Typing With Wet Paws; Sunday Funday Edition

July 20, 2025annabowling Leave a comment

Tails up, Storm Troopers! I’m Storm, you’re awesome, and this is Typing With Wet Paws. I am blogging on Sunday this week because we finally got a break in the heat, and there was a while earlier when it was me-ing outside. That is Mama Anna’s favorite kind of summer weather. Papa is working a long shift today, which is nice for him, because he likes his job, but it does leave me without my Papa for such a long time that I do have to mention it. I will spend a decent amount of time on the Papa spot in the big bed, so he remembers where home is.

Since Papa is out hunting for cool stuff (that’s what working is, right?) we are having a chill girls’ day in with me, Mama, and Aunt Linda. Mama Anna is spending part of the day helping me with my blog post, and part of it playing Sims (one of her Sims families now has a calico cat, so that makes the game that much more fun) and part of it taking naps.

This has been an interesting week on the home front. Nobody likes heat, but Koolio takes care of that. Earlier this week, Papa had to do some stuff at the people vet. No cone of shame, but he does have to take some pills. He is brave. He doesn’t even have to hide them in tuna or anything. I am proud of him. Mama Anna picked up a low grade virus that she gets sometimes when stressed, but that is also under control. I have been working hard on nursing duties (the health worker kind, not the kittens-eating kind) which seem to be working because the humans are getting better. Aunt Linda appears to be fine.

I am still in love with the orange Ulta bag. The humans agree I get to keep it until it gets too worn or gross, at which point, Mama Anna and Aunt Linda obviously have to go to Ulta again. I wonder if they make pet beds. I bet they would be awesome. Mama Anna should show the picture of me on the bag to the Ulta people. I bet they’d love it. I pick it over some other beds when given options. Aunt Linda got me a canvas pouch with a calico cat on it, so the humans can keep my daily dose of treats in one place that is obvious in case a cat sitter or somebody needs to know where my stuff is. They can probably put the catnip there, too. There’s also a spare toy. Speaking of which, Mama Anna got me a laser pointer (that is safe for kitties) that has different options for the shapes I can chase. Variety is a good thing.

This is me on top of Mama Anna’s Kindle and one of her composition notebooks. I love this time of year, because Mama Anna gets super happy about school and office supplies going on sale. I, of course, have to inspect all new arrivals and make sure they smell right. That means like us. In about a week, we will be moving into the end of July and then it will be August, which is Papa’s Birthday season, and also shifts, at least for Mama Anna, from summer to pre-fall, and pre-fall is Super Powers Prep Time.

This is also the anniversary of the time I tried, without permission, to be an outdoor cat. Spoiler alert; I am not one. Many thanks to Mama Anna, Papa, and Aunt Linda for spending all that time looking for me and making sure I got home safe. I am never going outside again. I am an indoor cat for sure. Koolio, heaters, fans, comforters, electronic devices, toys, beds, Ulta bags, all that good stuff. Also treats. There are zero treats in the wild.

How is your weekend going?

Typing With Wet Paws: So This Is July Edition

July 6, 2025annabowling Leave a comment

Tails Up, Storm Troopers. I’m Storm, you’re awesome, and this is Typing With Wet Paws. We have landed in July. So far, it’s shaping to be quite the month.

First of all, my human cousin was born! They were expected a little later than this, but everybody is happy and healthy and home. We have not met them, of course, but seen pictures. I am not sure how much I am allowed to say here, so we will call them Human Cousin, pronouns they/them. There is no cat at their house, but there is a dog. I am sure they will be besties.

I am very proud of myself, having managed this great feat (with my great feet) this early in the summer. I managed to get on Mama Anna’s office chair, while there was a towel on it (she says terrycloth is the best texture for both heat and anxiety) and turned it so that I was both directly in the sunbeam and directly in front of Koolio (our air conditioning unit, if you are new here. Also, for those who are new, Hi. I’m Storm. You love me. We’re friends now. What’s your name?)

