PLEASE FORGIVE ME, DEAR GRASSHOPPER for my lagardness, my tardiness, in getting to your COTD page. It has been more than a week, and I have not been by to pile my praises upon you or to express my admiration and joy that, at long last, Grasshopper, the famous San Diego dock cat has been named Cat of the Day! Have 11 days already lapsed since the passage of this great and wonderful day? Surely, you must think that I do not care.

If you could have but followed me for even a portion of these past 11 days, you would understand that it is not indifference that has kept me from posting my praises but rather an insane life schedule that makes it difficult to attend to the truly important matters in life, such as Grasshopper's turn at COTD.

Here, then, are my praises, heaped upon you:

Beautiful, gorgeous, magnificent, damn near omnipotent; loyal, loving, healing, black and white, soother, teacher, sleek ears, acute sense of smell (even if aesthetically questionable), pretty kitty, effervescent, perceptive, marvelous whiskers, humbly proud, possessed of great taste.... well, I could go on and on.

I have questions, though, Grasshopper:

Do you hop?

And could you bat a pebble from from my hand?

If so, then you are indeed the master.

But I do not think you could bat a pebble from my hand, for I would snatch it away before your flying paw could reach it.

Yet, I think you may still be the master. Despite their touted industry, self-sufficiency and their arrogant tendency to mock your relaxed, leisurely ways, I suspect that the ants actually work for you, Grasshopper.

After all, come winter, do you ever starve while the ants party heartily?

No, I do not think so!

Belated congratulations, Grasshopper - and to you as well, Kohala!