Exhausting

Posted on by sevencatsandcounting

Working from home is just exhausting!

A grey, stripy tabby cat lounges on a cozy fleece blanket with her eyes squinted shut. She appears to be on the brink of sleep.

I had to participate in 9–count them, NINE—conference calls today.

That’s as many meetings as I have lives!

The same tabby cat has succumbed to sleep on her cozy blanket. She is obviously working much too hard!

I fully expect proper recompense in the form of delicious nom-noms and/or cuddles and ear skritches from my Human Mommy.

What would she do without me?

—Ella, Guest Contributor

Reject Portrait #3

Posted on by sevencatsandcounting

Okay, you did a nice job of updating the foliage color as per my directions and my tail is magnificently posed…

A magnificent black house panther sits upright atop a dark brown wooden platform built around the trunk of a young redbud tree. His tail extends magnificently behind him and drapes over the edge of the platform just so, while the bright yellow redbud leaves strewn around bring out the cat’s magnificent eyes.

…but that’s about it.

C’mon, Humans! There’s not even an un-carved pumpkin in this one.

I’m trying to keep my cool, but it’s getting harder and harder as the hours and minutes tick down to my very special day.

Get it together, Humans.

—Darth Vader

Reject Portrait #2

Posted on by sevencatsandcounting

Oh no, Humans. You’ve got to be kidding me. This won’t work as my 2023 Official Halloween Portrait at all.

Why, you ask. Must I explain everything? Fine, here goes…

A large black house panther lounges next to a medium-sized pumpkin atop a large red stone in an outdoor garden. The cat’s ears are partially back and he is absolutely glaring at the camera with his yellow eyes. His humans have messed up.

1. My pumpkin is still un-carved. You need to get on that!

2. Only one pumpkin?! Where are my bats, spiders, ghosts, and ravens? For that matter, where are my two other pumpkins?! Halloween is not a time to be low key.

3. Why is the foliage around me still green? It doesn’t “read” fall. Fix that.

4. The lighting is all wrong. Too bright, not nearly spooky enough.

5. You caught me off guard with your kissy-kissy noises and my tail is not ready. I expect more professionalism on set.

6. Why is the pumpkin on my beloved front yard mountain at all? This all looks very staged.

—Darth Vader