Kitty fit check. If you were wondering if I would let Mama Anna put clothes on me, the answer is yes, but ONLY Mama Anna, and we have only done hats and scarves so far. We may try dresses later, but I am already gorgeous au naturel. Mama Anna did once see a video of a calico cat wearing a clear raincoat walking through rainy Tokyo, which cemented for her that if I ever need a raincoat, it will be clear. I probably won’t need a raincoat. I am an indoor cat.

Have I shown you this picture of me in a box before? Well, it’s worth a second look. I love boxes. They are pretty great. With the way Aunt Linda likes Amazon, I am not lacking in boxes. Right now, I have an orange Ulta bag that I love super super super much. The humans have agreed that this is a special bag and they will keep it until it’s beyond use. They are smart. Mama Anna had Papa take pictures of me on the bag because he takes the best photos, and the next step is to get him to send her the pictures so we can put them here. Did I mention I really love this bag?

That’s about it for this week. Mama Anna has some TV and movie stuff to watch while rubbing my belly, so we better get to it.

What’s going on with you?

Typing With Wet Paws: Koolio in the House Edition

June 6, 2025annabowling Leave a comment

Tails up, Storm Troopers! I’m Storm, you’re awesome, and this is Typing With Wet Paws. As the title might suggest, we have our air conditioning on, and it feels awesome. I have been unusually talkative lately. Papa and Mama Anna think I want to make sure they are okay because it is summer weather now, and Aunt Linda thinks I am reacting to the air pressure. The weather report says it will be me-ing soon and that does things to the atmosphere.

Mama Anna was curious to see if I would accept clothes. The answer is yes.

Mama Anna tells me that tomorrow’s trip will be the last one of the summer, as she and Aunt Linda are going to see Aunt Mary again tomorrow. That is why I am posting today. They will be back on Sunday, so only gone for one night, but that is still too long for my liking. I get to spend the weekend with Papa. He may work on the new headboard. You will all be glad to hear it is unanimous that I will be allowed to scratch it if I want (it’s distressed already.)

Now that we have the proper inside temperature, and nobody is sweating to death, the humans will be better able to function. I still get the open window in Aunt Linda’s room, so that’s good. Having air conditioning means that it is much easier to function. The humans had been stubborn and insisted that fans were enough, but Papa ended up at the vet last year, and then they broke down, got Koolio, and, well, Mama Anna hauled out her weighted blanket last night. She had her feet sticking out. Best of both worlds.

Last week, Aunt Linda put a lot of her extra yarn in storage. She still has more to put away, and all of the humans need to switch their winter and summer clothes. Seems like a lot of work. I just shed. Much more efficient. We also have new summer sheets, which I will have to inspect when the humans make the bed next. That whole bit about “remove cat” being every other step in instructions for changing sheets with a cat around is funny because it’s true.

the white thing is a t-shirt, so I will shed on that and not on Mama Anna’s pink chair.

Warmer weather means more daytime naps for everybody, and then more activity when it is dark and cool. I could have told them that. With Mama Anna’s desk in front of a window, that puts her in direct sun during the day. Thankfully, she can take paper and pen to the soft office, or her laptop, for that matter, and go back to the desk at night. In case I didn’t mention it earlier, Mama Anna got a whole big box of tiny bubble wands and keeps one at her desk. She says blowing soap bubbles is good for calming down when she has anxiety. I am not sure about them. I gave them my best Halloween Kitty posture, but they don’t seem to do any harm, so maybe they will be fun to bat with my paws, as was suggested. These are the regular soap kind. Mama Anna needs to try the catnip kind. I will probably like those.

What does your weekend look like?

Typing With Wet Paws: Going to a Baby Shower Edition

May 17, 2025annabowling Leave a comment

Tails up, Storm Troopers. I’m Storm, you’re awesome, and this is Typing With Wet Paws. Mama Anna thinks I don’t know she is going away overnight tomorrow because she is packing an overnight bag rather than a suitcase, but I know the signs. I should state that Mama Anna and Aunt Linda are the ones going to the baby shower. I am staying home with Papa. We will be getting the primary bedroom ready to install Koolio when Mama Anna gets back. Right now, we have fans going, but Mama Anna is firm. It’s humid. Try dealing with that when wearing a full time fur coat. I guess the humans are putting Koolio in for themselves, too.

