Category Archives: Pets

Banner, Balboa, and the Curse of the 13th

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Friday the 13th Musings — February & March Edition

It’s the first Friday the 13th of 2026. The month is February. So far it’s been quiet and no major issues. This is the first of three Friday the 13ths this year, which makes it a very special year — or at least a very interesting one.

Peace reign in the home as Banner and Balboa cat nap

February

The universe behaved.
The cats behaved.
Even the weather behaved.

Suspicious, in hindsight.

And then, on February 23rd, Mother Nature apparently remembered she had a reputation to uphold. She dumped a heavy, wet, back‑breaking load of snow on New England and buried us all. A Friday‑the‑13th vibe… just arriving fashionably late.

The dig out begins following the blizzard of 26

March

March didn’t bother with subtlety. It wasn’t even Friday the 13th yet when I woke up to no service on my cell phone. I’d been hacked. Again. These things happen — I shared the whole sad tale in my March 11 post — but apparently March was just laying the groundwork.

Then came Thursday, March 12, when the cats decided to contribute their own brand of “help.”

Banner makes his get away

First, Banner strolled over and hit the delete key at the exact, precise, worst possible moment of a data transfer. I took that as a sign to step away and wait for a quieter, cat‑free moment.

He claims he was framed.

But Balboa had other plans. He emerged from his afternoon nap full of energy and mischief, and in short order he destroyed four — or was it five — mice.
Not the fuzzy, long‑tailed kind.
The kind I actually need to use with my computer.

By the time he was done, I had a small graveyard of plastic mouse parts and one very proud panther‑cat.

Friday the 13th

And then came the big day.

Friday the 13th started quietly enough. We even managed to wrestle Instagram into submission — successfully, I might add — which should have been my first clue that the universe was saving its energy for something else.

Feeling productive, I decided to make a quick grocery run. Lasagna was on the menu for Saturday, and I needed ricotta cheese. While I was there, I grabbed a couple of small extras. Total bill: $19.00.

Until my card was declined.

I had checked my balance before leaving the house. Plenty of money. No reason for drama. Yet there I was, standing at the Hannaford checkout with a perfectly good grocery order and a very uncooperative debit card.

Since I had to drive right past the bank on my way home, I stopped in. And that’s where the real Friday‑the‑13th twist revealed itself:
the bank had accidentally printed — or attempted to print — two replacement cards when mine was hacked. So they canceled the one I was using. The one in my wallet. The one I had just tried to use to buy ricotta.

Which means, of course, that I now get to go through all my auto‑payments and update the card number… again.

Two Down, One to Go

So that’s February and March. A quiet start, a snow ambush, a hacked phone, feline sabotage, and a bank‑card fiasco — all before we even reach the halfway point of this “special” year.

We’ll see what November brings.
Stay tuned… the calendar isn’t done with us yet.

 

March in New England

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The Month New Englanders break from Winter into Spring Chaos

March Madness, Spring Fever, and the Cats Who Run This House

March in New England is a strange, wonderful, chaotic time. One minute we’re shoveling snow, the next minute we’re celebrating the first day of spring, and somewhere in between, the entire region collectively loses its mind over March Madness.

Yes, I knew it was a big deal.
Yes, I knew it involved basketball.
But I didn’t realize just how seriously New Englanders take it until I saw a news story about companies setting up break‑room watch parties on company time.

Excuse me… what
People get paid to watch college basketball at work
Only in New England.

So What Is March Madness

For anyone else who’s been living under a cozy blanket with a box of tissues (hi, it’s me), here’s the quick version:

  • It’s the NCAA Division I men’s college basketball tournament
  • 68 college teams from all across the United States
  • Single elimination — lose once and you’re out
  • It runs from mid‑March to early April
  • It’s one of the biggest sporting events in the country

It’s not a New England invention, but you wouldn’t know that from the way we treat it. Between UConn fans, bracket pools, and the general “we survived winter, let’s celebrate something” energy, March Madness might as well be our unofficial regional holiday.

Meanwhile, Spring Sneaks In Early

I always think of spring arriving on March 21, but this year the equinox showed up on March 20, probably because even the universe is tired of winter and wants to get things moving.

New England, of course, will respond by giving us:

  • one warm day
  • one cold day
  • one rainstorm
  • and a surprise snow squall just to keep us humble

Yes it's March in New England if its not mud its still snow.

But on the calendar at least, spring is here.

Balboa: The Fastest Paw in the East

While all this seasonal excitement is happening, Balboa has declared war on my last surviving computer mouse. He’s the Fastest Paw in the East, and he takes that title seriously.

Today’s crime
I dared to vacuum during his nap.

He stomped out of the room like a tiny, offended emperor, tail flicking dramatically. I had to issue a formal apology in the form of treats. He accepted, but only after giving me the look — the one that says:

“You may continue living here, hooman, but your behavior will be monitored.”

