Semi-final 1: What a thriller!

Oh. My. D-O-G!! That was one of the most exciting games of footy that I've EVER seen! Tonight the West Coast Eagles (The Hot(M)BC's team) were beaten by the Collingwood Magpies (Faz's team) and eliminated from the finals race. But don't be too sad, cats of the Hot(M)BC, the Eagles fought so hard! I'm sure that your purrs and cheers helped them!

For the first time since 1994, the final went into extra time, because the teams were locked at 72 points each at the end of full time. So, they played two 5-minute periods of extra time, in which Collingwood kicked away to win 13.15.93 to 10.14.74. Faz, Collingwood now goes on to meet the Geelong Cats (Daisy's team) in a preliminary final next week. The winner of that game goes on to the Grand Final on 29 September.
Tomorrow (well, later today, since it's 12.09am right now), Yoggie's Hawks (Hawthorn) take on Gypsy and Tasha's Kangaroos (North Melbourne) for the right to play Sooty's Port Power (Port Adelaide) next weekend. Can't wait!

Better get some good napping in before the next game.

Cheers,
--Pabs

Wednesday wipeout...

Sunbeam: 1, Pablo: 0

Week one wash-up

One week of finals down, three to go! Daisy's team, the Geelong Cats, absolutely demolished the North Melbourne Kangaroos (Gypsy and Tasha's team) in their qualifying final yesterday, 23.18.156 to 8.2.50. This result confirms the Cats' status as favourites to win the flag in 2007.

So last weekend's big winners, Geelong and Port Adelaide (Sooty's team), enjoy a week of this weekend. Meanwhile, the Collingwood Magpies (Faz's team) travel to Western Australia to play the West Coast Eagles (the Hot(M)BC's team) on Friday night, and the Kangaroos face off against Hawthorn (Yoggie's team) on Saturday in Melbourne. All games are sudden death (loser is eliminated) from here on in, so the pressure is really mounting. Finalists, your teams need you to send them your best purrs and cheers!

Between now and Friday night, I'll return to my regularly scheduled program of blogging... no more footy talk, I promise!

Cheers,
--Pabs

Hawks and Magpies live to fight another day...

Another exciting day of finals... this afternoon, Yoggie's team Hawthorn came from behind to snatch a three-point victory over Karl's team, the Adelaide Crows: 15.15.105 to 15.12.102. Meanwhile, this evening, the Collingwood Magpies (Faz's team) were too good for the Sydney Swans (Phoebe and Monica's team): 18.17.125 to 13.9.87. The Swans fought hard, and were just 10 points behind at half time, but they just couldn't keep it up. Karl, Monica and Phoebe, I'm sorry that your teams have been eliminated, but you can be very proud of their efforts.

One more game in the first round of the finals tomorrow, Geelong Cats (Daisy's team) v North Melbourne Kangaroos (Gypsy and Tasha's team). The Cats have been the dominant team of season '07, but the Kangaroos are always tough to beat. Can't wait!
Cheers,
--Pabs

Port Adelaide makes an early charge!

Wow! What a game last night! Port Adelaide (Sooty's team) came from behind to beat last year's champions, the West Coast Eagles (the Hot(M)BC's team), by just three points (9.14.68 to 9.11.65 this means that both teams scored 9 goals, worth 6 points each, but Port scored 3 more points than the Eagles). It was a very exciting game - a great opening to the finals. Don't worry, cats at the Hot(M)BC, you have another chance next week (not sure who you play yet). And Sooty, your team gets a week off and will play in a preliminary final in two weeks' time... if they win that, they're in the Grand Final! But it's still early days.

It was an exciting night for Port... not only did they win, but their coach's wife had a baby! He left straight after the game to be with his wife and meet his fifth child. I think he's trying to make his own footy team!

Two matches today... well, one today and one tonight. May the best teams win!
Cheers,
--Pabs

The final eight!

First of all, I'd like to thank everycat who entered my AWESOME Footy Finals Fever Competition. But second of all, I'd like to apologise to everycat, cause I think I made it a bit too hard... I only had seven entries! It was my first go at designing a competition... I think I got a bit carried away. Sorry!