This is what Mama Anna woke to this morning. It took her all night to finally fall asleep, so I wanted to keep a close eye on her and make sure she was okay. Spoiler alert, she was. She’s still sad from her friend going to Rainbow Bridge, but also excited to help the people kitten’s family get ready for them. When she gets back, she will be tired. Fortunately, I am great at helping with naps. I will also inspect her bags for any interesting things.

It’s been an interesting week over here. Mama Anna is happy she was able to blog, both her turn and helping me here. Hopefully next week will be more fiction-y. Once Koolio is up and running, she will be much better equipped to function during the summer, which it totally is right now.

Change of season also means change of Mama Anna’s nighttime journal. The big chonky journal is the old one she just finished, and the thin one, still in its shrink wrap, is the new one. They are about pocket size and last about three months. The old one is metallic gold and the new one is lavender. Mama Anna thought that was good for summer. The other options were black and navy blue. She is saving those for fall and winter and then needs to restock. The art store near Aunt Mary sells them, so she will probably get some when she visits there. The art store in our city has them sometimes.

Now that it is summer time, the layout of the home office is a little different. Mama Anna’s desk is next to the window. She can work there in the morning, but around noon, it is too bright, so she moves us (I work with her, obviously) to the soft office, aka the people bed. The whole room will be cool when Koolio is in use, but right now, there is a fan pointed at it. Two, actually, one on each side. It’s pretty comfy. I like the breeze in my fur.

Anyway, that’s about it for this week. How are you getting ready for summer?

Funeral for a Friend…and a Baby Shower

May 14, 2025annabowling Leave a comment

This is an odd week. Staring with a funeral, ending with a baby shower. In between is, well, interesting. When I get back, Real Life Romance Hero and I will retrieve Koolio from his winter home (Housemate’s closet) and thus the Age of Air Conditioning, AKA summer, will begin.

I am not the biggest proponent of summer. If I had the option to scarper off somewhere for a second winter instead of summer, I would take it. Yes, I am aware Australia exists. It’s also time to turn over ye ole wardrobe from winter to summer. See you in September, cuddly sweaters and fleecy leggings. Hello, floaty dresses and loose over shirts.

So, the title of this blog post– let’s get to that. seeing how many people loved Michele was lovely, and I am super glad I got to sit with Melva, as the three of us were a formidable trio of one amazing writing group for many years. I’d hoped to get a cyber-version together, but that didn’t pan out. Insert rumination of always thinking there will be more time here. I am feeling that very keenly at the moment, and likely will be for a while.

Whenever we were together, we encouraged each other to keep writing. I have her memorial card (above) in my EDC traveler’s notebook to remind me of that, especially on the hard days, of which this is one. I don’t believe we “get over” losing a loved one. Rather, we heal around it, and, as Therapy Dude suggested, find a place within ourselves where that relationship now lives. With Michele, the answer is easy: stories.

Besides her two published YA historical novels, some nonfiction work, and the fanfics through which she met, Michele also experimented with other works. I am salty about the dual P.O.V. historical fiction with romantic elements that she had been working on most recently. I’m going to miss the chance to hold that book in my hands. That’s not in my control. What I can control is my own writing. This week is a family week. Funeral at the start, and baby shower at the finish.

The baby shower is also out of state. It feels as though only yesterday, I was at my nephew’s wedding. Now he’s going to be a dad. It seems like only the day before that, I met him and his parents (his mom is that sister-friend who became instant family) at a historical reenactment, and the father-to-be was in preschool. His parents had to leave early so they could get him to bed because they had to get him to daycare in the morning. Now he’s a firefighter, married, and in the late summer or early fall, I will meet his first kiddo. Time does go quickly.

