Bocephus showed up last Thursday night, the day before the deep freeze sweeping over much of the Northeast engulfed Central Pennsylvania, turning everything into ice and forcing everyone to stay inside and hopefully read books (although they’ll probably just watch TikTok videos).
That's cool. I've had a few cats in life. I essentially like them because I dislike vermin & a good cat kills the things that I don't want around me. With that said, I like some cats more than others, just like I like some dogs and some people more than others. All of that is a matter of temperament/personality.
If rodents and creeping/crawling things were off to their own in the woods or something, I'd have little issue with them. They'd seem like some foreign mythological thing perhaps. It's when they come around and a cat strikes them down that the high value of having a good cat is extolled. My last cat (kitten) was a black cat. We named it Magick. It died in its youth. That's somewhat sad. It was really docile, which made me like it all the more. It's why I like English Bulldogs & such. I like calm and chill in animals and people alike.
Right now, we have a small inside dog (a Shih Tzu; rescue dog). He's calmed down over the time that we've had him. He was neglected & in the care of children in his former home. The parents finally gave him to the local animal shelter & he was got for my wife who wanted a little lap dog. He's super low maintenance. His name (i.e. the name that he had when we got him) is PJ. It's an okay name, just not the type that I would have chosen, I suppose.
When I was a boy, my mother bred Saint Bernards. She'd got some rescue dogs too. Typically, she named the females after deceased ancestors (Hannah Lee, Nellie Anne, etc). The males tended to be named after individuals in the Bible (Lazarus, Boaz, etc). I'd named the English Bulldog we'd gotten so long ago. She was my favorite dog. Her name was "Vestal Goodgirl" after the late Southern Gospel Music singer & icon "Vestal Goodman." I'd also suggested that it'd be good to name a white fluffy female dog after "Labreeska Hemphill" (another gospel singer), though it'd be likely that "Labreeska" would be shortened to "Breezy" when calling the dog; which by the way would suit a Bulldog... cause, you know.
It's good to be kind to animals. Of course there is Bible for that. Later in the New Testament it is pointed out how that the way that someone treats an Ox is of the benefit to mankind, as people who are kind to animals tend to extend that kindness to people. ...To state the obvious, people who are cruel to animals tend to extend that cruelty to people. A black snake once got in the house, I took it outside and let it live, because they eat venomous snakes. A garter snake was laying in my path some months ago (in front of my porch steps) - I merely walked around it.
You received a death threat for your views and beliefs? When l read that it really passed me off. There has been so much division over the past several years and it is tearing us apart. While l may not align strictly with how you feel about things or everything you believe, l respect your right to hold those beliefs and it won’t stop me from spending my money to buy your books. Death threat? Report it to the authorities and then keep stepping, er writing.
Hey Brian, thanks as always for being a good human being and trying to help stray cats, for trying to help other authors and people struggling with illnesses. I pray that your landlord's family allows you all to stay there til you're ready to move to West Virginia. Wishing you and Mary much luck and happiness as you move toward marriage and retirement. Those animals around your current residence are really going to miss you when you leave for W. Virginia. Good luck with getting help for Bocephus.
Thank you for continuing to be a force for good in the world, for cats and people.
As an aside, tri-color cats always have 2 'X' chromosomes, so Bocephus is almost certainly female (which doesn't change "Bocephus" being a great name).
Assuming my passport arrives when it should, I ought to be booking my flight in a couple of weeks. I mean, I bought my con ticket so I may as well try to get a ticket to fly there as soon as I can.
That's cool. I've had a few cats in life. I essentially like them because I dislike vermin & a good cat kills the things that I don't want around me. With that said, I like some cats more than others, just like I like some dogs and some people more than others. All of that is a matter of temperament/personality.
If rodents and creeping/crawling things were off to their own in the woods or something, I'd have little issue with them. They'd seem like some foreign mythological thing perhaps. It's when they come around and a cat strikes them down that the high value of having a good cat is extolled. My last cat (kitten) was a black cat. We named it Magick. It died in its youth. That's somewhat sad. It was really docile, which made me like it all the more. It's why I like English Bulldogs & such. I like calm and chill in animals and people alike.
Right now, we have a small inside dog (a Shih Tzu; rescue dog). He's calmed down over the time that we've had him. He was neglected & in the care of children in his former home. The parents finally gave him to the local animal shelter & he was got for my wife who wanted a little lap dog. He's super low maintenance. His name (i.e. the name that he had when we got him) is PJ. It's an okay name, just not the type that I would have chosen, I suppose.
When I was a boy, my mother bred Saint Bernards. She'd got some rescue dogs too. Typically, she named the females after deceased ancestors (Hannah Lee, Nellie Anne, etc). The males tended to be named after individuals in the Bible (Lazarus, Boaz, etc). I'd named the English Bulldog we'd gotten so long ago. She was my favorite dog. Her name was "Vestal Goodgirl" after the late Southern Gospel Music singer & icon "Vestal Goodman." I'd also suggested that it'd be good to name a white fluffy female dog after "Labreeska Hemphill" (another gospel singer), though it'd be likely that "Labreeska" would be shortened to "Breezy" when calling the dog; which by the way would suit a Bulldog... cause, you know.
It's good to be kind to animals. Of course there is Bible for that. Later in the New Testament it is pointed out how that the way that someone treats an Ox is of the benefit to mankind, as people who are kind to animals tend to extend that kindness to people. ...To state the obvious, people who are cruel to animals tend to extend that cruelty to people. A black snake once got in the house, I took it outside and let it live, because they eat venomous snakes. A garter snake was laying in my path some months ago (in front of my porch steps) - I merely walked around it.
Have a terrific day & try to stay warm.
Passport’s are ordered, If we get them in time Helen & I are going to try to get to AuthorCon II... finger crossed!
You received a death threat for your views and beliefs? When l read that it really passed me off. There has been so much division over the past several years and it is tearing us apart. While l may not align strictly with how you feel about things or everything you believe, l respect your right to hold those beliefs and it won’t stop me from spending my money to buy your books. Death threat? Report it to the authorities and then keep stepping, er writing.
I finally know where the "No comment!" intro came from at the beginning of the old podcast.
PS: love the new YouTube podcasts including the latest.
Hey Brian, thanks as always for being a good human being and trying to help stray cats, for trying to help other authors and people struggling with illnesses. I pray that your landlord's family allows you all to stay there til you're ready to move to West Virginia. Wishing you and Mary much luck and happiness as you move toward marriage and retirement. Those animals around your current residence are really going to miss you when you leave for W. Virginia. Good luck with getting help for Bocephus.
We miss you!! Stay warm and safe!! Love, light and hugs to you and yours!! Ana Rankin
Thank you for continuing to be a force for good in the world, for cats and people.
As an aside, tri-color cats always have 2 'X' chromosomes, so Bocephus is almost certainly female (which doesn't change "Bocephus" being a great name).
Most of what I wanted to say here has been written by others, but I will say thank you for being an amazing human.
Pissed me off! I hate writing on a phone!
HUGS....The Thing is my favorite.
Assuming my passport arrives when it should, I ought to be booking my flight in a couple of weeks. I mean, I bought my con ticket so I may as well try to get a ticket to fly there as soon as I can.