 The Shaffer Journal
Volume 7 Issue 10 October 2001
[Internet Stuff] [Hockey Puck] [Guest Meows! Cat Chat 1 2 3 4]
[The Mountains of Ao] [Poetry Corner] [The Dull Stuff] [Guest Articles] [In The Keys]
Kitty Talk
These journals are dedicated to Kitty GreyCat's spirit. She is at RainBow Bridge now. We all loved you, Kitty! Click the cat graphic to visit her Memorial page. Kitty born June 6, 1982. Died July 9, 1997.
 Ebony: It is great sadness about events of 9-11. Us cats not understand too much cept that lots of human beans were hurt and killed needlessly. We also nose that many pets were hurt and killed too. They are all playing in heaven now at a special place called Rainbow Bridge. Our human bean and guests will have some more to say about this later. Right now I gotta tell you about Ab's big surprise. She sleeping on table peaceful like and watching human bean. Da bean hit a button on big CD player. The lid came slowly up. Ab stood up in shock watching that machine move. She had big eyes and was ready to pounce, but den she knew it was just a fing not full of ghosts or stuffers like that. She was a sight to see though. She was funnier than a wet cat.
Abby: I not either, but I gonna ignore you. Anymeow, we have lots to meow this month like always. We been having dogs come out to the point. I not like dogs much, but most don't bother me. Ebony and Sammy don't seem to like each other. There were lots of barking, growling, and even some hissing. I just stay outta the way.
Ebony: Well, that Sammy dog lunged at me once and I not ever forget that. So whenever he get too close now I hiss and growl. I paw slapped him once. He almost blind, but I not feel sorry for him. He make my fur stand up.
Abby: I tell you what make my fur stand up. Bean took me to the boat. I liked seeing all the stuff on the way over to the dock. He took me to the end of the dock, and I eyed all that water in the marina. We stepped into the boat and went to the back. Suddenly, the bilge pump started spitting out water into the marina. I not nose what was going on. I cried out and sunk my claws into human bean's back. He not like that and squeezed me tight.
Ebony: Yes, human bean took you back home quick like. He took me for a walk like that, and I got to see and smell all sorts of stuffers. I not claw bean though. I just like being outside and doing stuff like catching lizards.
Abby: You full of lizards, I meow, you fat fing you. Bean let us off our leads to enjoy some freedom. I wondered up the quay wall under Jake's cop car and smelled Bronco Billy's boat. I not get near where Dominique live. He a kid and pulls on ears and stuff. You gotta stay clear of him, I meow. Aldoe he a good kid bean, I admit.
Ebony: He never bother me, you skinny fing you. When bean let me loose, I ran up the road heading out of the park. I stopped and got under the truck. I hear bean running after me. I run up the road further to Cap Bob's place. It was such fun, but human bean caught up with me and took me back home to hook me to my lead.
Abby: Where you belong, you black cat. Speaking of black cats, they got to be put up for Halloween causing dare crazy beans who do stupid stuffers to black cats. I not minded ifing Eb get toilet papered doe!
Ebony: Ab, you is full of crabs. I wish I could catch one, but they escape back into the water. I not go into the water, I meow. I been talking with Ren, my boyfurrfriend, on ICQ. He meowed about how his brofur cat, Willie, had gone to Rainbow Bridge after a long and good life. He playing with Kitty now and having loads of fun. Ren was full of sorrow and kitty tears doe. I meow at him and help him feel better. That ICQ fingee is nice, I meow.
Abby: Pout, I got no one meowing at me on ICQ.
Ebony: And why would anyone want to meow at you?
