"Did you hear about the fellow whose whole left side was cut off? He's all right now"
Read on and fall sound asleep
I am reading “Death of His Uncle” by C. H. B. Kitchin. I became so enamoured of his writing style and his characterization of the main character that I consulted Amazon.com for more of his books.
”I have always had a fondness for the shabby, slow suburban trains which run in the late evening. To me there is something so romantic about their tired homeward glide between rows of little houses with their lighted windows. On such journeys I find released in me a serenely contemplative quality—a hint of the Divine essence in man—which weaves innumerable fantasies round those drawn translucent curtains and the human beings shadowed against them by the lights within or appearing for a second in the square of an uncurtained window; for few people are shy about being seen by a passing train. I have even wondered if the guards and engine drivers, who, no doubrt, know the names of every little house, ever form contacts with their momentary neighbours, here wave a hankerchief or blow a kiss, or shudder here at some tragedy which they know is being enacted within those half-seen walls. And in the houses there are surely some who have made the train a real and personal thing—my realities are all personal—watch it coming with joy and its going with regret, like astronomers thrilled by the radiance of a predicted star.”
Curiously many of the used books were priced higher than those labelled “new”. At any rate they were all too expensive for me. I did however add them to the Amazon wishlist, whatever that is. I am almost positive that shattered manor acquired it from one of the annual used books sales organized by the Friends of the Library. I shall visit other old and used book stores either on-line or real for affordable copies of any or all his books.
Rascal has all but quit eating or drinking since returning from the vet and the enema adventure. I don’t worry too much about the diet but the lack of hydration concerns me. After my wifes visit with her oncologist Dr. Cimo she took me to Kroger where I bought a “Flavor Injector” and a couple small jars of Beechnut baby food. One was Turkey with turkey broth and the other was chicken with broth. I disassembled the injector and spooned in some of the “yummy” turkey stuff. I attached plastic to the nozzle of the syringe. Then, and here I expected a fight, I tilted back Rascal’s head pried open his jaws and squirted a couple mls baby food. He didn’t struggle or resist much but he obviously did not enjoy the experience. I repeated the process until I got 15 mls into him. I repeated the process with clean water until the syringe was clean.
I have force fed him twice and will do another feeding and watering before we retire for the night. He moved from my desk top to under my desk after the first feeding.. That last vet visit sure had a dramatic effect on him. I know I will not be getting enough food and water in him for him to thrive. I am just trying to support him until he gets himself back together.
I think I have lost a television habit. I haven’t had mine on for more than an hour any day this week.
TASKS LISTWater all the plants thoroughly and feed the repeating Azalea by the back door.
Chop down dead vine on front sidewalk fence.
Use Sawsall to cut down fallen Oak limb from neighbors tree and cut into sizes to make 4 inch bowls.
Use roofing tar and aluminum flashing to cover several small holes in roof of “rubber shed”.
Haul big dead flatscreen tv to recycle center at north end of Wirt.
clean KOI pond filter.
Clear weeds from around lily pond.
A group of friends from the Cottonwood Baptist Church wanted to get together on a regular basis, socialize, and play games. The lady of the house was to prepare the meal.
When it came time for Al and Janet to be the hosts, Janet wanted to outdo all the others. She decided to have mushroom-smothered steak, but because the mushrooms were so expensive, she told her husband, "No mushrooms. They are too high."
He said, "Why don't you go down in the pasture and pick some of those mushrooms? There are plenty in the creek bed."
She said, "No, some wild mushrooms are poisonous."
He said, "Well, I see varmints eating them, and they're OK."
So Janet decided to give it a try. The next morning she picked a bunch, cleaned and sliced them for her smothered steak. Then she went out on the back porch and gave Ol' Spot (the yard dog) a double handful. Ol' Spot ate every bite.
All morning long, Janet watched Ol' Spot, and the wild mushrooms didn't seem to affect him, so she decided to use them. The meal that evening was a great success. Janet had even hired a lady from town to help her serve. After everyone had finished, they relaxed, socialized, and played '42' and dominoes.
About then, the helper lady came in and whispered in Janet's ear, "Mrs. Williams, Ol' Spot is dead."
Janet went into hysterics. Finally, she calmed down enough to call the doctor and tell him what had happened.
The doctor said, "That's bad, but I think we can take care of it. I will call for an ambulance and I will be there as quickly as possible. We'll give everyone enemas, and we'll pump out everyone's stomach. Everything will be fine. Just keep everyone calm." Soon they could hear the siren as the ambulance was coming down the road. The EMTs and the doctor had their suitcases, syringes, and a stomach pump.
One by one, they took each person into the bathroom, gave them an enema, and pumped out their stomach.
After the last one was finished, the doctor came out and said, "I think everything will be fine now," and he left.
They were all sitting around the living room, looking pretty weak, when the helper lady came in and whispered to Janet, "You know, that fellow that run over Ol' Spot never even stopped.”
”As for charity, it is a matter in which the immediate effect on the persons directly concerned, and the ultimate consequence to the general good, are apt to be at complete war with one another.”
John Stuart Mill
SGGP
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