On its way to a fix, I hope. I tried to sign the contract, had an electronic glitch with the process, got sick in early December, and my agent had a family loss, and somehow things didn’t happen. We are working on that now.
I just signed for an Audible version of REgenesis.
Also closed-circle is down temporarily for maintenance. I’ll tell you when it’s fixed.
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New development: Well, more like, I think I goofed and now I’m having to adjust thinking.
(It’s been raining off and on all day and all evening, so the flyers didn’t go up, but that’s probably a good thing.)
Curry did not show up, but this afternoon, Misty showed up and is still in, sleeping in an out-of-the-way spot, diffident as usual. When I sat down after Misty and Goober ate, Goober wanted to play. (!) He hasn’t run around playing in a long, long time. He’d found a ball, but also, I think he was trying to invite Misty to play, indirectly. Misty is indirect, shy, too, so this might have worked. Misty, however, was still interested in going back for snacks. I told Goober he’d given it a good try. Maybe it’ll work next time. He got attention while Misty was back for more food.
After this, Misty got in my lap. I’d felt “something” brush against my leg and my hand earlier, when I was getting their food and so on. As that was near Misty’s tail, I though it was, ah, Misty’s butt. But something didn’t seem rlght. Rough? Bare? I’d assumed this was uh, the aft end. — So, now that Misty was in my lap, I couldn’t get a good look, but could I check to see what’s going on back there? (I didn’t expect a serious problem, just ordinary cat anatomy. But what was going on, was there something else?)
I tried by feel. And…. I had thought I’d gotten a close enough look before to confirm Misty was female. … Uh, I’m going to want to confirm with a more visual inspection, which I haven’t gotten yet, and I didn’t want to try to get too personal with a manual inspection, because, well, I don’t want to spook Misty and I don’t want to get an angry cat lashing out, either. — Er, I’m pretty sure that was…. I think Misty’s male and intact, balls still present. But if so, then Misty is polite enough not to spray inside so far, or there is something else going on with him/her. And I think those should be bigger for an adult male cat. Pretty sure Misty is over a year old. (And that growth on her, his, tail is big, which argues it’s been there for months or years.) Intersex? I don’t know. The chances of that are not super high, but it’s possible.
Well, I don’t know what’s going on without a real look/feel, but now I’m trying to wrap my head around, I’d thought I’d seen clearly before, and I’ve been sure Misty was female for weeks now. Er, but now I discover Misty may be male after all. Huh. OK, kitty. (Gee, but it’s been a long time since I’ve had a female cat. Why do I keep getting males? The odds are against that.) So now I may have to rename Misty. And I’d thought the name suited her. Er, him. Huh. English really could use a good neutral singular third person animate pronoun. “One” and “They” don’t quite do it, although we use both, one formally, they informally.
LOL, so I went back and edited the flyer, which was much more straightforward with only the female pronouns, not o/a M/F going on. — I’ve realized it’s now been almost six weeks since Misty showed up. Hmm, really need to rename him now. Wow. (Laughs.) I am sure both Misty and Curry and surely Goober too know the difference and would think I’m nuts.
So…Goober has been acting playful towards a cat who’s likely an adult male instead of a female. Hmm, interesting. I had thought maybe he was trying to flirt and make friends and get a date, have a girlfriend. Uh, Goober, buddy, are you just wanting to play with a friend, make friends, or…? — I think that’s what it is. Goober was neutered around 8 to 9 months old, so he’s confirmedly a neutered male cat. This doesn’t mean he can’t have some feelings towards boy/girl or boy/boy or girl/girl or, hmm, girl/boy relationships, though. He can, just in a slightly different way.
So we’ll see how it goes. I don’t know if Misty will stay in all night, but so far, it looks like yes.
I was not expecting this particular development, haha. — And I am leaning toward, Misty is an outside cat who may not have a home after all. If the weather is clear tomorrow, the new flyer will go up and stay through the weekend or until I get a response confirmed.
Misty is quiet but not boring, it turns out. — And may be shy enough to make a good buddy for Goober, if the two can get past being shy of each other! — If Misty doesn’t have a home, I will have to get him/her to the vet soon, of course.
Further to all this kafuffle over indoor/outdoor/part-time/full-time cats I would refer you to the Guardian article https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/jan/22/claws-out-why-cats-are-causing-chaos-and-controversy-across-britain. This whole situation can get more complicated and generally fraught than people think. Though your intentions are honorable, be aware and be careful!
At our old condo, there was a large mostly Siamese cat, very sweet, but obviously not cared for officially by anyone. We called him Rocky (Balboa), after witnessing him take a full claws-out swat from another cat and completely ignoring the aggressor. He ended up being our unofficial outside cat. When we moved, for 2 weeks prior we put up a notice by the community dumpster describing Rocky and informing anyone of our intent to take him with us, with a phone #. We heard nothing, and no one complained about his disappearance, so Rocky had a home with us until his death 5 years down the road.
I’m such a goof, on multiple counts today. Kinda funny but also kinda concerned on one point.
Last night, Misty stayed in, and got up on the dresser serving as my desk, so he could get attention. Misty is indeed male, although either I’m overestimating the size of a tomcat’s full-grown equipment, or else Misty may be a little undersized there. But yup, male parts. Somehow, I didn’t see those before, and I don’t think that was due to long fur. I guess he needs a new, more macho name. I’m still getting used to him being a “him.” At least now I know. I’ve been calling him a girl all this time…. D’oh.
He got up on the bed briefly last night but didn’t stay. He would’ve been welcome, at least by me. More darting around by Goober last night. Not sure if this is joy at having a new companion who is peaceful, or invitation to play, or some sort of stress, worry, something.
Misty stayed in this morning. Ah, food! (LOL.) Both he and Goober chowed down and both are rather shy of each other. Misty got on the desk again this morning. (Hard to work on the computer with a new cat lying down on the graphics tablet and mouse, haha.) I got the flyer edited to male gender. (Pronouns work differently in Spanish than in English. I wrote it in both, with help from Google Translate, and I cross-checked words. So now I know a few extra vocabulary words.)
I went out to post the flyers. Misty was still in, did not want to go out. OK there, kitty, but I’ll be back in a few. I posted flyers by the P.O. Boxes and around the square, inside and out, in key places. — And while doing so, I didn’t see a roof corner, low, and honked my head just before coming back in from the outer side. So now I have a scratch that looks like I’ve done battle with a cat. Nope, just my eyesight being worse these days. Concerning, very. It shook me up. I should have seen that in time. Other things while walking around. I got turned around once, but got that straightened out, thankfully.
While putting these up, who should show up, but Curry. “Meow, meow!” — “Well, hi, kitty. Want some food, huh? Come on, let’s go home.” — Curry followed me, sure of a meal ticket, LOL. He was hanging around by the other pool, further down. — After finishing, getting back on track and getting in — Misty was in when I opened the door and let Curry in. But Misty may have gone out then. Or he may still be in the apartment in hiding. I have searched the whole place and don’t see him, but that is not conclusive. He could still be hiding. — So Curry got a can of food to himself and he is sacked out with no desire to leave. He has a slight cough. I think the cold and wet has gotten to him, along with all the catting around he does. I’m letting him rest; I’ve petted him.
I gave Goober attention after I’d seen to my scratch. (Soap and hot water, aye.) I’ve looked for Misty. The bedroom doors are closed since Curry came in. — And I don’t know if Misty is in or out, while I’ve put up flyers. If anyone does come by to claim him, I will have to explain I don’t know if he went out or not. — But I will look later this evening and periodically, and if I don’t find him in, I’ll call outside for him. — I’m expecting Curry will want out after he’s rested up and maybe eaten again.
So, LOL, I can’t keep track of a cat who seems to like being in, but is still used to being out a lot. Then I’ve got the perennial prodigal hobo / lobo cat, Curry, and faithful Goober, who is learning to take all this in stride, bless his furry head.
If Misty is in, I do hope he isn’t stuck in the other bedroom, where he could have an accident on the carpet. So I’ll be looking every so often.
Hmm, Those flyers, it’ll be a miracle if they stay taped up. Nowhere good to post them and the tape isn’t likely to hold, and the wind is likely to get them. So I willl probably have to refresh them for a while. I may get fussed at by the apartment management for posting them. Tough. I’m trying to be a good neighbor and not take someone’s cat.
That scratch is more of an abrasion, and not quite scabbed over yet, but it’s minor and should heal quickly.
Teasel’s point is well taken. I don’t want to take someone’s cat from them, and Misty seems very acclimated to humans and being an inside cat, yet he’s been outside, day and night, as far as I can tell. There are at least two cat-friendly neighbors, though I haven’t seen the guy or the lady in months now. Maybe I’ll get a response. If I don’t get a response within a week, I’ll figure Misty is my cat. I know Curry is a stray, and he is determinedly not “my” cat, or I am not his person, and no human is. Rudyard may have been a good name for him after all, but he’s Curry for sure now.
Misty, however, I am not sure if he will remain Misty or get a new name. I’d thought Misty fit him. Now, not so much. LOL. I’m frustrated not to know for sure if he’s in our out. But He behaved himself really well, so he is at least a welcome guest, and may become mine in a week or so. (We may get more rain, so it may be through the end of next week to give enough notice.)
So…no good deed goes unpunished. And ouchie, that still hurts. How the heck did I not see that and hit my forehead hard enough to break the skin and still pang, half an hour or more later? Geez….
Oh well, it’s minor, and I’m trying to do right. I am not holding by breath as to this making any big social change for me. If I gain some friends or at least learn names, good. But it may be a lack of response, even from my immediate neighbors.
Curry is happy and Misty is presumably still happy. Goober is being a trooper. I’m OK but not happy with my eyesight right now.
The font drafts are going OK. I still don’t have the manual for the editor read, but I’ve picked up a little more, so it’s going slightly faster, but still not up to proficient speed. Better than nothing, thought.
Oh, and the apt. mgmt. gave notice last week that the auto pay system will be down until further notice. (Probably to gather and backup data for year-end for tax purposes.) No notice yet that it’s back on, with rent and utilities due at month-end/start. Whee. So we’ll see if it gets done or if I have to have someone walk me over. — And for that, I may very well insist, hey, someone from the office, please walk me over and I’ll pay by check in hand paid forte et dure. (Et trop chère.)
I was amused by running into Curry like that and having him follow me. Little stinker doesn’t want to be my cat, but knows full well I will feed him and give him shelter, if only he’d take it reliably. So he is sacked out and has a fully stomach. That is fine. I wish he would behave better.
So far, no reason to fault Misty’s behavior, and if he is stuck in either bedroom and has an accident, well, that’s not his fault he can’t open a door. Hopefully, if he is in, he’ll meow or paw at the door so I’ll know. — I am guessing he went out when Curry confronted him and Goober when Curry came in. But I thought Misty was in, further inside the apt. I will find out.
Can’t believe the day is almost into evening already. Short day even though I was up early enough.
Update about 20 minutes later: Misty did indeed let me know. I checked the apartment again, and when I didn’t find him, I looked outside…and there he was, apparently pressed right up against the door, wanting to be let back into paradise. Kitty-cat, it is not that cold outside, esp. with that thick longhair coat. Well, he is in, snacking on dry food, convinced all is right with his world again. If only it were that easy to make all of us humans happy. Goober didn’t want to miss out on supper or a snack either. Curry is quite enjoying being asleep in a good spot. Heh. So all is well so far.
Maybe not Misty, but Mist, or even Mystery (considering how you are still finding out about him…)
Hey! Nighthorses! Cloud!
And Curry (or Rudyard) is definitely the Cat Who Walks by Himself 🙂
Just so. 😉 Cloud is a good name. Mist would work, but could sound like Missed. I considered reversing it to Mysti, and Mystery works well. He has this shy, quiet, but peaceful quality. I dunno, I’m still flummoxed about the name. Being a cat, he’ll surely name himself somehow, but I’d thought it was Misty.
I wonder if any of the flyers will be up tomorrow, or how soon I’ll need to put up new ones.
Curry fussed at me as I went by the kitchen earlier. I think he misread that as a possible, “Oh heck no, he’s not gonna give me that nasty-tasting medicine again.” Or he’s so used to defending himself that he mis-guessed. He settled down when I passed and told him it was OK, nothing was going to happen. I might have embarrassed him or gotten through to him. Oh, probably not, LOL.
He is still in and was tucked away in some out-of-the-way spot to sleep, when I checked just now, so I guess Curry may be in for the night. Surprising but maybe good for him.