Abby: You full of evile stuffers. Growl, hisspsitt. Chasing Eb all over the fifth wheel travel trailer. Internet Stuff
I downloaded Internet Explorer, version 6.0, the newest and latest browser from Microsoft. The best thing about this one is the cookie manager. Cookies are bits of info stored on your computer, which is almost always an invasion of privacy. I updated my browser trying to get my latest photos at http://www.photoworks.com. I finally had to reinstall Windows 2000, which was actually quite easy. The reinstallation didn't mess anything up at all. I could download my photos for a while, but I did something to mess it up again. I then downloaded Netscape Navigator and that worked. I need the other major browser anyway to see what my web pages look like in both. Speaking of troubles, http://www.xfireweb.com who hosts my domain website was having a lot of problems. At various times, my search forms, navigational structure, email, and other things were fouled up royally. They did get things fixed though. Unlike Yahoo which has managed to mess up GeoCities and WebRing. Finally, I was forced to move all my content off Geo sites to my domain website. I needed to do that eventually anyway, but all this has got me way behind schedule. Like this journal which was due out the end of September. Last and not least, my old zip application was totally inadequate for my business. Senaka at http://www.slapalmedesigns.com recommended http://www.winzip.com, which is really a good application. Ariel: http://www.arielelf.com/remember.html. Please visit this site and share in our country's healing process. God bless the USA. There are more countries in the Americas than just the USA. That is why we refer to the USA as the USA and not as America. I'm a citizen of the USA not an American. I'm an American only in that I live in the Americas. A fine point, I know, but a good point nonetheless. Sometimes we in the USA are a bit full of ourselves by calling ourselves Americans. In The Keys
If you like 40's, 50's, or swing music, then dial in 94.3 on your local FM radio. WGMX right here in Marathon is featuring a one hour show from 11 AM till noon every Sunday. The music is great and the disc jockey is our own Karen. She provides background and history along with the special music of a bygone era. If you have comments, suggestion, and requests, then call 1-305-743-5563 or fax 1-305-743-9441 or email captnkaren@earthlink.net. You will be totally engrossed in this outstanding weekly show. Let us hope it expands to two hours very soon. Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman, Bing Crosby, Glenn Miller, and more entertain you. Here is an inspiring picture from the 9-11 tragedy. Flag Raising from Iwo Jima and New York. One could not believe the television seeing the demise of the World Trade Center towers. The lives lost and affected is horrendous. To be attacked by evil terrorists was unimaginable. The terrorists will be brought to justice. They failed in their objectives. Instead they have awakened a sleeping giant a second time. This is our second day of infamy with the first being December 7, 1941, at Pearl Harbor. Lest we become the like of these terrorists, we must be very careful not to abuse or discriminate against Arab or Muslim Americans. Terrorists kill people; the USA feeds people. There is a difference. Islam does not equal terrorism, quite the opposite. God bless the USA! Miscellany: I've got a tenth grandchild, Decemberlynn. I shudder to think when she must learn to spell her name in school. I was most happy to rescue John and Buddy when their boat spun a prop. The sunset crowd at the point has observed many a green flash, which really does exist. Donna has a gallery of sunset photos for sale at our bookstore, or you may contact her directly to see our fantastic sunsets, sunrises, and even moonrises. Our poker games at the Tiki Hut continue to be fun and entertaining. Come join us on any Wednesday at 7 PM. When my toilet broke, I called Family RV. They tried to get me to find the part for them. So I fixed the toilet myself and canceled their repair job. There is a lesson there I think. My famous truck turned 100,000 miles old and blew a water pump in celebration. Now the boat joined in the fun and had bilge pump problems that Phil conquered quite handily. Finally, I received a big scare from the IRS. They wanted $2400 that I did not have. I called them and then found out that all I needed was to submit some paperwork to prove the taxes were tax exempt. Whew! Guest Meows!
 This is Larry for Ariel. She and her three cats, Atom, Dinky, and Emily, gave us some wonderful Cat Chat articles this month. [Harry is at Rainbow Bridge now.] We are gratified that we can offer this regular article about some wonderful cats and their human beans with visits by a dragon! Please visit the Memorial Page for Ariel's mother. Click the cat wagging its tail graphic to visit their net home. Thank you. Now here is Chester the dragon, Atom, Dinky, and Emily with Cat Chat: Cat Chat 09-07-01
Lean Mean Playing Machine
Chester: Emily is getting more and more full of herself every day here lately. I think she's going into her second kittenhood!
Dinky: Me tinks she's goin nuts! She bin stealin my mousies, ub all tings!! Like she don't hab oder stuffers to pway wid when she'd outta da house! It's not fair, me meow (sniff).
Atom: She's doing more dan dat! She's chasing us widout eben growlin. She's...she's agshully pwayin wid us! She used to pway wid me a liddle when before Harry went to Rainbow Bridge, but not much, an den after dat all she did were lay round. But she's gotten pletely crazy lately. Me doesn't; nose what's got into her.
Emily: I jus feelin good, dat's all. I guess I was sorta depressed wid Harry getting sick an den goin to Rainbow Bridge...he was such a good friend an I missed him eben before he passed ober. But eber since my fur cut, I bin feelin so much better, like, in my body, yous nose??
Chester: You mean physically you feel better?
Emily: Yeah, physical-like. And dat makes me feel better all ober da place! I feels fun and nutty stead ub sad an mean.
Chester: You're not depressed anymore. I think you were very depressed for a long time when Harry got sick and then went to Rainbow Bridge, and all that fur making you feel hot and uncomfortable just made matters worse. It's like with the Moms. When they don't feel good mentally they don't feel good physically, and the other way around too.
Emily: Um, yeah, I guess that's it, ifn I unnerstands yous. Anyways, I's habin fun habin fun agin! I's playin wid balls an all sortsa stuffers. I's eben bin playin paws through da quilt wid dat Dink wort! It's fun fun...heehee!