Anyway, here are the finalists, and their corresponding AFL team:
1st place-- Daisy (50 points) GEELONG CATS
2nd place-- Sooty (50 points)* PORT ADELAIDE POWER
3rd place-- Hot(M)BC (49 points) WEST COAST EAGLES
4th place-- Gypsy & Tasha (47 points) (NORTH MELBOURNE) KANGAROOS
5th place-- Yoggie (44 points) HAWTHORN HAWKS
6th place-- Faz (42 points) COLLINGWOOD MAGPIES
7th place-- Phoebe & Monica (42 points)* SYDNEY SWANS
(In the case where two entrants scored equal points, the entrant who submitted their entry first was awarded the higher place)

Now, the AFL has a final eight, so I thought I'd award 8th place to our good friend Karl. Even though he didn't submit an entry, I thought that playing in the finals might lift his spirits at this sad time. Karl's team is the ADELAIDE CROWS.

Now to this weekend's finals matches...
Friday 7 September: PORT ADELAIDE v WEST COAST (AAMI Stadium, Adelaide)
Saturday 8 September: HAWTHORN v ADELAIDE (Telstra Dome, Melbourne)
COLLINGWOOD v SYDNEY (MCG, Melbourne)
Sunday 9 September: GEELONG v KANGAROOS (MCG, Melbourne)

The aim of this weekend's finals is to reduce the number of finalists from 8 to 6, so the two lowest-ranked losers will be eliminated.

Congratulations to all the entrants! Get behind your team! Sing your song! Show your colours on your blog! I'll keep everyone up to date on the results. And I'll share some of the finalists' creative entries in the coming weeks.

I can feel that finals fever coming on...
Cheers,
--Pabs

A sad Sunday...

In memory of the friends we've lost this week and all the Ones Who Came Before.
(thanks to Kashim & Othello for organising this tribute weekend)

Cheers,
--Pabs

Another long overdue meme: The catnip meme

My mate Yoggie in Sweden tagged me for this meme last week. I have to list five things that happen to me when I'm on the 'nip. It's a bit hard to tell how many things happen to me when I'm nipped out, so I'll just list everything I can think of and hope that it's somewhere near five.

Even though I'm getting to be a middle-aged cat (I'm eight early next year!), I've only been introduced to the nip in the last year or so. This is my current source of nip:

This mousie was one of the presents that my Secret Paw, Gypsy, bought for me. He's a nip mouse! And this is what happens to me when I play with him:
I immediately become very interested in grooming him. This goes on for quite some time, because he tastes great.

Then we have a bit of a roll around together. Sometimes I have to stop to lick his furs some more.
That's when things start getting a little spacey. I roll around on my back, doing lots of full monties and half monties and side monties and... just... whatever...

After that, I slow down. Waaay down. I get the stares and my head spins. That's when I know it's time to stop.

Nip doesn't make me extra friendly... just extra playful and then extra dizzy. But it doesn't last for long. Then I'm back to normal old Pabs again.

Hey, don't forget that my AWESOME Footy Finals Fever competition is still open. And guess what? Places in the top eight are still up for grabs! There's some great prizes on offer, as well as the chance to learn a bit about my favourite sport... Aussie Rules Football! Entries close this Sunday, 2 September, midnight PDT. Give it a go!

Cheers,
--Pabs

A very overdue meme...

Marilyn Monreow and Mickey Mantle both tagged me for this meme (without knowing that the other had done it, how cute!) ages ago... finally, here are my answers for the Five Things That Changed Your Life meme:

1. Moving in with Nick and Kate. I've talked about this before. I moved around a lot in the first few years of my life. But I've had things pretty sweet since I moved in with them in 2002, and I know that they're my forever family. And that's as mushy as you'll ever hear me get.
2. Moving into an apartment with a catflap. Every cat should have a catflap. It's a cat's key to freedom and independence.
3. My brown sheepskin. A gift from my good friends Joe and Cath. It's added untold luxury to my basket naps. And it totally matches my colour palate.
4. Chicken. I say no more.
5. Discovering the Cat Blogosphere. I've made so many awesome friends in the past year... I feel like you're all part of my extended family. You all rock!

