The Next Big Writer — The Life & Times of Gandalf the Beige

Re: The Life & Times of Gandalf the Beige

null@example.com (Dirk B) — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 08:06:11 +0000

It's official. My side of the bed is no longer mine. He waits until I get into bed and turn off the lights, then jumps up next to me, no matter how little space I leave on that side, and hogs it until I move over to give us both room, so he doesn't fall out and doesn't get crushed by me in the middle of the night. If I don't make room, he sits on top of the lidded trash can and rustles through the top of a small utility cart with my pills and glasses, knocking s--t down until I move.

I've been outmaneuvered by a cat!

Re: The Life & Times of Gandalf the Beige

null@example.com (loop) — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 02:15:01 +0000

Hah!

Re: The Life & Times of Gandalf the Beige

null@example.com (Dirk B) — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 23:54:24 +0000

Just a little bit. :-)

Re: The Life & Times of Gandalf the Beige

null@example.com (loop) — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 22:52:46 +0000

You love Gandalf the Beige.

Re: The Life & Times of Gandalf the Beige

null@example.com (Dirk B) — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 18:07:44 +0000

I've taken to writing at night when Gandalf is asleep, but it has caused me to sleep in randomly in the morning, so he tends to get his first meal after I wake up. I turn over this morning upon waking, and discover him sitting at my face (an inch or two away) with a big goofy smile on his face. I check the time, and figure he must be hungry, so I say, "Okay, let's go." He jumps on my chest and walks across me (naturally), then plops down facing a drawer where I keep some of his toy springs (the ones he likes to hide during the day and pull out and smack around in the middle of the night when my neighbors and I are trying to sleep), and looks back at me expectantly. I don't know if it's a trend yet, but he's waited several times now to start breakfast until after I throw that first spring and it's in his possession. Part of me wants to throttle my contractor for showing Gandalf how much fun it is to play fetch with toy springs.

Re: The Life & Times of Gandalf the Beige

null@example.com (Dirk B) — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 17:44:16 +0000

Little did I know... he managed to get one fang caught in his silicone collar. Ever try to free the fang of a writhing cat? Anyway, after I got it out, he left it alone for a few days, then tried again, and... almost got stuck again. I eventually discovered the collar in one room and him in the other. Clearly, an easy-to-clean, slightly stretchy, breakaway collar (with a bell!) is not the answer. He's back to "teleporting" directly behind me every chance he gets.

I did find a bed he likes, though, although I had to take out the fluffy pillow inside and replace it with his favourite sleeping surface: a slightly cool, reusable grocery bag over a lumpy surface. Go figure.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/GE7LDjxP5sttxQvZ9

Re: The Life & Times of Gandalf the Beige

null@example.com (Kdot) — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 10:52:22 +0000

I can only imagine what he'll do to the decorations later this month.

Pulling tinsel out of a cat's butt is a rite of passage

Re: The Life & Times of Gandalf the Beige

null@example.com (Dirk B) — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 08:07:23 +0000

dagny wrote:

Dirk--
Name him anything. You'll probably have a nick for him, and that will be what he responds to.

You were right: Gandalf, KitKat, Sweet Pea, and Demon Spawn. :-)

I finally put a collar with a bell on the little phantom/teleporter. He used to be able to pop into our universe an inch behind me without making a sound.

Re: The Life & Times of Gandalf the Beige

null@example.com (Dirk B) — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 06:40:54 +0000

Having seen enough cat videos in my time, it didn't surprise me a few weeks ago when Gandalf knocked over the new Christmas tree (assembled so I could verify the lights work), although he did it only minutes after I left the room. My boy is a quick study.

So, we secured the tree to two walls in the corner with picture hanging wire looped through a couple of hooks. One of the walls is only half-height (a "pony" wall?), and divides the entryway from the living room without blocking the view of either. It includes a flat "cap" for keys, wallet, gloves, etc. and serves as Gandalf's throne as he presides over the space.

This evening I hear him meowing from the living room, and when I check, he's on the cap, shaking the tree back and forth, trying to knock it down. That little stinker was doing it on purpose. I wish I had caught that on video. :-)

I can only imagine what he'll do to the decorations later this month.

Re: The Life & Times of Gandalf the Beige

null@example.com (loop) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 13:58:05 +0000

Give Gandalf the Beige my best. The Beige really sets off his name.

Re: The Life & Times of Gandalf the Beige

null@example.com (Dirk B) — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 16:55:02 +0000

It's a 50-year-old living room wall unit, part of a teak set from my mother's estate. Most of it still looks brand new. It didn't fit in my living room, so it's in my office/cat palace. Now that the contractors are done , I can put my stuff back into it. It's the last room I need to clean up. Until next year. :-(

Re: The Life & Times of Gandalf the Beige

null@example.com (George FLC) — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 14:18:35 +0000

That fixed it. Nice video. And nice cabinets but nothing is in them. Better fill them up in preparation of the next blizzard.

Re: The Life & Times of Gandalf the Beige

null@example.com (Dirk B) — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 02:27:01 +0000

How about this? Don't forget to turn up your volume to hear the song with the video.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/kji93qHFmNBrub5EA

Re: The Life & Times of Gandalf the Beige

null@example.com (George FLC) — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 22:44:36 +0000

I tried the link:
404. That’s an error.
The requested URL was not found on this server. That’s all we know.

And then it threw me out of TNBW.

Re: The Life & Times of Gandalf the Beige

null@example.com (Dirk B) — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 20:16:15 +0000

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipP … jPgRNx5hsc
Click to play the video. Be sure to turn up your volume.