October 29, 2011 – Author Deborah Barnes of  The Chronicles of Zee & Zoey – A Journey of the Extraordinarily Ordinary, is proud to announce that the Cat Writers’ Association Committee has approved her application for Professional Membership to the Cat Writers Association, effective immediately.  Established in 1992, The Cat Writers’ Association, Inc. (CWA) is an organization of professionals writing, publishing and broadcasting about cats. Members include writers, editors, publishers, artists, public relations specialists, broadcasters and others.  The 18th Annual Cat Writers Conference will be held this November 17 -19th in White Plains, NY , of which Deborah will be attending.

Okay – here it is a week after BlogPaws and I am finally getting around to a post to gab about this amazing event! I was waiting for the return of my camera so that I could share some pictures, but, guess what?? Here’s the funny part – now that I finally have the camera – not only did I take far LESS photos than I thought, but the majority of them that I did take were so TERRIBLE that I would not dare post any of them for fear of losing all of you as friends! So, without further ado, here we go!

Getting to BlogPaws was quite the ordeal – living in South Florida, I was already quite apprehensive about a trip that I was so excited to take just a few days previously. In Florida, 24/7 weather commentary about living in the “cone of death” can wear on your nerves and cause enormous stress even on a normal day. Then to find out Irene was heading up the east coast just in time to introduce herself in time for the conference, well, it really put a damper on my already frazzled spirits. Read more

Yeah, I get it, double take, right? Just who is this impostor in my house? Is it really true that I have clothes that are not leopard inspired? Ugg… I’m so embarassed to be seen in public like this!

When I say BlogPaws, Present and Past, what I really mean is present… as in lots and lots of presents!!! As you all know by now, my camera has had its own BlogPaws journey and has finally found its way home a couple of days ago thanks to Caren Gittleman of Cat Chat with Caren and Cody who was kind enough to send it to me. Well, when I opened the box, was I ever in for a BIG surprise!

Not only did Caren take the time to wrap my camera in industrial strength packing tape and bubble wrap to ensure its safe arrival, but she jammed the box to the rim with swag for the kitties!! Lots and lots of swag to the point I thought I was in the midst of a Petsmart holiday sale! Now mind you, my cats are already spoiled with kitty toys of every shape, make, and style you can imagine. Then, when I came home from BlogPaws last week and dumped all the cat loot I accumulated on the floor, their toy inventory became even more superfluous. But what Caren and Cody sent, wow, it just sent my kitty cats off the deep end with joy!!! Read more

Okay – getting ready for my BlogPaws trip to Virginia. Hmmm, let’s see…

Leopard ears – check
Leopard glasses – check
Leopard heels – check
Leopard scarf – check
Peg Bundy leopard pants and tops – check
Leopard purse – check
Cell phone in leopard case – check
Leopard carry on bag – check

Zoey and Peanut are going through my list and checking it twice...

Oh my catness says Zoey!! Did a leopard explode on the bed???

Zee looking completely befuddled as Mia and Peanut help me pack with their cat stamp of approval!

Okay, I think that about covers it. Thanks to the help of my kitties, I can’t possibly need anything else… See you all next week with all the cat-tastic and  juicy details!!

Opps.... I guess I have two more things to pack - it seems at the last minute, that Mia and Jazz have decided to come with me!

We Wish we Will, we Wish we Might, oh Dear BlogPaws Judges, let it be our Human Mom on a Flight Tonight. She Works so Hard, Day and Night, a Trip to Virginia Would be oh so Right!

When I entered this picture of Mia, Zoey, Zee, and Peanut looking out the window, I felt it had some sort of dreamy, magical feel to it, almost as if they were wishing upon a star for me that I might win a trip to BlogPaws. Turns out it was magical, because it was chosen as the first place winner for the BlogPaws Photo Caption Contest to win a trip to the 2011 conference that will be held on August 25 – 27 in Tysons Corner, VA. Read more