Save the CATS...and dogs

Due to all the CATS and dogs that are being abandoned simply due to foreclosures on properties owned by irresponsible humans, I am now collecting for the ASPCA. See donation widget on the right side column. Thanks for your support.

Euthanizing With Carbon Monoxide?!? Illinois Seeks To Ban

The shelter in Easton, PA, from which I was rescued (thanks, Matt --and sorry for scratching you yesterday) has a “no kill” policy which seems to work for them. But apparently in Illinois it’s still okay to execute unwanted or abandoned animals (both dogs and CATS) for the sake of their owners’ lack of responsibility. And in Illinois, along with a small group of other states, it’s still okay to use Carbon Monoxide poisoning to do the deed.

Don’t get me wrong, though. I know it must be necessary at times when a dog or CAT is in untreatable pain to put them humanely out of their misery. Or even if the animal is so unmanageable that finding a home is an impossibility. But just read the excerpt below from a Chicago Tribune article about what carbon monoxide entails:

[Illinois is among eight states that still allow dogs and cats to be euthanized by pumping carbon monoxide into a special chamber, Matyas said. Four or five dogs are put into the chamber, which is about the size of a dumpster, along with a similar number of cats, he said.

As the gas seeps into the chamber, the dogs sometimes panic and begin fighting, Matyas said. It often takes more than 30 minutes for the animals to die.]

Read the full article and view the video by clicking here.

Hat tip to Culture Wire.

Arguing In Georgia

BUSTER: (serious) Is that supposed to be funny?

MATT: (smiling) Yes. I believe so.

BUSTER: Is that directed at me?

MATT: ...Yes...I believe so. (smiling again)

BUSTER: You know...the color is wrong!

MATT: The color?

BUSTER: YES, THE COLOR! I'M NOT ORANGE!

MATT: (laughing) Oh, that color. Yes,...the color is wrong. But the rest of it hit right on target.

BUSTER: Are YOU the big fat guy?

MATT: (stopped smiling) You know...you do lay around an awful lot....doing nothing...just eating and sleeping and pooping.

BUSTER: Yeah...well, there isn't a whole lot to do in this truck, you know. At home I can run around the living room and into the kitchen and back. I can jump up to the window sill, bounce on your bed, wipe my nose on your pillow, and claw my way up the side of my crows nest to the top tray feeling as though I've accomplished something meaningful.

MATT: You can do that here, too.

BUSTER: (shaking head) Nope! Here I run up to the dashboard and sit next to the windshield...until you blast the defroster to chase me off--

MATT: (interrupting) --You sit next to that freezing cold windshield....I chase you off for your own good. Then I--

BUSTER: (interrupting) --you chase me off so I have to run a very short distance to the bed and sit or lie down. That's what I get to do all day...sit or lie on your bed. You won't let me jump in your lap while the machine is moving--

MATT (interrupting) --the truck!

BUSTER: --while the truck is moving. You get mad if I try to jump up to the top bunk--

MATT: (interrupting) --Do you realize what will happen if I have to slam on the brakes if you're up there? You'll fly forward too fast for your claws to grab onto anything...and you'll crack your little furry head open on my overhead compartment...or worse yet...the windshield! At least with the lower bed you can hide behind the suitcase---

BUSTER: (interrupts) ----The suitcase!...oh the suitcase...my only salvation from complete and utter boredom. Digging my claws into it gives me brief and fleeting jolts of pleasure. The only thing more pleasurable would be to sink them into your face...

MATT: (interrupting) --That's it!!! Into the kennel you go. (grabs Buster and shoves him into plastic kennel, locks door). Sorry kitty, but that was the wrong thing to say just then...

BUSTER: Let me out.

MATT: No!

BUSTER: I have to go to the bathroom.

MATT: Liar.

BUSTER: All that arguing got me excited. I have to go potty.

MATT: You'll scratch me again.

BUSTER: No, I promise. I really have to go.

MATT: Oh, okay. But you better not be lying. (opens door to kennel, Buster climbs out)

BUSTER: (Runs to litter box...does his business...climbs out, saunters up to Matt and scratches his right leg).

MATT: HEY!!! You promised!

BUSTER: I know, but I don't have to go to the bathroom anymore.

MATT: Hmmm. I wonder if John McCain will be like that.... (picks up Buster and returns him to kennel, locks door).

Buster Gets The News On Fred...Finally

BUSTER: Ahhh. Finally home....up in my crow's nest. The only thing better would be if I had a crow with me to chew on. *Sigh*

MATT: I'm afraid I have some bad news.

