CameoCam

Peeping Tom Squirrel

2012-01-29T09:58:00.000-08:00

Here I was, just having a nice nap on the couch...

Only to wake up and see this pervert staring at me!

This neighborhood is really going down hill. I guess it's time to get the neighborhood watch back together.

Dr. Cameo, Medicine Cat

2012-01-21T16:56:00.000-08:00

I'm getting pretty handy with my teeth. It's only takes me a couple of hours to remove the cranial plates of my woolly mice. Don't worry, it doesn't hurt them. In fact, I think they like it!

Cooking with Cameo

2011-12-11T19:42:00.000-08:00

As you all know, times are tough so I've had to take on a few sponsorships.* For my first, I'd like to feature "Al Dente Pasta". The good people of Al Dente Pasta were kind enough to donate a few different kinds of their delicious pasta for me to try out some recipes.

I've whipped up a delicious and simple (but not quick!) dinner using their all natural pappardelle, which are broad fettuccine noodles in case you are wondering. This is a great light dish that's good for a cool autumn evening. The sweetness of the squash balances nicely with the roasted garlicky goodness and you can customize it to your liking by adding the toppings or mix-ins of your choice. This is also a great recipe when you've got a lot going on because you'll have about 45 minutes to an hour between initial prep and final prep to catch a couple of woolly mice, take nap in a sunny window or snuggle up with a blanket.

Butternut Pappardelle with Roasted Garlic
serves 2-3

Ingredients:
1 medium-sized butternut squash
1 small head of garlic
1-2 tbs of olive oil
6 oz of Al Dente Pappardelle (half a package)
salt
pepper
nutmeg

optional:
lemon slice
fresh basil
grated, aged cheeses (e.g. parmesan, pecorino romano)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. If your oven runs hot, go with 375 but you may need 15 minutes more roasting time.

Peel, seed and cube the butternut squash into 1 inch pieces- no need to be exact though (if you are a cat, make your human do this). Put the butternut squash into a 9x13 pan or baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, nutmeg (all to taste). You can drizzle with olive oil if you like. Loosely cover with aluminum foil.

Slice the top of the garlic head off to expose most of the cloves and wrap it tightly in aluminum foil. You can drizzle a teaspoon of olive oil into the exposed cloves if you like.

Place the squash on the middle rack of your oven and the garlic on the top rack (in case it leaks it'll drip on the foil of the squash below). Cook both for about a hour. If you like your squash al dente, you can leave the foil off or remove it up to 30 minutes before its done cooking. The longer you leave it uncovered, the less "squishy" the pieces will be. Get a medium to large pot of water boiling on the stove during the last 15 minutes or so of cooking.

After an hour, check the squash and make sure it's done. Take it out and cover (or leave covered). Take the garlic out and open the foil (careful, it's very hot!). After it's cooled for a few minutes, squish out the garlic into a small bowl. Add 1 tbs of olive oil and (optionally) a squeeze of lemon. Whisk the garlic with a fork or whisk, until uniform.

Put your dry pasta into your boiling water for three minutes. When done, drain the water from the pasta in a colander. Put the pasta back in the pot but NOT back on the stove! Add the roasted garlic mixture and toss. Then add the cooked squash and toss. Garnish with fresh chopped basil and your favorite aged cheeses.

You're done! Bon appétit!

*none of the views expressed on this blog are specifically condoned nor denied by Al Dente Pasta

Happy Halloween 2011!

2011-10-23T17:37:00.000-07:00

Sending you pumpkin wishes and candy-corn dreams!

My 4-week catnip bender

2010-03-22T18:25:00.001-07:00

Having just seen the new "Alice in Wonderland" movie (-meh-) I did some of my own "exploring." Like Alice, I survived:

"One pill makes you larger

And one pill makes you small
And the ones that mother gives you
Don't do anything at all
Go ask Alice
When she's ten feet tall"

Little baby pink toe!

