| July 2009 Daniel Taylor |
July 6 (Monday) 6:45 am
The climate has been cooperative, with temperatures in the upper 80's and low 90's and low humidity. I
spent a couple of hours with Larry and Melinda and Melinda's family on July 4. I managed to catch up on my
yard work, and my animals enjoyed an extended weekend of being able to run free. I made an excursion on
my property, something that I don't do much anymore, and I found three redbud trees, one of which I might
be able to transplant this fall.
| Larry is under the impression that he can cook. Frankly, it isn't fit to eat, but no one wants to hurt Larry's feelings by telling him so. |
| Mikey, who belongs to Larry and Melinda, finds himself a bit shy in front of the camera. Mikey will be celebrating his third birthday this Thursday. |
| I asked about three times, but I still cannot recall his name. So for now he is "fry baby." |
July 7 (Tuesday) 3:45 am
Austin! His name is Austin. Melinda, Larry's wife, set me straight on that.
I am up early. Actually, my normal "up" time is 4:00, and I often awake before the alarm clock sounds, so no
big deal. Normally I am in bed between 8:00 and 8:30, and I need to go to bed at that time in order to awake
around 4:00. I enjoy rising early and going to be early. The dogs do a good job of leaving me alone when
the lights go out. Very seldom do the dogs disturb me after "lights out."
Sam has slept out a night or two lately. I may gradually let the dogs do that, but it could still be risky. There
is always the dog who wants to howl at the moon, in which case I shall lose sleep, but I dare not leave the
dogs outside together while I sleep.
Lulu got another shot this weekend (I gave it). She is so much better now. Poor girl -- she eats herself
alive with that allergy of hers. But the shot sets her straight. So now she is going to need a shot at least
once a month until flea season is over. Lulu's daddy loves her very much, and it grieves him to see her
suffer so with that flea allergy.
Bonnie still takes her phenobarbital, and so far her seizures have been put on hold. I can think of only
twice in the two or three years since Bonnie started taking the medicine that she has had a seizure. Bonnie
is starting to show her age. I'm not certain of her age, but she is surely past 10 years. Her brother, Clyde,
who is "Scared of Funders," still climbs out of the cat door to meet me at the gate when I arrive home from
work.
July 12 (Sunday) 3:45 am
Boss asked me to work over the weekend from home in exchange for some time off next week. I gladly
accepted, so I have been very busy this weekend. Hey, I have been extremely busy for the past two weeks,
as can be seen from the sparse reporting I am doing to my journal.
I dropped in on Mikey's birthday party last Thursday -- Mikey being Larry and Melinda's little boy (see picture
above). I ate pizza, which I love but am not generally allowed to eat. Mikey as some health issues related to
his heart. He has already had to endure a heart cath even before the age of three! So, here's to Mikey!
May he live long and prosper!
The dogs and cats have had a long and fun weekend. Their weekend draweth to a close, however.
July 14 (Tuesday) 7:45 am
Boss gave me Tuesday morning to work from home, and Wednesday off completely. I probably won't take
either day completely off -- I do enjoy computer programming, and my subconscious mind will not let me
take off.
But I shall try to catch up on some things, beginning with my personal website, here.
Here are some videos that I have uploaded to photobucket:
1. Feeding Bruiser
2. Thumper and the dogs
3. Grace, Oscar, Scamp, Willie and Sam
July 15 (Wednesday) 4:45 pm
Day off #2, and I made a visit to the Winter Farm. Larry called his wife and informed her that I was on my way
out. Melinda was gathering eggs from her chickens, but was kind enough to stop long enough to give me a
tour of the property. 30 acres, not unlike my 16, with chickens and a couple of horses. They are "down" to
two dogs now, but have a litter of kittens. And a host of various poultry, none of which I know anything
about. But the property is nice, and living in the country is always a good thing!