BUSTER: (commanding) Out with it!

MATT: Yes, master. (laughing) You know, you're making this easier to tell you.

BUSTER: (seriously) What is it?

MATT: Fred Thompson withdrew from the campaign. His numbers were pretty bad in South Carolina, so he dropped out.

BUSTER: (disbelief) HE DIDN'T!

MATT: He did. In fact he did it almost two weeks ago.

BUSTER: Two weeks ago?!?!? Why didn't you tell me sooner?

MATT: You weren't feeling well, and I figured I'd better wait 'til we get back into town and get settled in.

BUSTER: Oh, is THAT what you thought? (deeply offended) You know, I would've wanted to call him with my condolances or send him a message or something...

MATT: Yeah, that was the other reason...I guess.

BUSTER: I'm not talking to you anymore! (turns his back)

MATT: Aw, come on...



Right about here was supposed to be a short video of me in my crow's nest ignoring Matt. Unfortunately both You-Tube and Blogger failed to allow us to post this video. It wasn't too long or obscene. We don't know what the heck their problems were. Sorry.

The Joys Of Traveling For A Living...

MATT: Feeling better, bud?

BUSTER: (looking a little green) Uuugghhh! I guess so….a little bit.

MATT: Sorry about the bumpy road. You’d think Florida would have nicer pavement due to the lack of ice and snow.

BUSTER: (looking at vomit on rug) What do you want me to do with this?

MATT: Throw some sawdust on it and I’ll scoop it up later.

BUSTER: We don’t have any sawdust. All we have are pages from USA Today I scratched up.

MATT: Forget it. I’ll pull into that rest stop and clean it up. (steering rig to off-ramp….gliding into rest area). There we are. (pulls into parking spot and sets break [loud hissing sound])

BUSTER: (squints) I hate that sound. (looks at food dish) I’m hungry. Would yah fill my food dish please?

MATT: Not a good idea.

BUSTER: Why not? I’m starving. (yawns and licks chops)

MATT: (applying paper towels to mess and scooping it into waste basket) Because you just threw up and your stomach can’t take food yet. You’ll bring it back up within minutes.

BUSTER: Well, then I’ll just keep eating until I stop throwing up. (smiles and nods head)

MATT: What a great idea. Boy, Buster I can’t figure out sometimes why you aren’t the one driving and I’m not the one playing with your catnip toys.

BUSTER: Yes. I should be in charge. And then YOU can march into the plastic kennel for meowing so much at night.

MATT: Back to reality.

BUSTER: (lowers head) Okay… Sure is a lot warmer today.

MATT: That’s because we’re getting close to Orlando. But don’t worry. We’re getting another load tonight going right back into the snow.

BUSTER: Brrrrrr. Where to?

MATT: Palmyra, PA

BUSTER: Hey, that’s close to home, right?

MATT: Yup. And we’ll get to spend a night at our new apartment. But then we gotta go again.

BUSTER: *sigh* I guess one night is better than none. And you can move all that stuff out of here to make more room.

MATT: Oh yes, the furniture. That will be moved out promptly. It’s driving me nuts, too.

BUSTER: Glad to see I wasn’t the only one…..(looking at rug) You missed a spot.

MATT: And in a couple of weeks we can take some real time off,

BUSTER: Two weeks?

MATT: No, more like 4 to 5 days.

BUSTER: Wow, that’s a month and a half.

MATT: No, not 45 days. Four… to… five of them. We’ll take our two-week vacation in late Spring. And we’ll stay home at Club Buster.

BUSTER: Lovely.

New Fred Thompson Video

BUSTER: Okay, so whose that talkin'? Is it you?

MATT: Does it sound like me?

BUSTER: No, I guess not. He drawls too much.

MATT: That's right. It's not me. Its some guy named John Hawkins from Right Wing News. He did a good job with this, I think.

BUSTER: Yeah, he di--- whoops! What's that about children and puppies? Children scare me...and I can't stand those idiot drooling canines at any age!

MATT: Hmmm.... Not to worry. It says "...people who hate children and puppies. You aren't people.

BUSTER: (looking suspiciously at Matt) You trying to tell me something?

MATT: (rolls eyes) Nope.

Siricomm Pinheads Run For The Exits

Either I or Matt have mentioned problems in the past with getting online while on the road, not having much in the way of good WIFI from which to choose. The few good choices remain the same...but they'll be a little more lonely. For the worst of them has declared bankruptcy!!!

