Into the Abyss...

P i c t u r e s A r c h i v e # 8
Late 2004 to Early 2010

(As always... click on any pic to embiggen it)

End of 2008 - Welcome Jack!

Yes, it's official... we are completely out of our minds.

The giant black fluffball you see above is Captain Jack (from "Harkness", not "Sparrow" :). He came with the name "Jack"... we just added the "Captain" part. He'll also respond to Scaredycat or Chickabutt :) And yes... he's the newest member of our family, bringing the total to five. Hence the "out of our minds" statement above.

One day, before this past Christmas, we were making our normal PetSmart run. We went over to the Adopt-a-Pet cubes like we know we shouldn't do... and we spotted the most amazing looking cat. He stood out at first because he was HUGE!  Not "fat" huge... just... extra large! They had to give him the one giant cube on the end because the normal cubes would have been too small for him! After just a few minutes, he really made an imprint... but we moved on. A few weeks later, we were back in PetSmart, and there he was... STILL there. We were in shock that no one would have taken this amazing looking animal already. But he's obviously not a kitten anymore... so the number of potential homes is a lot smaller for older cats. A few weeks after that put the date shortly before Christmas, and again he was still there. The only cat left in PetSmart... apparently without a home for the holidays! Well, there was no way in hell we were going to let that happen. So we offered to foster him through the holiday season.

Yeah... foster... like that had any chance of working :) As soon as we got him home and started to get to know him, well, the rest was history. The first Adopt-a-Pet event after the holiday was supposed to be right after New Year, and by then we were smitten... so instead of Jack going back to PetSmart that day, it was us going back, with the adoption papers :)  He's such an amazing, fun, wonderful cat. Super affectionate... a big softy... and incredibly talkative, too... everything he does has a sound response associated with it :)

Our other cats... well... one likes him, one appears to be neutral, and two really don't seem to want him around :)  But he'll grown on them I think... just like he grew on us!

Misc. Late 2004 to Early 2010 (Newest Photos On Top):

The Aby boys want to know what Jack is messing with over there!	Ummm...	Jack and his then-favorite carrot toy.
Scaredy-Jack hiding under the coffee table :) Little tiny Angel was probably chasing him (seriously) :)	Jack giving us a handsome pose. He's such a wonderful cat!	Probably the *only* time we'll ever see Angel and Jack trying to eat out of the same bowl. Notice the size difference... especially obvious around the neck :)
A curious Crichton.	Must... reach... string...	One of the cutest goofy pictures of Jack to date :)
Awww :)	Evelyn managed to capture this beautifully framed photo.	A great use of focus here with Angel (foreground) and Crichton.
Jack hanging out in the playhouse. That tube doesn't look quite so big when he's in it :)	Angel and Crichton discover (and fight over) the joys of Lickitty's!	A tired Jack sleeping in his "safe place" when we first got him.
Let me love you...	We learned quickly that Jack loves to play. He's just a giant kitten!	Crichton investigates the strange mechanical cat coming towards him (before freaking out and running away).
Strrrreeeetch for that toy!	Angel decided we were taking entirely too long to open the toy, so she took matters into her own paws.	Jack watches intensely as we open our Christmas presents... looking for more with his name on it, I'm sure!
Hard to tell which is leg and which is tail :)	Jack tries a new perspective on things.	Angel can be a real brat, but she sure knows how to do cute :)
Back in the day when we could find all four of them napping on the bed together.	A precarious balancing act as Crichton reaches for the bubbles.	D'Argo showing off his handsomeness.
A beautifully lit picture of Crichton in the sunlight.	Belle has had a long day....	...and Crichton an even longer day :)
Look... I'm just going to lay here, and you can just wave the toy around over my head... k?	Such a sweet face :)	Belle is such a little chubby cutey :)
Here's proof that D'Argo and Belle used to get along. What happened!?	He may be 8 years old now, but Crichton is *still* the master of bizarre sleeping positions! :)	What the heck is out there!?
Notice the tongues :)	D'Argo and Crichton checking out the scene below.	Now *that's* a comfy looking Belle :)
Awwww :)	Crichton and D'Argo decided they wanted to help us with the puzzle... by pulling it apart and eating its pieces.	The whole crew looking for trouble in the sink.
Belle looking beautiful as ever.	Bunches 'o happy cats basking in the afternoon sun.	Angel rides the lion.
Belle and Crichton share a bed for an afternoon nap.	D'Argo shows off his buffness :)	If I hide under here, maybe Santa won't see me!
Belle wonders when it'll be her turn in the bag.	A happy Crichton loving the Christmas holiday.	The handsome Crichton and D'Argo pose for a really stunning photo.
A rare photo of the whole crew on the playhouse.	Angel looks out, dreamy-eyed, and shouts "I'm beautiful!" :)	D'Argo the chubbo :)
If only I could get this window open...	An amazingly stretched out Angel :)	Here, Angel and Crichton make sure there's no room for me on my computer chair.
Let me touch you...	D'Argo gives us an "awww!" moment.	Must... get... toy...
Belle looks on, trying to figure out what all the commotion is about.	D'Argo looking (deceivingly) sweet :)	Angel and Belle contemplate the nap they're about to have.
I'll bet they miss that computer monitor :)	It's amazing that two whole cats could actually fit on top of that monitor. Well... almost fit.	Now that's a happy looking cat :)
A Crichton tree ornament!	Crichton and D'Argo survey the land.	Such a sweet boy!
Ummm...	Back off, woman!	Angel and Crichton try to figure out a good way to jump into the Christmas tree.
Crichton sniffs out the good presents.	I think Crichton likes his Christmas present....	....oh yeah... he definitely likes his Christmas present :)
D'Argo in his favorite Christmas hangout spot.	A playful bunch, as I remove the ladder to make room for the Christmas tree....	...a little too playful, perhaps :)
Belle gives us a stunning pose.	She's such a beauty :)	D'Argo the Christmas ornament!