Dear Mishka. So I promised you a cat's story. Here we go.

Dear Aunty Mishka

Whatza dayte?

Hi, it's us, Loki and Merlin. Mommy said to tell you our story.

Daddy got a job in a place called Dom-inn-ee-kha.... I think that means “No mice island”. Anyway, mommy and daddy had looked for a home for us kitties but could only take two. Karma is the youngest so he can't go. Sssssssshhhhh... don't tell him. He thinks he's getting the house to himself.

Mommy is trying to avoid something called car-an-teen. I don't like car rides either. She keeps calling people saying “We took a job and it's only 2 months away but you are supposed to have everything a month in advance.... tests take longer than that!!

Now she says I need my new rabies vaccine and blood work.. something about the number 282 dolarzz scared her. I don't knokw why. I got to be grocery store scanned! And I gots a longggggg number too! It was near my ears. Merlin's was near his butt! Hah hah!

Merlin gets his tight-er next, I want one too! Why does he go first? What's 30 days gotta do with it?

Yeah! I gots mine too! Mommy hs been on the phone with peoples in planes and islands about things not gonna be done in time. Wonder what? Anywayses... Mommy jumped at the number 437 Dollarzez this time. Wonder why numbers scares her? Not like theys mousies.... what's bills anyway? They keep scaring her so I gotsta kill 'em.

We both got stuffed in the moving boxes again dang it, sumpin about health certificates and she keeps calling the you-ess-dee-ay for appointments... We got poked at and my toofies scratched. Then she did something with bill 288 dollarazz that mde her huffy and she took us home mumbling about 128 dollarzez endorsement in Lansing. Golly shes a grump. We don't even leave for 5 more days. Thats plenty of time, look how many naps I can take!

Now she's grouchy cause she facksed out papers to that Dominie place vet and he sent back a peedeefff thing. Just cause the printers packed she's gotta go the libry.

Gooody. She come back dancing and smiling about visa permits and stuff. We got pettings.

Darnit, now she's all feaking out, daddy too. Called those plane people and they said a local vet checkup. We had one. I guess they meant a local vet in Antigua supposed to meet us in the airport to poke at us before we's allowed onna nother plane. Whats a Sunday afternoon got to do with it? We don't leave until tomorrow morning.

Ok, she and daddy are almost happy crying, they keep saying they is changing our names to Craig and Richards.... something about a miracle worker and a saint Dr Edwards.. Oh maaaaannnn.... it's back in the boxes again

Huff!!! No fair! Mommy and Daddy got me up at 2 a.m. And stuffed an icky pill called a sedatatie down my troat. They haddda do Merlin too but he got back and spitted it out twice while biting Mommies finger. She bleeded all over him. Now theyyyyy sayyyyyysss wwweeee gonnnnnaaaa goooo furrr a rriiiiiddeee...... wheeeeee.

So sleepy. Wuz all nice and purty colors. Now that Saint Edwards is poking at me. Mommy got a paper and is dancing again.

So this ittty place is Antiua? We went outside the airs ports now to go around and go back in!. Why is mommy playing with her papers book? She gots the good paper from Saint Dr Edwards only 15 minutes ago. She keeps crying “WHERE DID IT GO?!?!?” and “CALL THE VET BACK!!!”. I guess he's gottsa turn round before the plane takes off to go zoom again. But why am I in a hard box? And why am I onna moving floor? Where did mommy go? And sumpin is going on because daddy has been called into security. They can't recognize what our kibble is..

The zoomy thing has stopped and we are on the moving floor again. Round and round it's going. Merlin hasta look inside, but I get to look out. Oh there's mommy and daddy! Whoops, there they go, hmmm, round and round some more.. there they is! I get it! It's a game... how many times can I go round while they step closer to the box with the person inside.

Oh finally, someone takes us off the moving thingie, good, Merlin was gonna yarf in his box. And mommy was starting to freak out..

Yawn.... well they let us out finally and a twisty car ride. I like it here. It's very comfy behind this big chir, and Merlin found his favorite spot under the bed. We're gonna go to sleep now. Talks to you in another time!!!

P.S., Hey sweetie, it's Pamela now. Loki is sleeping and can't see me adding to his letter. We really did get stuck in the back of a very slow customs line while they rode the luggage carousel. Finally it was our turn at the window (since no one else was left!!) Upon batting my eyes at the customs officer to move faster, we tried to pick the kids up from someone who had watched too many shows about Paris Hilton and had a phone glued to the side of her face while waggling fingers at us. I thought she wanted a tip, turns out this was the official looking for their paper work. Official WHAT?!?.... oh well. This is about the time Matthew realized we were missing a suitcase.... the one with his work clothes (all his clothes for that matter). We had mine with tank tops, shorts and skirts, swimsuits, blanket, and the spare suitcase with towels, pillows and kitty litter, but no Matthew clothes. Off we go to play the claims form dance!! He hadn't cried in hours and didn't now. I was very proud of him.

The boys started to come out of it just as we got to the faculty housing the school supplied.

Now I should mention, while watching the kitty-go-round and hoping the cats wouldn't puke, someone was handing out the following.

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“Insert nifty logo here”

Environmental Health Department

Ministry of Health

CHIKUNGUNYA FEVER ALERT CARD

Chikungunya is a viral infection transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito.

Syymptom usually begin 3-7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.

Common symptoms include:

√ Sudden onset of high fever (>102) √ Rash (~50% of cases)

√ Severe joint pain mainly in the arms and legs √ Headache

√ Muscle pain, back pain, fatigue √ Nausea

There is no vaccine or medication to prevent Chikugunya virus infection of disease.

CONTACT YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IF YOU SUSPECT SYMPTOMS OF CHIKUNGUNYA

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

Environmental Health Deparftment 266-3468/3467

Welcome to the Paradise Island!!

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OK, I added that last line......

But seriously, do you REMEMBER me and mosquitos,? The passionate love affair they have for me? I want lots and LOTS of Avon skin so soft repellant. Apparantly the shit works wonders down here. Also this little bugger is double size and striped like a zebra, I should be able to spot it.. I hope.

Love

The Blonde

(and the fuzzy boys)