Herpestes auropunctatus

Several times I have mentioned the mongooses who live out back somewhere. We see then run around on the basketball court sometimes and when I mention them several of you have asked what a mongoose is, so I went online while Mom was changing around Kinsey kitten's room to have a look. Here is what I found:

The Herpestes aruopunctatus is the scientific name for the small Indian mongoose that was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands in 1882. The mongoose was brought over to help control the rat population that was destroying the sugar cane fields. It had been introduced in Cuba for the same reason and they had very good luck with mongooses there, however, the rats in Hawaii came out at night and the mongooses come out during the day, so now there are mongooses and rats causing problems here. Unfortunately the mongooses eat the native birds, reptiles, plants, etc. It seems they have unlimited appetities for just about anything. Hmmmm, sounds like some vermin I know.

So here are a couple of pictures I found on the web of mongooses, although I don't think these are the ones who live outback somewheres. They may be relatives though. Mom has tried to take pictures of ours, but they a quick little creatures and are very shy, which I would be too if somewhere were hunting me to remove me from the island.

I wonder if given half the chance these mongooses would eat the vermin here. I bet they would. However, that would make Mom really sad, so I don't want that to happen. I may not like the vermins, but Mom loves them a lot.

~Merlin

Hear ye, hear ye.....

Friends, poodies, countrycats, lend me your ears-
While I was reading the other day, I came across a curious documents detailing the rights of the very important and not so common house poodie, The Cats' Bill of Rights. Now I think all of my fellow poodies should know their rights so I have included the document in my blog post. Please, read on....

Cats' Bill Of Rights

1. The feline shall be immune to all criminal accusations, indictments, and complaints. The accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and impartial dismissal of any and all charges provided said feline's compulsory right to obtain any or all witnesses, including character witnesses, are obtained in his/her favor. In other words: cats can do anything they want as long as it is cute.

2. Neither serfdom, vassalage, nor involuntary servitude will be tolerated, except by said cats in proprietorship of their humans. In other words: what I say goes (and I say feed me....again).

3. No canis familiaris shall, in time of peace or at any other time, be quartered in any dwelling without the consent of the potentate, nor in time of conflict, but in a manner to be prescribed by the sovereign. In other words: no dogs in the house without my permission.

4. The right of the feline to be protected against unreasonable search and seizures shall not be breached or infringed upon at any time or any place. In other words: don't disturb me when I am sleeping.

Posted on behalf of poodies everywhere
~Merlin "The Dude" Schumacher

Mom says not only am I the cutest little ratsie every, but I'm also very photogenic. She loves to take my picture and I don't mind the flashy thingy that much. I smile too.  

I'm even cuter here :) ~Josie 

And here is the picture we promised to put up for Timmy Dickens of Hawaiian centipedes so he and his Mom could see what they look like. There is a humourous yet accurate story of what it is like to run into one of these puppies/nasty bugs out here. Shadow

Today I'm resting. I heard it is the day of rest on the picture box thingy, so i'm resting. Actually every day is a day of rest for poodies, but this day of rest extends to other species as well I guess. Kinsey kitten has snuggled me up in her spotty blankie and I'm cooperating for a bit even though it is hot. I don't want to hurt her kitten feelings. I know how that is since I'm only 9 months old myself. Okay that is not really a kitten anymore, but I'm still young. ~Ko Ko 

TWO PEAS IN A POD-Hello, Narnia and Josephine here to introduce Aeowen's climb up Mount Sofa, risking life and limb to the Shadowbeast and possibly no treats....good luck Aeowen 

Emerging from my really good hiding place to tackle Mount Sofa (Shadow did not find me).... 

Here I go, up to the top.... 

I'm doing it!! I'm climbing Mount Sofa....where's the cat???? ~Aeowen 

Well, hiddy ho blogging neighbors. I have not blogger for awhile since it seems all of the other vermin and poodies wanted their turn, but I have returned. And in rare form. The other day Mom brought home some Subway in a bag just for me, the bag that is and here I decided to take full advantage of the gift. So I climbed up on the table and snuggled into Mom's glass bowl, which fit me just fine, and pillowed my head on the bag of dinner trash. See, don't I look just super comfortable. Well a poodie's comfort is not the most important thing around here apparently, because Mom made me get out of the bowl and get down, which I thought was rather rude. I mean, after all it is the family dinner table and I'm allowed to sit on the chair and look over the top. Is the bowl really that much different? I know it is definately more comfortable. ~Merlin 

Can you see Aeowen? This is what Shadow was stalking in the jungles of Sofa underneath the palm tree pillows. The rare species of white spotted Aeowen. 

Although Shadow thought she was unobserved while being quite stealth, Narnia smelled her. Shadow was to far away for Narnia to see, but I guess Narnia was downwind. Not that Shadow stinks, she just smells like cat and Narnia knew she was around. 

I have taken a lesson from Timmy the handsome on being stealth and here I am practicing while I watch the girl vermins from the couch cushions. See how I'm trying to blend in and being very quiet and still? The girls are up to all kinds of games because they are playing in a box with paper that rustles. But I don't let the paper distract me even though rustling paper is one of poodies favorite things to play with, sit on and roll in. ~Shadow

 

Here I am being not so stealth as a search for one of the vermins in the cushions on the couch. I know they are here somewhere. While I search for the girls why don't you check out http://www.trunkmonkeyad.com/index.htm
to see some very funny videos from a car dealership in WA state. Dad showed the videos to us. ~Shadow

I am Josephine and Mom says I am a cutie. Kinsey is holding me so I don't get scared. Do you know what is funny? Check ou the picture below. ~Josephine 

Heehee here is Salsa marching off in a huff with his tail swished to the side because Mom won't take him out of the condo.  

