Pulling up to the shelter we saw Clint waiting in the window. He didn't run this time.
Walking in it looked a bit better than last week. Someone had rearranged the decor again, and most of it matches now. The ugliest tree ever is still there. It's not the tree so much as it is the decorations. They are hideous, and be glad you don't have to see them. Bigger Girl claims she is scarred for life.
As i walked through to check on everyone, i found a note on the kitchen door saying that Grady was in there. It was a yellow sticky note and thumbtacked up on the door. No explanation, no food or water in there with him, a temporary cardboard litter box, unused, and no paperwork. So, what is the deal, i'm wondering. Did he get moved? Is he without food and water because he is being fasted before vet work of some sort? Did he escape, and the people there at the time didn't want to deal with it so left him in there with a note, assuming that we would put him back? If the latter, i could understand, as he is a bear to put back in the big room when he doesn't want to go.
So, as i am told to do, i tried to call Miss W., who is in charge of the actual cats and what happens to them in the shelter. As usual, she would not answer, nor did she call me back, even to this moment she has not called me back. I called Leigh, but she did not answer. Finally, poor Meg, who is in charge of kittens and really doesn't know what is always being done at the shelter got the call. She agreed with me that it was okay to put him back in the big room, since that's where i found the paperwork. We both agreed, he got out and couldn't be caught earlier.
Leigh did finally call later, she had been in her daughter's Christmas play, so i get why she didn't answer. I do appreciate that she called, and she agreed with putting him back. If i did wrong, i've covered my end of it, i did ask.
We decided not to put him back until all the work was done, and he appreciated it, wanting petting every time we went in the kitchen, and even following #2 Son into the office, where Frieda made it known she was not happy about that. Even he scooted out when she howled! He is a great cat, as long as you don't try to put him where he doesn't want to be.
When I finally got to go check the rooms, i popped into the first room and saw JuJu and...Tiger? Where is Bowie? Oh, the window was open between the two colony rooms, which is a way to get the cats used to each other before moving them all into one room. Okay, on to the next room to find Buddy and Bowie. Everyone was happy, and even JuJu didn't look so mad, although she still won't come down and be touched.
Tigerlily and Dolly, across the hall, were ensconced on their respective soft beds. For new residents they seemed quite happy and friendly, not scared like so many that come in.
The room next to that has an example of some formerly scared boys. Dora wasn't in the room, and wasn't on the list of those in the adoption center at the pet store, nor was she on the list of adopted, which has not been updated. So i can't say for sure, but her triplet brothers, Heathcliff, Squirt, and Peepers are doing well. Squirt and Peepers stay on the upper shelves as they have since they arrived, but come right down now as soon as your hand is on the doorknob.
Sophia and Roxanne, Maimie and Maisie, Angel and Dusty, Iggy and Francie -- all doing well. Iggy still won't come down, though, but they all look healthy and those that do want petting want lots of it.
The cages were full on this night. Belle is on meds for a UTI. Bebe has been vetted, and is waiting for a spot to open in the rooms. Harley is still depressed, so #2 Son plied him with catnip. It mellowed him out, but he still didn't eat while we were there. It did look like his bowl had been nibbled at, but he is eating very little for such a big cat.
Bunny is new, and is waiting to be vetted. She and Belle look to be about the same age, maybe 8 months, and very petite both of them. Lucky is back, and he looks like he is about to die. Literally. He is skin and bones, back on meds, and his skin is covered with sores. Whoever adopted him obviously didn't treat his overactive thyroid and let the poor guy just go to pieces. It infuriated me to see such a beautiful long haired tabby look like that.
The big room. I went in cautiously, and there was Prissy, as usual. She lives up to the name, a prim and proper girl who tolerates no nonsense from the other cats, and demands attention. I began to look for everyone else, and squatted to peek around for Baby first. She didn't hiss! I stayed squatted down and totally still while she got out from under the table and sniffed my left knee. Several sniffs, then started to walk off, hissed, turned and sniffed the right knee, hiss, and walked behind me where she rubbed against me! Progress.
