 The Shaffer Journal
Volume 10 † Issue 5 † May 2004
[Internet Stuff] [Hockey Puck] [Twins of the Dark Star]
[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 along with her human friends, Leo and Doris. We all loved you, Kitty! Click the cat graphic to visit her Memorial page. Kitty born June 6, 1982. Died July 9, 1997. Please use our email form linked below to make suggestions or offer praise. >^..^<  Ebony: I have very sad mews. My special fur friend, Ren, died recently. He was my very special tomcat. He was only 12. I is so very sad. His memorial website is listed below. I help our human bean paw a poem about Ren too. That is listed down there somewhere too. I remember when Kitty went to Rainbow Bridge too. I was wailing for two weeks solid. Then human bean went and got Abby. Everything changed then. Although she aggravates me, I love her very much and allow her grooming efforts to a point. Meow, Ren, goodbye. >^..^<
Abby: I not remember Kitty, because I came after her. I do remember how very sad you was, Eb. I not understand too much, but I am glad I helped some. I lost my fur friend, Sammy, a couple years back. He was an Aussie white tomcat. He and I had lots of special meows exchanged via email. They all at Rainbow Bridge. >^..^<
Ebony: Yes, Rainbow Bridge is a special place for pets who wait for their human beans. There is no pain and all the yummy food you ever need. There also is plenty of places to run and play. It is a very special place. >^..^<
Abby: I change the subject now. I want to nose where our human bean go for two whole days? I meow constantly, more than normal, at the other human beans. I think that I drive them beans crazier than ever too. >^..^<
Ebony: Well, I wanted them other human beans to put me outside all day, all night, and the next morning, but they never listen to me. That is cause use meowing about something all the time distracting them human beans. >^..^<
Abby: Meow, then our human bean came back and put yucky flea stuffers on us. I didn't like that at all. I nose that Ebony didn't like that either. Human bean should love on us and give us plenty of catnip and cat food. >^..^<
Ebony: I seed the funniest thing when Abby hissed at that puppy what called Trinity. I have never seen you hiss before or have all your fur stand up straight. I seed you with a fluffed up tail, but not like that. Use funny. >^..^<
Abby: Ebony, use full of jumping beans. I seed you growling and hissing at Trinity all the time. But you do that with almost everyone you not like. And you not like most everything and everyone, you do, really. >^..^<
Ebony: I also seed you steal human bean Tony's dinner. You got right into his plate and licking up all the goody. That Tony bean should have swatted you with a newspaper and squirted you with yucky water, he shoulda. >^..^<
Abby: Yes, but I got scratched on the nose protecting you from the wild kitties what live around that big trash steel thing across the street. I not nose why I fight your fights for you. You oughta do that for yourself. >^..^<
Ebony: I rather love on Tony bean and take long catnaps in neighbor Angie's fabulously cool flower garden. That is always better than getting loose and walking around all the places around and under the mobile home. >^..^<
Abby: I love the mobile home cat races inside, running from one end to the other and back again. It get me all tired out and sleepy eyed. I crawl under Toni bean child covers on her comfy bed. All the beans think I am losted sometimes even though I am not losted at all. I just love everyone. You just love Tony bean in the mornings for some odd reason. I not ever going to understand why you gotta meow with peoples when they in the bathrooms. Anymeow, I think us kitties have meowed about most everything we can think of. Time for a catnap now. >^..^<
Internet Stuff
Here are the latest DVD films from http://www.NetFlix.com: Brother Bear is another animated Disney classic. The movie says the right things and entertains too. Something's Got to Give is a fine romantic film with a comedic twist served up by Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson. A remake of Cheaper by the Dozen was fun and cute, but not as good as the original. The Matrix: Revolutions was better than the second but not as good as the first. We were disappointed really. Open Range had beautiful vistas and excellent acting, all making this western a very pleasing film. Lost in Translation moved too slowly, but personally we still enjoyed the movie about a middle-aged man in a mid-life crisis. Bill Murray did a great job in the lead role, but the movie itself let him down. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is a return to a true adventure and action film. The movie was fast paced and stayed on theme. This film was one of the better movies of the year. We hope to see a sequel soon. Websites we noticed recently: When the Middle Keys Membership Group of the Florida Keys Council of Arts held their monthly meeting at Leigh Ann's Coffee House recently, we learned about a great website full of cultural information among other things. The website address is http://www.voicesandvenues.com. At http://serenescreen.com ran by http://prolific.com you will find all sorts of really outstanding software. The prices are really good too. The software that we like best is a screen saver that is like having a real aquarium right on the screen of your computer. Microsoft Plus for Windows XP has a three-fish version. You can upgrade to a seven-fish version that includes over thirty kinds of fish set on a beautiful reef. The