 The Shaffer Journal
Volume 6 Issue 2 February 2000
[Internet Stuff] [Hockey Puck] [Guest Meows! Cat Chat 1 2 3 4]
[The Mountains of Ao] [Poetry Corner] [The Dull Stuff] [Guest Articles] [In The Keys]
This journal is dedicated to my father who passed away December 30, 1999. Leo was many things most good some not. He was just another man walking his path. I recall so many things mostly positive. There are some regrets. That is the way life plays out upon this tapestry of humanity. No matter, he was my father and friend, nothing more or less. He loved me, and I loved him regardless of our faults. Although I was lucky to have spent nine months with him earlier in 1999, I would advise you all to seek out your loved ones. Give them a hug. Never let an unkind word stand between you. You never know when that last goodbye will be said.
Kitty Talk
These journals are dedicated to Kitty GreyCat's spirit. She is at RainBow Bridge now. We all loved you, Kitty! Click the cat graphic to visit her Memorial page. Kitty born June 6, 1982. Died July 9, 1997.
 This is Ebony and let's do the list of all birfdays, anniversaries, and holidazes: February 2 Ground Hog's Day, 10 Doug/Ines anniversary, 11 Joyce's birthday, 12 A. Lincoln & Uncle Thom birthdays, 14 Valentine's Day, 15 Douglas birthday, 17 President's Day, 22 G. Washington birthday, and 29 Leap Year Day. I am Abraxas WhiteCat but dare are sum who call me Abby. Papa bean called me and Ebony "the girls." I liked this human bean, because he would always give us some furrry nice yummies. Meats mostly. I wasn't afraid of Papa bean when he had yummies to cut up. The last time we visited Ohio I did not see the Papa bean. My human bean say he went to meet Tuffy, the old dog, at Rainbow Bridge. I Ebony BlackCat nose what happened. Papa bean met Tuffy and had a high old time togetfurr. You see, Tuffy been waiting dare along wif Bee Gee and dat old mutt Patches. I nose dare twere udder pets too. The joy of that meeting was sumfing to behold. I fink Rainbow Bridge is a nice place to go. Internet Stuff
Leo, my father, didn't say much about the Internet. He seemed to think that I spent too much time on it though. He was right, of course. Yet he had his delightful habits as well. He watched certain programs with relish. He wasn't much for email or most other computer-related things. He did play some games with me once in a while. Leo got mellow as the years went by, but technology never passed him by. He just ignored it and did quite well without it. He didn't live long enough to see the newest website added to my company. The address is http://www.shafferpublishing.com. Of course, he was dubious as to whether computers actually ever did any work. And his distrust never waned. He was, of course, a man of his times. Aren't we all? In The Keys
My father had not been well for a long time. I became used to his occasional complaints, but he knew how life worked. I think that I was in denial. I thank God though that I had nine months last year to spend with my parents. We did not get along all the time, but isn't that how family works? We had some fine, memorable times together. And there were some disagreements too. Even though I knew the day would come when he had to move on, I was shocked when he died. At least he did not linger and suffer as he was afraid would be the case. I drove all the way up to Ohio, because I needed to be with family. We needed to start the healing process. My father wanted as little fuss as possible. He got his wish. My oldest son, his wife, and daughter flew in from Nebraska. Our family talked about good times and memories. Soon I had to go back home. All the time I drove south I thought of my father. He once told me about the death of his father. Dad said that he was just a man, nothing more or less. That has stayed with me all those years. My father was down to earth, real, and sometimes full of himself, but he loved greatly. He did good and ill. He was after all just a man. He was my father and friend. When I got back, the ladies of the park presented me with a very nice potted plant and lovely card. For that, I extend my sincerest thanks. My father and I loved plants. I know how to kill them, and he knew how to bring them back to life. I have that plant on my kitchen table. The plant reminds me that my father is in a much better place. I find comfort in knowing that fact. I imagine that he approached the gates and argued with the gatekeeper awhile. Then he walked on the streets. Familiar people who had gone on before him walk up and hug him. The