Whoops! Getting mushy again. Better stop there.
Cheers,
--Pabs

A black armband for Anastasia...

There's a tradition in Australian Rules Football, when someone involved with a club dies, the players wear black armbands (usually made with black tape and worn around the bicep) as a mark of respect. Now, I don't like wearing anything, and I already have permanent black armbands on my arms (made by my black furs), so as a mark of respect to our dear friend Anastasia (who, it seems, has moved on from this world), I'm gonna delay the announcement about who's made the next stage of my Footy Finals competition for a week. It doesn't seem right to get excited about footy finals this week. It's a week to think about our lost friend and be thankful for the beautiful sparkle that she brought to the blogosphere.


Seeing as I'm delaying the announcement, I'll keep the entries open until midnight PDT next Sunday, if anyone still wants to enter. You still have a chance to make the final eight!

Thanks for your friendship and the fun you brought to the blogosphere, Anastasia! Shine on!

Cheers,
--Pabs

Come back, Anastasia!

Oh no!

Anastasia from The Cat Realm has gone missing.

We need to send all our thoughts and prayers her way and her family's way, especially to her brother Karl.

Come back, Anastasia!

Cheers,
--Pabs

Another Sunday adventure with the d-o-gzillaz

This weekend, the d-o-gzillaz went on a big adventure with Nick and Kate:

Road trip!!!

Look at the d-o-gzillaz checking out the Tasmanian countryside. They love it!

Wow! They've ended up at Kate's parents' house in Latrobe. That's a 3-hour drive from home. I've never been up there. Before they left, they said something about meeting a new friend...

Oh my d-o-g, it's Ben, Kate's old d-o-g who lives with her parents!

Ben gave them a warm Latrobe welcome...

The d-o-gzillaz sure looked up to Ben! They really enjoyed spending time with a real d-o-g. I don't know why.

The three of them became quite close. Ben sure showed them a good time!

... and the d-o-g-zillaz still got back to Hobart in time to watch the big game between the Geelong Cats and Port Adelaide Power (that's first place versus second place... at the time of publication, Port were ahead by 14 points. Could be an upset!).

Which reminds me... you've still got time to enter my AWESOME Footy Finals Fever competition! I'm keeping entries open until midnight, Pacific Time (USA) today, Sunday 26 August. Give it a go! And don't forget to email your entries to kobiekat[AT]hotmail[dot]com Good luck!

Wow. What an exciting weekend!

Cheers,
--Pabs

Introducing... Sooty!

This is Sooty. Believe it or not, she is kind of my sister/aunty! She lives with Nick's parents up in northern Tasmania, and she's started her own blog about her seaside life at Bell Buoy Beach! We've never met in the flesh, but I've heard all about her. She's waaaay old. At least 17. And she's lived in way more places than even I have. And guess what else? She is a totally outside cat. Can you imagine? I'm sure she'd love it if you stopped by and checked out her blog.

Great to have you in the blogosphere, Sooty!

Cheers,
--Pabs

P.S. Don't forget to enter my AWESOME Footy Finals Fever competition! Scroll down for details.
UPDATE: Entries are starting to roll in... a fewcats have asked me when the deadline is. I did say midnight (Tasmanian time) this Sunday 26 august, but I'll extend it to midnight Pacific time this Sunday, so all you cats stateside can have more time over the weekend. I know that the quiz is a bit tricky, but I made all the answers Google-able and Wikipedia-able, and Nick, Kate and I have decided to make the creative questions worth DOUBLE POINTS. So have fun!

And finally... the quiz!

