Atwater Vitki

When it's in tune...I don't do too bad on the kazoo and jeus harp! I also can get down with a mean grass leaf between thumbs and cupped hands! Kay is the musical one around here, had a 1962 Martin and numerous instruments years ago, but now only has very unique S. Yari (1984) guitar. We also have a Casio digital piano/organ, 3 antique Tibetan singing bowls (1850's), several Hawaiian nose flutes and an assortment of rattles, hand drums, bells and chimes. Once in a great while we make some noise, but unfortunately music is not my art form and usually just ends up in frustration. Kay doesn't play much as she too has succumbed to the dastardly "age thing". We just found out recently that Kay's uncles and father (been estranged until a couple years ago) played in a gospel group...keyboards, banjo, guitar, accordion and the like....several of her cousins have kept up the 'tradition'. My daughter is in choir at her church and has a very pleasant solo voice and has sang with several international gospel groups that have performed at Neighborhood Church/Crossroads in Castro Valley, CA Actually I love music of many different genres, rock, folk, looove Bluegrass, easy listening like Neil Diamond, some of the Rat Pack, even some Classical...it just has to be good and make a bit of sense. Even some of the genre I like, like heavy metal rock is just noise to me....big diff between a pro like say Hendrix or Ozzy compared to some of the insanity. Never have understood the likes of "Mega Death" etc...just screaming noise to me. As for personal I just can't play a note on much of anything and every time I try singing in the shower....somehow the pressure dies out and the water goes cold! Oh an koki....I have several "Chieftains", "Weavers of the Tartan" and "Scottish Pipe Band" cd's and when the neighbors get a bit frosty with their gangsta rap crapola....speakers in the window and volume set to 10 with some good ol' 'pipe 'n drum' tunes....something like "Highland Laddie" always gets them to yell something obscene! Blessings of Peace,

Ah...le cremé a la raton! Cute lil' bugger...can "Her Be" (our littlest kitty) come over and plaaaaay? She'd really get a bang out of a wind up toy!...and no, she don't hurt 'em at all...she's had 2 shrews already that went back to the yard after an hour of "Chase!"...not a hair on their chinny chin chins was harmed. Blessings of Peace,

Our older "Hemet" in his comfy spot, hanging off the end of Kay's recliner "Lil'Bit" "HerBe" in Daddy's lap...she has skillfully learned how to nudge "Moki", the ol'man of the crew" out of his 'throne'! And of course "Jojo"....topping out at 25 pounds now! Oh, he is SOOOOO proud of his'sef! Big belly up means "Give it a GOOOOD rubbin' folks"! I'm working on getting Moki, Hemet, MeShell, Herbe and Jojo to line up for "treats" and it's absolutely awesome the way they each wait their turn...except Jojo, he still gets a bit antsy waiting, but he's almost there. Kay's got them on video, but we're waiting for the perfect round...I'll post it when we get it. They even take the same spots each time to start, but then Jojo gets "busy" checking out the others. Meesh doesn't like that so gets a bit huffy and often walks off...so just a little more work and we should have that "million view" youtube™ shot!! No, we're not "perfect" or have any delusions of our way being the only way pets should be kept, but, as you can see, relaxed, comfortable, safe and yes, obviously well fed.....and the joy and love they give us back....priceless. This is something any true pet owner knows. And btw, I'm so thrilled to see the other pics of happy, content, well cared for pets here. Crazy Me, your dobie is beyond adorable, Grateful, it shows how much yours are loved and everyone else who has posted pics....awesome to see such love beaming from those eyes of your pets....that....just that ....is what I think should be coming from the two we're trying to get something done for now...Bucky and Moon. Thanks again everyone for sharing the love of pets! Blessings of Peace,