lighting is exceptional, and there is no drag on your CPU. The most important aspect of this software is the technical and customer support provided. We met a very nice service technician via email exchanges, and she fixed every minor problem that we had and then some. Several things happened on the Middle Keys Community Land Trust website at http://mkclt.org this month. We setup a wonderful search engine on site, using services provided by http://atmoz.com. Through the courtesy of The Marathon Weekly, John Bartus and Steve Conklin allowed the land trust to reprint a very well written article in its entirety. The article with photos can be found at http://mkclt.org/news.htm. Thanks to The Marathon Weekly newspaper and everyone on their fine staff. We would like to announce with great sadness a memorial site for Ren, a wonderful black cat full of life and personality. Of course, we can't equate human life with a pet, but the loss of a pet is still devastating. Memorial websites serve a purpose of honoring memories of loved ones, be they human or pet. Ren's memorial website can be found at http://www.renblackcat.com/renfarewell.htm. We will all miss Ren's special outlook on life. In The Keys
The Florida Keys Council of Arts Middle Keys Social Membership Group had a meeting at Leigh Ann's Coffee House in Marathon. Artists of all kinds met and discussed cultural issues as well as socialized. Elaine Zimmerman made a presentation on C.A.M.P. which is a summer music program for the Middle Keys Band. Children and adults both benefit from the program, as well as the area hosting. The group discussed a regular meeting schedule, goals, dreams, existing programs, announcements, and fundraising issues. There was an open discussion on a multitude of concerns and ideas. Thanks to Leigh Ann Card who owns and operates Leigh Ann's Coffee House. We plan on having lunch at her coffee house to sample the service. The atmosphere is very comfortable and unique. Leigh Ann's Coffee House is located at 7537 Overseas Highway in Marathon. The phone number is (305) 743-2001. The coffee house is open Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 4 PM. They are open on Saturday from 7 AM to 2 PM, but they are closed on Sundays. Everyone needs time off to enjoy paradise! Miscellany: I visited South Florida recently and stayed with good friends. I enjoyed the swimming pool, chasing errant kids around the park, and watching the NHL Florida Panthers on television. American Legion has been a fun hangout this last month. Boating is always so much fun. This month boating at Molasses Keys and John Sawyer Bank saw a lot of snorkeling and exploring. I took my niece to IHOP in Marathon for French toast, but she ordered something else. Go figure, kids. I lost the brakes on the truck, but Andy and Dave's Garage fixed it all up. Unfortunately, I had to help some people move out of Gulfstream Trailer Park. That wasn't fun at all. Finally: Did you know that Georgia's state bird is the Brown Thrasher? The flower is the Cherokee Rose. The tree is the Live Oak. The capital is Atlanta. Statehood was granted January 2, 1788. Lastly, the KW Light Gallery features personal photography and other visual art. This Key West gallery is located at 534 Fleming Street. They are open Thursday through Monday 11-7. Their telephone number is 305-294-0566. Call the gallery for more details. Their website is located at http://www.kwlightgallery.com. That's all there is for this month! Poetry Corner
“for Ren” 05.01.04
by L. E. Shaffer © 2004 L. E. Shaffer
Brightly the night sky
Spirit finally takes flight
Streaking across the stars
Like a brilliant comet
And alone we become
But we must let go
The heavens must
Have their loving due
Brightly the night sky
As the life spent so well
Comes a new beginning
And eternal hope to come
O, but we can’t go
Where our love goes
We must wait and
Hold what we have
Spirit in flight
Never looking back
The pain gone
Memories failing
Across the stars
We return to light
Only a thought
Remains, all life in
A second of time
The love sent us
On our way
To home forever © 2004 L. E. Shaffer Hockey Puck
The NHL playoffs have been very interesting. Some of my favorite teams are surviving into the later rounds, like the Sharks, Flames, and especially the Tampa Bay Lightning. I used to have season tickets to the Lightning, before I moved down to the fabulous Florida Keys and the great city of Marathon. In NASCAR, Jeff Gordon and and Dale Earnhardt Jr. keep doing well with Dale first and Jeff third in Nextel Cup points. In the MLB, the Florida Marlins are doing very well indeed, surprising a lot of pundits, whoever they may be. In the NBA playoffs, the Lakers and the Heat are still in play. The rest of the teams are boring really. Speaking of boring, why do we ever televise the NFL draft? Really, who cares? In the WTA, Venus Williams is back in form. Tiger Woods in the PGA is disappointing. We have grown to expect win after win. Augusta in Georgia saw the last tournament for the legend, Arnold Palmer. He went out in style and grace. That is more than you can say for some. Sports have grown so very boring, but I still follow the results and even watch the television events. Guest Articles
Stuff not written by us. As always everything is copyright of the author. Danielle Houser
Marathon High School
Mrs. Loggie’s American Gov’t Class
What the School can do for the Community
The community has done a lot for the school through the years. From helping fund the school, to volunteering to be mentors. It’s time for the school to start giving back.