Misty is definitely in. He was at the window, but then wanted to say hi before checking on the food bowl for a dry snack. Heh. I think I have a little gourmand, there. I expect he wants to stay in tonight. It’s going to be chilly but not truly cold for such folk as run around with built-in fur coats. Down in the upper 40’s.
Goober and I are in the bedroom with the door closed, thank you very much, Curry. o Misty doesn’t get to try the bedroom or bed tonight. But he is not banned; no reason to think he can’t behave himself (so far so good).
Likely an early night. I’ve got bad eyestrain tonight and my mind’s not up for more font work. Looks like it’ll be an audiobook for the evening before bed, as I am in the mood for that.
Darn it, I wish the two Nighthorse books were in audiobooks, or Finity’s End or Merchanter’s Luck. I am in the mood for something. — But I have other Cherryh audiobooks, so one of those will fit the need. (Both Resurgence and Alliance Rising are in my current to read/reread Kindle books.) But instead, I’ll be listening to audio of one of her books.
All this with the cats has had me wondering a few things about hani, which I haven’t yet put down into conscious, written-out points. But I’d realized we don’t know a few things about hani or atevi either one, regarding those, and I’d like to ask. Forthcoming.
@WOL — We know the atevi (also the hani) have braiding and beadwork. The hani have various kinds of belts and decorations for same, plus armbands, wristbands/bracelets, maybe anklets, definitely earrings, and they know the mahendo’sat have necklaces, so possibly hani do also. — My thought is therefore that the atevi and the hani, yes, different universes, have macramé as well as braiding, and possibly knitting and needlepoint, or some similar craft, would develop. Oh, we know they have cloth native to hani, and so do mahen, stsho, and kif. There’s “Llyene silk” too. — So at least the Compact species have all those textile arts or some similar kinds. Since the ate have cloth-weaving and braiding and beads, I would presume they have developed some sort of needlework / knitting.
Hmm…. WOL, here’s an idea: I recall reading somewhere the Chinese did triangular quilting stitches. I don’t know if they did triangular weaving. (3 Axes of 60 or 120 degree increments instead of 90 degrees or 45 degrees.) — I don’t know if that could be applied somehow to needlepoint or knitting, but it might generate some ideas on geometry of patterns too. Might they connect so you get a Y or a triangle delta, rather than square/diamond or perpendicular versus parallel stitching and connection points? Just a thought; I don’t know a thing still. — I’ve found the kit of stitching needles I bought, but not the books. The yarn is…I think in the other closet. I may need to revisit this for something to do as an outlet and practical thing.
The scrape I got on my forehead looks much worse than it is. Geez…. Not the right time to get that. I rarely ding myself, but this time, I did it up good. Maybe it’ll be all healed up in a week or so, more or less.
I need to wind down and curl up and relax with a book, so audio it is. Goober will like this idea. I suspect Misty would. If he does become a permanent resident instead of a visitor, I feel sure he will like curling up. He’s a lap cat. (Goober is a hang-out-beside-you sort of cat, but he likes being with me, and he is a curl-up-with-you-in-bed cat, for sure.) (Goober is now at least 13 and 3 months.)
It is it. A child loves its parent, for instance…
New “Foreigner” shawl pattern. It’s “TV knitting” simple. Called “The Assassin’s Daughter” — ironically, because she wouldn’t be wearing a shawl — unless she was in disguise. Still, those colors against Atevi skin would be striking. Free pattern is here: https://knitsfromtheowlunderground.wordpress.com/2020/01/07/the-assassins-daughter-shawl/
Lovely colors, WOL!
Yes, beautiful! I don’t remember what the fabric arts are like among the Atevi; surely something like knitting or crocheting has taken hold at least in the more rural areas.
When Bren, Ilisidi, Cajeiri and company are aboard the Phoenix making their return journey from Reunion, Ilisidi is described as sitting in her chamber wearing a knitted shawl during a period when they are “folding space.”
Atevi do a lot of fishing, both the people of the Marid and the Edi and Gan peoples. Sailing involves knot tying. Making fishing nets involves knot tying. Carpet making involves knot tying. Textiles involve working with thread and knots. “Fooling around with thin cording making loops and knots” can get you to macrame, crochet and knitting if you have a clever, creative mind. I think they developed it independently, else Ilisidi would probably not have had it in her wardrobe. If they did not develop it independently, they might have picked it up from Humans during the cultural intermixing which went on before the War of the Landing.
Knitting was practiced in Egypt for quite a while, possibly as far back as pharaonic times, mostly in the form of tapestry-like colorwork designs. It spread to Europe at the time of the crusades, where it proliferated and permutated over time into all the types we know today.
Tatting uses the same knots as knitting a net does. It even uses a similar shuttle. There is no researched connection, but this one thinks that one is the offspring of the other.
Going back to BCS’ comment about three axis weaving, surely something like that would be most felicitous!
I could see, with the great respect for tradition among the Atevi, where the more rustic arts preserved in rural areas could be displayed in the more industrial and ‘citified’ areas as marks of sophistication and taste.
Hmm. — I don’t know what’s usual for how knitting, needlepoint, tatting, are done, but in macramé, I know you can introduce cords, one, two, or more, at particular points in the pattern, thus allowing extensions, changes of shape or geometry of the item produced, and new colors or added length of cords.
So what would likely develop from that in some sort of knitting or other craft? You’d get opportunities for color and texture and those geometrical changes. If somehow you introduce other techniques, what would go on from there? I don’t really know how lace-making is done either, but at least one lady who had posted here, and at Sheridan, some months back, did lace-making, with complex stufff going on.
I would expect there would be a market in all levels of atevi society, for women/girls and for men/boys, for textiles made in such styles, as traditional handcrafted work, fashionable, unique, and so on, homemade or boutique…. Opportunities there. — And I would think some humans would become interested in, enamored of, that art and practicality. Humans might begin copying / learning the styles. Atevi might sell to them. — Would atevi become curious about human handicrafts, textile making too? (And would there be concerns about cross-cultural leakage or influence among conservatives on both sides, either xenophobic or more reasonably concerned about notn-interference?)
The crafters here, ladies and any men who do yarn/cord based crafts, might want to experiment. — The thing is, while it would seem unlikely that humans haven’t thought up something like that, surely an alien species would have some stylistic and design thought processes, trends different than human norms. Or maybe atevi would indeed have come up with something that doesn’t exist in (current) (or Bren’s future) human crafting culture.
— And I like the colors in WOL’s pattern, which look to be multi-dyed yarn so the color is built-in.
Hmm, with a history stretching back to Egypt in the West in Africa and the Middle East, spreading into Europe at some point or independently done, and whatever Asia also developed…there must be neat things going on.
Oh, that reminds me also of quipus in Central and South America; I can’t recall if those are Inca or Maya. — But Native American Indians also had weaving and knotting and braiding, so I suppose things developed independently there. Or else it was carried over the land bridge from Asia, which would put it back to the Ice Age and Neolithic or Paleolithic times. Hmm, for that matter, there were woven goods found with one of the European Ice Man early hunter-gatherer finds too, sandals and maybe a cloak, I think it was?
Or how many times did these develop independently and merge as the centuries went on? — Oh, dang, that’s a whole level of art history, anthropology, and folkways and cultural dissemination…huh, I am now mind-boggled. Cool!
Remarkable stuff…crafts that may go back to before any known civilizations in some long, uh, skein of time. (Sorry. Couldn’t help it. The word occurred to me.)
There’s mention of sweaters, so they may have developed knitting on their own – my hunch is on earth it’s an outgrowth of making rings for chain mail, and the Atevi could have done it. (Needles are just mandrels with a point on one end and a knob or a point on the other end. The yarn does go all the way around the needle.)
What they’ve found in socks from ancient Egypt is nalbinding, which is close to blanket stitch/needle-made lace. You can’t do it with knitting needles; it uses a regular needle with an arm’s-length of fiber.
Dinosaurs in love
A song by a ‘nearly 4-year-old’ girl. More than 2 million views so far.
“We’re not crying you’re crying.” – Natural History Museum of London
Oh my. Not quite 4 yet and she already has Romeo and Juliet as Dinosaurs. Well, sort of. Look out, CJ, that little girl has potential! 😀 (I hope she doesn’t lose that spark as she grows up.) My goodness, that song’s adorable and naively melancholy all at once. I have heard hit pop songs with less to them.
Hmm…wait till she’s old enough to understand Wash’s dinosaur, “Curse your sudden yet inevitable betrayal!” skit. Heh.
Past my bedtime. Couldn’t get to sleep. Off to try again. Zzz. (The crew are all still in and happy.)
Cats and the unforeseen consequences of alien contact; Or — well, I suppose I should’ve seen that coming, but oh dear….
(Curry and Misty went out this morning after breakfast and were out all day.)
Just now, I called for them for an early supper. Curry showed up for a quick meal, hungry and enthusiastic. I had called for Misty. So I heard a meow and thought it was, er, him. (Still getting used to the switch.) I opened the door: “Meow! Meow!” A very insistent pint-sized little cat. — “Hey, aren’t you (neighbor’s) cat?” Some months back, a neighbor had brought over a package that had been delivered to her door by mistake. I think I recall her name but not her apt. number. In and out of their apt. went a skinny half-grown kitten/cat. I _think_ this is that cat. Or else it’s yet another stray. “Hey, you don’t need in, you’re someone else’s cat.” (I think. I hope.)
So I closed the door, waited. Nope, still there. Oh nuts. I should not have, but I put out for. I went back in and checked on Curry, who had disappeared within the apt. (doors had been closed when he came in, however). When I went back out, I didn’t know Curry had gone out too. — So then I had the neighbor or stray kitty both interested in making friends with me (he/she wolfed down the food like he/she was truly starving. I have no idea, but the cat didn’t’appear emaciated to me.) And then Curry and the other cat traded hisses, and this little cat is trying to get me to let him/her n.
Nuh-unh, kitty. I do not need Curry and you in my apartment starting a cat fight, for sure. I think you belong to a neighbor. I cannot be the bed and breakfast for a cozy indoor spot for every stray and every neighbor’s cat. I am very friendly to animals, but, uh, I also know there are reasonable limits, including legal limits on my lease. (Sorry, kitty, but you’d need a foster situation if so.)
So…I sidestepped Curry and the other kitty and went back in. If Curry had wanted to stay, he should’ve stayed. But I also have his number by now. Boy does not want to be a housecat, and I have offered time and again. He is still welcome anyway, within limits these days.
So…I will be aware of the other kitty. I don’t know for sure if he/she is that neighbor’s cat, but short of knocking on every door, I’m not going to find out unless she (the neighbor) or someone else can tell me who the cat belongs to.
Now I’m laughing at myself, wondering if this cat is going to be coming around repeatedly for food and trying to get in. Kitty, hey, I don’t want cats fighting in my place. If you are a stray, I don’t know that yet. But now I think I need to find out when I can.
The cat is either a very small adult or teen. But the neighbor’s cat should be bigger than that by now, and I had thought was dark grey, rather than black. This little cat is black and short, smallish, about like an adolescent cat, but from the cat’s condition, should not be as starving as that cat acted.
Yesterday, there was work going on on a nearby apartment. But I don’t know of any connection or additional strays, except that there are other strays around, at least one of whom is female and of breeding age.
And meanwhile, Misty hasn’t shown up yet, but I’d rather expect she, er, I mean he, will.
I may have Curry and Misty I tonight, or just Misty. Now I know to be careful, lest I also get this new other cat too.
Eegad. I think the cats have the word out now I’m a sucker for cats. Kitties, I can’t and won’t shelter all the strays in the complex or all the neighbors’ cats, all at once, just because I’m nice. I don’t have a good way to get strays in for vet care and TNR. I’d do some if I could. Heck, Curry is still not in for that, and now I may have Misty to take in.
On that, the flyer has been up over 24 hours. I have seen people out and about. No word from anyone yet, not even immediate neighbors. But the flyers are all still up, surprisingly. So…the longer that happens with no response, the more likely it is that Misty will end up living here. I would be happy for him if he does have an owner who grows more concerned. But if Misty is stray after all, then dang it, he’s a nice cat, and he’s welcome. I’ve seen nothing so far to make me not welcome him, and no need to close the door on him like Curry while inside. And dang, if the bb pellet for Curry bothered me, that growth on Misty’s tail bothers me even more. If that is operable, it needs to be removed for Misty’s ultimate health. I hope it’s not too much of a risk to him to remove it. But yikes, that’s risky to have that following him around, attached. (I think it’s a growth. If it’s a parasite, how could Misty even be halfway healthy?) So, well, he’s welcome and well-behaved from what I’ve seen.
