FINALLY -- COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET !!!

Although Thanksgiving is over, it's still the "holiday season", with Christmas less than a month away. A change of seasons ... a change in me.

For me this time of the year is bringing much reflection & a strong desire to go on-the-record with an issue which needs to be addressed. I am afraid this may be "startling" ... but it needs to be said & brought out into the open. I mean no ill will. Just a strong desire to correct misconceptions on a very private matter.

First let me say -- before any words which may be frightening are laid out, never to be retrieved -- that I hope there will be no feelings hurt; that life will go on & friendships/relationships -- so long enjoyed & nurtured -- will weather these statements.

Secondly -- I know I have "changed". I know too, I am different than most "normal people"; single, living alone, having strange hobby's & interests. And then -- I added three cats to my life. A sure sign of "change", & although I see it as a kinder, gentler me, others look deeper.

So, with these changes within me ... with a sense of strength in what I am about to do ... a knowing feeling all will be so serene & accepted, I want to move forward with these changes.

I want to say what I am feeling.

I want this to be out ... "in the open".

PRECIOUS ... GET YOU FAT BUTT OUT OF THE CLOSET. YOU'VE BEEN IN THERE AN HOUR !! DANG NEAR BROKE MY TOE ON THE OPEN DOOR IN THE HALLWAY. GET OUT !!

There. It needed to be said.

That cat would stay in the closet all day long if I would let her. Well, no more. It's a new me & a new attitude.

___________________________________________________________________

Please don't be mad, Precious !! Don't get upset. You can go back in the closet. Here ... I'll open the door for you

___________________________________________________________________

Well ... that didn't work.

"HA-WOE ... MRS. WOOOOOM"

The people in the photo with me are Roy & Ruth Roome. This photo was taken in Florida on Christmas Eve, 1995. Both have passed on now, but like a select number of people, they had an impact on my life which helped format me as I am today. [Does that mean credit AND blame ??] I like to think they get strictly CREDIT for the good they did & the help & love they gave me always.

When I met the Roome's -- around 1962 -- I was a sophomore at Honeoye Central School, in Honeoye, New York. They had three kids -- Roger, David & a daughter the brothers taunted with the name "Weiner". [Ahh... I just heard some light bulbs click on in some brains.] Yes, the daughter was Marlene Roome, & we were an "item" -- between break-ups -- in high school.

Those high school years corresponded with a difficult time in my life & I faced some major problems. Luckily for me, Roy & Ruth -- well, actually the whole family -- took me in as the seventh member. They provide a proper family atmosphere & included me in so many activities, as well as giving me a sense of discipline when & where I needed it growing up.

Through the years, we always stayed connected in some way. Marlene & me went our separate ways but to this day remain in contact. Roy & Ruth were "snowbirds" in Florida & had a home not more than a dozen miles from my Mother's home. We would all visit when the Roome's & I were in the state at the same time.

Ruth Roome was a first grade teacher at Honeoye Central. As such, she had an influence on many more lives than just mine. To this day I still remember one little girl -- I believe her name was Debbie -- always yelling across the street to Mrs. Roome when she saw her in town -- in a high, squeaky voice which only exists in my memory -- "Ha-Woe Mrs. Woooom". Ruth -- in her sweet, school teacher way -- would always acknowledge Debbie for her greeting & was truly glad to see Debbie each time.

In all the decades which followed, to the last time I saw her in Florida, a few months before she died, I would always attempt to copy little Debbies voice as I greeted "Ruthie" -- "HA ... WOE MRS. WOOOOOM." Ruth would always have a chuckle at my greeting -- another voice which exhists only in my memory today.

Roy & Ruth Roome ... gone from this earth, but really, never far away.

MEOWATHON -- PART II

It's got to be noted the race T-shirt for the 5K MEOWATHON this past Saturday ... WAS ONE OF THE COOLEST T-SHIRTS ... EVER !!