Clint didn't run when i peeked behind the curtain in front of the window to say hello. He is getting better, too. Gidget has gone from being vocal and demanding attention to hiding and not wanting to be petted. I couldn't figure that one out. Candy was her usual "I'm going to play with your hand" self. "No petting, let me eat your hand it is my toy!"
Frieda talked long and loud when i went in the office, and, as noted before, voiced her displeasure with Grady in no uncertain terms and very unladylike language. Grady also, when he found he was going to be put back in the big room, left off being friendly and dove for cover, to be dragged out hissing and also using ungentlemanly words. I'm glad, sometimes, that i don't know the actual words of Cat as they would translate into our understanding.
So with only a couple of exceptions, everyone is doing well. As there are only a few more adoption events before Christmas break, it seems the house will stay full. At least, they have a place. The ones i am sorriest for are those which will remain outdoors during the coming cold.
Today is:
Bake Cookies Day
Be a Friend Day
Eponalia -- Roman Empire (feast of Epona, during the Saturnalia)
Flake Appreciation Day (snow or human, your choice!)
Independence Day -- Qatar
International Migrants Day
Mother Goose Day
National Roast Suckling Pig Day
Nuestra Senora de la Soledad -- Oaxaca, Mexico (Our Lady of Solitude, Patron of the lonely, of Oaxaca, and of sailors who bring her pearls)
Republic Day -- Niger
St. Flanan's Day
Wear a Plunger On Your Head Today Day (Observe at your own risk!)
Anniversaries Today:
New Jersey becomes the 3rd US State, 1787
Birthdays Today:
Christina Aguilera, 1980
Katie Holmes, 1978
Earl "DMX" Simmons, 1970
Rob Van Dam, 1970
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin, 1964
Brad Pitt, 1963
Leonard Maltin, 1950
Steven Spielberg, 1946
Keith Richards, 1943
Ossie Davis, 1917
Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, 1917
Douglas Fraser, 1916
Betty Grable, 1916
Ty Cobb, 1886
Today in History:
Second Punic War: Battle of the Trebia - Hannibal's Carthaginian forces defeat those of the Roman Republic, BC218
Kublai Khan renames his empire "Yuan", officially marking the start of the Yuan Dynasty of China, 1271
The Mayflower lands in present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts with 102 Pilgrims on board, 1620
Abel Tasman becomes first European to land in New Zealand, 1642
Thomas Fleet publishes "Mother Goose's Melodies For Children", 1719
Empress Maria Theresa expels Jews from Prague, Bohemia & Moravia, 1774
The first celestial photograph (of the Moon) is made in US, by John Draper, NYC, 1839
William Bond obtains the first photograph of Moon through a telescope, 1849
Richard Wetherill and his brother in-law discover the ancient Indian ruins of Mesa Verde, 1888
The Upper Ferntree Gully to Gembrook Narrow-gauge (2 ft 6 in or 762 mm) Railway (now the Puffing Billy Railway) in Victoria, Australia is opened for traffic, 1900
The Piltdown Man, later discovered to be a hoax, is supposedly found in the Piltdown Gravel Pit, by Charles Dawson, 1912
Japan joins the United Nations, 1956
Saturn's moon Epimetheus is discovered by Richard L. Walker, 1966
Dominica joins the United Nations, 1978
HTML 4.0 is published by the World Wide Web Consortium, 1997
On the "What ever happened to common sense" front: there is a woman in California who is suing the McDonald's Corporation because she claims it is too much trouble for her to continue to say no to her children when they want to eat there and get the toys.
Apparently, because they advertise the toys, her kids want to eat there often.
She and the Center for Science in the Public Interest (not a publicly funded company, by the way) claim it is a threat to society. The advertising toys to kids apparently "exploits a child's developmental vulnerability."
There has also been some talk about how because McDonald's has franchises in poor areas it is a threat.