After bringing "Bucky" and "Moon" back to the "hell-house" again last night, Kay told me that both were back on our back door step at 6 a.m. before she went to sleep this morning...okay...those poor kitties NEED a good, and NEW home! It was just one excuse after another as to how they "got out" and the poor things seemed petrified to be there. Bucky was in shear panic when let out of the carrier and Moon headed straight for their back door ye-owling like crazy....all the while the Chihua's - 2 in cages, 2 running free and all yapping to high heaven.... one of them chasing the cats nipping at them...and that was the first minute inside their place letting the cats out of our carriers...the little mop dog was in the corner shaking. When asked why neither of them came to check on the cats...if they were at our place...both just motored mouthed about "how busy" they were and with only the "one car" between 3 drivers (all had been there for 2 1/2 hours)....excuses, excuses, excuses.... ....I finally just asked them straight out if they "want the kitties" or should I "find them a home that will love them and care for them?" More motor mouth and excuses but in the end they at least asked if I thought that would be best for the cats. "** YES!" was all I could muster! We've decided to put up an ad on Craig's list, grocery stores like Tündér suggested and wherever else we can think of. I told "Stan" we'd let them know of any potential seekers. Both are such cool cats that just need a good home, a bit of love and attention...hint, hint!! The only reason we don't actually turn them into the pound is after calling them, this local pound only keeps "abandoned" for 30 days and "strays" for 10 days before being put down. Funding has been cut so severely that only the most horrific cases of abuse are prosecuted so only a "Warning" ticket would be issued with no fine or other threat unless additional complaints, from others, not us, are turned in. Grrrrr! We can waste nearly a $Billion a day on WAR, but we don't have a system to care for animals who's only "crime" was being born???? Grrrrr! I'll try and get some pics tonight and post them here for all to see....ma-a-a-a-a-ybe ya might know someone? Just makes me so when "people" treat their "pets" like some sort of bauble or trinket, to be looked at for a short time and then tossed aside like yesterday's garbage. No excuse for stuff like that as any true pet lover knows!!! Blessings of Peace, btw...just fyi....4 Chihuahuas, 1 mop-dog, 3 other old cats, 6 lizards, 4 snakes, 2 hamsters, 3 rats and some other unknown in a cage, 2 filthy dirty fish 40-50 gal tanks. As we're talking out by the car, when I was leaving, someone drove by with a Malamute hanging it's head out the window and "Rosie" pipes up with "Ohhh lookie that, I WANT ONE OF THOSE!!" Goodness! This would be such a great planet if it weren't for the people on it!! I've known many people to have "zoos" and have never had a problem with that when the animals are well cared for and given a clean environment...I've also know animals that keep pets and don't give 2 spits about any of 'em...THAT really chaps my hide!!!

