A friend of mine had a mama cat and four kittens dropped on her doorstep in the fall of 1993. I had just moved out of my parents' house into my first apartment. Serendipity.
I went over to her house and went into the room where they were keeping the cats. One kitten was nursing, one was in a closet whining, and the other two (one gray and one cream) were running around. I played with the gray one for quite some time. When I stood up to leave I inexplicably picked up the cream one. The rest is history. I named him Tommy after the Primus song, "Tommy the Cat". Yeah, I know. Real original. But I was a huge Primus fan back then.
He was smaller than a chilito (remember those?). He immediately had a house mate named Booger. She was bigger but kind to him and he grew up fast. We moved together into a house with 3 other dudes (including my older brother). One of the other dudes had decided to get one of the litter as well and so Tommy and his biological sister, Tabitha, were reunited for two years. Tommy even became the perfunctory star of the short-lived cable access phenomenon, "Biscuit and Gravy Train".
After the Residence' came 227 in Fern Creek, and then the Castle. After 5 years in the same place, Tommy and I moved again; this time to Nashville, TN. In a short 10 months I got engaged, married, and then grabbed Tommy and loaded up the U-Haul again for Somerville, MA.
Tommy was always the sweetest cat. He would talk to birds, arch his back and dive like Greg Louganis (with a little help from me), walk on ceilings at command, and generally put up with all sorts of crap like wearing costumes and performing for the camera. Tommy was an amazing lap cat and would hop in a stranger's lap as easily as my own. He deferred to the other cats in the house, always letting them run the show. He even had a pretty funny voice, courtesy of my buddy, Jimmy.
Tommy and I were together for about 14 and a half years. And in that time he was a true, unconditional companion. I owe him my life in many ways. If it wasn't for Tommy who knows what would have happened to me? He helped me through many, many, lonely and depressed times. I leaned on him for just about everything.
Tommy was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure. His lab results were awful and the decision was made to put him down. We were able to spend time together this past Presidents' Day Weekend. And I was holding his paw when he passed. It's a strange thing to see your buddy lying there, not breathing, staring emptily out the window. I miss him already. Every day. Our other cat, Sophie has taken to lying on the blanket he used right before he died. Maybe it's because it's next to the radiator but I think it's because she knows he's gone.
Tommy was everything to me and there will never ever be another cat like him.
Tommy the Cat
b. August 17, 1993
d. February 19. 2008
A whilez ago, my buddy Antoine and I had a discussion about the Steve Miller Band. Specifically, its Greatest Hits record from 1974-1978.
I just heard "The Stake" (Track 7) on 100.7 WZLX coming home. For you Louisvillians, ZLX is basically Boston's QMF.
Man, I think I sold this CD in the GREAT CHRISTMAS CD SALE of 1995. (Just so happened a roommate's parents had just bought a CD player and wanted to update their media library.) But I gotta say, whether or not it's considered a guilty pleasure or not...I miss this record.
Too many good songs. Too classic. Heck, I even saw Steve Miller at Riverbend in Cincinnati. That's right. I'm a nerd.
But I challenge any of you American males to find any of your friends who did NOT own this record or at least know it by heart. I think it was a prerequisite for entering high school to have this...
As was mentioned previously, Biscuit World had its first TIE in poll voting. The first half of January asked you your favorite dude from 90210. The Internets have spoken and Dylan and Brandon tied with 7 votes each.
The second half asked for your favorite chick. 60% of you favored the lovely Jennie Garth-portrayed Kelly Taylor.
This love triangle thrilled fans of the show and BW's poll proves the love for this entanglement subsists.
Congratulations to Brandon Walsh, Dylan McKay, and Kelly Taylor!!! (BW voted for Brandon and Kelly so BW is very happy...)
Now only one question remains: WHO voted for Andrea? Heh.
Humans are self-important, self-absorbed and oblivious to their surroundings.
Granted, this is being written a few hours after getting off an airplane. Where else to really get a sense of humanity but a 34 row flying cylinder of pressurized air and strangers? You don't really get the gist of it unless you're forced to share space with people you don't know and who all want to get on and off the plane before you. No matter what. Flying rant starts now:
First, when airlines actually make an announcement for pre-boarding (and it doesn't happen all the time), it usually applies to families with children and those who need assistance (i.e. old people). So why is that EVERYBODY decides to get in line then? Why not give those people a few seconds, like maybe 30 to 60, to get out of their chairs and make their way to the gates unimpeded?
Second, when your airplane lands and the seatbelt sign gets turned off and you're sitting in row 33 of 34, sit your ass down. You're not helping matters by standing there, tapping your foot, waiting to get off. You're in row 33! BTW, if you go down the aisle before someone in row 32 (who hasn't been able to get their stuff together because you've been standing in the aisle the whole time) you should have your brains AND intestines eaten first.
Third, when you sit down on the plane keep in mind that there is a slight chance that the person sitting behind you may have been born with knees. Don't do a Greg Louganis and back dive into your chair. That sucks.
Fourth, when you smile at a baby and act all nice, don't let its mother see your blackberry when you text before takeoff that "Now I have to sit next to a sick baby for 2 hours..." Low class. Plus, by the time the plane reached 10,000 feet said baby was asleep and slept the ENTIRE flight.
Fifth, pushing a stroller and two carry-on bags and carrying a backpack and a baby and a diaper bag takes some coordination, so give the parents a break. I promise you they are not trying to hold you up so you can stand at the baggage carousel, tapping your foot, waiting to pick up your luggage...
May the zombies eat you first...
The unthinkable just happened at BW.
We have our first Biscuit World Poll TIE!!!
Results will be posted after the "chick" portion of the poll is closed.
Stay tuned.
So, the coolest thing just happened and NOBODY TOLD ME! In case you've been in Mephisto's Realm, or perhaps just chillin' in Asgard, the Marvel Comics Universe had a Civil War (with a VERY lackluster denouement). Because of said Civil War, Tony Stark and the Man say ALL super-beings have to register their powers with the government or be locked up (in the Negative Zone no less).
SOME supes have had the cojones to say "Here's my super power - givin tha Man tha bird!!!" Which means Marvel is raking in the dough cuz now there's like a bajillion Avengers titles. [Full disclosure - I'm a fanboy sucker and I buy three of them] Bendis is rockin "The New Avengers" and "The Mighty Avengers" but...
The reason I'm posting is because of "Avengers: The Initiative". Specifically Issue 7. The Initiative, created by Hank Pym, Mr. Fantastic, and Iron Man, is a program to train and position a Super-Hero Team in each of the 50 states. Well, looks like Kentucky's is up and running!!! REPRAZENT!!!
Check out the scan from said issue: Da Ville (with some new buildings in the skyline) AND three members of Kentucky's team (which is listed as The Action Pack, Team #15). Those three members are called Vox, Prima Donna, and Frog-Man. One would assume that Frog-Man spent some time in the Ohio River (perhaps TOO much time *thanks, Jim*).
Enjoy! Go pick up this back issue or the whole run. It's been a fun title so far. It also centers around a character named Michael Van Patrick (MVP), the most promising new recruit to the Initiative, who tragically "loses his life" during a training session. Well, the Van Patrick farm just so happens to be located in Liberty, KY (right down US 127 from Danville). Pretty tight.
A friend of mine had a mama cat and four kittens dropped on her doorstep in the fall of 1993. I had just moved out of my parents' house into my first apartment. Serendipity.
