Pants For Obama! (Exhibit A), Minneapolis, Minnesota,
August 2008, photo © 2008 by QuoinMonkey. All rights
reserved.
Our cat, Mr. StripeyPants (we call him Pants for short), is one unique character. His claim to fame is that he plays PawPong with me on the bed, running to fetch the ball and bring it back to me every time it goes out of bounds. Last year (after nearly dying), Pants also competed in the Olympic Fly-Eating contest and won the Gold Medal in 2007.
He is notorious for leaving his trophies in clumps in his food dish. He also hides them in unsuspecting places around the house. (See Exhibit B: Ball In Cuff for evidence of his latest hiding place.)
This morning when I got up, half asleep and stumbling to make a pot of French Roast, I looked down to see a pink glow from his food dish (See Exhibit A at top of post). There, between two of his red felt balls, was a “change” button.
I yelled to Liz, “Hey, you gotta see this!” She rushed out from the back room to a roar of laughter. “Hey, Pants must be for Obama,” she said. “Do you think he’s trying to tell us something?”
I grabbed the “change” button out of his dish and tossed it on the table. He flew across the room like SuperCat and started batting it around tables, chairs, through piano bench legs, and under doors. He scooped it up between his teeth, shook his head as if gnawing a mouse, and proudly trotted over to his food dish. “Yep,” I laughed. “Pants is a righteous Obama fan!”
The irony wasn’t lost on me. Since ybonesy did her Obama piece on red Ravine last February, and I posted one of the only political pieces you’ll probably ever see from me, a lot has happened. Hillary has long been out of the race; Obama chose his running mate yesterday. Okay, I guess Mr. StripeyPants is more politically savvy than we’ve given him credit for.
Well, I guess if humans are casting their votes (in record numbers) for the groundhog, Smith Lake Jake for President, then surely a cat like Mr. StripeyPants can vote for the human, Barack Obama. What more is there to say? Pants for Obama!
Mr. StripeyPants — Set On Change (Cats For Obama),
Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 2008, all photos © 2008
by QuoinMonkey. All rights reserved.
-posted on red Ravine, Sunday, August 24th, 2008
I love it 🙂
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QM, What wonderful photos of my “Grand-kitty,” Pants! You are the best photographer, as well as a super writer! (Of course, I may be just the teeniest bit prejudiced for the subject.) All the cats in your household are unique! Chaco, the only cat I know of, whose favorite hang out is the bathroom sink! Kiev must be part of the old Russian Aristocracy…so sedate and above all the juvenile antics of the likes of Pants! I, of course, the proud Grandma, love them all, but even more, the two humans that share their space!!
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Thanks, goddess. 8)
oliverowl, thanks so much. It’s great to hear from someone who has actually met Mr. StipeyPants, Kiev, and Chaco. I know they love when you come to visit. They love to be spoiled!
Chaco has this thing about water. He has recently started to take Pants’ felt balls and dip them in the water dish, bat them around, then drop them in the dish. It’s been crazy. Not sure what it is about him and water!
Kiev, yeah, she surely must be Russian Aristocracy. She’s feet above the two boys, so regal and furry soft! Thanks for being a great Kitty Grandma! Say hi to Serena. 8)
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Pants is one smart cat! And adorable too – as shown in your terrific photos. G
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Hooray for Pants! A cat who knows it’s time for a change! Great photos as always! I especially like the 3 action shots!
D
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G., thank you! Yes, Pants really is an amazing cat. I’ve never met a cat who is so close to human (or at least to dog!). He’s got pzazzzzzz and personality.
diddy, thanks. You know what was strange? I was listening to the news last night and heard that the Obama campaign headquarters in the Twin Cities was vandalized over the weekend. Rocks smashed through huge windows. There was even an Obama worker there at the time, but they weren’t hurt. It must have been scary though.
I knew Obama was going to be in Eau Claire, Wisconsin over the weekend (and saw footage of him at a town BBQ there). But didn’t suspect there would be violence here in Minnesota on the same weekend. It’s an eerie feeling to know that is happening in your own hometown.
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I love the kitty photo shoot. What a charmer – Mr. Stripeypants – and obviously well-informed, too. I love his treasure hiding games, especially in the pants’ leg. How very clever he is!
