FIVE SECOND STORIES

In the neighborhood: We're finally getting some milder weather with no snow. Business at the Diner has been variable. We had 2 Mourning Dove couples stop by for an early supper:

Slowly, the snow is beginning to melt:

The driveway and street are clear and dry:

Mr. Redbird having a bite:
 

As we near Valentine's Day, temps are close to 40° with rumors of 50's coming next week! Woot woot! The woodland gnomes basking in some sunshine:

This late week, we saw the return of our friends, some of whom are Winter sleepers. After dark, we've seen a couple of Rocky's, a Blossom and a small Stampy. Curiously, we have not seen any deerskis as of late.

~ 

We are sad to report that Lord Bertram Longfellow was wounded in action as a result of a skirmish on the nights of 2/9-10. He was bitten in his armpit (or axilla on a feline) during close-quarter fighting under one of the house foundation pines-one of his outposts-located by my bedroom. 

 

The sound of fighting woke both C and I in the middle of the night. His injury was not apparent until C came home in the late afternoon of the 10th-our vet did not have an opening until the following afternoon so we rushed him to MSU Animal Clinic. They could not find any wound and wanted to do x-rays and extensive blood work for...$1000-1500. Due to the late hour, we had them do just a basic blood draw and obtained pain meds. The next day, we took him to our vet. The wound had puffed up his left front leg and our vet found the scabs from the bite and began antibiotics. Friday, Buddy and I were hanging out-both under the weather and despite his limb, he badly wanted to go outside. Meowwwwrwww, Dad, I want to go outttttttttt!. He's better on 2/14 and his Mom gave clearance for him to go out. 45° and Sunny. His patrol was extensive. Here, he was by the shed, walking rather gingerly. 

Who was here?

He walked further and returned and rubbed his cheek glands:

Take that, you trespasser!

He went over to Benny's Diner which is part of his realm:

In the tree to his left was a very unhappy squirrel who was chattering and tail switching:

Look closely, that tree is showing the beginnings of red buds!

He was out on patrol for nearly 2 hours before coming back in. A nice, warmed meal of fishy shreds with sardines with a garnish of treats was awaiting him. Well done, old son! 

Who was the culprit? At first we thought it was the tailless black kitty we had seen a few times at night. Poor thing. But then on 2/12, I spotted this cat by the shed:

The next late afternoon, I was checking on Buddy who was snoozing on the couch and I happened to look out the garage-side door and this guy was lounging on the step! WTF! That takes some stones, pal. I banged on the door and he took off towards the West.
 

Today, when I let Bud out this door, I saw him sniffing intently around the step. In the early evening, when we were all gathered around the hearth celebrating V Day, C and I spotted the Black Kitty who had come out from one of the shed apartments. He hung out for a bit and went on patrol, going over to Benny's Diner. Oh boy, looks like we have a problem. He looks to be pretty healthy (has his tail). No collar but then Bud doesn't have one either. A new cat looking to expand his realm? Just passing through? We've had that happen in the past. I'm posting a lost cat query on the FB Delta Community page. Stay tuned.

Lord Bertram's well-deserved medal for his bravery and sacrifice.

This event reminded me of when Bin got trapped in a snowy canyon that I had shoveled to reach the Diner. I think it was the Winter of 2016-17. Anyway, he met up with another cat and got his ass kicked. He was bitten in his side and had part of his fur shaved. Poor guy.

 

 ~

Fun vids: 

The Sled and The Ant:

We've been watching Futurama-a sci-fi cartoon about a pizza delivery guy who is transported from 1999 to the year 3000 and a dramatically changed Earth. Made by Simpson's creator Matt Groening with David X. Cohen. One of the billboard ads seen in the show opening features Bachelor Chow:

Both the Simpson's and Futurama are noted for a number prescient ideas. Just this week in the Times:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/style/boy-kibble-ground-beef-protein-dinner.html?searchResultPosition=1

 

Speaking of dinner, a new ad from Stouffer's where a woman is walking her dog and begins to hallucinate:

Gawd, what is implying? This anxious Mom is so suddenly  guilt-ridden about not thinking about dinner? Sheesh, give the lady a break. Hell, that kid of hers can use a friggin' microwave can't he? And let's guilt-trip down the wellness road. Just how healthy is Stouffer's for you and your child? 

~ 

FUBARland: 

For those of you who missed it, here is Bad Bunny's half-time show:

Hats off to him and to his set designers: an inventive and joyous show filled with symbols of his homeland and people. He single-handedly has brought more attention to the island and its people than anyone in ages. Puerto Rico, a commonwealth and its people considered American citizens, has been for years the red-headed, left-handed stepchild of the US. It was criminally ignored after their devastating hurricane in 2017. Our government didn't want to spend much money there (for the record, joining other hurricane hit areas-New Orleans, Asheville etal), sent businessmen (investors) in to rip them off (especially in the electricity sector) while leaving the island with Third World conditions to this day.

 

I was very happy to see that the "alternative" half-time show featuring numbskull Kid Rock was a fucking shambles, although at least in English which pleased Roach and MAGA.

 

Meanwhile:  

What a fucking insane week in Fubarland. Gawd, the Pam Bondi hearing: ahh yes, performative political theatre that ranks up there with Watergate as well as the McCarthy hearings during the Red Scare in the 50's. 

Donnie Demento can barely put a sentence together. He continues to dismantle and shit on everything. This week, it was EPA rules especially those mandated during the Obama years. Oh, fuck the rules. Learn to love the beauty of coal. I don't care if pollution kills-there's money to be made!

 

El Paso airport was shut down briefly due to some crazy shit with laser beam weaponry depending on which BS version one wants to accept from the govt.  I wondered if it was a twofer: the weapon and let's see how the air traffic system reacts to a sudden shutdown. In case we need to close certain major hubs for whatever reason. Keep people from leaving, facilitate troops being deployed etc.

 

Not related but still damn strange-the "kidnapping" of news host Savannah Guthrie's elderly Mom from her home in Tucson. I guess someone is try to get a bitcoin payment but it all sounds nebulous. The poor woman has been gone since 2/1 and the authorities seem not to be making much progress. Her home is just a few miles north of where my brother and wife live: across the Santa Cruz River and up in the foothills.

 

There is good news though: evidently it finally dawned on the Roach (or his handlers) how bad the optics and public reaction to the ICE gestapo actions in Minneapolis have been. He replaced that murderous asshole, little dick Greg Bovino and had ICE acting director Homan end the Surge. 

 

A grand jury declined to indict our Senator Elissa Slotkin, Arizona's Mark Kelly and 4 other senators for seditious conspiracy for the vid they made pointing out that military personnel are required, under military law, to disobey unlawful orders.

 

And yet, polling continues to show that 1/3 of the population still say that they support the Orange Cockroach. Gee MAGA kool-aid drinkers, how did things work out in Jonestown?