It was designed/drawn by noted artist/political cartoonist BILL DAY. It features many "famous" cats, all "Running For the Claws". [I'm sure, if there is food at the finish line, Garfield is going to win.]



I also have to give snaps to Bill Day & his young son for their efforts running in the MEOWATHON. As a non-medal winning runner, I have to congratulate BOTH for each winning medals in their age group ... the only family members to do so I believe.

DOUBLE-PLAID ... LIKE MY DAD

When my Father was alive, he often wore some strange mix & match clothing styles. Not that my Dad didn't know how to dress "properly" -- he had his work clothes & ties matched-up -- but when it came to casual clothes, I think my Dad let comfort come first ... rather than style.

One way my Father had of dressing himself was the "Clown Look" -- double, non-matching plaid shirts & plaid pants/shorts. All he needed was a pair of huge shoes & some face paint -- don't forget the red nose -- & the circus would have snatched him up. He always said it didn't matter what he wore, it was just going to get dirty. Plus, he liked to say -- "Nobody will see me anyway" -- as we stood their mocking him out for his double-plaid outfit.

In my days in the business world, I was always very careful of my own personal "dress code". I had to have the correct color shirt, pants & corresponding tie. Shoes too, had to fit the look. I had hundreds of nice, silk ties which I would cycle in such a way to make it appear I was always wearing a NEW tie. "Mr. GQ".

Years back, when "business casual" became standard & all those tie racks in my closet came down & the ties themselves got put away into big plastic boxes -- where they still are -- I was still careful with my clothing selection for work. The key was to be careful of the shirt "rotation" & the color pants matched with each wearing. Again, it kept the look ... "new".

I did have a lot of plaid shirts to wear to work. [Still have those in the closet also, but fewer each year as I make donations of clothes to Goodwill. Tax deduction, ya know.] Again, the rotation of the shirts was critical, but the multi-colors allowed for some good match-ups with the pants.

Well, once I quit working & stayed home most days, I started getting a bit lax about MY clothing selection. I had gained weight & clothes for around the house were chosen for ... "comfort". Even after my heart surgery & subsequent life style changes, the weight loss did not affect my liking of "comfortable clothes". Heck. No one was going to see me, & the clothes -- working in the yard -- were just going to get dirty anyway.

WAIT !!! Where had I heard that said before ?? Then it dawned on me. I was starting to dress like my Father. The apple was falling closer to the tree.

One of my favorite ways to dress around the house -- I would NOT go out in public like this ... well, hardly -- is a plaid flannel shirt & plaid "house pants". Comfortable.

The flannel shirts are actually worn almost year round ... for "protection". The shirts combat ... cat claws. "The Girls" like to lay in my lap, purring & "making biscuits" -- as my Vet Tech calls it -- with their paws & claws. OUCH !! The extra layer of flannel shirt helps avoid scratches & pain. My pain.

THE PANTS ?? I never can find these in solid colors. Always plaid. I guess the "house pants" are really pajamas. Whatever. Who's going to see me ?? They will just get dirty.

So here I am, sitting on the bed, wearing an example of MY double-plaid, believing I hear Wobs & Nibblets... laughing at ME now. As long as there are NO big shoes & make-up, I guess I am safe from the circus recruiters.

Besides ... I'm comfortable.

MEOWATHON -- 2009

Saturday, November 21, 2009 was a full day of activities, starting at 2:30 A.M. & lasting until almost six P.M. In that time I drove about 320 miles, ran 3.2 miles & added around $130.00 to my Visa Card. I also had a delicious lunch & got to share a few hours of quality time with close friends I see too seldom.

Yesterday was the annual MEOWATHON 5K run in Memphis, Tennessee. All proceeds & money raised goes to support the non-profit House of Mews in Memphis. The H.O.M. is a feline rescue & adoption agency which I support. [http://www.houseofmews.com/]

I pulled out of my driveway at 5:30 A.M. & headed to Memphis on Interstate 40. I hate the drive over -- & back -- no doubt due to the several years I commuted weekly from home to Memphis. It is a long straight drive, with too many big rig trucks all having to be some place soon.