Scary when cats are nearly human, isn’t it? My new lady cat, Jazz, is a prime example of a cat with a very old soul. I’m not quite sure just who she was in a past life or two, but she must have been someone who was, hmm, let’s say mysterious. 🙂
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I love Mr. Stripeypants! He has the pinkest nose I’ve seen in a while, and his sense of play and mystery is of the highest caliber. Yay for Pants, and Barak!
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I think Mr. Stripeypants is making a blatant bid for a different variety of catfood! 🙂
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Yes, Pants, you are a mister after my own heart. I already knew you were good-looking and funny, but now I also know you have great sensibility and political acumen. I also heard that you cast your vote for Rosa the Prairie Dog, although wasn’t it mentioned that you bit off her ear first? Hmmm…
QM, just coming in from a lovely dinner at a lovely restaurant. Vietnamese food is the best. I am still jet-lagged though. It is 9:30p, and after going to bed last night at 8, and the night before between 7-8p, I feel like I am up so late I can hardly type. Also, this morning I woke up at 3:30, morning before at 1a (and I actually got up at that hour). So, I’m signing off for now, but hope to post soon. Thanks for holding down the fort. xxoo
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Bo, it sure is scary how human cats can seem. Jazz sounds wonderful — an old soul. By comparison, Pants never seems to age. He always seems so young — but wise. 8)
Christine, yes, Pants with the pink nose!
leslie, Liz and I cracked up at your comment last night (#9). Oh, my goodness. What if he’s really trying to tell us to change his brand of food! And all this time, I thought he was showing political savvy. Crazy! 8)
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ybonesy, so great to hear from you! No worries here about holding down the fort. You sure held it down for me when I was in PA and GA and when my brother was in the hospital. The give and take all works out. We’ll keep in touch about your posting.
You must be exhausted. Though it sounds like you are really enjoying the culture there. And the food. Yum.
Oh, that Pants. Poor earless Rosa the Prairie Dog. (What happened to her, BTW?) He can’t help it. Natural instinct. He’s got a wild side. 8)
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QM and Liz,
If the “Change” button shows up in the litter box, then I would have to bet it’s not political commentary 🙂
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LOL 8) Uh, hah! But with all the political crap floating around out there, how CAN we be sure? 8)
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Because if Pants is voting for Obama, like all the handsomest cats do, then its all about the litter. 🙂
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LOL. Right-O. Right-O. Keepin’ it clean. Keepin’ it clean. 😉
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One more tidbit from Mr. Pants. He insisted we listen to Ted Kennedy last night at the Democratic National Convention. And tonight, he wants to hear Hillary along with all the other speakers whose efforts move toward uniting a fractured party.
We listened to The Writer’s Almanac this morning and as fate would have it — it’s also the day in 1920 when the 19th Amendment was incorporated into the U.S. Constitution, giving women the right to vote!
The 19th Amendment proclaimed, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex,” and ended more than 70 years of struggle by the Suffragist Movement.
Here’s an excerpt from the Writer’s Almanac. For the full post (or to listen to Garrison read it) head to this link: The Writer’s Almanac – Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 (LINK). (BTW, you can sign up to receive the Almanac by email. It’s well worth it!)
Fire away, women. Fire away. Keep exercising this hard-won right to vote.
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New developments. Though I didn’t know it when I wrote this piece (and, frankly, couldn’t have imagined) — I guess I can now add to this PANTS post the support of the Sisterhood Of The Traveling PANTS Suits for Obama. 8)
No matter what anybody else says (including my beloved Familiar, Mr. StripeyPants!), Hillary rocks. She still has my heart. And in my eyes, she is a well-accomplished and tough woman of great integrity, humor, and grace.
Not many politicians could have emerged from this fractured, embattled year with the resiliency and integrity she has shown. And the willingness to put her personal feelings aside and publicly rally others to unite for the good of the whole. I hope to see more brave women like her in the politics of the future.
So Bill Clinton spoke last night. And tonight, it’s on to Mr. Obama’s speech. And next week, the Republicans in our Twin City of St. Paul. Things are moving and shaking as we continue to make history. And last night when we got home from the MN State Fair, I went into the back room to play PawPong with Mr. StripeyPants; there he was batting his “change” button around on the bed. 8)
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QM, I wanted to comment one last time on this post. (you know I take my politics seriously) I watched the DNC from the beginning & Hillary was just awesome! What an inspiration her speach was! She is a real class act in my book! And, I watched Obama speak last night. So much truth in every word he spoke. Too bad Pants can’t vote.
