Hi again, friends! It's me, Raspberry. Shelter manager at Cats Haven! I hope everyone had a purrrr-fect Christmas and is getting ready for a ginormous New Years celebration. Here at the shelter, we've been busy since last Friday. In an effort to help Barb, several of us took down the Christmas tree for her. It was hard work, and we were so tired that we didn't get all the ornaments off the tree. We also took down some of the lights and some of the decorations. When Barb came downstairs on Saturday morning, well, let's just say she was really surprised! I've never seen that look on her face before. And she was so impressed, she didn't know what to say. She was totally speechless. No need to thank us, Barb. We're here to help YOU, you know.

And Friday, I'm happy to announce that Skittles got a home! Skittles, along with Lucy Diamond, had been adopted out earlier this year, but their family couldn't keep them. A very nice lady called last week and wanted to know if we had a friendly kitty who might like to work in a small shop. Immediately, Skittles came to mind, and she went to her new home and new job last Friday. I was seriously considering Skittles for my new assistant manager, but with her taking a new job, the search continues. I hope to have my new assistant hired by this weekend. I seldom make New Years resolutions because I feel they're for those with faults, but my resolution this year is to get this shelter organized and in tiptop shape. A new assistant will help. AND this brings me to why I'm blogging tonight. 

To start the new year off right, I need to purchase a cabinet for the downstairs. Now, I've found exactly what I'm looking for at Home Depot. It's a big plastic cabinet with shelves and doors that have hooks in them . . . really a great place to keep our brooms, dustpans, cleaning supplies, and canned cat food. I can shut the doors so no kitties can get in and rearrange things, and the cabinet will keep everything organized. And if the outside of it gets dirty, we can just wipe it off because it's plastic! Great idea, huh? Oh, I've got hundreds of ideas for the new year! But regarding this cabinet, the only problem is that it costs $98. I want this to be a New Years surprise for Barb, so here's what I'm doing. I'm having a "$100 in 100 Hours" fundraiser, starting at midnight tonight and going through 4 a.m. on Saturday!! If I can raise $100 by Saturday at 4 a.m., I can ask my friend The Other Sue to go over to Home Depot and buy my cabinet for me, and we can start getting the downstairs organized! So here's how you can help. On the home page of our website, at the bottom of the page, you'll find a Paypal link. Just click that link and make a donation. Now, I don't care if you donate $1 or $10. It all adds up. Guys, we really need this cabinet. No kidding. So if you can spare a buck or two, make your donation through Paypal . . . or you can always send a donation to our post office box at Cats Haven, PO Box 30206, Indianapolis, IN, 46230. My motto in 2009 is "A place for everything, and everything in it's place!" The cabinet will go a long way to help keep our supplies clean and organized. Thanks, everyone, for helping me out with this!  I'll let you all know on Saturday if I can get my cabinet! Paws crossed!!

That's all for tonight, friends. I'm gonna sign off so I can spend a little time with my friend Alex. He's Barb's grandson and he's been visiting for the last couple of days. Tonight, we're going to play his favorite new game of "What If . . ." We ask each other questions, like "What if you could meet anyone in the history of time, who would that person be?" and "What if you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?" Alex is so cool. His birthday was Sunday, so Happy Birthday, Alex!!!  I'll blog again on Saturday . . . .  - Raspberry

Hi, guys!! And Merry Christmas to everyone!! Wow, I can hardly believe that it's just a day away from Christmas. And that means it's just a week away from a whole new year. Where did 2008 go, anyway? But for the moment, I'm putting the finishing touches on the shelter, and I'm getting ready to spend the day telling all the kittens the story of Santa Claws and how he'll come down the chimney after we all go to bed and leave us toys and catnip and treats. I love telling this story, but this year I'm gonna have to cut the story short because we're a little short-handed here at the shelter. And I've been running around like a crazy cat trying to get everything done. 

We're a little short handed because my best friend Dzana had knee replacement surgery last Thursday, and I won't be seeing her for a couple of months. She got through her surgery with no problem, and is now in rehab for the next couple of weeks. They won't let cats into the rehab center (seems a little discriminatory to me), so I can't even go visit. From what Barb has told me, she hurts a lot, but is doing with her doctors and nurses say. Get well soon, Dzana!!!! We all miss you very much!!

And another reason that we're a little short handed is because my assistant, Miranda, got a home!! She along with Trista and Sparkle got to go home with the Metz family a couple of days ago! Congrats, guys! What a wonderful Christmas gift for the three of you. Although I'm very happy for Miranda, I wish she'd given me two weeks notice before just taking off like she did!! I've had to take over all of her daily duties, like fixing breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the kittens, cleaning their faces in the morning and night, putting them down for their naps with graham crackers and juice boxes . . . and who is going to make the Christmas Mouse Mousse?! I've tried twice tonight to make Mouse Mousse and I've had to throw out both batches. The first batch was bad, but the second batch made the kittens cry and run out of the kitchen. I've tried calling Miranda's cell phone, but she's not answering. Miranda, if you're reading this, call me and give me your recipe. Otherwise, it's gonna be Fancy Feast and mayo sandwiches for Christmas day, and we'll have no chipmonk cookies for Santa Claws. 

