Rascal and Rocco

Written by L. E. Mastilock

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Reasons for Cats to Celebrate!

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Reasons for Cats to Celebrate!

First Blogoversary? Already?!

 

I can’t believe it’s been a whole year since I started venting out my frustrations for putting up with these obnoxious cats in order to maintain some sense of sanity (and share adorable pics of them) for the whole world! 

Reasons for Cats to Celebrate!
Remember this? From my post: Are Your Cat’s This Obnoxious in the Morning?

We Have SO Much to Celebrate! 

 

Prepare for a BIG post to fit in all the BIG NEWS!

 

Just a Little Cat Blog Thingy

It all started out as a small hobby, a place for humor and fun… I had no idea of the new world that would open up and make me feel so welcome! That is the pet blogging world (huge online society of completely obsessed animal lovers. Hey, that makes a great acronym, HOSCOAL, just saying…). 

This blog has grown into a fantastic way to connect with fellow animal lovers and share about important animal causes, charities, and pet information. Through it I have made friends, met kindred spirits, and shared big laughs and bigger tears. It also turned from a cat blog to a pet blog when I welcomed a dog, Max, into our lives last spring.

Reasons for Cats to Celebrate! adorable doggy! Reasons to Celebrate!

Ch ch ch Changes

As the months went on, I’ve wanted to devote more and more time here, this could be a full time thing! Sadly, I have not kept up posting here as much as I want to lately. Nor have I had time for reading and commenting on other pet blogs I enjoy (oh, the shame!). I have not forgotten you, who visit here and bring me smiles daily!

I read every comment and wish I could give a great big hug to all of you who inspire and encourage me so much more than you could know, both here and on social media. On second thought, maybe I’d slap you because I know you don’t think you are as important as you really are! Strange how someone you never met can lift your spirits just when you need it, suddenly, with just a few words of kindness, even from across the globe!

I began great plans to start a blogging calendar, in order to write consistently, so you would know what to expect, when new posts would be up, and to join in happenings in the blogosphere. I also wanted to spiff up the look of this blog all well before this exciting day! But that will all have to wait a bit longer. There have been some health problems the last few months in the family, and I’m in high demand (what can I say?), but I’ll soon get back on track!

For today’s special event I’d like to first thank these wonderful peeps in no particular order:

Daddy Kiril & Nikita of The Opinionated Pussycat
who has encouraged me as a writer, shared blogging tips to help me get started, as well as shared this humble blog numerous times. Recently I was bestowed the honor of the Liebster Award, (2nd one! Booyah, baby!) so they have a warm fuzzy place in my heart.  (The first Liebster award was from Cherry City Kitties. Still love you as well!)
Jan & the gang from Jan’s Funny Farm
who has also been a great encouragement, spread the word selflessly about this blog, and the Pet Parade I host each week, and is just a joyful person to get to know!

Catherine & Basil of Basil the Bionic Cat’s blog
who inspires me with great photos and humor and makes this blogging thing so much more fun! He’s also been on board with the Pet Parade right from the begining, making it such a success, and recently honored me with the Friends and Followers award, so ya, he pretty much rocks all ’round!


Paula from Sweet Purrfections
who spent countless hours of her own free time organizing and putting together a calendar for the Cats With Blogs Group even through pain just before having wrist surgery (this is the kind of selflessness and generosity I’ve witnessed all throughout the pet blogging world!), just so I can smile each day at another adorable kitty on my desk calendar! (My cats are in a calendar! True story!)
Janiss Garza from Sparkle the Designer Cat
who is an inspiration as an author and blogger, but who I hadn’t connected with a whole lot. However, she gave me the third biggest news of my whole life a few months ago, so currently being my favorite person ever, I had to include her. 
THAT NEWS- to come at the end of this post, though I did share it on Facebook and Twitter, so if you’re not following there yet, well, that’s exactly why you should be.  
There are plenty more who have been in the blogging ropes with me that I’d love to name- know that I love you! And lets move on to…


The Awards

I recently received these fabulous awards and I will shamelessly show them off now. 

Reasons for Cats to Celebrate!

Reasons for Cats to Celebrate!

Thank you, thank you!! Wonderful to be here. Feeling so loved! 

 

I was more surprised than Rascal and Rocco when suddenly woken by an intruder!

 

And yes, my cats, that’s right, I said my cats are in a calendar. What’s next?!

Reasons for Cats to Celebrate! Reasons for Cats to Celebrate!

Reasons for Cats to Celebrate!

 

Announcing the new and improved Pet Parade! 

The Pet Parade has been great fun and is really taking off
Reasons for Cats to Celebrate!
The two bloggers that jumped in right from the start, have hardly (maybe never) missed a one, and have gone above and beyond to share every week, are now joining forces with us to make this the most fun hop there is and spread the fun of Pets Parading far and wide over the internet! What could be better then that?! 
Check out the next Parade to see Basil the Bionic Cat and Jan’s Funny Farm officially co-hosting with my boys. It’s a big job, but they’re pros!

 

What Matters? 

I’ve immensely enjoyed helping animals in need by spreading the word on great causes and charities on my Monday Matters series. It’s wonderful that I can share with so many as I connect with more and more of you online and you can then pass on the word of topics that are meaningful to you. In fact I almost named it Meaningful Monday.

I encourage you to join in with your own Monday Matters posts and/or contact me with any organizations, events, etc, that are doing good work to help our pets, animals, and environment.

