Thanks to Hurricane Irene, I had to leave BlogPaws sooner than I anticipated. So much sooner, that I literally had minutes to pack and catch an early flight home. Due to my completely flustered state of mind, I left my camera at the hotel with all of my pictures for upcoming posts detailing the event. So much for being timely…

Zee has kindly agreed to be my plan “B” until my camera arrives (Caren Gittleman of Cat Chat was kind enough to pick up my camera for me and is mailing it to me) and has graciously allowed me to use a picture of him for Mancat Monday. Okay, I’m completely stretching the truth here…. he has no idea I am using this picture and I did not ask for his permission at all…

Anyhow, lets just roll with the punches and proceed as if all is normal! Happy Monday! Without further ado:

There is no doubt in our house that Zee is the King of the Castle and our favorite Monday Mancat. Showing he means business, Zee is sitting quite regally inside the top tier of his five-story kitty castle condo to reign over his kingdom. When you’re King of the Castle, the best vertical space in the house is always reserved for you!

See you all later this week after I get my camera with my take on the BlogPaws Conference!

Editors Note: By now, most of you know that Dan is not only my fiance, the photographer extraordinaire for the majority of the pictures on this blog, and human Dad to my seven kitties, but he is also a wonderful writer in his own right. Since I am currently at BlogPaws, I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to re-post one of my favorite posts from the archives. This one just happens to be written by Dan as he shares one of his experiences from last fall.  Enjoy!

Anyone who runs their own business as a sole proprietorship or partnership has no doubt experienced the process of structuring the business. Forming a new business as an LLC (Limited Liability Company) is a relatively quick, easy and inexpensive way for new business owners to operate a business with limited liability as well as additional benefits.

LLC’s are regulated by the statutes of the state where they are formed and in most cases you simply prepare and file LLC “articles of organization” with your state’s LLC filing office. Once you’ve done this, your LLC becomes a matter of public record, and ZeeZoey Partners LLC was a matter of PUBLIC RECORD, which opened the door to ANYONE and EVERYONE who wants to SELL your new business their merchant credit card services, office supplies, printing, and a barrage of other services. One of those other services is insurance. Read more

As you read this, I am already at BlogPaws in Virginia, but wanted to give you the details on how you can tune in later today for the virtual ceremony when the Petties 2011 winners will be announced at 5:00 pm, EST. All of us at Zee & Zoey’s Chronicle Connection are keeping our paws crossed that we win in the category of “Best Designed Blog” so that we can donate $1000 to the Cat Network of South Florida. But, even if we don’t win, it sure was an honor being nominated along with all the other greatly talented pet bloggers out there in the vast blogging universe! Here are the official details from DogTime who is sponsoring the awards as to how to tune in and what to expect:

• The ceremony will be broadcast Friday, August 26th, 2011 at 5pm ET
• To watch the show, go to www.dogtime.com/petties
• DogTime encourages EVERYONE to watch because they will be giving away two $1000 shelter donations on behalf of a couple of lucky Twitter users
• DogTime will also be announcing how someone can win a $10,000 donation to the shelter of their choice!

I will be watching the event while at BlogPaws and can’t wait to see what happens!!!

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!

Crystal and I in the Keys

Editor’s Note: My step-daughter Crystal has been promising me for months that she would write a post for Zee and Zoey’s blog. She comes to visit her Dad and I quite frequently from Boston, so I assumed I would get some sort of cute post on the comings and goings of the feline activity in our household from her perspective, as she is very familiar with the habits of our furry gang. What she sent me came completely out of the blue the other day and I am still quite overwhelmed with her heartfelt words.

We all have our own perceptions of who we are as a person, but do we really know how someone else perceives us? Crystal knows I will be attending BlogPaws in a few days and am also a nominee for the category of “Best Designed Blog” for the Petties. She wanted to send a post of support on my behalf before the big announcement will be made this upcoming Friday night. Well, after reading her words about me, I have all I will ever need and am the biggest winner in the world already. To be blessed with such a wonderful family is a gift that I do not take for granted. I am graciously humbled by Crystal’s expression to me and am so proud of her for all she has accomplished in her life and for all that she is striving for in her future – Deb  

I have been promising my step-mother, Deb that I would appear as a guest-blogger for some time now.  Many various cat-inspired themes have crossed my mind, and many posts have been started, but lacked genuine inspiration to continue.  Last week, Deb posted about some similarities she noted between herself and the great Ernest Hemingway.  She noted, tongue-in-cheek, the similarities between his birthplace, and where her mother was born, for example.  In our family, we have lovingly referred to these coincidences as “God winks,” a term coined by Squire Rushnell.  Read more