One way the school can give back to the community would be helping the people. The school can do this by helping with public property, schools, parks, roadways, and bridges. Another way the school can help the community in a big way is by helping before, during, and after hurricane season. The school can help before by collecting canned goods and water for families, toys for children and help the community get ready, such as help putting up shutters and so forth. The school can help after the hurricane by helping clean up the community, and help distribute the food and water to the people.
Students from the school can also help the community by volunteering and helping local businesses and places like the hospital and the fire house. Helping at the hospital is a benefit for the community and for the school, it is a benefit for the students at the school because they get community service hours and it benefits the community because of the extra help.
The students can also help the community by going out and finding things to do, like go to the park and see if the local sports teams need any help. Students can also help with local festivals like the seafood festival and local events. They can help by setting up the parking and directing traffic also by entertainment, dancing, singing, and music.
Something that I think helps the community a lot is the costal clean up, the costal clean up is a clean up that takes place on local beaches when students come out in the morning till afternoon and clean up the trash and the things that have been left, we have cleaned up things from refrigerators to boats.
To implement this proposal it will take the school’s full effort by the school being an advertiser, so that the students will know about the events they can help at.
The benefits of my proposal are that the school will benefit by community service hours, and by students feeling good about their community knowing that they helped do something; my proposal benefits the community by people in the community being closer and being helped when needed. © 2004 Danielle Houser [last doc used: 22.doc] Ashley Hohman and Franjesca Roca
Marathon High School
Community City Project 2004
(Teen Club)
Fellow City council members from the City of Marathon, we would like to propose a new project for the year 2004. As you may know, the teen years are very difficult times in a person’s life, and we just want to make sure our teen years go by smoothly. Teenagers these days like to dance, listen to music, eat, hangout, and just have fun. That is why we propose a teen club for teens across the county.
Most of the time kids do not know what to do with their time so they either cause trouble or do absolutely nothing and who wants to grow up knowing their teen years were dull. We know we do not! This would be the all-time hangout for kids, where we could have food, music, soft drinks, and much more. Marathon would be a better place knowing that the kids of our county would be safe and out of trouble.
All we ask is that maybe you can help us with our funds and labors. We would need about one million dollars to build the building on the empty lot next to the furniture store, and the money left over would be used toward the supplies and materials inside the building. If the project starts as soon as possible, it could take a year to finish. Everyone could benefit from this. Teens of course, younger kids have something to look forward too, big brother and sister won’t be home to bother little ones, and adults would know that their kids are safe, out of trouble, and having a good time legally. So if you think about it everyone wins.
In the end, the city would have one of the most exciting places in Marathon. This Teen Club will change the lives of many teens that are just starting their teen years and already find them boring. No more boring nights at home in front of the television, but having fun is what it is all about.
We conclude that our city project for 2004 would be a great new start for teens in our county. By building this club we can change a lot of teen lives and being there to help them with a new clean start is what our goal is. So help us and you will know that you made a difference and accomplished a great success. We hope that this is achieved and that the teens have a good time.
Sincerely,
Ashley Hohman and Franjesca Roca
© 2004 Ashley Hohman and Franjesca Roca [last doc used: Community City Project 2004.doc] Katie Greenman, Jackie Allard, Jessica Brier, Johna Rudzin, Melanie Boyd, Marina Leal, & Vanessa Caraballo
Marathon High School
Extreme Edge Water Sports Arena Proposal
Extreme Edge Water Sports is an establishment, where kids of all ages can go out in the water, rent jet skis, learn to wake board, and explore the wonders of the fabulous Florida Keys. E.E.W.S is a water arena off the coast of Marathon where people can do any water sport and rent all water equipment; Wind surfing, Jet Skis, Water Skis, Tubes, Wake Boards, Knee Boards, and Boats. The customers will also be taught how to ride, control and drive all the equipment.
