For the few here that still care........................

Lori is doing well.
Most of her breathing problems have subsided.
And she has most of her strength back.
Pretty much back to what a 64yo should be able to do.

And Purrball is still alive.
Still very frail. Which would be normal for a 20yo cat.
Actually, her 20th birthday is tomorrow.
And she's totally deaf and partially blind.
But if she's awake and sees me come into the room, she gets up an meows up a storm for some love and affection and pettings.
And she's very partial to her kitty treats.

---

"Time is simply the mechanism that keeps everything from happening all at once."

...

And Purrball is still alive.
Still very frail. Which would be normal for a 20yo cat.
Actually, her 20th birthday is tomorrow.
And she's totally deaf and partially blind.
But if she's awake and sees me come into the room, she gets up an meows up a storm for some love and affection and pettings.
And she's very partial to her kitty treats.

Wishing Purrball an early 20th kitty Birthday!
and.. here is a special video for her Birthday

---

Any updates on Lori or Purrball?

Lori is doing well, and back up to normal activities such as 64yo would be up to. I helped her with a bunch of fall yard tasks yesterday. As has always been the case for her, she always has more plans for things to do than time allows.
Her new kitten Bruno is quite the spitfire, and keeps us busy when we are not doing other things. He is such a wonderful kitten.

Purrball is still up and about. She sleeps most of the time, but patiently awaits me coming to bed with her to cuddle each night or to take a daytime snooze with her, and still loves resting her chin on my outstretched hand when we go to sleep. She is still mobile enough to jump on and off of the bed and use the litterbox properly. Still pretty spry for a 20yo+ kitty. Especially considering her stroke last year, when I thought I had lost her.

Meowmeowmeow.

---

"Time is simply the mechanism that keeps everything from happening all at once."

Good news to hear.

Meow, it is indeed.

Meow.

---

"Time is simply the mechanism that keeps everything from happening all at once."

Oh, I think I forgot to mention my summer adventure with the lawnmeower.

I was out meowing the front lawn, and as the water main shutoff valve sticks up about 3" above the ground level, I was mowing around it, as I have for about 41 years. Old age does not automatically infer total wisdom or protection from reality.

This time, however, I made a slight miscalculation and managed to drop the edge of the meower squarely upon the steel valve handle.

Long story short, this managed to bend the blade, partially shear the flywheel key, and the kicker was that it bent the meower motor's crankshaft. The bi**h is, that is exactly what keys are there for, to shear and avoid basic component breakage. Unfortunately, the forces in play at the time did not follow the rules.

At first I was hoping it was just the blade that was bent, but when I realized the true extent of the devastation, needless to say the air turned quite blue.

So, I went on a quest and found the probably last remaining short block for the engine in the country. Lawn boy does not sell them after this many years. You see, this meower is very very old. NOS, and only a state away from me. Briggs and Stratton to the rescue.

Took several days of wrenching in the driveway, but I finally swapped over all the parts from the deceased engine to the new short block. Mounted it to the mower deck, which also had a small crack that I reinforced with JB Weld.
When I was almost completed, the metal intake tube cracked when I tightened it down, and had to hunt down a replacement for that. The plastic replacement fit, so that problem was finally put to rest.

Thankfully, when all was said and done, I have a fully functional, well running lawn meower with less than 5 hours running time on it. B&S recommends changing out the 'break in oil' after the first 5 hours or so of run time, so I will probably not do that until next spring when I fire it up for the meowing season.
I'll probably have to do a few minor carb adjustments then, but the basic engine is back in shipshape.

As for the water shutoff valve handle, I stuck a bunch of stakes around it, so that will never happen again.

---

"Time is simply the mechanism that keeps everything from happening all at once."

Time for a bit of music...........
Bohemian Catsody.......

---

"Time is simply the mechanism that keeps everything from happening all at once."

One of the best bits of stunt driving ever............
When you pay attention to what is going on with the car, this rivals almost anything in the Fast and Furious franchise.

LOL.....I didn't know a Subaru could go that fast........................

Go go go Baby Driver.

---

"Time is simply the mechanism that keeps everything from happening all at once."

Here is one for the Kittyman...
101-Year-Old Woman Adopts Oldest Cat in Shelter: ‘Our Hearts Are Full

---

Thank you for sharing that.
A very heartwarming story.

Meow!

---

"Time is simply the mechanism that keeps everything from happening all at once."

What could go together more than..............
Cats.....and boxes.

---

"Time is simply the mechanism that keeps everything from happening all at once."

Well, I got my booster jab yesterday afternoon. As did Lori. Got the Moderna, my first shot was the J&J.
Not too much in the way of side effects this morning. Arm is a little sore at the site of the injection, which would be normal for any kind of shot. Maybe just a tad low on energy today, but nothing that would prevent any normal activities. Can always have a catnap or two with Purrball if I wish to.
Should be good to go for at least another 6 months.

Meow.

---

"Time is simply the mechanism that keeps everything from happening all at once."

Had my booster on 4th November which was the Pfizer one, to match jabs 1 and 2. No aches or side effects experienced.

Over here we have many thousands refusing jabs as a personal choice, then moaning because they say it is against their human rights to make it a condition of employment.

Fine with me. Just don't claim unemployment benefit then.

Had my booster on 4th November which was the Pfizer one, to match jabs 1 and 2. No aches or side effects experienced.

Over here we have many thousands refusing jabs as a personal choice, then moaning because they say it is against their human rights to make it a condition of employment.

Fine with me. Just don't claim unemployment benefit then.

I couldn't agree more.
If you make a personal choice to take your chances with COVID, that is your right.
But when doing so, don't expect the rest of society to take those risks with you in the workplace or extend a social safety net to support you because you have made that choice.

---

"Time is simply the mechanism that keeps everything from happening all at once."

Well put Sir, very well put.

---

Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

Agreed here also. These 'ooman rites geezers are a right royal PITA !

It is with a very heavy heart today that I must tell you of the passing of my last remaining kitty companion.

My beloved Purrball kitty passed on New Years Day after having a stroke several days earlier.
She had been by my side for 20 years and 3 months.
You might imagine how intertwined her life became with mine over those many years.
Even though that is a very long time for a kitty, and she had a very full and very much loved life, that does not diminish my overwhelming grief in dealing with her loss.
As she got older, I knew that this day was getting nearer, but that knowledge never really prepares you for when the day finally comes.
She leaves behind a very empty space in my heart that I must now try to fill with memories of happier days that I had with her as I heal and grow a bit stronger. This will take a long time.

Whoever wrote that companion animals leave pawprints on your heart knew what they were talking about. Her imprint on my life shall never fade.

I may write more at another time when I have recovered a little. Too many tears right now.

I shall always love you, my beloved kitty kat.

Farewell, my Purrball. I shall meet you on the Rainbow Bridge one day.

---

"Time is simply the mechanism that keeps everything from happening all at once."

It is with a very heavy heart today that I must tell you of the passing of my last remaining kitty companion.

May I be the first to publicly post my condolencs on the passing of Purrball.

Living to 20 years and 3 months is such an amazing feat for a kitty and one that is hard to beat.

Purrball has crossed the Rainbow Bridge to be in a better place with all her brothers and sisters.

You take care of yourself Kittyman.

Meow for now.

---

My thoughts are with you, Kittyman. I sympathise with your feelings and your loss. I hope you adapt to your new situation quickly, and can learn to cope with it well.

Such a long life is to be celebrated and remembered with nice thoughts indeed.

Please take care, my friend.

---

Happy Crunching,

Graham