Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

Polls are now a reliable indicator of what corporate Republicans want us to think.

I did not have this on my fuck 2024 bingo card.

You can’t attract Republican voters. You can only out organize them.

I have other things to bitch about but those will have to wait.

If you are in line to indict donald trump, stay in line.

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

I’m more Christian than these people and I’m an atheist.

Their freedom requires your slavery.

When do the post office & the dmv weigh in on the wuhan virus?

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

The media handbook says “controversial” is the most negative description that can be used for a Republican.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

Lick the third rail, it tastes like chocolate!

This country desperately needs a functioning Fourth Estate.

Hi god, it’s us. Thanks a heap, you’re having a great week and it’s only Thursday!

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

If you are still in the gop, you are either an extremist yourself, or in bed with those who are.

So many bastards, so little time.

Balloon Juice, where there is always someone who will say you’re doing it wrong.

Republicans choose power over democracy, every day.

Every one of the “Roberts Six” lied to get on the court.

You are here: Home / Pet Blogging / Cat Blogging / An Old Pet Pic

An Old Pet Pic

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Scanned some pics of the old Cole pets- one of my projects is to digitize all our old photo albums, but the current scanner is crap, so I will probably do that this summer. At any rate, here is a picture of two of my childhood pets:

ajaxpurrpuff

Ajax was a scruffy mutt I got a week or so before Christmas in 1979. He was a great little dog, although a rotten dog. He could run away and get in the creek in 30 seconds, loved eating spaghetti and getting it all over his whiskers, and would refuse to come if you called unless he was convinced you could see him, which meant that you would find my mom in the yard yelling “AJAX, I SEE YOU.” His nickname was “swampfoot” because he could get get his feet uber filthy in no time.

The cat is the greatest cat who ever lived, named Mr. Purr Puff (my sister Devon named him). He was a big cat, and the most laid back cat ever. He only had a half a tail (as you can see here) because the rest got cut off in a dorm fire escape door. He lived for close to twenty years, mainly because he was the laziest cat to ever live (for the last few years of Purr Puff’s life, my father was fond of saying “All my kids are out of college, I’m close to retirement, and my only goal left in life is to outlive that god damned cat.” You can not tell from this picture, but he was actually bigger than Tunch, but not fat. Wait till I find some pictures of my sister dressing him up in doll clothes.

Reader Interactions

72Comments

  2. 2.

    General Winfield Stuck

    Some fine looking critters Cole. I will keep Charlie well away from spaghetti, though he has shown a fancy for buttered French Bread. Mr. Purr Puff looks like an awesome Kitteh.

    Viva La furry pals!!

  3. 3.

    Svensker

    Love those big feet on that kittie, Mr. Cole.

    AWSP — that is a cute little pet you got yourself there. Haang in, kid.

  4. 4.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @arguingwithsignposts: I hope I’m not out of line by saying that I love the fact you can share your pain with us, your fellow Juicers, and know that we are all hurting with you and simultaneously cheering you on to better times. Also SMUUUUUDGE!

    P.s. Adore the ‘shopped eye patch, the picture makes me laugh like a helicopter. But have you also thought about trying a version with the patch on the other eye? If I recall the original photo correctly, Smudge was kind of giving a menacing one-eyed squint with the eye that’s currently hidden.

  5. 5.

    RedKitten

    Aww…I love scruffy mutts. Ajax sounds like my kind of dog.

    And please tell me that you were the one to name the cat, because that is freaking adorable.

  6. 6.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @John Cole: both animals look like wonderful pets. What is it about the name “Mr. Purr Puff” that just cracks me up every time I see it?

  7. 7.

    Max

    @arguingwithsignposts: Not to be a bummer, but have you seen a doctor and gotten a consult? Sounds like you might want to try a course or two of anti-depressants.

    EDIT – The attempted attack stuff is crazy. How long before a winger, or Jane Hamster, starts blaming this on Obama being in Hawaii.

  10. 10.

    South of I-10

    John, I am in the middle of the same project. Some of the pictures of my brother and I are Polaroids, and they are deteriorating quickly. It has been a lot of fun. My favorite find so far is an early 60’s pic of my Mom finishing training as a flight attendant for a now defunct airline. I don’t know how I had never seen this picture before.