When we first moved into our neighborhood in 2007, the fellow across the street got the cutest little smoke gray long hair kitten...named him "Bucky" because he'd jump up in a squirrel hop and brush your hand. Even though Bucky has lots of medical issues, from being hit by a car at only 6 weeks, he's grown into a beautiful, loving adult cat. Last May (2011) "Stan" felt sorry for a 'friend" of his and had her and her two adult sons move into his 2bdrm duplex with their 2 Chihuahuas, 2 cats and other things in cages that lined the living room walls. Then came "Moon" the feral they adopted because she got along with Bucky. By Oct. 2011, they had to move because of the neighbor's complaint of excessive barking. Well, they did keep those Chihua's in the garage 24/7 and we could hear them at all hours, but only with open windows. They moved about 2 miles away into another complex, much like this one, but left "Moon". We finally got her coaxed into a carrier and delivered her over to them. As far as we knew they never once came looking for her. We wouldn't have minded so much, but "Moon" picks fights with two of our cats. Then this last June, Bucky shows up in our kitchen one night shocking us both. After brushing him out, feeding him and keeping him in the back room for the night, we got him in a carrier the next morning and I drove over to their apartment....which was empty! I found out at our office "Stan" and crew had moved back into this complex one street behind us....okay cool. So for the last several months we've had Bucky as a guest almost every night as he loves the attention, play time, treats and better cuisine! A week ago Monday (Sept24), "Moon" shows up at our door and she is starving and frantic to come in. OMG! Of course we fed her, brushed her out, picked the burrs out of her belly and got her calmed down and thought she had just got confused so Kay walked her over to "Stans" the next night when it seemed like she had been in our planter bed all night and day. No one was home so we again fed her and I figured I get it taken care of the following day. The same night (Tues Sept 25) we noticed Bucky spent the night on our bbq table and was there for breakfast. So I walked over to the duplex where we knew "Stan" was and some other guy answers the door. "Oh, ah no, they don't live here any more!" WHAT?? Fortunately the fella was able to tell us they had moved to the 'family side'. I tracked down the address and go over to find no one home again. Okay, let's just see what happens. Mind you "Stan" not only knows where we live and has our phone #, but also knows Bucky and Moon both frequented visiting here. By Thurs (Sept 27) we'd had enough disruption in our kitties routines and feeding extras sure put a strain on our budget so I kept going over to "Stan's" until I got a hold of him. I found out that not only had Bucky not even been to the new place, which they moved into on Wed. Sept 19, but "Stan" and "Rosa" had simply been "too busy" to go looking for him.....grrrr....with a 22 and 25 yrs old laying about playing X-box all day and night.....GRRR! So we get both cats in carriers and deliver them with the advice of keeping them in for at least a week, if not two so they familiarize with the new house. Our conversations were continuously interrupted by the yapping Chihau's and not just the 2, but now 4 as they were keeping "Rosa's" daughter's Chihau's and two cats as well. (She's going through a divorce and staying at friends) Frankly, the house smelled disgusting and the one litter box I saw in the dining area was full of "output" and they seemed to have even more cages with lizards, snakes, birds etc than before and another little "mop dog" running back and forth yapping as well....geesh.....but at least the cats were reunited with their rightful owners. Bucky showed up here again last night. Now the dilemma we're facing is even though these poor cats are not being cared for in a manner we think is good, they are at minimum fed and housed over at "Stan's". Our opinion is nothing short of animal abuse and it's patently obvious both Bucky and Moon prefer our quiet house, play time, clean litter boxes (we always keep one fresh washed pan and small bag of sand in the garage...for "just in case") and name brand food etc. I think it's nothing short of amazing that these creatures can find their way to our door immediately from nearly 3/4 mile away, but of course have heard the stories of dogs and cats finding their owners across the country! Bucky is no problem as he's content with left overs from the other cats, doesn't fight and pretty much just comes in for play-time and whatever is in a food dish. Moon, however, keeps our cats at bay from using the cat door and picks on our little "MeShell" like crazy. Moon is loud and obnoxious at times and insists on having her way, place and comfort above all others. But these aren't our cats nor can we afford the extra $30/mo for them and what if they need a vet? Oy. Besides, we're technically only allowed 2 small dogs or 3 cats by the "rental rules", but got a waiver from the manager for our brood because two are pretty much 99% indoor cats and they charged us double ($800) the usual deposit . A strain on us when we moved in, but what we did being responsible about it. And of course, all of ours are spayed and neutered, wouldn't have it any other way. So, what do you think? Sorry for the long story, but hard to describe the whole situation otherwise. Should we continue to bring the cats back over to the "madhouse" or turn them into the ASPCA/pound and possibly get semi-acquaintances charged with animal abuse? Hefty fine, animal care classes, up to 3 years probation, possible 1 yr in jail...which would totally mess up the home, the relationship and what about all the other animals there? Any thoughts or suggestions? We also have a "Cat Lady" down the street from us, having nearly 20 cats. She thinks spay and neuter is a "disgusting human invention" and refuses to have any of hers done. She does find homes for a few now and then but her brood has doubled just this last year. We help her out by providing flea powder for rugs and the house and drops (between shoulder blades) as her cats bring fleas everywhere around here. She seems to manage with food, but never turns down cans ours won't eat...not saying ours are spoiled or anything, but picky, oh my yes...each having their own "favorite" and it's totally hit and miss on new stuff. Do these type folks really help the animals? Or do you think this is just a mild form of abuse as well? Blessings of Peace,

