Our weekly dispatch from TaMara:
September is Disaster Preparedness Month. Are you prepared? I used to be a Disaster Relief Coordinator, so I’m a little preachy on this subject. I’ve been in hurricanes, earthquakes, 3-day blizzards and spent many a stormy night in the basement during tornado warnings. I’ve helped more people than I can count after home fires. And one week it was a broken water main, leaving me scrambling to figure out how to get fresh water to us, three Great Danes, 2 cats and a duck. These are all things made a bit easier if you have some type of plan in place.
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In other news, we have a new blog mascot, a kitten who has seen some hard times. His name is Homer and he now resides at the home of JeffW and Mrs. J in a pretty red cast and with a total look of trouble in his eyes. If you can look at the pictures without saying “aaaaahhhh” then you are made of stronger stuff than I am.
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I thought we’d send summer out with a bang and do a spicy grilled mix and some fruit cobbler. I am a summer worshiper and I mourn its passing. Let’s have a moment of silen…okay, done now. Bring on the fall foods!
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On the board tonight:
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1. Fajita Chicken & Vegetable Kabobs
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2. Black Beans
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3. Rice
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4. Fruit Cobbler
Recipes and shopping list at the link. And here is a picture of Homer so you will click over to read about him:
SiubhanDuinne
You know, this thread title is a tad ambiguous and troubling. “Kitten as an appetizer? Dessert? Kitten Cacciatore? Kitten Quiche?”
Thank FSM the new picture of SQUEE! HOMER!! cleared that up for me.
Dear lord that is one adorable tiny kotteb.
jeffreyw
@SiubhanDuinne: kotteb?
debit
NOM! I am making that cobbler tomorrow. And dear god, that kitten is adorable. Poor little pumpkin, it looks like he had a rough trip but finally got a safe landing.
SiubhanDuinne
@jeffreyw: Do you mean to tell me you have never read Paul Gallico’s classic “The Silent Miaou”?
kindness
So what do you all think of Jon Stewart’s thing on the Washington Mall 10/30? I think it’ll be fun but I can’t go. Too far for me.
jeffreyw
@SiubhanDuinne: I’m just a poor plumber, son of a poor plumber. No book learnin.
SiubhanDuinne
@jeffreyw: Gallico’s “The Silent Miaou” (“Miaow” or eben “Meow” in some editions) was a guide for young catsn translated from the feline, full of all kinds of nifty survival (manipulative-of-humans) tips and tricks. The idea was that it was composed on a typewriter but because the paw sometimes missed the intended key and struck one to the immediate right or left of the correct letter. Hence “kotteb” = “kitten.” It’s been years since I read it but I believe the very first sentence of the book begins “When I was a very young kotteb . . . ”
Anyhow, I’ve always found it a charming word and it amuses me to call kittens “kottebs.”
(Apparently this thread needed moar pomposity!)
SiubhanDuinne
@jeffreyw: I can’t help noticing in my post above that fat thumbs on a BlackBerry do exactly what cat paws on a typewriter did in Gallico’s book! I have at least three completely unintentional examples of hitting the adjacent key instead of the one I intended.
Arachnae
Aw, why does such a teeny kitten have such a huge cast? it’s almost as big as he is.
jeffreyw
@SiubhanDuinne: Ah, a good explanation. I had a boss once that I called “piglet” and I can testify to the amusement factor.
TaMara (BHF)
Okay, finally done with work. For reasons I do not understand myself, Homer makes me very, very happy. I hope everyone ends their week well and has a great weekend. I’ll be out testing my new ride (that would be a new bike).
@kindness: I would really like to go and may even check into flight prices…though I’ll just be getting back from another trip, it may not be feasible.
Yutsano
@TaMara (BHF): Thanks for reminding me I work in a 37 story high rise in an earthquake zone. :)
In all seriousness, we’ve gone over several times now what to do in the case of several emergencies that come up. I think it’ll all work out as it should. Plus the building has been there since 1937 so I’m sure it’s seen worse.
something fabulous
@SiubhanDuinne: It’s also funny over on TaMara’s site: the options along the right are so delicious! Ravioli! Homer! Apple Butter and Pickled Peaches!
TaMara (BHF)
@Yutsano: My biggest fear, which was played out for many during the latest round of wildfires, is how to corral the animals and get them to safety. There’s not a good answer, especially with cats. I have a plan, but animals are unpredictable and my plan may go to shit in the moment. But I sleep better knowing I’ve done what I can.
I was totally unprepared for the two earthquakes (I was young, foolish and on my own, feeling invincible). But after that, I at least kept good walking shoes in my trunk in case I was at work in heels if the big one hit. I still do, even though I’m in CO now. Those shoes have come in handy a couple of times.
Yutsano
@TaMara (BHF): My cat is VERY good at getting outside when he wants to be outside NAO!! It’s my honest big fear about moving him: that he’ll get out and be gone before recognizing the new place as “home”. I think I’m stalling moving him for that reason, and my SIL and her cat will just have to put up with him being the dominant cat.
ruemara
Food looks good, but the kitteh is what I want. Mend quickly, Homer! And may you find the right parents.
slag
Adorable!
@kindness: Darn! Spoiler. Haven’t caught up on TDS for the week yet. But I’m intrigued.
asiangrrlMN
Homer is soooo cute. Poor little muffin. Glad to know he’s doing better.