Warning... this is an adult site. If reading or viewing things about what gay men do sexually with one another bothers you - you should not read this blog. This blog is a reflection of my adventures and thoughts. Some are fun, some not so pretty. I won't name names, or kiss and tell... but I will live to tell. And baby, trust me - I am gonna spill it all over your pretty little party dress. Enjoy!
I personally mourn the days of catching sight of the latest ridiculous inflammatory headline of The World Weekly News while standing in line at my local grocery store.
I actually had relatives who bought these type of periodicals - hook, line, and stinker! I'd peruse them while waiting for my parents to finish visiting. The audacity of the the claims made caused my eyebrows to rise, but those were the days when I still believed that if they print it... there must be some truth to it! There simply aren't enough exclamation points in the world to explain it all.
Today, let's take a brief look back at The World Weekly News and their stories about members of our animal kingdom.
Hi. It's been awhile since I've shared anything of a personal nature. So, I thought I would start with the easy stuff... all the four legged wonders which have been populating my days and nights.
Yes, it's time to catch up with my own personal pussy posse!
The photo above was taken by The Boyfriend last fall. He is also the one responsible for all the labels attributed to each of our feline wards.
Boomer
"Bully"
Oh, my. Boomer truly is a bit of a bully. He loves nothing more than to intimidate, taunt, chase, and physically attack all the other residents at Casa de Demasiados Gatos, all the while looking like the hobo cat he was prior to coming indoors. With all the flair and dare of a pirate, he continues to annoy and disturb any being travelling through his self-proclaimed high seas.
I think he's a sweetie, just misunderstood. He wasn't socialized correctly. When he has Mr. Beasley in a headlock and is chomping on the top of his head? What he's really saying is, 'I love you.'
Whenever I go into the bathroom, Boomer follows. This is his opportunity to get unlimited pets and face scrubbings. Outside of the few times he's hopped on the bed and I've given him some chin scratches, this is the only time I get to hear him purr.
He remains very food centric. I don't think we'll ever convince him there will always be more food. He must eat all the food... now!
And he likes to try and get outside. The times he is successful, he roots around in the dirt under our back porch and never goes far. In fact, if he comes out from under the porch on his own, he will immediately plop over onto his side and lay there until you pick him up and put him back in the house. It's his way of surrendering to the authorities.
Boomer is a very curious fellow. He likes to be right on top of anything that is being done which is new to him. We can tell he's trying to process something because he tilts his head back and forth as if to ask, 'What is this? What is this?'
He's very drawn to people food. Loves anything that goes 'crunch'. He also has a weird fixation when it comes to condiments.
Despite his FIV, he remains incredibly healthy.
He is a huge bruiser of a cat.
Momma Rose
"Whiner"
Well, if you were the only girl in a house filled to the rim with guys, you'd whine, too. And Momma Rose does... at every opportunity. If another cat even looks at her, she gets upset. She is such a tiny girl and very pretty... but very very crabby. She seeks out a lap all the time, but does not share well.
Health-wise, we have been very lucky - there hasn't been even a hint of any kidney issues. She continues to have tons of energy and sass. We know for a fact that she does not miss her kittens. Our youngest, Mr. Beasley, will try and cuddle with her and, when she is receptive, she spends her time alternating between grooming him like a Momma and biting him hard so he goes away.
She tolerates Tuxedo and Theo the best, though I frequently wonder if she wouldn't be happier being an 'only' cat.
LeRoy
"Aloof"
LeRoy continues to rule over the roost, though his attitude seems to be one of 'to each their own'. When it comes to mealtime, he is the loudest, calling our attention to the hour with his mighty 'mew'. Like Glenn Close, he will not be ignored! Unfortunately for us, he is terrible when telling time and often begins his call for dinner a full hour before mealtime.
I think he may resent all the other cats. He spends most of his time ignoring them as best he can. Mr. Beasley loves to tease him, but he's not having it. With a raised warning paw and a definite hiss, he will walk away.
On occasion, I will pick up one of the cat toys - the stick with a string with a fake mouse attached - and I will catch site of the LeRoy of old - engaged, playful. But the moment Mr. Beasley gets involved, that interest is extinguished and he will walk away sulking.
His sinus issues are truly horrible. But there's nothing we can do about them, but clean up after him and take the occasional tissue to his nose.
While I think he, like Momma Rose, would prefer to be an only cat, I suspect he would miss all the activity the others bring to the table.
