Meow! Other Mother is a stealthy cat; I must keep a better eye on her. When I was least expecting it, she scooped me up into her normally loving arms and craftily backed me up into my carrier before I knew what was happening. I didn't even put my legs out to prevent going in, but just sat down in the box. What a scam! She had the lid closed before I could start meowing in protest. Where to next? I had no clue, but gave her a piece of my
meow all the way there!
So, we arrived at a place that smelled of .... other furry creatures. This was not reassuring, but Other Mother spoke softly to me and told me it was ok and that I was a good boy.
Purr. Next, somebody took me out of the box and plunked me on a large thing that weighed me...13.3 lbs! Everybody crowed over what a big boy I was. Then I got put back into the box, protesting a little bit this time, and taken into another room where a lady examined me all over and cleaned out my ears and poked my belly and checked my teeth and clipped my claws and told Other Mother that I was a very expensive Manx.
Ha, ha. According to the lady, I am a brown classic tabby, the best kind in my book.
Oh, yes, I almost forgot...I got two shots in my heinie (rabies and distemper).
Meow! Ow! I was very brave and only hissed a few times. Then it was back into the box again and back in the car. By that time I was so rattled that I had an "accident. " Other Mother opened the car windows on the way home. Once home she put me in the laundry room and closed the door so she could assess the mess before I spread it all over the house. I wouldn't do that! Instead I headed for the back of the dryer again until I got my nerve up to come out. Other Mother gave me some food and then wiped my fur a bit, but I did the proper clean-up, cat style! It was no time before I was back on my paws and this was just a distant bad memory. The shots did make me sleepy, so it was a restful end of the day. Other Mother was relieved that this was all over, too.
Even the orange blobby thingie outside is wearing a snowcap.
Big Ma's car is covered, and she said she wouldn't drive in this weather. Even the plumber who was supposed to come today cancelled because the roads are so bad.
Ma couldn't leave if she wanted to because the driveway is covered by lilac bushes that broke from the weight of the snow.
Here are more broken branches from the maple tree. Big Ma had to drag them in off the road. You'll notice that there's no traffic on the road because the police had closed it by our house. A car was being loaded onto a wrecker up the hill from us. 
Our lights have dimmed and gone off a number of times because a snow-laden branch is weighing down our lower power line which you can see in the picture. Big Ma's fur got all electric over this, and she called the power company right away. ...they have not come yet.
It's a very pretty sight, but Ma spent a long time outside knocking the wet, heavy snow off various trees and bushes. There are many broken lilac branches by the driveway and in the side yard. 
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