  12. 12.

    valdivia

    @Max:

    exactly what I thought. I am sure this is going to be Obama’s fault somehow. For me the question is how did the guy get through security in Amsterdam?

  13. 13.

    Chat Noir

    @arguingwithsignposts: My worst Xmas was 1995 — had to do with a toxic relationship. I was thinking about it this morning because my life now is completely different and much better. The best thing I ever did was get my kitties in 1999; they helped eliminate the lonliness I felt. Then I met my husband in 2002 and life began to fall into place.

    I hope Smudge can help do the same for you. Believe me, I never thought I’d end up happy (or even married) but I’m Exhibit A that some things in life can (and will) work out.

    Best to you. Keep the faith and know that there are good things in the world for you. Take any negative energy you feel and turn it into positive energy by taking good care of Smudge. She’ll be the best medicine for you.

  16. 16.

    Chat Noir

    @valdivia: My thoughts, too. The news said the 23 year old guy originated in Nairobi, then flew to Amsterdam, then to Detroit. 23 years old!

  17. 17.

    Folderol and Ephemera

    Those are beautiful animals, and beautiful stories, Mr. Cole.

    Here’s wishing a merry merry happy happy to all who dwell/lurk/live here. L’chaim! I am not a religious sort, being apatheistic (at best), but I do love the Christmas holiday spirit, I do. Peace on Earth, and Good Will Toward All. That’s good stuff!

    So: Merry Christmas everyone; you, John, of course; Doug and Anne and Tim, you wackos; all y’all regular commenters (and yer adorable pets/families/etc.); all th’ lurkers, all th’ political fanatics, and, yes, even the trolls. All of creation, good will towards all.

    Also: @arguing; It ain’t “whinging” if it’s real; no need to make up for anything. But, then again, I’m certainly not going to complain about Smudge pics.

  18. 18.

    Linkmeister

    Scanning old photos can be a really tedious task. We have 60 years of photos in albums. Trying to pick just the representative ones is really time-consuming. We’ve done about 20 pages from the first album so far.

  19. 19.

    asiangrrlMN

    Cole, that cat is a-dor-able! Dog is cute, too, but that kitty! ALMOST as cute as Tunchie.

    @arguingwithsignposts: Best laugh of day. Well, that and the LOLcopter. That never gets old. And I have no words of anything cheerful for you right now. Snuggle with Smudge. That’s about all I can offer.

  21. 21.

    freelancer (itouch)

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    [snort]

    happy Xmas to everyone. Found out my baby brother who’s a freshman at Iowa State’s ROTC has left our family’s catholicism and has gone full blown biblical literalist fundie nutbag thanks to his 1st Leiutenant and his girlfriend. Sad.

  24. 24.

    Anne Laurie

    @freelancer (itouch):

    Found out my baby brother who’s a freshman at Iowa State’s ROTC has left our family’s catholicism and has gone full blown biblical literalist fundie nutbag thanks to his 1st Leiutenant and his girlfriend. Sad.

    He’s young, he has plenty of time to grow out of it. Some percentage of the BJ community were probably Objectivists at that age. Heck, when I was a freshman in college, I intended to be a lesbian separatist, but the local group threw me out for excessive levity.

  29. 29.

    madmommy

    @John Cole:

    Indeed. But those Gilly skits are truly painful to watch. They do include the Schwety Balls sketch, so that’s a win.

    Watching the Titans play the Chargers. Mostly because I’m too stuffed and tired to change the channel.

  30. 30.

    Midnight Marauder

    @Anne Laurie:

    Some percentage of the BJ community were probably Objectivists at that age.

    Call me crass, but I always chuckle a bit when I see “BJ community” or “the BJ commentariat.” It’s just the 12 year old patriot in me, I guess.

    +5

  36. 36.

    Max

    For all The Wire fans..

    Amazon has the complete series on sale for $89.99, with free shipping.

    I got a $75 gift certificate for Xmas, so it only cost me $14.99 for hundreds of hours of B’more fun.

    Just in time for Treme, which starts on HBO next year.

  38. 38.

    Betsy

    @arguingwithsignposts:
    I’m glad you could call your mom with it. And tell us about it. We are happy you’re here with us.
    And thanks to you, Smudge is going to have a great life that she would not have otherwise, in all likelihood. That is the best embodiment of Christmas that one could ask for.