2010-01-31T19:51:00.000-08:00

Can anyone tell me why it is that my little baby toe is pink? Isn't it so cute!?

Jabba the Catt is not amused!

2010-01-21T13:02:00.000-08:00

I've been watching Star Wars and working on my Jabba the Hutt impression. What do you think?

And for comparison:

Happy New Year!

2010-01-07T20:39:00.000-08:00

The champagne wasn't dry enough for my refined tastes but the cork was a blast.

Hope you all have a pleasant 2010.

Love,

Cameo

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-20T09:34:00.001-08:00

Meow-y Catmas!

Cornify your life!

2009-11-28T08:00:00.000-08:00

Unicorn Happiness #13920 | Cornify

My newest favorite website! I've spend over 14 hours cornifying every picture that I own!

Pig Fever

2009-11-05T13:31:00.000-08:00

Like all good cats I have been concerned with the H1N1 virus. Cat's CAN catch the virus from humans and one of my buddies in the state of Iowa just recently recovered.

Here is a list of swine flu (H1N1 virus) symptoms in cats. I have tested myself against this list of possible symptoms:

lethargy - CHECK!
loss of appetite - Definitely NOT CHECK!
coughing - NO
sneezing - Sometimes, but very deliCATely
breathing with mouth open - Only when I am biting your hand

I guess I don't have it - thank goodness. But cats, watch yourself... Those humans can get you sick with their germs!

Boo!

2009-11-01T08:16:00.000-08:00

Meow, meow, meow.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

My Video Premier

2009-10-17T15:57:00.000-07:00

Hope you like it! The best part was the catering between takes. Yum!

No people or animals were harmed in the making of this music video.

Introducing...

2009-09-22T10:37:00.000-07:00

My new friends Coco and Patrick! I had such a great time this summer that I decided to adopt two new pet-pets. I love them very much. I don't go a single night without them by my side and I spend my days keeping them clean.

I apologize for the poor quality of this photo. My camera broke this summer on my long journey and I have yet to replace it; these are all webcam shots.

Welcome back to my blog. I hope you all had great summers!

And OFF I go...!

2009-06-23T15:56:00.001-07:00

To all my loyal readers,

I'll be taking off this summer, jetsetting around the world, hobnobbing with celebrities, seeing and doing things that most could only imagine. I'll be much too busy to update regularly but I encourage you all to come back in September and CATch up with my latest and greatest adventures.

Best wishes for a wonderful summer,

Cameo

UP!

2009-06-02T12:59:00.000-07:00

I went and saw UP and they gave me a free balloon! How many balloons would it take to fly me over to that squirrel over there?

A sad week

2009-04-29T18:50:00.000-07:00

Godspeed Auntie Lucy and Bea Arthur. May you both rest in peace.

RIP Mimi

2009-04-01T19:18:00.000-07:00

You'll always be somebody's baby.

http://mimi.bunnycorpse.org/

You spin me right round baby right round like a record baby...

2009-01-29T19:25:00.000-08:00

America's Next Top Feline

2009-01-07T08:25:00.000-08:00

I've thought about starting my own show to find America's Next Top Feline but then I realized that this would be cruel to all the other cats that try out because I would just win every time. It's so hard to be a phil-cat-thropist.

Deep thoughts

2008-11-16T12:43:00.001-08:00

If people become crazy and get 10,000 cats when they get old, what are cats supposed to get when they get old (and crazy)?

Don't forget to vote!

2008-11-04T16:20:00.001-08:00

Crisis averted

2008-10-16T07:15:00.000-07:00

For rent:

Cozy first floor space. Heat included. Rent negotiable. Ask for "Cameo."

Movin' on up...

2008-08-27T13:44:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. I have wonderful news to report.

For being such a wonderful cat in Madison and for not escaping on the car ride back I was recently purchased new sleeping accommodations. They are tres chic!

Here you can see my old diggs. Yuck!

Yeah ! I've been sleeping so soundly in my new house.