So because Miranda has a new family to care for, I'm taking applications and interviewing for a new  assistant shelter manager.  So far, I've interviewed China Blue, Wicked (Kali Wicked), and Merlin. Um, don't say anything to them, but I need to interview others. China Blue feels that the most important thing my assistant can do is look good. She's all about hair and makeup. Wicked seems to think that we need more structure here. She wants everyone up at 5 in the morning, and everyone should be in bed by 9 at night. And she says that we should play between the hours of 2 and 3 in the afternoon ONLY. Otherwise, the kittens should be seen and not heard. Merlin? Gosh, I really like Merlin, but he forgot what he was being interviewed for after about 5 minutes. I think he might be a little old for this job. I'll do more interviews next week, and I'll let everyone know who my assistant will be as soon as I  make a decision. If you guys have any suggestions, please let me know!

Oh, I almost forgot to mention our annual open house! We had a great time, and I want to thank everyone for stopping by and bringing food. We had lots of folks in and out all day. Thank you to my good friend Vicki for bringing Church's chicken! Loyce's meatballs were wonderful and the Gooey Butter Cake was great, but nothing beats Church's chicken. Vicki, you know how to make a guy very happy. You and your chicken are welcome here anytime, you know. 

Hey, if you guys are looking for something fun to do this weekend, come out to the Fairgrounds and visit with us at the Cat Show. I hear that pesky little Polo and his sister Annie Sullivan will be there Saturday. We'll have other adoptables, too, so stop by and say hi to us!!

Okay, I gotta get back to my decorating and gift wrapping. We all chipped in and got something special for Barb this year. Don't tell her and spoil the surprise, but we got her her very own cardboard box! I think she'll love it! She can curl up in it and snooze, or hide in it and then jump out at visitors. Hahaha!! She's gonna be so surprised! So I better get it wrapped and then get to bed. It's gonna be very busy around here Wednesday and Thursday! Merry Christmas, everyone. I hope Santa Claws brings you everything you want! - Raspberry

Hi, guys!! Meeerrrrroooowwwwwwwwww  . . . I'm in a great mood today because it's just 14 days til Christmas Eve when Santa Claws brings toys and treats to every kitty around the world. He'll circle the globe in a red and gold sleigh, pulled through the air by eight tiny reindogs, and will find each and every creature of the feline persuasion so he can give them chocolate-covered chipmonks, catnip toys, and their own personal little ray of sunshine that they can put in their pocket for a rainy day. Today at the shelter, I'm bringing the Christmas tree down from the third floor (being as short as I am, this is an all-day job) so we can begin decorating the house for the holidays . . . and this weekend!! What's up this weekend? Well, let me tell you!

I'm hosting our annual Open House this Sunday, December 14th, from 11 til 4. And I'm inviting all of you and all your friends to come by, have a snack and a beverage, and just visit with the kitties as well as some of the volunteers. Barb'll have some new Gypsy Cat jewelry available, and we'll also have our catnip pillow toys, too. They make wonderful stocking stuffers! It's gonna be so much fun, just hangin' around the shelter, petting the kitties, eating, talking, laughing. And we're asking that everyone who comes by to bring a simple non-perishable food item that we will donate to Gleaner's Food Bank. The Cat Council here at Cats Haven got together a couple of weeks ago and decided that we'd like to give back to our community. We're so lucky here because we always have enough food to eat, but we know that many humans aren't so fortunate. So we're collecting food, starting on the 14th and going through the 21st, that we can take to Gleaner's and help make other peoples' holidays a little bit better. 

Now, before Sunday, we've got to get the shelter house decorated. So on Saturday, we're asking anyone who can spare an hour or two to c'mon by and help set up and decorate the tree, string some lights, and just get this place as festive as possible!! We'll have snacks and drinks, and the kitties will of course help with everything! If you want to help decorate, contact the Other Sue at 329-8219 or susan@pjfuzzypaws.com.

