GONE, BUT NEVER, EVER FORGOTTEN - RIP BUTTERFINGERS

For the last couple of days I have been feeling brokenhearted, as if my heart has been literally ripped in half.  My cat, Butterfingers, passed away this past Monday, September 27, 2010.  As the tears stream down my griefstrickened face, I have nothing but affectionate, tender, warmhearted memories of her.  I was her "grandmother"  for a little over 16 years.  She had actually been Samantha's cat.  Sam found her at the precise moment when we needed her - on our rooftop back in 1994.  Samantha and Butterfingers were inseparable.  They slept together, played together, studied together (when Sam would be studying, books strewn all about her bed, Butterfingers would just laze and slouch on top of her books).  Butterfingers' favorite game to play was hide n' seek.  She loved that game (smile).  She was a beautiful calico with four colors - white, brown, black and gray.  Her chest area was all white - like she was wearing a dicky. 

Growing up, my family had always owned dogs.  I never really was fond of cats until I got Butterfingers.  As a matter of fact, having her (noticed I didn't say owning, because any cat lover/owner knows - you NEVER really own a cat - you are hired staff, hahahaha) made me loving towards cats. Now, because of her, I have this great affection for felines. 

It's funny, or maybe not, but I woke Monday morning with a strange feeling in my gut.  I just didn't feel right all day long.  Then, about 5:30 in the evening, I got the call that I had dreaded.  When I moved to my new address, I couldn't take Butterfingers with me, so my classmate, Jonathan, took her to live with him.  It was only a temporary move, though.  I was in the kitchen cooking when I happened to check my cell to see any missed calls.  Sure enough, I looked and saw Jonathan's name.  Immediately I got an echoing feeling, because just last week or so ago, Samantha and I bought cat food and kitty litter and took it over to her.  So it couldn't have been that she needed food or drink.  I call Jonathan, at once.  With a quiver in his voice, he told me what had happened.  Of course, I straight away called Sam and informed her.  We buried Butterfingers in a beautiful area along the Henry Hudson River in Hastings, New York.  This weekend I'll go visit her grave and place some flowers down.  I was thinking that I could never get another cat after having Butterfingers, but she's the type of cat that would want me to have and enjoy another one.  So, in time, I'll get another cat.

I changed my blog picture.  I was looking for a background with cats, but couldn't find any.  So, I chose this one with its bright greenery.  It brings me great peace and comfort to know that my angel is forever watching over both me and Samantha.  Life is ironic - whimsical, if you will.  That faithful June day, back in 1994, when Sam saved a little kitten named Butterfingers, little did I know that life would turn the tables, and she would eventually save my life.  Your spirit will always live in my heart.  Cheers Butterfingers!!

HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO NANCY (NANTZ)

ALL THE VIXENS SHOW YA LOVE --  FOR TODAY IS NANTZ' BIRTHDAY!!!!

COME ON AND LET'S GIVE HER THE BEST BIRTHDAY WISH WE VIXENS KNOW HOW TO GIVE!!!!

SHOW SOME LOVE TO OUR DEAR SWEET BLOGMEISTER BECAUSE NO ONE DOES IT LIKE SHE DOES!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YA!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YA!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YA!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YA!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANTZ.  I HOPE ALL YOUR DREAMS AND WISHES COME TRUE TODAY AND EVERMORE HEREAFTER!  MANY, MANY, MANY CHEERS!!!!!!!

RELATIONSHIPS - a reason, a season, a lifetime

You probably remember a blog I posted about 3 men who I liked and had to pick from.  Well, I didn't choose Harold - the man who drove too slow and didn't like loud music or TV.  That left Charles and Johnny.  I chose Charles - tall, dark and handsome with a body like Adonis.  However, I continue to have strong feelings for Johnny, as he and I have had the longest relationship - more than 14 years.  It truly was a touch choice to make.

Something has been bothering me, though.  I have not been entirely truthful with either man, and I feel like a coward for not being so.  I haven't told Johnny that I like and have been dating Charles.  This falsehood has led Johnny to believe that I want to be his woman.  For the past month and a half I have been sneaking around like some scared schoolgirl with Charles behind Johnny's back.  Charles and I have even been "caught" grocery and jewelry shopping.  Now, Johnny doesn't know about Charles, but Charles knows about Johnny.  Charles has been demanding that I tell Johnny about us, but I haven't been able to - until the other night, that is.  When Johnny busted me and Charles going into the supermarket.  I have fought so hard, expended so much energy, avoided all the places Johnny would be.  And for what?  To have it all come to a screetching halt in front of STOP & SHOP!!!  At 9:00 at night!  A time when Johnny should have had his fucking 61 years-old ass at home?  I was mortified.  Too through.  I didn't know what to say or do, but hold my head down as Charles and I went into the supermarket.  The expression on John's face was that of a dispappointed, hurt little boy.  LESSON #1 - NEVER DATE TWO MEN WHO LIVE IN THE SAME CITY.  The temperature that night had dropped, it felt, to about 60 degrees.  I was both shaking, and laughing to myself, at the same time.  Probably nerves. 

Each man claims me as their woman, although I have not been sexually intimate with either.  Originally, my plan was to introduce Charles to Johnny as my cousin, Charles agreed, but only to 1 time.  After that, I was to tell Johnny that Charles was my "man."   In the supermarket I looked for, but secretly was hoping I didn't run into Johnny - say down the baking isle.  Eventually, or shall I say, as fate would have it, Johnny and I ended up at the same cashier. I tried to make small talk, asking about the lua he attended earlier in the day, all the while hoping everything would go by quickly and I could just get the hell out of there.  Meanwhile, however, Charles forgot to get the toilet paper, so off he went.  Toilet paper?  Now Johnny knows for sure.  Who else, but a couple would shop for toilet paper - together - 9:00 p.m.  Now, I'm hyperventilating.  I quickly pay for the items the cashier has rang up.  Avoiding eye contact with Johnny, who, by the way, is still standing behind me.  I jetted the fuck out of the store to the car as fast as I could.  Leaving Charles to pay for the toilet paper.  To be continued.....  Cheers!!

A, B, C's & 1, 2, 3's

Ah, Summer is drawing nigh and the chillin's have returned to school to learn more interesting and not so interesting things, but what did they do/learn over the summer?  Did they?

visit a library
skip rocks upon a pond
rollerskate on tree-lined streets
roast marshmallows over a campfire
volunteer to read to the elderly
pick up litter on city streets and country roads
swing into a lake from a tire tied to a rope
pick buttercups and hold them under their chins
look for and find 4 leaf clovers
steal crabapples, peaches, pears, plums and grapes from their neighbors backyards
buy ice cream from the Good Humor truck
play jump over the garbage can
get scared when they saw horseshoe crabs on the beach
play Ol' Little Playmate, Miss Mary Mack and other two-handed games
jump double-dutch rope
play Four Corners
play hide n' seek and hope the cute boy finds them
help an old lady/man across the street
double-pump on swings
read a book
run relay races barefoot
walk barefoot through puddles after the rain
slide down the slide and burn ther behinds
play hop-scotch, Girls Are, Twister
lie on their backs, look up at the stars and dream

These are just some of the fun and exciting adventures I had/did during the summer months as a child and youth.  What are yours?  Cheers!!