined at being photographed making nice with Jake, doesn’t she? It’s okay to like him, Angel!

Aby-a-Day – July 18: “Cross” (Saturday Photo Hunt)

This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Cross.”

When we went to the vet for everyone’s annual check-up, the Abys wandered about the exam room while Tessie and Kylie stayed in their rolling carrier.

Kylie, especially, seemed to prefer it in there.

As shy as Angel can be…in true Aby fashion, she’d still rather be exploring and not in a carrier!

However, at one point, Jacoby came and sat down right on top of Kylie and Tessie’s carrier…which does not have a rigid or reinforced top. And as you saw on Thursday, Jake weighs a good 10lbs plus.

I guess you could say Kylie and Tessie – especially Tessie – were a bit cross about him sitting on top of them!

Aby-a-Day – July 17: Jacoby’s first visit to the vet (Friday Flashback)

Jacoby first visited Dr. Natalie at South Boston Animal Hospital on 4 August, 2009.

While he was checking out the waiting area, he met a little Chihuahua puppy.

The puppy wasn’t much bigger than Jake, and they were almost the same colour.

I’m not entirely certain that Jake knew that the puppy was, in fact, not a cat.

Of course, Jake gravitated towards the cat food for sale on the shelves.

Six years later, Jake still explores the lobby like he owns it.

And, of course, he’s still very interested in the prescription dry food they have on display!

Aby-a-Day – July 16: Scalability

Jacoby and Angel getting weighed at the vet pretty much epitomise the difference between men and women in general.

Jake steps onto the scale filled with self-confidence.

“Ha! 10 pounds, 4 ounces. Not bad!”

Meanwhile, Angel is a little more hesitant about stepping onto the scale to see her weight.

“9 pounds and how many ounces?”

Aww…Angel, don’t worry. You still look good!

Aby-a-Day – July 15: Wordless Wednesday (Role reversal)

Aby-a-Day – July 14: My First Word, Illustrated (Cartoon Tuesday)

Here’s a little something I found among some things my mom sent me: documentation of my first word.

It was, of course, “CAT.” And in case you missed my point, I illustrated it. I was 3 years and 7 months old when I drew (and wrote) this.

Aby-a-Day – July 13: The best spots are the ones you’re not supposed to be in (Hipstamatic Monday)

As I mentioned yesterday, Jacoby loves high places.

I’m not entirely sure how he manages to get up there (and how he manages to do it so fast!), but he loves to get up on the high shelves in the bedroom closet.

He knows he’s not supposed to be in the cloest. Could he possibly be any prouder of himself?

Nope.

And he knows I think he’s too cute to take down.

I mean look at him!

So smug!

“You want me to come down..? Okay. I’ll think about it.”

“Hmmm…”

“Yeah, okay. I’ve thought about it. NO.”