This is a happy, joyous, and hopeful time of year for humans and animals alike. A time when families can come together, reflect back on the year that is passing, and look forward to a whole new year just around the corner. In this spirit, I want to talk about a couple of shelter residents who we lost over the last couple of days. I don't want to be sad or make any of you sad, so I'm going to tell you about Teddy and Zip, and let you celebrate their lives. Teddy was a very cool little guy who was born without hip sockets. He also had some neurological problems. Most humans would have chosen to not let him have a chance, but Barb isn't like most humans. Teddy lived at the shelter for several months, playing and making everyone around him very happy. He was a happy guy!  Everyone who came into the shelter and met him absolutely fell in love with him, and he even had a friend who was considering adopting him, despite all of his problems. Teddy touched a lot of lives and a lot of hearts. He crossed the Rainbow Bridge at 1:00 Monday morning, which made us all very sad. But we need to remember Teddy and celebrate his life and his innocent joyfulness. And Zip. Zip crossed the Bridge on Tuesday afternoon. Zip was a little black kitty girl who had been tossed from a car. She had a badly fractured pelvis that just wouldn't heal. Dr. Johns at the Cat Doctor also felt she had other physical issues. Zip would not gain weight or grow, and she had been confined to a cage for a few months to allow that fracture to heal. Nothing was working to make her better, so Zip was allowed to cross the Bridge and join Teddy and the others who had gone before her. Losing Zip has also made us very sad, but we here at the shelter have decided to celebrate her kind and gentle spirit, and remember how she was always welcoming of an ear scratch or chin rub. She was another soul who was given a chance, and was treated with love, respect, and dignity. So although Teddy and Zip are no longer with us at the shelter, memories of them remain. Happy and joyful memories.

Okay, guys. I've gotta get upstairs and get this ginormous Christmas tree down three flights of stairs! I hope to see everyone at the shelter Saturday and/or Sunday. Remember . . . bring a canned or boxed food product, and plan to have fun!! It's a magical time of the year. Fa-la-la-la-la . . . . - Raspberry

Hello, friends! Raspberry here, shelter manager at Cats Haven. I have got so much news and info that I just don't know where to start. Thankfully, I made notes earlier today. Now, where did I put those notes? Hang on a second. They're here somewhere. Hmmm. Well, they WERE here. Oh, dear. I hope I remember everything I had to tell you. 

Okay first of all, Barb, Annie Sullivan, the Other Sue, and that pesky little Marco Polo went to the Channel Six studios this morning to do a taping for the WRTV Toy Drive. I put a picture of them all with Kevin Gregory on the home page of my, er, our website . . . wow, Kevin is really tall! And where did Annie and Polo get those scarves!? I want one!! Anyway, we had a gazillion toys to donate this year! Thank you to Tim and Teresa Eversole (Teresa, you're still a babe!), Linda Lazier and her church members, Caroline Rowe, Sue Hildebrandt, and other volunteers who went that extra mile and brought toys to the shelter for kids whose families can't afford gifts this year. You all made a child's Christmas morning a little brighter. Be sure to tune into the Channel Six News at 11:00 Wednesday night to see Barb, the Other Sue, Annie Sullivan, and that pesky Polo guy sometime during that newscast. I've got the DVR set up and ready to record!

I also wanted to talk about our Open House on December 14th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. here at the shelter house. I came up with a great idea today, and Barb says that we can do it. When you come to the shelter that day to have some hot cider and tasty snacks and visit with us all, just bring a canned good with you and leave it with me. I'll box up all the canned goods and have Barb take them to Gleaner's Food Bank on the 15th! Is that a cool idea or what!? I've asked all the kitties here to rummage around in their lockers and see if they can find a can of tuna or sardines to donate, too. I've told them that even though we don't have families like some cats do, we have so much more than even some humans have. We've got a warm and safe place to play and sleep, and all the food we can eat. So when you stop by on the 14th, just bring a can or box of something with you, and I'll make sure it gets to Gleaner's Food Bank. The Open House is gonna be so much fun! We've got volunteers coming by to decorate the place, so it's gonna look really festive! The Other Sue is gonna make her annual Christmas Torta and bring hot spiced cider. And we'll have cookies and maybe even some catnip tea! And if we're all really good, maybe Miranda will make some Sweetened Mouse Mousse! Mmm mmm mmm. I can taste it already!

Hey, guys. Before I forget, I gotta ask. Does anyone reading my blog have an office chair they'd like to donate to the shelter? Barb and I have this really great chair with arms and everything. It's been a wonderful chair for several years, but the uppy-downy thingie on it has broken, and it won't stay uppy anymore. Even as short as Barb and I are (and she's actually shorter than I am, you know), our knees are in our noses when we sit in the chair now. For a couple of weeks, barb has thought she's had a cold, which is why she can't breathe. It's really her nostrils being covered up by her knees! No kidding! So if anyone has an office chair with arms that they don't need anymore, gimme a call and I'll have someone come and pick it up. We really need a new chair!

Oh, I do wish I could find the list of all the stuff I wanted to tell you about, but it's getting late and I have a couple of things I need to do before going to bed. I want to do a little online shopping while the kittens are asleep and see if I can find a few gifts on eBay. I know Miranda wants a new apron, Merlin wants a set of weights so he can do a little body building, Butterschnops wants a chemistry book (which is kind of troublesome . . .),  and Skittles wants a manicure set. So I've got lots of shopping to do! I hope to see all of you on the 14th! It won't be a party without you! Later, friends - Raspberry