Mr. Beasley
"Dork"
Mr. Beasley remains a kitten. He loves sitting on the BF's lap and they are a truly bonded couple. He tolerates me, but barely. He's the most playful of the bunch - tons of energy, which attracts Boomer's attention the most. Once engaged, he frequently finds himself on the losing end of that equation, with Boomer holding him down and biting him like a big bully.
Cat toys continue to fascinate him, as he is the most-likely to chase after whatever toy is tossed.
He also possesses the loudest purr, especially when on the BF's lap. It's fun to watch him walk over and plop himself down on whatever part of the BF's body is most available.
He also really and truly wants Momma Rose to mother him, but, as I mentioned, Momma Rose's maternal instincts have taken a permanent hiatus.
I keep waiting for more of a personality to emerge, but I think he's really just a little no-mind, content just to go with the flow and seize whatever the moment offers.
Theo
"Slut"
I don't think Theo is a slut; he simply likes butt scratches - lots of butt scratches. He will go out of his way if he thinks he can get you to give him a scratch. He is the oldest of the pack and as small as Momma. There's really nothing to him - he weighs nothing. I have taken to scooping him up and cradling him like a baby which he enjoys for about 20 seconds.
His favorite place is on the bed, on his furry grey blanket. Anytime I fix the bed and place this blanket like a cat bed on the BF's side of the bed, I will soon find Theo there, all curled up and sleeping.
He possesses a very quiet personality and I appreciate it.
He would make an excellent librarian.
As long as there were butt scratches.
Tuxedo
"Tsundere"
Tsundere - a Japanese term for a character development process that depicts a character with an initially harsh personality who gradually reveals a warmer, friendlier side over time. This suits Tuxedo to a 'T'. I have never met a more discerning animal. His gaze is intense and a bit of a warning to be heeded.
That said, he is fixated on me. I think it was all the time we spent getting to know each other while he lived on my front stoop for two years. He adores being an inside cat, but has been very cautious never to take up too much room. Like other tuxedo cats I have known, he stands apart and rarely engages. When he does engage? Things can get intense. He really, really likes me. And I quite demonstrative and demanding when he wants some attention. The BF and I both adore the way he talks to us. Of all the residents at Casa de Demasiados Gatos, he has the largest vocabulary. I particularly like the way he seeks me out with his "merrrow?" which ends in a question mark, as if enquiring 'where the hell are you guys?'
He gets quite worked up at times and that is problematic because I am never sure what it is he wants. He will start kneading a blanket, then marching with all four feet going, while angrily meowing at me. If I try to pet him, he gets angry, but he also doesn't want me to ignore him. The BF thinks its because he really, really likes me and doesn't know how to express it. He's not a cuddler, except at night when I go to sleep. Then he comes and curls into me and we spoon throughout the night.
He gets along with all the cats, even Momma, who gives him the occasional kiss.
He also spends a lot of time alone and is very stationary. This has caused him to become the roundest of sons. In fact, if I saw him on the street today, I would swear he was cooking a batch of kittens in his tum tum.
Of all the cats we've rescued, I am proudest of Tuxedo. That he is safe, well-fed, and happy means a great deal to me personally. He's the reason I still keep two little warming houses out on the porches and food and water in a heated dish all winter - just in case there is another needy little soul out there who recognizes a good thing when he sees it.
Winston
"Newest Arrival"
We learned about an abandoned cat - the people had moved in early spring of 2023 and left him to his own devices. The lady next door fed him all summer, but, because her cat wouldn't tolerate another cat, she couldn't take him in. Winter was fast approaching and she reached out on one of the neighborhood sites and asked if anyone could take him in. The Ex went and got him and the BF and I isolated him on our heated sun porch while waiting for a vet appointment. He came back with a clean bill of health and struck us both as an easily adoptable cat.
Turned out we needn't have looked far.
A void had been created in The Ex's world. The newly-christened 'Winston' turned out to be the perfect fit to fill it.
Winston loves toys and plays with them all. He loves food. And is simply a really cool cat. I love how he loafs on the cat tree watching birds or in his bed on the couch. The Ex has gone all out, providing his new love with tons of toys and things to keep him occupied.
I think Winston landed in the best of places.
--- ---
The sad news.
I lost two dear friends in the fall of 2023.
Pepper
First, my Mom's Jack Russel, Pepper passed away. It was a long, lingering thing and my Mom just couldn't accept that Pepper's time had come. It was very sad to see her go, as she was the last living link my Mom had to my Dad. During my Dad's final years, Pepper and her brother Billy were glued to my Dad's sides like sentinels, daring death to come and take him. My Mom has now been without an animal in the home for just over a year, and while it has given her more freedom, I think she misses the companionship. She has recently mentioned that she may be interested in getting a cat. Or a monkey.... she would really like a monkey.
