Sunday, June 16, 2024

How Lucky are we to Have Something that Makes Saying Goodbye So Hard

Today is the big day! Exactly 15 years ago TODAY, June 16, 2009, we posted our very first blog post here on GLOGIRLY. 



Glogirly and Katie, 2005, taken by Gloman on Katie's first night with her forever family. This photo was used on our blog logo for many years. 


Glogirly had recently been laid off from her 20+ year career designing displays for Marshall Field’s and Macy’s. She went back to school to learn computer design and decided that it might be a good idea to dip her toes in social media and blogging just in case that’s where her next chapter would lead. She figured it would be a good place to practice graphic design and photography.

Two pretty big questions loomed over her head.

1. What to call it.

2. What to write.


What to call it was actually quite easy. Her sweetheart, love of her life, and husband is Gloman. The ‘Glo’ is the first three letters of their last name. He’s been Gloman since the day she met him by chance and fell head over heels in love. So naturally when they got married five years later, she became Glogirl. The domain, Glogirl.com, was taken so she went with Glogirly.com. She’s been Glogirly ever since.

What to write was far more complicated. A dear friend had a very witty and clever food blog. Another wrote about travel. Grilled cheese sandwiches and trips to northern Minnesota didn’t seem like something that would carry a blog more than a couple of posts. But Gloman had an idea! “Why don’t you have Katie introduce the blog?” And just like that, GLOGIRLY, the cat blog was born. 



Katie, 2009, in our very first blog post 15 years ago today. 


Click HERE to step back in time 15 years and read our first every blog post called Nice to Meet You.

Little did we know, those first words written in a cat's voice would blossom into a decade and a half long relationship with so many wonderful friends and readers across the country and the world. It truly has been one of the most important and rewarding parts of our lives. It's hard to find the right words to express what your friendship, love, and support has meant to us as you've welcomed us into your inboxes and your hearts.

Just another Waffles & Ellie love fest. 2022.


Rest assured, our blog isn't going anywhere and the 2,493 blog posts we've published will remain right here, forever. (...as long as Glogirly remembers to pay her bills! LOL!) After all, when Glogirly can't remember when something happened or where a special photo she took is, she just searches her blog. It's like her own personal encyclopedia and diary. She'd be lost without it.

She'd be lost without you. 


From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. You have filled our hearts and lives more than you know.

Forever,
Glogirly, Gloman, Waffles, Ellie, and our beloved Katie, the cat who started it all.



"There is a window from one heart to another heart."  -Rumi 


Katie, 2017.


Waffles, 2020.


Ellie, 2021.



“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” -Winnie the Pooh


Ellie in Gloman's arms, 2021.



Ellie & Waffles, working hard in the home office, 2023.



Forever Katie, 2005-2020. Photo taken in 2014.



Waffles signature "who me?" look, 2018.



We didn't realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun. -Winnie the Pooh


From our Saturday TV Trips series, Waffles & Katie, 2015.



Shenanigans with Ellie & Waffles, 2022.



The great moth hunters. Waffles & Ellie, 2022
.

“If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart, I’ll stay there forever.” -Winnie the Pooh



Katie watching the world through her mountaintop window, 2017.



Master of head-butts Waffles, with his girl, 2020.



Caught in the act! Waffles & Ellie, 2022.



Blogging is HARD work. Waffles & Ellie, 2022.


“How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
—Winnie the Pooh


Katie & her girl, 2014.



Glogirly & Gloman. ❤️


Glogirly, a.k.a. Debbie Glovatsky, will be keeping our Facebook Page and her personal Facebook profile going, long into the future. To keep in touch, you are welcome to send her a friend request, as long as you don't mind lots of skiing and cat photos. 

Sunday, June 9, 2024

15 Week Countdown- Week 14: The Cat Tree Super Highway

Welcome to Week 14 of our 15 week countdown to retirement! (Just click over to HERE if you missed the big announcement.)