They are/were the biggest truck stop WIFI outfit in the country, and the most expensive. But they were also the most unreliable and pathetic bunch of hacks in the industry. I am speaking of Siricomm, which, until recently, could be found at nearly every Pilot, Petro, or Loves truck stop in the country. As of 12-29-07 they are history, along with hundreds of employees, most of whom had not been paid in nearly a month.

So what happened? Well, like Boston Market...a good idea at first, they pitched their tents in too many places and let quality go by the wayside. Siricomm could be found in more than three times the truck stops as the nearest competitor, but had all kinds of technical issues, not the least of which was poor reception on mildly cloudy days. The problem was that everything was done via satellite. Some WIFI providers use cell towers, others use underground cables to connect the truck stops with the host provider before beaming the signals to individual customers (most of whom sat in their trucks in truck stop parking lots). Siricomm beamed from their base in Joplin to satellites, and from satellites to truck stops, who beamed to customers. Along the way any storm, or approaching storm, or clouds, or approaching clouds, or pooping seagulls, or lost parakeets flying by would interrupt the signal causing the trucker much anguish.

The other problem was the cost. Siricomm was charging $189.00 for a year's worth of WIFI when other companies were charging $120.00 to $150.00 with far better service and 54 Mbps (vs. Siricomm's mere 11 Mbps). The only question I have at this point is this: How did they last this long???

My thanks to Matt for doing the typing and most of the research on this while I ate my ProPlan Hairball treatment cereal. Yum-yum.

My Christmas Letter To All My Friends And Relatives

Well, this year was a horrible year with all kinds of suffering and strife. Guess Ill start at the beginning. I threw up so much this year I thought I was gonna die. Then Matt yelled at me a lot when I was bad. Then I threw up some more and saw a dog poop in a parking lot and got away with it. We stayed at lots of motels, some good, some not so good. And then-----

MATT: (interrupting) This isn't really your Christmas letter, is it?

BUSTER: Yes,...I wanted to be honest about things and---

MATT: (interrupting again) It doesn't sound very honest when you only mention the bad things. There were some pretty good things that happened this year.

BUSTER: Like?

MATT: Like the fact that the good vet found a medication that stopped you from all that puking. In fact you haven't puked once since December 3rd.

BUSTER: You're keeping score?

MATT: Sure. Its what I do. You could have also mentioned the new apartment we got last week with the huge windows you love...

BUSTER: Yes....and the birds (looking into space)....oh the birds. So mannnny biiiirrrrdddss. And the window sills are so deep. Lots of room for me.

MATT: And what did you get for Christmas early??

BUSTER: That was my Christmas present? Oh. I got a crows nest.

MATT: Yes! And you loved it!

BUSTER: Yes yes yes. Okay, I love it a lot.

MATT: Too bad I didn't get a picture of you in it. Will do so next time.

BUSTER: Its so tall! I'm as tall as you when I lay in the top level.

MATT: Almost.

Wake Up!

MATT: Now that's what it's like in the truck every morning...minus the baseball bat.

BUSTER: I don't have any idea what you're talking about.

Apartment Found

Oddly enough, Matt says he found us an apartment. You may remember his tale of apartment hunting last summer in which he was nearly swindled by several nefarious characters posing as landlords near Harrisburg, PA. Actually they were landlords, and very tricksy ones, too--

MATT: (interrupting) Yes, they were quite tricksy as you say. But I finally found one that appears to be above board, accepts cats, and makes things in general rather livable.

BUSTER: And I don't have to be declawed???

MATT: Nope!

BUSTER: When do we move in?

MATT: Middle of next month.

BUSTER: What city? Do you have pictures of the place? Do I get my own room? Does it have windows? Are there lots of mice and bugs for me to chase? I love flies. Are there lots of flies to catch?

MATT: Goodness! Uhm...I can't say the city. It's our business--no one else's. I don't have pictures, but they do...on line. But we'll look at those together, later. You remember the internet is like a large city...with lots of scary people who eat cats?

BUSTER: Koreans?

MATT: Yeah, them too. You won't get you own room. Neither will I. It's a studio, so it's rather small. But for something so small, the windows are rather large. We'll have three of them, so lots of light. There is a chocolate factory on the other side of town, so we'll have the aroma of chocolate most days. I know that doesn't mean that much to you.

BUSTER: No, it doesn't. Now a catnip factory...that would matter! Tell me more about the windows...

MATT: I didn't measure them, but they seemed to be about 3' wide and over 7 feet high. And there's a thick wire outside running left to right where birds like to perch.