reunion fills him with joy. As they wander up a beautiful lane, some dogs bark in the distance. They come up to a bridge with cats and dogs playing nearby in fields of endless wheat. My father recognizes some sounds and stops there looking at the rainbows. All the loved pets of his life come running up to him jumping up and down in delirious greeting. This makes him cry and laugh in joy. Later, my father wanders into heaven's kitchen. He enjoys the quiet and admires the shine of a set of carving knives. Slowly, he starts working. Doing what he loves best. People of all sorts come in to admire and sample his handiwork. They enjoy the colorful conversations too. My father barely pays attention to who comes by what is now his kitchen, for it matters not. He has found his place. I imagine he shares his opinions on everything to everyone no matter who they are. I know that no one who tries their best goes without their reward. Nothing seasoned and good ever ceases to exist. For what father would not give good to his children? Leo, my father, lived a long life. He had many good attributes. He had some failures. He loved and was loved. He was, in the end, just a man. But that man was my father and friend. I will miss him so... I know that I usually write about the Florida Keys in this article. I know you will all understand. I know that most will empathize with me. Next month I will write about the great things here in the Florida Keys. I thank the wonderful people at Gulfstream Trailer Park and Marina in Marathon. Not only do I live in a special place, but I count everyone here as great friends. So until the next journal, think on these things. Enjoy your loved one and friends while they yet live, when it most counts. Soon we all must take that journey afar with hope and faith. Guest Meows!
 This is Larry for Ariel. She and her two cats, Harry and Emily, gave us some wonderful Cat Chat articles this month. We are gratified that we can offer this regular article about some wonderful cats and their human bean with visits by a dragon! Please visit the Memorial Page for Ariel's mother. Click the cat wagging its tail graphic to visit their net home. Thank you. Now here is Harry, Chester, and Emily with Cat Chat:
Cat Chat 1-5-00
Year Of The Dragon
Chester: Guess what! Today, January 5th 2000 is the start of the Year Of The Dragon!
Harry: The year of the what? What are yous talking bout? January 1st was the start of the year. I nose cause me and Mom and Girlfriend watched fireworks on the TV. Everyone nose January 1st is the start of the new year. And there wasn't no mention of dragons at all!
Chester: This is different. This is the Chinese New Year! See the Chinese have a different calendar than us, and they assign different animals to different years. For them, each animal has a distinct personality, and the year takes on the personality of the animal, and anyone born that year does too.
Emily: Sounds compilkated. Anyways, we aren't Chinese!
Chester: No, but I'm a dragon! And this isn't just any old year of the dragon. This is the year of the Gold Dragon!
Harry: So what? Yous are a blue dragon.
Chester: You're missing the point. This is very exciting. See, this is a very special year, since it is the start of the new millennium. Well, technically next year is the start of the new millennium, but this is the year 2000 and that is very very special because it only happens once every 100 years. So they made it even more special by making it the Year of the Dragon!
Emily: If it's dat special, it should be da Year ub da Cat!
Harry: Yeah! Cats are the most specialist nanimals there is!
Chester: Well, cats are special, to be sure, but the Chinese think dragons are extra special. The represent good luck, and good fortune, and stuff like that. They say they are animals of great power, and their minds operate on planes mere mortals can't know. And they never doubt themselves.
Emily: Cheese willikers! He sure is full ub hisself, isn't he?
Harry: He sure is. I think he's been surfing the Web too much! Hey Chester, how come dragons' minds have to operate on planes? Can't they fly by theirselves? Heehee!
Chester: Not those kinds of planes, silly! Planes, like other dimensions. That means dragons are extra smart!
Emily: Smart-alecky, more like!
Chester: If you knew what Chinese New Year was all about you'd be more excited, I bet. Anyway, you're both just jealous because it's not the Year of the Cat!
Harry: Ok, smarty-tail, tell us what this Chinese New Year Of The Dragon is all bout, then. You're gonna tell us anyways, I meow!