Hah, I guess I’ll see about the pushy little pint-sized neighbor kitty, and if Curry is still around or if Misty has shown up.
Oh boy — Got notice this evening that the apt. complex has been bought by new owners and new mgmt. So I get to call those friends and get them, or a neighbor, to walk or drive me over to make my rent and utility pymt., because auto and online options are unavailable until further notice, in transition. Whee.
This makes it kinda urgent to make sure Curry and Misty will be OK, and to find out if tonight’s feisty, seemingly starving little interloper / stray / neighbor has a home or not. — Or maybe the new mgmt. either does not care or is benign towards cats, no knowing.
I’ll still give until the end of next week for notices about Misty, in case an owner comes forward. (Please do, if so.)
And…I do not know if it’s still possible I could swing a rent-to-own home solo, just me. My savings and investment money are down so that I have about 2 years left, plus a bit more from what’s supposed to be invested with one of those friends.
I am going to call again tomorrow to get ahold of them and push forward on that and ask for help. — I have never had a roommate before except when I was in college in a dorm. So I don’t know the process, I don’t have local friends I could move in with or who’d move in with me, that I know of. (The current friends have families and could help in some way, but I don’t think they know of anyone as a potential roommate for someone like me, legally blind and gay and about to be 54. But that may be necessary soon, in order to save money. I’m still working on fonts. Sigh. — I want a better situation if I can get one. I would like it OK here, but for the ongoing annoyances of mobility, rides, and pkg. deliveries. If I could get my own place, I could move items out of the storage space and go through them or sell / donate or trash, and ideally consolidate down. My current situation, if I moved, I’d either need appliances provided, or would have to buy them. (The washer still works fine. The dryer does not. The refrigerator and dishwasher and over/stove are furnished with the apt.) I’d need a new couch or futon as I’d said, and I want/need to replace the current box spring.)
But that is for the future, unless we can find a way to make this work. As it is, I expect to stay in the apt. at least until my lease is up in May/June/July, and then either renew or have already moved.
Maybe this is a blessing in disguise. I am still trying, but things are not moving fast enough, and I really have no way to go by and check potential houses or apartments or townhouses without relying on friends or getting a cab.
Folks, salads and associates, I could use good thoughts and prayers. I want a better situation, a way out of my current too-precarious situation and into something sustainable. I want a future for myself and my cat or cats. I am so tired of feeling like every time I get a little ahead, something comes along, outside of my control, or sometimes of my own making, that knocks me down. It is so discouraging, and I feel so limited compared to how I used to be. But this is me now, and I want and need to build up from here.
I’m OK staying here for the time being, but in only a couple of years, things must have gotten a lot better, or I will be in trouble I can’t get out of.
Reading the font editor manual tonight, I guess, but I want to put in some more actual font editing today and then relax some tonight. So…reading the manual instead, I think.
(Misty still hasn’t shown up. No idea if Curry or the possible neighbor kitty will still be out there, particularly the latter, when I check later. I can’t feel too sorry for Curry for going back out; his choice, not mine. But dang it, I want him to be OK, and I want Misty to be OK. And I want that new kitty to head back home if he/she has got one. Could be a stray, but could be that neighbor’s cat. I did put (more) food out. The cat went for it as if he/she hadn’t eaten in forever. Also put out food for Curry, to avoid a fight. Yes, not smart, probably. But that’s me.)
Saw but did not get word from anyone around when I was out and checked. I will likely ask people this weekend, if I can get anyone to stay still long enough.)
I’m overdue for another round of housecleaning, and will try to do so this weekend or next week.
Oh, I sympathize. My rent goes up 4% Saturday, and I’m not sure how much longer I can manage that plus car insurance. (I’d move, and Texas is a possibility, but my family is mostly in CA, and I don’t want to be far from them, now that I’m old.) At least the box for rent is in the building.
“I had a little bird.
Its name was Enza.
I opened up the window
and in flew Enza.”
So maybe it’s from being an Aspie, maybe thereby being a “natural born” scientist. I find all this panic over the Wuhan corona virus somewhat, what? I’m not sure of the word. Disgusting?
So far this flu season, 54 children have died, the CDC reported last Friday. So far, 8,200 people have died and 140,000 people have been hospitalized during the 2019-2020 flu season, according to preliminary estimates. That’s just in America. 170 corona virus deaths in China? Hardly comparable. But something good from all the kerfuffle may be that it seems to have silenced the anti-vaxers. But the common cold is a corona virus, what makes people so anxious that there will be an effective vaccine?
Not example enough?
The 2019 American Samoa measles outbreak began in September 2019. As of 6 January 2020, there were 5,697 confirmed cases of measles and 83 deaths, out of a Samoan population of 200,874.
The 1968 flu pandemic originated in Hong Kong. The outbreak in 1968 and 1969 killed an estimated one million people worldwide, 0.5% of those infected. It It was caused by an H3N2 strain of the influenza A virus. H3N2 is one of the four components of this year’s vaccine.
There are so many killer diseases, so common some pay not the slightest attention, or worse. So they kill. Panic, emotion, fear, what does that accomplish? “Fear is the mind killer.”
Besides, it’s too late. With the infectious stage starting before the first symptoms, there’s about as much chance of stopping it as of regathering the fluff from a blown dandelion.
Isn’t the point that the panic over this novel corona virus is misplaced when so many don’t get vaccinated with an existing vaccine for much more widespread and deadly influenza, not to mention measles, and convincing others not to as well? The girl who convinced her boyfriend to commit suicide just got out of jail this week, aren’t the anti-vaxers doing the same thing?
One of many possible points, and very valid. That said, closing the borders seems useless and a waste of resources to me.
Just another example why panic is ineffective.
Humans have a peculiar kind of hubris in thinking we can control everything and be above nature, unaffected by it. We also want to find reasons and patterns for everything, and we tend to read “good/right” and “bad/wrong/evil” into things. Yet some things are beyond our control and some thins don’t have a “reason” or a “plan” to them or a “good or bad;” and yet, oh, I fall into this as readily as most humans.I don’t get the anti-vaxxer crowd’s thinking. Healing, curing, preventing before a thing starts, keeping a bad thing Fromm spreading, those all make sense. Preventing or ending unnecessary suffering is a good thing. Irrational fears that vaccines are part of some conspiracy to harm people is at least misguided and dangerous. If a way to prevent disease or cure it is out there, why not use it? Faith and belief are fine, wishing and hoping are fine, but relying on one/s faith alone, when we have doctors to study and practice healing, medicine, seems not sufficient.
The corona virus is just a disease. It’s not a punishment from the divinity for sins. It’s simply a tiny disease agent on the edges of the difference between chemicals and life. It does what it does regardless of how righteous one is or not. (The same goes for HIV/AIDS and feline FIV. If FIV is not a punishment for cats’ sins, then why should people be fooled into believing HIV is a punishment for humans for being gay, or for being promiscuous? Which are two very different things.) (Granted, risky, unsafe behavior can carry its own “punishment,” but that’s really merely “consequences brought on by being unsafe. Usually. Random chance also plays.)
Sure, it’s reasonable to be concerned about the spread of disease, and it’s right to be concerned about your loved ones, or people in general. But it’s possible to get overly worried about something beyond your control.
I’m prone to worry about some things, but this isn’t one that usually gets me. Be compassionate to those around you, people, animals, plants, our environment. Help healing. Try to be prepared. But also be scientific and try to be careful and keep perspective. It’s a virus, it’s incredibly tiny. I feel bad for the folks who get so worried / scared about something they can’t really control. I feel bad for people who have to deal with themselves or loved ones (or just people) who get sick. We can only do our best, and we make mistakes too.
Panic is a bad idea. So is doing nothing.
An average flu kills one in one thousand.
The coronavirus SARS killed about 96 in 1000.
The coronavirus MERS (MERS-CoV), still active, kills about 1/3; but it’s not very contagious.
We don’t know the fatality rate of the 2019-nCoV Wuhan coronavirus yet, just that it is very, very contagious; sometimes harmless; sometimes fatal.
John Hopkins map of the Wuhan coronavirus, updated at least daily:
https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6
(You can zoom and pan the map. It covers all confirmed cases worldwide. A great many cases may never be confirmed due to the sometimes harmless nature of Wulan.)
The report I just found on Reuters as of Sunday, reported cases internationally: 17,376, deaths: 362. The mortality rate so far is about 2%.
But there is an as yet unanswered question. We know diseases target certain receptors. The virus targets the ACE2 receptor. (Do you take an ACE Inhibitor?) There were people who tended the sick in 1918, and 1348, that never themselves got sick. There’s a guy walking around with HIV who has never gotten AIDS, he doesn’t have the receptors the virus needs to invade his T-cells. Diseases affect different people(s) differently. The question is the genomic susceptibility. We have the sequence for this virus, and databases full of human genomes. Which genomes does this virus have the “key” for? This is a scientific question, but we still haven’t learned how to deal with such things rationally, have we?
To the point of whether a virus is active, infectious, or contagious:
There are related viruses and there are families of viruses similar in effect or related in structure / chemical or genetic makeup (I’m not are if it’s “genetic” per se) that have similar effects across different host genuses or species. That is to say, for example, there is HIV, which causes AIDS in humans, and there is FIV, feline immunodeficiency virus, which causes “feline AIDS.”
However, FIV acts differently in cats than HIV acts in humans. To be clear, these are two separate viruses. Humans don’t get FIV and cats don’t get HIV. Cats can get FIV in the same, usual sorts of ways it’s passed in humans: contact via blood or sexual infection or intravenous introduction through dirty needles are among the causes.
But among cats, veterinary biologists report that cats can carry FIV for years without getting sick, and this is unlike the normal way HIV operates in humans. This means, for example, you could have an FIV+ cat and an FIV– cat cohabiting for years, in close contact, and yet the negative cat might not get infected by the positive cat, while the positive cat might not appear “sick,” yet is definitely positive. This was in fact the case for the two cats I had prior to Goober. They were brothers, and while they were out one night, one got in a fight, got bitten, and caught FIV. His brother was not bitten and never tested positive for FIV. The FIV+ brother never got sick from it and died of other causes. That’s been over 14 years ago now. It was how I first learned there was such a thing as FIV and what could be done about it at the time.
Naturally, biologists have been studying how the two different viruses function in cats versus humans, to try to come up with vaccines or at least effective treatments for both kinds, which has led to where we are today, with treatments to extend human lives and keep the HIV virus a little more in check, but not cured. (My cat at the time was part of a trial for an FIV vaccine, but as of yet, there is still no FIV vaccine to cure it.)
This means that cats’ immune systems can keep off the virus and/or it can remain dormant or less active, for years, substantial portions of the cat’s lifetime, without the cat getting sick. Why this is, is still a mystery as I understand it. Why cats and humans react differently or why the two viruses behave differently is also still not understood as far as I know. (I’m not a biologist or a veterinarian, so I’m speaking as a layman, not as informed as I’d like to be.)
However, that goes into how and why other viruses, like the corona virus Wuhan version acts one way, while other similar viruses in humans behave differently.
One video I’d seen (I’m not really focusing on the issue) claimed that one of the “common cold” viruses is related to corona virus and others including SARS, which really gives one pause. But this means that there can be a range from very mild to really annoying but something one can outlast, all the way into scary territory. But hey, it’s a virus, a disease organism (or agent, if you are in the camp who think viruses are more “non-living, self-replicating chemical structures” as opposed to “living organisms). Yet viruses do recombine and mutate, they “evolve” in a way. So it’s something that can be fought with science, with knowledge and careful hygiene and conduct, to minimize the risk of infection and contagion, to contain it and wipe out cases where possible. Not, that is, a plague from on high, not divine retribution for sins, or for superstitious reasons. And not for whether one disagrees with other people’s traits or, in other cases, risky or bad behavior. (So being gay or of a different race or gender or religion or political party does not make one necessarily evil and therefore fit to be a target for divine punishment by a viral infection. However, engaging in risky, bad, or downright foolish behavior, does make one prone to infection. Bad behavior is a thing separate from one’s personal traits or (mostly) one’s belief system or behaviors.)