BUSTER: (perking up) Birds? Crunchy birdses?

MATT: *sigh* Yes...have you been watching Lord of the Rings again?

BUSTER: I dunno.

MATT: There are no bugs that I saw, or flies either. And we're on the second floor just across from the elevator.

BUSTER: Dumb.

MATT: What?

BUSTER: Dumb.

MATT: Being across from the elevator?

BUSTER: Yup. Dumb.

MATT: Why?

BUSTER: Noise.

MATT: It won't be that bad. I have a noise maker on the way that creates white noise that will drown out the noise from the elevator while we're sleeping.

BUSTER: (shaking head) I won't even ask.

MATT: Good...don't.

Vets Day

MATT: Know what today is?

BUSTER: Uh....Vet's Day?

MATT: Veterans Day, yes. And do you know the significance of that?

BUSTER: (worried) I have to go to the vet again?

MATT: (laughing) No. It's a day dedicated to-

BUSTER: (interrupting) (somewhat panicky) I HAVEN'T THROWN UP AT ALL. I FEEL FINE. HERE, (grabs Matt's hand, applies to Buster's nose) SEE? MY NOSE IS SLIGHTLY DAMP. THAT'S GOOD, RIGHT??? AND AND HERE, (applies Matt's hand to Buster's forehead) AND I DON'T HAVE A FEVER EITHER!

MATT: Calm down. I know you aren't sick. And your forehead isn't where we take your temperature, either.

BUSTER: *gasps* (backs away)

MATT: Will you relax, already?!? Veterans Day is a day honoring those who have served our country in uniform.

BUSTER: Like the guy in the car with flashing lights who pulled you over that one time?

MATT: No. Not unless he served in the United States Military at some time in his life. It's a day to honor those who made the sacrifice to serve, not only in time of war....but especially then, I guess. It started after the end of World War One....

BUSTER: (rolling eyes) Oh...here we go...

MATT: Fine. I thought you wanted to know.

BUSTER: I just wanted to know that I wouldn't have to be...examined...again, that's all. The rest just doesn't interest me.

MATT: Would the loss of your freedom interest you? Or taking all those great things for granted each day? Would that interest you? What if you had to ask the government for permission each time we stayed in a hotel or crossed from one state line to another?

BUSTER: That would suck.

MATT: Veterans have insured our freedom for 231 years and counting by putting on the uniform and defending this nation from tyranny.

BUSTER: Okay okay. So what are we gonna do today?

MATT: Watch football.

BUSTER: That's it? No celebration? No parade?

MATT: It's kinda chilly outside. And I'm tired from yesterday.

BUSTER: But if it's as important as you say it is,....we gotta do something! We gotta show our support...or whose gonna put on the uniform and sacrifice again when it's needed?

MATT: Good point. Tell you what,...while I'm out today....if/when I see someone in uniform, I'll thank him or her for their service to our country.

BUSTER: You darn well better! And thank him for me, too.

Resolved

BUSTER: I fixed it!!! I fixed it!!! (pointing to damage on hood of truck)

MATT: (laying in sleeper birth) (waking up) Huh?? What?? You fixed...what?

BUSTER: I fixed the hood! I did it! Look! (pointing again with paw) Good as new! See?

MATT: (blankly) Duct tape?..... (to self) Red duct tape?

BUSTER: (proudly) YEAH! All fixed.

MATT: Hmmm. Yeah, you can hardly tell.... And the color...oh the color.

BUSTER: RED!

MATT: Yeah...it's red. Just like the truck. Uh....(puzzled) How did you get out there, for one. And how did you tape it without opposable thumbs?

BUSTER: Steroids. You've been giving me steroids, and now I'm Super Kitty.

MATT: (glaringly) How did you get out?!?

BUSTER: (pointing at Matt) YOU left the wing open. So I squeezed out and fixed your hood for you.

MATT: Prednisolone in a transdermal form does not make you buff, Kitty.

BUSTER: Must be the Pro Plan then. I'm not throwing it up anymore, so I have more energy to spend.

MATT: Will it break your furry little heart if I have additional work done, you know, just to smooth it out a little?

BUSTER: Well frankly, I just don't see that as being...necessary. It looks great now.

MATT: Yes, it could fool anybody...until it rains.

BUSTER: It won't rain!

MATT: Well, actually it will, as it tends to do so in the Autumn.

BUSTER: Well...don't drive in the rain then. (nodding once firmly)

MATT: (resigned) Sure.

