Cats and kittens

Wanted to thank all of you for your comments regarding the cat/kitten rescue situation. I've thought about it from every angle I can think of and I'm against the spay/neuter, voting instead for euth@anizing them. I know it's not popular, but I can't get my head around taking them for surgery and shots and then re-releasing them again to fend for themselves. Just sounds counter-productive to me. Keeping every animal alive should never be the ultimate result. Besides, if they can't find enough food that folks set out, they'll go for the small animals. I prefer wild birds anytime over wild cats. Raided nests aren't pleasant for anyone to have to deal with.

As the situation stands, I talked to my friend about it (she's the one who wants me to feed them before/after they're caught), and she sort of backed down. I didn't convince her of what I thought, but she's out of town and part of her doesn't want to have to deal with it long distance.

It's not a perfect situation and it never will be. As it is, I neglected to feed them for 2 days while the city tree trimmers were in our backyards, and the cats have wandered off. Considering how well they were fed recently by my friend, however, they'll likely be back.

Thanks again!

Weekend

Overcast this morning, with a hint of dampness in the air. The weather map doesn't show any clouds, but they're there. And my head aches slightly and that tends to be the best forecaster I know. Would love, absolutely love a rainy weekend. After our first week of school, a birthday, and general busyness, some forced in-house-ness would be a treat.

Husband and I have a movie to watch tonight anyway---Robert Downey, Jr.'s 'The Soloist'. I'm a fan of Downey anyhow, who wouldn't be?, so that will be fun. He's a cutie....maybe has a challenging/difficult life in real time, but I do enjoy his acting.

I'm having a bit of a challenge myself. Would like your responses. Have been asked to feed 4 feral cats that are in a neighbor's yard while she looks for a renter. The cats are one mom and 3 kittens, now almost full-grown. Her plan is to trap them, get them neutered/spayed, then put them back in the neighborhood. I'm not a fan of wild cats, and while they do hunt (good and bad), I don't see the logic of doing the surgeries and then just putting homeless cats back on the street. Opinions? I really would like to hear what other folks have to say. Really.

Now off to have my tea. Have to wake the woodworker in a minute for him to go finish painting a cabinet. I'm gonna chill.

Friday afternoon

About to cook the chicken for sandwiches that'll be for dinner. Yeast rolls to mix. Pasta salad to make. German chocolate frosting to make for a two-layer chocolate cake. One son turned 16 today, and it's been a wonderfully low-key day.....but I do feel vaguely behind. Had stopped at the library pick up the book that was on hold, Julia Child's 'My Life in France' and have already dipped into it. Good stuff. Interesting, though, that Julia Powell's 'Julie and Julia' is on a LONG waiting list, but I only had to wait for one person to return the France book. Curious as to what drives folks to put a book on hold. And you'd think that Julia Child's book would be on a long wait list too. Least I did. But what do I know?

In a few minutes, after the afternoon's t.v. watching is over (Arthur is a family favorite), we'll vacuum, tidy and wipe up the house. My mom will be here for dinner, and this daughter is always intimidated enough to make a good impression. Do children ever outgrow the need to impress their parents? I think not. ;)

Must be off now. My nap made me feel the slightest bit punchy (and it probably shows), and I need to move around a bit.

• One son's sixteenth birthday today
• School this morning, but that's all
• Time alone a necessity, but harder to come by lately
• Stop off at library to pick up Julia Child's book My Life in France that's on hold for me
• 
  

News site

Great new site....called Big Government. That's all I'll say. Pretty incredible stuff.

...around the house

Neighbors

The plan was to get to sleep earlier than usual last night, only to be disturbed by a banging from outside at around midnight. Only the boyfriend of the girl across the street trying to kick in the door. Ain't life grand? They quieted down after a bit, I closed my eyes and my husband began to read again. Pause. More noise. Boyfriend chases girl around yard and around SUV. Husband puts on street clothes and begins to go outside. Drama stops before husband leaves house and the kids end up going back inside. Husband settles with his book again. Pause. More banging. This time the boyfriend succeeds in kicking in the wooden door. Joy. Police come, put handcuffs on boyfriend, drive off with him and sleep finally comes to our house at around 2am.

And you know what the presiding thought in my head while this nonsense was going on? The young man's dad who I've seen across the street, helping cut the grass. The thought of a 'middle-of-the-night' call from the police station must be awful.

Life's tough.

Regardless, today was a good day. School went well and a 2 hour nap this afternoon put paid to my exhaustion. I just find it so amazing how the lives other folks live out can impact one person. There really is a trickle down effect going on.