Cruisin'

I haven't mentioned it much, but I've been home alone (well, if you can truly be alone in a house with four cats) since the 21st of September. Mom and Dad are gallivanting around Europe, you see. They are on yet another cruise; this one took them from Venice to Turkey, with stops in Croatia, Greece and a Greek Isle or two. Sometime tonight or tomorrow (Pacific Time) they'll dock in Rome and then spend a few days on land, exploring that gorgeous city.

Things have been quiet here. It's been on me to dole out the morning cookies and the daily Tuna Time. Fortunately, the cats are very good about letting me know when, exactly, Tuna Time is. I've remembered to fill the bird feeders every couple of days--Dad takes good care of the local finches and doves.

I've even remembered to put the trash can out to the curb each week, bring in the newspaper, get the mail, and scoop the litter boxes every day (it's hard to forget that, when they start to stink and they're in the room right next to my own).

Mom asked me to use up some of the food in the fridge and pantry, and boy, have I. My parents have a slight tendency (love you guys!!) to overstock the kitchen, so I cleared out the stuff that had been forgotten to the point of going bad and I've used up some of the doubles of things we had.

I thought I'd be at a point in living with them that made this trip a much-needed respite but in all honesty, they've allowed me my personal space so much that I really just miss having them around. So do their cats, and I've been getting some serious cuddle requests from Duchess (this is not out-of-the-ordinary) and Bella (this is very out-of-the-ordinary). It causes some angst with Millie and Harley, who are used to sharing me with each other but no one else, but for the most part, everyone gets along.

My grand plan for the next couple of days is to do a really good clean of the whole house. Mom and Dad come home on Sunday, and I'd like everything to be fresh, so tomorrow and Saturday I'll scrub down both bathrooms, wash all the rugs and towels, dust, vacuum, mop, and generally freshen the place up. On Sunday, I'm going to pull out the crock pot for the first time this season and make split pea soup to welcome them home. At some point that afternoon or evening, the bus that is bringing them home from the airport (along with a large group of fellow Sun City Seniors from their Travel Club) will arrive at the club and I'll be there to drive them home. From their emails it sounds like they're having a grand time but are also ready to sleep in their own bed. I can't blame them.

So I've held the fort down. It will be nice to have them back, especially on Monday nights as I return from choir rehearsal.