The Great Haggis Feast

**phesina** · 09-17-2011, 06:14 PM

Meowmie here again: The Great Haggis Parade was this morning!

The Haggis in a Hurry Shoppe float, featuring a giant haggis, led the way.. followed by the world-renowned kitty bagpipers and dancer performing on another float, and the Catmobile right behind .. then by vast crowds of Scottish students in native garb from U-M and Eastern Michigan U. (next-door in Ypsilanti, and today's football opponents).. and all the other haggis enthusiasts from all around, not to mention all the kitty fans!

The parade began at the southeastern end of the U campus, wound through the central campus, then downtown, and on out to the football stadium.

The Haggis in a Hurry Shoppe of course had free samples all along the parade route and in the stands at the stadium, and they have the concession stands covered too. The Shoppe itself has been mobbed all day since it opened before dawn this morning, and they have a tent in front to be able to serve more customers. They'll be open all night tonight too!

Back to the football game: As usual, the pipers and dancer led the teams out onto the field and played the National Anthem before the game started. They performed the Halftime Show, as always. The Catmobilers of course had the whole luxury box area at the top of the stadium.

After the game ended (U-M won 31-3

), the Catmobile and other True Haggis Aficionados headed for Gallup Park, where the festivities continue with musical and dancing performances and celebrations of all sorts, and a Giant Haggis Cookout with feasting for all and plenty of Glenfiddich to wash it all down.. There are tents with all kinds of cat beds for those who would like to camp out at the park and/or spend some private time with their sweeties, and canoes available, and all kinds of birdies and wildlife to watch!

I will be heading back out there myself to join in the fun as soon as I finish this update.

Who knows how late the party will last, or how long I'll last for that matter, since I tend to crash out early.. All the better to get ready for whenever the exhausted Catmobilers return tonight or tomorrow morning.

Incidentally, what an absolute PLEASURE it was to have Traveler as a guest too the other night.. What utterly delightful company he is.

Though it's too bad a horse can't use a litter box like cats can. Then again.. when I think that through.. maybe it's better they don't. I hate to think of scooping that box!

Then again.. cleaning up a bathroom after it's been a horse's stall all night is not a chore I want ever to repeat.

And I must say it certainly was ...different using a cat's litter box myself! (The cats insisted I scoop it after each use, too.) Fortunately I had gotten in a package of Baby Wipes to use as best I could for personal hygiene.

Well, stay tuned, haggis fans..

**katladyd** · 09-18-2011, 01:09 AM

Oh, I dont want the cars here to go away! I love driving! Plus, there are several million commuters on our roads every day. Talk about a different kind of pollution if it were all horse driven! I love Traveler and all, but L.A. is not Mackinac Island. Who would clean all that stuff up?

Mac still thinks they named the island after him. Silly boy!

**phesina** · 09-18-2011, 03:41 PM

Well, the Catmobile is on its way, taking kitties to the train station or the airport or all the way home. My seven are fast asleep in little heaps around the apartment.

What delightful company they have all been! And they all had a FABULOUS time and were saying we should do this every year.

Now I'm going to go collapse in a heap for a while.

ZZZZzzzzzzzzz,
Meowmie

P.S., Good point, katladyd, about just the CHANGE of pollution type rather than the removal of pollution if motor vehicles were to be banned in Los Angeles! No doubt this will become a hotly-debated issue in California once Traveler starts tweeting about it.

**momcat** · 09-18-2011, 03:58 PM

Got a call from Groucho. He said while the kitty musicians were practicing yesterday, several students from the university were watching and listening. One student who is a music major saw Groucho's string break on his fiddle and the look of tremendous disappointment on his face. She ran to the music building, grabbed a new string, then helped him replace it and tune it properly. The situation was resolved in a matter of minutes. The student, who is from Aberdeen Scotland, got a round of applause from the kitties and many kitty kisses for saving the day. Thank you, kind and thoughtful student!

The Haggis Feast was super! Inka said the food was sooo tasty and there was plenty for everyone. A few of the guy kitties wanted to bring a "kitty bag" home for Frankie. The crowd loved the performance by the PT Kitty Bagpipe Quartet and our Scottish dancer didn't miss a beat. Groucho said the stadium really rocked when it came time for square dancing, nobody sat it out. Don't know what time the festivities ended, Groucho wouldn't say.

Pat, I have a message for you from Groucho and Ming:
"Hi Auntie Phesina, Thank you so very much for letting us know where to get new strings! We both realized we should carry extras just in case. This morning all of us musicians went to the shop, even the bagpipers. The people at the store helped us find the best harp and fiddle strings so now we have an ample back-up supply. They were also very impressed with the bagpipe quartet saying they'll add their CD to the store's inventory.
Purrs and Kitty Kisses,
Ming and Groucho"

**phesina** · 09-19-2011, 01:46 PM

Oh, that's so nice that that student fixed up Groucho's fiddle for him, just in time!

And I'm glad the musicians were able to get over to Shar Music and stock up on strings for backups. Pets and skritchies back to you, Groucho and Ming!

I may go check that store out myself, even though I'm not a musician.. From its web site, it looks like quite a place. I'd never heard of them before; I did a search on "violin strings ann arbor," and Shar's came up first. If nothing else, I can watch for when the pipers' CD comes in!

I'm glad the Catmobilers had such a good time. I think people will be talking about this in Ann Arbor for a long time!

And I hope Frankie enjoys his little catnip horsie from Mackinac Island and the other souvenirs his big brothers and sisters bring home to him. I'm sure he can't wait to go on his first Catmobile trip!

**phesina** · 09-19-2011, 01:50 PM

According to my sister:

"Word on the street says that the Haggis in a Hurry family of companies is planning to build Haggis Huts with drive-through windows around the country, so the Catmobile can snack on the run wherever it goes."

Won't that just be fantastic, Catmobilers?!

She also told me that since Nelson got back home, he has been lying around resting up with a kitty-smile on his face! He STILL is not letting on who his buggy-ride companion is.

**momoffuzzyfaces** · 09-19-2011, 01:56 PM

My gang are all home and napping. Frankie loved his horsie and slept with it. He shared his 'goodie' bag with Grandma and Chester so they could enjoy some of the Haggis too. They all send a big thank you to the cats for thinking of them.

According to the travelers they all had a wonderful time. Still not clue as to who Angel has a crush on though. Those cats can sure clam up when they want to.