I guess MN will be in the spotlight next & I see McCain has chosen a woman to be his running mate. Sarah Palin of Alaska. Your beloved city will be in the spotlight next week.
I’m hoping this election takes a positive turn. The negative turn that has been on going is bringing me down. I think it is a reminder to all of us that although we have come a long way in this country we still have a long way to go. But history is being made at every turn and since watching the DNC I am again pumped up & ready to vote come November!!!!
Oh, I forgot to tell you that Brant has even taken an interest in politics. When he was here last & out of the clear blue he began to explain to me that there was a war going on between McCain & BarackObama (one word, I think he just likes to say that name!). A war? Turns out he’s been seeing all of the negative ads on TV. And all of that out of the mouth of a mere 7 year old babe. D
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diddy, great comment. That was amazing last night, how full the stadium was in Denver. When they panned out, throngs and throngs of people. It was almost shocking. And the way they had the podium set up and the huge screens, I told Liz it almost looked like one of those giant televised churches. It was wild.
It’s good to hear from another Hillary supporter. She just has so much integrity to have gotten up there like that and rallied. I have a ton of respect for her. Those who don’t win the nomination are rarely so gracious. They were talking about that in the coverage after her speech. Most of the men in history who have lost the nomination, rarely even mentioned the man who was nominated. They were asking a lot of her. She delivered.
That’s pretty amazing about Brant knowing about the rift between Obama and McCain. It just shows how young our opinions are formed about life and the way we live. He is watching what the adults around him are doing and listening to what they are saying. These are the things he will carry.
The Republican National Convention in St. Paul is going to be interesting. I heard on NPR yesterday they are really sprucing up around here — even spray painting the bushes green. 8) Are you planning to watch it? I’m curious about how different it might be than the Democrats this week.
Hey, have you two done any more mandalas lately? I still have my July mandalas to post. Maybe this weekend. August are done, too. I’m so behind in posting them. But still keeping up with the practice. 8)
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Oh, diddy, who said Pants can’t vote? Shhhhhh. He doesn’t know yet. 8)
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QM, yes I will watch the RNC. That is wild that they are spray painting the bushes! I’ll share that with Brant, as he will be here for the night. I was shocked when he brought up politics! When he first mentioned war, my thought was that he was talking about Iraq. I never in my wildest dreams considered that he meant McCain & Obama. Amazing!
Yes, as you know I am a big supporter of Hillary & her speech just brought tears to my eyes. Gracious & rare indeed. And yes, last night was wild! A great way to end the DNC. I especially liked seeing all of the families there sharing their support with children in tow. After all, this election will have a true impact on them as well. And how cool will it be for those children to say they were there? The fireworks at the end were the icing on the cake!
We will be coloring some mandalas tonight as a matter of fact! That & we also have a wooden bird house to paint!
Oh, BTW, if Brant could vote, I’m quite certain BarackObama
(one word) would get his vote on his name alone! D
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diddy, the fireworks at the end of Obama’s speech looked like they scared everyone to death when they first went off! The tradition, I guess, is balloons. But the open air didn’t allow for it. BTW, we saw some great fireworks from the Grandstand at the MN State Fair last Wednesday. We were so close, it felt like we were right in the middle of them.
Oh, McCain’s running mate, Sarah Palin of Alaska is sure getting a lot of press the last few days. Very conservative. I have to say, I was quite shocked by his choice, wasn’t expecting that one. We were discussing it on the way to the State Fair for the second time last night. He sure shook things up. This election is going to be interesting to watch.
Lots going on on the homefront with the Republican National Convention. Last night, the police raided a theater that was rented by some people (including kids and the elderly) planning a peaceful protest during the RNC. People were told they had to be ID’d and photographed or they would have been arrested. And now the place is boarded up on unspecified code violations. And they took all the literature.
Then the University of MN issued a warning to their students about protesting the RNC and what would happen if they rioted or broke any laws. I’m started to wonder about our own freedom of speech and rights to peaceful protest around here.
Otherwise, when we were driving to the Fair last night, they had begun to shut down certain roads and arteries into St. Paul so we had to make a few diversions. This week is going to be wild. Yes, I’ll definitely be watching.
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