Dinky: She hab bin doin dat, fur sure, an she don't eben tries to beat me up! Me tinks maybe it's cause me's hid behind da quilt tingy what hang ober da back ub Mom's bed an da growly Em Queen only sees me pawses. But den, sometime she pway Chase wid me after dat an don't eben growl or nuttin! It's furry confusin, specially since she still growls at me alot alot.
Atom: Me already told bout da chasin, silly! She's a chasin fool! An not jus us, eider...she's chasin alla da balls in da house. She's stoleded bout ebery one an hid dem down in da hall by Mom2's office.
Emily: Heehee! Balls are fun! They were always my favorite toys.
Chester: Just a few weeks ago you were turning your nose up at playing with toys! Now you're playing with everything, even the ice cubes that Mom throws down on the floor for us to play hockey with. And you're losing weight too. You're looking really good!
Emily: I've always looked good! I'm bootiful! But I have noticed I am trimming down a bit. I'm a lean mean playing machine! Heehee! Ice cube hockey is really fun. I used to play it all the time at the old house. An dar I didn't hab to fight ober da ice cubes like I do now, cause Harry neber played hockey.
Atom: It's hard to get to any toy when yous is decidin to pway! Yous alays gets to dem first, or ifn yous doesn't, yous makes sure yous gets dem. Yous jus steal dem right from under me and Dink, an I's seed you intimeratin Dink when you decide yous wants one ub his mousies.
Emily: Intimeratin??
Chester: I think Atom means intimidating. I've seen you do it too. All you have to do is give him this look, and sometimes you do a little lunge with your head. That's all it takes for the Dink. He's gone after that!
Dinky: At least she isn't as growly at me like she were, but she do make sure me nose not to get near her ifn she don't want me too! Me jus don't unnerstan why alla da sudden she wants to pway wid alla da toys when she were jus turning up her queeny nose at dem a few weeks ago, like how Chester said. I alays tawt she were sceery strange, but now she's really weird!
Emily: Heehee! I kinda likes bein weird. An but I don't nose why I alla a sudden like decided toys were fun again. Day jus are, is all. Lotsa fun! I guess I don't unnerstan it myselfs, but I's sure habin lotsa fun here lately, fur sure!
Chester: I think it's what I was saying before. You were really really depressed for a long time between Harry being sick and then going to Rainbow Bridge. Now, I know that when human people get depressed, they lose interest in things they used to like to do. And that's what happened to you. You weren't interested in anything at all but going out and eating and growling at the boys. But now you're not depressed anymore, and it has to be because your haircut made you feel so much better physically that it just brightened up your whole world. That's how things work with human people, and I'm sure that's what has happened with you.
Emily: Well, maybe so. I nose I felt real real bad wid Harry bein sick, an dem darn wort kittens comin into da house, an den Harry leabin me all lone wid da worts. I missed Harry so so much, eben before he went to Rainbow Bridge, cause it were like he wasn't my old friend anymore when he got sick. An I tink maybe I got mad at him too, fur leabin me. But den, when I got to feel so good wid all dat fur gone, an da worts, day was starting to grow up an be like real cats an be fun instead of pests, at least part ub da time.
Atom: We's neber been pests! Yous jus been all in a bad mood, me tink. It's kinda nice not habin yous growly all da time. Yous is getting to most be a fun pwaymate, sometime. But me wishes yous would steal all ub da toys. Me habs enuff trouble gettin toys to pway wid wid Dink around!
Dink: Me only likes to pway wid my mousies, what is yous talking bout?
Atom: Well, you might prefer dem mousies, but you runs after eberytin dat Mom trows fur me to run after and pway wid. It'd be nice to be able to chase after a toy all by meself sometime. Now wid Em pwayin, me'll neber gets a toy agin, me meow!
Chester: Oh, of course you will, and you do! You'll just have to get used to Emily playing again is all. Atom: Me guess so. But it sure is weird...hey! Dat's my snake toy what Mom gots me at da fair last year, Em. Yous let go from it!
Emily (running off with the snake toy): Heehee!
Cat Chat 09-15-01
The Bathroom Blockade
Chester: I've been hearing Mom2 talking to Mom1 about having a difficult time getting to her bathroom in the mornings. She keeps saying that there are always twelve legs blocking her way. I don't suppose you cats would know anything about this, would you? I have a funny feeling all those legs might just belong to the three of you.
Emily: I doesn't nose what Mom2 is plainin bout! We's jus saying good morning and feed us to her ebery day. Sides, I's da queen ub da house and Mom2's baffroom hab alays been one ub my bestest places to nap. That big whooshing thing in da hall next to da baffoom door makes it furry warm in dar and I likes ta sleep on her baf mat and I got da dibs on dat mat! So, yous sees, Chester, dar's only sposed ta be four legs in dat baffroom in da mornins, an dem legs is sposed to be mine! Ifn dem worts wouldn't be alays hornin in dar wouldn't be no problem atall!