They talk about how "ubiquitous" the restaurant is, and say that it makes it too hard to say no. Also, she says that McDonald's is getting in her kids heads without her permission.
Lets turn our brains on for a moment, please.
First, "No" is a complete sentence. Use it once in a while, and if the kid keeps whining, other consequences should apply.
Second, are we saying poor people aren't smart enough to choose when and how much fast food to consume? I think they are smart enough. I believe they do know what foods are good for them and which ones are not, and are able to make those decisions.
Third, streets are ubiquitous, too. Are you going to let your kids play in them? Or are you going to say no, over and over, no matter how long it takes to get the message through? Would you prefer to sue the government for having something as dangerous as a street where your kids can get to it?
Toys are ubiquitous in the grocery store, too, as are candy bars and other fun things, usually right next to the registers. That's there for a reason, so the kids will ask for them while waiting to check out. Should we be suing the stores for smart marketing? Or should we use that one word answer in the first point?
Fourth, all advertisers are trying to get inside our heads. That is the whole point of advertising. It is our responsibility to decide what advertising to believe, what to ignore, and what to tell our kids about how advertisers mess with our minds.
Fifth, what ever happened to personal responsibility? Lady, educate your children. Show them how that food is not good for them, at least not in large quantity. Tell them you have enough to eat fast food only once every 6 weeks, or whatever you decide. Mark it on the calendar where they can see it, and make it something special, a treat. If they whine before that, it gets moved back a week. Learn to say no. Learn to tell them "We are eating at home because it is healthier and cheaper."
One person, commenting on this, said that she is a child abuser who doesn't need to have kids, because she can't raise them. I'm not sure i would go that far, but i do think she needs to use more common sense.
Today is:
Cookie Cutter Day
Feast of the Fairy Godmother -- Fairy Calendar
National Day -- Bhutan
National Maple Syrup Day
National Regifting Day
O Sapientia -- Roman Catholic Church
Saturnalia begins (through Dec. 23) -- Ancient Roman Calendar (festival for Saturn, the planter god)
Sow Day -- Orkney Islands, Scotland (ritual slaughter of a sow for the Yule feast)
St. Lazarus' Day
Wright Brother's Day -- US
Birthdays Today:
Milla Jovovich, 1975
Duff Goldman, 1974
Mike Mills, 1958
Bill Pullman, 1953
Wes Studi, 1947
Eugene Levy, 1946
Chris Matthews, 1945
Bob Guccione, 1930
William Safire, 1929
Arthur Fiedler, 1894
John Greenleaf Whittier, 1807
Today in History:
The Ostrogoths of King Totila conquer Rome by bribing the Byzantine garrison, 546
Sultan Nasir-u Din Mehmud's armies in Delhi are defeated by Timur, 1398
Pope Paul III excommunicates England's King Henry VIII, 1538
Go-Yozei becomes Emperor of Japan, 1586
Shimabara Rebellion: Japanese peasants led by Amakusa Shiro rise against daimyo Matsukura Shigeharu, 1637
Congregation Shearith Israel of NY purchases a lot on Mill Street in lower Manhattan, to build NY's first synagogue, 1728
France recognizes independence of English colonies in America, 1777
Aztec calendar stone discovered in Mexico City, 1790
NYC traffic regulation creates first 1-way street, 1791
Opening of the first legislative assembly of Lower Canada in Quebec city, 1792
The US state of Kentucky abolishes debtors prisons, 1821
General Ulysses S. Grant issues General Order No. 11, expelling Jews from Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky, 1862
First performance of the Unfinished Symphony by Franz Schubert, 1865
Violent riots in Montreal, as workers demand work or bread,1875
France declares Madagascar a protectorate, 1885
George Brownell patents a machine to make paper twine, 1895
A first prize of 100,00 francs offered for communications with extraterrestrials, but Martians are excluded - considered too easy, 1900
The Wright Brothers make their first successful flights, 1903
First flight of the Douglas DC-3 airplane, 1935
Ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and dummy Charlie McCarthy first appear on TV, 1936
The SALT I talks begin, 1969
The tiniest kittens are not getting better. My kitchen floor is atrocious no matter how much i clean it. Most of the time i just don't look down. They will have to go to the vet, although i know what she will say. Give them reglan and an antibiotic and fortiflora. I'm already doing all that, so i hope she has something else in her arsenal.