  40. 40.

    freelancer (itouch)

    @Anne Laurie:

    I agree, he’s young. It’s just very mindboggling, for me especially, given my experience with fundamentalists this year. But hey there’s 2′ of snow on the ground. I’ve got a fire in the fireplace, the nattering of my cousins playing Yatzee, a beer in one hand, and BJ on the iPod in the other. And that’s all I need. I don’t need anything else.

    FSM bless all of you.

  43. 43.

    valdivia

    @Max:

    yes I saw that thanks. Lester and Bunk will be in it. So looking forward. I just got my parents to start watching The Wire on netflix and they are hooked. Bad side effect–hearing them talk Baltimore corner slang. That is just wrong. ;-)

  48. 48.

    valdivia

    @freelancer (itouch):

    I say things like that too but to hear it from my parents still seems funny. but it’s great seeing them enjoy the show so much. And Omar is one of my faves.

    @Max:
    yeah those two brits are very hawt. Stringer for me was the guy to watch. I heard an interview Terry Gross did with him earlier this year and you could hear her melting just talking to him. I know I would have too. I also liked Lt Daniels who can be seen on Fringe now.

  49. 49.

    valdivia

    Max–it occurs to me that we are back where we left off last night. Different tv series though! ;-)

  50. 50.

    Max

    @valdivia: I know. How funny.

    I see douchebag Charlie Sheen got arrested for domestic violence today. He never did anything for me. I was always Team Emilio.

  51. 51.

    valdivia

    @Max:

    ugh, didn’t he just get married recently after leaving the first one?

    ok crew I am out. Merry merry again to you all. and Max, I will have to think of other men we can fight over ;-)

  52. 52.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Chuck Butcher: it may not be much snow, but it’s very pretty.

    Been thinking about you a lot today.

  54. 54.

    ellie

    My mom had our old home movies put on DVD and we watched them today after Christmas dinner! It was awesome. There was video of our dog Scruffy. What a good dog!

  55. 55.

    Rey

    CNN had to go deep on the bench for an anchor for this terrorist story, Ali Velshi? the bald finance dude? I like him though- better to look at than Larry King.

    My xmas has been great so far, came home to find that my team- the Titans are getting their ass kicked by the Chargers. Merry f’n christmas….

  56. 56.

    Chuck Butcher

    @SiubhanDuinne:
    It’s ok here. Don’t worry too much, a little grim but ok. Hell, I get ribeye & crablegs for dinner – damn chest cold, anyhow.

    Today sucks really bad for my wife and there’s not shit I can do and that is frustrating. I know I don’t get to fix what ails other people, but it’s tough watching it.

  57. 57.

    Phoebe

    That cat looks exactly like my cat Gary, only Gary has a larger white spot on his muzzle and no white stripe on the forehead. Also the temperament sounds exactly like Gary’s. Gary is the only one of my three cats who will greet strangers at the door, and he will happily be carried like a baby, and he purrs if he even thinks you might pet him. Gary’s tail is bent, not snapped off, and I don’t know what happened to it because it was like that when I found him, meowing in the bushes outside the library. I put posters up, but nobody claimed him. He let me carry him in my arms the whole way home, which was several blocks. Purring.

  60. 60.

    comrade scott's agenda of rage

    Merry Xmas y’all! Me and the wife went to the humane society shelter to clean cat cages so that the staff could have the day off.

    My good karma cup overfloweth. We don’t have kids and no family (or friends) here so it makes more sense to do something like that. Okay, Mom lives next door (never let either of your parents retire and relocate with you) but she’s curmudeongnly on a good day and when it’s cold like it is here in East Bumblefuck, Central Misery, well, it’s like dealing with a feral cat.

  62. 62.

    mandarama

    @Anne Laurie:

    Some percentage of the BJ community were probably Objectivists at that age.

    Yeah, I also think there’s something about those late teens and early 20s that just makes people susceptible to wacky ideologies. Realized during lots of girl talk that I, my sister, and another friend ALL went out with guys at that age who spouted off about Ayn Rand to us. Not the same guy. Not even the same city. It was a bummer, because you’d be happy you’re flirting with a smart guy who reads, and then you find out WHAT he’s reading. Ouch.

