Introducing Kurt

While out running errands this afternoon (after a yummy lunch with Carole), I called Lew with a request.  I saw something that I wanted, but I knew that I needed to check with him first.

He was pretty skeptical at first and tried to talk me out of it.

Still, I persisted.

We ended our phone call with his request to text him a picture.

Here is the picture that I then took and sent:

Lew's response:  "Go ahead."

And I proceeded to adopt Kurt from the Animal Refuge League.  :)

There is a backstory to this:

Lew and I went to Pet Quarters a few weeks ago to get some supplies for Jerry.  On our way out, we stopped to look at the cats that were available for adoption.  (The Animal Refuge League has about three at Pet Quarters at a time.)  Kurt was there, and I fell in love with him.  But I knew that we couldn't get another cat.  I thought about him about a week ago or so -- wishing that I had brought him home.  Oh, well.

Today I stopped at Pet Quarters to get some food for Jerry, and I went to look at the cats.  And Kurt was still there!  He is such a friendly cat that the Pet Quarter employees were surprised that he hadn't been adopted yet.  I said it was because he was supposed to be with me all along!

Kurt is being confined to one room for now, as he needs to get used to us.  And he is quite wary of Jerry, who very much wants to be his friend!  Give him time, Jerry, give him time....

The Plight of the Banana Peel

(There is a good report on Suzy's progress -- see Barry's post titled 13th September -- so I thought I'd do a light-hearted post today.)

I eat a banana just about every morning.  The peel gets tossed into the garbage can.  I have discarded of banana peels in this manner for my entire life.

Every once in a while, the banana peels attract a fruit fly or two.  Never too many.  This has not been a problem until recently....

Because now we have a cat.

Jerry saw a fruit fly a few days ago, and he now thinks the fruit fly has taken up permanent residence near the kitchen garbage can.  He has knocked the can over at least three times over the past couple days while searching for the fruit fly.

My remedy has consisted of two "fixes":
1)  I turned the garbage can around so that it is harder for Jerry to knock it over.  Of course, it is also harder for us to throw things into it.  But one must make sacrifices.
2)  I now throw my banana peel into a brown paper lunch bag.  I then use this same bag to clean out Jerry's pooperia (a.k.a. litter box).  The bag then goes directly into the garbage bin that is kept outside.

So far, so good....

Jerry is keeping us safe from the fruit fly.

Dad 114: Planes, Race Cars, and Suzy

(Be sure to follow the blog, Update on Suzy. Enjoy Dad's post. -- Tracy)

Derf Here! From the great northeast corner of these United States. The day's weather is "as good as it gets." Just a gorgeous pre-fall day. I plan on enjoying this great weather week, as predicted by the experts.

Another week has passed and another football game for Josh and Zack. Josh's team, winless last year as eighth-graders, won their second game of the year. Zack's team, undefeated the last two years, continued its winning ways as sixth-graders. Will be attending Josh's game tomorrow and Zack's on Saturday. I'll keep you posted.

Spent Saturday afternoon with Lew, Glen, Josh, and Zack at Sanford Airport for a fantastic show of model planes flying and model car races. The pilots put on quite a show with their skills as they put their planes through various maneuvers. Also saw two full-size planes exhibit flying skills. Having seen several air shows at Owls Head, I enjoyed the model air show more than the regular size airplanes' performance. Both were very entertaining.

Glen was at the show Thursday through Sunday. He took the motor home and stayed on site for the duration. He entered the model car races and did quite well. He performed so well he earned a spot in the final two races, which had professional drivers. He moved up from the B group to A. A remarkable feat. He did not win anything, but was ninth out of 22 drivers. I think that is accurate. Josh and Zack rode down Saturday with Lew and I and stayed on with Glen in the motor home. I traveled back on Sunday. It was an enjoyable weekend. Should mention Josh celebrated his 14th birthday on Sunday past. Happy Birthday, Josh! Cake and ice cream to follow. I'll be there!

I haven't been very active on the computer for the past two months. Am now getting back to my pre-summer routine. So, watch out, I'M BACK! Let this be a warning to you.

I'll close with a prayer request for a dear family friend. When daughter Tracy attended Colby College she roomed with Jen Armstrong and Suzy Seymour. (Suzy is the daughter of Ted and Anne Seymour. Ted and Anne were at Gordon College while I was there many years ago.) Tracy and Suzy became good friends. We got to know Suzy at this time. Suzy has had a phenomenal life. She is married to pastor Barry Gaeddert and they serve in the UK. About two years ago Suzy was operated on for a brain tumor. The tumor returned and she was operated on yesterday. I ask your prayers for this vibrant young lady who has so much to offer this world. Please add Suzy to your prayers. Also pray for Barry and their two sons, Zachary and Micah.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Suzy is Post-Surgery

On this solemn day of remembrance in the United States, I was thinking more about something happening today in England.  Suzy went into surgery around 9:00 a.m. her time (4:00 a.m. my time).  It's interesting... I woke up right around then and fell back asleep after praying for her.  (Was the timing a coincidence?  I think not!)

According to Barry's blog post, Suzy was in surgery for almost five hours.  Please continue to pray for her as she recovers from surgery and faces the next step(s) of her treatment.

And please keep up with Suzy's journey through the blog Update on Suzy.  (I always have a link to this on the right of my page.)  You will be blessed.

Thank you for your prayers!

Suzy Preps for Surgery

As I write this, Suzy is going to -- or may already be at -- the hospital where she is to have surgery tomorrow.  (Her surgery was originally scheduled for last Thursday, but got postponed.  In case you missed the details, please see my earlier post titled Prayers for Suzy.)

I had the opportunity to talk with Suzy for about an hour on the phone on Saturday night.  Despite the fact that she is all the way across the Atlantic Ocean (and has a brain tumor to boot), Suzy called me!  It was so wonderful to talk with her and reminisce about "the good old days."

Please pray for my sweet friend.  I love her dearly!

Fantasy Football

For the first time, Lew is participating in a Fantasy Football league. Pastor Dave is the Commissioner of the league. Matt and Glen are also playing.

Out of ten people in the league, Lew is currently on track to come in tenth this week. (Saying "tenth" sounds better than saying "last.")

Lew told me earlier that he learned some things today (strategy, etc.), so I expect that he will do better next week.

Go Patriots!

Just Look For the Red Helmet

I went to Zack's 6th-grade football game this morning.  His team won by a final score of 40-0.  They play eight-minute quarters.  Josh was running the scoreboard, and by the fourth quarter the referees were telling him to keep the clock running.

Zack played really well, of course.  :)

He is easy to spot on the field because he is one of the biggest kids out there.  Plus he's the only one with a red helmet....  His head is so big (in size, not in ego) that he has to use a helmet from the high school team!