Rude Awakening!

BUSTER: So what the heck happened this morning?

MATT: Whaddya mean?

BUSTER: You know...around 2am when you were in bed...and the truck shook....and then shook again....and all that crunching noise.

MATT: Oh, that. Some rookie hit the truck.

BUSTER: Whaddya mean?

MATT: I mean that some sleepy, idiot truck driver with only 2 months experience felt too cocky to get out of his truck and look while he was backing into a spot next to us when he wasn't sure what he saw...or didn't see. And so he crunched the right front section of my truck's hood with the side of this trailer. And that's after he backed into my side mirror.

BUSTER: So he hit us twice, right?

MATT: Yeah. But he said he didn't realize he did it the first time....or the second. I had to get my pants on and run out there.

BUSTER: Yeah, I remember. I heard you shouting at him, "please stop hitting my truck, dammit!" Or something like that.

MATT: I didn't say "dammit"...did I?

BUSTER: I thought you did. So did he try to run off or weasel out of it?

MATT: No, he said he was sorry and cooperated fully. Nice change from some of those others.

BUSTER: Got a picture?

MATT: Let me check...yup, here it is.

BUSTER: Ooooh. That looks like crap.

MATT: Yeah, I was pretty upset. But I didn't call the police this time.

BUSTER: How come?

MATT: When I got my employer on the phone he asked to speak to the other guy and got him to admit fault. If he hadn't done that I'd have gotten a cop to do that.

BUSTER: But you said he apologized.

MATT: Yeah, they tend to do that at the time. But later on after the dust settles they start thinking about the precarious nature of their standing at their own job...and sometimes change their story. He might say it was me who hit him.

BUSTER: Well, I'm a witness. I heard him admit fault, too.

MATT: (laughing) Oh that's rich. Can you picture me taking you into court and setting you on the judges bench for you to testify? "Meow meow meow meeooow meow meeeeooow...etc"

BUSTER: (nose in air) Hmmmf! I think I'd make a very good impression...especially if the judge is female. And my meow is impeccable.

MATT: Yes, you're right about that.

Medication At Last

Okay, finally we made it back through that little town in PA where Matt has his PO Box. That means that finally I have my steroid medicine: Prednisolone in a transdermal form. That means Matt smears it in the inside flap of my ear. Good for me. I hate pills. I choke on them and they make me moody.

Hopefully this new med will keep me from puking so much. I dunno. The shot in the rump I got last month was supposed to last a whole month. It didn't. It only lasted 17 days...and then I started barfing again...and moaning and stuff. I hate being sick.

It's .05 ml, which on the syringe measuring thing is equal to one drop. Weird thing is that is comes out like a cream, not liquid. Anyway I do that twice daily for a week, then once daily for the next week, and then every other day for two weeks. I hope Matt is keeping track of all that because I can't due to my lack of time comprehension beyond a day. So I'll let the 320 lbs trucker be my doctor and let the litter box biscuits fall where they may.

Why I Will Never Live With A Dog

This proves once and for all that cats have been framed all these years by evil drooling dogs who run amok and wreak havoc...and...and...and and pretend to like you. Yeah. Cats don't do any of that. It's DOGS.... DOGS do that.

Two Steps Forward...One Step Backwards

This morning Matt spoke with a Dell rep in Oklahoma City who found the problem. Seems Matt had never upgraded to Explorer 7 and was still using the antiquated 6. While there must have been an update years ago for 6, that update is no longer available--therefore primitive fonts. Since upgrading to Explorer 7 the remaining problem has been corrected.

I also found out that Dell is expanding its tech support team in Oklahoma City in order to possibly reverse the outsourcing trend. If this is so then Matt could possibly be talked into buying another Dell some day. I can dream, can't I?

Good news from the good vet. The steroids that assuage my puking tendencies are available in ear-drop form. They will be mailed to Matt's PO Box early next week. And not a moment too soon. I puked yesterday morning and again moments ago. Feeling a little weak and dizzy. Must tread carefully in the truck while moving. Will try to talk Matt into buying me some baby food in the meantime.

No News Means I Don't Feel Like Reporting The Bad News

Much has happened since Sept. 30th. I caught a very bad cold. So bad I was sneezing this creamy junk all over Matt's windshield, Matt's chair, Matt's steering wheel, Matt's bed, and Matt. I was forced to choke down 16 pills in eight days to fight the virus, which lost the battle. I was well again.

