:kat: Memorial Day :kat:

[Andrew (imported)]

From the book CATS FOR DUMMIES, 2nd Edition, page 285:

"If you left the decision to your cat, the chances are good that neither of you would go anywhere. Not to work. Not to a lovely getaway weekend with the two-legged love of your live. And certainly not to the veterinarian. Cats love routine, they love territory, and the especially love routine in their territory.

"If they had their choice, you'd be home all the time, catering to their every whim for food, play, and petting, admiring their beauty as they settle into that warm sunlit patch on the livingroom armchair for the first, fourth, or tenth of the day's oh-so essential catnaps."

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Fine with me, but the reality is that, at age 60, I will need to work another ten years to have enough funds for a frugel retirement. I have no idea if I will even be alive in ten years, what with my medical history.

But the cats do have their routines. The biggest change is that Fluffy now allows Max to groom her. She does not groom back, so I assume this is one way for Max to show his subservience to Fluffy.

Silver is the brightest of the cats. He figured out that the best way to get DA BIRD was to chew through the string after I put it down. After a few replacement feathers, I learned to lock up DA BIRD between outings.

Silver has also managed to get two of his breakaway collors off, by rubbing in just the right way on my bedroom door, leaving the evidence for me to step on.

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Meanwhile, the Chapter 13 Trustee has received my 35th monthly payment due 8 June. One more payment by 8 July and I will be one of the 30% or less who actually complete the Chapter 13 process. (Before the "reforms" go into effect latter this year.)

After that, my main financial worry will be Mother's Alzheimer's care costs.

And after that? My dream of a Hobby Farm, with cat rescue, purple martins and bats, and maybe even a retired grayhound.

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As for Memorial day itself, I will celebrate it quietly at home. I will light some beeswax candles in honor of my father and all others who served.

(Why beeswax? Because nobody sems to agree on what color candles should be used when and where and why and how. So I adopted the AA concept of KISS and decided to use only beeswax candles for my rituals. Besides, they smell nice and they don't bother the cats)

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I will be in Norman, Oklahoma from 19 - 29 June, attending a USPS class. I am not sure if I will be able to take some sort of laptop along to keep in touch. Or maybe I need a ten day break away from the Internet?

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TMI section, to be avoided by the squeemish.

Last Friday The 13th, I had my semi-annual checkup. The 14th was the 4th anniversary of my castration. Since osteoporosis is the #1 physical worry of us eunuchs as we age, she has scheduled me for a DEXA scan soon. Also a colonoscopy.

But for the most part, I seem to be doing well. Hope you all are as well. Have to go now, Max is feeling sorry for himself and needs me to reassure him as to what a wonderful Maine Coon he is.

[Uncle Flo (imported)]

I wish you and The Tiger Brigade a good memorial day, Andrew. --FLO--

[Blaise (imported)]

Fascinating description of your life. Thank you. I retire on September 7, 2005 and then have to find a job to add four more years of Social Security so that I can avoid the Windfall Prevention Provision of the Social Security Law. Like you, my retirement will be frugal and I am not certain that I can ever completely stop work--not that I want to stop.

I am a tad older than you. However routine defines most of my days--cat naps work even without a cat to remind me. Even with HRT, I still have almost no interest in sex. Just as well, I suppose.