 The Shaffer Journal
Volume 9 † Issue 10 † October 2003
[Internet Stuff] [Hockey Puck] [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 along with her human friend, Leo. We all loved you, Kitty! Click the cat graphic to visit her Memorial page. Kitty born June 6, 1982. Died July 9, 1997. Please fill out our email form below to tell us how we are doing or make suggestions. >^..^<  Ebony: We have too many visitors. The latest interruptions to our catnaps was them BBC film people. I have too many other things to think about than human beans with cameras. They even come inside our fifth wheel travel trailer and talked with our bean. Baddies! >^..^<
Abby: I not like that either. When I get the chance, I escaped into the mangroves behind our trailer. I climbed higher and higher in the branches to keep away from my human bean. Eb was outside observing all this and didn't have one meow to offer when bean catch me. >^..^<
Ebony: Meow, I was hoping he leave you losted. I would be most happy for a vacation from you. All you do is play with the NetFlix flap papers what cover the sticky stuff that close them mailers. You are full of stuff, meow. You won't even stay out of my green chair. Human bean always putting stuff in my chair too. Bad bean, he is! >^..^<
Abby: I like that new camp chair. It is all back, and my white fur looks so good all over it. Human bean plays with me by scratching on the canvas material. I really get excited and bite and claw. Ebony don't care though. >^..^<
Ebony: Well, you meow that right. I prefer to scratch my old block of wood think of you. Silly human bean brought in an old washed-up branch for Ab to scratch, but, of course, Abby still scratches the carpet and other things. I also prefer to be carried by human bean to all the new, interesting places like over the docks and stuff like that. I just purr my happiness and human bean and I have a lovely moment together until Abby comes to mind. >^..^<
Abby: Meow, I never want to be carried by human bean. He squeezes too hard. And there lots of scary things outside what I not like and all that there. I prefer to stay inside. Eb and I nose when the weather going bad too. Inside is better for that. Us cats can feel the wind, pressure, thunder, lightning, and even the rain coming. >^..^<
Ebony: O, yes, cats are good weather predictors. Human bean always nose bad weather coming when we both get as close to human bean as fur will allow. But bean can be bad. He left us for over 24 hours recently whilst he went up north for no good reason. I gave him a severe meowing when human bean come back too. I was hungry! >^..^<
Abby: Ice nose use was going to meow that silliness. I am glad that I chase you and jump on you and make the black fur fly out in large chunks. Eb, you growl and meow so maddeningly, you do. I am happiest then. >^..^<
Ebony: Use was playing with the phone cord with the human bean. Then you just took off and jumped on me. I don't like that at all, I don't. The new weed whacker that human bean makes bean even badder, I meow. >^..^<
Abby: Yes, it was bad enough when some unknown human bean was whacking them weeds. Now we got our very own human bean doing that evil fing. I don't like anyone coming near our trailer making any noises. >^..^<
Ebony: I can't believe that you actually agree with me on something, Abby. Use never do that before. >^..^<
Abby: I was just trying to be nice for once. You are be nice and come back next month for more meows. >^..^<
Internet Stuff
The DVD films from http://www.NetFlix.com are packed with extras and full of good entertainment. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was even better than the first movie in the series. I can't wait for third one. Boys Don't Cry was a stark, true story of a girl struggling with her sexual identity. Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House was the same formula, different movie, but still entertaining. The 400 Blows was a 1959 classic film about a boy's struggle to survive in France. The Best Bits of Mr. Bean was hilarious. The Core was an excellent SF movie, but the science is a bit unbelievable. Bringing Down the House with Steve Martin and Queen Latifah was fun and funny. Anger Management with Jack Nicholson and Adam Sandler was fair but you expected more out of these two. Gangs of New York was a great epic of a movie about Irish and Italian immigrants in Civil War New York. Several websites were useful this month. http://www.PBS.org Gulfstream special from the BBC News will be featured as well on the site http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/default.stm. Check http://RunesofAo.com/LarryShaffer. In The Keys