Our goal, and what we would like to accomplish, is a place where kids can have a good time, and be safe and supervised. Extreme Edge Water Sports Arena is open to kids ages 9 and up, and is supervised by certified Lifeguards. Kids aging 9-12 or any kids without a license under the age of 16 will be accompanied by a Lifeguard, parent or adult at all times.
Extreme Edge Water Sports is necessary for our community so the locals as well as the tourists can have a year round outside activity available. Many local community members, have barely stepped foot outside to enjoy the oceans of the Keys. With an establishment such as this, the kids who have no better reason to go out, now can have an activity where they can spend all day with their friends and are safely supervised; in other words out of trouble.
The anticipated result of Extreme Edge Water Sports Arena is to bring the community members of Marathon, Florida outside to enjoy their home. Kids in particular can go to the Arena, and enjoy all water activities, and have a good time, while the parents do not have to worry. Many parents are worried about their kids being at home alone, unfortunately they are too busy to be there for themselves, but with an establishment like this the parents will not have to worry, and are assured that they are having a good time.
We Need your Help
In order to pursue this goal, we need the cities help. If the city could provide designated water area, an island, money, and its support, we can be well on our way to an outside water arena for the people of marathon. With our idea for Extreme Edge Water Sports Arena, we intend to build on an island where you can rent all the equipment, we taught the safety procedures; get food and drinks, and all the other necessities needed for the safety and enjoyment of the Arena.
Supplies we need for the peoples safety and enjoyment of Extreme Edge Water Sports Arena will cost approximately $300,000.
If the arena were completed it would benefit all members and visitors of the Marathon community. The yearly tourist would have a place to go to enjoy what they came for, our oceans. The year round citizens, will have an activity where they can enjoy themselves, and still be safe. The parents and seniors of Marathon, can also go out and enjoy themselves, or just be reassured that their kids are out having a good time and are well supervised. Extreme Edge is going to designated areas for particular water activists and all boats will be patrolled, so they can not go out and destruct any water property (such as the reefs) and can be rescued if in need. With in two years we hope to complete this Arena to have it up and running for the people.
The Admission- $45 for a day
Rental- Depending on the equipment- $5-15
Hours- 8am-5pm Daily
*Membership cards available for locals*
Proposal Written by: Katie Greenman, Jackie Allard, Jessica Brier, Johna Rudzin, Melanie Boyd, Marina Leal, and Vanessa Caraballo.
© 2004 Katie Greenman, Jackie Allard, Jessica Brier, Johna Rudzin, Melanie Boyd, Marina Leal, and Vanessa Caraballo [last doc used: Extreme Edge Water Sports Arena.doc] Kathy Lancaster
Marathon High School
12-15-03
Dear City Council,
We the leadership class of MMS have come up with some ideas on how the school can help the community and how the community could help the school.
One way the school could help the community is by cleaning up around the community. We have already done clean up campaigns at the community park and the skate park. Middles school students have contributed approximately 50-60 hours to these projects this year.
The city could help us through coming to our class to help with the projects.
Thank you for your time,
The MMS Leadership Class
P.S. You can contact us by calling the school at (305)-289-2480 then ask for
Dr. Lancaster at ext. 371.
© 2004 Kathy Lancaster [last doc used: chris.doc] Bumpus
by Janine Adams Hi Larry,
Here is a wonderful cat story I received this morning & thought you'd really enjoy. I'm not sure where it came from but I'm sure you can add it to your collection either onsite or just on your computer *s*. Hope you like it.
Barb
Bumpus
By Janine Adams
The big, Maine–coon-type cat was found by firefighters on Father's Day 1996, his long orange fur matted and scorched. He lay, barely alive, in the charred remains of the wildfires that plagued Alaska that year. Even though he must have been in great pain, the cat purred the moment he was touched. When the vet first saw the badly burned cat, he began to cry. He had never seen a living animal with such extensive injuries. The fire had claimed his rear feet and all his front toes. The vet was afraid this latest fire victim might not live long.