Brother-in-Law has agreed, for the time being, to come pick Sweetie up for work each day, and bring him home, too. They work in the same general area, but he does not live that close so it makes it a bit of a trip. We will pay him for gas as we try to work out how to replace the van, if we can do that at all.
As typical for us, we will not be putting up a tree this year. Have you ever tried to have a tree with 14 kittens in the house? 'Nuff said.
Bigger Girl is trying to convince Sweetie to dress up as Santa for the cat rescue. He won't, as those fake beards make him break out, or so he says. I think he just has a deathly fear of anyone thinking he is fat.
Oh, and Happy Beethoven's Birthday! Remember Schroeder from Peanuts and his love of Beethoven? He would celebrate every year, except for the times Charles Schultz mixed it up and had him forget. Those were funny ones. One person went to visit Germany, and saw a statue of Beethoven with a tiny toy figure of Schroeder at the base. The thought of that makes me smile.
Today is:
Barbie and Barney Backlash Day
Beethoven Day
Day of Reconciliation -- Afrikaners of South Africa
Day of the Republic -- Kazakhstan (Independence from the USSR)
Eat What You Want Day
Festival of Sophia / Sapinetia -- Celtic Calendar (goddess of wisdom)
Independence Day -- Bahrain, Nepal
Man Will Never Fly Memorial Society Annual Meeting
National Chocolate Covered Anything Day
National Day -- Bahrain
National Sports Day -- Thailand
Posadas Navidenas (Fiesta of the Virgin of the Lonely), Mexico -- celebrated through the 25th, "pilgrims" go house to house seeking shelter to commemorate the search of Mary and Joseph for shelter in Bethlehem
Simbang Gabi, Philippines (Christmas festivals that last until Three Kings Day.)
St. Adelaide's Day
Underdog Day
Victory Day -- Bangladesh; India
Birthdays Today:
Michael McCary, 1971
Benjamin Bratt, 1963
William "Refrigerator" Perry, 1962
Billy Gibbons, 1949
Benny Andersson, 1946
Steven Bochco, 1943
Lesley Stahl, 1941
Liv Ullmann, 1939
Arthur C. Clarke, 1917
Margaret Mead, 1901
Noel Coward, 1899
Wassily Kandinsky, 1866
George Santayana, 1863
Jane Austen, 1775
Ludwig von Beethoven, 1770
Catherine of Aragon, 1536
Today in History:
An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Fanyang, initiating the An Shi Rebellion during the Tang Dynasty of China, 755
Mount Vesuvious, Italy erupts, destroys 6 villages & kills 4,000, 1631
Oliver Cromwell sworn in as English Lord Protector, 1653
The last recorded eruption of Mount Fuji in Japan, 1707
A big tea party in Boston harbor -- Indians welcome -- is "celebrated" (Boston Tea Party), 1773
Fire burns over 600 buildings in NYC, 1835
In New Zealand, the Charlotte-Jane and the Randolph bring the first of the Canterbury Pilgrims to Lyttelton, 1850
The Kingdom of Nepal accepts its constitution, 1862
Antonín Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, From The New World is given its world premiere performance at Carnegie Hall, 1893
The first submarine with an internal combustion engine is demonstrated, 1897
The "Great White Fleet" sails from Hampton Downs on its round the world tour, 1907
The first credit union in the US is formed, in Manchester, New Hampshire, 1908
The first US postage stamp picturing an airplane, a 20 cent parcel post, is issued, 1912
Albert Einstein publishes his "General Theory of Relativity", 1915
The Haiyuan earthquake, magnitude 8.5, rocks the Gansu province in China, killing an estimated 200,000, 1920
Theodore Cole and Ralph Roe attempt to escape from the American federal prison on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay; neither is ever seen again, 1937
Thailand joins the United Nations, 1945
William Shockley, John Bardeen and Walter Brattain build the first practical point-contact transistor, 1947
It was the news we never wanted to hear, in regard to a vehicle.