Chester: Ok! For one thing, Chinese New Year is like Christmas and Thanksgiving and New Years that we have here all wrapped up into one...
Emily: I'd rather hab three holidays dan one! Dat don't sound fun atall!
Chester: Oh, but they don't celebrate for just one day. See, first, for weeks before, they make decorations and buy gifts and buy extra food and new clothes. And they all have their hair cut or done or whatever humans do to their hair, so they can start the New Year all fresh!
Harry: Mom had her hair cut before Christmas. Does that count?
Chester: I guess is would. Anyway, days before the New Year's Eve they clean their houses top to bottom and sweep out all the bad luck.
Emily: Day clean fur days?? Dar be already plenty ub cleaning round here widout cleanin fur days. I's glad Mom isn't goin fur dis Chinese New Year ting! And anyways, how can day sweep out da bad luck? I thought all dat were on da floor was dust and cat hair and stuffers like dat!
Harry: Yeah! And why do they sweep? Haven't they ever heard of a vacuum monster? Mom only sweeps the kitchen.
Emily: Sweeping is better than the vacuum monster, I meow! But I don't tink Mom would sweep da whole house. It don't make no sense. Don't da Chinese hab carpet?
Chester: I don't know, but that's the tradition. I don't think vacuuming the bad luck would work. It has to get swept out of the house. But then, after all that, they can't sweep at all for New Years, because they would sweep out the new good luck.
Emily: Dis is silly! Yous is makin dis up!
Chester: I am not! It's all true. And they can't touch knives or scissors either, because that would cause bad fortune.
Harry: What about can openers?
Chester: They probably just feed their kitties Whiskas in the pouch, like you both like.
Emily: Oh, well that's ok then!
Chester: And for days before they make lots of special food, like sweet cakes and raw fish stuff, and special green leafy vegetables, and they eat and eat, like we do at Thanksgiving.
Harry: I could deal with the raw fish part...
Chester: And then they give all the children red packets full of money. And they go visiting all their friends and relatives. And they celebrate for days and days.
Emily: Well, it all sounds ok fur beans, but what good is it fur kitties? Do they give the kitties read packets full of Yum-yums?
Chester: The literature doesn't say anything about that. But maybe. Anyway, the best thing is, it's the Year Of The Dragon! A whole year to celebrate being me! Heehee!
Harry: Cheese willikers! Now we's gonna have to put up with an uppity full of hisself dragon fur a whole year!
Emily: Dis be serious! We'd better come up wid a special cat holiday or somethin, or we's in big trouble!
Harry: I nose! Let's go look on the Web. I bet there's some country that thinks cats are special this year!
Emily: Or alla time eben! Get off da puter. Chester. We's got surfin to do!
Chester: Fine! Just be that way. I'm going to lay on my couch and act like the very special being that I am. I wonder if I should paint myself gold...
Cat Chat 1-06-00
Cat Gods
Emily: Well! Mom hab tooken ober da puter an wouldn't let us on no way no how!!! She said she were doin portant tings fur GeoCities.
Harry: Yeah, she was up day and night and night and day writing webpages fur Area51/GeoCities, where she works. So we are furry furry late with our column here. We thought about getting Chester to help with it when Mom slept, but by the time she got off, we were all pooped too! So, we are late. But so anyway, you beans and kitties are going to get two columns fur the price of one this week!
Emily: That's right! We's gonna print both ub our columns, now that Mom finally let us on da puter!!
Harry: Yous all might member that last time Chester was all full of hisself cause it is the year of the Dragon in China.
Chester: Not just China! Anywhere that there are Chinese people all over the world. And I wasn't being full of myself, I was just pointing out that....
Harry: Save it, Chester. We's all nose that you was acting all full of yourself and uppity and stuffers like that!
Emily: You tell him, Harry!! So, before Mom tooked ober da puter, me an Harry, we did a little researchin ub our own, an you'll neber guess what we found out!! It's way furry much better dan being any ole year ub da Dragon thingy!!