I never bought into the “AIDS is a punishment for humanity’s (gays, etc.) sins” argument. But what I learned about FIV in cats really made me stop and think about the nature of the argument over being gay / not straight, and educated me some about viral infections. Because of course, two of my first questions when learning one of my cats back then had FIV were, will my other cat get it and am I at risk (or my family and friends) of getting it? As well as, did that mean I would have to make the decision to have that FIV+ cat euthanized. — My vet at the time explained that no, humans don’t get FIV (or HIV either) from cats; an FIV– cat can be at risk of getting it from an FIV+ cat if they bite or draw blood, have sexual contact, etc.; and given that my cat could live for years with the virus without getting sick, as long as he was monitored with yearly checkups, then the decision of what to do about him was up to me. I therefore didn’t see a reason to put him to sleep, and he died of other causes several years later. It also confirmed for me, a disease is just a disease. With knowledge and careful action, we can combat it and possibly overcome it. It’s simply like any other problem, but both large-scale and small-scale and a calculated risk, a kind of microscopic warfare or survival of the species (plural). And, of note too, if a virus, bacterium, or other organism kills off all its hosts or prey, then it starves itself as a species and causes its own extinction. So it’s in the organism’s (species’) “best interest” not to kill off all the hosts or prey.
(I’m not usually one to go in for discussions over epidemics and disease processes, but hey, maybe this helps the discussion.)
When a potentially life-threatening disease becomes endemic in a population, such as bubonic plague and smallpox did in Europe, over time those individuals with susceptibilities are weeded out and replaced by those who are more resistant. This is a cumulative process. Unless the disease suddenly radically mutates, it’s effect on the population will gradually lessen over time.
The first encounter of a disease in a hitherto unchallenged population is always going to produce the highest death toll per capita. It happened with bubonic plague and smallpox in Europe and the same phenomenon happened with measles and smallpox in the Native American population. The European populations had been dealing with measles for centuries and had built up a resistant population (herd immunity) to it. However, the first time measles hit the Native American population, it was devastating, with up to 100% death rate in some instances. The same with smallpox. (The reason for the heavy white makeup in European elite — men as well as women — in the 17th and 18th centuries was to “spackle over” the smallpox scars.)
One of the things that was so deadly about the “Spanish Flu” was that it was killing young adults, which is typically the most robust segment of the population. The way the different strains of the flu viruses cycle through over time, most individuals have been exposed to variants of all three strains before they reach adulthood, and the most susceptible children have already succumbed. Typically, the very young, with “ignorant” immune systems and little to no bodily reserves to draw on, and the elderly, whose health is already compromised by age and age-related illnesses, are the most vulnerable portions of the population. The Spanish Flu represented a permutation that had not appeared in a long enough time that the unchallenged population had grown into young adulthood and had relatively little immunity to it.
Those who don’t protect their children by vaccinating them not only put their own children at risk, they put at risk those members of the population who cannot be vaccinated due to age (being too young to vaccinate), allergies or medical conditions such as immune compromise that preclude it.
It is certainly more complicated than one might think from current public reaction.
Strains can mutate locally and regionally, sometimes giving people in an area some relative “immunity” to the new one achieving pandemic status.
And I remember during the SARS outbreak there were some reports Europeans in China weren’t as susceptible. It’s ultimately all about having inherited matching receptors.
The hilarious thing IMO is the (racist) reactions to Chinese people, while it’s still undetermined whether or not Europeans and/or people from other continents will be similarly affected. I was at a large Asian market yesterday buying loose tea (oolong, Kemun black, and favorite Lung Ching (Dragon Well) green), and all the staff were wearing face masks, one supposes to avoid customer reactions.
And the masks can’t trap a virus, anyway, though they might catch a droplet holding the virus.
Wuhan 2019-nCoV has been sequenced, and it’s a single strand RNA virus. It can maybe mutate faster than something with more reliable replication.
Single-strand definitely does mutate faster. It’s the reason we have two strands, each is a check on the other, enabling accurate repair. It enables “complex” life to maintain a genome long enough to develop complexity. No mutation is bad, as is too much. Our system is sitting in the “sweet spot”.
The sweet spot for a complex c. 40 year lifespan human.
A simple virus with a lifespan of weeks has a different sweet spot and can stand–maybe needs–more mutations.
OK, but evolutionarily that single strand RNA genetic mechanism condemns it to this parasitic role. If we define “life” to include self-replication, viruses aren’t even “alive”. They have to hijack their victim’s biology to replicate themselves. But from a parasite’s perspective, it’s not good to kill-off your host very quickly, and some of your kind will mutate quickly enough to avoid that.
From a SciFi perspective, one might imagine some form of “checksum” used after so-many bases, something like what is used in simple communication protocols, that would enable protein synthesis to determine, “Nope, quit now, this gene is wrong.” Life has established pairing complimentary strands is more efficient, using mechanisms already invented. Another case of the economics of physics showing the difference between imagination and reality.
I’m not sure I’m alive. I have to hijack other organisms’ genetics just to eat. 😉
@BCS, from what I understand vaccines don’t usually cure an illness that is already present in the body. They prime the immune system to respond quickly and effectively if an infection occurs with the kind of bacteria or virus the vaccine resembles. Vaccines can be made that prime the system for a fragment of the outer coating of the invading infectious agent – if several different bacteria have that same ‘patch’ (e.g. a bit of convoluted protein) on their coat, one vaccine can prime the immune system to look out for all those with that patch.
But you need to be careful that the shape of the protein in the vaccine does not resemble something that is beneficial or naturally part of our bodies – you don’t want to prime the immune system to attack one’s own body, as happens in auto-immune diseases (not caused by vaccines, I hasten to add), which is one reason why developing and testing vaccines takes a lot of time.
If an infectious agent is good at hiding ‘below the radar’ of the immune system, a vaccine might teach the immune system to find and recognise it anyway, and so get the body to deal with an existing illness; but in general it’s meant as a preventative rather than a cure.
Hence, kids can be vaccinated against the chickenpox caused by the varicella zoster virus; but if the virus has managed to hide out, after a bout of chickenpox, in the ganglia adjacent to the spinal cord it can cause shingles and nerve pain (postherpetic neuralgia) later in life. Once the postherpetic neuralgia appears you cannot get rid of that by taking the vaccine, even though it is caused by the same virus.
@WOL, I’ve read somewhere that there appears to be at least one person in Africa with natural immunity, in whom HIV acts more like FIV; they’re infected but don’t get sick. I’m not 100% sure this was definitively proven, since the latency for developing AIDS is so long, but they lasted years longer without getting sick than was expected.
As Africa has the greatest genetic diversity in the human genome (the original prehistoric diaspora out of Africa created a bit of a genetic bottleneck for the rest of the human population around the globe), chances of such spontaneous natural immunities would be highest there. As HIV originated there in wildlife, that might also increase the chance that over the ages someone developed that immunity by chance and handed it on to their offspring as a positive factor in surviving the eating of bushmeat long term.
3) From what I’ve read (in Dutch, so no links) most common colds are caused by a rhinovirus (30-80%), but about 10-15% are caused by a coronavirus (like SARS and MERS and the Wuhan virus; there are 7 strains that infect humans and cause common colds or pneumonia), or influenza-virus (5-15%), or some other viruses. There are nearly 200 viruses that appear linked to colds or flu-like symptoms.
There are 3 or 4 types of influenza-viruses, A, B and C (some add D for another variation of C).
A is the most common type and circulates every year and gives people flu, B circulates every 4 or 5 years and also causes flu, and C causes only an ordinary cold.
These influenza-viruses have two kinds of proteins on their skin, H (hemagglutinin, 16 kinds) and N (neuraminidase, 9 kinds). Hence their names, like A/H5N1.
The H-bits help them gain entry to our cells; numbers 1, 2 and 3 work best on human cells, other kinds work better for bird cells or pig cells.
These types of skin-adorning proteins can easily combine and switch, and mutate, presenting new configurations of their outer coats to our immune system each time. Humans are used to H1, 2 and 3, and to N1 and 2.
If one of the other numbers, specialised in pigs or birds, combines with a human-type (e.g. if a pig has both an animal-flu virus and a human-flu virus in its blood, those viruses can exchange bits of their coat-building code), that will result in a flu virus that no human immune system knows yet; so if you catch it, your body will be late in trying to fight it off. If we’re lucky, it won’t be good at getting into human cells (because it’s built with a key that is specialised for infecting birds or pigs, like the H5 key on the Hong King bird flu), and so not be very infectious.
That helped, thanks. Yes, You’re right and I was mistaken and didn’t explain well, that a vaccine can’t stop a virus or bacteria already infecting a host.
I wonder what it means that a virus can be good at both avian and mammalian (pig human, etc.) host cells, whether both birds and mammals simply have those in common, or if it’s because humans often eat birds, or some other cause. But that’s a question I don’t have any knowledge about.
Potential good news. Maybe-Maybe. — Had a meeting of the minds, I think, with one of the wayward friends. Discovered they’d both gotten new phones, so I can’t get ahold of one of them. Hoping the one will tell the other to finish setting up his dang phone so people can get ahold of him. LOL.
There might be a way for me to get a rent-to-own home after all, and we’re going to talk about the possibility of roommates to possibly defray the cost to me some. I went over my current situation, and so he has an idea of how things are going currently and expected down the line. Present income is going to be iffy, though. But at least this gives food for thought and a chance to look at the options and make some choices.
One good point, they have a home nearly through the renovation process, basically it will be completely redone. If it’s as thorough as the other examples I’ve seen (one was my former home, I wanted to see what they did with it) then I could be good to go sooner than expected. If that one doesn’t appeal to me, then there is just enough time to fine one or get one done before my lease is up at the end of May or June. Meanwhile, I need to confirm a few things for myself, likely over the weekend, possibly next week.
I went over known upcoming needs, like the dryer and futon/sofa-bed and what the vet bills might be for Curry and Misty. (And with the expectation that if I move into a home of my own (or shared) then dang it, I’m taking Curry with me too.) And so far, it’s looking like Misty will indeed be my cat. No response at all so far. Both Curry and the little black interloper kitty have not been by today. I am (hoping) that the little feisty, very hungry black kitty does have a home, because I’d have to ship him/her off pronto, if he/she is a stray.
Misty was right there this morning, glad to see me, as if he hadn’t sashayed out the door yesterday morning. And he’s been in all day, happily sacked out, but not in my bedroom with Goober and me.
I’ve got a new cell phone on order. Additional monthly cost unavoidable, darn it, but aha, I found a sale price on their site that somehow they missed. 😀 (Twice the storage for the same price. Someone missed that or they have a special deal trying to clear out the old models.) 4 times the memory of my current phone, which I already thought was ridiculously high, but which the phone claims is full and refuses to delete further, while it’s blocked some features and refuses to update the OS ’cause it’s full.
There might be a cheap option for a dryer, new on sale. I said I don’t want another problem with used ones. The futon is likely to happen, but my friend’s truck is in the shop, so he can’t haul it off (the old couch). I may opt to get the keyboard.
But this means I still need to be up to speed for font production and I need to get my eyes back in process, which now looks like I will need a new appt. But that and my teeth, and vet visits for the cats, are my immediate concerns. — Thankfully, the friend is a dog owner, loves his dogs, so he understands why I’d want to take on responsibility for these two strays (Curry and Misty).
Oops, I am going to need a third at carrier. Do I have one in the storage space? Don’t think so. I will need to check.
Over all, this is potential good news. I’m not sure what will happen yet, but if I can get some of these things done, that will help a lot to feel better and be in a better position.
If I can get fonts out there producing income, I can eventually build up to self-supporting income that way. How fast, I am not sure. I was truly surprised at two people’s YouTube videos saying how much they’d made (monthly sales or royalties) on their fonts, and one was a pro I had seen work from, while the others were unknown to me. Music and writing, though, are options even if I were to lose my sight entirely. I’m hoping it will not come to that. — My sense of humor was in a foul mood in which it came up with a joke that hey, Braille font choices, round or square dots, what size and raised or embossed texture? Yeah, I told my mind it was being mean, but I did laugh a little.Do I have a flat pet carrier in the hall closet? Checking. Expecting to have to buy one. If I move, I do not want to leave Curry, as feisty as he is. Being a stray is not a good deal for him. If he wants to be an outside cat if I move to a new home, OK, but that’s better than being around here, competing. (And if he gets neutered, he might settle down some and mellow.) — Misty is mellow enough already. With vet care, he might get to thrive as an indoor cat. I know the vet bills are going to be pricey, but I chose to get involved, and I want good health for these two. No cat should have to walk around with a bb-pellet in his neck or a tumor on his tail of truly alarming size. I am attached to Curry, rogue that he be; and I am getting attached to Misty. Misty has not yet decided the bedroom is a good place for him. I’m hoping he and Goober will make friends soon.