Take care,

Cameo

Smokers are killing me!

2008-08-07T19:43:00.000-07:00

It amazes me in this day and age that anyone could still smoke! As an avid window sitter the constant barrages of cigarette smoke waft over me from downstair residents at least four or five times a day (both in my temporary summer diggs and my home base). Now, it seems unlikely that a smoker nowadays would be ignorant to the damage they are doing to themselves and that's a risk (albeit a stupid one) that they take- but I mean really, how could anyone hurt anything as adorable and cute as me?!

Does anyone have any ideas? I've tried talking to the offending parties and my cuteness just doesn't have the same impact on everyone. :'-(

Earthquake!

2008-07-30T19:35:00.000-07:00

Did I cause the earthquake in Southern California? I was just thinking about it a lot! I'm sorry! I'm not sure if I'm ready for earthquakes though. Even large trucks are enough to startle me. So to the frightened people in suburban Los Angeles and elsewhere, here are some cute pictures of me to soothe your souls.
Love,
Cameo

Cali-for-ni-a

2008-07-14T12:33:00.000-07:00

So I know that I just got to Wisconsin, but I've had California on the brain for the past week. I hear all these wonderful tales about California; fat birds and even fatter squirrels. Windows open year round. Delicious fresh seafood, clear blue skies, green rolling hills and tall urban metropoli. But I have yet to experience any of this. Is California in my future?

Wisconsin!

2008-06-26T19:54:00.001-07:00

Hey Everyone,

I've been so busy enjoying myself here in Madison that I forgot to post the pictures of my journey as promised. So here they are! It was a very long trip but I didn't mind it so much. I slept most of the way and was pretty tired by the time we arrived. This was my first time out of my home state since I came to the US since I arrived so it was nice to see some of the country.

Here's me in the crash pad getting cozy for the ride. Notice my cool little harness.

I felt a little carsick at first.

But I got comfortable fairly quickly.

It didn't take too long to reach Indiana.

A snack at the midway point. I wasn't very hungry though.

This is when I got to Illinois (I think). I didn't actually see a sign, but you can see Chicago in the distance.

And here it is, getting a bit closer.

And Welcome to Wisconsin!

G-L-A-M-ORO-US

2008-06-11T16:06:00.000-07:00

Oil change - check!
Maps of the Great Lakes states - check!
Cat scratcher - check!
Wellness food - check!
Organic kitty litter - check!
Temptations treats - check!
Cat training book - check!
Gold identification charm - check!

Wisconsin, here I come!

Legalize it

2008-05-25T23:53:00.001-07:00

Alright, after "altered photo scandal 2008" I'm forced to admit that I actually did NOT go to Montreal a couple of weeks ago. I didn't have anything interesting to write about so I just made it all up! Having a blog as a young feline is very demanding and I only want to provide my readers with the best and I just cracked under the pressure. But now that I've had time to reflect on my actions I've come up with a list of future topics to satiate my faithful readers.

The pressure, however, has driven me to new limits and self medication. Now, I consume a bit of catnip here and there and I don't have any problems with it. It's fairly easy to obtain. Usually in my apartment there is a bag or two just lying around. I usually don't even notice it, but sometimes I do and I just can't control myself. That is the point where I start to worry. But man this stuff is just so good. Since I've been dealing with my very public shame, I've been going to the sweet-sticky much more often than normal. My friends say that it's not addictive physiologically, but I just don't know. Should I be worried?

Step 1: find bag

Step 2: sniff bag, assess quality and age of contents

Step 3: tear that bag a new one

Step 4: remove contents

Step 5: consume contents via nose and mouth

Step 5: aww, yeah

Step 7: sit back, enjoy the ride

Repeat as necessary.

Je suis retournée!

2008-05-15T19:35:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

I'm back from my vacation and family reunion in Montreal. I had such a wonderful time and was able to eat lots of my favorite hometown dish: poutine! I've uploaded a couple of pictures of me having such a great time. If you have never been to Francophone parts of Canada, I highly recommend it. Friendly people, great springtime weather and delicious food. Also, if you love bakeries, it's the place to go!

