De-cluttering and other "de-s"

Look at this! Anyone familiar with this bookcase will know I really de-cluttered! It was difficult! How do you decide which books you will no longer keep on the shelf? In the library business, we call this weeding. Wow, did I weed! I got it down to a few necessary volumes. By all means, keep the cookie recipe book out! Plus, you never know when you might need to reference a Harry Potter volume or a book about Henry VIII.

I even decluttered the columbarium and made it look more formal. A little insight here, usually more than I freely give; see that urn box on the right with the white cat hugging a pink heart that says "I love you"  and the black depiction of Bastet atop it? That is my kitten, Russell Lee in there and I cannot touch that box without tearing up. The energy coming off that box is powerful stuff! I could be blind folded and someone could hand me that box and I would still tear up. I know it seems weird yet it is true. There are odd things in this universe of ours, aren't there? Fascinating too.

Plus, I left a few pictures of a few of my 'human' loved ones in there. Sometimes my humans like to know that I care about them too.

Today is a big 'de' day for Jacob! He is getting as they call it 'de-sexed'. Ouch! It may hurt a little now but he will be a much better cat for it later. The odor surrounding the boy lately has not been that pleasingly fragrant. He is getting microchipped too in case I ever lose track of  the little whipper snapper somehow, someway. Look, it has happened before but this time, I will not be caught unprepared should it ever happen again.

A Celestial Bathroom

Look at my wee lad trying to sleep in the bathroom on a towel! He was looking for some peace and quiet. My lawn was getting an overhaul at this time causing a lot of loud noises that this little fellow was not used to hearing. He assessed this as being a quiet and private place for him. See how only one of his eyes reflects the light? That is because of the situation he was most likely born with. He can see though! That is what matters. He is my moon and stars. He is full of joie de vivre!

Jake's Window and Jukebox

My little boy is growing up. It is time for his neutering. I say that in a soft, low voice as not to scare him. However, he does not know what a neutering is. I dread it however. It frightens me because I know they will have to sedate him. His little body is so small. It just takes a wee amount of medicine to knock one down of that weight. He will not have to be under for long fortunately. The surgery will be done in a matter of minutes almost seconds. Another reason I dread it is because he will be frightened.


I wish little boy could stay little and we did not have to do this but time marches on. Marches? Why do they say time marches? Some people say time rolls like a river. I envision time as a circle spinning around like a vinyl record on one of those old record players. The record has bumps, dings and scratches in its surface. When we come back around, we keep feeling the same bumps and scratches. Those are the times you are reminded of something but you do not know why. Why do I keep thinking of the mall when I was 16 years old? Am I traveling over that area of ‘my record’ again? Only God knows things like that. The Creator of it all. We know nothing and are incapable of understanding, therefore, we must trust. We see through a glass darkly.

Do you ever feel like some doors were just never open for you? Like no matter how hard you tried to accomplish a thing, it was always impossible for you to reach that goal? It just wasn’t playing on your ‘record player’. Like in a dream, you ran, ran, ran never gaining on that thing or you caught it in your hand but it crumbled? I used to have a friend that told me all that kind of talk was codswallop. He said you can do anything you put your mind to doing if you want it badly enough. I said “Really? I want to be a Super Bowl quarterback. What do you say to that? I am going to really put my mind to it too!” That song is definitely not playing on my record player. By the way, I was also lying. I do not really want to be a Super Bowl quarterback.

Unless there is an unseen pothole looming up ahead in the road, “The Neutering Song” is the next tune about to drop down in Jacob’s jukebox.

Cats and Water DO NOT MIX

The little Jacob although wild and rambunctious is somewhat reserved when it comes to venturing into virgin territory. For weeks, he has been interested in the bathtub. He saw Henry and Olliver jump into it and jump back out seemingly unscathed. Therefore, he recently got his nerve up to jump up to the side of the bathtub and look down into it. He did that for several days surveying the lay of the land after I would exit the bathtub from a bath. He found the remaining water remnants mesmerizing. Cats like to look at water. They like to play in small quantities of water. They do not like to be immersed in water. Come to think of it, cats must be Episcopalians.

After many days of jumping into the tub after my exit then using the slick surface to practice his skating skills, Jacob let down his guard. This morning, he jumped into the tub while it was still at least one quarter full. Surprised is not strong enough of a word to describe its effect on him. Shocked would be a better choice. He flailed, swam, rolled, scrambled then lept from the tub in a split seconds time. It took him at least an hour to dry himself.

This or That?

Which do you suppose is more comfy? This?

Or that?

I can barely bring myself to look at him sleeping on that window ledge. Poor little pitiful baby. Can you believe he stayed outside on my patio for 3 weeks before I took him in??? I cannot believe it. I do remember being exremely worried about his precious soul. I had to watch him for a time though to make sure he did not exhibit any bad signs of disease before bringing him in and remember I was getting out of the 'cat business'. Famous last words, right? I never will forget seeing him for the first time out on that patio that Saturday morning when I went out to feed the ferals. It is raining tonight. I am so glad he has a comfy, dry bed!

Lost Skills Found

Jake has more songs of his own than any one cat could ever possibly shake a stick at. His latest is "In Love With a Girl" by Gavin Degraw. Boy loves me for giving him a home and lots and lots of fun toys. No more sleeping on the hard windowsill ever again for the little boy. He loves a tempurpedic bed too. I couldn't find any songs about that though...yet. Plus, I brushed off dusty photoshop.