Atom: Hey, we wants to say good morning and feed us too! We habs ebery right to be in dat baffroom wid Mom2 in da mornins!
Emily: Humph! Yous worts is alays tryin hawg my space an dat dar is where all dem eggstra legs comes into da pitchur. Ebery time Mom2 tries to open her bedroom door, dar be at least 8 legs out dar what don't belongs out dar but what belongs to yous twos, wrappin all dem legs around hers!
Dinky: We's jus tryin to hep her walk!
Emily: She don't need eight eggstra legs to walk! I don't get 'tween her legs like yous two worts cause her two are all she needs to get to da baffroom, but yous two are like dem bee things buzzin all around her legs eber step she tries ta take and almostest makes her falls down half da time, I meow!! Yous boys are 'tween her feet all ober da whole house too like yous tinks her feets is blind and hab to hab eggstra feets to go 'tween to get 'round!
Atom: But she lubs us all wrappin roun her an hepin her walk! She lub us alla time!
Chester: Now boys, you know that's not completely true. Of course she loves you both, but she doesn't love you walking between her legs all of the time. She's always telling you to stop it and get out of the way, and I know I've seen her grab hold onto a counter, wall, couch or a door to not trip or step on all those legs mingling between and around hers. She does love you and that's why she will grab onto something or even almost fall or to keep from hurting you. You really need to stop doing that. You could hurt her.
Emily: Yeah, yous worts should leab Mom2 alone! She's my bean. An as ifn all da walkin round her legs wasn't enuff, dem worts jus hab to try to hawg Mom2 all to demselfs in da baffroom in da morning. Dat ridicoolus 'scuse of da cat called Dink has to walk round and round when mom is in the baffroom until she gets done with dat thing dat makes dat big whoooosh with da water goin down it so as he can watch it like it's a real big citement goin on dar. Da silly boy's almostest falleded down in dar cause I heard da Mom tell him she'd hate to pull him up outta dar by da tail (...what a turrible thought--eben for dat stoopid Dink.) He's such a water freaker, alays runnin off to try to watch water sounds. Eben when dar's no water to watch! Dat stoopid wort will run like crazy to try to watch da water when da disher washer or dat big clothes washin thingy is makin dat noise like it's swallowing num nums real loud. He runs up to da kitchen sink but dar isn't no water dar atall. I don't nose why he keeps runnin to look fur something dat isn't dar!
Dinky: Water is fun to watch! Me lubs watchin water. How is me to nose ifn dar isn't any water when me hears da water sounds? Sometime dar is an sometime dar isn't. So dar!
Chester: Heehee! Well, you have a point, there. There might be water when the sink makes the glub glub sound.
Emily: Yeah, right, an Dink might get a brain in his furry head! Sheesh! But dat Dink isn't da only dingbat kitten round here dat gets in Mom2's way in da mornins. Dat Atom's alays doin 'figger eighters' as da mom's call it, da whole time mom's in her baffroom. He be tryin to sit on her legs and head-buttin her ta get his ears scritched. Mom2 does dis thing she calls da 'sleepers' on Atom by rubbin his ears down and he almostest falls down ta sleep! Den she'll make da water come outta da baftubber thing so dat da two worts might play with dat water and give her some room to herself. I seen dem in dat baftubber together! So den, oncet Mom2 gets rid ub da Atom, dat Dink wants up in her lap to be lubbed all ober. Now, da Moms neber do dat kinda stuffers to us when we is in our litterhouse. I fur one respect her privacy 'nuff to move up da hall aways from the baffroom. After all, eberyone needs privacy to go, right? Sides, den I'm closest to da food when it's kitchen patrol time! Heehee!
Dinky: Humph, Miss Nose-it-all "Queenadahouse," yous jus don't nose how tings really is, me meow! Mom2 lubs me lots an lots an lubs to hold me up in her arms liken a liddle baby kitten oughta be and I lub dat too. She say alla da time how she lubs to hab me an da Addom lubbin all ober her, least oncet she gets to sit down on da baffroom tingy. Ain't dat right Addom?
Atom: Dat's fur sure, "Queenie!" I's a big boy now and jus cause yous bees an older woman cat don't means yous nose it all! Mom2 holds me up in her lap cause she wants to lub on me! She likes me doin dat tang called 'makin bread' on her and me nose betters den to lets my claws loose! Not like some big fat queenie cats me nose! Sides, Mom 2 likes us follerin her cause she knows we lubs her ifn we fullers her round! Yous gets into da baffroom and growls likes big jungler cat and we's can't come in or we's gets smacked and dat don't feels good, does it Dink?
Dinky: No, and it isn't nice fur yous to do such a ting to liddle kittens eber, me meow! Yous jus plain mean sometime, yous is. But yous doesn't owns da whole house boff ub da Moms. Me nose dat now dat me's gettin big. So dar!
