Friday cat blogging

Almost every morning I'm greeted with this writhing, usually demanding mass of catmanity. Dry catfood often ends up everywhere except in the dishes as the felines jockey for position with each other and with me. They could see I had a camera rather than food first thing this morning. Poor Jellico got left out as he was a little late to the party and was on the ground behind me. He has a new nasty habit. He comes to be petted then, after I've removed my hand, he swats at me with claws extended catching either me or clothing. That has to stop somehow.

The cast of characters: PuddyTat is the tan one and Tommie the black boy. Dudie is the noisy one on his shelf. Tim joins the party late.

Friday shuffle

1. Rheinberger: Mass, Sanctus -
2. He's Got the Whole World in His Hands - Bach Choir of Pittsburgh
3. Mozart: Ave verum corpus - Westminster Choir
4. Bach: B minor Mass, Osanna - Rilling
5. Remember When - Platters
6. Sylvia's Mother - Dr. Hook & Medicine Show
7. Crystal Blue Persuasion - Tommy James & Shondells
8. Leavin' - James King
9. He's So Fine - The Chiffons
10. Shop Around - Smokey Robinson & Miracles
Interesting that shuffle almost always begins with classical before finding other stuff. Unusual to find my bluegrass music on YouTube.

Lost generation

HT to bg on the HoB/D list and Caminante

More prayers requested

Today Julie-Anne is having surgery on her shoulder. She has lupus and is worrying more than normal because this is the first surgery she has had since the lupus diagnosis. Please pray for guidance of the hands of all involved that her pain will be eliminated and recovery will be swift and full.

Richard is also having surgery today to remove a tumor from his liver. He is, quite frankly, a physical mess. Please pray for him, his medical team and his family who have suffered much lately.

And while we are at it, let's also keep in mind the folks affected by the tornadoes. We are grateful that our friend Maria was able to outrun the tornado in her pickup but not all the residents were so lucky.

Prayers, please (extended)

FranIAm's sister-in-law "has shown evidence of malignant cervical cells. Due to her age, weight and other health conditions her doctor is recommending her to a special surgeon for a hysterectomy. She is very frightened. O is not a woman of particular faith, actually has been quite scarred by it. That said she is wanting to pray and be prayed for. It is in the nature of my husband's family to expect the worst in all things and then actually manipulate things unconsciously to bring the worst forth and "be done with it." Please pray for her health but also for her hope and faith, which is what she really needs."


FranIAm also requests that we please support Chris and hold her in prayer. Chris is often taking care of everyone else, friends seek prayers to take care of her!

Cecelia is coming out as a partnered lesbian to her church today and tomorrow. She is in an organization which apparently hasn't understood the Gospel message yet. Please pray for Cecelia and for her church.

Jane wrote: "Deenie will die soon. She knows it. She is also living well. I worried during most of this year that I would not see her alive again, but the academic year is over, I am going to visit my parents in Boston in a couple of weeks, and I will have time to go to and visit. With her strength and Godde's grace, I will be able to see her and spend some time with her.

Dear Prayer Posse, please pray that Deenie will live well in the coming weeks, that she will have good care and be comfortable, and that she will continue in her tenacity and clarity. Hospice workers say that people often die the way they have lived, and Deenie has always been a woman of spirit and strength. May she continue with courage and peace as long as she remains in this life."

One of our blog friends, Bonnie, has asked that we add her husband, Edward to our prayers of the people. Bonnie reports that Edward has been in ICU for a week and that he is in need of a miracle.

There are many others who need our prayers including Roseann and Paul and all the others on my long prayer list. Where healing is possible, may there be healing. Where endurance is needed, may there be endurance. Where peace is possible, may there be peace. Please, Godde, be with our friends and all who you.

Ventura on waterboarding

Jesse Ventura on Larry King Live according to Twin-Cities.com:

Ventura said he was waterboarded as part of his Navy SEAL training. He was (typically) not shy about his views. "It's a good thing I'm not president," Ventura said. "I would prosecute every person involved in that torture. I would prosecute the people that did it. I would prosecute the people that ordered it. Because torture is against the law."

