There are rewards....

and mine is KITTENS!!!!! Meet Katy: The Cutest Little Kitten in the World. She's a jester's dream, because she is a fool for play. Don't need TV when you've got a kitten. Don't need a boyfriend when you've got a kitten. Don't need DVDs when you've got a kitten. What you DO need are cast iron ankle protectors and kevlar clothing. Oooooooooohhh OUCH! Those little claws are like NEEDLES, but she's learning to keep them in...the big cats are teaching her this. They're teaching her a lot of things.

Here's a poem:

Felis catus is your taxonomic nomenclature.
An endothermic quadruped, carnivorous by nature.
Your visual, olfactory, and auditory senses
Contribute to your hunting skill and natural defenses.

I find myself intrigued by your sub-vocal oscillations,
A singular development of cat communication.
That obviates your basic hedonistic predilections
For a rhythimic stroking of your fur to demonstrate affection.

A tail is quite essential to your acrobatic talents.
You would not be so agile if you lacked its counterbalance.
And when not being utilized to aid in locomotion,
It often serves to demonstrate the state of your emotion.

Oh Cat, the complex level of behavior you display
Connotes a fairly well-developed cognitive array.
And though you are not sentient, and do not comprehend,
I nonetheless consider you a true and valued friend.

— Lt. Commander Data, "Schisms" [TNG]

I'm still out on the "do not comprehend" business.

Love a Cat, Love a Dog, Love a Frog....if it moves, it grooves.

In the Heat of the Night...I've got trouble on the Wall...

Everyone knows that famous song by Quincy Jones and Alan & Marilyn Bergman. It's sort of "my song" today. I've still got the troubles I had last week and then ran into another H U G E thing on Saturday. I'm not going to burden you with details as everything is going to be (eventually) fine, but "fine" isn't going to happen today, tomorrow, next month or maybe even next quarter. (Cat Artwork by Burton Silver).

I'll just do the best I can and not give a catsass more than I have to...everybody loves a clown, don't they???

OK, so I'm Depressed....

So, I'll just try to make myself feel better by showing off. Isn't that what most people do??? Over there to the right is my car - my beautiful, expensive, gasoline-guzzling behemoth of the highways. One works and works and works to get what they need (want). Then gas goes up to $zillion per gallon. Gasoline is still affordable for me, but if I didn't live six miles from my job, I'd be in trouble. Fortune continues to smile....

I think I'm depressed...

I think I've got the post-Paddy blues. I just sit around, haven't washed dishes since Monday, fell asleep last night during a good TV program, the news is annoying, I need a haircut, I'm not interested in "going out," so how will I get a haircut?

If I didn't have to go to work, I wouldn't leave the house.

As I have gotten older, I find this pattern becoming more and more acute, even when there is nothing to be depressed about. I've spoken to my doctor and we've tried various "mood altering drugs," which work for a time. Physiology is stronger than drugs.

I've tried choosing something to become "passionate" about, but it hasn't happened.

Can someone tell me I'm just plain lazy? I can live with that.

What Cats Do While We're at Work

Lock away your toofie brushes. Oral hygiene is EXTREMELY important to cats.

Brusha, Brusha, Brusha...

On Posting Photos...

aaaaaaarrrrrrrrrghhhhhh!!!

Down through the ages, my family was dependent on horses, farming with the great steeds known as Shires until the early 1960s.  

The included photo is of Beverly's sister's champion, Dark Victory. Isn't he a beauty. Absolutely stunning. This was the mode of transport my ancestors on my father's side, including the Great Khan. 

Patrick on his birthday, 2002 

How I Am Depends on ME!

I'm going to take a cue from my friend, Rob. His motto is "If you can't say something nice, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT.

I'm taking this a bit further with the quote below. It's dated, jaded and simplistic. Since I'm not all that sophisticated, it will work well for me (and maybe you, too).

"Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits, Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny." - Frank Outlaw

This is my beloved Patrick as a tiny kitten. He was born in my house, just one single kitten, 15-1/2 years ago. It is time and I will miss him more than I can ever say. 

Politics and Religion

To the right is Fritz. His look conveys my distain for discussion of either subject when one is trying to have or IS HAVING fun.

I don't know how it happened, but I've found myself in a sitation where two people I like very much (one of them I love a lot) can't stay away from either subject.

However, I have made an observation. This happens mostly when the persons appear not to be interested in the "fun-at-hand." At the first sign of boredom, off they go on a tangent about, mainly, the current American president and/or religion - sometimes at the same time. Yes, yes, I know that people talk about these things but there is a time and a place to do that -- and that time is WHEN I'M NOT AROUND. Yes, I am selfish and yes, I don't debate well and yes, I want to retaliate by pretending I'm going to the ladies room, but really go out and let the air out of their tires. I've only pondered this act and if it should happen, I'll just deny it.

These people say I'm in denial anyway.

I match the floor!!! 

Joining the hayride....

EVERYONE seems to have a "blog," so I need one too.

I haven't figured anything out yet, but I'm sure I'll get into the swing and join the thousands of bloggers who entice us into their lives - whether the stories be true or lies.

I'm doing this on my own, as I do just about everything. I hate to ask. So, if it doesn't come up to snuff right away, just give me a bit of time and I just might turn out to be an interesting person.

Stay with me, now!!!