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You are here: Home / Pet Blogging / Cat Blogging / Rambling On

Rambling On

by Libby Spencer|  July 10, 20118:00 pm| 51 Comments

This post is in: Cat Blogging, Blogospheric Navel-Gazing

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I feel like I wasn’t that great a guest blogger this week. What with the unexpected road trip, wasn’t really at the top of my game. Never quite got over feeling like the person who arrives at a party wearing the wrong clothes but I really appreciated the gig. Thanks to Doug J and John for so kindly inviting me. And thanks to the Balloon Juice Commentariat for (mostly) being so nice. Sharing space with the roster of incredible writers here and this rocking community has been the high point in all my years of blogging.

So a fond farewell and I’ll leave you as I started, with a pet post. Dad and Mom’s other two cats were quite miffed that I didn’t post their photos and demand I rectify this glaring omission. So here’s Pickles:

Pickles is the fat cat in the family. Not quite Tunch fat, but close. She’s the dainty one. Quiet. Undemanding. Well behaved. Kind of like Lily. After Phoebe died, she and I bonded in our grief. We had some long talks about how much we missed her and after that Pickles stopped hiding from me. She now waits on the bed and deigns to allow a skritch behind the ears.

Jack on the other hand is the problem child:

He’s the feline equivalent of Rosie. Bossy, destructive and sprays inside the house when he’s pissed off. He pretends he’s tough but he’s really a big wuss. He started as an outdoor cat but the folks finally transitioned him indoors to cut down on the vet bills. It was getting expensive to have him stitched up every time he lost a fight. Which was always. He still mostly ignores me except when he has to step over me to get to Mom’s lap. But he’s a good old boy in his own way and we love him.

And with that I’ll be fading back into obscurity. If you find you’re missing me, you can always find me in my little hideaway at The Impolitic or catch me on Twitter.

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Previous Post: « GOP War on Women: New Hampshire Planned Parenthood Forced to Stop Dispensing Contraceptives
Next Post: Mercy, you know you signed on that dotted line »

Reader Interactions

51Comments

  1. 1.

    David Fud

    July 10, 2011 at 8:04 pm

    You shouldn’t feel that you “weren’t that great a blogger”, because I for one really enjoyed your posts and intend to follow you to your hideaway.

    Thanks for sharing! Glad to get to briefly see what you are about.

  2. 2.

    Keith G

    July 10, 2011 at 8:05 pm

    Beautiful kitties – and I enjoyed your 2 cents. This was an uneven week here at BJ. Lots of static that I stayed away from, but I appreciated your efforts. Thanks.

  3. 3.

    gogol's wife

    July 10, 2011 at 8:07 pm

    I enjoyed your posts. I am a very sporadic commenter but a faithful reader! Great cats.

  4. 4.

    gogol's wife

    July 10, 2011 at 8:08 pm

    Oh, and love with Republicans isn’t so bad.

  5. 5.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    July 10, 2011 at 8:09 pm

    Thanks for joining in and of course thanks for the kittehs.

  6. 6.

    SIA

    July 10, 2011 at 8:10 pm

    It’s always good to hear new voices and I’ve enjoyed yours, Libby. Hope you’ll come back when you can.

    And it has been a strange week everywhere.

    ETA pretteh kitteh!

  7. 7.

    ciaran

    July 10, 2011 at 8:10 pm

    its been nice reading you. i may check out your site. thanks.

  8. 8.

    Anne Laurie

    July 10, 2011 at 8:12 pm

    Libby, I should’ve said this earlier, but Thank You! for some very interesting posts, for not letting the usual gang of idiots put you off, and for introducing me to your blog!

    Unless Cole has changed his policies, you still have the keys to the back door, so you don’t have to be a stranger… :}

  9. 9.

    bystander

    July 10, 2011 at 8:13 pm

    Thanks for all your efforts. Even if they felt sub-par to you as a writer, they didn’t feel sub-par to me as a reader. Enjoyed them all. Sending my very best wishes…

  10. 10.

    MazeDancer

    July 10, 2011 at 8:14 pm

    You were an excellent addition. Enjoyed your perspective.

  11. 11.

    kdaug

    July 10, 2011 at 8:18 pm

    Oh, hush, Libby. You did fine.

  12. 12.

    Yutsano

    July 10, 2011 at 8:21 pm

    @kdaug:

    Oh, hush, Libby. You did fine.

    This ad infinitum. Your posts were cogent and topical, not to mention quite enjoyable. I’m just happy you survived the fray relaively intact.

    Oh and KITTEH!!

  13. 13.