Now he’s back on the desk, supervising this post and occasionally taking swipes at the mouse like he’s auditioning for a martial arts film.

Banner and the Case of the Missing Hair Band

While Balboa is busy waging war on technology, Banner has discovered a new hobby: elastic hair bands.

During a recent bathroom decluttering session, I found an old stash of them.
Banner thought he had won the lottery.

He carried one around the apartment, talking to it like it was his long‑lost friend. Then he took it into the bathtub — his personal gladiator arena — and tossed it around like he was training for the Hair Band Olympics.

And then… it vanished.

I looked everywhere.
Under furniture.
Behind furniture.
Inside the furniture.
Nothing.

The only conclusion I can come to is that once he finished playing with it, he ate it like a tasty little spaghetti noodle.

So that’s it.
No more hair elastics for Banner.
He cannot be trusted with them.
He has lost his hair‑band privileges indefinitely.

March in New England: A Summary

  • Basketball fans are losing their minds
  • Companies are letting employees watch games at work
  • Spring is arriving early
  • My nose is running a marathon
  • Balboa is plotting the downfall of all computer mice
  • Banner is eating hair accessories like snacks

Honestly, it feels about right.

Brought to You by Banner & Balboa: Two Professional Nappers

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cat curled up napping after losing an hour to Daylight Saving Time

National Napping Day: The Holiday We Actually Need After the Time Change

If you’ve been following along here on Around Dusty Roads, you know I’ve spent the past week or so grumbling, musing, and generally side‑eyeing Daylight Saving Time. And now that we’ve all “sprung forward” and lost an hour of sleep we never agreed to give up, it’s only fair that today brings us a little mercy.

Enter National Napping Day — the unofficial, absolutely essential holiday that arrives the Monday after the time change. In 2026, that’s today, March 9.

Honestly? This might be the most sensible holiday on the calendar.

Why Today Exists (And Why We Deserve It)

National Napping Day was created back in 1999 by a Boston University professor and his wife — which feels very on‑brand for New England. Only here would someone look at a population of overtired, cranky, sleep‑deprived people and say, “You know what? Let’s make this official.”

The idea was simple:
We lose an hour.
We feel awful.
We should nap.

Science backs them up. Even a short 20‑minute nap can boost alertness, improve mood, and help counteract the grogginess that hits hard after the clocks jump ahead.

And here’s a little personal observation: since retiring, I nap almost every day. It’s become one of the unexpected perks of this new chapter. And no — it doesn’t mess with my nighttime sleep. My bladder and the cats take care of that all on their own. If anything, the nap is the most predictable part of my sleep schedule.

Honestly, if humans took their cues from cats, we’d all be better rested. Banner and Balboa nap with the confidence of creatures who know they’re right.

 

 

A Few Fun Napping Facts

  • A quick nap can improve reaction time and reduce fatigue‑related accidents.
  • Napping helps regulate emotions (which explains why I’m less likely to yell at the microwave afterward).
  • Some cultures have been napping for centuries — the siesta is practically an art form.
  • Even Charlemagne was a napper. If it’s good enough for an emperor…
  • And of course, cats nap up to 16 hours a day. Banner and Balboa would like it noted that they are professionals and we should follow their lead.

How to Celebrate (Spoiler: The Cats Already Know)

  • Find a quiet spot between 1–3 p.m.
  • Set a timer for 10–20 minutes so you don’t wake up wondering what century it is.
  • Dark room, cozy blanket, maybe a weighted eye mask if you’re feeling fancy.
  • If you can’t nap, even closing your eyes for a few minutes helps reset your brain.
  • Or — and hear me out — take a page from the cats. Banner warms his butt on the stove when the oven’s on, Balboa curls up in a glass bowl like he’s auditioning for “Cat Tetris,” and both of them nap anywhere, anytime, without apology. They give National Napping Day their full stamp of approval.

Bonus tip: Try a “coffee nap” — drink a little caffeine right before your nap. By the time you wake up, the caffeine kicks in. It’s like a cheat code for adulthood.

Banner’s got the mug. He’s just waiting for the nap to kick in.

Cat‑Approved Napping

I have plenty of photographic proof that naps are not only acceptable but strongly encouraged in this household. Banner and Balboa are champion nappers — bed, couch, sunny patch on the floor, glass bowl, you name it. If there’s a soft surface (or even a hard one), they’re on it, asleep, living their best lives.

So if you need permission to take a nap today, just look at these two. They’ve given National Napping Day their official stamp of approval — and they take their roles very seriously.

 

Bottom Line

If Daylight Saving Time took something from you, National Napping Day is here to give a little back. So whether you curl up with a cat, stretch out on the couch, or sneak a quick snooze in your favorite chair, consider it your civic duty.

Just ask Banner and Balboa — champions of the mid‑morning, mid‑afternoon, and “just because” nap. They’ve been training for this holiday their whole lives.