This one especially, as it has a place in my heart.
The Fan Van. Many years ago, in its glory, it was in team colors, with a beautiful interior, a TV and VCR in it when few vehicles had them, nicely decked out. After the wreck -- the other person's fault -- it had a salvage title, but was still dear to me. Sweetie has been driving it just to work and back for the past few years.
It looks much worse for the wear. Lately, each year was a test of whether or not we could get it to pass inspection. More recently, squeals from the pulling tire and a serious leak of power steering fluid let us know it was time to take her in to be looked at.
Thank heaven for an honest mechanic. He is someone i know i can trust, especially now. He told us what it would cost to repair, which, since we have much more month than money right now, is totally out of reach. Then he said that, in all honesty, if it were up to him, he wouldn't sink another dime into it. After 23 years and 99,700 miles, it really has no value except sentimental.
Any mechanic who could make a bunch of money off of a vehicle, and tells you not to bother to repair it instead, is an honest guy. He said that even if we did this work, there is no telling what would go next, or how much more it would be then.
So, the news you don't want, about a vehicle you like.
For the time being, we will share. It will mean that in addition to driving the kids to school and back each day, i will have to drive Sweetie to work and back each day as well. He will have to ride with me to get the kids in the afternoons, in fact.
Meanwhile, until we figure out what to do, it will sit, and we will start it and back it out of the drive once in a while, just so we can say it runs, and not be accused of having a junked car on the property, which is a no no around here.
So, a moment of silence for a workhorse vehicle that went the distance.
Today is:
Alcyone -- Ancient Greek Calendar (kingfisher goddess)
Bill of Rights Day -- US
Cat Herders Day (good luck!)
Centipede Boot-Making and Shoe-Repair Season begins -- Fairy Calendar
Consualia -- Roman Empiracal Calendar (Feast of Consus)
Homecoming Day -- Alderney
Koninkrijksdag -- Netherlands, Netherland Antilles (Kingdom Day)
National Lemon Cupcake Day
Navidades begin, Puerto Rico (traditional Christmas celebrations that last through Three Kings Day)
St. Eusebius' Day
Zamenhof Day -- International Esperanto Community
Birthdays Today:
Nick Beggs, 1961
Don Johnson, 1949
Dave Clark, 1942
Tim Conway, 1933
Friedensreich Hundertwasser, 1928
Jeff Chandler, 1918
Stan Kenton, 1911
J. Paul Getty, 1892
Today in History:
Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Ticameron, 533
Hulagu Khan captures and destroys the Hashshashin stronghold at Alamut in present-day Iran as part of the Mongol offensive on Islamic southwest Asia, 1265
Bartholomeus Diaz returns to Portugal after sailing round Cape of Good Hope, 1488
The State of Holland grants patent on a windmill with crankshaft, 1593
The first US law school is established at University of Pennsylvania, 1791
The first Irish magazine in US, Shamrock, is published, 1810
The first street-cleaning machine in US is used in Philadelphia, 1854
The King of Hawaii becomes the first reigning king to visit the Us, and is received by President Grant, 1874
The London Underground's Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway opens, 1906
Bandleader, Major Glenn Miller, is lost over English Channel, 1944
Gemini 6A, crewed by Wally Schirra and Thomas Stafford, is launched from Cape Kennedy, Florida; four orbits later, it achieves the first space rendezvous, with Gemini 7, 1965
Samoa becomes a member of the United Nations, 1976
U.S. President Jimmy Carter announces that the United States will recognize the People's Republic of China and cut off all relations with Taiwan, 1978
The 3rd reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is shut down, 2000
The Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens after 11 years and $27,000,000 to fortify it, without fixing its famous lean, 2001
Dealing with hard freezes around here. It's time to really pull out the heating pads and wrap the outdoor pipes.
