I got Cleo in early May 2006: here's what my life with Cleo looked like when I was 29 and then 30 years old....

I had Cleo beginning here:

elizabeth said...

wow. i am now in London ON; was in Michigan 4 days and moved myself, some of my belongings and Cleo the Cat. i am still a bit shell shocked to be honest -- like not wanting to leave my apartment, which is still not fully unpacked -- and i need a bookshelf. will be back online Monday...

2:35 pm, May 05, 2006 

by May 16 I first called her my beloved cat Cleo https://eroosje.blogspot.com/2006/05/second-week-of-class.html

And I am slowly gaining a routine with my very Cute Canadian Cat Cleo – she purred so loudly when I held and brushed her this morning. So nice.  https://eroosje.blogspot.com/2006/05/this-day-good-things-and-stressful.html

late last night, as I was sitting in my old gold chair, journaling, with Cleo the Cat near by, https://eroosje.blogspot.com/2006/05/reflections-on-place-time-i-am-in.html

I am looking forward to being home tonight with my cat! https://eroosje.blogspot.com/2006/05/finishing-up.html

I remember in the hardest moments of that summer, I would be lying down in front of my icons in the shelf, crying and Cleo would come up and lick and nuzzle my hair.  the fact that she wanted my hair tie (a type of rubber band but for hair) did not make it any less comforting.... 

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https://eroosje.blogspot.com/2006/07/my-cute-cat.html

Cleo is lying on my skirt, right next to my legs, behind my laptop. So cute! I like it that she likes to be by me; she especially appears to like to be with me on my bed when my laptop is out (She also hangs out with me when I am watching a DVD movie on it). 

Cleo is quite the smart cat too—she knows when I get the cereal box out that it means “milk” and she will stay on the chair next to my chair, sitting up like a pretty cat princess, waiting for me to give her the last drops of milk left in the bowl. I guess I am a pretty indulgent cat owner, for I do let her have these last drops. Usually Cleo gets lots of attention from me – an early morning and later evening brushing, and lots of pets and the like in between. I feel really lucky to have my lovely Cute Cat Cleo; so often I still can hardly believe that she is mine, it is really a dream come true to have her. 

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Please pray for me – I am really hoping to secure at least a short term contract by September so that I can move into an apartment with my cat Cleo.

I do honestly feel bad that I am leaving my cat for a week. I am getting people to check in on her daily, but I still feel bad. She will really miss me; she missed me like crazy last time.

If anyone has any suggestions on how to help my cat – esp. also in August when I will be moving (have no idea what I will all be doing – if I will be going to MI for a bit, when/how I am moving to Ottawa; how I am getting Cleo with me, etc) please let me know…

https://eroosje.blogspot.com/2006/07/ottawa-city-of-my-heart.html

 I really hope I will have a job soon so I can get an apartment and have my beloved Cat Cleo with me again! https://eroosje.blogspot.com/2006/09/while-since-i-last-posted.html

[recounting things, I wrote felt but meant flew out to Ottawa (Cleo was on my lap in a soft carrier)

felt out to Ottawa 2 days later with my cat and began a month long journey of living with a special family from my Ottawa church

https://eroosje.blogspot.com/2006/10/i-may-really-be-back-this-time.html

I am still really happy with my apartment and I still love my cat Cleo lots! https://eroosje.blogspot.com/2006/11/latest.html

Saturday, December 30, 2006

A simple list on this quiet day

Here are the latest lovely things:

1. I turned 30. yesterday (!); had a wonderful day with friends in person and on the phone
2. Today I rested, put things in my house and made a list for groceries… more to do, but I feel lethargic…
3. My cat Cleo (just thought I would mention her)
4. I am so grateful that God exists; I need the hope He brings…

https://eroosje.blogspot.com/2006/12/simple-list-on-this-quiet-day.html

2. Cleo my Cat. Still cute. Today she tried to open a cupboard door with her paw and she threw up in the bathtub. Well, that is a lot better than the carpet, so I did not mind too much. I am not the squeamish type when it comes to things like this. https://eroosje.blogspot.com/2007/01/latest-lovely-things.html

My cat Cleo is looking at my laptop; I am sitting in my kitchen on my old ‘70s gold armchair, listening to French radio while I cook my dinner. I love moments like this.  https://eroosje.blogspot.com/2007/02/better-i-think.html

. So I am enjoying that fact that I walked to church this weekend, had two meals (because of lent) with my church family and watched thick snow swirl down from my window on Saturday, with my Cat Cleo on my lap.  https://eroosje.blogspot.com/2007/03/enjoying-small-yet-not-small-things.html

And perhaps the me always changes; currently me in the mirror means I am probably talking to my cat to be precise; I have this tall thin IKEA mirror and usually if I look in it I am either looking around the corner at my cat or am holding her and saying “look at my glory cat” because her eyes have two shades of blue, if the lighting is right, so that it is a darker and then lighter blue as you go in toward the iris. My church (this really does correspond, really) has more than life-size panel of the Resurrection of Christ and the darker to lighter blue is radiating from Christ, who is a blaze of white as He rescues Adam and Eve in Hades; blue-showing His glory. So Cleo reminds me of this every time I look at her, my glory cat.  https://eroosje.blogspot.com/2007/03/oh-hi-is-that-myself-i-see-in-mirror.html

I love my apartment, I love seeing the wet snow falling outside my window and having Cleo my cat near by. (We’ll just ignore the fact that there should not be wet snow in mid-April!).

I also love that I have many of my favourite books with me, and that things are momentarily okay. Life has lots of challenges, and is full of grief, but God’s love keeps pouring down, slowly breaking into my awareness; this gives me hope.

https://eroosje.blogspot.com/2007/04/staying-in.html

that I am striving to be and am thankful. thankful that I tried to learn the French word for Kleenex today - mouchoirs (I forget how to pronounce it already!) - I said it to everyone at work, holding my Kleenex box - I literally went through oh, a box within 3 hours or so. when I do anything, I like to do it well! :)

I am surprisingly happy - happy that my parents are alive (not that they were in danger) - happy that Cleo my Cat is running around - happy that I know how to have a cold in style as it were (think mint tea, nutrigrain bars, the best Kleenex can offer me, no-name VICKS). its great! I even got an Agatha Christie book I may not have read before from the library... and new socks. (handy, having stores on my walk home).

https://eroosje.blogspot.com/2007/04/all-i-can-say-is.html

Monday, April 23, 2007

quietness

i am dwelling in quietness this evening. preparing slowly for the interview but trying to be really careful to not do too much and get my nerves up. i have been re-reading an Anne George mystery about two older Southern sisters. ah. i LOVE mysteries. my Cat wanted to eat my Popcorn. yep. so i gave her cat treats, which she devoured. then she looked and looked at me. ah that silent begging. i told her no popcorn. she seems content.

the line from the Protestant hymn came to mind: praise God from whom all blessings flow...

Amen.

https://eroosje.blogspot.com/2007/04/quietness.html