Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

cats

Celebrate National Pet Day?

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This is how Spec Ops Cat trained for National Pet Day. This was grueling training on March 31st. Full on nap maneuvers. Very impressive skill level.

by Kimberly A. Cook

I’m behind in my writing duties since I was waiting on Spec Ops Cat hand and paw for yesterday’s National Pet Day. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Part of his present included me spending a long lunch with family having chai tea, chicken cranberry walnut salad on a croissant and a huge cookie.

Such sacrifice on my part. Leaving home so he could nap in silence was really his gift. (I write fiction for a reason.)

He celebrated his special day by waking me up with a 5:20 a.m. hairball. Always providing me with gifts. Such a giver. But he is my roommate, buddy and vice president of security operations, so he earns his keep.

Did you celebrate your pet yesterday? Feel free to do it today and every day. Make sure to ration those treats; no matter how much they beg.

Spec Ops Cat thinks he has a magic food bowl. Since he will chow down his wet gravy food too fast, I give him a tablespoon at a time in the morning to slow his gobbling. Works great.

But he tries to use “bowl patrol” during the rest of the day before dinner. If he stares at the bowl long enough, then looks at me, maybe more food will appear out of the heavens.

Know that feeling when you’re watching tv and you feel target lock? Turn my head into the kitchen and yup, bowl patrol. He’s giving me “the look.” He has plenty of dry food, but he’s a gravy guy.

Hug your pets and treasure them while you can. I’ve had four friends lose their loving buddies in the past five months.  Heart breaking. I’ve informed Spec Ops Cat he is not to go along with that crowd. As usual, he wasn’t listening to me, but napping in a sun spot.

Hug your fur babies today and every day!

Spring, Cats And Chaos?

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by Kimberly A. Cook

The blooms are coming! The blooms are coming! We are up to our eyeballs in buds, blooms and pollen here in the great state of Oregon. Sun breaks, rain storms, and buzzing bees. A big wind storm is on tap for tomorrow, so batten down your yard art!

It’s not just us humans who enjoy spring, felines get into the act too. Check out Simon’s Cat take on the joys of the season.

Have a great safe weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

Cats, Computers and Mayhem

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by Kimberly A. Cook

Nothing like a Friday to cheer me up. Full tilt into Olympics viewing, so time to check in on those working around us; computer cats. My own trials with Spec Ops Cat and the computer don’t hold a candle to these dedicated felines.

Think we should rename them cattops instead of laptops!

Put your cat to work, cozy up to the tv and work up a sweat cheering for our athletes! Go Cats! Go Team USA!

Have a great safe, weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

https://youtu.be/x4R1wKwiQ7I

 

Writing, Cats And Glitter?

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by Kimberly A. Cook

This week I’m determined to get the final edited copy of my military romance fiction book “Mission: Tinderbox” out to my beta readers. What are beta readers? Dedicated hardcore friends/readers/fellow writers who take a final look to make sure it all makes sense and perhaps find a typo or two.

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Spec Ops Cat helping me not edit my manuscripts. How could I move this cute guy? 

 

On my non-fiction book, I had eleven beta readers. They each found something different. Pretty amazing. Also amazing was taking the eleven printed manuscripts in binders on an editing retreat in the wilds of Goldendale, Washington to cat sit for my friends Gate Girl and her hubby. Three days, three cats, sixty acres, visiting deer and one biblical thunderstorm later I had all the edits compiled. Worked out great.

But it appears all those distractions I handled back then are nothing compared to the challenges of one Spec Ops Cat at home. Somehow he manages to show up at the right time to make the maximum impact on what I’m trying to do.

Whether he is napping on my manuscripts to edit, stepping into the bead box during play time or suddenly appearing from the mist to stand over my keyboard putting fur in my mouth, he arrives. Then he proceeds to actually step on a key and mess up the manuscript with a long line of zazazazazazazazaza that he did yesterday. How can one small cat be such a diversion?

With these challenges I’ve taken to rewarding myself before I complete goals these days, since that improved my motivation cleaning out the family home last month. I’ve discovered a new addiction too; glitter. So the glitter drawer is now full in the office/craft room and I still need to get this manuscript polished.

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Notice whose paws are in the craft container on my lap while I try to sort dice beads.  Fur gives him away.  Can’t even tell you how quickly this can all go bad… very bad.

 

Perhaps by confessing in public I can make myself grind it out. Bought the three-ring binders and mailing boxes yesterday, so now all that is left is the final read, edit work,  making copies and mailing.

Piece of cake.

Must be a glitter sale somewhere? Right?

 

Go Condors, Butterflies and Turtles!

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by Kimberly A. Cook

I know this is Super Bowl weekend and these teams are not in the game, but they’re still winning! Since this week we’re celebrating victories, thought it was a great time to check out the Oregon Zoo’s conservation accomplishments for 2017.

And I’ve never seen anything cuter than a pygmy rabbit. Seriously! But the western pond turtle is a looker too.

Stock up on chips and dips, don’t forget Kitten Bowl Five on the Hallmark Channel, and root for the condors, butterflies, turtles and pygmy rabbits!

Have a great, safe weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

Resolutions Already Toast?

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by Kimberly A. Cook

Gave up making resolutions years ago. I work with goals and try to fool myself. For those of us who did make resolutions and they are broken, blame it on the cat.

Check out how Simon’s cat is helping with resolutions.

Happy Quirky Friday everybody! Have a great, safe, long weekend.