Here's me in front of some famous building. I think it's a hotel.

And here you can see the skyline behind me. So beautiful!

I hope everyone is safe and sound. I wish you all the best.

XOXO,

Cameo

Next week: Babies, babies, babies--sort of.

Ready for a vacation!

2008-04-24T20:25:00.000-07:00

Now that Spring is in the air I've been so busy keeping watching over the birds and squirrels that I haven't had time to post! It's been so overwhelming that I'm going on vacation again but this time just back home to Montreal to visit my friends and family. It's been a while since I've been home but this is a great time to be in Québec because the weather is pretty nice now that everything is thawing out. So it will be two weeks time before I post again, but I wanted to let you all know that I'm still here and grateful for your adoration.

-Cameo

Snowshoe hares and a new friend

2008-03-23T14:20:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

I want to thank everyone for their kind birthday wishes. I had a great party and enjoyed my new double-wide scratcher with capnip and a delicious tuna fish dinner.

For Easter I got to spend some time out and about exploring after the giant snowstorm we got on Friday that scared away all of the birds and squirrels. We got about 6 or 7 inches in just one night!

The snow is so cold! But after I got used to it it was really fun. I'm not a fan of the cars driving by though. They are much too loud and fast. I followed some kitty and rabbit trails around for a while but was not able to find anything today. Oh well, maybe next time.

I also made a great new friend. I'm not to sure what his name is yet, because he doesn't seem to know, but I think it was Tucker or Watson or something like that. I'm sure he'll decide soon, but in the meantime I can induct him as an honorary member of the feline order and teach him our much cooler ways. I can't wait to take him for walks.

Have a great week!

Cameo

The big 0-5!

2008-03-15T08:32:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting for this for a while-- Today, March 15th is my 5th birthday, that's 20 of your measly human years. I may go get a massage or perhaps a pedicure, but I'm hoping I get some extra special toys to replace the ones that I destroyed. This evening, I'm planning on having a few of the neighborhood cats over for some laser-chasing, Kogepan-fetching, and perhaps some pizza. Pizza, pizza, pizza! I hope everyone has a wonderful day. I can see that we are in the homestretch for Spring to arrive and I'm very excited about that. There have been a few days where the windows have been opened and the birds are slowly returning. Oh, and beware Idus Martiae.

Love,
Cameo

3-toed Sloth-Banshee Hybrid Impression!

2008-03-01T12:11:00.000-08:00

The Essence of Being Feline

2008-02-21T16:28:00.000-08:00

What does it mean to be a cat?

I ask myself this all the time. It's a difficult question. Many people define cats by what they are not:

Cats don't fetch.
Cats aren't loyal.
Cats aren't happy.

And I guess some people say that cats are:

Independent
Aloof
Evil

I am Cameo and I just am. I can fetch (especially when Kogepan runs away). I can be loyal. I can also be aloof. And I can be evil. In fact, the other night, I kept knocking over the trashcan at 3 in the morning. And why? Because I felt like it! And when I got kicked out of the bedroom, I showed my dissatisfaction by scratching under the door all night. See, cats cannot be defined essentially. Every cat is as unique from every other cat as the group of cats is from dogs or people or birds. And that's why I love being Cameo.

My first international visitors!

2008-01-30T12:31:00.000-08:00

Bienvenidos, lectores! Bienvenue, lecteurs!

I wanted to let you all know that we have cause for celebration with my first international visitor to this blog from Mexico, D.F.! Shortly after, I had my first Canadian visitor! This is a very exciting moment for me because it means my fan-base is ever-increasing. To show my appreciation, I have photographed myself wearing a gift given to me from a friend who visited the Districto Federal and another of me showing love for the Canadian Flag. Enjoy!