    Citizen_X

    July 10, 2011 at 8:23 pm

    Who are all you damned kids that DougJ invited over? We’re a quiet neighborhood, I tell you, a quiet neighborhood here. He didn’t tell any of us he was going to be having all these strange people running all over the place while he was gone. The hell he was thinking? Gonna have a word with that feller when he gets back. Now git off my lawn, dang it!

  14. 14.

    scav

    July 10, 2011 at 8:29 pm

    Anyone that can stagger to the end of a week here with any amount of grace and forward momentum, let alone a sense of humor, done fine. Level of local disaster, chaos and clutter appears about normal best I can tell.

  15. 15.

    stuckinred

    July 10, 2011 at 8:36 pm

    I can’t find my bluebird,
    I’d listen to my bluebird sing
    but I, I can’t find my bluebird

  16. 16.

    Suffern ACE

    July 10, 2011 at 8:38 pm

    The offer to be your companion of convenience if the marine doesn’t work out is still there.

  17. 17.

    JGabriel

    July 10, 2011 at 8:39 pm

    Libby Spencer @ Top:

    Jack on the other hand is the problem child …

    Well, Libby, what were you thinking? With half a Hitler mustache like that (just to Godwin the thread), of course he was gonna be a problem. He looks like he’s about to raise his little left paw in the air and shout HEIL!

    And, of course we enjoyed your visit to the front page too.

    .

  18. 18.

    Jewish Steel

    July 10, 2011 at 8:41 pm

    Yeah, I thought you fit in quite nicely but with a distinct voice. I hope you post here again.

  19. 19.

    Gozer

    July 10, 2011 at 8:44 pm

    The abuse just means you’re part of the (dysfunctional) family.

  20. 20.

    Josie

    July 10, 2011 at 8:45 pm

    Enjoyed your posts, Libby, and your kitties. I love calico cats and Pickles looks like a dear. I’m sure Jack is quite nice too, when you get to know him. Come back and introduce a civil tone to the place whenever you can.

  21. 21.

    SiubhanDuinne

    July 10, 2011 at 8:51 pm

    Libby, I really enjoyed your posts (and KITTEHS!!) and hope you comment often and return as guest FP-er whenever you can.

    Those cats have an overabundance of attitude, just saying’.

  22. 22.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 10, 2011 at 9:04 pm

    I think you were great, Libby. It’s nice to be able to read a post and comment and not worry about wading through half a ton of faux outrage and hippy punching.

  23. 23.

    Kathy

    July 10, 2011 at 9:08 pm

    Great job Libby, loved your posts.

  24. 24.

    piratedan

    July 10, 2011 at 9:11 pm

    I’m sorry Libby but that’s a terrible attempt to hog the last brownie, better luck next time ;-)

  25. 25.

    Linda Featheringill

    July 10, 2011 at 9:18 pm

    I enjoyed your visit. Come back again. Soon.

    [Thanks for all the fish?]

  26. 26.

    Bruce S

    July 10, 2011 at 9:21 pm

    “Bossy, destructive and sprays inside the house when he’s pissed off. He pretends he’s tough but he’s really a big wuss.”

    My God. You have a Republican actually living in your house? If he paid for your dinner, that would be one thing. But you paying for his? Madness.

  27. 27.

    Riggsveda

    July 10, 2011 at 9:23 pm

    You did good, kid. I liked reading you a lot, and learned some, too.

  28. 28.

    arguingwithsignposts

    July 10, 2011 at 9:26 pm

    “Bossy, destructive and sprays inside the house when he’s pissed off. He pretends he’s tough but he’s really a big wuss.”
    __
    My God. You have a Republican Balloon Juice comment thread actually living in your house? If he paid for your dinner, that would be one thing. But you paying for his? Madness.

    Ftfy

  29. 29.

    arguingwithsignposts

    July 10, 2011 at 9:27 pm

    And i’ll 28th the well-wishes. Good job. Hope you come back.

    ETA:

    “Bossy, destructive and sprays inside the house when he’s pissed off. He pretends he’s tough but he’s really a big wuss.

    probably too long for a tagline, but does sound like an apt description of our host. ;)

  30. 30.

    Libby Spencer

    July 10, 2011 at 9:34 pm

    Thanks so much for the encouragement everybody. I’ve always loved this place and I really enjoyed the gig. Of course I’ll still be lurking here daily, as always, and popping into comments as time allows.

    Anne Laurie, I do appear to still have the keys, and I would be more than thrilled to post here on my off weeks when I have time to properly follow the news cycle but I’m much too shy to enter the house again without an invite and this one expired today. But I really appreciate the support. Thanks.