Just then a virus (Trojan KillAV) broke through Symantec Norton's firewall and hijacked the control panel and reeked havoc utterly. There was great gnashing of teeth and tearing of clothing in anguish. Our files were laid waste and we were forced to format the entire hard drive. I guess Norton was out to lunch when Matt hit the "tech support" button. Even Dell wanted $150 for one day's work or $250 for a year's contract to fix the problem.

My solution was to re-download Windows XP, which Matt whole-heartedly agreed to do. It took almost 5 hours on the phone with the Dell tech support guy in India (who promised to call back and didn't), and then a 2nd call to Dell in the Phillipines to a nice lady who stayed on the phone the whole time. But there is still a problem. The fonts on every site we go to look very primitive---almost like the Pent 2 laptop Matt had in 1999, so he claims. Have re-downloaded Adobe 8 Reader and acrobat, along with Adobe Flashplayer---no change. Think maybe Dell sent Matt the wrong Drive disc to upload. Matt will look into that later.

To make matters even worse,...I went 17 days without puking, but now am starting again. The steroid shot worked but was only temporary. The good vet is looking into ear drops as a way to apply said steroids, and will mail them to Matt. Good. I'm sick of puking my cereal all over the rugs...and the bed...and the chair...and the dashboard...

Zzzzzzzzzz....Happy Anniversary.....zzzzzzzzzz

Aaaaaaahhhh. Now this is more like it. Curled up by the window....on a chair....covered by the bedspread so I don't claw the crap outa the chair....snoozing away.....until Matt comes along with that stupid camera....

MATT: Sorry to bother you, bud.

BUSTER: Oh,...really?

MATT: Yes,...I am. Enjoying the good life?

BUSTER: Trying.

MATT: Okay, I'll leave you alone for a bit.

BUSTER: Great idea.

MATT: Oh, and one more thing....

BUSTER: *Sigh*...What?!?

MATT: Happy Anniversary!

BUSTER: Oh yeah?

MATT: Yep,...it's been exactly two years since I adopted you from a life of squalor at the Easton, PA shelter (SPCA).

BUSTER: Oh,...the nut-house. Yes, I remember. I wonder if Cookie is still there. She used to growl when she got picked up....otherwise very friendly.

MATT: Yes, I remember....Would you like to go back and visit your friends?

BUSTER: Heck no! Most of them probably got sent to Korean restaurants by now.

MATT: They don't do that!...But some who weren't adopted....I dunno....maybe they had to...you know.

BUSTER: Yes,...I know...(puts paw to throat and makes gagging noise). I remember I was there almost a year before I got chosen.

MATT: Yeah. Must've been all that dry heaving you were doing.

BUSTER: Hairballs! They were hairballs and I couldn't bring them up. I must've looked awfully good otherwise....for you to choose me.

MATT: Yep,...a combination of looks and personality. Besides,... you chose me, too. That's the main thing I was looking for.

BUSTER: Well, I was desperate.

MATT: I see.

Belly Shaved And Wallet Fleeced

Uuugggghhhhhh!!! Yesterday I spent hours...I mean several hours in that plastic prison cell...a kennel, Matt calls it...due to several mishaps.

It started when Matt and I pulled into a certain customer's facility (customer shall remain nameless), and got delayed. Then we drove a couple of hours to the terminal and then the hotel, where Matt was told our room was given to someone else (even though Matt reserved it with his credit card). Oops! So we drove down to Malvern, PA where we were put in the handicap room with a microwave 2 feet above the floor. Great for me, not for Matt.

That was yesterday. This morning we missed our Nissan service appointment to fix the blower thing in the car and couldn't get it rescheduled before we return to the road (in the truck). While at the vet (appointment rescheduled) this afternoon Matt spent $500.00+ so the vet could shave my belly and do an ultra-sound. They found nothing but bright light shining around the divider between my small and large intestines. No bezoars or anything at all in my stomach. No tumours or anything like that. Just shiny sphincters in my entrails, for which I received a steroid shot in the rear. Yeeoowww!!!! But fortunately I was gassed for most of this humiliating experience. Hopefully this will stop me from vomiting so often.

Now I'm relieved to be out of the truck after 5 hours today, driving from Malvern to Bethlehem, being man-handled, and driving back to Malvern. Good thing I fasted or there would be a terrific mess in that plastic prison cell.

Got to eat when we got to the hotel. Now all is peaceful again.

Fight The Good Fight...

BUSTER: Oh, yeah....gotta love that profile of mine!