Gracias por visitar mi blog! Merci de votre visite sur mon blog!

-Cameo

When is winter over?

2008-01-27T20:30:00.000-08:00

I'm cold. So cold...

Back-up Plan

2008-01-21T13:35:00.000-08:00

The build up to the presidential election in November has me thinking a lot about the state of the economy and the direction the nation is going.

The state I'm living in is in the midst of some tough economic times. I've decided during this slow winter season that I would work on my skill set in case it becomes necessary for me to head to work. So here I will showcase some of my special talents in the event that an employer finds my skills necessary.

In addition to the absolutely necessary skills of sleeping, eating, and self-cleaning I am also well-versed in a number of extraordinary talents such as:

Flying:

Standing:

Hiding/Cameoflage:

Dancing:

Rolling over:

You would need a dog, a bird, a gorilla AND a human to do all these functions that you can find in just one Cameo! I can do all of these things at your request, unless I'm too busy doing something else. I accept cash, credit cards and Temptations cat treats.

Happy voting!

Broken toys, broken promises

2008-01-13T10:36:00.000-08:00

Resolution FAILED! :-(

Oh well, there's always next year.

Things are Great in 2008!

2008-01-05T09:33:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone! I'm all back and rested from my vacation and I hope that everyone had a nice New Years celebration.

I had a great time and got to see my aunt Lucy. You can see that I take after her a lot.

Anyway I am nice and tanned and should be able to make it through the next 3-4 months just fine (even without my birds and squirrels).

I only have one resolution this year. It's to stop destroying all of my toys. I go through toys like most cats go through litter and I have so much fun I just don't know what comes over me. So I'm going to try really hard to make my toys last for as long as possible, still accounting for normal wear and tear of course.

Happy New Year!

-Cameo

Happy Holidays to everyone!

2007-12-09T21:29:00.000-08:00

I will be vacationing in Boca Raton until after the New Year, so unfortunately no updates until then. I did want to wish everyone a Happy Holidays and an Excellent New Year!

Best Wishes,
Cameo

The Results

2007-12-02T17:33:00.000-08:00

So voting has closed for NameChoice 2007 (tm) and with 100% of votes tallied at all the precincts, the results are in.

I've created an electoral college system far too complex for your human brains to understand, but basically I will be keeping my name.

I continue to reserve the right to change my middle name at any time.

Thank you all for your votes!

My friends

2007-11-25T17:02:00.000-08:00

I thought I would spend some time to introduce my playmates around the house so that you all might better understand my relationships with them.

From right to left there is Bluefish, Kogepan, Green Moose, Crackle Bird, Purple Mouse, Orange Mouse, and Green Mouse jr.

I have a special and unique relationship with all of them and I’m very glad they are in my life.

Bluefish was a gift from my daddy that he sent to me special in the mail. Bluefish likes to run away from me, but I always capture him. One day I hurt one of his legs on accident, so he can’t run fast anymore, but I’m so happy to have him and we play all the time.

Kogepan was my very first pet. He likes to fly through the air and then I go catch him. I don’t understand why he always wears a scarf, so sometimes I tear his scarf off (especially in the summertime). He wasn’t originally my pet but I kept grabbing him from the kitchen to play with him, so eventually he came to play with me.

Green Moose is also one of the first toys that I ever had. He is a lot of fun to play with, but he’s very old so I can’t be too rough with him.

I like crackle bird a lot; he is so noisy! Especially at the early morning hours, I like to hug him really tight and roll around. He makes crackling noises to show that he is having fun!

Purple Mouse wears this wonderful perfume! He slides around on the floor a lot and I can follow the scent around, even when it is dark. He was a gift from two very special friends and I treasure the play time we have very much.

Orange Mouse and Green Mouse Jr! These are also two of my oldest friends and they were also a gift from a very special friend. They are so much fun because they make noises AND wear a special perfume that I just love. Sometimes the three of us get together and go absolutely crazy! It’s so much fun!