Harry: It sure is! See, we founds out that in Egypt, which is even closer than China, cause we lookeded at a map and saw, in Egypt the people there worship us as gods!!
Chester: They do not!!
Harry: They do too! There are pictures and everything. See, they decided that our eyes, that are so shiny, you know? Are like the sun, and the sun is a big big god thing to them. So us cats are, how did they say it...ummm...the embodied-mint of the Sun.
Emily: Yeah! So there! We is gods, we is. Yous just got a special year, but we is gods alla time!
Chester: Silly cats! That was a long long time ago! They don't believe in that now!
Emily: Yeah, well, how does you nose? Jus cause it were a long time ago, don't mean some ub da beans don't still believe it. Beans will believe anything, I meow!
Harry: That's fur sure! But they are right bout one thing; us cats are gods! I mean, look at how our beans treat us. We are waited on paw and tail alla time! They give us special yummy thing to eat, and make special cozy places fur us to sleep, and brush us and play with us and let us in and out and in and out. That's what I call being a god, ifn yous ask me!
Emily: Dat's right. An we readed up on alla stuffers dat da Gyptian beans do, or did, or whateber. See, when a furry special bean would die, see, they would wrap them all up special. It were called mummifiedin. An only special beans got mummifieded! But ebery kitty what died got mummifieded, cause day was so furry special, being gods an all. Day eben made mummifieded mousies so as we would hab stuffers to eat after we died! Now, dat's tinkin ahead, I meow!
Harry: Course, they must not have known bout Rainbow Bridge, or they would have known we didn't need the mummy mousies. But it was a furry nice thing to do. And after all, beans aren't all that smart, yous nose? So they did the best what they could to make their kitties comfortable after they died. What more can a kitty ask?
Emily: They drewed pitchurs ub us too, all ober dar buildings. An dar wasn't no dragons on dem buildings atall! An day eben put earring in dar cats' ears, cause they tought dat anyting dat were a god oughta hab shiny jewels on dem. I doesn't tink I'd like an earring, but it shows how much dose beans tought ub dar kitty cats! An in some a da pitchurs, da cats is paintin!
Chester: What do you mean, the cats are painting?
Harry: The beans, they put down paints fur their kitties, and the cats would paint on the walls with their paws! It's true. There are still cats that paint. I sawed a whole book bout it that Mom borrowed from a friend.
Chester: That's just plain silly! Cats can't paint!
Emily: Why not? We can do bout eberyting else, cept work da can opener an da doorknob! I seed the book too. The cats in it painted all sorts of neat pitchurs.
Chester: I don't believe you! You're both just making that up. Anyway, if cats paint, why don't you two paint?
Harry: Well, cause Mom hasn't never put us down no paints to use. Sides, I'd rather keep my paws clean. I'll let those other cats paint. But see, it shows that we is smart and special, and so of course we are gods! And there's more too! Ina place called Tibet, what is real near China, that have cats that guard their temples. Those are like churches. The cats keep nasty beans and evil spirits away.
Emily: I nose I could be a temple cat! I'd chase away all dem ebil spirits!! Heehee!!
Chester: Gee, whiz! Talk about being full of yourselves!! You two have gone straight crazy! You aren't gods or temple guards. You're just cats. Besides, Emily, if you ever saw an evil spirit, you'd run and hide, just like you always do when strange beans come over!
Emily: I would not! Sides, ifn yous can be full ub yourself, we can be full ub ourselbes too! After all, dar isn't nothin in dis whole world special as kitty cats!
Chester: Except magic dragons!
Harry: Humph! Well, yous just remember, yous might be magic, but we are gods!
Chester: Oh, brother!!!
Cat Chat 1-17-00
Ode To Spot
Harry: Mom was visiting the website of a friend of hers, a bean called Jakrinda. Jakrinda is owned by Pasha the Cat. That means that Jakrinda is a furry special and smart bean, cause only special and smart beans are owned by kitties. Pasha even has her own website!