Today's blog post is one of Glogirly's favorites. The photos are taken in her office, a.k.a the guest room. Whenever she works in there, the kitties supervise her from high atop the cat tree. It's an added bonus for guests when they are supervised as well. 

The conversation between Ellie and Waffles highlights Ellie's confidence and chutzpah. Despite her slight physique, as compared to Waffles "he-must-work-out" mancat muscles, she speaks her mind and even walks all over him. Often leaving him wondering what just happened.  


The Cat Tree Super Highway

ELLIE:  Hey, Mister Waffles! I made it all the way up the cat tree!



WAFFLES:  ALL the way??? Barely. You're not even close to the top.



ELLIE:  Beep, beep! Coming through, Mister Waffles! 

WAFFLES:  Sheesh...never thought there'd be a traffic jam on my very own cat tree.



ELLIE:  Beep-beep, beep!



WAFFLES:  Clearly we're going to need some kind of EZ pass thing. Rush hour's going to be a nightmare. Just wait until there's SNOW. 



ELLIE:  Almost to the top...



ELLIE:  Ok on second thought, this is super high. Like really super CRAZY-high. 



ELLIE:  Look out, Mister Waffles! Coming down!


WAFFLES:  Kids.  


30 seconds later...

WAFFLES:  I'm still, and will forever be...




WAFFLES:  KING OF THE CAT TREE!


About That Poster

A lot of friends have asked about the big poster in Glogirly's room. Often with a puzzled look on their face. Well, it's an inside joke for anyone who has ever watched the movie, Glengarry Glen Ross. "Coffee is for closers." If you know, you know. 

Sunday, June 2, 2024

15 Week Countdown- Week 13: With Love From Waffles to Katie

Welcome to Week 13 of our 15 week countdown to retirement! (Just click over to HERE if you missed the big announcement.) 

Four years ago this month, we said goodbye to our Katie. She was the inspiration for our blog and for many years, its sole voice. Glogirly wasn't sure she'd ever find the words for our blog again. But through the love of Waffles, she soon realized it had never really left her.

Just one week after Katie's passing, we posted the following thoughts of Waffles as he gazed out the window looking towards the sky. He helped us all to smile again, even if our eyes were still leaky.


With Love From Waffles to Katie

WAFFLES:  Hello, earth to Boss! Are you there, Boss? Come in, Boss. 


WAFFLES:  Lots of people are really sad that you're not here, Boss. Especially Glogirly. We're OK, but I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do without you. Like what if I need advice about girls and stuff. 

And what about breakfast? I don't have anybody's food to steal except my own. And that's not as much fun as stealing yours. 


WAFFLES:  Glogirly says you're not coming back, Boss. Are you sure?? What if I send you directions or something. Is there GPS where you are, Boss? 

Don't worry about your frog and your purple fuzzy heart. I'll take care of them until I see you again. 


One Week
A week ago Saturday, I said my final goodbye to my sweet Katie Girl. It took me a few days to gain the courage and strength to read through all the beautiful comments friends left on our blog and on Facebook. I was scared to read them. Missing her so much, I wondered if I would miss her even more. But when I started reading, I realized how much my sweet little girl meant to so many people. People who've been following us since the beginning "shoelace incident" to those that just recently stumbled onto us.

I've never really written about serious topics like nutrition, health, training, etc... It's always been about smiles and fun, with some occasional heartfelt wisdom sprinkled in when Katie tried to explain the meaning of love, life, and loss to Waffles. I hadn't realized what a difference the silly conversations between two cats had made in the lives of our friends and readers.  And how the photos enabled them to become part of so many families other than our own. 

Knowing that someone started their day with Katie, and because of that it was a good day, means the absolute world to me. That her cheeky wisdom and sarcastic wit wiped someone's sadness away is one of the greatest gifts of my life.