MATT: Hmm, okay. But what are you doing on MY side of the truck? You plan on driving soon?

BUSTER: No, I was just waiting for YOU to come back from wherever you went. What do those two signs say, anyway?

MATT: Well, one says you blog for Fred Thompson. We,...actually. And the other warns people not to go near you for your nasty disposition.

BUSTER: That's not true! I'm very sociable and you know it. And what a poor likeness. I have more white on me than that. And what's with all the bug guts on the window? Couldn't you clean the windshield just for the picture?

MATT: Nope. All the squeegies were broken at the last fuel stop.

BUSTER: So where are we going now?

MATT: To Chattanooga....and then somewhere else...and then to Allentown-Bethlehem, but not before Ahmadinejad escapes from New York.

BUSTER: Who???

MATT: The Iranian leader....you know the whack-job who thinks the Holocaust didn't happen...and he wants to destroy Israel and the US. I was just saying we won't get to the greater NYC area before he leaves. I really wanted to go to the UN Building and shout insults at him as he comes and goes.

BUSTER: I see.

MATT: Plus, maybe I'd get to meet Pamela Geller. I'm sure she's be there with a whole gang to protest this Hitler-clown.

BUSTER: But why are you so worked up?

MATT: Buster,...just picture a big stinky dog pissing in your litter box...or better yet, your water dish!

BUSTER: Is he drooling too?

MATT: Yes he is!

BUSTER: (seething with anger) Oooooooh, I'd scratch him good! (swiping the air with open claws).

MATT: Good kitty! But we would try to be a little less violent with the Iranian President, even though he deserves to be scratched...and then some.

Porter, IN

Today was a very relaxing day at Porter, IN. Matt and I took advantage of the 34 hour restart option that is still legal at this time, which resets our hours of service back to 70 available hours (for the next 8 days, starting tomorrow).

It seems that certain people would like to see the entire hours of service improvements thrown out the window, so we can go back to 8 hour breaks, 10 hour driving shifts and 15+hour work days. Matt says that sounds like crap, that 8 hours isn't enough time to sleep, shower, eat, do your business, and unwind. I tend to agree. More on this later...

Fred Up By 8 Over Rudy

Matt just told me he saw a Rasmussen poll that shows our guy, Fred Thompson, up by 8 points over Rudy Giuliani. That's great, but I'll bet Rudy starts scratching like an angry kitty, now.

Gotta go! Matt sez we gotta get up to Michigan by 5pm and we won't make it, so we gotta apologize a lot to the dispatcher and stuff. Wait a minute....gotta catch a fly.....(claw...stuffing in mouth...gulp)...there. Where was I?....

Fred's Formal Announcement

BUSTER: Okay, here it is.

MATT: You sure?

BUSTER: Yes.

Fundraising For Fred

Matt is taking a well deserved nap, while I fumble with the keyboard trying to figure out how to post a You Tube video of Fred Thompson. I'll see if I can find a new one for ya. Not that we're gonna be all Fred all the time....but since he has officially thrown his hat in we should get with the program.

You may have noticed that button on the right just above the blog archives. Yes, we're taking contributions for Fred! Of course we don't see one dime of that money...but if we raise enough dough for him Matt might get appointed to some patronage job like Secretary to the UN or ambassador to Cleveland....or something that would get us outa the truck. Sometimes it's just too much for me, being a cat and all...bouncing up and down on the dashboard. Hey, maybe Secretary of Transportation so Matt can fix those bumpy roads that make me vomit my cereal. There. Those are enough reasons to donate. All that and the war on terror and stuff. 'Cause we can't earn a living if our cities are blown up by angry Muslim extremists who want us to dress and pray like they do...and beat up on women and chop off limbs and stuff. So donate, okay?

MATT: Hey Buster!...Don't you think maybe you should be more positive when asking for donations?

BUSTER: No! This is working. I've raised $100 already! Look (pointing to totals).

MATT: Uh...that looks like the $100 I gave earlier this afternoon, bud.

BUSTER: Then what are you complaining about? It worked, see?

MATT: And what the heck is all this stuff about patronage jobs? Do you really think I'll be running the UN if we raise substantial money?

BUSTER: Yup! And I know you can't wait so you can have the building demolished and the auslanders sent home.

MATT: Oh...uh huh...... So which You Tube are you going to post? The 15 minute one?

BUSTER: Yeah, sure...why not? It's a little lengthy for a You Tube video, but not long at all for a speech. Besides, people gotta know why Fred got in.

MATT: True.