Duo dynamics 

Quetionaire from Rodentia as filled out by intelligent poodies

1. What time did you get up this morning? 1:00, 2:00, 3:40, 4:00, 6:00, etc
2. Diamonds or pearls? diamonds, on our collars, thanks
3. What was the last film you saw at the movies? Mom watched the loud "Star Lords" movie with wizzing lights and fast speeders the other night on the bright box, so we guess that one, but we really don't watch many movies
4. What is your favorite TV show? any show that makes Mom or Kinsey kitten sit still enough to hold us for a bit
5. What did you have for breakfast? Meow Mix, the only kind of breakfast
6. What is your middle name? "The Dude", Ko, Sweetie
7 What is your favourite cuisine? Tuna
8. What foods do you dislike? nuts, they stink
9. What is your favorite chip flavor? Doritos Nacho Cheese or Cheetoes Cheese Puffs
10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? the round kind
11. What type of car do you drive? we don't drive any car; they are unnatural
12. Favorite sandwich? Tuna
13. What characteristic do you despise? Vermin dancing around just out of reach and being snide and making faces
14. Favorite item of clothing? anything that smells like Mom or just smells
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation? Probably the fish mart-fresh tuna
16. What color is your bathroom? beige with indoor sand
17. Favorite brand of clothing? the dirty kind or the clean ones fresh out of the dryer that have not been haired up yet
18. Where would you retire to? We are already retired
19. Favorite time of the day? morning when the birds are chirping; evening when everyone is home
21. Where were you born? Here
22. Favorite sport to watch? Vermin bouncing
23. Who do you least expect to repost this? Dad
24. Person you expect to repost it? what?????????? we don't understand the question
25.What fabric detergent do you use? we don't; Mom does the clothes
26. Coke or Pepsi? water, but we like to feel the fizzies in Coke on our noses
27. Are you a morning person or a night owl? we are neither, we are fluffy poodies
28. What is your shoe size? we don't have shoes, but our stuffed sockies are about a paw length
29. Do you have any pets? all others in the house, except the vermin who we plan on making slaves
30. Any new and exciting news you would like to share with family & friends? If you don't get rid of the vermin, we will wnslave them
31. What did you want to be when you were little? loved, with no commitments on our part

~Poi Poodies (Myrddin, Shadow, Kao' Ko Kung)

...and it is done ~Merlin, Shadow, Ko Ko 

Questionaire from Bastya's Blog

1. What time did you get up this morning? We don't get up in the morning.
2. Diamonds or pearls? Cheese balls, thanks
3. What was the last film you saw at the movies? We also were forced to watch the "Jed-eye" movie. It was loud and bright. We were actually glad we can't see that far.
4. What is your favorite TV show? anything on the food chanel; it makes Mom want to cook
5. What did you have for breakfast? Chinese food
6. What is your middle name? Phinneaus
7 What is your favourite cuisine? Pasta, veggies, chocolate, fruit
8. What foods do you dislike? WASABI BALLS
9. What is your favorite chip flavor? we aren't allowed chips-they are bad for our health
10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? any one we can pee on
11. What type of car do you drive? Mom won't let us drive; she makes us sit on the dash; although Salsa has gotten as far as the steering shaft befor being booted
12. Favorite sandwich? PB & J, preferably grape
13. What characteristic do you despise? Mom sneaking things in our food
14. Favorite item of clothing? any we can pee on or snuggle in, or both
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation? No-we don't like to go to strange new places; hello rats scamper along and hug walls for a reason.
16. What color is your bathroom? we don't have a bathroom-what colour are your clothes?
17. Favorite brand of clothing? the soft kind
18. Where would you retire to? Retire? what good is that; we already do what we want, why would we want to quit
19. Favorite time of the day? we sleep during the day, see question #1
21. Where were you born? we don't remember, but we assume a rat condo
22. Favorite sport to watch? Salsa baiting the cats
23. Who do you least expect to repost this? Dad
24. Person you expect to repost it? the cats; they hate to be outdone
25.What fabric detergent do you use? we think detergent stinks; it's unnatural
26. Coke or Pepsi? no, coffee or tea-preferably Mom's
27. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Night; see questions #1 & #19 (are these getting redundant?)
28. What is your shoe size? Shoes?
29. Do you have any pets? 3 cats heehee
30. Any new and exciting news you would like to share with family & friends? We would like more chocolate and free roaming time.
31. What did you want to be when you were little? hidden

~Rodentia (Salsa, Pip, Fig, Jorje, Aeowen, Narnia, Josephine)

This CONVERSATION was entered wrong, (Salsa), so read from the bottom up please-and we firmly agree with the judgement over the ick balls.......Rodentia

"Fine Salsa. I will remove them after work." ~Rat Mom *sigh* ~Rat Salsa 

We are not stupid, nor are we crazy deranged rodents who can't smell or taste. We want, no we demand, the wasabi balls be removed...at once. 

Contrary to what many people may think, rats are very cute, intellegent, and clean creatures as I hope people are learning from this blog. Now, after reading this, why does Mom think she can give us something as disgusting as wasabi balls and we will eat it.