Emily: Yous two is brats and alays will be. Yous lucky I plays wid yous at all instead ub just whappin yous both good alla time!
Chester: Well, I don't see any solution to the Bathroom Blockade. It seems that, although she complains, she does encourage the behavior of all of you in the bathroom situation. I guess she's just going to have to get used to walking through all of those legs...or else learn to tell you cats to move like Mom does when you're in her way!
Emily: Ha! Neber! Mom2's too much ub a softy fur dat. We's got her too well trained fur her to eber tell us to moof! Mweeheehee!!
Cat Chat 09-23-01
Washing The Moms' Hair
Dinky: Me habs lotsa new jobs now dat me's getting to be a big kitty!
Emily: What are yous talkin bout? Yous still jus a little wort. What kinda jobs does yous tink yous has, anyways?
Dinky: Me's habs lotsa an lotsa jobs! Me's a big boy now an habs all sortsa sponibilitiarties.
Emily: Oh? Name jus one ting dat's yous job!
Dinky: Well, fur one ting, me habs to hep da Moms walk round da house. Me habs to scort dem eberywhere an makes sure dat day gets to where day wants to go.
Chester: We talked about that last week. The Moms really don't need that help. In fact, Mom2 almost trips over you from all that help!
Dinky: Yeah, but, well, Mom1, she always say "Come on, Dink, come wid me" an me walks tween her feet to wherevber she's goin. She likes it an it's portant to her, me meows!
Atom: Yes, but that's only when she's payin tenshun an wantin yous to go snuggle wid her or sometin.
Dinky: Oh! Oh! Dat's anoder ub me's portant jobs! Me is da Moms' snuggle loberboy kitty.
Atom: Hey! Me's da romeo-devilcat, me's da one who's sposed to be da Moms' loberboy, not yous! Yous jus take ober eberting what be mine, yous does! An lubin on da Moms be my job!
Dinky: But yous only does it ifn yous feels like it. Mosta da time yous is too busy pwaying hard to get an acting like yous don't lub dem atall, less da's in da baffroom or da bed.
Atom: Dat way me doesn't gets squished! Mom1 specially squishes me alla time. She jus habto pick me up an hugs me real hard an kiss on me. Me doesn't like dat. Me likes to pick when me's gonna be da romeo-devilcat.
Dinky: Well, see, dar be yous' problem. Me lubs to be picked up an huggeded an squished an lubed all ober any ole time. Da Moms need a kitty to do dat fur dem, yous nose. Da's alays wantin to snuggle an hug an squeeze so as day feels better. Mom says, she say, come here, I needs fuzzy lub. An me's only to happy to gibs it to her.
Atom: Humph! Mom's alays saying she needs fuzzy lub, but dat doesn't mean me's in da mood to be squished!
Dinky: Well, me alays be in da mood. Yous not a furry good romeo-loberboy ifn yous won't let yousef be lubed! Me lubs to be lubbed, alla time. It's da bestest ting, next to mousies.
Emily: Ok, yous named two jobs, an one isn't really a real job. I guess getting squish-lubbed is a real job, since yous is da only kitty in da house what's goofy enuff to let da Moms do it. But dat's jus one real job. What's all da oder jobs yous tinks yous hab?
Dinky: Well, me heps Mom2 essercise by habing her pick up alla my mousies alla da time. See, she takes her long tingy what picks up stuffers from all ober da place, an goes round an picks up alla my mousies an puts dem on da table where da guitar beans play. An den me knocks dem down so as she can do it again. Sometime she jus play wid my tail an paws wid da long picker upper thingy. Dat's lotsa fun too! Heehee!
Chester: Um...I'm not sure if that would really qualify as a job. It sounds more like a game you've trained Mom2 to play with you. But I guess in a way it does help her some to play with you and walk around, so technically we could call it a job. Maybe helping Mom2 have fun is more the job category than helping her exercise, though.
Dinky: See? Me habs lotsa jobs! Heehee!
Emily: That's still only two, and not furry good ones eider. Well, maybe da squishin is portant, but we all makes da Moms have fun an laff.
Atom: Yeah, makin da Moms hab fun an laff is jus normal cat jobs. But da being squished is a job, yous habs to gib him dat!
Emily: Well, I guess you're right. It is all our jobs to make da Moms happy. So, what else does yous tink is yous job, wortboy?
Dinky: Well, ub course me makes da Moms happy an makes dem laff alla time. Like Addom say, dem's be normal kitty jobs. But me habs a furry special job what no one elset do round here eber. An oh! It be da funnest an mostest special portant job what dar eber were, me meow!
Emily: How could yous hab da mostest special portant job in da house? Yous only a goofy wort kitten, not eben hardly worth paw-whappin at...cept dat paw-whappin yous when yous spect it least is furry fun! Mweeeheehee!! But dar is no way yous could hab da mostest special portant job in da house. I habs dat: bein bootiful!
