While I waited for the guy to fetch my part from the back and write me up, I saw a perfectly enormous gray and white cat patrolling aimlessly on the floor on the other side of the counter. I made a *miaow* at him and he looked up and immediately hopped up on the countertop to check me out and accept a petting.
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| Plumber's Helper |
I'd met Book Store Cats on plenty of occasions, but a Plumbing Supply Cat was a new one. His tag read "BELL BOY"; I didn't ask if it was his name or his job description.
Service was prompt and friendly. I hope nothing of a plumping nature goes tango uniform here at Roseholme Cottage in the near future, but if it does, I will be a cheerful repeat customer at Winthrop Supply. Besides, Lowe's doesn't have a cat for you to pet while they go get your stuff.
I love "office" cats. But they make it hard for me to leave.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was at Ball State, a nearby florist had one of those huge white Fancy Feast cats that hung out in the window all day, and the travel agent next door had at least three cats which liked to sleep on the employees' desks. There was usually a cluster of girls talking to them through the glass and blocking the sidewalk.
ReplyDeleteOne of the gaming stores near me has a couple store cats. One loves to lay down on modeling foam, including inside bags and other storage cases. Can be a bit of a surprise.
ReplyDeleteHe took one look at you, thought "Oh, baby!", and jumped right up. Think about what the rest of the trade looks like that comes through the door. I'll bet you brightened his whole month.
ReplyDeleteMike James
Office cats are awesome. Samson had his own cardboard box to sleep in, on top of the tall filing cabinet next to my dad's desk. On the side of the box, my dad had written "DO NOT FEED THE CAT" in magic marker, and below that, "FINGER HOLE" next to a hole cut in the box just big enough for one's index finger.
ReplyDeleteSam would sit in his box, just waiting for some fool to walk into the office, and stick his finger in the hole. From what my dad said, it was a fairly frequent occurrence, but never twice by the same person.
Here is something to blog about.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.longislandpress.com/2013/05/14/u-s-military-power-grab-goes-into-effect/
The Pentagon just went rogue.
Bustednuckles.
LOL, good one, you got us to read it! :-)
ReplyDeleteI've never figured out why "tango uniform" aka "tits up" is a bad thing. I mean, well, tits. What's not to like>
ReplyDeleteIs that a geiger counter on your keychain?
ReplyDeleteH&S Plumbing in Herndon had TWO cats. They were needed when H&S was in an old rodent infested building. When they relocated a block away to a bright new building the cats really enjoyed their retirement. The full length windows gave them lots of sunshine to enjoy and squirrels to watch.
ReplyDeleteThe local Ace Hardware has a black and white bicolor named "Gateway".
ReplyDeleteTwentysomethings are often heard to wonder aloud "To what?"
Fiftycal: Doubt it. A SAIC PD series would be the closest match I can think of off the top of my head, but a PD doesn't have a lanyard hole.
ReplyDelete"alex said...
ReplyDeleteI've never figured out why "tango uniform" aka "tits up" is a bad thing. I mean, well, tits. What's not to like>"
I first heard the term "tango uniform" from a retired Air Force non-com. Imagine an airplane on the ground, upside down...
Err... or a dead goldfish. Belly up. Tits up.
DeleteI certainly hope that nothing of a plumping nature pops up at Roseholme Cottage, either.
ReplyDeleteIt really is a chintzy keyboard...
ReplyDelete...although I don't see how it could have caused that particular error. :s
ReplyDeleteIt's been my experience that any business with a cat or dog on staff is probably going to get as much of my business as I can justify. I just seem to get better service from places that have a cat lounging on the counter or a dog offering me a tennis ball.
ReplyDeleteBGM
Plumbing problems? Seems to be going around these days. Though I hope your problem wasn't a case of screw induced water main abscess like mine was.
ReplyDeleteOne of the local businesses where I grew up used to keep a dachshund that roamed the store. Apparently he was remembered fondly enough to justify his own memorial page I used to think as a youngin' that Fritz was very funny, because he was shaped like a hot dog. A dog, shaped like a hot dog! Ha! I was easily amused at 7. Fritz was a lot younger then.
One of my favorite gun stores (that's been long gone :( ), had a couple big o' cats that liked to get between your eyes and the contents of the glass counters, looking for a good rub.
ReplyDeleteFiftycal, Discobobby,
ReplyDelete"Is that a geiger counter on your keychain?"
WiFi detector.
It was cool five years ago, before I had a phone that does that... :o
It was cool five years ago, before I had a phone that does that... :o and now it belongs in Digital Fossils.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoyed the fictional adventures of Fup the Store Cat in the Powell's Books newsletters.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.powells.com/blog/book-news/a-tribute-to-fup-store-cat-by-ron-silberstein/
The new ACE in my neighborhood has a Store Dog...
ReplyDeleteThat's a new one.
Several years ago I bought a chainsaw at White's Hardware in Seymour. As the technician was adjusting the high speed needle, with the saw running wide open, an obviously nursing cat appeared at the top of the stairs leading down to the lower level. She looked around briefly, then disappeared back downstairs. In a moment, she was back with a kitten in her mouth. She jumped up on the bench beside the racing saw, and deposited the kitten in a cardboard box evidently prepared for that purpose. She repeated the trip six more times, until she had placed seven tiny little kittens in the box. I was amazed, but her attitude seemed to be, "This is where we live, and this is what we do here. No big deal."
ReplyDeleteThe main reason I go to one of the local gun shops is to visit Kenai, a big black cat who likes to lay on top of the counter. Before him, they had a shop cat named Rigby.
ReplyDeleteI love office cats. Wish I could have one in my office. Would make the day more pleasant.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing what kittens can get acclimated to. Years ago, when momma cat allowed her kittens to visit the garage, they thought nothing of playing 'king of the mountain' in my lap, while I was welding at my bench with an O/A torch.
ReplyDeleteLater, when we got down to one kitten, the rear corner of the bench, maybe 30" away, became her nap spot.
She would want to sit on the seat of my BOTT roadracer while I worked on it, even while running.
She liked to be on top of vehicles when I moved them around the driveway. I suspect that might be involved in her disappearance.