Emily: Mom hab talked about us habin our own website too, but she habn't got round to openin one fur us yet. But she will, I meow, soon as she gets all da archiveses ub our columns done. Den we'll hab like eight or nine pages already, an dat's enuff fur our own site!
Harry: Absul-utly! Anyways, when Mom was visiting Jakrinda's site, she found this pome that was written by a character on one of Mom's favorite TV shows, Star Trek: The Next Generation. The pome was written by this bean called Data, only he isn't a real bean. He's an android.
Emily: That means he were made, not borned. But he's still really a real bean, because he's owned by a cat too, named Spot! Now, this Data bean, he talks in real fancy like talk, I guess cause he's an andy-roid an is kinda too smart fur his own britches. So as soon as we sawed da pome, we nosed dat no regular bean could unnerstand it, specially ifn day wasn't owned by a kitty. So me an Harry, we decided we would splain it to alla yous beans out dar!
Chester: There is no way you cats can possibly understand this poem! How do you think you can explain it?
Harry: We can too understand it...mostly. We had to look some a the words up, cause they are really egg-stra fancy! Anyways, we are cats! We can understand anything, ifn we tries!
Chester: OK, Prove it!
Harry: OK, we will! It starts "Felis Cattus"-that means cat in fancy old fashioned bean talk.
Chester: It's Latin
Harry: Whatever! It don't matter what silly bean language it is in, so long as you nose what it means. So, it goes on, "is your taxonomical nomenclature"....
Chester: Taxonomic. The poem says taxonomic.
Emily: Stop interrupting! We's pronounetin eberting jus fine, tank you furry much!
Chester: (sigh)
Emily: Anyways, taxonomical nomenclature means the fancy way dat beans catty-gorize tings, scientifical like. So da first line means, Cat, is your scientifical name...
Harry: Right! OK, so then it says: "an endothermic quadruped carnivorous by nature?" Now, this is real compulcated fur yous beans, I nose. So first of all, a quadruped is a nanimal what walks on all four legses. OK? Like us kitties do. And carnivorous means that we eat meat. Course beans eat meat too, but they eat other things too...
Chester: Like brussel sprouts with cheese sauce and candied yams! Yum!
Emily: Yeah, yucky stuffers like dat. But us kitties, bein as we is superior sorts of peoples, just eat meat, and fish ub course, which is jus a different kinda meat. So, but da woid endothermic, dat be a tough woid! We had to looked dat one up eben ourslefes!
Harry: But what it means is, warm-blooded. That means we aren't like snakes and dragons and things! Our blood is warmer than the room what we are in. Course, that doesn't mean we don't like to be warmer! Heehee!
Chester: Hey, watch the cut about dragons! How do you know I'm not warm-blooded? I'm not just any kind of dragon, you know!
Emily: Yeah, but yous is always snuggling up in da warmest places!!
Chester: So are you! So there!
Harry: OK, that's enuff, yous two! We's gots lots of pome left to splain. So the next line goes: "Your visual, olfactory and auditory senses contribute to your hunting skills, and natural defenses." Now, this should be easy even fur a bean to understand. Visual means our sight, olfactory means our sense of smell, and auditory means our hearing. So the line means cause we can see and hear and smell so great, we are specially good at hunting and defending ourselves. See?
Chester: I'm amazed! You actually seem to be making sense of this. You cats are cheating!
Emily: No we isn't! We's jus smart! Now the next line, "I find myself intrigued by your subvocal oscillations,"--that's purring to yous beans-"a singular development of cat communications." That means that only us cats purr! See how easy?
Harry: Then this Data bean goes on and says: "that obviates your basic hedonistic predilection for a rhythmic stroking of your fur, to demonstrate affection." Well, some of this is egg-stra fancy, but most of it should be furry clear even to beans what aren't owned by cats. The tricky word is "obviates." That means anticipateses. So what the line means is, we anticipates the pleasure what we like so much of being petted!
