Since some of you have inquired about the possibility of seeing a portrait of Watch-Cat, I shall oblige. But let me tell you, being as stealthy as he is in his work, he is mighty elusive. The following is the only sort of glimpse we get of him most of the time, and certainly the best I’m ever likely to capture with the camera–he’s much too methodical in his rounds to hang around waiting to pose for the paparazzi.
Isn’t that how we all are in life, somewhat? Set on our appointed paths, head down, moving forward with only the rare thought given to change or breaking out of the known and predictable, even rarer the courage and spirit of adventure to follow through on the thought. Why not surprise yourself with one deviation from your expected path today, doing just one small thing that will bring greater enjoyment or move you toward an alluring new horizon?
With a twitch of his tail, he's gone again . . .
He Who Never Overdid It
Howard, a fine, well-rounded cat,
was neither skeletal nor fat,
nor was he far too forceful or
behindhand, coming through a door–
not garrulous but neither mute,
nor glabrous, yet not too hirsute,
and when the milk poured, as you’d think,
was neither fast nor slow to drink.
The strange thing, you may be amazed
to know, knowing that he was praised
as a feline so fine, well-rounded
and refined–you’ll be astounded
–and I say it not in jest–
old Howard died, like all the rest.
So, if it means no jot or tittle,
I say: rock the boat a little!
Art-Colored Glasses 
A half glimpse of your very own *Macavity* is better than no glance at all.
Indeed! As it happens, while I greatly admire the sheer suave criminal nerve of Macavity, the cat evoked for me by Watch-Cat is Saki’s Tobermory. So I try to be discreet and correct whenever W-C is nearby, just in case he *does* prove to have powers of human speech!
You are right Kathryn, given the end results does not change…having fun during our life journey makes for a more interesting one 😉
Certainly it’s one of the reasons to be blogging! 😉
I love this, and your sneaky little cat. Maybe I’ll surprise myself and do something different today. 🙂 Liking the idea. x
Sneaking around like a Watch-Cat might be just the surprise needed! Especially if there’s Pouncing involved at some point. 🙂
Ah yes! At your suggestion, I shall throw caution aside and maybe, just maybe, sign up for that tango class I have been considering. Your timing is perfect. Thank you.
Tango! Something my husband mentions on occasion as an appealing thing to learn . . . perhaps we’ll have to follow your example! Do let me know if you ‘take the step’ (pun intended). I imagine it could be tremendously addictive once you started.
Rock ON, Kathryn! Though I do enjoy stability, I get a tad uncomfortable when the seas are too calm, the wind too still. Here’s to navigating just a wee bit off the charted route! If only for today 🙂
It’s no wonder we keep crossing paths on these funky little backwaters and mysterious estuaries! My excuse is partly lack of a sense of direction, but I do find it’s great fun to meander off-course deliberately too. 🙂
We had a Prime Minister very much like your cat and he was also called Howard (surname). He also was very bland, never took a chance and had nine lives (he still has at least one left).
Interesting how often the intolerable are also unstoppable! At least in the political realm. Hope there are some opponents to dog him or at least some agitators who will act as fleas to irritate him into action when needed!
Well, since none of us gets off this boat alive anyway, we might just as well rock it a little.
Cheers to that!
Well, hear hear I say, and if by rocking the boat you mean to let the old crumpet hit the fan.. I couldn’t agree more! What a dull life it would be if we all conformed. I remember trying to have a “mature conversation” with a man of “certain stature”. Low and behold I was a bore and he thought I was a bore, because everyone behaved so “properly” around him. He would have loved to have met you!!
That’s just the kind of person that makes me so nervous and self conscious I’d undoubtedly let out a huge inappropriate guffaw at some point in the conversation and hawk a huge Blot upon the center of his wildly expensive silk necktie and both it and he would remain there quivering and staring me accusingly in the face until I grew faint and had to be quickly and discreetly removed from the premises by his People. I do things like that sometimes. Creative type, you know. 😉
Hahaha… that’s the perfect excuse:)
Routine and Regemin have their place – with out them, I become Chaos Incarnate (and not in a good way) – but a bit of Boat-Rocking saves it from being a rut…
Rock On, my friend!
Exactly, darling, exactly.