Chester: Of course being beautiful is important job, I suppose. I know the Moms like to ooo and ahh over you. But it's not like you have to do anything to be beautiful. You just have to be around, and maybe do a head tuck or two to show off. That's not much of a job!
Emily: Humph! It's a furry portant job, an I habs to work hard to stay so bootiful, washin an practicing head tucks and roll-obers. Dar's no way da Dink wort could hab a more portant job dan dat!
Dinky: Ooo, but me does, me does! My mostest special job is washin da Moms' hair!
Chester: I hate to break this to you, but the Moms wash their own hair.
Dinky: Not like me washes it! Me does a eggstra special kinda wash job, not like dat day does in dat big wet bafftub tingy. See, da picks me up, see, and holds me up near dar shoulder, or elset me gets on da back of Mom2's chair. So den me grabs holt ub dar head wid my arms an pick a spot what needs a good grooming, me tink, an me goes to it an licks an grooms dar hair real real good. Day laff an giggle an tink it's lotsa fun, an den ub course once me's done dar hair is all special kitty clean! Dat's my mostest special portant job!
Emily: Heeheehaahaahaa!! Dat's da silliest ting I's eber heard ub! Hooman beans don't need to hab dar hair kitty groomed! Da Moms are jus playin a game wid yous. Yous is da silliest wort kitten I eber nosed, yous is! Heeheehee!
Dinky: It's a portant job, me tells yous! Me nose it is!
Chester: Heehee, well, if the Moms like it so much, and Dinky likes it so much, then I'd say we can call it a special job. After all, you cats call all sorts of things jobs that don't seem like real jobs...like putting fur on the carpet, for instance.
Emily: But dat's a normal kitty job! Washin da Moms' hair is jus weird, I meow!
Atom: Me tinks it's a good job, eben tho no one but da Dink would eber hab tawt bout doin it. It makes da Moms happy, an dat is what most alla our jobs is bout, isn't day?
Emily: Um, well, I guess so. OK, wort, I guess yous do hab a few jobs round here now. Day seem furry silly, but fur a wort like yous, I spose day is da bestest jobs yous can do. Who'da thought dat da Dink wort would eber do anyting portant round dis house? Weird!
Cat Chat 09-30-01
Taking Care Of Mom
Chester: Boy have we been busy that last couple of weeks! We've barely had time to write anything at all. I didn't think we'd get to write this Cat Chat, that's for sure! And poor Mom is so behind in everything. I wish I could help her grade all the contest entries, but I can't figure out her grading system, or anything about those contests, really.
Emily: It habs bin a bad week or so. Poor Mom is so pooped! She jus habs too much to do. Well, she alays hab had too much to do, but it's gotten furry bad. Fur all da beans an kitties what read dis column, Grandpa bean got real real sick. He got pwenomia an ended up at da bean vet place.
Chester: That's pneumonia, and he ended up at the hospital, which is worse than the bean vet place, because he had to stay there for a whole week almost. And he wasn't a very good patient, according to Mom. Even though he was very sick, he complained constantly about everything. Well, that sort of makes sense, complaining when you are sick, but it was the way he complained, and what he complained about. He was complaining that with all the tubes and stuff he was attached with he couldn't move around the room-which was sort of the point, I think. Anyway, what happened was he had started to get sick on Thursday...not last Thursday, but the Thursday before that. Now, for weeks before that he had been going down to visit a friend at this hospital that was a long drive. It was way down the mountain and back up again, and he was going twice a day and it was taking at least 6 hours out of his day to do this, plus he was trying to do all the things he normally does. And the Moms, they knew he was getting worn out, but he wouldn't listen, until he wound up sick. So anyway, he called Mom and they both decided he must have picked up the flu at this hospital. So Mom told him to drink lots of liquids and take ibuprophen and Vitamin C and rest.
Emily: Dat's what she tells ebery bean what gets sick. Dat an chicken soup. She's big on chicken soup fur getting beans better from bein sick.
Dinky: Me lubs chicken, but me doesn't nose bout chicken soup. Mom2 eats it a lot but it smells funny to me, an dar's nuttin to chew on.
Chester: That's rather the point with soup: it's supposed to be easy to eat. But all the chicken soup and Vitamin C in the world wouldn't fix what Grandpa had. Mom checked on him Friday and Saturday, and on Saturday morning he thought he was ok, but by Saturday evening he was starting to feel really bad, but he didn't really want to go to the emergency kind of doctors because you have to wait so long, according to the Moms.