So many great things began over the last year for these cats! 

They have their own Zazzle store, more friends on social media than me… I mean they even received more Christmas cards than I did! They’re cats, people! Cats!

So what is the big, Big, BIGGEST NEWS of the whole year?

 

We’re getting there! The second biggest news is we passed by 100 posts! 

This, I’m proud to announce, is post number 101! Wow!

 

Now for the Big news. And I mean really big… drum roll please! 

I’ll briefly just say,

I’m getting published!!!

Reasons for Cats to Celebrate!
**wait while I stop screaming and jumping up and down like a little girl seeing her best friend for the first time in, like, five days…. (and this is after I’ve had a couple months to get used to the idea)**
This is my first official story in an actual book, so it’s a pretty big deal for someone who dreamed of being an author ever since she could read a book!
It’s the short story of Rascal telling about his and Rocco’s early life and how they came to be with me. It’s scheduled to be out this fall in an anthology of cat rescue stories being put together by Janiss, the human behind Sparkle the Designer Cat. Part of the proceeds will go to animal shelters! How awesome is that?! 
Next post I’ll share the more details, even point you to where you can find out who all the other lucky cats are who will spill their secrets, in case you missed that on Sparkle’s blog. I promise!

I still can’t believe it’s already been a whole year, and at the same time that it’s only been a year. 

So much in my life has changed! It’s been a very difficult year for me personally. I don’t know how I would have gotten through it without this wonderful new support system right here on my laptop! I wish I had joined in with the crazy cat ladies, pet blogging freaks, and animal obsessed crazies long ago! I found my people! I hope we continue to get to know each other, support one another, share more laughs, and all that jazz for years to come!
Thank you.

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Comments

  1. YourSpecialDog says

    Congrats on the 1st blog aniversary , you have done a great job with this blog :), Me neither had so much time to blog and comment on this last months and I miss it so much . Congrats on the book too! Can't wait to read it

  2. Emily Hall says

    Congratulations on your first blogoversary! I'm excited to start following you and participating in your Pet Parade Blog Hop! I'll also be looking forward to reading the book you'll be published in! How exciting! — Kitty Cat Chronicles

  3. Nerissa says

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!

    You've only been bloggin' for a year? MOUSES! I feel like I've known you FOREVER. I think that's a sure sign of you havin' a very good blog, indeed.

    Purrs,
    Nissy

  4. Vanessa Morgan says

    Congratulations on you 1st blogoversary and book, and on all your awards. I'll help you with the promo when your book will be released, both on Traveling Cats and my writer's blog.
    By the way, I also just celebrated my first blogoversary + I'm also writing a book about my cat. Guess we have a lot in common 🙂
    Have a lovely weekend.

  5. Jans Funny Farm says

    Happy Blogoversary! We're a day late but we finally are back on the internet tonight. We should be doing a post tomorrow, but it won't be up till later in the morning. Watching Jan deal with all this techie stuff has drained us and we need to rest tonight. See you tomorrow.

  6. Basil Widdairs says

    WOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO mew guys are totally PAWESOME!!!!!

    Con'cat'ulations on your 1st Blogoversary *lifting glass of catnip champagne in a toast* ~ 'And here's to many more!'

    Thanks so much fur letting be part of the Pet Parade Team!!

    Bestest Purrsday Purrs

    Basil XOX

  8. Kitties Blue says

    So many great things happening for you…concatulations. We look forward to reading Rascal and Rocco's story and wish you all the best in the upcoming second year of your blog. Purrs and paw-pats, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo.

  11. meowmeowmans says

    That's a whole lot of awesomeness! Congratulations, dear friends, on your blogoversary, being published, and your awards. We sure are thankful for you, and are glad you're here!

  12. CatInTheFridge says

    We can't wait to appear in the book with you! I didn't realize you guys were blogging just about as long as us. Congrats on the one year. It's nice to know you! 🙂 – Crepes/

  16. Sweet Purrfections says

    Happy First Blogoversary! The CB is a wonderful place and Mom Paula has met so many great people both online and in person! We're happy you are enjoying the calendar.

    Pee ess – Mom Paula had surgery on her shoulder!

  18. Sparkle says

    Concatulations on so many accomplishments in just your first year of blogging! My human was first published in the mid-to-late 1980s, so she has pretty much forgotten the excitement of what it feels like at the beginning – thanks for reminding her!

  19. Jobi Harris says

    This must be what "you are on a roll" is all about! Congratulations on everything.Your excitement and dedication comes through loud and clear and I am just thrilled for you.

  20. Jenna,Mark Drady says

    Wow guys that is huge news!!!! Im so proud of you for getting your story published and I cant wait to read it! And your very own calenders??? WOW! So cool!!!!
    Congrats on your pawsome awards also!!!
    I can't believe all the news you had for us today! Good for you guys!!!
    ((husky hugz frum da pack))

    "love is being owned by a husky"

  21. Colehaus Cats says

    So.Many.Congratulations are in order! And Happy Blogoversary too! Hope you are celebrating far and wide! We look forward to reading more about your new book! Purrs…

  26. Kiril Kundurazieff, Elvira and Sneakers says

    Blogo Happy Versary!!!!

    It has been a pleasure and an honor to get to know you guys and your Mom.

    Congratulations from us for you inclusion in the Anthology!

    Elvira had also submitted and while her piece was not chosen it WAS chosen as a possible back-up, which was cool in itself.

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