July 18 (Saturday) 8:30 pm
Boss asked me to work the weekend again, in exchange for Monday off. I gladly accepted. So today was a
work day. But it is good to be home for three days. The dogs have an extra day to run and play!
The weather has been great lately. The humidity is low as are the temperatures. It was cold out this
morning when I let the dogs out. Brrr.
July 21 (Tuesday) 5:00 pm
I have worked from home Monday and Tuesday. Back to the office in the morning, though.
Well, I have had a pretty big experience yesterday and Today. The Orangie made another appearance, and
this time I got some really good photos and videos -- BUT --
Yesterday the big Orange allowed me to pet him. And pet him I did! After four long years of stalking I finally
captured the elusive big Orange cat. Today I delivered him to the vet where he was neutered and received
shots and some good teeth work. He had his ears cleaned out and received a good, general going over.
Now he is in my bathroom recovering from his ordeal. I believe he had started to get along with Smoky and
the two BK's so in the next day or two I shall release him to the yard, where hopefully he will settle down
and become a permanent resident of Willow Oak.
Oh -- He has decided on a name: Buster!
Photo Bucket Videos and Photos
| Buster is one cool kitty |
| Buster was obviously in need of some dental work. |
July 24 (Friday) 9:00 pm
Well, I worked Wednesday at the office and Thursday and Friday from home. Again. The boss, per his usual
routine, overestimated the time in which the latest project of mine would be ready. I agreed to work
extra-overtime on the problem IF he would let me work from home. I estimate that I put in at least 40 hours
since I arrived home from work on Wednesday. And I am tired.
Buster. What can I say? He has so mellowed out. I haven't spent as much time with him as I would have
like, but this evening I retrieved him from the bathroom where he has been housed since his visit to the
vet. I held him in my lap, and surprisingly he remained calm even when the dogs came around. Except for
once when Taz got too close. Buster let out a spit that sent the dogs scurrying, tail between legs. I intend
to put Buster in the big bedroom, that has a pet door in the window. I am hoping that he finds the pet door,
and like the other cats, figure out that he can come and go. The big deal with Buster -- as with all new cats
-- is getting him to stay around while allowing him the freedom to come and go. We shall see.
July 28 (Tuesday) 6:30 am
Buster decided to go AWOL on me yesterday. I awoke Monday morning and could not find Buster anywhere
in the house. I returned home from work yesterday, and no Buster. I looked everywhere. No Buster.
Sometime around 2:00 am I awoke, and for some strange reason decided to look outside again. There he
was! Well I gathered him in and deposited him into the bathroom. I checked him over a little closer, and I
wish the vet had done the same. I came to realize that Buster has no claws!
Now this discovery was puzzling. Was he declawed by a previous owner? If so, then why was he not
neutered? This makes no sense. You declaw an indoor cat -- certainly not an outdoor cat -- to save the
furniture, and you don't neuter the cat?
Puzzling indeed. But without claws and without teeth, I am going to have to train Buster to be a strictly
indoor cat. I guess. We shall see.
July 29 (Wednesday) 3:40 am
I awoke much earlier than normal and am about to get ready for work. I have let Buster out of the bathroom
and held him for a while. Now he is lying down on the table near the computer. He is looking around,
getting accustomed to being with the other animals in such close proximity. He appears to be comfortable.
With the limited time that I have, it will take me a while to get Buster accustomed to the fact that he is going
to be an indoor cat from now on. I cannot spend a lot of time with him each day -- especially on week days --
so Buster will be spending a lot of time alone and confined to the bathroom. He does not appear to be
stressed over that prospect. Right now, as I write, he is comfortably lounging, so I think he shall adjust well.
Grainger likes to jump up on me from behind. While I am sitting, Buster will jump up and wrap his front legs
around my neck. He and I get some "hugging" time then, but this morning he did that while Buster was in
my lap. Buster may not have claws, but he does have something, because even though he was slapping at
Grainger he got me instead on the neck. He bloodied me, of course; but a little antibiotic, and I'm sure I
shall survive.