Sorry it's taken me longer than planned to post this quiz... you can thank Nick for once again hogging the computer and Kate for being 'too busy' and 'too tired' to help me post in those rare moments when the computer was free. Anyway, here is the quiz for my AWESOME Footy Finals Fever competition. Footy is the nickname for Australian Rules Football, in case anycat didn't know. And with the Australian Football League finals coming up in just a few weeks, I thought it was time that everycat learned a bit about my favourite game. But it's meant to be fun, too, so there's some creative elements thrown in there, too. And a few hints along the way (you can get some more help from Google, Wikipedia and the AFL website) . Here are the questions... one for every team in the AFL:

1. How many teams play in the AFL competition?
2. Before 1990, the AFL had a different name. What was it?
3. How many teams have cat-related nicknames?
4. Name at least three Australian cities which have teams in the AFL.
5. Although there is no team from my home state of Tasmania in the AFL, Tasmania has produced many great VFL/AFL players, past and present. Name at least three of them, and the teams that they played for.
6. Which Victorian-based team currently plays some of its home games in Tasmania each year? Where are these games played?
7. Which Geelong Cats player changed his name by deed poll to Whiskas as part of a sponsorship deal with the cat food brand in 1998?
8. It's been a long time between premierships for the Geelong Cats. When did they last win the premiership?
9. In AFL terminology, what is a mark? a wooden spoon? a behind?
10. At which ground is the AFL Grand Final (think Superbowl) played each year?
11. Guess what? A number of AFL players have gone on to have careers as punters in the NFL in the States. Name at least two of them (bonus points if you can name the AFL/NFL teams they have played for).
12. Which team's song is sung to the tune of 'Yankee doodle dandy'? Which team's song is 'When the saints go marching in?'
13. Which team/s have won the most premierships in VFL/AFL history?
14. Now that you've found out a bit about the AFL, which is your favourite team? Why?
15. Imagine you are in charge of a new AFL team. What is your name? What are your colours? What are the words of your club song?
16. Based on everything you've found out about Aussie Rules, what skills do cats have that would make them awesome AFL players?

When you're done, please email your answers to kobiekat[AT]hotmail[dot]com

Good luck, everycat! The eight best entries (as judged my me, Nick and Kate) will be assigned an AFL team for the finals series. In the event of any ties for placings, the earliest entry will be awarded the higher placing. The two entrants whose teams make the Grand Final will win prizes, and the entrant whose team wins the premiership will win a great prize pack (see my last post for details. To give you all a chance to complete the quiz, entries will be accepted until midnight (my time) on Sunday 26 August. Again, I reserve the right to change any of these rules as I see fit. Let me know if you have any questions.

Cheers,
--Pabs

The big announcement...

Hi everycat! As promised, here's the big announcement about my blogoversary competition. Introducing...

So here's the deal. Not only is it my blogoversary, but the Australian Football League finals are coming up. I thought I'd combine these two auspicious events into one awesome competition and teach all my international mates a little bit about my favourite game. Here's how it works:

1. Everycat (dog, bun, whatever you are) is invited to take part in my AWESOME Footy Finals Quiz.The questions will require you to do a bit of internet research, but I've tried not to make it too hard. I'll leave the quiz open for a week (closing midnight Australian Eastern Standard Time next Sunday, 26 August), to give you all time to work on it. It won't all be facts, there will be some creative elements, too (I can't post the quiz tonight, cause Nick needs the computer. Soon.).

2. The entrants with the eight highest scores on the quiz will be assigned a team for the AFL finals series (eight AFL teams qualify for the finals, so the cat with the highest quiz score will be assigned the AFL team who finishes on top of the table, the cat with the second highest score will be assigned the second team, and so on...). I'll keep you posted on who gets which teams and how the teams are going.

3. Prizes (to be announced) will be awarded to the two cats who are lucky enough to have their teams progress to the Grand Final (on 29 September), but the cat whose team wins the Grand Final will win a special commemorative Premiership poster, some yummy kitty treats, some yummy Tasmanian chocolates for your beans AND a Pablo mug!

Wow! I wish I could enter. Speaking of which, multiple entries per household are allowed, one per animal. And I reserve the right to change the conditions of this competition at any time. So there.

So brush up on your AFL knowledge, everycat, and I'll post the quiz tomorrow!

Cheers,
--Pabs

Happy blogoversary to me...