MATT: That's not the speech!!! That's a commercial from Australia.

BUSTER: Okay okay okay...okay. Uh...let me work on it.

MATT: Awwwwwwee...those meerkats are cuuuuute.

Patience Patience Patience

BUSTER: Are you ready? Are you ready already??? (tapping paw repeatedly).

MATT: Almost,...I just gotta finish posting in YOUR blog.

BUSTER: (impatiently) It's almost noon! We were supposed to leave out at 8am! At least you remembered to feed me.

MATT: Okay, okay! Almost done.

BUSTER: (more impatiently) You've been on that stupid computer all morning! Don't you know it's Later Day weekend??? We could be killed if we have to rush through it.

MATT: That's Labor Day weekend. And we still have time. Don't sweat it, kitty. Hey, Fred's announcing next week!

BUSTER: He's another one! You two take forever to do anything.

MATT: Well, we both believe in doing things right! Remember? "not on their time schedule, but OURS!"

BUSTER: (sarcastically) Welllll,...it's time to go NOW.

MATT: Yes,...I think you're right.......Hey, you know you moved up to "slithering reptile" on the TTLB ecosystem?

BUSTER: Oooh,....really? Cool, I guess. Does that mean more readers?

MATT: Well, it means more links...which mean more possibilities for people to be exposed to the possibility of clicking on said link to arrive here...

BUSTER: Hmmmm......ARE YOU READY NOW?!?!?!?

MATT: Almost,...just have to include something from You-Tube about Fred.

BUSTER: *Sigh*

Work Work Work...

After our little break at Bethlehem, PA, Matt got sick and got another day off. Guess he got tired of watching me barf so much he had to do his own little puke-fest.

When that was over we got stuck with another stupid load to Canada. It went rather well and uneventful for the first two miles or so, when we got pulled off the scale at their weigh station. The guy with the reflective vest came out and told Matt he was going to conduct "just a short inspection" and then we'd be off on our way.

It was no short inspection, but a full blown one, where the guy slid under the truck and inspected everything there...and then under the hood, ...and then made Matt pump the brake thingy,...and show all his paperwork that I played with earlier. Good thing I kept the important stuff in proper order. Matt can count on me. Then after about 45 minutes he let us go.

Since Matt and his truck passed this rigorous gauntlet successfully he got a sticker in the lower right windshield thingy that I bump my head on sometimes, and a sheet of paper saying he passed the inspection. Matt said that was worth 2 good safety points from his employer (a good thing, I guess) and $25 from them, too. So Canada this time wasn't too bad.

Then we went to upstate NY on a bunch of winding, hilly roads with sharp turns that turned my tummy upside down. So I puked. Matt wasn't happy. Then we sat forever getting our trailer loaded and drove over a multitude of steep mountains through PA, WV, VA, and NC before flatter land in SC and GA. Then drove up to North East Indiana,...much calmer. But now we're sitting in Amarillo, TX waiting for our hours to reset. Then off to Albuquerque, NM to deliver. All this in just over a week. That's truckin'.

Been so busy lately and haven't had the time to post here,...or on Matt's blog. We're just driving all day with just enough time to eat and sleep in between.

Fred Thompson in Iowa

BUSTER: Is that Fred Thompson?

MATT: (nodding) Yup...in Iowa today making a speech at the State Fair.

BUSTER: He said he supports the 2nd Amendment.

MATT: (nodding again) Yeah.

BUSTER: He said he's Pro-life on abortion.

MATT: (nodding still yet again) Yes, he is.

BUSTER: He supports fixing Social Security and he likes the 10th Amendment.

MATT: (nodding and smiling) That's right.

BUSTER: I didn't hear anything about rights for cats.

MATT: Hmmm...me neither. Maybe he'll talk about that next time.

BUSTER: (shaking head) He never talks about that.

MATT: Just what kind of rights were you interested in hearing about?

BUSTER: The right to make you give me treats...and...and to let me go outside when I want...

MATT: (rears back in heavy laughter) Are you kidding?

BUSTER: (long pause...looking very serious) No...I'm not.

MATT: Look, Buster. There are many other issues more important these days than cat's rights. Not that I have anything against them, but our very existence as a nation may be in jeopardy in the war on terror. You need to wake up to reality and put things in their proper perspective. We need a President who will do that and LEAD the country in the proper direction.

BUSTER: And that's Fred?

MATT: That's Fred. Tell you what,...I'll let you submit a question to the Republican You-Tube debate if you'd like.

BUSTER: Oh swell!