This kind of weather is hard on pets and plants that are adapted to a sub-tropical climate. Our kittens, all 14 of them, snuggle down into the same box at night. It is quite a sight, a patchwork quilt of kittens.
As for the little squirts, 4 of them get fixed this week -- Buster Davis, Dawnflower, Kaitlyn, and Hummingbird. Because i also had an appointment for 5, one of Meg's boys will tag along for the ride.
All the tiny babies still have the runs, and i can't seem to get them totally over it. Mike decided to get himself locked in Sweetie's workroom, and spent a miserable hour or so (at least that's what we figure) howling to be let out. Our adult cat Little Girlie decided she is upset about the kittens and pooped on our bed.
Ah, such is life with this many critters.
Today is:
Halcyon Days begin -- a time of calm and tranquility (beginning seven days before the winter solstice, lasting until December 28, seven days after the solstice; named for an ancient fabled kingfisher bird, or halcyon, which hatches and raise her young during this time)
Monkey Day -- unofficial, by animal groups, to draw attention to the plights of simians
National Bouillabaisse Day
St. Spyridon's Day
Unreturned Library Book Sale, by the Imps -- Fairy Calendar
Anniversaries Today:
Princess Mary Stuart is crowned Mary, Queen of Scots, 1542
Alabama becomes the 22nd US State, 1819
Birthdays Today:
Paul "Beakman" Zaloom, 1951
Patty Duke, 1946
Lee Remick, 1935
Charlie Rich, 1932
Don Hewitt, 1922
Shirley Jackson, 1919
Morey Amsterdam, 1914
Spike Jones, 1911
Today in History:
Osman ibn Affan is appointed the third kalief of Islam, 644
The Zuider Zee seawall collapses, 50,000 lives are lost in the floods that follow, 1287
The first artificial pearls, made of gypsum pellets covered with fish scales, are manufactured by M Jacquin in Paris, 1656
The Montgolfier brothers' first balloon lifts off on its first test flight, 1782
David Wilkinson of Rhode Island patents a machine that cuts nuts and bolts, 1798
The American Academy of Political and Social Science is organized in Philadelphia, 1889
The Commercial Pacific Cable Company lays the first Pacific telegraph cable, from Ocean Beach, San Francisco to Honolulu, Hawaii, 1902
Norwegian Roald Amundsen becomes the first to reach the South Pole, 1911
Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Laos, Libya, Nepal, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Sri Lanka join the United Nations, 1955
The United Republic of Tanzania joins the United Nations. 1961
NASA's Mariner 2 becomes the first spacecraft to fly by Venus, 1962
Kiribati, Nauru and Tonga join the United Nations, 1999
The Millau viaduct, the tallest bridge in the world, near Millau, France is officially opened, 2004
There is something strikingly clear about a sunny winter day.
Summer days have a haze. a sheen about them. I'm not sure if it is the humidity or the waves of heat rising up from the blistering ground, but there is something there. It makes the edges blur, if that makes any sense.
In winter, that haze is gone. Not just each tree stands out against the blue, but each branch, and if you are close enough, each leaf seems cut by a diamond edged blade. Everything is sharp, fully in focus.
Everything is more strikingly beautiful or ugly in that clarity.
It is one of the few things i love about winter, that definition and exactness. If i could get it without the cold, i would. Beats the summer haze all hollow.
Today is:
Acadian Remembrance Day
Acatl Day -- Ancient Aztec Calendar (Honoring of the sceptre of authority, a day for justice)
Festival of Tellus -- Ancient Roman Calendar
Ice Cream and Violins Day (Another of those silly made up holidays that no one can trace, but would be fun to celebrate. Get yourself a bowl of buttered pecan or rum raisin -- if you are going to celebrate, do it in style -- and put in a Mozart or Bach CD, and enjoy!)
