Even if no one else is listening, my voice is important to me. But, chances are, someone is listening. Now that BlogPaws has officially come and gone, whether through comments on my blog, posts other bloggers have done, personal emails to me, comments I have made on other blogs, photos, facebook chat, and so much more, I noticed a subliminal undercurrent of conversation this past week and decided I wanted my own keynote speech to all of you. Read more

Not an easy feat at my age, but do you remember those frentic moments in high school where there would be that incredible hustle and bustle of quick chatting in the hallway and lockers as you went from one classroom to the next before the bell rang to start class? Or the high energy of the lunchroom as you found a table and bonded with your best friends? Or the nervousness of being a new student and not being sure if you would be liked or fit in? Or those special days when you had a pep rally or a prom where a King and Queen were elected by their peers? That is what BlogPaws is like. The only difference, we are adults, we are allowed to bring our pets, and we are allowed to legally drink….

The best part of BlogPaws is catching up with friends – some I was meeting for the first time like Bz Tat on the left, and others like Teri Thorsteinson and her cat Coco, and Robin Olson on the right, I had already met a few times.

From the moment you get up to head for breakfast to the moment you crash in exhaustion for the night, BlogPaws is a virtual whirlwind of non-stop activity, learning, bonding, and socializing. Breakfast, keynote speakers, the inevitable hallway conversations and photo ops, meeting old friends, meeting new friends, seminars, visiting vendor and sponsor tables, dinner receptions, awards and more! Whew… Read more

While I did not have to contend with Hurricane Irene like last year, getting to Salt Lake City from Fort Lauderdale this year to attend BlogPaws was no easy picnic either. Armed with a thick pair of fuzzy socks, a neck pillow, and a mini plush blanket (all in leopard print) to make sure my endless flight was as comfortable as possible, I awoke sometime over Utah to see the spectacular view of a patchwork of gorgeous mountains. Naturally, my camera was packed in overhead, but it is highly unlikely I would have been able to take a photo of  quality anyhow. Dan is clearly the photographer in our family and he was home with the cats…

I was unable to take a good photo of the mountains, but did manage this stunning night shot of Temple Square that consists of three city blocks in downtown Salt Lake City. It is home to nearly 20 attractions related to Mormon history and genealogy, including the Salt Lake Temple, the Tabernacle, and the Family History Library.

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It’s that time of year again when all of us pet people gather to worship our animals in a 3 day ceremony of seminars, flat pets, networking, bonding, learning, eating, and just plain having fun while we hang out with good friends! That’s right – it’s time for the BlogPaws Conference again and this year I will be heading to Salt Lake City! Read more

Since the beginning of this year, I can say that my life has taken on a profoundly distinct and new direction in the realm of the cat world. My blog that was once strictly a vehicle to share stories and pictures about my feline family, has expanded and brought me on such a journey and growth of knowledge and caring, that I still marvel at the scope of it all.

From the vast catalog of stunning photographs, to videos (ranging from fun to highly educational and informative), to interviews on subjects such as the misconceptions of feral cats, TNR programs, the cats in the aftermath of the Japan disasters, pedigree breeding, and the Loews outdoor cat controversy, I have really spread my wings in trying to help educate and inform people about cat responsibility in a well-rounded, informative, and compelling way. Read more