Endorsed by the Feline Nap Authority

 

Wreck‑It Banner and the 5 A.M. Meow Choir

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Banner’s Brilliant (and Infuriating) Brain Returns

Sometimes Banner is just too smart for his own good — and definitely too smart for my sleep schedule. He’s back to his old tricks, and I’m one light‑switch incident away from investing in blackout curtains and earplugs.

The First Time He Turned on the Bathroom Light

He was still just a kitten when he learned how to flip the bathroom light on. I’ll never forget that moment. The bathroom is right off the bedroom, and suddenly my whole room lit up like a Broadway stage. I shot awake convinced someone had broken in… only to find one very satisfied orange cat who had apparently decided I’d slept long enough.

Banner Making himself at home in the bathroom sink

Between turning the light on and his other favorite pastime — opening the medicine cabinet and knocking everything onto the floor — my chances of a full night’s sleep were slim. My solution back then was simple: childproof covers on the switch and closing the bathroom door at bedtime. Peace returned.

For a while.

The New Trick: The Fan Switch at 3 A.M.

Now Banner has discovered the second switch — the one outside the bathroom that controls the vent fan and a dimmer light. Not as bright, but that fan hum at 3 a.m. could wake the dead. There’s nothing quite like rolling over and seeing the bathroom door outlined in a soft glow… and realizing the switch now has tiny teeth marks.

Look closely. You can see a tiny tooth mark

 

Yes, teeth marks. Banner doesn’t bump the switch — he bites it. My own little Wreck‑It Ralph in fur.

At least he hasn’t figured out how to open the door. Yet.

Looks like I’ll be buying more childproof switch covers. Again.

Balboa the Bed Hog and Banner the Bench Sleeper

Banner may be the engineer of chaos, but he’s not the cuddler. He prefers sleeping on the bench next to the bed, keeping a dignified distance. Balboa, on the other hand, wants to sleep on my face. Since I only have a twin bed, space is limited — and Balboa takes the lion’s (or should I say panther’s) share.

If I get up in the night, he immediately stretches his full, impressive length across the entire mattress. No room for Mama. And if I try to move him? Deeply offended.

Balboa’s rather impressive length

The 5 A.M. Meow Choir

Between the nighttime shenanigans and the early morning wake‑up calls — Banner usually starts the meow choir around 5 a.m., with Balboa chiming in for harmony — I spend most days wandering around in a sleep‑deprived fog.

Kitty Choir in 2 part harmony

Life with cats can be such a joy.

 

🎁 The Night the Animals Prepare

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A Lighthearted Look at December 23rd

The Forgotten Day of the Holiday Season

December 23rd is the underdog of the holiday calendar. It’s not festive enough to get its own song, and it’s not dramatic enough to inspire a Hallmark movie. It’s the day we use to panic‑wrap gifts, lose the scissors repeatedly, and wonder why we bought so much tape last year but can’t find any of it now.

While we’re doing all that, the animals are busy with their own very serious preparations.

Dogs: Conducting the Annual Comfort Inspection

Dogs treat December 23rd like a personal performance review for their beds.

  • They circle with the intensity of a NASA docking maneuver.
  • They nudge blankets into shapes that defy geometry.
  • They sigh loudly, as if the fate of the season depends on proper fluffing.

By the time they settle in, you’d think they were preparing for a long winter’s nap sponsored by a luxury bedding company.

Cats: Scouting Prime Real Estate

Cats approach December 23rd with the focus of tiny, furry real‑estate agents.

They wander the house evaluating:

  • Sunbeam strength
  • Blanket softness
  • Human‑lap availability
  • The structural integrity of the laundry pile

By evening, they’ve chosen the exact spot where tomorrow’s holiday lounging will occur. And once a cat claims a location, it is — legally and spiritually — theirs.

Birds: Rehearsing the Holiday Morning Chorus

If you hear extra chirping on the 23rd, don’t worry — the birds aren’t arguing. They’re rehearsing.

They like to start the 24th with a crisp, cheerful soundtrack, and they take their warm‑up routine very seriously. Think of it as nature’s version of a soundcheck, minus the roadies..

Squirrels: The Last‑Minute Overachievers

Squirrels treat December 23rd like the final lap of a reality competition show.

They’re:

  • Stashing one last acorn
  • Reorganizing their secret treasure hoards
  • Sprinting across yards like they’re late for a meeting
  • Checking your flowerpots for “inventory purposes”

If you see a squirrel moving at warp speed, just know: it’s on a mission.

A Quiet Kind of Preparation

While we’re juggling to‑do lists and wrapping paper, the animals are carrying out their own traditions — no fanfare, no fuss, just small rituals that make the season feel a little cozier.

Maybe that’s the charm of December 23rd. Not the sparkle, not the spectacle, but the everyday routines happening all around us… reminding us that everyone prepares for the holidays in their own way.