I got to Overton Park in Memphis at 8 A.M. The race -- 3.2 miles -- began at 9 A.M. I was done 29 minutes & 28 seconds later. I ran the race last year in 31:01. I wanted to beat 30 minutes time this year ... & I did. Now I need to improve my time as much again for next years MEOWATHON.

There were several hundred runners this year -- the largest group ever. I finished #62, but not fast enough to beat several others in my age group who were medal winners. That is another reason to be speedier next year. Go for the gold ... silver ... heck, I'll take bronze.

Among the activities taking place was a "silent auction". I was able to get a signed copy of the book Homer's Odyssey donated from the author Gwen Cooper to add to the auction. ["Homer" is the story of Gwen's cat, blind, but not limited, all his life. http://www.gwencooper.com ] The high bid was $40.00, which is double the list price & money going to a good cause.

On my way to lunch -- out in Germantown, Tennessee -- I stopped at two of my favorite retail locations & places I try to visit each time I am in Memphis -- Art Center Supply & Davis Kidd Booksellers. I dropped coin in both stores ... as expected.

Mosa Asian Bistro [http://mosaasianbistro.com] was the lunch location & worth the entire trip for both the food & friendship shared with my Tennessee friends -- Sharon & Marty McPherson of Cordova & Kathy Ray of Buchanan. [Kathy's husband, Larry, was down in South Alabama fishing & missed a good time & great meal. Next time, Larry.]

The drive home was hindered by the forever on-going road construction in West Memphis, Arkansas. [Yes ... for those unaware, there is such a place, across the Mississippi river, in my state.] Driving over earlier in the morning I did not have any problems with the repair work. That was not the story in the late afternoon. Traffic was backed up at least 10 miles -- well into Memphis.

NOTE TO DRIVERS GOING EAST/WEST ON INTERSTATE 40 THROUGH WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS: Don't !

I managed to get out of the traffic back-up near St. Jude Hospital, cut across town & drive the "old bridge" [I-55] to Arkansas. There, I drove through the main part of West Memphis, which has an old, crumbling & deserted feel to it. Kind of sad. Later I got back on I-40 & fought the heavy traffic, many trucks & the setting sun in my eyes as I drove onward. My cat, Nibblets came to greet me as I got home. She spent the day outside. The other two, Precious & Wobs, had the easy day ... inside.

I did not run this morning as part of my daily exercises. But then, I don't run on Sundays. I always walk & try to enjoy the day & the country feel. Plus, today my legs were a bit sore. Getting too old, I know.

Tomorrow I start getting ready for next year's MEOWATHON in Memphis, when I will do it again ... with shopping, food & friends, of course.

HE BE BUBBA

In the 40-plus years of living in the South, I have met a lot of guys called "Bubba". It's a bit more common nickname than people realize. Even President Clinton was a "Bubba".

For a lot of people these days, hearing about someone having the name "Bubba" is an indication the name holder is to be considered somewhat of a "redneck, good old Southern boy". Not so with MY Bubba.

My friend Steve is in no way like a "Bubba". Not even close. Put him in a line up of "Bubba's". He wouldn't even be picked. Still, for too many years, I have called him BUBBA.

I give people nicknames all the time. [Gosh. I am just like the last President Bush.] I don't know why. Maybe parents should come to me to help me name their kids. Besides Steve being called Bubba, there is Wemus, Monkey Paws, Cratsley, Number One & a host of others. Even my cats names have nicknames.

I don't remember really why I started calling Steve ... Bubba. As pointed out ... he's not one. I think it was because when we worked together in Memphis, he lived up in Covington, Tennessee. Quite a long commute to/from work. Something to do with his living in rural Tennessee ?? I don't remember.

Bubba & I are opposites in so many ways, starting with politics. He's also quiet & keeps to himself. I am loud & obnoxious. I like living on my own, by myself. Bubba is a family man who, along with his wife Teresa ["The Bubbette"] has raised two kids, both who are now Dentists. No dummies in that family. [There are also three WILD grandsons, who they love & adore.]