Feeling a bit better about things. — Phone calls and busy-ness today, already past 2 or 3 pm. But some tiny bits of progress at last, if things will just keep working out.
Misty was in until late last night, then he wanted out; so he was in about 12 hours yesterday.
I didn’t see Curry, but heard him late last night too, before Misty went out. Curry was having a spat with what might have been the little black kitty, and so he didn’t come see me after all. Curry has not shown up yet today, but I’m thinking he might. I’ll keep trying.
That little black kitty showed up again this morning before Misty did, and wanted in, but immediately at the doorway wanted to hiss at Goober, who, interestingly, fussed back and didn’t give his ground, although didn’t escalate. That’s OK, Goober, for once, you’re not letting somebody else get to you. — I therefore didn’t let the kitty get in (wasn’t intending to anyway, would’ve picked him/her up and taken him/her out if the cat had come in. — But this little cat was again acting starved and wanting in badly. The cat is little and thin, either a half-grown kitten or a small adult. I got disposable bowls for dry food and a small can of moist, and fed him/her. (At a guess, I’d say male.) I didn’t think of a water bowl. My bad. But I also see that between the kitty following the bowl around as he pushes it while eating, and wind pushing it, I need something more substantial, yet temporary, so if it’s picked up by groundskeeping or others, it’s no real loss. — I think the little cat is in pretty good condition, yet he couldn’t wait for me to get the moist food into the dish, dove in while I was pouring it out, and thus got messy. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a cat act that hungry. Even Curry when he first got here didn’t act that starved. So I don’t know if this is another stray or a cat with a nominal home who doesn’t really have one. Uh, but it is not my intention to feed everyone else’s pet cat, nor even every stray in the complex. But uh, from me calling for Curry and Misty, I thing word has gotten around in the kitty community. :-/
Discovered I don’t know where I put my old Swiss Army knife with the multiple tools, and am getting a new one because — I need something to poke a hole in the flea medicine vials. I’m going to use a ballpoint pen in the meantime. — I also thought of metal cocktail toothpicks, and aha, those are cheap. So a small, cheap set is going in with my cat care kit, which will get a shoebox or other box soon.
I had thought of a good nickname for the black kitty, but forgot it when I slept. Heh. That or another should come to me, though.
Misty is still Misty. I tried Cloud, but it doesn’t seem to fit him. I think the brown tabby on top is why. That feels like an “earth” or “mountain” thing, only with the snow in reverse, at the bottom. I intend to get my newer digital camera out to take pictures of Misty (and Curry if he shows up). My former digital camera is still in storage some dang where, along with my not-yet-used guitar and my good cowboy hat, at least. Hoping to get over there soon for another look round.
Sunny today and quiet so far, but the neighbors’ noisy pack of kids were back last night after a few days of blessed quiet. Oh well, as long as nobody’s getting hurt. But dang, at least inside the apartment (including the one above me) can’t y’all please tone it down a little, at least late at night?
Nothing earth-shaking. Forehead scrape is healing fine, but looks like it may still be there by Monday’s appointment. Darn it. Maybe it’ll look less weird by then.
The current font drafts are going well enough, while learning Glyphs Mini, and ideally, getting used to FontLab Studio also, if possible. I’d sketched out a display font, but rather than scanning it in and tracing, which is laborious, I went directly to drawing it on the computer, which is what I’ve usually done before. I started it, but the first draft was too much like something else and not the distinctive look I was going for. It was also not as bold as I wanted it. So I’ve spent the last two-plus days redrawing what I had in there, and now I think I know what it needs, which means another round of redrawing to get to what I’d (almost) arrived at initially. I had thought I was headed there, but not initially. So that is shaping up better, but still not quite as rough-looking as I’d wanted.
Several months back a font I’d bought years ago, Dodgy Ultra by Fontschmiede, stopped working in the webfoot version. Somehow a URL for only that font’s usage tracker (through the vendor) is not working, it’s blocked. I reported something about this to them. But now the font is no longer listed from the big vendor, and if I want to use it on the web, I will have to find it from another seller and purchase the web fonts from them. Bummer. It’s a quirky but good-looking font, so I want it. But I don’t yet know if it will be available. Still looking into it.
—–
The cats — I seem to be running a bed and breakfast for the neighborhood stray cats. I guess word got around. Well, calling kitty-kitty for the two who halfway belong here doubtless influenced this. The little black kitty showed up again this morning. “Meow?!” (Translation: “I’m starving! Where’s breakfast? And oh, hi!” I said hi, petted her a little, and got a bit lower than I’d intended. Fortunately, she didn’t mind me touching her underbelly. And hmm, that’s a girl kitty. If she’s pregnant, she’s fairly early along, not quite showing yet that I could tell, but maybe. Uh, I she’s female because the “row of buttons” are exposed but not swollen as if she’s nursing or pregnant. Not quite yet. But it could explain why she is starving. This morning, I was smart and got the food into the bowl before putting it down for her. But I got the same dive-right-in, attack-the-food-bowl, as if starving for days, although this is the third or fourth time now that I have seen and fed her, and the second day in a row. She could belong to someone, but if so, they are not feeding her nearly enough to stave off that level of hunger; the kind that throws manners out the window in favor of sheer survival. So I fed her again and really should find something I can use outdoors without worrying if it gets lost/taken/thrown away by groundskeeping, a water bowl and food bowl. She’s wanted to fuss at everyone but me, to make sure she gets food. She even had a hissing match with Curry, and he’s a proven fighter. (And possibly the father if she’s pregnant. But then, Misty might be another father.) And I am guessing she followed them as well as my voice. Until seeing her, I have not been putting food outside. So in the last two months, I’ve gone from one stray to three, plus my own cat. The new girl stays outside until and unless she can behave without causing major fighting. I suspect I now have attracted the three strays who patrol here. If there are more, I haven’t seen them yet. (I think I’d also run into this little cat a few months ago, late summer or early fall, before Curry arrived.)
The flyers are still up and there has been no response as yet, the 4th day today. I am going on the assumption I’m not likely to get a response and he’s likely mine now. But I’m letting those stay up through the end of the week, in case, to be fair. There are enough of them that people should see them and read them.
Misty came back in and stayed last night, and went out this morning. — Whereupon, Curry was instantly there, and in he went, and then the black kitty showed up, just as quickly. Misty still needs a name, but for now, Misty is sticking. Da boy may be stuck with it. 😀 I had thought up a name for the feisty black kitty, but forgot it when I slept the night before last. It may have been Peppercorn, which is what I tried out this morning. Not sure yet if that will stick. Not sure why I felt the need for another food-based name. Cats are companions, not dinner. At least to me.
Curry wanted to stay in and sleep it off, which is fine by me, except the doors are closed; sigh. I expect Misty will be back today and Curry will want out as usual.
I’ve promised Curry that if I do move, he’s coming with me. He can be an outside cat there. If he gets neutered, he might simmer down and become more of an indoor/outdoor cat. Heh.
Currently looking like Misty will go in for a first vet appointment when I can get him in, likely this week, the goal. I didn’t get Goober and Misty dosed with flea medicine; still to do. Misty will get a collar, and when I settle on a name, he’ll get an ID tag.
Misty is socialized enough that he must have had a home before, and he’s almost timid now, but starting to warm up. (Oh, he loves getting attention and is a lap cat.) But overall, he hasn’t really tried to stay in the bedroom or get on the bed. I’ve tried introducing him, and he’s done OK, but still wants to find a safe, quiet hiding and sleeping spot in the living room / kitchen.
He’s deferred to Goober twice now, but not always. They are both shy and working out who’s boss. They have not yet really made friends, but they accept being near each other. — And now I’ve noticed: Misty has avoided using “Curry’s” litterbox, the second one. Instead, each time, he has used the main litterbox in the bathroom, which is Goober’s almost exclusively. I’m not sure what this says about their preferences; whether it means Misty feels safer encroaching on (or bossing) Goober, but avoids Curry’s box, even though they know each other and co-exist enough to lie down near each other. I get the feeling Misty is more comfortable with Goober than any real need to dominate. Goober seems disinclined to want to dominate Misty too. That, at least, seems like a good sign that they will learn to be friends, once they get over it.
I am going on the assumption that Misty may have been a homeless stray for a long time now, but used to have a home, so that he can trust me, wants love, knows how to behave gently, and yet he’s very shy and unsuree about hanging out in the bedroom with us. Maybe he wasn’t allowed on the bed in his past home. Or maybe it’s acute shyness because he’s been outside, without a home or humans he trusted, for so long.
Curry stayed in until it was good dark, and then started meowing (not loudly, and he’s still hoarse) to go out. He went to the door and asked, so I let him out. He was in all day, mostly sleeping, and his coat wasn’t in good shape, dusty, no mats and nothing more than scratches that I’ve seen/felt.
Kids and later adults were out making lots of noise, playing, so I didn’t see Misty at all until just now, since this morning. But now he’s in and he and Goober are fed. (Curry had food before he went out.) Misty is fine and might be warming up a little, but still doesn’t get it that he can come back and join us and hang out in the bedroom or sleep on the bed with us. He won’t be banned unless he bombs the bed like Curry did. Misty might have better manners from more socialization.
When Misty showed up tonight, so did the little feisty, hissy black kitty. I’ve nicknamed her Peppercorn. Again, acting entirely starved, diving for the food, bolting it as fast as she can gulp it. I put out a metal pet bowl of water too. She keeps wanting in, but also keeps hissing at all the cats (who are, granted, all males and only Goober is neutered). I think if she had a home she would not be so famished. I can manage two cats in the apartment, and Curry wants to be outside most of the time, but is welcome inside, with the ban in place. The girl kitty could be in the early stages of pregnancy, but I haven’t wanted to palpate for fear of her taking it wrong and lashing out at me, which, from her point of view, would be entirely justified. I’m of a mind to get her to the vet, but she needs a foster home where she can deliver safely, or get out of the way of fights. — Since I first saw her this time just a few days ago, she’s come around each day but one, and now morning and evening, meowing super loudly, demanding food, because she’s so hungry. This isn’t just a regular thing where a cat, housecat or stray, wants an extra meal. She doesn’t look emaciated, but her behavior is, she’d eat anything that won’t eat her first, and if a human will feed her, she’ll take it immediately and come back for more because that human helped her.
I can’t take every cat around. I had initially assumed she might be a neighbor/s, but if she had a home, she wouldn’t be so starved. My apartment is good-sized, but I think two pets is the official limit on the lease. And I can’t have her in with the others, because they’d fight and she’d fight back. With extreme gusto. This is not a meek little kitty. She was ready to battle Curry if need be. (I would guess he could be one of the fathers if she is pregnant.) — So she is outside. The weather is good and expected so this week.
I am hoping to get Misty to the vet this week for his checkup. I/m tempted to try getting the little black cat into a carrier to get her in too. I feel in a moral quandary about this. If she is indeed stray and starving and (I would guess) had a home before, then she needs help if she’s expecting kittens. I, uh, did not choose to get involved in this one, but she was so in need, I didn’t, couldn’t refuse. So I did get involved, and now feel responsible. Sigh.
I have no idea if I can really swing getting a rent house and sustain that, but — my lease here is up for renewal in May or June, and it’s either stay here, with mild known problems, or a rent house if my friends can help me get that started, and hope like heck that can rock along OK enough for me to get on my feet with income and improve my situation, enough to remain. It’s that or I don’t know what. Something has to give.
With my own place, possibly with roommates (which would greatly help defray the cost) then I could have a stable home for me and for Goober, Misty and Curry could come along, inside and outside. If Curry can get neutered, he might or might not be OK inside (still with the gods-be-feathered ban. The black kitty needs a foster home and then a permanent home. Really, Curry needs that also. I’m attached to him. He likes me, but isn’t as attached to me (as far as I can tell) as I am to him. If he could be a barn cat, that’d be ideal for him, I think.
I’m both hopeful and yet discouraged. I don’t see how this can work, long-term, unless I can truly gain income and have roommates (sub-letting, or co-leasing if it could work out that we become friends enough to trust so). So…I do not know what to think. But after tomorrow and this week, maybe there is a way it can work after all. I have to be able to do something for my future, even if I end up dependent on others. — I am worried about getting roommates, whether I and they could get along. I’m worried either we won’t at all, there could be a series of them, or else I’ll have to put up with things regardless, due to money, or…I’m worried on the opposite end that I could get too easily attached or develop a crush or some such nonsense, because I’ve been so alone so long, I might be emotionally vulnerable. — I just don’t know. I was OK until this evening.