Well, I think it's time to go play now. I have so many friends and so little time!

A rose by any other name...

2007-10-20T14:48:00.000-07:00

So I've been thinking lately, should I change my name? My name Cameo is very unique and I often get compliments about it. But sometimes I'm in the mood for something new. After thinking for a while about it, I've come up with four options:

Miffy
Bufferpants

Miffy Bufferpants

and of course the usual

Cameo

If I keep my current name, I can always go by some pretty cool nicknames, like:

Camembert
Camiepants

And you can sing the national anthem of my homeland but replace the name Canada with Cameo.

I consulted a few family members, and they think I should put it up for a vote. So here I am, asking for your input on one of the four options. The change will be official pending the results!

P.S. I tried uploading some pictures, but the blogger photo site is down so it will have to wait until next week!

A new recliner

2007-10-09T16:26:00.002-07:00

Hi Everyone!

I'm so excited. My new recliner just arrived on Saturday and I've been so busy enjoying it I haven't had time to post. I'll just need to get a few pillows and maybe a nice blanket for the up-coming winter. I've posted some pictures below so you can see how nice this chair is!

Window to the world

2007-10-01T18:18:00.001-07:00

For those of you who haven't been to my apartment, let me describe it to you a little bit. The most important part is the back entryway- where my kitchen is. There you'll find my food and water. The next most important place is my room. It contains my own bathroom. I'm so glad I don 't have share. Then there's the windows! I have 4 favorite windows. The first is in the front of the house - there, every morning, I greet my friend chipmunk and squirrel. Then there's the living room window. That's where I say hello to the birds in the morning. There's this little edge where all the birds hang out because there is a roof gutter there. I alternate between the front window and this window, as this gives me the best view of my neighborhood. I'm writing about this, because, as winter approaches, all my friends go into hibernation. I'm not exactly sure what that means, but that's what I've been told. Anyway, the winter months are lonely for me as the windows are always closed. I only have my roommates to say hello to when the get home in the evenings. I'm reminding myself of this now, because soon winter will be here, and I won't see my friends again until April. My other favorite window is off limits because I don't have access to the old office anymore. That window was smaller but it offered great views of the chipmunks and the birds! It was noisy though. Then there's the tiny window in my room- I don't usually hang out there, but sometimes when I want to see what's going on in that direction I take a peek. I guess it's not one of my favorites, but it is one of the ones I use.

I also like to drink water out of flower vases. Opps, my computer time is up. Bye!

My addiction

2007-09-21T12:28:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. Sorry for the delay in posting. I'm going to try and update at least once a week, but I never get my alloted time on the computer!

I wanted to use my blog to talk a little about something important to me. I have a slight, let's say, tendency, to want to chew on the wires in my home. I often wonder what motivates me to do this, but it seems to just strike me at one moment and I find something on the ground that looks good to chew, like that one TV cord (mmmmm, tv cord) and I just start chewing away on it. I get all foamy at the mouth, and this makes me think that it might actually be a physical addiction because of these changes in my physiology.

You can see an example of my handy work below. Note that this is SPECIAL, "critter-proof" cord. A lot of good that did! Hahaha. Suckers. Notice too how I almost completely chewed through it. I've really been improving my technique.

Sometimes I want to stop, but I think this would be really hard. I tried a little cognitive-behavioral therapy, but when it came down to it, I forgot everything the therapist told me. I don't want to take any meds because I can't be bothered with a schedule or anything like that. I don't even know really why I would want to stop. It's something to do, just like going to the movies or killing a bat (or two). Perhaps the problem is with society and its rigid rules against cord chewing. I'm not going to change for anybody I've decided.

And to all my anti-cord-chewing detractors. I say pffffffffffffffftttttt!

My first post!

2007-09-16T14:40:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone!

My name is Cameo I've decided to brush up on my computer skills and start a blog so that everyone can keep up with me and all the things that I'm doing. I just wanted to say hello and share some pictures with everyone.