I consider Bubba a GOOD FRIEND. I don't have a lot of friends, but those I do, I cherish & try to keep special to me. When Steve retired from Maybelline in North Little Rock a few years ago -- yes, he retired, I got pushed -- he & Teresa moved to Springville, Tennessee [on the Tennessee River]to be closer to family. I wish they had not moved so far away.

Like the good friend he is, Bubba helped me out in 2007 when I had my heart surgery. He, along with Kenny, came to the hospital the first day & got my truck out of the hospital garage & took it back home. Bubba also came to visit/stay with me as I was taken to surgery the next morning. He was the "contact" for the hospital & kept up on my condition, to alert my Mother & friends.

I found out later, Bubba came to my house each day to feed the stray cat on my front porch. [Precious was nursing one kitten -- Nibblets. I still did not consider her "my cat" at the time. Little did I know. I guess I can blame all three cats on Bubba.]

Yes, Bubba -- the nickname stuck & a LOT of people know him by that name -- is NOT a "Bubba" as the nickname would indicate. He's so much more than that. He's a gentleman ... a kind man ... and ... he's my friend. [Plus the nickname "Elvis" -- because of his neatly combed hair (another difference between us) -- just didn't work for me.] So ... he's BUBBA !!

DEER [GUTS] SEASON IN ARKANSAS

I am not a hunter. Never have been. My Dad liked to hunt. It's one of those things I never picked up from him -- the desire to kill something for ... "sport".

Deer hunting season in Arkansas started this past weekend I believe. Again, not being a hunter, I was not following "opening day". I'll have to check with my friend Kenny. He's a big time hunter & can get me up-to-date.

I read where 300,000 deer hunters would be in the "deer woods" -- that's what they call it in Arkansas -- for the opening day. Deer hunting is a big deal here. Some school districts in the state close so the students can get in those ... ah ... "deer woods". Bag a big one, boys & girls.

There are several ways I know the main deer hunting season has arrived:
1] The newspaper starts publishing pictures of hunters & their kill.
2] Articles appear in the same paper, of hunters themselves shot -- & many times killed -- while in those "deer woods". It can't be preached enough -- hunting skills & gun safety.
3] Locally ... the deer carcases start to show up.

I have commented previously about the habits of people in Arkansas to dispose of their trash on the side of the road. It's the spoiling of the "Natural State".

In deer hunting season, the roadside trash includes deer remains. The meat has been harvested, so the left over "parts" need to be disposed of. In Arkansas, many times that means thrown on the side of the road.

A favorite disposal site locally is the creek to the East of here. Toss the deer remains in the water & let someone else -- MOTHER NATURE ?? -- deal with it.

This morning, while doing my daily jog, I came upon the first -- of many ?? -- deer remains for this hunting season. This one was unique -- the butcher paper used while cutting up the deer was thrown in the creek along with the guts. [Sorry. I can't think of a better word for the bloody innards. How about -- "internal organs" ?? The messy stuff.] I guess if this hunter didn't want to take time to properly dispose of the deer remains, well, getting rid of the paper was just as much a "problem". [Toss it out too -- No Problem.]

Later I rode my bike to the bridge to take the photos which appear here. It was then I noticed it appears when unloading the deer remains from the truck or trunk, the process of disposal must have resulted in a ... "slip". Some left over guts remained on the bridge & blood stains were prevalent. The impression is there must have been some difficulty in getting the carcass over the side of the bridge.

Maybe a car was coming down the road & the "disposer" had to hurry with the "disposee" before being discovered as the polluter. They sure didn't take time to clean up the mess on the bridge. Probably just a "toss & run".

I am sure there will be more deer remains in the creek as the hunting season goes on. Like the hunting itself, the disposal of the left over deer is handled as so much other trash in the Natural State -- TOSS IT.