That’s about enough for one day over here, but I do need to mention that the person sitting behind me at the gathering on Monday saw eleven turtles the day before. I have no context but it seemed important. I would like to see some turtles.

How is your week going?

Typing With Wet Paws: Sads, Happies, and the Sweetest Spot Edition

May 10, 2025annabowling Leave a comment

Tails up, Storm Troopers! I’m Storm, you’re awesome, and this is Typing With Wet Paws. We have some sad news first, and then will move on to happy stuff. I am sorry to say that Papa’s mama went to Rainbow Bridge right after Easter (I did not get to meet her, but Mama Anna and I are big fans of her work – Papa.) and then earlier this week, one of Mama Anna’s and Aunt Melva’s dearest writing friends, M.P. Barker, had also gone to Rainbow Bridge. Mama Anna and Aunt Linda will be going back to the Old Country to celebrate Aunt M.P.’s life on Monday. Mama Anna will probably be pretty soggy for a few days after that. Also needing naps.

At the end of that week, though, there is happy stuff. Aunt Mary’s son, Uncle Andy and his wife, Aunt Leah, are expecting their first person-kitten in July. This weekend, they are having a special getting ready for the new addition party, and Mama Anna and Aunt Linda will be going to that. Papa will be staying here with me, which I appreciate. They may also get to meet Cousin Skye (who is a dog, and different from Big Sister Skye, so I will be sure to say Cousin Skye or Big Sister Skye, to make sure you know who I mean.) but that may also wait until another visit because the getting ready for baby party is probably going to take the whole time.

Mama Anna does not do summer well, so that kind of visit is going to have to happen before the middle of June or after the end of August. In between there, Mama Anna will be home with Koolio (the correct spelling, as the label on the remote in Mama Anna’s desk drawer reminded me. I think the other spelling refers to an entertainer.)

The exciting thing about today is that today is Aunt Linda’s birthday. She wanted to stay at home and order in Mexican food. The humans seemed to like theirs, and from what I managed to get (only smells, unfortunately) from sticking my face in Mama Anna’s quesadilla. Apparently, that is not allowed. I was only trying to join the celebration.

This weekend is also the Tulip Festival here in Albany, NY, USA. We live very close to the park where it is, and the humans plan on going tomorrow, but I will be staying home. First, I am not allowed outside, and second, there are A LOT OF PEOPLE there. The humans will bring home any interesting smells or maybe stuff from vendors. Come on, locally grown catnip!

This is a picture Aunt Linda took of me, when she thought I looked especially long.

This spot on her bed is mine, mine, mine. Not hers, and not Mama Anna’s to sit on when she visits. If you are a cat, you will understand this is where all the good human-y smells are kept. The mattress is also super soft, and the pillows are nice. Aunt Linda has a few new pillows, which I always make sure to scent as soon as possible, by which I mean make them me-scented.

Anyway, that’s what’s going on around here. Mama Anna thinks that the best way to honor Aunt Michele is to keep writing. Aunt Michele was the first in-person writing friend Mama Anna had, and the one to introduce her to Aunt Melva. In turn, Mama Anna was introduced to Aunt Michele by another writer friend, because writers know writers and that is an awesome thing.

Yes, I May

May 1, 2025annabowling Leave a comment

Welp, here we are at the start of another month. It’s the bridge between spring and summer, Since we have several colleges in our area, there is a definite shift in the community when the “kids” go home from the summer. The local small business ice cream stand is open (Haven’t gone yet, but will) and we will soon be summoning Coolio, our portable air conditioner, from his winter home (housemate’s closet.) Clothing-wise, we are on the cusp of dress season. I am loving the big screen on my desktop computer. Being able to see what I am doing is kind of a new thing.

Though I am an ambassador for the extremely talented Eryka Peskin, this is not a post she asked for, but one that I hope she likes. I am currently in her Celebration Circle group, which is, as Eryka would say, amazeballs. I like the challenge of finding things to celebrate, whether on a given topic, or freestyle, and I find that creeping over into other areas of life.