But the cat was a survivor. Bumpus, as he came to be called, seemed unaware of the odds against him. Once he began to heal, Bumpus struggled persistently to learn to walk again. Eventually, to everyone's astonishment, the cat succeeded.
Bumpus became a favorite with the rescue volunteers who helped the clinic staff care for him. After facing so much ruin, devastation and death left in the wake of the fires, the presence of this friendly, spirited cat boosted
morale and helped the rescuers continue their work.
One of the volunteers, a woman named Sharon, fell in love with the big orange cat. When she was finished in Alaska, she couldn't face leaving him behind, so when Bumpus was well enough to travel, he came home to live with her in Missouri.
Besides doing emergency rescue work, Sharon volunteered at her local humane society. Her specialty was fostering sick or injured kittens in her home and nursing them back to health.
Not long after Bumpus came to live with her, Sharon took in a litter of badly wounded kittens who required special medical attention - two of them eventually needed to have a leg amputated. After the surgery, one of the two-month-old kittens, a female named Minus, came home from the vet, charged out of her carrier and jumped right up on the bed. She didn't even seem to notice she was missing a front leg.
But her brother, Cheerio, named for the circular patterns on his solid orange coat, was traumatized by the operation. Unlike other amputees Sharon had fostered, Cheerio seemed depressed at having lost a limb. He cried constantly, and when he tried to walk, Cheerio always fell and ended up doing a somersault. He took his
frustration out on the carpeting, biting and growling at anything around him. At other times, he hid under the bed, refusing to come out.
When Sharon saw how depressed Cheerio was - even his eyes were dull - she worried he might sicken and die. She had to do something, but what? Her eyes fell on Bumpus, serenely grooming himself in a sunny spot on the floor. He's been through this, she thought. Maybe he could help.
Sharon had isolated the injured kittens in one room in an attempt to keep them less active. When she opened the door to the kittens' room for Bumpus, he made a beeline for the crying kitten, quietly talking to him the whole way. He walked right up to the kitten and, wrapping his furry front paws around Cheerio's damaged little body, held him like a child holds a doll. Then Bumpus began rubbing his head against Cheerio's head and licking the kitten's face. Immediately the crying stopped - and the purring began. The little three-legged kitten, who could not warm to the love of a human, immediately responded to the love of another orange cat - a larger version of
himself - who had suffered in this way, too.
Over the next few days, Cheerio and Bumpus became inseparable. Though Cheerio didn't want his littermates around, he stuck close to Bumpus. Often when Sharon looked in on them, she found Bumpus and the kitten curled up together on the bed - the same bed that Cheerio had refused to jump on, hiding under it instead.
Thanks to Bumpus's therapy, Cheerio regained his cheerful disposition and eventually went to live with a devoted new family.
Since then, Bumpus has become Sharon's secret weapon. Any time she has a problem with a kitten, she sends the big cat in and waits for the inevitable miracle.
Bumpus works his magic on people as well. Sharon often takes him to visit children in the pediatric oncology ward at a local hospital. The children are deeply affected when they see what the fire did to Bumpus and witness how his strong will to live has helped him. They reach out eagerly to pet the big, brave cat. And his purring presence seems to quiet their fears.
Sharon doesn't wonder how Bumpus does it, because she's always known. This wonderful cat possesses an enormous quantity of the healing spirit - more than enough to share. You've never truly known love until you've opened your heart to a feline that has opened it's heart to you.
--
Wishing You Love & Laughter
Always Lady Barb
"A little kindness from person to person is better than a vast love for all humankind" - Richard Dehmel
Visit our Farbsite of Love and Laughter http://www.phoenix-web.net/farbsite © 2004 Janine Adams Twins of the Dark Star
Book One 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, Book Two The Mountains of Ao novel currently in final edit, Book Three Twins of the Dark Star novel in early stages, and The Book of Kalian Mysticism poetry collection are 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
All opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of this magazine, company, or its advertisers. Inputs, email, suggestions, and letters to this journal are subject to approval by Ebony and Abby. Submittals may be edited for content and length and become the creative property for the one-time nonexclusive publication of: Shaffer Novels/Poetry Company
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PO Box 501833
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(305) 743-9648 voice/fax Internet URLs: www.RunesofAo.com
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www.RunesofAo.com/abby/ Publication date: April 28, 2004
Author: L. E. Shaffer
Company: Shaffer Novels/Poetry Company &
Shaffer Internet Publishing Company
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