Hills for breakfast, hold the gnats

56F, sunny w/ some wind.  Easy run with uncounted, unmeasured strides (or just "speed-ups") to get the legs back 

The cat has been taken again.  I am going door to door today. Not exactly how I planned to spend part of my weekend.  It's a good thing I don't own a gun.  

Everything right now is about the Cat Who Must Be Obeyed (aka Dandelion, Dan-Dan, His Majesty, etc.), so just surf away if you don't care to hear the latest episode.  I'm too cheap for therapy, so my couch session is right here...

After he was released from his captors Thursday morning (and I am convinced now that he was taken), I immediately got a collar for him on which I printed our phone number, and a message on the inside: "cat theft will be prosecuted."  

After he had disappeared again Saturday, I waited until Sunday mid morning and then went door to door along the territory I know he considers to be "his." The flyer had his picture, the usual pertinent info, and a little blurb about why I believe he was taken by someone.  I also mentioned that if the theft was proven, we were prepared to bring criminal charges.  The flyer asked neighbors to let me know if they heard cat howling from inside anyone's house, since he does not tolerate confinement.  All afternoon, I got supportive and friendly calls from neighbors, saying they are used to seeing him around and will keep an eye out.  That was very touching.

By 5 PM he was on the front porch, and he was mad.  He came in "talking about it" angrily and  immediately started hissing at the other cats.  His collar had been removed.  

On one hand, I like to believe our actions frightened the thief and that this will never happen again.  But I don't have to convince you, I'm sure, that this whole thing has really stressed me out.  I don't know what I am going to do, but for now I am keeping him inside and living with the consequences.  

I told Mr. Sno that we can just stock up on enzyme cleaner (for the protest-peeing) and wear earplugs to bed until I work out what to do. I was up from 2-3 AM with the cat, trying to comfort him, get him to use the litter box, etc.  He cries continuously like he's going to commit suicide if you don't open that d--- door, but when I hold him and pet him he still purrs his little head off, the dear.  Eventually I just put the earplugs in and went back to sleep.  

So for now, I have all indoor cats, and they are all safe. Might have to learn to live with the price, if we can stand it.  

I had a very nice, short run this morning in 48F air under partly cloudy skies.  I wanted to run 7, but I slept a little late, for obvious reasons. 

45F, low clouds then fog.  Easy run. 

After a slow warm up, this was the best my legs have felt since the marathon. 15 min core & upper body (same yesterday, but I forgot to log it). 

Project Indoor Cat is progressing.  He's driving me nuts and I didn't sleep much last night, but he is safe.  

45F, rain started around mile 3.  G-A run. 

A little sluggish towards the end for some reason. Maybe it was the rain, which I was not really expecting.   

49F, showers. Easy/moderate run. 

We had another very bad night with the cat, and I overslept again.  So frustrating, but I know it's temporary and worthwhile, so that helps.  He howled half the night. He's howling now as a matter of fact.  The vet doesn't believe a mild/herbal kind of relaxation remedy will do any good with this cat.  She suggested putting him on Prozac for a couple of months.  I need to do some more research on this.   

49F, low cloud/fog.  G-A run. 

Crazy weekend coming up. So much so that I don't know how much running I will be able to do.  Thank goodness I'm still in a recovery phase. 

We successfully "walked the cat" with a harness and a leash yesterday, and he seemed to like it.  It wasn't so much a walk as a very slow tour of our backyard. Much standing around sniffing of bushes had to be done. At one point he just sat down and kind of closed his eyes, as if to say "ahhhh."  I may need you dog owners out there to tell me all about fitting the daily walk (or twice a day more likely) into your lives.