I guess what I'm trying to say is thank you. Thank you for loving Katie. Thank you for loving Waffles. Thank you for loving me. I've read through every single comment here and on Facebook and have them all saved with my many memories of Katie. I don't ever want to forget a single one. You all have made this heartbreaking loss bearable. I've felt your love and comfort wrapped around me like a soft blanket.  


I've been keeping Katie's special things close, where I can see them, touch them, and remember her. Her green frog that Gloman gave her 12 years ago. Her purple MOM heart she carried around in her mouth. Our photo from her very first night with us that I later used in our first blog header. And my favorite, the purple ribbon and Happy Anniversary tag she was wearing when Gloman brought her home to me. 

Forever missed.

Forever loved. 

Sunday, May 26, 2024

15 Week Countdown- Week 12: Giddyup Waffles

Welcome to Week 12 of our 15 week countdown to retirement! (Just click over to HERE if you missed the big announcement.) 


Today's post is one of our favorite interactions between Waffles and Ellie. Waffles has always been such a good sport when it comes to his harness, santa suit, and other silly fashion statements we've tried out with him over the years. When Glogirly saw the cowboy mouse online, well...she just couldn't resist. And sweet Ellie couldn't resist having a little fun with Mr. Waffles and Mr. Mouse.

Giddyup Waffles

WAFFLES:  Hang on, Mr. Mouse! This bucking mancat's got your number!


ELLIE:  I don't think you bucked him very hard, Mr. Waffles. He's still there.


WAFFLES:  What, is this guy velcroed onto me or something?


WAFFLES:  That would totally be cheating. Ellie! Come over here and help me out.


ELLIE:  You're right Mr. Waffles. Mr. Mouse has velcro pants. 

WAFFLES:  Velcro pants???! 

ELLIE:  Velcro pants, Mr. Waffles. Should we report him to the rodeo officials?


WAFFLES:  I think velcro pants are punishment enough.


About Today's Photos

It's Halloween tomorrow! Or today, depending on when you're tuning in. Although we don't have any trick or treaters visiting us in the Mountains, Glogirly is still a sucker for a mancat cowboy with a mouse saddled up on his back. (!)

Not to worry... no mancats or mice were harmed in the making of these photos. Waffles (and Ellie by default) got plenty of treats after their quick photo session. 

We hope you have a super fun and safe Halloween!

ELLIE:  Sorry about the velcro pants, Mr. Mouse.


Sunday, May 19, 2024

15 Week Countdown- Week 11: Catch Me if you Can

Welcome to Week 11 of our 15 week countdown to retirement! (Just click over to HERE if you missed the big announcement.) 

Today's post celebrates Ellie's kitten-cuteness and her gumption and confidence when it comes to "Mister" Waffles. She still quite a bit smaller than her big orange mancat brother, but she's anything but intimidated.  Just like when she was a kitten. Enjoy our sweet Ellie Belly!


Catch Me if you Can


ELLIE:  Hey, Mister Waffles. I bet you can't catch me!


WAFFLES:  Did she seriously just say that? 


ELLIE:  Bet you can't! Bet you can't!


WAFFLES:  Oh yeah? I'm like Supercat. I can leap tall scratching posts in a single bound. 


ELLIE:  Did you say SUPERCAT???


WAFFLES:  Single bound, Ellie. Single bound.

ELLIE:  Just a little higher...almost there.


WAFFLES:  Almost is still just almost. 

ELLIE:  Only a tiny bit more...if I could just...


WAFFLES:  Here, let me give you a paw. 


ELLIE:  Hey, wait a minute! Where'd you go? Supercat???


About Today's Photos
Waffles has been hard at work teaching Ellie how to use the scratching post. She's starting to understand the scratching aspect of it all, but hasn't yet managed to make it to the top. She wants to SOOO badly! Glogirly even put a smaller scratcher next to the pole to help her, but she's still just a little too tiny to make it to the summit.

Soon, Ellie Belly. Soon you'll be a Supercat too.


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