Sunday, February 27, 2022

Volunteering Cats

 

ELLIE:  So Mr. Waffles? 

WAFFLES:  Ellie?

ELLIE:  Glogirly said she's volunteering again this week. What's a volunteering?

WAFFLES:  You mean a volunteer. 

ELLIE:  That's what I said. 


WAFFLES:  A volunteer is like a helper. Someone who helps someone who needs help. 


ELLIE:  So are you a volunteer when you "help" me with my breakfast. 


WAFFLES:  Well I hadn't really thought of it that way, but yes. I'm here for you whenever you need help eating your breakfast. 

ELLIE:  But what if I don't need help eating my breakfast? Doesn't that just make you a–

WAFFLES:  Yes! A breakfast volunteer!!


ELLIE:  I was thinking breakfast thief. 



Glogirly's a Volunteer Ski Instructor!

Waffles has a pretty mixed up interpretation of what it means to be a volunteer. But Glogirly feels as though she's found her calling. 

A year and a half ago, she was inspired by a good friend to try downhill skiing again after a 30 year hiatus. She learned how to ski in high school, but only because of the cute boys in ski club. She skied a little bit in her 20s, but never had a chance to take any lessons or get much beyond the bunny hill. But now that we live in the Rocky Mountains, just a few steps away from some of the best skiing in the country, she thought it might be worth giving it a try again. With the help and encouragement of her friend Bob, she not only realized she CAN still ski, but that she LOVES it.

She took as many lessons as she could, joined a women's ski group, gets out as much as she can to practice. Last season she hit a total of 80 ski days.

On one of those days, she noticed some skiers wearing neon blue and green coats that read, Ignite Adaptive Sports on the back. They were helping other skiers, many of which appeared to be disabled. She noticed there were usually 2-4 of the Ignite skiers with a student and thought how wonderful it was that they were helping people enjoy the sport and the beauty of the mountains. When she checked them out online, she found that all of the instructors and assistants are volunteers. Glogirly is no expert skier, but she thought she would be proficient enough to be able to help.

Their mission is to ignite personal growth, independence, and confidence in people with disabilities by providing caring, safe, and fun adaptive winter snowsports opportunities.

Last December, Glogirly attended their on-mountain training clinics and just recently assisted with her first lesson. She's an Assistant Alpine Ski Instructor. She assists a lead instructor and their athlete (student) by helping the athlete get et up with their equipment, making them feel comfortable, and assisting the lead instructor with the lesson and training. 

It's been so much fun for her and incredibly rewarding. Ignite gives people that ordinarily would never have a chance to experience the joy and exhilaration of skiing, that very experience. Athletes range in age from 8-80, and virtually no disability is turned away. Glogirly has already worked with a stroke survivor and traumatic brain injury survivor. Some athlete are blind, some deaf, some paralyzed or autistic, or PTSD survivors. Many are veterans.

Glogirly's inspiration for volunteering with Ignite is her dad and stepson. They were both US Marines. To her, this is a way to honor their service and help those who have sacrificed so much. It's also a chance for her to share her joy of the sport and love of the mountains.



Sunday, February 20, 2022

A Cat's Job

 

ELLIE:  Miss Ellie Belly, reporting for doody. 



WAFFLES:  Doody??? Don't you mean duty?



ELLUIE:  That's what I said, Mr. Waffles. Reporting for doody. It's my job, you know. I'm Gloman's office assistant. I help him with his office stuff. I've been working super hard too. He told me I'm up for a promotion. Wouldn't that make me your boss???



WAFFLES:  Yeah, NO. That's not going to happen, Ellie. I think you should get back to your doody

ELLIE:  Well if I can't be your boss and stuff, can I be your assistant too? 

WAFFLES:  How about I sleep on it?





About Today's Photos

Every day, Ellie and Waffles are hard at work in the office. They LOVE hanging out with Gloman. Especially Ellie. Once Gloman heads back to the office with his coffee in hand, Ellie darts in front of him. Being in the office with him is the highlight of her day. Waffles meanders in soon after and eventually both are sacked out in the blue chair sun puddle. They still haven't figured out when it's the weekend and often report for duty Saturday and Sunday too!

Sunday, February 13, 2022

Ellie's Special Valentines Paper

 

ELLIE:  Thanks for my Valentines paper, Mr. Waffles! 


WAFFLES:  Valentines PAPER???



ELLIE:  Didn't you get me all this paper for Valentines Day? Paper is my FAVORITE toy ever. Like ever EVER. I thought you knew.



WAFFLES:  But it's not even pink. 



ELLIE:  Yeah, but it's PAPER. 



WAFFLES:  And there aren't any hearts or anything. 



ELLIE:  Valentines doesn't have to be about pink hearts and stuff, Mr. Waffles. 



WAFFLES:  I know, Ellie. It's about being with someone you love, right? 

ELLIE:  You mean like paper?!

WAFFLES:  No. Like ME, right? 

ELLIE:  I was kind of thinking it was about–



ELLIE:  PAPER!!!!!!!!!!!!


Happy Valentine's Day!

It's been a chilly and snowy up here in the mountains, so we built a fire to snuggle next to. Gloman's favorite kindling is the left over packing paper from all the stuff Glogirly buys online. If it weren't for her shopping habit, we'd never be able to start our fires!

Ellie goes absolutely CRAZY for the packing paper. As long as Glogirly keeps shopping, Ellie will never need another cat toy! LOL!


Sunday, February 6, 2022

Catnap Dreams

 

ELLIE:  ...butterflies and birds, squirrels and Cheetos, Mr. Waffles...  Zzzzzzz...

WAFFLES:  You're dreaming again, Ellie. And wiggling. You wiggle when you dream. 



ELLIE:  ...watching movies and eating snacks, sleeping on Gloman's lap. Zzzzzzz..... With Mr. Waffles.

WAFFLES:  And when you wiggle, you wake me up, you know. 



ELLIE:  ...Mr. Waffles, Mr. Waffles, and Mr. Waffles... Zzzzz...

WAFFLES:  More wiggling, Ellie. 

ELLIE:  ...Mr. Waffles... Zzzz...

WAFFLES:  Still. Wiggling.



ELLIE:  Zzzzzz.

WAFFLES:  Finally. Zzzzzz.


About Today's Photos

Is it possible for two kitties to love each other SOOOO much? It's clear that Waffles loves being around Ellie, though sometimes he still needs a little mancat time. But Ellie LIVES for Waffles. She bounces around the house, following him, copying his every move. It's so much cuteness, our hearts just melt. There is truly no place she'd rather be than right by his side. 

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