Hey, Misty’s come in the room for attention. How ’bout that? Stopping to say hi to him and see how it goes.
Today will be day 5 of having flyers up and no responses. Some of the flyers were taken down by groundskeeping this morning. Others are still up. I may post more, but already, I think I have the answer that Misty doesn’t have a home and is now (very probably) mine.
He got flea medicine and a collar last night, stayed in all night, and wanted out this morning. The little black kitty (calling her Peppercorn, for being so spicy) showed up as soon as I’d let Misty out, and so I fed her a can of food. She was not as hungry this morning, but she shouldn’t be, after getting two cans from me yesterday. She tried to get in, fussed at Goober at the door, and I picked her up and put her back out, with food in a dish and water in a bowl.
I’m pretty sure I’ll see Misty this afternoon or evening when I’m back from errands, presuming my friend keeps his appointment.
Goober also got flea medicine. If/when I next see Curry, he’ll get a dose while he’s sound asleep. Heh.
No vet appt. as yet for Misty, and no new name chosen yet. I seem to be stuck on “Misty” but think he needs a change. “Mystic?” I dunno yet.
“Missed”?
?Magus? Singular of magi. Nebular? cloudy or foggy?
(Friend still has not shown up or called. I’m going to have to call him. Rent payment must be due at the office, and they’re not taking online / auto payments during mgmt. / owner transition; checks only, in hand paid. Plus we’re supposed to look at a potential home.)
I heard something and checked. There’s Misty, but he doesn’t want to come in yet. And with him is the little black girl kitty. She does want in, and got in, and after a brief nose to nose with Goober, she steps back a little…and stands her ground and hisses. OK, so you’re not sure you like Goober. But he lives here. If you come in, you must work it out to be civil. I won’t have any fighting, young lady and old sir, and other sir of unknown age.
I got them separated, picked up the young miss, and escorted her out, being friendly about it and extra careful. — And she was fine until I kept holding her, neutral, once we were back outside. She ventured to complain to me, so I put her down so she wouldn’t feel worried. With an admonishment, hey, I’m the one you like, who’s been feeding you, remember? I’m not going to hurt you, kitty. Not on purpose, and if you attack, I’ll defend myself, but I don’t really need to fight a critter so small.
Besides, she is most definitely a mama cat. Not showing much yet, or else she’s already delivered and is nursing. The milk factory is going. One is being circumspect and polite in this. But she’s pregnant or has had her kittens. Either explains why she’d be starving for food and why she’d be actively looking for a safe haven for herself and any kittens due.
No knowing if Misty is the daddy, or a daddy, rather. But she didn’t mind too much him being around, and he was blasé about it all, but possibly introducing us, or wanting to get her some help from a friendly human. — Goober, the past couple of days he’s seen (and smelled) her around, has been extra curious about her, and seems to want to help too. — Ah, any less chivalrous and more lascivious motives by these two or Curry are duly noted also, and possible. I don’t know if Goober would be so inclined, but it’s possible he might.
But they may also recognize a fellow cat who needs food desperately and is a mama or will be, and so needs help from those friendly humans around. Cats have their own sense of honor and courtesy and humor, and their own kind of loyalty and friendship and love. It’s not necessarily human-like, always, but it is similar in many ways. We’re both mammals. And I can understand a mama kitty needing help.
They are still out there, hanging around. If I thought she could come in and not create chaos, I might. If the weather gets too ad, I will. — But she needs a foster home if she has no home. I don’t know if she does or doesn’t, and want to find the neighbor who might be connected. But that means finding when another neighbor is home, and I don’t always hear them. One or both other neighbors I know might know her.
I’m going to put out a little dry food. If Misty would come on in, he’s welcome to stay in while I’m out on errands. I trust him for that.
Misty spent an hour or so parked by me last night on the computer. He didn’t then get on the bed. But he’s doing fine.
Nuts. My friend claimed he called this morning and left a voice message, but my phone is still not functioning right and doesn’t show this at all. I ordered a new phone, but it has not yet shipped and so I don’t know the expected arrival date/time. Ideally, it will resolve then.
My friend had called to say he got a cold over the weekend, and could we postpone until tomorrow. OK, cool, but I believe the grace period on rent/utility payments ends on the 5th, Instead of 10 days, so we need to do it before then. So tomorrow, I hope.
Misty has been in all day, including a mistaken visit by maintenance people, in which neither the man nor woman could enunciate enough for me to understand them without repeated attempts, in either English or Spanish. (They were both barely able to speak English. My Spanish was better, and I’m not fluent, nor back to my former fluency.) So my maintenance is still to do, and they went off to find whoever needed their toilet fixed. (My toilet is, most thankfully, working fine. Oh, I would not be happy if it were not. Heh.)
So Misty has been in all day, and now would like to go out, bu there are noisy kids at one door and noisy adults at the other. So he will need to wait a bit.
The end of the 5th day and no response to the flyers. He’s my cat except for a much smaller margin of doubt.
Hoping for good results tomorrow.
Ouch! Can someone recommend an aloe vera cream or other product, Cortizone-10 or other, please? Last night, I sloshed a bowl of hot liquid and scalded my hand. I discovered I did not have any such products on hand. I ran cold water on it, used ice packs the rest of the evening, and took a Motrin at bedtime. It’s better now, but there’s a blister at one spot, small. I also don’t have an aloe vera plant anymore, as the one I had died in a hard freeze before I moved here, almost three years ago now.
The abrasions I got last week are healing but still obvious.
So, any reccomendations on burn or sunburn or other skin pain / etc. relief would be welcome before I buy something. Thanks, y’all.
Looks like I need to confirm whether my internet/cable and electrical utility bills did get the credit card changeover from when it rolled over to the new card. Dang.
Waiting on my friend to arrive for appointments today. Also hoping I don’t catch his cold.
Misty’s in and he and Goober are fed. Didn’t see Curry or the little black kitty this morning. — She got herself in last night, so I let her eat, then had the problem of shooing her out. She was hissing at Goober (!) and Misty and me. — Did get her out, to her relief. Heh. Kitty, if you want help, hissing or growling at the guy willing to help you is not a good idea, nor is acting like you own his apartment when you just got there. Heh again. — And she is, oh, definitely pregnant and producing milk. :-/ I’ll feed her, but outside. I know I can pick her up, so she could go in a carrier to the vet, but we’ll have to see first how it goes and if she’s another stray, which I think is the case.
I’m chancing leaving Misty in while I’m out. I think he’ll find an out-of-the-way spot and nap as usual. He and Goober are on good enough terms to be near each other, though not groom each other yet that I know of.
For your burn, if you can get your mitts on the aloe gel they sell for sunburn that usually works well, and has a long shelf life. If it hurts (or just in case), pick up one that has lidocaine in it as well, for surface pain.
My skin must be thinning. I was brushing Junior, and he gave me his usual little “that’s enough, now” nip when I’ve been going too long or too hard, and it actually broke skin.
Ouch, sorry, Chondrite. — Are you taking any meds that might contribute to skin thinning, or blood thinners? (Besides aging, blood thinners contributed to thin skin for my grandmother, and others have noted that, so I take it as possibly connected.) Heh, although you are nowhere near your 90’s to 100’s. (Hey, if you get there, very cool.)
Thanks, I will look for that. — The little blister broke this morning, already, and has been doing fine today. I’m watching it. I think the burn was less than it felt like last night. Today, aside from the blister and my thumb’s a bit sore, the rest of the surface that got scalded seems already to be doing fine, almost normal. Still not free of it. I’ll get an ale vera product.
(Heh, one company is way too proud of theirs. Won’t be paying that much.)
Darn it, I forgot to ask my fried if he or his brother in law or their families had an aloe vera. plan or could start one. I will call and ask.
Had lunch with the friend after looking over the house, still in process, which will get appliances and finishing out, so I can look again in a couple of weeks. Hmm, a lot of house just for me, but if I had roommates, that would work well. I kinda liked it, but want to see it again, further along.
We’ll look at another, smaller, soon. I have some checking to do to make sure I’m in good order, in case I can do this, and now he knows about where I am on things, so we might be able to make this happen while also making sure I can come out the other side of this OK. This reassured me a little. I was very up front about being nervous about this and yet needing something to work out for my future to be stable and stay stable, and uh, not to end up in foreclosure or broke. :-/
So possibly we can have a good outcome. If I can get where I’m more stable and can save money and invest a little, maybe I can build up while still working towards fonts and other income.
He saw and liked “my fluffy cat.” 😀 (He’s a dog lover but allergic to cats; but it means he can understand someone loving pets.)
The little mama cat was, oh, waiting, when I let out Misty. She darted in and went for the food bowls. I let her eat, didn’t think me trying to pick her up and separate her from thefood was s smart idea, given how prone she is to argue. Once she got her head up again, I lured her out and fed her there, dry and a small can of moist. She was still scarily hungry, but to as starving as before. But also, I think she’s definitely a stray, and I think she’s seen she can get a good meal ticket here, and is sticking around. (When I let Misty out last night, she was there, hanging out.) She either is early in her pregnancy or has already delivered, I would guess. ( I want to ask the vet; and my cat info book is gone or in storage.)
My friends daughter is older than I thought, so she drove for the first time at night last night, with her dad coaching her. She’s now thinking seriously of what she wants to do and where she wants to go for college. (She wants to be a teacher. I need to locate the contact number for an old friend who’s a special needs / at-risk kids teacher. She can likely offer some good advice to my friend’s daughter.)
The food was good: a local Mexican food place. I’m full and have a little leftover container. fajitas and cheese done as soft tacos, plus rice and beans. — Darn it, they didn’t have a menu or business cad to take ho, but I got the name.
The new apt. mgmt. is only starting transition really. — And I had a glitch, had run out of checks without knowing it, so had to get a money order plus will have to order checks. They don’t have any records active yet beyond a list of tenants and numbers to know he prices. Info is due this month. So I may have paid a tad extra, and I put in for repairs again, as that was not transferred.
So, all in all, productive. — My cell phone is really screwed up, not getting all my calls or messages, not showing some functions at all. No word yet when the new one will arrive.
FWIW, when I opened my email box this morning, there was a deal on TS-2020 – it’s a train simulator.
[ https://www.humblebundle.com/games/train-simulator?hmb_source=humble_home&hmb_medium=product_tile&hmb_campaign=mosaic_section_1_layout_index_1_layout_type_twos_tile_index_1_c_trainsimulator2020_bundle ]
(One is the WP Feather River Route. The pic doesn’t look anything like the Zephyr that I saw every day as a kid – it was all polished metal with minimal paint for the names.)
Would you mean the Burlington Pioneer Zephyr?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_Zephyr
Honestly, I don’t get Train Simulator. Truck Simulator, at least you can turn off-route and look at the sights.
Quite a few train games are out recently, but I don’t know of one with the beautful Burlington Zephyr except the quite old Railroad Tycoon 3 (RRT3). Last I checked it was available on gog, but you have to do a meticulous series of patches, including a fan-made patch, to get it to run on Win10. RRT3 is from the period where games were 3D, but used very few polygons, so things look a little angular. Still, RRT3’s economic system is superb, and it literally spans the world, though not in a single scenario. Nice bluegrass train music, too.
Most of the RR games out seem to be inspired by (or maybe derived from) the open source OpenTTD, or its inspiration Transport Tycoon Deluxe. But, working out switches for a siding, while perhaps interesting the first time, becomes tedious very quickly.
(I would stay away from Railway Empire: it’s either intentionally annoying or suffering from a German vs. me cultural problem. Pretty, but eww…. And it wants to DLC you into the poorhouse.)
___
SF: Endless Sky is free and fun, and rather Chanur on steroids; you can pretty quckly move from a jump shuttle to a warship that could hunt kif; an open source project, but it uses OpenGL3 (I think) instead of DirectX and won’t run on an old laptop with only Intel graphics; it’s still in development, but pretty playable now. Shattered Planet is cheap, under $3 on sale IIRC; watch a Let’s Play of SP to see if it’s your style. Both on Steam, and elsewhere, I’m sure.
I don’t recall if Steam runs on a Mac, but Endless Sky sounds like I might like it. These days, my eyesight’s more of an issue in any game play, and whew, it’s been a long time since I did any gaming.