The list of technology defined by cats was super cool Br Devon...hope ya don't mind if we pass this along. Speaking of "output" reminded me of our"Lil'Bit" (HerBe) and "Jojo" (Turbo) as the official "potty patrol". When either of us goes to the toilet they are right behind us and jump up on the sink and curl up in the basin...of course being very attentive to what's going on. Jojo fills the basin, (now 25#) and that means Lil'bit has to sit on the edge. Our standing up is the "signal" to spring into action and for either, or both, to go stand straddling the seat, watching the business swirl down the big drain...until the glug-glug-glug of the flush....then tear off in rocket mode out the door and down the hallway! If "HerBe" is by herself and doesn't curl up in the sink, she'll stand in it pawing at the handle for us to turn the water on....then plays like a kid in a fire hydrant! When she's done, she is soaked to the bone, nose to tail and then of course spends the next 1-2 hours licking. She comes and sits on the edge of tub while we're showering as well so I think she's just mimicking a shower. Almost every night she gets caught by the auto-timer on the sprinkler in the planter bed where she loves to lay, yet we've watched her not move for at least 5-10 seconds....but then there's the "cat's hate water" thing...NOT this one!! I think she may have been a Labrador or Retriever in her last life! Blessings of Peace, And btw, both my brother and I have had four cats in all that have actually used the toilet for their box. His 1 and my 2 others were trained and one I had years ago "Tanga" (short for "Tanganasher", "one that nashes their teeth" one of Thor's goats) started doing it out of watching me I guess...all I know was nothing in the litter box and one day catching him sitting on the edge of the seat 'going'....yep.....CATs!!! >^..^<

Someone mentioned in a post about seeing a psychic/medium at one point in their life.... While I was in Thailand I met a couple, of which the gal's grandmother was a respected shaman of her village. The three hour jeep ride to that place was horrifying over slippery, muddy roads along steep cliffs. Having a 5 day pass, I stayed there for 3 days meeting many of the locals and finally on the 2nd night got to meet with this revered old woman. She was ancient in both look and the light that emitted from her very being. The old shaman looked at me with the gaze of a leopard about to eat its prey and took both hands turning my palms up and put my hands on my knees. She would go from palms to face to chest and back, over and over with her finger pointing out the things she saw "drawn on my spirit" (not tattoos, I only had five at the time) and as she spoke she would rub red, blue, yellow or black mud-like 'paint' on each spot she touched according to which part of my Spirit shown there. Through the granddaughter interpreting I was told I was to be the "healer of hearts and changer of ways" for many people, but especially for the "many women in my life". Stormy, I hear ya loud and clear....ohhh-wie...did I have a run of some real doozies for bits of time in my life...of course, in between wives. I just knew I was going to be instrumental in healing these gals lives from drugs, abusive relationships, terrible parents, passed or estranged children and all sorts of calamities in their broken lives. During the processes of "changing them" - as I truly, 100% believed that was my calling from that old shaman in Thailand and what I had always felt in my heart- I learned the invaluable lessons of "Love". I think the ones that broke my heart were the worse emotionally, but the best as far as personal growth. It wasn't until much later in life that I figured out I wasn't in those gal's lives to help them, they were placed along the road of my Life to teach me. As when I found true love, I set it free, and for awhile she was gone, but in the end returned with more than I could ever have hoped for. The past 12 years of my Life have shown me the many faces and truths of what real love is all about. There is no doubt in my thinking whatsoever that to have "Loved, and lost" is far, far better than "to have never loved at all"! And absolutimundo... whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger! -(thanks for the reminder grateful)- When one has loved to the point of wanting to die when it fails us, there can be no greater message of hope or learning curve for any Hu-man being. It shows we are capable of acknowledging things outside of self, and that is something I feel to be one of the greatest lessons of Life. Blessings of Peace,

Unless you have a connection to the Nordic history and pantheon, probably not Hugin or Munin, but great to know someone is keeping up on their studies! Being Colorado, I'd be more inclined to think of local lore and legend. I would also think what Tunder said sums it up very well: Blessings of Peace,

While raising my kids, and especially during the years when I had them full time, they were exposed to many things inside and outside the home. What I taught them was to respect wherever they were. My son had many friends at the Assembly of God Church, my daughter at Cross Roads Covenant and both attended summer VBS and even an occasional Sunday school. They also knew the importance to me of the then rigorous schedule of my various rites, rituals and Pagan holidays. What they got out of it was simply to respect whatever choice others made about what was right for themselves and to make what choice made the best sense to each of my kids. Long story short, they have a well rounded education in all beliefs and have grown up deciding for themselves with zero animosity for those who think/feel different. Blessings of Peace,

too cute!