Atom: Grandpa is a fussy kind ub bean, fur sure. He wants stuffers but it habs to be jus his way! You'd most tink he were a cat! Now, by dis time bof ub da Moms was getting all worried and stuffers, but dar be no talking to Grandpa ifn he doesn't want to hear what yous habs to say. So Mom jus went an took a nap, an when she wokeded up, she called him again an he was like oh, me's dying, yous habs to take me to da mergency bean vets right now! So off she goes fast as she can, an dis be bout 8:30 at night, Mom2 say, an when she got to his house he says me habn't ate all da day so fix me some soup, so den it were eben later and den finally da got to da mergency bean vet place. So but good fur Mom an Grandpa, it wasn't busy an he got right in, but den, Mom say, day did all sortsa tests an tings.
Dinky: Yeah, Mom say day were back in da what Grandpa calls da holding cell fur eber. An we was all home, ub course, wid Mom2 an wondering what da heck, where be da Mom?
Emily: Yeah, we was all worried, because Mom2 said dat ifn yous take anyone to da mergency bean vet place it's real serious, an da longer dat Mom was gone an we didn't hear nothing from her, da more we was worried. But finally Mom got to call Mom2, an she said that they were doin a x-rayer, whateber dat is, an dat Grandpa would hab to stay in da vet bean hosypital place. So den poor Mom had to run up to Grandpa's house an get stuffers what he would need an go back to da hosypital, an poor Grandpa were stuck wid tubes all stuck in him. An he were stuck dar fur days an days, an Mom ub course, since it were Grandpa bean who she lubs, she was up at dat hosypital alla time to bisit an look after him.
Chester: Yes, Mom was so worried about Grandpa, and had to make sure he was ok and not going too stir crazy in the hospital all tied up with tubes and stuff, so she spent a lot of time there and came home pooped. But it got even worse when they let him go home, because he was still really sick. She even had to go spend the night with him the night after they discharged him because he could hardly breathe or sleep and was scared and needed some comfort. Mom spent the whole weekend in bed after that, except for checking on him. Now she's so tired and so behind on all her stuff, and we're having to work really hard to try to take care of her so she doesn't get sick.
Atom: Yeah, we's habin to spend lotsa time laying on her feet so as she sleeps real real good...
Dinky: An walkin tween her feet so as she don't trip an fall fur bein all tired. An spectin her plate so as we's sure she be eatin good stuffers dat's good fur her. Course, we habs to taste eberytin what she will let us so as to be sure it's good nuff fur her!
Emily: An we's habin to make sure dar's plenty ub fur in da sinkhole where she sleeps so as she will be all cozy an comferble. An dat's not easy to do wid fur as short as mine is now! An ub course gib her lotsa eggstra lubin.
Chester: Even more important than all that is trying to keep her off the computer so she will rest. I try as hard as I can to be busy surfing whenever she is up, but sometimes she insists that I get off so she can work. She really doesn't need to be working, I don't think, but she tries to keep up with things on the computer...but she is so tired now so much, and now...now things are even worse! Mom took Grandpa for his one week out of the hospital check-up, and he's even sicker! They put him back in the hospital! So once again she had to go run around an get stuff from his house that he needs, and didn't get a nap today or anything. I told her she had to go lie down. But as soon as we finish writing this, she wants to know so she can send it to Ebony and Abby's human, Larry, so he can publish this month's Cat Chats in the Shaffer Journal. We're already five days overdue, but we've been doing the best we can, and Larry hasn't sent her anything saying the Journal has been posted.
Emily: I don't think we should tell her til tomorrow. She should jus rest, I meow!
Mom (from the bedroom): Chester, are you almost done?
Chester: I don't think we'll get away with that. You know Mom. If we don't tell her, she'll come out here and hang over our shoulders until we show here the finished columns. (to Mom) Yes, Mom, I just have to spell check this last one.
Emily: I guess yous right. An it's only one e-mail, then we'll make her go to bed!
Dinky: An snuggle wid her real good!
Atom: Me jus hopes Grandpa gets better soon. Me hates to not see him round here, an special hates it when Mom is gone most alla time.
Emily: Me too, Atom. Me too.
