I'm nearly 50. I grew up in household where proper manners and etiquette were expected and reinforced at every turn. Adults had "dibs"; you screwed up and an Adult called you on it, you "took notice and smartened up", if you ran home and whined about it you likely got a second dose from Mum or Dad! Sometimes it seemed grossly unfair but in a way it was comforting because there was never a question about what was expected and what the consequences of transgressions would be. I am shocked at how so many children are permitted to behave "nowadays" and the litany of (what I consider to be) "excuses" accorded them. Whining, hystrionics at the dinner table that continued after ONE warning? "Baseball rules" kicked in; 3 strikes and you're OUT, immediate banishment to the bedroom in the household where I grew up! If I had expected a guest and persisted in the behavior (following the warning) the guest would have been informed of my infraction and the play date had been cancelled because of it. I would have been required to APOLOGIZE to them for their inconvenience, too; quite possibly in person and at the time of the infraction, too! There was never any question about who was in charge. The only one who was "punished" by Skyler's obnoxious behavior was your daughter, 'bug. He behaved dreadfully and "got away with it", there were NO consequences. Times sure have changed and I'm not sure it's been for the better. There is a "naughty chair" in my home. And there are rules here. I learned that one the hard way, when the bratty kid of a friend persisted in tormenting an elderly cat. It pissed me off and the friend chalked it up to "toddler behavior". WRONG-O! "My house, my rules" and what has really surprised me is how thrilled my friends' kids are to come here, lol. This is a cool and fun place, but if you act like a dink it can be tantamount to any one of Dante's levels of Hell. (bbwwaahhh!). That goes for visiting Idyllettes, too! ;)

Thanks Mike! I hadn't thought of that. And of course I didn't know what sort of sound they make either. There are ringtails in the area. My neighbor saw one in her yard a couple of years ago, so that's probably what it is. We used to call them 'ring tail cats'. Whatever it is it's still there this morning! When my dogs starting barking and scratching at the steps it started it's chirp-purr sound again. You'd think with all the hullabaloo from the dogs it would have left during the night. On the other hand it might be nice to have it hang around to take care of mice, and hopefully rats. It's a beautiful animal! Here is a link that might be useful: Bassariscus astutus

time to move down

Every cat I've ever had has done that, dee. Jaw movement and all. It's kind of a "meh-eh-eh" sound they make and chatter their jaw. My girls that I have now, and my last two boys did it at just about anything...bugs, birds, squirells. I love the sound. Sometimes I just can't figure out what its over. On the topic of cat sounds, a few summers ago when it was still just me and my girl, I was sleeping in the basement and heard an awful, awful noise (I thought she was dying!! it was a death cry) coming from her. It was 6 am. I rushed upstairs just in time to see her all puffed up, on her hind legs..and she bashed her paws into the window. I went and looked outside and there was the cutest, fluffiest gray kitty I have ever seen. Rubbing up against my door, and rolling all over the place. I think he was in love with my cat! But she definately wanted nothing to do with him. A while after that, she'd make that same death cry, everytime she saw her reflection in the window! Both my girls make "Meh" sounds when I wake up, and the hover around my feet. The just wail when their food dish is empty. They howl when they're lonely or can't find eachother. My oldest, does the deep roar when she's caught a toy mouse. And I just love the soft little have meow, half purr when you pet them. Probably my favorite though, is when they get mad at eachother when they're eating (one always gets shovey) and they growl with their mouths full, still chewing, its the funniest sound "Mowrowrowrowrow"