Hercules
A year ago, September - although it seems like ancient history to me now, I was on my way to celebrate a friend's birthday - we had reservations and the whole thing - when The Ex called and told me that our Hercules had suffered some kind of seizure, was yelping in pain, and unable to walk. Hercules suffered from Cushing's disease and it had reached a critical stage.
I canceled my plans and went to see Hercules. During the hour he regained use of his front legs and eventually his back one's too, but I knew that if he had yowled in pain before, he would soon again. The Ex called an in-home vet who specialized in helping people say good-bye to their pets.
I spent the hour waiting for the vet to arrive in the backyard with Herc. It was a beautiful day and the sun seemed especially sweet. When he would stumble, I would rush and pick him up assuring him it would all be okay.
I never let him go.
I held him when the vet gave him something to put him to sleep and immediately returned to the backyard. I placed him on the ground and allowed him to pee on more time and walk around. At the first sign that the meds were taking effect, I scooped him up and cradled him in my arms. I wanted him to feel the sun on his face and body for as long as possible. When his eyes closed for the last time, I waited awhile before going back inside for the finale.
I continued to hold him and felt the moment life left his body. I took his favorite blanket and wrapped him up in it and carried him to the vet's vehicle where I placed him in a basket for his final ride.
Herc was the sweetest dog. Dumb. But just a sweetie. I like that he was not smart. He lived to please. And he was one of the reasons I made it through the COVID crisis. We went on daily walks. I miss his face.
He also represented the last link between The Ex and I. Our family of dogs... six in all - they were now all gone. We both agreed - no more dogs. It had simply become too hard to say good-bye.
The loss of Hercules hit me hard. I lost interest in everything. Music - practicing was like pulling teeth. I didn't want to play games. I felt lost. It really wasn't until this spring that I found my footing again.
Grief is a weird companion. It never really speaks to you, yet you wear it like a shroud. It is everywhere and everything, coloring all it touches.
I think I was probably grieving a lot of things at once. With retirement, I lost my identity, my pattern of life. With Hercules' death, I had to also grieve a nearly thirty-year relationship with The Ex which had undergone such a gradual transformation that I hardly felt its sting - until the day I did.
I grieved the fact that I was no longer a dog owner. I grieved the passage of time and all the change that came with it. I had to come to terms with loss, one I couldn't really quantify, for it felt like it had no parameters.
I got it all mixed up.
And I didn't want to share it with anyone.
So, I shut down for a while. I wrote. I went through the motions of what was expected of me, or tried to. But joy seemed out of reach.
Anger, on the other hand? That was not in short supply. I became explosively reactive. Little things. Stupid things, would set me off.
With the dawn of last spring... I got better. I began to feel better.
I'm still getting better.
I remain unsure of everything...
But then, such is life.
--- ---
Pet ownership is a fulltime affair.
Please consider your income and lifestyle before adopting a pet.
Pets are not disposable. They are family. They require your time.
Hump day? Well, I'll give you something to ponder.
Yes, it's time for Wednesday's Question Of The Day.
Each Wednesday, a new question to give you the opportunity to do a bit of self-examination. Think of it as a way of getting to know all about you and a chance to learn a little more about me.
That's right. You know me; spill that tea! For I am the king of over-sharing!
Oh, and please leave your responses in the comments section.
Why, think of this as a little blogging kiki!
Okay! Ready, set...
Here's today's question:
Aside from real estate or a vehicle,
what’s the most expensive thing you’ve ever purchased?
So, I am not one of those people who consider animals property.
But the health of two of them?
The most expensive thing I've ever purchased.
In a way, it was purchasing life - for them. They were brought into mine and I felt I owed it to them to be the best owner I could possibly be. So, when the chips were down and it was make or break time... my commitment didn't waver because of the price tag attached.
Did I do the right thing?
Yes.
One is still with me. Mama Rose. Her vet bills, when all was said and done, exceeded $4,000.
She's the tiny mama cat who came walking down a tree branch as we were rescuing her kittens. They were all so skinny. And you could tell by the way she sauntered over to the kennel where two of her kittens were waiting that she was ready to surrender. I believe Mama was a feral kitten who got pregnant way too young. Providing nourishment for her four kittens took a toll on her health.