Chester: Hedonistic means that you cats think that pleasure is the only good thing in life!
Emily: Well, ub course! Dats why we likes it so much! I mean, what else is dar, after all!
Chester: Well, there's...
Emily: We's talking bout cats an dis pome. We doesn't need yous opinions bout stuffers! Now dis Data says: "A tail is quite essential for your acrobatic talents; you would not be so agile if you lacked its counterbalance. And when not being utilized to aide in locomotion, it often serves to illustrate the state of your emotion." Well, ifn yous beans don't unnerstand dat, yous really is in trouble. All it means is, our tailses help us balance when we jump and stuffers, and we talks wid our tails too! Any bean what is owned by a kitty nose all bout tail talk!
Harry: They sure do. Tail talk is onea the bestest ways to tell beans how we feel bout things. OK! So, we are most done.
Chester: It's about time!
Emily: Dat's enuff outta yous! Yous jus leab our column alone. Yous can do your own column next week!
Chester: I will! Just wait and see!
Harry: OK, let's just do the last two lines, OK? Data says: "O Spot, the complex levels of behaviour you display connote a fairly well-developed cognitive array." Now, that means he can tell from the way that Spot acts that Spot is really smart. But then he gets all confused and has a miskon-ceptshun. He says, "And though you are not sentient, Spot, and do not comprehend,"-now that's just silly! He nose that Spot is smart, but he thinks that Spot isn't aware of things and doesn't understand what Data says and stuffers. Well, of course Spot is aware and understands! Yous would tink a android bean would nose dat, but after all he still is just a bean, and they do sometimes not nose things what are true. Even ifn they are owned by a cat! That's why beans need cats-to teach them what is really true, you nose?
Emily: Yeah, but the in the last line, I really likes this, he says, "I nonetheless consider you a true and valued friend." See, he nose Spot does unnerstand him after all, cause how else could Spot be a friend? A friend has to unnerstand da oder person, wheder it be a bean or a cat or a dragon. So I tink dis Data is jus con-foosed at da end, cause like so many beans he tinks he is smarter dan Spot, which ub course he isn't. But he still lubs him, so dat's OK. So, does yous beans unnerstand da pome now? It really is a purrty good pome, I tink. I wonder what Spot tought bout it?
Harry: Maybe we should think bout that. We can make a pome from Spot to Data!
Emily: OK! Let's do dat!
Chester: Not next week! Next week is my turn. Anyway, it will take you cats forever to write a poem! Heehee!
Emily: Will not!
Chester: Will too! So there!
Cat Chat 1-23-00
White Stuffers
Harry: Well! As if taking over the puter the last two weeks weren't enuff, now Mom has gone and made that nasty white stuffers be all over the ground! It's just turrible! It was bad enuff when it was just cold, but now we's can't go out atall!
Chester: How many times do I have to tell you cats that Mom doesn't control the weather! She doesn't like the snow anymore than you do-she's stuck inside too!
Emily: Oh, yeah, like she cares bout dat! Dat jus means she hogs da puter all da more dan usually! Anyways, she all silly bout it like, yous nose? Like when da foist white stuffers started comin out from da sky, she goes to me, look Emily, look! Like I couldn't sees da nasty stuffers from where I were sittin! Oh, after a while, so she would nose I wasn't jus comin cause she wanted me to, you nose, I wandered ober and stuck a paw out, I had furrgot how cold dat stuffers is! So I jus went back in. Den after a while more, I went out and lookeded round. Eberyting smell funny wid dat stuffers comin down.
Harry: But that was just the first time. It was all gone by the next day. Then Mom, she was telling Girlfriend bout that she was gonna go to the grocery store and get some food. And that's another thing! Girlfriend has been sick, I nose, cause I hear Mom talking to her alla time, but why does she have to be sick over at her old trailer? Why can't she be sick here? I miss her, I meow!