He went on: "I'll put it to you this way: you give me a waterboard, Dick Cheney and one hour, and I'll have him confess to the Sharon Tate murders."

May I sell tickets? That would take care of any financial problems for the rest of my life.

Senior Safe Driving

In Pennsylvania, people aged 55 and up can get a 5% discount on their auto insurance if they take the Senior Safe Driving course. The class is a two day affair the first time you take it. After that, it is four hours every three years. I attended the refresher last night.

This class was quite different from the earlier one. The people were younger and there were fewer of us. The room setup was also different, two rows of tables as opposed to a room full of rows of chairs. There was quite a bit of give and take this time which made it go a bit faster.

I did learn a few new things about safety belt laws and some statistics. It's interesting that the death rate from accidents among women declines after age 85 while it continues to increase for men. It is much easier for a woman to stop driving voluntarily than a man apparently. Some think the purpose of the class is primarily to scare people out of their cars.

The statistics reminded me of some of my adventures during which I surely had a protector. At 80 mph, the chances of surviving an accident are nil. The teacher kept reminding us that young men are more likely to drive drunk, speed and refuse to wear seat, no, safety belts than young women. Not this girl. I raced around town in high school in our hot Buick Century like a madwoman. There were only three cars in town I couldn't beat.

My wildest adventures were in my '65 TR4A. Unlike most then and even some now, I never went anywhere without my safety belt fastened. People advised against it as I would be crushed if the car rolled over. I knew my car would not roll over. I wanted to be strapped in tightly so I didn't move and could maintain control. I blew a tire one rainy day and did a cookie in the middle of the road in front of a state cop in Ohio. I never left my lane, pulled off to the side and started to get the tools out to change the tire. The cop stopped of course and was surprised to see a female driver. He complimented my on my driving skill but couldn't help with the tire. He didn't know how. Well, it was easy since there was only the center holding it on unlike the four or five bolts most cars have. He just stood there and watched then wished me well and drove away.

I vividly remember bouncing that little car in and out of a ditch one night after an office party while trying to round a country bend at 60 mph or so and wondering how I could be so lucky. Neither I nor my passenger nor the car was damaged. Shudder.

I fairly regularly drove at speeds above 90 mph, especially on I-90 between Conneaut, OH and the PA line. I knew that a rabbit could probably kill me so I watched like crazy. For the cops too.

Had I been born later into different circumstances, I probably would have tried to drive race cars. I still love to be on the road. But I must surely drive my guardian angel crazy. Fortunately I am very aware that I am not as young as I used to be. My reflexes are slower and I'm more easily distracted. And I'm too cheap to risk a speeding ticket. That's all good.

iTit

Apple announced today that it has developed a breast implant that can store and play music. The iTit will cost from $499 to $699, depending on cup and speaker size. This is considered a major social breakthrough, because women are always complaining about men staring at their breasts and not listening to them.

Responsibility

If I installed a doggy door large enough for a big dog to come and go, I should be aware that a small child could easily use the same door. A couple is suing the manufacturer of such a door that allowed their child to leave the house and drown in the swimming pool. My heart aches for them but my head wonders where theirs was. If more people would take responsibility for their own lives and decisions, we would all be better off. I pray the court will point out that the couple should have used their heads and taken precautions with the doggy door just as they did with everything else in the house and absolve the manufacturer.

Does a warning need to accompany everything we buy? If so, perhaps it should say:
Warning: The use of this product requires human intelligence. Serious injury or death may result from lack of forethought or use by non-humans.

Help bring Padre Mickey east

Padre Mickey of Padre Mickey's Dance Party and Friday Red Mr. Peanut Bank and Gallito Mescalito Blogging fame is an Episcopal missionary in Panama. At the moment he, his lovely wife Mona and their pooch Chompita are on sabbatical in California. We would like to bring Mickey east to join us at a party in New Jersey on 5 June. A missionary's pay is insufficient for side trips to visit friends. We are trying to raise $600 to bring him to the party. We are about a third of the way to our goal. Are you joining us at the party? Will you help? Please. You may get more info and pledge either at OCICBINY or on Facebook.