Cats, Cids, and Crocs

Cats. Cids (Kids for those non alliterative people). Crocs.

You may be thinking- what the heck could those all have in common, is there a place where I can find all three? I'VE GOT YOU COVERED.

I had been thinking of doing a little history into my family's love for cats, but we don't have too long of a history in the love for Crocs. Actually, I'm the only one that has a history with Crocs. The rest of my family tries to throw away or give away my sweet footwear fit for the gods at least once a week. Last week I caught my mom putting them into the donation basket we take to Goodwill. WHAT IF I hadn't caught her? I can't even think of what would happen to me, but she would be headed straight to the loony bin. Giving away a classic shoe like that? Would Carrie's mom give away her Manolo's????

So I knew I would need some help with getting cids in Crocs. As a woman in my twenties, its would be pretty strange to go hang out in the children's section of a shoe store so I needed an alternative plan. I'm not saying I wouldn't go that far…it would just be weird. Praise The LORD, one of my best friends growing up has a sister with twins who are just at that age to learn how to enjoy and cherish Crocs.  I've actually been waiting for this day, but didn't want to seem overeager like that crazy non related aunt who is constantly asking about the childrens' footwear. The day came May 23, 2014. I got the text at 4:11 pm saying Caroline and Charlie were properly outfitted in THE shoe of the decade!  Here's a little photo timeline of the events. Be forewarned and get out the Kleenex, there is nothing cuter than a cid in Crocs.

Here we meet Charlie. He's a little unsure of what comfy cloud his mom just put on his feet. Understandable, he's probably never felt this cool or fresh in his adorable little life. 

 OH, he gets it now! These shoes are made for raising that roof!!! I bet he hasn't stopped dancing since they were put on his feet! Keep raising that roof Charlie, because they go up to adult size 15!!! 

Now we meet Charlie's twin sister Caroline. Caroline used to be described as shy and reserved. I think she was just waiting for the proper footwear. Can you not see glimpses of Mia Hamm or Abby Wambach?!?! The first thing I thought was- I just made that kid famous. 

Now that Caroline and Charlie are properly outfitted with the greatest shoes in the planet, their star power is unlimited. I'm not saying that they wouldn't have been successful if they hadn't had started off in Crocs…but think about how successful Bill Gates could have been if he HAD started off in them. Just food for thought.

Let's try and move onto our next cute section, Cats and Cids. It will be hard to tear your eyes away from those darling twins, but I think I've got quite the solution. 

Y'all know I have loved cats since I was born, but maybe you've questioned that? I hope not, but maybe. Like every prosperous person in this world, I am going to put my money where my mouth is and take you into my family vault. 

This was our first Christmas card and the last one Polly made an appearance in. I don't think anyone ever told us how to hold a cat and my brother just loved her so much he thought squeezing her was the proper way to hold Polly (full name: Polly Wally Wing Wong). Shortly after this picture, she decided to move to the roof and spend the next ten years living out there only coming in for food and drink ,and if she saw one of us running at her with outstretched hands…well cheetahs had nothing on her.

I finally got a hold of one of our grandmother's cats. This was most likely a barn cat that I lured down and quickly picked up (again, I don't think anyone has ever taught us how to hold a cat), and held captive. If you're looking for a better quality photo follow me at betcy3 on instagram. The cat looks to be in pure torture while I look, and was, in pure bliss.

This photo is a great debate in our family. I and everyone else know it is my sister. She is convinced she knew how to hold a cat and that it is me (see previous photo of me not knowing how to hold a cat). This was our cousin's cat named Bobbi. Bobbi had no tail and we had NEVER seen anything like that before so of COURSE we wanted to touch it constantly to see if it moved the same way. It does. Bobbi didn't like that, never liked cids, so when my sister tried to get a cute photo with her (that's why it's Bobbi with an I)… It did not go as planned. Great photo though! 

Ahhhh, SERIOUSLY, THE BEST day of our lives. I'm not joking. That is our cat Callie, she was a calico (original), and one day she found a husband and got pregnant. Except being naiveté cat owners, our family had zero clue she was pregnant. The glorious day began my little brother went running to my mom yelling, "Callie has a RAT." My mom quickly saw Callie did not have a rat, but was in the midst of giving birth to FIVE KITTENS. I like cannot, CANNOT tell you how much fun it was having FIVE kittens to play with everyday. We kept the orange and white one (Buster!) and gave away two to our Aunt and Uncle (lucky), one to the school secretary,  and one to our best friends up the street. I would recommend to everyone to have five kittens growing up. 

Yep…my sister still struggled on how to hold a cat properly. This is Buster in our and his early years. Look how skinny he was back then! We obviously couldn't let that continue! Buster once disappeared for three days…It was a hard three days, but he came back. I guess he figured a constant food source outweighed the squeezing and dressing up. He's still around to this day, as y'all have seen, and I'll leave this photo of him and his sister doing some pilates together. They have gotten past the days where she used to strangle him to get a photo together :).

Feel the burn Buster!! Maybe Purr Barre needs a mascot?

Paws out, 

Summer Time = Weight Loss???

My goodness! It's been way too long. I apologize profusely for leaving y'all so in the dust and under the  rug! I guess you can say, "Cat got my fingers!" I honestly had to take a step back after my last few posts because I didn't know how to top them. I spent a grueling think session with my boys (Grits and Buster) and we've come up with some good ideas. This next post was NOT endorsed by either…but after what I saw this weekend, so necessary.