Kasuga Wakamiya on-Matsuri -- Nara Prefecture, Japan (through the 18th)
Little Yule a/k/a Luciadagen (Festival of Lights in many parts of Scandinavia, honoring St. Lucia.)
Most Boring Celebrities of the Year Awards -- Boring Institute
National Cocoa Day
Republic Day -- Malta
Runic Half-month Jara commences (fruition)
St. Jose's Day (patron of harvests, ships; against fire, fever, storms)
Saint Lucy's Day (patron of writers, lights, people with eye trouble, glass workers, lamplighters; against dysentery, throat disease, blindness, hemorrhage)
Birthdays Today:
Taylor Swift, 1989
Amy Lee, 1981
Tom DeLonge, 1975
Christie Clark, 1973
Jamie Foxx, 1967
Ted Nugent, 1948
John Davidson, 1941
Aga Khan IV, 1936
Christopher Plummer, 1927
Dick Van Dyke, 1925
Archie Moore, 1913
Kenneth Patchen, 1911
Today in History:
The Council of Trent opens, 1545
Sir Francis Drake sets sail from England to circumnavigate the globe, 1577
Emperor Ferdinand II delegates the first Anti-Reformation decree, 1621
The Massachusetts Bay Colony organizes 3 militias which are today seen as the founding of the United States National Guard, 1636
Dutch navigator Abel Tasman becomes the first European to land in New Zealand, 1642
Dartmouth College in New Hampshire is chartered, 1769
Charles Dicken's "A Christmas Carol" is published, sells 6,000 copies, 1843
Italo Marcioni patents an ice cream cone, 1903
The Relay 1 communication satellite is launched, 1962
Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt begin the third and final Extra-vehicular activity (EVA) or "Moonwalk" of Apollo 17, 1972
The European Union announces that Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia will become members from May 1, 2004, 2002
Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is captured, 2003
The Baiji, or Chinese River Dolphin, is announced as extinct, 2006
Not a single adoption at the events this weekend. So far, in December, Nacho and T-Boy have gone, but even the kittens are getting overlooked at the pet store.
Heading into the shelter, I stopped for gas a couple of blocks away and #2 Son and Little Girl decided to run the rest of the way to see if they could beat me there. They did, by about 15 seconds. Just about long enough to compliment Leigh on her car, and we were pulling in. Leigh is our "shelter caretaker coordinator," the person I answer to when cleaning up each week. She had stopped to drop some things off.
While there, she noted that the Christmas decor has suffered a bit. Some things that were there last week are gone, some really ugly things have replaced them. Her words were that it looks like Christmas threw up in the main room. I must admit, I'm no decorator, but it doesn't look as nice as it did last week. Probably too many spoons in the pot.
She also admitted to being afraid of Frieda! I mean, I know the cat has problems, but she isn't scary, just loud and opinionated. I showed her how to pet Frieda, head and neck only, and that both quiets her and makes her happy. Scratching anywhere else is a no no. I don't think I convinced her that Frieda can be friendly if you handle her right.
Popping into the storage room, I started listening for Baby's growling, and didn't hear a peep. Worried, I stepped in and found no food or box for her, either. I went on through to the big room, and there she was. She is still growling, but yet seems to want to be petted, too. Not much, but a little. Grady behaved in there and didn't try to run away, Prissy was her usual, beautiful self, and Clint stuck his nose out and tolerated me scratching his ears! I was astonished. I think he needs lots of one on one attention, and he will be a sweet heart. It might also be that fewer cats in the room means he doesn't feel the need to hide as much.
Gidget is in a cage, howling away wanting attention, and suffering from an eye infection. Little Girl and I dosed her, and she didn't really fight it, but she cannot stand being caged. She is so friendly, she wants to be out and with you all of the time.
Belle is in a cage for a possible upper respiratory, but Leigh got her out to play with anyway. What a snuggler! She could double for a Russian Blue, and is a love. Somebody is going to have a lap cat there.
Harley is hiding in the back of a cage, acting like a scaredy cat. Poor guy, I hope he calms down soon.