Shortly after the kittens had been adopted, in December, she became quite ill and required hospitalization. It became very expensive, very quickly, but I felt I couldn't deny her a chance at a good life. Fortunately, it all turned out well and she got to come home with us once her kidney levels returned to normal. She only has one good kidney which is running at 10% - just enough to ensure a good life. Because of the expense involved - and the possibility that there may come a time when we have to do it all again - we felt we couldn't adopt her out. It was a possible financial burden that I didn't entrust to anyone else.
She's a love. And I wouldn't trade her for all the money in the world.
And then there was Beau, my first pup, a little Chihuahua who gave my life purpose when such a focus was needed. I spotted him in front of a Menards - cutest thing I'd ever seen. I told them I was going to go into the store, make a couple of purchases and would be back. However, when I got back, an older woman who'd recently lost her dog, wanted him. I gave her my phone number in case things didn't work out. They didn't. I got the call and went and picked him up. When I climbed into my Bronco, I set him on my lap and told him that he never had to worry about anything, that I would always take care of him.
We began vet care. During the deworming process, something odd began to occur; he would walk backwards. He couldn't control it. He'd have such a look of panic on his face. Then he would have a seizure. It was heartbreaking. The second time it happened, I called my Mom, who was living 45 minutes away, and asked her to help me get him to a vet. The original vet said there was nothing they could do and suggested we go to the U of M. $5,000 later, we still had no idea what was wrong with my little guy. He had one more episode. And then... grew out of it.
I adored him. Took him everywhere I could. He was a love. He had issues with his legs and, at the age of sixteen, eventually twisted his back so badly that we had no choice but to put him down. It broke my heart. But we did have sixteen good years.
And... I would do it all again.
Will, I guess.
Money doesn't mean much to me. I mean, yes, you need to cover the basics, but the rest? I never want. And I have no needs. And, yes, there are those who would say there are probably better ways that money could be spent.
But not in my eyes.
People do it for their children all the time.
And I take pet ownership that seriously.
I understand that not everybody can... but, at the very least, they should want to.
This is the third Wonderland Burlesque quiz inspired by Bing Crosby's Swinging On A Star.
What can I say? When something works, you just go with it.
Simply fill in the blank for the topic suggested: If you had to be a ____ what would you be?
And why?
You can pick something you would like to be, something that reflects your current state or something that captures 'the real you.' Just have fun with it.
We'll be covering a lot of territory - some random, some not so random - so don't worry or get too far ahead of yourself. If you don't see something you think would be a great topic as part of this series of quizzes? Hang on. There's two more to come.
So, ask yourself...
If I had to be a ____, what would I be?
1/ A Bird
An Ostrich
Intense eyes. Always looks crabby.
Easily provoked. Not too bright.
Will bite you.
Long, swayed neck. Strangely shaped body. Long legs. Odd plumage.
Runs funny.
Appears awkward. Looks cray cray.
Tends to stick head in sand until it's too late.
Lays big eggs.
2/ A Farm Animal
A Pig
Yep. Oink, oink.
The wiggliest of the piggliest.
The word 'lazy?' Easily attached.
I love being filthy.
Love to wallow in it.
I'd like to make a joke about Jewish men not eating me, but...
...that would not be true!
3/ An Animal In The Jungle
A Dumb Monkey
I love to fling poo. Especially if it is mine to fling.
I got a thing for bananas. All shapes, all sizes. Always curious if I can have more.
Swinging? Sort of my thing.
Nit picking? Yep. Guilty. Tend to focus far too much on other people's shit.
Did I mention I like flinging poo?
4/ An Animal In The Mountains
A Chinchilla
I adore these mountain rodents. Their big ears! So cute.
There are two types - one of which is facing extinction, both are endangered.
I can't imagine any one harming these little cuties just for their coat.
They look so soft. And such lovely colors.
Easy prey for eagles, though.
Most chinchillas are now raised in captivity.
But not me... I am going to be living in the wild.
Not exactly the domesticated type.
5/ A Prairie Dwelling Animal
A Prairie Dog
These are highly social animals. I am not. I wish I was, but my idea of being social is meeting someone for happy hour, one on one. The whole group mentality escapes me.
So, while not a good fit, a prairie dog is what I would like to be.
I think they are lovely, they way they move and act, and I love watching them. Especially when they stand up and look around.
Again, another animal that is easy pickings for birds of prey.
I can relate.
6/ A Desert Dwelling Animal
An Armadillo
Armadillo live in only semi-desert, but close enough.
I think they are beautiful and so well designed.
