Journal of a Sabbatical

March 8, 2000

new sink trap

Adopt these cats at Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society

Visit Bonnie's site, Adopt Homeless Paws, for more pictures of MRFRS cats and other animals needing homes.

Today's Reading: Early Spring in Massachusetts: from the Journals of Henry David Thoreau edited by H. G. O. Blake

Yes, the new sink trap is here. As Roy put it: "I'm all aflutter." This is like Xmas, New Year's Eve, and St. Patrick's Day all rolled into one. We got a new sink trap! We got a new sink trap! We got a new sink trap! You should see the water drain out with alacrity and not a drop on the floor. The first time I dumped out the dishpan I called Bob over to watch it drain. The difference is that noticeable. This is the most exciting thing ever to happen at MRFRS aside from Jaguar finding a permanent foster home. The sink drains properly. Maybe enlightenment through dishwashing is still possible.

Holly is back from the hip repair shop. Man, are we keeping veterinary surgeons at full employment or what?! Last week, Cubby. This week Holly. Oh, and Meowster had an operation too.

A guy came in today interested in Sassy. He specifically wants a long haired cat. She's such a love! And playful too with her big double paws. It'll be nice to see her name up on the adoptions board.

Chloe wasn't real interested in me or my coffee today - or the sink. Her eye is still yucky and Bonnie had just put medication in it when I came in. I scratched her on the head a little bit. Then she curled up and went to sleep. I think she slept the entire time I was there. Actually it was pretty quiet except for Sassy begging to be let out and an occasional hiss from one of the new cats. No major fights while I was there.

Giggle Girl pretty much left me alone today except when Kendra went outside to have a smoke. Then she found many excuses to come by the sink and ask me questions. She did refrain from popping up in my face, though. I did get a little teed off when she tried to pull me by the arm into the socialization room to inspect the job she'd done on washing the floor (it needed it badly). She kept grabbing my arm and I kept telling her to let go, that I had dishes to do. Finally she gave up. By then Kendra was back and found things for her to do far away from me. I have no clue why this kid finds me so fascinating. If adult women found me this interesting, oh, let's not go there. Anyway, as soon as Kendra was out of the room, the kid was asking me an urgent question: "Is it true that old men have no butts?" I told her to ask Roy that one. I vaguely remember being a teenager, but I have no memory of being this interested in butts male or female. And I thought corporate staff meetings at Cosmodemonic were crude...

My arms broke out in hives just about the time I finished washing the dishes. Little teeny hives, not the huge blotches I got last time I had 'em. Weirder still, Chris broke out in hives. I can't figure out what we were both touching that would do that. I still have tiny little spots now, several hours later, but they don't itch as much. I'm pretty sure it's hives and not ringworm as we've practically got the ringworm invasion beaten. I guess there's a couple of cats waiting on cultures, but I wasn't even thinking about ringworm until I just looked at my arm a minute ago. It doesn't look like ringworm. It looks like miniature hives. Maybe I'd better put some tea tree oil on it just in case...

I had lunch, a spinach and feta omelet, at Angie's diner for a change. I haven't eaten there in months. Last time I was there my omelet was terrible and there was a tv crew there. Today everything was back to normal. I'm sure the folks at Angelina's are missing me today. How do they know it's Wednesday if they don't have to make me a veggie sub with hot peppers on it?

Bumper sticker on a car parked on State Street: I Olde Books.

Today's high tide really filled up the marshes. Even the one behind the cat shelter was starting to encroach on the parking lot. I thought with all that water around, I might find some ducks. Other than a few black ducks and Canada geese, there weren't many around. I didn't really look in the river because a quick scan on my way to the refuge made me think all the buffleheads and goldeneyes and their brethren were too far away for binoculars. I'd better get off my butt and buy a new scope soon. Trouble is I've gone from being overwhelmed by choices to the absolute conviction that I will only be happy with this new Nikon thing with a video monitor on it. If it's really as good as the write-ups I've seen, it would solve two problems for me - having a scope at all, and more interestingly, being able to show Nancy distant birds more easily. For some reason, she has trouble with using the scope and does somewhat better with binoculars, which I totally don't understand. I would think that it would be the other way around if you're blind in one eye the scope would be easier. But not so. There will be a breakthrough in my scope-buyer's block before plover warden duty starts in April. Definitely.