Amazing things are happening all over Marathon. We have another proud newspaper called The Marathon Weekly. My boat was fixed and no longer held hostage due to the kindness of neighbors and friends. And boating is still very worthwhile, fantastic sunsets and amazing snorkeling sessions. Marathon's RV/Mobile Home Park Moratorium is in effect since August 12 due to zoning-in-progress. The annual summer point party held at the Tiki Hut due to inclement weather went off without a hitch. This annual event attracted well over 30 people and was the best one yet. The Jerry Lewis Telethon broke another record for pledges from people like you and me. And the BBC News commissioned a short film piece by Alan and Francesca Tomlinson on Gulfstream residents. My mother died suddenly September 10, 2003. I couldn't afford to go to Ohio. She was cremated according to her wishes. Her ashes will be spread at John Sawyer Bank two miles north of where I live. My brother and I hope to have a little ceremony then. We have to wait until December sometime. I'm not quite sure what to think or feel. Miscellany: To get decent tropical shirts, I had to go all the way to Florida City's Wal-Mart. Also, I am pleased to have a new artists to publish, Kathleen McPugh. There is now a chair and picnic table blocking public access to the Gulfstream jetty. Did you know that Alaska's state bird is the Willow Ptarmigan? The flower is the forget-me-not. The tree is the Sitka Spruce. The capital is Juneau. Statehood was granted January 3, 1959. Lastly, the Sign of Sandford features original mouse pads, chairs, watercolors, prints, T-shirts, fabric, and bags. This Key West shop is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 6 PM. They are located at 328 Simonton Street. Their telephone number is 305-296-7493. Their website address is http://www.signofsandford.com. That's it this month! Poetry Corner
“Star Stuff” 09.28.03
by L. E. Shaffer © 2003 L. E. Shaffer dedicated to my mother who died 9.10.03
Stunned to inaction
Thinking time neverending
With death laughing
At foolish grief
That won't walk
Halls of light
Business unfinished
Expectations unfilled
The dead go on
The living must
Live, tears or no
Only a moment
Separates total heartbreak
From numb survival
Memories washing
Like background surf
Eventually the sorrow
Arrives unsuspecting
Over inconsequential
Motes of life
The living must
Honor the dead
The dead are
On that next journey
We are made
Of stat stuff
Breathing gasses
Of infinite nebula © 2003 L. E. Shaffer Hockey Puck
The NHL preseason is well underway. Soon the hockey pucks and the bone-crushing checks will entertain the hardcore fans. Tiger finished his season at the Deutsche Bank Championship and had a good year even through the detractors. The three NASCAR races this month at Darlington, Richmond, and Dover saw Bill Elliot and Jeff Gordon doing well. Notre Dame is disappointing this year in college football, while Ohio State remains undefeated so far. The Florida Marlins clinched the wild card by beating the New York Mets. The Miami Dolphins are 2 - 1 so far. The NBA starts up very soon. That is all the crazy sports stuff this month. Guest Articles
We have various guests this journal. As always everything is copyright of the author. Catwalk [a new artwork coming soon to our electronic bookstore] Tiger is a young, comfort-loving tabby cat, the cherished pet of Sam and Beth, a young newlywed couple. Then trouble strikes in the form of Donna, the couple's new baby. Feeling neglected and more than a little jealous, Tiger misbehaves and is soon relegated to being an outdoor cat. When she herself becomes pregnant, Beth insists she be disposed of, so Sam drops her off at a nearby industrial park. Alone, and with her babies due any minute, Tiger suddenly finds herself adrift in a big, impersonal, and occasionally hostile world. Her odyssey ultimately takes her halfway across the continent, and brings her in contact with such diverse characters as a feminist warehouse worker, a Cajun fisherman, a game warden and his wife, a trio of hoboes, and a Mexican- American family. She is befriended by many, abused by some, but her indomitable spirit always carries her through. Her struggle for survival and her search for home and family is a story animal lovers of all ages will want to read and share.© 2003 Kathleen McPugh Hi Everybody, After reading the Gulfstream Trailer Park article in the New York Times, the BBC contacted me yesterday (Friday). They are doing a television piece on our situation. They asked me to contact year-round residents to get their opinion on what is going on, and what the full timers are going to do if the developers win the lawsuit. They were very much on our side and could not believe that developers would demolish our homes and leave us with nothing. The piece will air on PBS on the BBC News. I will have a copy of the interview if anyone should request one and will let you know when it is scheduled to be aired. Always trying to help the cause! Karen Melnick © 2003 Karen Melnick The Mountains of Ao
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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www.RunesofAo.com/abby/ Publication date: September 28, 2003
Author: L. E. Shaffer
Company: Shaffer Novels/Poetry Company &
Shaffer Internet Publishing Company
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