I envy them their hard shell.
Many a day, I would love to curl up into myself and shut out the outside world.
Because they lack the ability to store fat, cold is their natural enemy. To that I can relate.
I hate being cold. Nothing worse.
7/ An Animal In The Arctic
A Musk Ox
I wanted to be a penguin, but they are not arctic birds. They live in Antarctica and the South Pole, because the ice is too thick for them to hung in the north. So penguins at the North Pole or, say Alaska? Nope.
I thought about being a walrus, but something about their body type does not suit me. Though they do appear to be quite crabby and easily riled, and that's very 'me.'
So, I choose the Musk Ox.
I would love all that fur, all that long hair. And they have horns, which I can relate to. They are slow moving, which appeals to me. And they look like they might have a tendency to be easily riled and a bit crabby.
They also remind me of Eeyore from Winnie The Pooh.
And Eeyore and I? Well, while we do have a few things in common, my tail is not pinned on.
8/ An Insect
A Preying Mantis
I love lady bugs. I wish I could be a lady bug, but... no lady, am I.
And by that, I mean, I am not compact and cute and harmless and the inspiration for a brand of Volkswagens.
I am long and lean, but can still blend in with the scenery quite nicely when it's called for.
My eyes do grow big!
The older I get, the more my physical demeanor is reminiscent of these stealthy predators.
I would like to think I am also useful. People are given an advantage when I haunt their gardens.
Yes, I look like a monster, but I am misunderstood.
My lumbering is gentle in nature and I mean to do no harm. In fact, if I have my druthers, and things work as planned, you will never even know I am there.
9/ An Ocean Dwelling Animal Or Fish
An Anglerfish
The more we get into this quiz, the more I am seeing the advantages of being a predator or predatory in nature.
The anglerfish is the one that lives in the darkest depths of the ocean and has an an arced antennae with a light on the end. People erroneously believe that the fish uses it as a lantern, but, in fact, it is a method of luring prey.
I don't see myself as luring prey.
I'm much more comfortable with the thought of it as a light to see by. I enjoy seeing things in the dark. I like looking in the shadows. I think that's one of the reasons doing research appeals to me. Now, I don't dig very deep and I do tend to draw conclusions based on too little known and much too quickly.
Still... I like peering in the dark.
And I don't mind being in the dark.
Or leaving others in the dark.
I like living a life which is segmented and quite private. I think it makes me feel clever, something I rarely achieve by more conventional means. I've come to accept that I enjoy getting away with things when I can.
And I do.
I am probably not as clever or as deceptive as I believe. I'm sure someone knows more about me than I am giving them credit for. Still, I angle my head and purse my lips in the manner of a coy smile - much like Geraldine Page - believing I've gotten away with so much in my life.
And who knows... maybe I have.
I'll never tell.
10/ A Domestic Pet
The Ghost Of A Guinea Pig Who Disappeared
I can tell you right this instant... no one puts a collar and a leash on me.
To each their own, but perish the thought. I think that's why I have never been much of a leader or a follower. Let's set aside the whole blind leading the blind aspect of such an arrangement (where are you taking me?) As much as I am loyal to and love my tiny community of people I deeply care for, I will always seek paths less travelled. And no one need take me there; I will find them on my own, thank you very much.
That's why organized religion and I have never gotten along. I don't need or want someone else to supply me with the answers or help me find my way. Nor do I wish to network or associate with those that do.
That's the appeal of the prairie, for me, I think. Big sky. Open area. Tall grass to hid in. Trees to take shelter under. I feel my spirit there... dancing a ballet of its own, very private creation.
On days like today, when the sun is brilliant and the sky so blue, it hurts to be inside. I feel like a starfish stranded on the shore, all I long for is to return to the sea.
So, the term domestic is not a good fit for me.
I'll be the ghost of a guinea pig who disappeared down a heating vent of an an old Victorian house.
Yes, you thought you owned me...
But, you did not!
Meanwhile, I will simply be skirting about the corners of rooms, undetected, observing, living off the crumbs others leave behind.
You may catch the occasional glimpse of me, out of the corner of your eye. And you may believe I exist, to the point where you attribute certain events or qualities to me.
But I am a ghost... and you cannot quantify me. You cannot harm me.
And you can never, ever own me.
--- ---
Well, this was a total fantasy.
How I enjoy a good delusion.
Alright! Your turn. You know what to do...
Leave your answers in the comments section. Why not share a few delusions of your own?
Until next time - we have two to go in this series - thank you for reading... and participating.
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