FALL IS FALLING

Here it is mid-November & the cold weather still has not arrived. In some years, by Halloween, we will have had a frost. Not this year. So far, a "cold" night is in the mid-40's. The day temperatures are still hitting 70's. I like it ... a lot.

Despite the temperatures not seeming Fall-like -- Global Warming ?? -- the trees have been shedding their leaves, mostly on schedule. There are some trees -- Bradford Pears -- which are still green. Other trees -- the Hickory Tree in the front yard -- have lost ALL their leaves.

When it came time to look for a home in the Little Rock area 13-plus years ago as part of my job transfer from Memphis, I remember telling the real estate agent ... "I would like a place with a lot of land". No more townhouse living for me.

Well, be careful what you ask for. I got my "land" -- four acres. Along with the land -- which requires MAJOR of grass cutting -- I also have a lot of full grown trees. Mostly Maples, Oaks & other hardwoods. Every year I have added additional plantings. There are probably 50 or more trees on my property. Some day I will count them.

One thing I could never count are the number of LEAVES which come down to earth each Fall. About a third of my property takes on the look of a thick, brown carpet, where green grass would be. When I asked for a home "... with land ..." I failed to consider the "leaf factor". Another thing to remember when home buying in the Summer time.

So ... I am enjoying this unseasonable weather by doing the outdoor activity I do each year -- leaf raking, hauling & BURNING. It may not be the most environment friendly thing to do -- forgive me Al Gore -- but I am not going to send leaves to a land fill in big plastic bags like some people. I "mulch" a lot of the leaves with my mower. Some I compost. And a few billion/trillion/gazillion get burned.

Burn, Baby ... Burn

I'll be raking & burning from now through February, depending on the weather. Rain of course slows down the process. Wet leaves don't burn. I always need a few follow-up days of dry weather to re-start the raking/burning. A nice breeze helps to speed up the drying process.

I don't know how much "exercise" I get from this yearly experience. There is a lot of bending, pulling & pushing, steering the wheelbarrow around & general back-&-forth activity. When I am finished for the day, a warm shower sure feels good. The shower also removes my Smokey Bear smell too.

CAT NAPS

I have always been a "napper". My Father probably got me started on it. He nightly tried to get in 15-20 minutes of nap time between arriving home from work & dinner. He always seemed "refreshed" afterwards.

I started napping in college. Friday afternoons were my best naps. POWER NAPS. Strip the clothes, get under the covers & snooze for several hours. Get ready for the Friday night activities.

Truth be told, those power naps were to help me recover from the "all-nighter" on Thursday. Friday was the day when the weekly art project was due for submission. There was never any rush to get the assignment done during the week. Suddenly it was the night before & it was either the project to complete, or go to sleep.

Ahhhhh ... the value of a good "make-up-sleep-nap".

Now that I am older, I have two basic naps. Both are utilized in an average week for me, but, never both in the same day. One nap a day is all that is allowed.

My main nap is the morning nap on the couch. I get up early in the morning & have enough early activities done by around 9 A.M., I will often lay down on the couch to read a book & allow for some "dozing" time. The "couch nap" does leave me vulnerable for my momma kitty, Precious, to come running down the stairs [thundering is more like it] to join me -- ON ME -- for some quality relaxing time. Nothing like an 85 lb. gray-tabby cat stretched out on my eight inch chest scar. OOF !!

My secondary nap is usually reserved for afternoons. It's for when I am tired, but don't want to read or watch TV before dropping off to sleep. The "bed nap" is for serious ... "I'm-going-to-sleep-now-and-that's-all -I-am -planning -to-do" napping. These naps are utilized most often when there will be something on TV later that night which I want to see & be alert to watch. These naps help me to stay up beyond my usual 8 P.M. bedtime.


Bed naps will also most often find me joined by one or more cats, usually Nibblets, [In photo] but sometimes THE WOBBLER as well. Precious isn't much of a "bed cat", which allows me to sleep on the bed in different positions, not just on my back, as I would be on the couch, with 100 lbs. of cat on me.