Summertime is a time for flaunting what yo mama gave you…or for hiding under the beach towel because you spent a little tooooo much money at the froyo stand. Unfortunately, one but maybe two of our cats could use a little summertime slim down.

Whenever obese children come up in conversations, it's often pointed out that their parents are the ones nurturing/stuffing their faces with unhealthy things. Rude. People that say that obviously do NOT have kids or animals. Buster, our resident 14 year old, is what we will call "tubby". He may be that way because of how much and often I feed him, BUT you try and listen to him yowl near his food bowl and not feel bad for him. With his age, I had kind of gotten the notion ehhhh, let's see how this works out. I mean when I am 70 (cats years are five human years) you better NOT be denying me treats or meals. However. Yesterday I witnessed Grits trying to get into his basement spot:

I knew it was time to say something.

I confronted Grits first and casually mentioned that we were going to be leaning the portions up and he would be feeling better, looking great, and moving a little quieter. 

Actual reaction shot. 

I then was like ohhhhh maybe if Grits has some leadership from the big man himself, no not God, he may be more likely to follow. I went into the den to tell Buster the news. 

Bewilderment. What's wrong??

 Thought that went well! Except then I looked back,

Crying Crying.

I don't get how in this day and age there isn't a step by step manual on how to tell your cats that they need to slim down. We let people write about vampires and wizards, which aren't real, but can't write a self help book about cat weight?!!!!!  I tried to do it nicely, and politely but I think both of their feelings were hurt. We all sat down over some catnip and tried to work it out. They agreed to try my plan of exercising and eating right for a month. I was so happy! This is what it feels like to be assertive! Go me!

Like, no.

If you think YOUR cats are cheaters!!!! Look at what I caught my cats doing.

Not the proper use of the ab roller Buster. 

Trying to sneak and eat my blueberry muffin. 

 When I confronted Grits about cheating on his diet. 

So this summer will NOT be one of slimming down the cats. I don't know if you knew that it wouldn't work out by the beginning of this post, but controlling a cats food is not the easiest things. They do have claws and humans are made of meat.

So I would NOT try this at home. As Queen Marie Antoinette said, "Let them get fat!"

Paws Out! 

Guest Spot!

Oh. MY. GOSSSSHHHHH!!!!!!  I can't believe I have hit 1,000 + views on a blog about my love of catsandcrocs! I feel like I am converting everyone! If you're still unsure about your devotion, it's finnneeeee; a love this strong does not come easily or light heartedly. I would be concerned if you DID start simultaneously loving them!

When I started thinking about what to do for my first post after 1,000 views, I drew a blank. No clue. How do you thank everyone for the support? How do you perform an Oprah moment without The Queen herself? I decided that I wanted a guest blogger, but it had to be someone that liked cats or crocs (finding both is hard…). I immediately focused on Crocs (I had gotten a litttllleee cat crazy lately) and knew just who to ask.

Patrick Sheehy.
Patrick is one of my greatest friends in the world. We met at a small ranch in Wyoming, and became fast friends. He has a tough exterior, but do not let that fur ball confuse you. He has a heart of GOLD! I believe we first became friends when I noticed him wearing his navy blue crocs…or at least I set out to be his friend after I saw him wearing those navy blue crocs. After the ranch, we all moved to Jackson, Wyoming where Patrick continued to show his true colors. Here he is sponsoring a dog for the night.

(may as well be a cat… AM I RIGHT?)

However, after messing around with the small dogs. A puppy named Hutch, a mix of Lab and mutt, claimed his heart. They're the best friends either of them could ever hope or wish for in this world. 

One more photo of Patrick and then I'll let him have the floor! Here is a photo where he asked me, " Bets, what do you think about Crocs?" 

THEY NUMBA ONE BABBBYYY

So here he is, the man, the myth, the incredible:

My Crocs,

When Betsy asked me to write on her blog, I was obviously offended. Then I saw the title of her blog which was Cats and CROCS!  Well, I have to say this changed everything.  See I am six foot four and about 220lbs. I am a big guy who relies on his footwear to get him from point A to point B with style, and finesse.  I love my Crocs. I have actually gone through two pairs of these foam gods.  A pair of Light blue ones which my Dog Hutch destroyed out of spite: 

Definitely ashamed of what he ruined...

I now own a pair of Camo ones I borrowed from a friend only to never return. I will never return these beasts.

The thing I realized about wearing crocs, is I will receive constant reminders from people that I am wearing them. I receive the typical responses, like “hey man are those Crocs?” or  “dude do you know you are wearing Crocs?” I mean I am wearing them. I chose to put them on my feet for speed, and diligence. No Shit I am wearing Crocs.  I find these reminders very typical from people who have never tried a pair of their own.

These “Croc Haters” have called me everything from a nerd to a douche,  along with other derogatory names that I will refrain from tarnishing Betsy’s beautiful blog with. However, these names never made me upset or mad. They made me happy.  Not happy because someone was finally calling me a douche bag, but happy because I knew I took the greater step towards manhood. I was comfortable, happy, and to be perfectly honest I was all that was man. Pity was what I really felt, pity for all those haters that would never feel what its like to spend the day on foam glory.  I will be laughing at the Croc ignorance, while all the  Croc haters can sit on their throne of lies, and persuade themselves Crocs are ugly and stupid. While I experience pure bliss every day I decide to slip on my size 12 Camo CROCS of glory .

Crocs will forever be my footwear of choice. Crocs with socks, crocs with shorts, crocs with pants. It doesn’t matter. I will wear them. 

Patrick.