I am not going to lie: starting over as many times as I have (or perceive myself as having done) sucks because nobody wants things like serious illness, homelessness, injuries, deaths in the family, etc. At the same time, it’s awesome, because I am coming at t his, this time, with more experience, more wisdom, and, at times, more spite because that Bad Thing is not going to end me. Not only am I going to do the thing but do it twice and take pictures.

Didn’t mean to post sleeping Storm, but who doesn’t love a kitty picture?

Storm is pretty chill about coming into the new season, which is par for the course. She does have a few things to say about the new desk setup, as her usual sproing lands her on my keyboard. There is still some space for her on the desk, but at the moment, she seems best pleased to watch from the bed. She is getting used to the kitty sling. It’s one of her favorite beds at the moment. We haven’t tried putting her in it yet, but so far, so good.

One of the perks of this kind of experience (mine, not Storm’s) is that I have a wide experience on what doesn’t work for me. Lots of trial and error. Some successes. Some serendipitous discoveries. Some flying into the mist, as the late great Jo Beverley would say. Before I know it, I will be pulling the trigger on my first independent publication. (Though I did write for and publish fanzines beck in the day.) Then after that, Melva and I do the same thing with the second two Love By the Book books. I am writing my first planned historical romance series, on book two of four now, which is definitely a learning experience.

What I am getting at here is this: yes, I may. Yes, I may make mistakes. Yes, I may try something different. Yes, I may start something new. Yes, I may pick up where I left off involuntarily and make it through to the end. Yes, I may put a blog post up a couple of days late. The world will not end. We are all human here.

Typing With Wet Paws: Mistress of Her Domain Edition

April 5, 2025annabowling Leave a comment

Tails up, Storm Troopers! I’m Storm, you’re awesome, and this is Typing With Wet Paws. The eagle-eyed among you may notice something different about today’s blog, and that is that the address for this blog, and all things Mama Anna, is now annacbowling.com. That is a step forward, and new things will be showing up very soon, but that is the first one. Links should still work. Pretty exciting.

Also exciting is that there is a headboard downstairs, inside the front door. That is for Papa and Mama Anna’s bed, because they have Had It with all of their pillows falling down the gap between mattress and wall, and that might actually be part of Mama Anna’s insomnia. Trust me, you do not want to see her sleep tracker right now. They plan to put the thing together tomorrow, and then I will get to inspect it. It’s wood, so it should be scratchable. I am already practicing on my scratchy cardboard thing.

I should mention that there is a headboard in storage, the one they got from Grandma Marilyn’s house, which has a super fun cabinet thing built into it. I was hoping they would bring that home, but there is more furniture in front of it, and besides, this one fits their aesthetic better. The other one is white and Papa likes darker colors. So does Mama Anna, actually. When it comes to furniture, that is, because they love the white parts of me. Also the black and orange parts.

Today is a rainy and windy and chilly day. Not a day the humans want to go outside. It’s much better to stay home and cuddle with me. Mama Anna may mess around with the website a little, so pardon the sawdust if she tries out a couple of different things. I, of course, will be closely supervising and lending a helping paw when needed.

What’s up for your weekend?

Typing With Wet Paws: Emotional Support Cat Diaries Edition

March 23, 2025annabowling Leave a comment

Tails up, Storm Troopers! I’m Storm, you’re awesome, and this is Typing With Wet Paws. I meant to post yesterday, because it was Caturday, and I am a cat, but before that, I am an emotional support cat, and i had to be on duty.

On Friday, Mama Anna had to go do a grown-up people thing that can be scary for her, (and has to go back and do it again because paperwork) so Saturday was all for rest and giving kitty belly rubs. I am a big proponent of belly rub therapy. That would be her rubbing my belly, though sometimes I do make biscuits on her person, so it evens out. Anyway, she’s fine, just super tired because anxiety is exhausting.

My job in times like that is to make sure she gets some rest. That’s not always the easiest task. Thankfully, she can be easily distracted with extreme cuteness (me) as well as tea, art, zombie shows, romance novels, stationery, and the like. Aunt Linda got us Italian food from our favorite local place, and I stuck close to Mama Anna while she played Sims. The family she is playing right now has a dog, but not a cat. Yet. She has them running a really tiny farm on their trailer lot.