  31. 31.

    Bruce S

    July 10, 2011 at 9:39 pm

    arguingwithsignposts – are you humor impaired? Apparently.

  32. 32.

    Yutsano

    July 10, 2011 at 9:44 pm

    Am I crazy or did a comment just disappear?

  33. 33.

    elftx

    July 10, 2011 at 9:53 pm

    Enjoyed your posts and now have a link to your blog..thanks !!!

  34. 34.

    13th Generation

    July 10, 2011 at 9:54 pm

    You were great. So much better than ABL, and I wish it were the other way round, you being a permanent fixture, she merely a guest.

    Oh well, you made a bad week better.

  35. 35.

    Elie

    July 10, 2011 at 10:03 pm

    I think that you did quite nicely and welcome you (for my part) to BJ —

    No reflection on you that my comments are up and down depending on what is going on schedule wise… sometimes — in fact, many times I lurk and watch the commentary flow… there are so many just great commenters here — I just enjoy reading them and laughing and learning without necessarily making my own commments…

    Keep it up… I enjoyed your contributions

  36. 36.

    MikeJ

    July 10, 2011 at 10:20 pm

    I’m so old I remember when Johnny Carson would go on vacation and Gary Shandling would fill in. I look forward to It’s Libby Spencer Show and the mockumentary of backstage life for a blogger (“hey now!).

  37. 37.

    WaterGirl

    July 10, 2011 at 10:22 pm

    Libby, I thought your posts were great. I agreed with all the nice things that have been said already, but this comment really captured my thoughts perfectly:

    Yeah, I thought you fit in quite nicely but with a distinct voice. I hope you post here again.

  38. 38.

    Lojasmo

    July 10, 2011 at 10:28 pm

    @13th gen #33

    Kindly STFU. Thanks.

  39. 39.

    Jewish Steel

    July 10, 2011 at 10:30 pm

    It’s a shame about our neighborhood. We’re starting to get those hoodies hanging around.

  40. 40.

    13th Generation

    July 10, 2011 at 10:35 pm

    @Lojasmo

    Wasn’t talking to you. Now YOU STFU.

  41. 41.

    Elie

    July 10, 2011 at 10:40 pm

    @33 —

    We LIKE ABL…

    You are free to not read her, or comment or stay away. YOU are free to choose. Free.

    Give us the right to choose as well. Or, as 37 says: STFU

    Thanks and have a good night

  42. 42.

    Corner Stone

    July 10, 2011 at 10:48 pm

    @Elie: And you’re free to go fuck yourself.

  43. 43.

    Anya

    July 10, 2011 at 10:53 pm

    Libby, thanks for sharing with us your wisdom. Your posts were great.

    I am sorry we gave you a hard time about your conservative friends. I hope John invites you again to post here.

  44. 44.

    Corner Stone

    July 10, 2011 at 10:53 pm

    No, We Can’t? Or Won’t?

    http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/11/opinion/11krugman.html?_r=1&smid=tw-NytimesKrugman&seid=auto

    “Our failure to create jobs is a choice, not a necessity — a choice rationalized by an ever-shifting set of excuses. “

  45. 45.

    Ash Can

    July 10, 2011 at 10:59 pm

    Before this thread goes completely to hell, I just want to say, Libby, you were a swell FPer, and don’t be a stranger!

  46. 46.

    Uncle Clarence Thomas

    July 10, 2011 at 11:09 pm

    .
    .
    @44 Corner Stone

    “Our failure to create jobs is a choice, not a necessity — a choice rationalized by an ever-shifting set of excuses. ”

    Psychologists know that very smart people make the best rationalizers.

    Balloonbaggers know that President Obama is a very smart person.
    .
    .

  47. 47.

    Elie

    July 10, 2011 at 11:29 pm

    Cornerstone, Tombstone, Gallstone or whatever —

    Backatcha

  48. 48.

    Luc

    July 11, 2011 at 1:54 am

    Libby, thanks for your posts. A little bit “less apocalypse” than usual was a nice change.

  49. 49.

    ABL

    July 11, 2011 at 3:35 am

    Libby-

    The abuse is frat boy stupidity from attention-seeking trolls, and that you were subject to it means you nailed your first week on the blog. I look forward to reading more of your posts.

  50. 50.

    harlana

    July 11, 2011 at 6:11 am

    Well, this is way late, but thanks Libby, enjoyed your posts. I second ABL’s comment. Oh, and, kittehs! yeh!

  51. 51.

    Nemesis

    July 11, 2011 at 11:22 am

    I see murder in the eyes of those felines. Be ever cautious.

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