So ... when we last left off, I had two little kittens that I found in a shelter.  Going back to this time period, this was when I moved to Ft. Collins to work on my master's degree in Spanish literatures, and I also decided to do a "graduate certificate" in Women's Studies (it was sort of like a minor in a Master's program).  It was an empowering time in my life as I was living by myself for the first time ever, and I was learning, exploring, and growing.  (Sometimes, I really miss that time period.  This isn't really the life that I have now, as a mother of two little kids!)

I couldn't decide what to name "the girls" ... so I thought long and hard, probably as hard as I did with the naming of my own children. 

I finally decided that the little half-orange-faced kitten was beautiful, gracious, well-mannered ... and, well, French.  She had to have a French name. 

Meanwhile, the little orange-stripe-on-the-nose kitten was feisty, unpredictable, a little demanding, but very passionate in her absolute love for me ... and, well, Spanish (in a Latin lover kind of a way).  She had to have a Spanish name. 

So, I then made it a must that the kittens had to have names that began with C ... they were cats after all ... and I finally settled on Chloe and Catarina.  (Get it? Cat ... Catarina?)

They were the cutest little kittens around.  Really.   

Seriousy, they used to hang out in the window of my apartment above* and everyone in the building loved and adored them.  (With the possible exception of the property manager.) 

Meanwhile, the Big Sweetie had already entered my life the year before.  We met when I was working on my teaching certificate -- okay, I was a student teacher! -- at his school.  Around the time I went to Fort Collins, however, we really weren't sure that what we had was going to last.  However, as time went on, we would break up and get immediately back together as we just couldn't stand the thought of breaking up.  So, when the kittens entered the picture .... I will say that the Big Sweetie wasn't entirely pleased.  I think that he actually called me something like "insane" for taking on two cats.  (Hmm ... there's a pattern to him calling me that, now that I think of it.)   

In time, Chloe really took to him ... she thought he was great, and she has such a happy little personality, that all that she really wants in the world is lots of love and little bit of wet food.  (Actually, reverse those two, and that's what she wants.) 

Rini (as Catarina became known) did not take to the Big Sweetie.  They developed an intense dislike for each other, and we joke to this day that Rini is still mad at "The Big Mean Guy" (that's what she calls him) for moving in and taking time away from her one true love ... me.  In fact, Rini really hates everybody else in the world ... she doesn't really care for her sister that much anymore ... she intensely dislikes the children ... but she is absolute in her need to always be near me, no matter where I am in the house.  (She's on my lap as I write this.)  She's kind of crazy, but -- hey, she still my little Rini kitten. 

And those are my two little calico kittens!  More stories to come, as I'm running out of FO's to report ...

*I seem to be doing lots of annotated blog entries lately ... anyhow, do you want to hear a crazy story?  After the girls and I moved out of that apartment my second year of graduate school, and moved in with the Big Sweetie, there was another girl named Jennifer (and from my hometown!) who moved in to that place and finished my lease.  Guess what?  She was murdered in that exact apartment!! Isn't that such a horrible and freakily coincidental story??  Just had to share.