Occasionally, I find my daily nap has not provided me the staying power to be active & alert after my [4 P.M.] dinner. I'll be watching TV & just feel like I need a few winks. In that case ... I go to bed. Who cares what time it is ??

Jerry Seinfeld did a joke on his show about his Mother warning him as a child not to spoil his appetite for dinner. As an adult he learned -- so what if I spoil my appetite ?? I'll have another !!

Same with bed time. So what if I go to bed ... "early" ?? I'll just get up early.

If I need more sleep ... I'll take a nap. With cats. A "cat nap".

NATIONAL REPTILE BREEDERS EXPO

I have kept turtles as pets for most of my life. I think my first turtle was one my Dad brought back from a day of fishing.

The second one -- when I was about five years old -- was a baby turtle which came in the mail from Florida. A woman my Mother worked with sent it to me. It's shell was painted red. My Father removed the paint.

I still have turtles in my life. I guess the "quest" to properly care for & keep them as been with me since that turtle in the mail. I have quite a large collection of turtles. Rare, exotic -- & valuable -- turtles.

Each year in August I attend the National Reptile Breeders Expo. It started 20 years ago in Orlando. When it got too big annually for that location, about eight or nine years ago, the Expo was moved to Daytona Beach.

The Expo is my "vacation" each year. I go visit my Mother for a few days in Wildwood, Florida, then head on over to Daytona Beach. I stay at the Hilton Ocean Walk Resort & spend a few days enjoying the beach. [Photo above] The Expo is held in the Ocean Center, a huge facility across A1A from the hotel. The Expo takes up the weekend, then I return to my Mother's & finally back to central Arkansas.

The Expo has hundreds of vendors selling snakes, turtles, tortoises, lizards & everything having to do with keeping them alive & healthy, such as cages, lighting, foods, etc. Attendance is in the thousands for the two day event.

I have been attending for the last 17 years. I never miss going. I have even survived two hurricanes to be there.

I see a lot of the same people each year. Many have become old friends who I look forward to seeing & talking to each year. I also meet many new people, some of which then become "old friends" in the following years. The number of people grows with each passing year.

One of the people I enjoy seeing each year is Russ Gurley from Oklahoma. Russ is a book publisher [Living Arts Publications] & book seller. Russ also heads up the annual Friday night "TURTLE TALKS". The speakers who appear & make presentations, are coordinated through Russ. Not an easy task, as many speakers come from overseas, but Russ pulls it off each year. The "talks" are always informative & entertaining. I enjoy them each year.

Russ has been an "old friend" now for several years. Besides buying a lot of books from him, I am not sure what I have done to deserve the kindness he shows me each year. [Truth be told ... Russ is well known & respected by everyone. An example is the attendance at his selling table. It's always busy with visitors & people wanting to talk to Russ. EVERYONE seems to know Russ.]















Russ Gurley - Center, dark blue shirt

A "new friend" I made this year is Dr. William Zovickian, a dentist from Georgia. "Dr. Z's" life-long interest has been keeping & breeding Radiated Tortoises, a large, rare, endangered tortoise from Madagascar. I had known of Dr. Zovickian for many years & it was a real treat to meet & talk with him. Actually, it was one of the MAJOR highlights of the 2009 Expo.

Dr. William Zovickian -- center/black shirt

Below are some of the tortoises from Dr. Zovickian's breeding efforts. His "high yellow" Radiated Tortoises are in much demand -- which includes ME -- & they command premium prices. As noted, they are endangered, Federally Protected & require a U.S. fish & Wildlife Permit to own & transport. [I'm getting there. I do have a permit for Radiated Tortoises. Only missing one thing -- THE TORTOISE.]

I thank my "new friend" for providing me the pictures of some of his tortoises.



Color variations of Radiated Tortoises belonging to Dr. William Zovickian.

I have a good time each August in Florida; visiting with my Mother, working on my tan & viewing & buying various turtles & books at the Expo. Seeing old friends & meeting new ones is just the icing on the cake. I am already planning my 2010 vacation.