Emily: Me too (sniff)
Chester: Now, you both know that Girlfriend doesn't want to get Mom sick. She has a stomach virus. Mom already had that, and Girlfriend doesn't want her to get it again. Besides, she rests better over there where it's quiet and there are no cats jumping on her stomach! You remember what she is like when she doesn't sleep well. She's all grumpy and stuff. And when she doesn't feel good, she won't play with us or anything anyway, because she doesn't have the energy. So it's better for her to stay where it is quiet and rest and get better.
Emily: But Mom goes ober dar sometime!
Chester: Yes, but they are both very careful not to pass germs. Anyway, Girlfriend is trying to fix up the trailer too so she can sell it in the Spring. Then she will be living with us alla time.
Harry: Well, so, well! Then how are they gonna not pass germs then, huh, Mr. Smarty?
Chester: They'll just have to be extra careful is all. We're going to maybe get a bigger place to live, too. Anyway, that's the way it is for now. Girlfriend will be back when she feels better.
Emily: Well, it don't make no sense atall to me. I tink she don't lub us anymore! (sniff)
Chester: Of course she loves us! Beans...I mean humans, have to do things their own way. You understand? I know they are strange sometimes, but we just have to be understanding and let them have their way. They'll come around after a while. After all, they are only humans. We can't except them to be sensible!
Harry: Yous got that right! I mean, why would anyone with any sense want white stuffers on the ground?
Chester: Harry...(sigh) Look, you watch TV with Mom, right?
Harry: Yeah, so?
Chester: Then you've seen the Weather Channel that she watches. The weather is made by the air currents and stuff. The jet stream. You've heard them talking about the jet stream haven't you?
Harry: Yes, but...OK, so Mom didn't make it fall white stuffers from the sky. It's the sky's fault! That doesn't make it any better. And they were saying on the weather channel that more is coming...oh! I mean, well, OK, I admit it, I did listen. I just thought they were making it up so us kitties wouldn't catch on to what they were doing.
Emily: Yeah! Yous neber nose what these beans is up to. Maybe it's them beans on da weader channel thingy what make the white stuffers come!! I bet it's all their fault, I bet it is! Cause oderwise, what would da hab to talk bout, ifn dar wasn't no bad weader? I bet they jus does it so as day hab jobs an can make us kitties miserble at da same time. Dat's what I tink!
Chester: Well, ummm...I don't think...I mean they say...you know, maybe you're both right. Maybe the humans do make the weather. I don't think they do it to make us miserable, but they do need jobs. And it's always something everyone is talking about. But then, a lot of people get hurt because of the weather. Why would humans do that? No, it has to be something the humans can't control. Otherwise bad things wouldn't happen.
Harry: Like white stuffers coming from the sky?
Chester: Yes. And bad thunderstorms and stuff like that.
Harry: Well...maybe you're right. Beans are strange critters, but you wouldn't think even they would do stuff that would hurt themselves and other beans too. I've seen it on TV and they do seem awful upset when bad stuff happens cause of the weather.
Emily: Well, I don't care who does it! I jus want it to go away!
Harry: Me too! And I want Girlfriend to get better and come back!
Chester: Well, I don't know about the snow going away. But I know Girlfriend will come back as soon as she can, because she loves us.
Emily: And she belongs here too! Meow! Maybe she can make the white stuffers go away!
Cat Chat is © 1999 - 2008, 2009 Ariel, Emily, Harry, and Chester the Dragon. All rights reserved worldwide. This column may not be reprinted in part or whole without express permission of Ariel. Poetry Corner
"All the Lost Ones Loved" February 11, 2000
Leo E. Shaffer 1929-1999, my father and friend...
