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Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Surviving Our CAT-tastrophe


Free image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net



Let me preface this article by saying we already have enough animals in the house.   Including our two monkeys (my boys), three cats one dog, we have enough.  Seriously, we are over the limit.  Therefore, you will understand, when my wife begged for mercy to accommodate some emergency lodging for a cat.

My immediate reaction, of course, was no.  I told her my fear is that I would end up with four cats.  I did not want to put extreme pressure on her, but I let her know that this scenario would be absolutely intolerable (props to Henry Jones Sr). She promised that finding a new home for him would be a priority, so eventually and reluctantly, I agreed.

When I came home for lunch, I found our little four legged guest hunched in corner of one of the the boy's bed, hissing in disapproval.  When I came back from work later that evening, its mood not much changed.  There was a low and steady growl coming from the room when anyone came into its proximity.  Our alpha cat (known for her obstinacy) continually "tested the fence", causing a cacophony of growls, hisses and shrill bellowing from our lodger.

My wife had to make a run to the store that evening, so I stayed at home.  I periodically kept having to divert my boys from running to the doorway, just for the sheer amusement of seeing the funny reaction from the cat.  Typical boys.

At one point, he was evidently trying to exit the room.  He had begun hissing at the ironically peacefully resting alpha cat.  I realized that he may have been trying to find a place to go to bathroom.  I returned with one of our cat litter boxes so that he could do his business.  My wife showed up about that time and she discussed that if he was calm, she would try to take him down to the basement for the night.  (oh yeah, that one is likely)

I asked her how she planned on doing that, and she proposed that she would use a blanket.  More power to her.  Her showdown with the cat began.  With a fury of protest to the situation, Mrs Geek remained undaunted by the cat's protests.  She went right in and began to try and wrangle the little wild stallion.  In retrospect, I would say more like cougar.

She had me get a cat carrier for her to put him in, once he was captured. I made (tried to make) the boys sit on the couch and out of the way.  I also had exercised a bit of wisdom, putting alpha cat in the bathroom to avoid adding any more drama to the mix.

At one point she thought she had him, but he wriggled out began and what could only be called flying around the room (literally he reached heights of my eye level) This caused another round of giddy laughter from the boys who were thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.

I closed door to avoid letting the safari leak out into our living room.  Out of my direct sight, the boys were gleefully romping around like hooligans in the next room, mimicking some of the cat wails that were emitting from this one.  A nice added element to the already bizarre set of circumstances.

Somewhere in the process, a foul odor assailed our noses.  Ughhh!  I had been right in my previous cat box theory.  After a few more valiant attempts at capturing him, I suggested that instead of continuing this exercise in futility, that I would let the boys camp out with me that night.  I felt that it was best to leave the traumatized cat to spend the night where he was.  My wife agreed.

I brought in litter box, food and water, and took the boys off to the back room.  It was late, but relented to play a little Mario Party 7 on the Game Cube with the boys to calm them down a bit before we hit the sack.

I am composing this entry quietly in the next room, but I am sincerely hoping for no new adventures today from our little furry friend behind the door.  Whether that turns out to be true or not, I can at least count my blessings that I am going to work today.

~TGCD

---
"Some people say that cats are sneaky, evil, and cruel. True, and they have many other fine qualities as well." - Missy Dizick


Resting and growling after his attempted capture.  If looks could kill.  :)

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

The Patriotic Geek











I wouldn't want to sound all "preachy" about July 4th, but I do have a few thoughts to share this Independence Day.

Whether it is Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter or any other major holiday, it always seems like we gently over time, lose sight of the spirit and meaning behind them.  Not with any trace of malice; it is merely the slipping of time.  I believe that Independence day falls into that category.

How great of a sacrifice did those who have passed before us?  Can we treat so lightly the precious freedoms that were bought with the blood and bravery of patriots, both past and present?

I had the privilege recently of speaking to a veteran at a birthday party that my oldest son was invited to.  While the kids were going crazy with the water, I was sitting down with the adults.  The Grandpa of the birthday girl had mentioned to someone else about serving in Vietnam.  I decided to strike up a conversation with the man.  What an experience.

I told him first, on behalf of many, I wanted to say thank you for what he had done.  I and another gentleman who was also currently in the military, began talking with him about what he had experienced.  He said that he had enlisted instead of being drafted and started telling us about some of the harrowing experiences that he experienced while he was serving.  I  can only begin to imagine how I may have felt in his shoes.

He then got to a point in his narrative where strangely tears began to well up in his eyes.  He spoke of returning back from the war and receiving warning from his fellow soldiers.  They told him to be careful at the airport, because there may be some that would spit on him in protest.

He revealed that his life and the life of others were forever changed by their experiences.  To this day, he said he does not get much sleep and regularly is up surveying the area around his house, almost as if he were back in the conflict again.

To everyone like this precious man and their families who have and continue to buy the freedom I enjoy; Thank you!  I could never repay you enough in word or deed for the sacrifices you have made.  I simply pledge not to ever take these freedoms for granted.  I pray that you won't either.

I leave you with two things.

First, a video that I put together for a patriotic themed event that we had as an outreach a few years ago.




Secondly, the following quote from Samuel Adams:

"The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors: they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men."

~TGCD