    Fundamentalism like that can be a stage, too–esp. if you are looking for the comfort of certainty at a time when your identity and location is changing a lot. Your cousin will probably outgrow it, freelancer. ETA: in the meantime, practice nodding sagely and saying, “that is an interesting perspective” then running for the hills?

  63. 63.

    Ruckus

    @arguingwithsignposts:
    Hey man we’re all in this together. OK I’m done with the DFH talk for now.
    One of the nicest things in a long time for me has been finding BJ and all folks who visit. We get to rant when we need it, we get to listen to those in pain when they need us. What could be better of a community?
    Sounds like a lot of good gatherings happening this year, mine was pretty good as my sister and I put some more crap behind us. Still a ways to go, maybe never get there but the road is long and at least we are traveling on it.
    I try to make that my philosophy of life, keep traveling, keep trying, keep growing, keep getting better. OK 3 for 4 is pretty good, no?

  64. 64.

    Yutsano

    I discovered tonight that the one thing better than one border collies is two. Plus we officially adopted a younger friend of my parents into the family, especially after hearing his family is pretty much worthless. The kitchen geek in me got a knife set and some very nice bamboo cutting boards, plus various clothing. Plus really good enchiladas (although shortbread hasn’t been made yet). Best part is douchebag brother stayed pretty much out of my hair. Gonna call it a decent Christmas overall.

  65. 65.

    Curtis

    I’m not much of a commenter, but that cat looks awesome. Something about the black cats with the white splotches that leaves them with oodles of personality and fun.

  66. 66.

    tavella

    @Max: For all The Wire fans..

    Amazon has the complete series on sale for $89.99, with free shipping.

    Warning: the packaging for the complete set is apparently crap — the disks fall out and get scratched.

  67. 67.

    Arlene Machiavelli

    If I can just get him moved up to the Leafs’ scoring line, the big bucks will start rolling in. But then he’ll start acting like the prima donna he is — he’ll want special cat food, etc. Tough choices in life.

  68. 68.

    Platonicspoof

    @freelancer (itouch):

    . . a freshman at Iowa State’s ROTC has left our family’s catholicism and has gone full blown biblical literalist . .

    In 1969 my family attended an ROTC ceremony at ISU when my brother was a freshman in the program. Off to the side were four scruffy, half-naked DFH’s protesting the Viet Nam war.
    Couple years of life at a large school like ISU, etc., and my brother was long out of ROTC and well on his way to DFH.
    Still a DFH.

  69. 69.

    Tim in SF

    John, in regards to your scanning of old albums project, I also have a similar project going. I have a stack of pics in a box that were given to me by various people over the years. I have no negatives to any of these photos to drop off at Costco for a photo CD.

    Now, I can scan a photo and I know Photoshop really well so I can do some really good cleanup work. The problem with scanning, however, is not my *ability* but *time*. Each photo would take at least a couple minutes to scan, plus another five to ten minutes in Photoshop cleaning it up (longer for a messed-up pic). That works out to just four to six photos an hour.

    Looking at my big box of photos, it was easy to put off this job. The photos stayed in a box in the back of my closet.

    A few months ago I came across an article about a scanning service. I decided to try them out. I sent them a hundred photos as a test. I included some really old photos from the 70s I took with my cheap camera when I was kid, a couple Polaroids, a bunch of iZone pics (1×1” instant photos you can hardly make out), a couple slides, a strip of negatives, a few damaged photos, and a stack of high-quality photos, which included some faire photos.

    About four weeks later, I received the original photos back, along with a photo DVD. On the DVD were high-resolution scans of the photos. The scans all came back pretty decent. They did high-quality touch-up work and color correction to every photo and did some repair to the damaged photos. The iZone pics were actually recognizable for the first time. The old 70’s photos were color-corrected and beautiful. I have a flickr group if you are interested in seeing the results.

    The best part is that they did all this work for about a quarter per photo. The scan service I used is called ScanCafe (I’m not going to link because this already sounds like an advertisement). There are other scan services out there so shop around – you might find a better deal. Scancafe does whole photo albums, too – just ship the album.

  70. 70.

    R-Jud

    I had a two-hour Skype session with the family across the pond, my Christmas dinner turned out perfectly, from the turkey to the roast potatoes (roasted in goose fat, naturally), and I introduced my British relatives to “A Christmas Story”. They howled. Good times.

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