Californian Cat

Even though born in Virginia, this cat has found that he's a Californian at heart....

Deciding whether to go out or not

He likes to roll around in the sun (even though the ground is so hard)

Working on his "tan"

He gets all his sides covered, so it's even

Time flies

Coco's starting to look a little older, huh? I think he's turning 10 this year...

He's not looking very happy because he was scared of my camera and didn't enjoy taking this picture with me.

Listen to me when I'm talking to you

Kitty making it outside!

One of our kitty's favorite perch is on the window sill in the Master Bedroom. Can you see him?

He's slowly getting used to the outdoors. He'll usually only go out if someone is keeping him company.... but that's a huge improvement over hiding under the bed covers when we open the door!
Giving Dave kisses....

Kitty's favorite perch

The kitty cat found a perch in our bedroom to look out at all the going-ons on the street... He's pretty afraid of all the noises from outside (like 4 year old boys--we have 4 of them as neighbors-- riding their bikes screaming in the street), but hopefully, he'll get used to it soon. We have a little balcony off the master bedroom that we encourage him to explore, but he's pretty skittish of it. Hopefully, he'll get over that soon.... (We want to move his litter box outside!)

...and sometimes kitty loves me, too.

Coco-PUFF!

Name: Coco Liu
Age: almost 9 years
Birthplace: California
Birthdate: August? September? 1997
Breed: Chow mix (notice the purple spots on his tongue!)
Nicknames: Coco-puff, Cocomonster, Coqui
Cutest feature: one ear up, one ear down. as a puppy, couldn't decide which was which...
Personality: happy go lucky (tail nevers stops wagging!), scared of strangers and shows it by barking up a storm (his bark is WAY bigger than his bite), a good guard dog (except might run under the bed once intruders break in), malleable and compliant... when he was a puppy, he was so skittish, that he would never walk in front. instead, he would always walk behind my legs.
Fears: water, NYC traffic, volleyballs, plastic bags, baby chicks
Outstanding Features: easiest dog to housebreak. when he came to me in new haven, he dribbled once and got yelled at by Dave. NEVER did it again... best dog in the world!... oh, he can also hold his pee for 12-13 hours...

let me in! let me in! (note: blur of tail)

don't disturb my sleep!

tommie likes to sleep in enclosed spaces, especially on top of dave's clothes...

• Name: Tommie Liu (although only responds to meowing)
• Age: 6 years
• Birthplace: Virginia/DC area
• Birthdate: May? 2000
• Breed: Domestic short hair
• Nickname: The Meow-Meow
• Cutest feature: has meowing conversations with me over the speakerphone (seriously!). also can always be found lying on Dave's chest every chance he gets.
• Personality: sweet, affectionate, and loyal. acts more like a dog than a cat. loves Dave the most. I come second. :(
• Fears: water, Dave's wrath, strangers
• Outstanding Features: stinkiest pee ever, still looks like a kitten (7 pounds!), swims in carpet... also likes to attack my feet or bop me in the face while I sleep (he doesn't do it to Dave! what up with that???)

when kitty was teeny tiny...

awww... from 2000 when he was a wee thing:



a year later, full size!

as a kitten, besides transformers boxes, he liked regular boxes and bags:

and starting trouble with Coco

now, he just lies around looking cute...

kitty and poochies

(Read the box carefully). kitty cat crawled in there by his own volition. i just took the picture.
if dave is on the couch or in bed, you will always find the cat on him.
i love this shot. you don't often see these two so close together...sleepyheads...my sweet Coco-puff!
yep, that's his favorite frozen tennis ball. check out the fangs!

a simple mind, a simple life...

i guess i should explain...

it doesn't take much to make me satisfied with life:
an experiment that works-


a good meal-


a nice glass of sangria/margarita/mojito/bubble tea-


good friends-


an afternoon of disc-


sweet loving from the furballs-


a nurturing and supportive family-


and spending time with my hubby-


wouldn't you consider this a nice simple happy life?
that's all i ask for...