This also reminds me to try two games I’d gotten for the Mac, Limbo and Fetch, which looked like they might be fun, but I hadn’t tried.
I was surprised: I found Marathon, an old Mac adventure game set on a damaged starship, the Marathon, which I had played and liked, back in the day, 80’s/90’s. If it’ll run on my current Mac, cool.
Steam does run on Macs; Endless Sky, Steam claims so, likewise for Shattered Planet and FTL: Faster Than Light. Some Macs, at least; see the system requirements. The latter two aren’t free, but are pretty cheap and will go on sale in June. Shattered Planet is turn-by-turn, so you can take your time; it’s also not very visually “dense”. The others have little bursts of real time, but are mostly laid back. Endless Sky: I haven’t played a “twitch” game in a long time; I just make sure my fleet is mean enough the AI of my ship (or my fleet’s captains, not that they’re named or have stats or anything) can win it for me.
I’ve enjoyed the heck out of watching over DH’s shoulder at Elite:Dangerous, chock full of fascinating nebulae, planetary systems, and general exploring, including the obligatory inscrutable aliens (knnn?) Beautiful stellar backdrops.
Currently our fixation is a very pretty game called Naval Action, for fans of 18th century age of sail games. You can either take your chances on a PvP server, or go on a PvE server where you only fight the AI if you so choose.
Thanks, Walt and Chondrite.
They’ve got the locomotive listed as WP, and AFAIK the route was, into the 70s at least. (The cars had names like “Silver Canyon”, all starting with “Silver”.)
Western Pacific? Now part of Union Pacific, they used to run the California Zephyr. Wikipedia’s unsourced assertions notwithstanding, I think Zephyr is just a fast passenger train, though Wikipedia thinks the engine and cars should be of uniform design.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Zephyr_(1949%E2%80%931970)
I’ll note here, because my message is just above, that the SF games I suggested are light, fast, cheap games as opposed to a monster that takes forever to play like Stellaris. You can’t actually finish them quickly, but you can pick them up, play a little, and put them down. (I think games have gotten too big and long, at least for me.)
There was, years ago, a Farscape fan on Terra Firma and Kansas forums, PKAmmoTroop, who was former military (USAF, I think). He was a big fan of trains and model trains and dachshunds. He became less active after some years. But the mention of train simulators makes me think of him. I never got to seet him in person, but he always seemed like a good guy, a fan who liked to have a good time in fandom and a guy with some practical sense of the world.
I’m taking it easy tonight and reassessing a little. When I found myself recommending an old friend as someone a new friend’s daughter could talk to, as she wants to become a teacher, I realized how long it’s been since I’ve called some people I still have contact info for, who were friends. And meeting the new office staff at the apt. offices, including the new manager, was nice, even if I don’t really know them, or if I move. Talking with my friend about ordinary stuff, my goals, how is family are doing, what he’s up to, was good. I also was very up front about, heck, I’ve been so by myself for so long, and yet somehow, I want a better situation and I think having roommates might help, yet I am also unsure about the process, and about living with others, particularly was I won’t know them really yet. Still trying to see how or if this will work, and I’m mostly going to have to trust others’ advice.
But, dang, I need that social contact. I need friends locally and I wish I could somehow get past whatever my own nonsense is, to get to a better situation and maintain it, if possible, for living, for income, for having people in my life. And…dang it, I wish somehow I could overcome whatever has nearly always been blocking me from somehow finding someone special. Part of that must be how and when and where I was brought up, and yet other people manage to overcome that to find love relationships. I’m not that bad at getting to know or keep friends, I think, but life has just … things went completely off the rails and stayed that way, and then settled into being too alone and stuck for too long. There must be a sustainable path back to being connected to the rest of the world, and some way to get the friendships and maybe even love. I’ve never had “someone special,” and somewhere along the way recently, I stopped thinking I ever would, which was not good for me. ///there must be somehow that I can reach that, as blocked (or whatever it is) as I am. It frustrates me to want that, and yet, there I am. I don/t really often bring it up in person, because I’m not used to talking about that part of my life. Even with friends, I still feel funny saying I’m gay or discussing that, although it’s become easier gradually. My experiences as a teen never resulted in more than crushed crushes, fumbling that didn’t work out, or outright negatives. As a college age guy, I just didn’t handle it well at all, made it worse for myself, and eventually, well, I changed, but still didn’t really resolve it, although I came out, and people I came out to were, uh, notably unsurprised at all. Hmmm. :-/ (There’s humor but also bittersweet there.)
Anyway — Pensive tonight, and with things to do in order tog get better organized, plus the place needs a thorough cleaning again.
Didn’t intend to ramble. — It’s funny, maybe some of this is going back in the right direction. I did not set out to take in one stray cat, and then over the past two months, two more started showing up. I have gotten more to feeling urgently in need of resolution on my living situation and prospects for the future. Life here at the apts. is…it’s actually pretty good in ways, and annoying in others, and a few things of that irritate me. But maybe by talking things over, a couple of heart to heart conversations with one of the friends, things can shake loose a little.
I don’t know how much my real self, warts and all, shows through in what and how I write. I know some have found it a bother, while others are more understanding. In some ways, I’ve been at my wits’ end, rocking along with this for so long. In others, I’d like to think I’ve recovered some. But I’m too alone, in a situation that isn’t sustainable long-term, and well, I’d like to think I’m not an idiot, despite my own shortcomings, which are sometimes manifest, whether I know so or not.
It was good to get to talk to my friend today and go over things, vent a little, express need, and…have something ordinary like this. Just being out and about was a big deal. I used to take such things for granted, but yes, I also tended to keep some things to myself, even with close friends.
So, I don’t know, but today was a good step, and I have some to do, to get things together. — Maybe it can work out, I just still don’t see how I can realistically get there and sustain that course and grow from there so it’s no longer such a worry. … And dang, I also feel like anyone who could put up with me as a roommate would be someone worth having around, they must be a saint…or at least the kind of odd soul who could like my brand of weirdness.
(Misty went out when I got back home, and kids have been wild for a while, now maybe settling down temporarily. I will either be up a while or go to bed early, don’t know. I will likely check on the cats before bed.)
Also…reflecting on things today, here I am with my usual permanent cat plus one who’s likely to become permanent, one who’s determinedly outside, despite that I wish he’d like to be in with me, and one little mama cat who’s attached herself when I was not ready or intending that, and yet I can’t bring myself to turn her away, because she’s obviously so starved and she’s either pregnant or recently had kittens and nursing. (The vet’s office said it’s also possible for cats to have false pregnancies, influenced by other cats with kittens or even other human mothers, hormones and pheromones going on.) So, oddly, from one cat, I have three temporary others, one of whom may be permanent, the other who may be a permanent outside cat if I move with him, or if I stay here, and the little mama needs a foster home, because, oh, my lease can’t take too many cats, or can my budget or my patience handle four inside of these personalities. (Curry and the mama kitty would not tolerate being inside permanently.) — But that may lead to good change, if it can work out right.
I would sure like it if I can finally get to a good solution, where I am not so discouraged, where my life is sustainable, and where I have the support I need, in people in my life (and cats). (And I would be happy with dogs around.)
So, heck, I don’t know. — Didn’t intend to vent. Just no one but the cat to vent to. Goober is used to my weird moods, but he’s a cat, and so has notably not much comment that I know what to do with, except he’s (usually) sympathetic. 🙂
I guesss all I’m saying is I want better, and I’m frustrated, and yet today was a good day, really. Constructive rather than standing still or feeling bad.
Hoping y0ou all are doing OK. If somehow someday I should ever get to meet people here, cool. Some of you put up with me and some of you like me. For which, thank you. — I am perplexed still by Curry’s nature, but have had to accept that is just his way, little cat who walks by himself. Misty may be a new resident, but has his own unusual personality; I think maybe a lot of disappointment so that he’s not yet sure if he can really trust this new relationship fully. And the little mama cat, whew, Peppercorn for sure, yet she sure seems to want to stick around for food, and halfway wants attention. Maybe. As long as it doesn’t interfere with getting food in her tummy.
Out there in this world are a world full of people who also need some help, more so than my little problems. As much as my stuff feels big to me, there are folks in this world who deal with other things more urgent or long-term or serious. I wish somehow I could make a difference. I need some stable people for roommates. But some odd part of me also keeps thinking, what if someone else out there could need someone, all my problems and all, who’d actually be a good fit between us? I don’t know the answer. I just know, dang it, I need things to change for the better.
So…time to take it easy, I guess, and fight another day, tomorrow. Organizing and housecleaning needed, and getting some more stuff sorted to reduce down to a good situation.
A new cat carrier arrived, so I can transport these guys as needed.
take care, all, I hope life is treating you all well.
Now I can’t recall if Misty stayed in overnight or went out. I napped after lunch; sinus, but I hope not a cold. — Misty did come in this morning, or had stayed in. Before lunch, he decided to visit in the bedroom and explored, turned something over, but when he didn’t get yelled at for that, he stayed, lay down there, then visited me, which he’d done last night, for attention. Mr. Large and In Charge likes attention. I think he had a home sometime before, and is now starting to warm up to the idea that he could have a home again for real. But he’s still not defaulting to sleeping with Goober and me on the bed.
Goober is not quite sure he wants to be close to Misty, friends. They are both shy and neither fighting nor exactly avoiding nor approaching / grooming each other. Still, I think this is a good sign they can live in peace and might become friends. I think Goober is a little jealous of the new guy getting attention. Heh, in his passive-aggressive way of showing it. But Goober is maybe learning he can also get attention while Misty is here, such as sleeping with me as usual.
Misty wanted out this afternoon after I woke up again, brief nap. It’s turned chilly out, supposed to be down to 37 tonight. Misty wanted to stay out, but I expect he’ll want in tonight and will stay, fluffy coat and all. At least if it’s going to be cold or wet enough, he’d stay. I imagine once it’s summer, he’ll want in out of the heat, since he’s a longhair. — I’m not sure if he’s “Maine Coon” or “Persian” or just “Heinz 57 basic alley cat,” otherwise known as genetic wild-type kitty. His coat’s looking better now that he’s in more.
When I let him out — instant cat. Peppercorn, the black mama kitty, was there and hoping for food. (She missed this morning.) She came in, but went back out with me, thankfully, and fresh food and water were provided for Miss Thang. I think she’s about as semi-feral as Curry. I haven’t seen Curry since Sunday, briefly, when he was in and fed and napped and back out. Don’t know if I’ll see him tonight. If so, he can stay in if he wants. — I doubt I could try having Peppercorn stay in. If she has kittens, she has not brought them around…yet. She’s figured out she can get a steady handout from me.
Eegad, going through moist cat food twice as fast as usual, given twice as many cats around mooching off of my soft-hearted / soft-headed nature. But OK, it is what it is. I could’ve shooed them off, so I can’t complain about it. And I would like having them around more, if Curry and the new black kitty weren’t so prone to regard others as threats to fight against. — Misty, though, is not prone to such, and I think will be a good addition. But none of this was really planned. I’d thought it’d just be Curry. Misty and now Peppercorn, in the past two months, not expected. — It will soon be 1/2 a year since Curry showed up and 6 weeks since Misty showed up. Still Peppercorn’s first week. She and Misty have not yet been in for vet visits.
Miss Thang – we likes it, we does!
I suggest saving the gooshyfood as a once a day treat for the not formally adopted cats; give them kibble otherwise and keep the canned for Goober. I usually don’t give the Three Stooges gooshyfood unless it’s a special occasion, or I’m out of kibble 🙂
Definitely will have to do that. — I had a moment of weakness and gave Goober and Curry and/or Misty more than Goober’s usual morning and evening moist small can. Hah, of course, now they think when they’re in, and Goober, that they should have moist all the time. Uh, sorry, guys, just ’cause Goober’s getting older does not mean everyone gets more food three times a day. that’s why there’s always dry food (kibble) out, so you won’t starve, LOL. Even though they act like it. I do know the difference. LOL.
Misty, still with no other name, this one may stick despite the gender norms, haha — He showed up about 30 minutes later. I didn’t hear him, so I don’t know how I knew to check. But he’s in, by all indications, in for the night. Boy may have a thick coat, but he knows the good life when he sees it. However long it’s been since he had a home, he is beginning to think this is home. (He’s begun to hang out in the bedroom, but hasn’t yet opted for the bed, and he and Goober are still not buddies. Goober’s feeling a little put upon, but I think the two will get to be friends.)