BEBE is new and in a cage awaiting the works treatment from the vet. Cream colored and shy, she accepts petting and seems to just be awaiting her fate.
Dora, Heathcliff, Squirt, and Peepers are also battling a bit of an eye problem. They have calmed, and are eating, and now this. I hope it goes away fast.
Everyone else, Francie, Iggy, Angel, Dustie, Mamie, Maisie (a pure white that I am shocked hasn't adopted), Roxanne, Sophia, Tiger, Buddy, Bowie, JuJu, and Candy are holding steady.
As for mine, still 14 of them. Kaitlyn, Hummingbird, Buster Davis, and Dawnflower will be vetted this week. Poor little Tiger is still 4 ounces too small, and we are hoping for next week. Never try to have surgery on a kitten that is under two pounds, unless it is a life threatening situation. Too much risk of over anesthetizing, even with a great vet.
All I Want For Christmas Is My Fosters To Get Adopted. My new song.
Today is:
Advent Fast Begins -- Orthodox Christian Churches
Bonza Bottler Day
Fiesta del Virgin de Guadalupe -- Mexico
Independence Day -- Kenya (Jamhuri)
Miracle of the Roses -- Catholic Christian
National Ambrosia Day
National Ding-A-Ling Day (A day on which to honor all the ding-a-lings you know, and even act like one yourself.)
Neutrality Day and Student Youth Day -- Turkmenistan
Poinsettia Day
St. Cury's Day (patron against blindness, deafness, demonic possession)
St. Lucy's Eve -- Austria (night of the shining that some use to predict the future)
Unmentionable Thoughts Festival -- Fairy Calendar (imps, goblins, and naughty fairies)
Yuletide Lads begin arriving -- Iceland (Jolasveinar trolls, bring gifts and mischief from now until Christmas)
Anniversaries Today:
Pennsylvania becomes the 2nd US State, 1787
Birthdays Today:
Mayim Bialik, 1975
Rey Mysterio, Jr., 1974
Madchen Amick, 1970
Jennifer Connelly, 1970
Tracy Austin, 1962
Sheila E. 1957
Cathy Rigby, 1952
Emerson Fittipaldi, 1946
Dionne Warwick, 1941
Connie Francis, 1938
Bob Barker, 1923
Bob Dorough, 1923
Joe Williams, 1918
Frank Sinatra, 1915
Edward G. Robinson, 1893
Edvard Munch, 1863
Erasmus Darwin, 1731
Today in History:
The Battle at Ninevah: Byzantine emperor Heraclius defeats Perzen, 627
The Order of the Dragon is created by Sigismund, King of Hungary, and his wife Queen Barbara of Celje, following the battle for possession of Bosnia, 1408
Isabella crowns herself Queen of Castile and Aragon, 1474
Jews are expelled from Schlettstadt Alsace by Emperor Frederick III, 1479
In Vienna, Ludwig von Beethoven receives his first lesson in music composition from Franz Joseph Haydn, 1792
Mexico is officially recognized as an independent nation by the US, 1822
The first Canadian coins are circulated (1 cent, 5 cent, 10 cent and 20 cent), 1858
Rudolph Dirks' first Katzenjammer cartoon strip appears in the NY Journal, 1897
Belo Horizonte, the first planned city of Brazil, is founded, 1897
George F Bryant of Boston patents the wooden golf tee, 1899
Guglielmo Marconi receives the first transatlantic radio signal at Signal Hill in St John's, Newfoundland, 1901
Delhi replaces Calcutta as the capital of India, 1911
Oscar Straus becomes US Secretary of Commerce, the first Jew to be a US Cabinet member, 1906
The first all metal aircraft, the Junkers J-1, is test flown in Dessau, Germany, 1915
In Nebraska, Father Edward J. Flanagan founds Boys Town as a farm village for wayward boys, 1917
The first prototype of a hovercraft is patented by British engineer Christopher Cockerell, 1955
Guinea joins the United Nations, 1958
The Russian Federation gains independence from the USSR, 1991