That's right cats, one year ago today I began my adventures in the blogosphere! It's been so much fun making lots of friends all over the world and telling everycat all about me and my life down here at the bottom of the world. To mark the occasion, Kate even made me a special blogoversary... um... cake. It's chicken with egg and sardines. Yum! She served it on her grandma's bone china tea set:

It's a bit hard to eat your blogoversary cake when the candle's still alight!

Cheers,
--Pabs
(P.S. Stay tuned over the weekend for the big announcement about my blogoversary competition... it's gonna be HUGE!!)

Sunday adventures with the d-o-gzillaz

Well, today was my d-o-gzillaz' first Sunday in Hobart. I figured that they are used to going on Sunday adventures with Jeter and Laffin, so I thought I owed it to them to show them a good time in their new home town. So I got Nick and Kate to show them the sights of our lovely little city. I stayed at home in bed, cause it was cold. And I don't really dig faraway adventures.

First, Nick and Kate took them down to the waterfront:



Then, they went to Parliament House, where the Tasmanian Parliament sits:

Then they took a sail one one of the ships on the Abel Tasman fountain at Salamanca Place (Abel Tasman was the first European to visit Tasmania about a million years ago):

Then, Nick and Kate took them to the top of Mount Wellington, about a 30-minute drive from the Hobart CBD. They had to break a few rules to show them around...

Nick and Kate took them up to the pinnacle so they could see the awesome view of the Hobart area. Trouble was, it was snowing up there. So they couldn't see Hobart. But they did have fun in the snow, as you can see:


I sure hope that the d-o-gzillaz enjoyed their first Sunday adventure in Hobart. A few of you have told me that the d-o-gzillaz need names... I'm trying hard to come up with some good names for them. Suggestions are welcome!

Cheers,
--Pabs

They came!! They came!!

Mostcats would know that I was one of the winners of Jeter Harris's contest of the millennium. You can see my winning entry, and the other entries, here. Ever since the winners were announced, I've been eagerly anticipating the arrival of my prize, the D-o-gzilla salt and pepper shakers. Well, on Tuesday afternoon, the man in the blue trousers (it's winter here) delivered a package to my door. It was addressed to me, and came from the States! And it had a picture of Laffin and the d-o-gzillaz on it:

Inside was a letter from the great Jeter Harris himself!

...and, of course, the d-o-gzillaz!!

"G'day, I'm Pabs."

"How you doin'?"

Guess what? Life really is 'grate' with d-o-gzillaz! Thanks Jeter and Laffin!

"C'mon guys, I'll show you around!"

Cheers,
--Pabs

Garrett: My not-of-my-species special friend

Dare accepted, Karl!

For those of you who don't know, Karl from The Cat Realm has dared his mates to seek out and befriend an animal from a species other than our own.

So... meet Garrett, my not-of-my-species special friend:

I found him over at the Animal Internet. Why Garrett, I hear you ask? Well, the reasons are manifold:

• He's a NEWPSIE!!! Yes, he lives at Newport Beach, CA... in The O.C! But he's recently moved there from Pittsburgh, so he doesn't know Julie Cooper or the Cohens (but I guess the Cohens moved to Berkeley, didn't they?). The O.C. was my favourite TV show. I'm a lot like Ryan Atwood, you see.
  
• He's a literary type. He wrote a whole editorial (published on the Animal Internet) about his previous work as a mine canary. Very impressive.
• As you can see, he's a Budgerigar, and Budgerigars are native to Australia.
  
• ... well... to be honest, he looks pretty tasty! The truth is on my side with this, because (according to Wikipedia) the name Budgerigar means 'good food' in some native Australian languages! But I've assured him that I'm too far away from him to do him any harm. He's a bit nervous about being my buddy, though. I guess I am a bit intimidating, just like Ryan Atwood.

Anyway, please visit Garrett's Animal Internet page and say g'day. Tell him Pabs sent you!

Cheers,
--Pabs

My experiment: An update

The score so far...

Crystal litter: 1 hit (#2)

Clay-based litter: 1 hit (#1)

so Karl's hypothesis is currently winning out! I'll keep you posted on further 'movements'. By the way, I do 'go' more often than twice in 5 days... I just prefer to conduct my business outside, when possible.

Cheers,
--Pabs