Haven’t seen Curry since Sunday.
Miss Thang, better know as Peppercorn, because yes, she is so spicy and prone to hiss/growl at anyone she thinks might get between her and food, or might threaten her, did get fed this afternoon. If I didn’t think she’d start a fight rather than chill out or hide, she could come in. (And if I knew for sure what her kitten status is; no wa do I want to shut her up inside if she has delivered kittens and has them tucked away somewhere.) But she’s little and it’s going to be down to 37 tonight. Below 40 and I get concerned. I think she’s just a small adult, but she might be a teen mom. Girlfriend is not to be messed with. But she has mostly understood I’m friendly, and I’ve picked her up twice. But I don’t want to overdo this. I don’t think she has a home, because of her behavior for food and for fussy, argumentative, defend against all comers attitude. — Gotta be tough as a young or teen mama who’s homeless. (And tougher when that’s a human mother. This whole situation has made me think more of street people and street youth, all kidding aside.)
So, going OK here. But dang, just because I tried to take in one cat, now three think I’m a soup kitchen / bed and breakfast. — And for that level of need for stray pets, right where I am, it also makes me wonder, well, what about street youth and adults? In other words, good to care about animals, but should I put that heart into humans in need too… particularly since I’m all too aware how close I was / am to more severe need myself. I’m a pushover, I guess. I may ask some folks, if I still can get ahold of them. I need income, I’m way busy trying to do fonts, my housing and clutter situation has to be resolved, but… well, this is making me think I should be doing more than helping stray cats. (And I may be half-crazy, but I’m still realist enough to know I can’t be the crazy cat-boy who’s hoarding / collecting cats. Not in an apartment, and not if I get back into a house. There are limits to how much food and attention and vet care one can give, esp. on my lack of budget. So.)
—–
I checked back on the forum at glyphs app.com — Oh my gosh, that forum is very busy and very quick to reply! I had no idea. (The FontLab forum is very slow by comparison.) — So I replied to posts I’d made weeks ago, and apologized. The developers actively interact with users on the forum. I’m impressed more than I was already. — So I have questions in and still have to finish RTFM to answer questions I have on how to do things. So far, I’m still not convinced I want to upgrade to either the full Glyphs app from Glyphs Mini, or plunk down for the FontLab 7 upgrade. But I’m leaning toward Glyphs eventually, if I outgrow Mini, and if I complete fonts and have them on sale, bringing in income. (Er, and oh yes, when that happens, I will let friends here know. There will be an intro discount.) I am still a long while away from that, but making progress and getting faster as I learn. — To any graphic designers or folks who’d like to try drawing and making and selling fonts, go for it. It’s a niche market, it’s much more active now than it used to be, but — as with any graphic design or fashion, people always want and need more flavors / looks, more choices to make heir stuff look how they want it. A typeface has a certain feel to it, associations based on how it looks, which make it suited to certain messages and usage. So it’s a friendly competition. Just as with science fiction writing and audio-video, the more the merrier. My own stylistic or design sense and other designers will all have unique takes on things, and there’s a market out there. People want and need those choices to communicate their messages better. Heck, I like other people’s work a lot too, and I’d hope if/when I get mine out there for sale, that people will like it and buy and use it. 🙂 — And dang, is it a lot of work and unexpected dilemmas or setbacks and a lot, lot, lot of learning and plug-and-chug, besides drawing and adjusting the lettering.
Speaking of which, I need to cook something and eat, and I need some break time. My eyes are tired. My brain is tired. But I’ve gotten some good work in lately. (I have a rough draft except lowercase S for one of the fonts I started with the new program. It needs a lot more work, but now it’s beginning to takee shape, pun unintended. Enough to see that although it wasn’t what I was aiming for when I started, I like it, and want to complete it, plus later do the idea I had to begin with.)
Much like 99 bottles of beer on the wall, except you’re not actually drunk, just tired from mental work. Heh. and eyestrain.)
Last night before bed, I heard a cat and thought it was Curry actually meowing outside my window to be let in. As it was going to be cold and rainy and I hadn’t seen him since Sunday, sure, kitty, I’ll let you in. So I checked. No cat at that door. No cat at the other door. But on the second round, aha…hey, you’re not Curry…and Misty thought he should go out, besides. So I had Little Miss Opportunist come in and she ate leftovers from the twosome. I, ah, escorted her out so as not to have a cat fight, expected. Then called for Misty. Or heck, call for Curry too. No cats. (In the meantime, Peppercorn, Miss Thang, had disappeared for wherever she’s holing up.) And it was starting to rain, and cold even with an open hoodie and t-shirt.
Misty did show up later. No Curry. And Miss Peppercorn knows how to meow and then some. Little Girl can be loud…. — This morning, Misty wanted out after breakfast. Sunny, still cold, but OK, if you’ve gotta, Mr. Longhair, at least you have the fur coat for it. As soon as I opened the door, there’s Peppercorn, small and black and darting in, hissing and apparently cuffing at Goober as she passed, to his dismay. (“Hey, what did I do? I wanna be friends.”) She started eating the nearest moist food bowl left. (Hmm, neither Goober nor Misty finished theirs. OK, cats, feed you less now.) I moved the other bowl to the hallway, as Goober usually leaves part of his, deferring to whomever else is in the household, then coming back to see if there’s any left. Peppercorn licked the bowl clean. And when I went back to check Goober, Peppercorn followed me and was going to polish off the other bowl. She’s eating fast, genuinely hungry, though now not as immediately starving as at the start of the week. But still…. And last night, the food I’d put out for her, she ate it ALL in less than 5 or 10 minutes. So still starving.
I picked up the second bowl and she followed me outside, where I left her to it. Hmm, has she been someone’s pet before, but because she’s built so small, maybe still a teen, and having kittens, she’s been pushed beyond all usual good manners (for either indoor or outdoor cats)? I mean, cats have their own ways, their own forms of courtesy and proper behavior. She’s past that into sheer survival. Still. — But her coat is OK and she doesn’t look emaciated, just thin. She’s definitely ready to produce milk. Or has she been outside so long with no owner that she’s forgotten most of her indoor manners, except to know that humans can provide food and shelter and rarely kindness? She, uh, is certainly canny enough to see that Curry and Misty have been getting food, shelter, and attention from me, and to know that I call for them. …And she has me trained to put food and water out for her, which was something I was not going to do. Except she’s pregnant or has a litter, and I’m wired that being a mama cat or dog, or a human mother, takes a certain precedence over other things. If she’d show signs she could be inside without fighting more so than Curry, I’d be willing to let her stay in. And last night, the weather was truly bad, and it’s still cold this morning.
Misty did stay in after getting rained on and cold last night. When he did show up again, he was very glad I let him in, and he stayed in the rest of the night. But with the morning and good weather, out again. Well, OK.
No sign of Curry, even with all that calling. I guess he figured he was snug wherever he was holed up, so he wasn’t going to bother going out in it to get shut in the apt. with me. Poor fuzz-brained, hormone-driven little son, in the hani sense of son there. — Or I wonder if he gets shelter from someone else. I don’t see him now for days at a time, or sometimes the next day, and then it’s five to ten days before I’ll see him again. Four full days now. — I hope he’s OK. I still want to move him with me, if I get to move. It might require coming back and waiting. Or he may miss his chance by being so absent. I had to think about that last night, as I had Goober curled up with me, happy, and Misty over on a box, also happy, in the bedroom but not on the bed. As much as he likes attention, and a lap occasionally, I expected he’d want to be on the bed. Huh.
So…things are rocking along here. — No sign of maintenance people yet, but they may still be in transition from management.
I will probably be reading manuals for a while today. — I’m tired and my sinuses are still bothering me, which I think is fatigue plus the drastic weather change. — Taking it a little easy, but I need to cook today or tomorrow and do laundry and housecleaning in the next few days.
—–
I have a weird craving for stuffed bell peppers or Chinese-style beef and peppers. It’s been so long since I’ve made stuffed bell peppers, I’ve realized I don’t know all the ingredients anymore. Does anyone have a recipe handy for either one? — I don’t have bell peppers on hand anyway, so it’ll be the next grocery delivery. But those sound good. This started because, last night while going to sleep, I was reminded of the scene in Cowboy Bebop where Spike complains to Jet that he wanted beef and peppers, and there’s no beef in there, haha. Just one little bit of business, but somehow, I think of it whenever I have beef and peppers or some other bell pepper dishes. 😀
Is Peppercorn obviously nursing or gravid? If not, alternative hypothesis: worms?
I don’t have a recipe for beef and peppers, with or without beef, but for sinuses, wet a washcloth–not sopping but more than damp–nuke it, wait for it to get as hot as it’s going to get, and apply over nose and cheeks. Or use a larger kitchen or hand towel and also breathe in the warm, moist air.
Microwaves can prepare more than food.
I’m not sure how far along her pregnancy is, or if she’s recently given birth. She’s petite, short in height, length, and build/bulk, and presently underweight, but possibly not severely so. Her coat is moderate, OK, neither bad nor great shape. So she might be getting handouts from other sympathetic residents, but at least she’s scavenging. I can’t guess her age; she could still be adolescent and matured enough to breed, or she could be adult. When I first saw her, I thought her breasts were flat but the nipples were evident when my hand had brushed under her accidentally, which was how I knew for sure she’s female, since I didn’t get to look closely enough under her tail to confirm. But that’s since Sunday, and within a day or two, her breasts had swollen, so she’s either ramping up to produce milk or already lactating. I didn’t feel signs of pregnancy earlier, but I’ve been trying to be non-intrusive about being too touchy. When picking her up, I didn’t notice obvious signs, but I think she may be pregnant, rather than already having delivered.
Oh, it’s possible she could have worms and a bacterial infection, because Curry had both when he was having his problems when I first had him in to see the vet for the chronic loose stool / diarrhea he had then. Curry as been out since getting cured of that, so he could be reinfected. Both Misty (male) and Peppercorn (female) may have the same, either or or both. And if I discover they do, Goober will need to go back for a repeat test for reinfection too.
So besides plain old lack of enough food for a mama cat who’s underweight and small, there could be that going on too. She’s less dangerously starving now that she’s been getting food from me every day, but — today, she’s emboldened to show up at the door instantly whenever I’ve opened it, and this afternoon and evening, she invited herself in, just like this morning, to eat any and all moist food left. I put out dry last night, outside, with a water bowl, and by this afternoon, the dry was all gone. So she is still that hungry. Her body must be really in overdrive, before or after giving birth. My guess is she’s early in pregnancy, rather than postpartum. The vet can tell me how far off I am, when I can get her in to see her.
She behaved herself for a few minutes this afternoon, but then got nervous I might not let her out, and hissed and went to the door. Tonight, she hissed at everyone, Goober, Misty, and aha, Curry showed up when she did. — So I got her out and fed, had Goober separated for simplicity this time, and Curry wanted out as soon as he’d eaten and had a few minutes. Misty at first was going to go out, then opted to stay in, so he’s still in. With Curry back out, the doors are open, so Goober said hi to Misty. — Misty may have sprayed a little, or else Curry had. But Misty and Goober are doing fine, and Misty may stay in all night. (I’m not going to offer to let him out unless he asks.) I took the strong hint that curry would have stayed in if he’d wanted, but instead wanted right back out. Darn cat, you’d be better off inside. So would Peppercorn, but she’s so hissy / defensive, I can’t chance it unless she was in the bathroom or unless both Goober and Misty were behind closed door in my room. Plus, without knowing if Peppercorn has kittens out there, I don’t dare try keeping her in. From her reaction today / this evening, she wouldn’t know how to tolerate that anyway. But her readiness to come in says she’s either used to coming in, to the idea that humans provide food, or else she’s just that desperate for food. — She did like Etna some attention today, and it may have been her way of saying thank you, once she got full.
I don’t know how much trust it would take a mama cat to bring her kittens and put up with the risk to them, while going back and forth retrieving them, thus leaving them at risk at the door. But no kittens have been around with her yet. I’m hoping I can avoid her having her and her babies at risk, by getting her into a better situation somehow before then, a foster home elsewhere. Since she’s been right around here and was so hungry before, I am presuming she has no home, and only handouts from others at most. So I feel pretty confident about getting her to the vet for a checkup, then back here. If she’s not already delivered. that’ll give a time frame.
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My sinus isn’t too bad and may e a bit better tonight, not sure yet if it’s better, worse, or the same.
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