I have a friend who has told me all about her kitty, named Mr. President. There's a funny story as to how he got his name, but I don't remember it.  But I do remember that he gets into everything.  She even sent me a picture of him IN their Christmas tree!  LOL  Can you imagine waking up in the morning, looking at the cat and saying, "Good morning, Mr. President?"  LOL  I told my husband about it and he can just imagine every time the kitty goes by, breaking out into "Hail to the Chief."  We've been hoping to meet this kitty (and see my friend and her family) this summer while we are on vacation.  In the meantime, I must honestly say that I've been jealous that I don't have a "Mr. President."  LOL

Well that may have changed.  Something funny happened Saturday morning. Before I get into that, I must preface with a bit of family history, in order for this to sound funny!  LOL 

My husband's favorite president is Theodore Roosevelt.  I don't know how it happened.  He didn't read about him, I don't think.  My dh did not come into our marriage with a love for books.  In fact, it was the opposite.  He is more of a hands on guy. However, since I have a elementary education degree in reading specialization, I set out to remedy this unfortunate situation.  =) I started reading books out loud to him! I read the Peter Jenkin's books on his walk west and Corrie ten Boom's The Hiding Place.  I forget some of the others.  DH had to admit, there were a few interesting books out there. 

Then somewhere along the way, he became fascinated with Teddy Roosevelt.  I think it was because of a movie we watched starring Cary Grant called "Arsenic and Old Lace."  We love to watch this movie every autumn.  My dh is from upstate NY and misses those nostalgic autumns of his past. Our autumns are not quite the same down here. So we watch lots of movies with autumn scenes in them every autumn.  My 15yod has not seen this movie yet, although she'd probably love it.  My 12yos however might ban it from the house!  He would not approve of Cary Grant's two elderly aunts.  They are the sweetest ladies you could meet; except they have one problem.  They feel their mission in life is to put lonely old gentlemen out of their misery with a little bit of arsenic laced elderberry wine.  Cary Grant stumbles on this bit of horrifying news on his wedding night, when he tries to make things right.  Meanwhile, Cary Grant's uncle is not quite "right in the head".  He thinks he's Teddy Roosevelt.  Every time he goes upstairs, he has to run up and yell "Charge!", because he thinks that is San Juan Hill.  The elderly ladies have even put their insane brother to work burying the old gentlemen, by telling Teddy when it's time to dig the Panama Canal (in the basement) to bury another yellow fever victim.  Of course, Teddy has no idea what he is really doing.  In the meantime, Cary Grant goes absolutely nutty trying to figure out how to best remedy this problem.  

Word got out that dh was a TR fan.  So 7 years ago for his birthday, my brother bought him a biography on TR.  It is a tome!  DH, the man who detested books, loves this one!  He's been diligently working through it in between studying for USAF promotion tests, college, house remodels, etc.   DH excitedly shares the latest facts with us after he reads a few more pages each month.  

Now about our kitty, she has become hard of hearing in the last year.  A year ago as I'd walk around the house, I'd find her under my feet all the time.  Confused, I finally realized she was deaf.  After numerous mishaps, she now meows as she walks through the house, announcing her presence.  She's been accidentally stumbled on too many times and she's putting out sonar for us to be aware that she is underfoot.      

So, what does this have to do with a presidential kitty?  Because with a big smile on my face Saturday morning, I went to my husband and told him that Slipper kitty has a new nickname.  Theodora.  He gave me a strange look.   I told him that as I walked down the stairs and reached the bottom, I heard a polite meow.  Slipper was walking towards the stairs.  "Oh, good morning, Slipper!" I told her.  I know she can't hear me but it's hard to break the habit and not talk to her.  Then she started charging up the stairs and went "M-E-O-W!" all the way to the top! 

Our own Theodora Roosevelt!  My husband's reply?  "Deee-lighted!"