Cat Chat is © 1999 - 2008, 2009 Ariel, Emily, Atom, Dinky, Harry, and Chester the Dragon. All rights reserved worldwide. This column may not be reprinted in part or whole without express permission of Ariel. Poetry Corner
“September 11, 2001” 10.05.01
by L. E. Shaffer © 2001 L. E. Shaffer Today evil struck
Us full in the face
As twin towers fall
In clouds of dust And flames as
Death lives everywhere
Terror grips the heart
And mind frozen Eyes full of tears
As souls rise
To heavens
Full of love Now the whys
Now the hate
Full of retribution
Revenge served ill Twins in ruin
The power put down
A great nation
Sorrowed in misery Our second infamy
A day lived forever
Pictures eternally
Etched upon memory And days later
Merchants of terror
Awoke to their horror
Of a sleeping giant stirring © 2001 L. E. Shaffer Hockey Puck
Finally, hockey season has started. The Florida Panthers are not starting out well even with the Bure brothers. Yagr is in Washington now. Mario is still with Pittsburgh, which also is not doing well. Eric Lindros is with the New York Rangers. Miami Dolphins of the NFL don't seem able to beat the really good teams. Michael Jordan is back with the Wizards in the NBA. In MLB, the playoffs are in full cycle. The PGA hasn't seen Tiger in a while. NASCAR saw Ricky Craven win his first race ever. Jeff Gordon still leads the points race. What a month! Guest Articles
We have various guests this journal. As always everything is copyright of the author. Area52 Announcement Hi Everyone! Announcing… Ta-da!!!! The Grand Opening of our new Haunted House! If any of you played the Haunted House Contest last year, be sure to come back again this year: there are new rooms added. In fact, new stuff will be added year-round, as I think of new stuff to add. Links to old room will disappear only to resurface later, or in other places. Corridors that had nothing will have new things added… if you can find them! You may play the contest, in which you write down the words that go with all of the gold keys you find, or you may simply wander around the house. Contestants, of course, will receive neato-keen graphic prizes made by yours truly :) This is a family-safe Haunted House — kids of all ages are welcome to enter, or just look around. By the way, no one found all of the keys last year, so even those of you who think they went through the house thoroughly will find new things if you look hard enough. To get to the Haunted House go to http://hoodmansion.tripod.com/index.html All of the trivia quizzes are still open, as is the Save NRK Search Contest. Expect new quizzes by the end of the month, and at least one new search by the end of the year. As always, great fun and neato-keen prizes are to be had by all who enter. Also, as always, if you do not wish to receive future mailings, just reply to the newsletter from the mailbox to which I sent it with the words “no more” in the subject line. I hope to see a lot of you come over and try our contests. To see out past winner, click on Past Winners. Good luck and have fun! Ariel, Area52 Contest Committee © 2001 Area52 Sand Sculptures sent by Ariel Click on the link to see the graphic and then use the browser's back function to get back to this web page. These are lovely, says Ariel. The pictures are from a beach in Maryland. Isn't the artwork awesome? Be sure to open up your browser screen all the way. The man creates new ones each day, as the ocean washes away his work with the daily tides. Here are the fascinating sand sculptures made by an artist on a Maryland beach: Beach 1, Beach 2, and Beach 3. © 2001 Sand Sculpture Artist Phyllis Sent a C. Sawyer Poem This was written by Cheryl Sawyer, who is a professor at University of Houston, Clear Lake, Texas -- in the counseling department. This poem is an outgrowth from the 9-11 tragedy. One As the soot and dirt and ash rained down,
We became one color.
As we carried each other down the stairs of the burning building
We became one class.
As we lit candles of waiting and hope
We became one generation.
As the firefighters and police officers fought their way into the inferno
We became one gender.
As we fell to our knees in prayer for strength,
We became one faith.
As we whispered or shouted words of encouragement,
We spoke one language.
As we gave our blood in lines a mile long,
We became one body.
As we mourned together the great loss
We became one family.
As we cried tears of grief and loss
We became one soul.
As we retell with pride of the sacrifice of heroes
We become one people. We are
One color
One class
One generation
One gender
One faith
One language
One body
One family
One soul
One people
We are The Power of One.
We are United.
We are America © 2001 C. Sawyer The Mountains of Ao
Tears from Ao and three poetry collections, Pages of Life, Visions of Life, and Moments of Life are available electronically at http://RunesofAo.com/aobp/. The Runes of Ao project, The Mountains of Ao novel currently on chapter 17 of 22, and the The Book of Kalian Mysticism poetry collection are all works in progress. Also a collaboration with K. Young on a novella called Dragon Embers is now published on the fan site known as Runes of Ao.com. The Dull Stuff
Inputs and letters to this journal are subject to approval by Ebony and Abby. Submittals may be edited for content and become the property for the one-time nonexclusive publication of:
Shaffer Novels/Poetry Company
Merchant Occupational License #48210-0076151
PO Box 501833
Marathon FL 33050-1833
(305) 743-9648 voice/data/fax
Internet URLs: www.RunesofAo.com
www.RunesofAo.com/roa/
www.RunesofAo.com/aobp/
www.RunesofAo.com/ebony/
www.RunesofAo.com/abby/
Publication date: September 28, 2001
Author: L. E. Shaffer
Company: Shaffer Novels/Poetry Company &
Shaffer Internet Publishing Company
© 1995 - 2008, 2009 L. E. SHAFFER
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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Email Reminder" in the subject line. [Previous Journal] [Journal Index] [Next Journal] 31Treat others as you would like people to treat you.32If you love those who love you, what credit can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them.33And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit can you expect? For even sinners do that much.34And if you lend to those from whom you hope to get money back, what credit can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount.35Instead, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
The New Jerusalem Bible: Reader’s Edition, (New York: Doubleday.) 1990. |