Most of my emotional support duties are sticking really close to her, summoning Papa or Aunt Linda if I need reinforcements, and letting her know when it is Enough Computer and Time For Bed. For that, I tell her by sproinging onto her desk from out of nowhere (I am a ninja cat) and giving her a LOOK. I will keep doing that as much as needed, and if I have to yell, I will yell.

every delivery comes with a free cat bed

I will be on duty again on Thursday this week, because Mama Anna has her next appointment with Therapy Dude. It will be over video phone. There is a nonzero chance that I will video bomb the session and introduce myself. I am not normally allowed on the kitchen table, but I am willing to take the chance if I am needed.

How is your weekend going?

Typing With Wet Paws: Mama Anna Smells Like Other Cat Edition

March 16, 2025annabowling Leave a comment

Tails up, Storm Troopers! I’m Storm, you’re awesome, and this is Typing With Wet Nails. This week, Mama Anna did not blog because the same day that she was supposed to blog, she also had her first appointment with a new talking people vet, and it was on the phone. The video kind. Anyway, this was on the phone, not the big glowy box where she usually talks to my aunts, and while Mama Anna was expecting this talking people vet (TPV?) she did not expect that it would be a male talking people vet, because her prior talking people vets have been gals, like us.

Apparently, they let all kinds of humans be talking people vets. He seemed okay, so Mama Anna will give him a chance. She knows she can tell the regular people vet if she really needs to switch to a lady. Anyway. she had to answer a lot of questions, and I could tell she was getting anxious, so I told Papa and Aunt Linda that Mama Anna needed some help. The call was pretty much over by then, so I made her have cuddles with me as soon as it was over. She seems to be okay now. I, on the other paw, still need more reassurance. Can you believe she went out after all that? One day, she took out the trash, and then the other day, she went out hunting with Aunt Linda. They are back now, so that is good. Mama Anna seems okay.

She will talk to Mr. TPV again in a couple of weeks. I am trying to convince her to do it at her desk, so I can video bomb the appointment. Who doesn’t need a daily dose of calico? I know well enough there are two places I am Not Allowed, and those are both in the kitchen. I can’t be on the counter (including stove and sink) and kitchen table. The kitchen table was where Mama Anna took the call, so I could get up to where she was. There has been some talk about getting me a sling like some humans put their babies in, so Mama Anna can wear me when she needs to work and I need to be around her.

Despite the scary coffin pillow, don’t worry; I am only sleeping in Mama Anna’s office chair. The coffin pillow is there to support her back, making the chair perfect for her, and for me. This picture is dark because it was nighttime the first time she caught me in this chair. She said I can sleep in it but not claw it. Joke’s on her, because I didn’t want to claw it in the first place. I have a scratchy cardboard thing for that. I love my scratchy thing.

Today was the time when Mama Anna and Aunt Linda went hunting (they say shopping) and when they came back, they smelled like two other animals. One was Moe, our across the hall neighbor. He is a Chihuahua. I know all about him. He’s cool. The other animal was another cat. In case you were wondering where they met another cat, it was in a craft supply store. I did not know that cats were allowed in those stores (I was told we were not) but apparently so. I will keep this information on file.

In case you were wondering, the other cat is called Sherry. She is a black American Shorthair. Mama Anna says she was on a leash and a harness and was super friendly. Mama Anna also reminded me that I am an indoor cat and will be staying home, but Sherry had to smell me on her, so I guess we’ve kind of met in a parasocial sort of way. Mama Anna and Aunt Linda weren’t sure if I was going to be jealous that they smelled of another cat, or if I was going to want to know where our new friend was.

In the end, I didn’t care much. I was happy enough to see them come home, and I wanted a belly rub, which I got. I really love belly rubs. I know Mama Anna will always come home to me, so it’s fine if she wants to say hi to other pets. I tagged her.

How’s your weekend?