Brother and sisters
Black and white photo
Children ready to swim
Not knowing what's to come
Living life sublime
Enjoying it all
Mates joined together
And children of their own
Work and life dawns
Good and bad times
A laugh and tears
Embrace and regrets
Still together after all
As grandchildren play
Yet life exacts a toll
Tired and full of sighs
Begin the sad longing
The time that must come
Yet on acceptable terms
Hope fading slowly
There at the last
Only home matters
Love is not enough
Beckons sweeter dreams
Journey across afar
Young and alive again
There to meet and greet
All the lost ones loved... Hockey Puck
Leo and I had some disagreements on this subject. I smile even now remembering. If I liked and idolized Wayne Gretzky, he would not. Or if the opposite were true, he would take the other view. I laughed at this, but he might have been more amused. He did nothing without great thought. I would not mind, because my life is a rich tapestry. He and my mother are responsible for that. I get my great love for sports from my dad. We used to watch events together since my earliest days. I cherish those times even now. I remember watching the first two Super Bowls with him. I recall he was not in awe of the AFL. The third Super Bowl proved the AFL could play with the NFL. I do believe he was a bit put off by that mishap. He took the loss well though. I often wonder if he didn't act that way just to make me feel better because my team won? When his team won, he wasn't too overjoyed. Well, there was once when his team won that he gloated. We loved our times viewing sports and arguing about it. Guest Articles
Jackie recently lost a son. Soon after she lost a beloved pet. She has submitted poetry to this journal on several occasions. I've come to especially enjoy her outlook on life, her beguiling way with words. In her own thoughts, here is Jackie with another one of her delightful poems. Here's a poem for the journal. It's very much in keeping with January in Manitoba. We're at 22c today. Sincerely, Jackie (edited to fit this column) DEAD OF WINTER
Resting on a snow bank,
Just beyond the doorway,
A winsome house-sparrow,
Odd that he would land there.
Natural demeanor,
Bright-eyed, feather-perfect,
Clear eyes fixed upon me
In a curious stare.
Composed and unflinching,
Steady gaze, unblinking,
Early morning footsteps
Passing by unheeded.
Not the slightest flicker
When I reach to touch him,
Feather-soft deception,
Lifeless body rigid.
One more winter victim,
Frozen to perfection,
One of so many this
Harsh, relentless season.
His falling as night fell,
His fading unnoticed,
Alone in the darkness
While dying by degrees.
© 2000 Barry's World
Here is an interesting poem that meanders on purpose and speaks to the vagaries of life in general. Dace has a special ability to connect to a moment in all its inevitable insanity and clarity.
Cows Are Restless
The cow are restless tonight
Though the moon is but a sliver
It's enough to scare the sun
And wandering madmen topple over narrow roads
Connecting hills and villages
And they hear the incessant mooing
Like a warning
And they understand
But they don't listen
They never do
They are simple creatures
Simple pleasures
Piercing foggy worlds of grounded phobias
Anxiously awaiting they're mass graves
In houses of slaughter
And quaint neighborhood delicatessens
But they, now, howl out
To passing travelers
Or wandering madmen
Or anyone that will listen
Desperate to communicate
That which they themselves cannot understand
Desperate to be lead
From their meat hook realities
The cows are restless tonight
But there are bigger things
On madmen's minds
© 2000 dace The Mountains of Ao
Tears from Ao and two poetry collections, Pages of Life and Visions of Life, are available electronically at http://RunesofAo.com/aobp/. The Runes of Ao project, The Mountains of Ao novel currently at chapter 13 of 22, and the Moments of Life poetry collection are all works in progress. The Dull Stuff
The online journal contains extra content. The printed version is limited to three pages to keep printing costs down. Inputs and letters to this journal are subject to approval by Ebony and Abby. Submittals may be edited for content and become the property of:
Shaffer Novels/Poetry Company
Merchant Occupational License #48210-0076151
PO Box 501833
Marathon FL 33050-1833
(305) 743-9648 voice/data/fax
Internet URLs: http://RunesofAo.com
http://RunesofAo.com/aobp/
http://RunesofAo.com/ebony/
http://RunesofAo.com/abby/
Publication date: February 11, 2000
Author: L. E. Shaffer
Company: Shaffer Novels/Poetry Company &
Shaffer Internet Publishing Company
© 1995 - 2008, 2009 L. E. SHAFFER
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