I see the serious topics are covered, with Adam giving us all the 411 on situation Putin-esca. A nasty business and it’s to be hoped that Russia pulls back to lick it’s wounds and dream of being an empire again in a deep slumber. But, I doubt it goes to bed without more negative attention. So how about some updates, with cats?


Missed you guys. It’s been a very, very busy year. Sometime last year about this time, I signed with a producer to turn one of my scripts into a serial podcast. It then was explained to me that I would have to write the aforementioned podcast episodes. Rude. I did. I then cast it, directed it and acted in it and it’s out there now as Fast Track to 40. It seems for season 2 that I have to do this all over again and I do wish people would explain that before I get myself into these things. I think it’s pretty funny, so at least I’m amused. Also nominated for a Golden Moment of Comedy award at the International Women in Podcasting (or some such) Awards but, really, I’m the standard.
It’s a pretty critical election coming up, but they all are now, aren’t they? For now until the foreseeable future, every election is critical. The household has stepped up donations, voter information etc and postcarding.


I’m trying to help out in every small race I can get cards for. They just don’t the love and oxygen the big races do but they’re even more important for voting access. I’ve also signed up to work on voting day. Pray for me, I don’t want to be around people in good times. Now, I don’t want to be around people at all. But, work must be done. Especially as Odo & Hime simple don’t get voter organization or civic participation. Who knew I was raising little conservatives? Cats, man.
We are also buying a house and I shall never forgive anyone who made this look like a Smart Thing To Do. Holy. Shit. WTFBBQ. “Closing costs” must be bank speak for digital mugging. I have a cellar that can be very useful for storing canned things, so I will take over from John with tons of posts in 2023 labeled, “This Fucking Old House”. Between the madness of the world and my life. I feel like from 9/1/21 to now has been less than breath and taken place on a tilt-a-whirl.
Join me in taking a good set of breaths right now before we return to our regularly scheduled, “AAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiggggghhhhh!” There. That’s better, right? Good talk. Post something great going on in your sphere below. Open thread
Jerzy Russian
At least one front pager around here remembers the rule that each post must contain multiple cats.
SpaceUnit
I don’t have a sphere. Thanks for rubbing it in my face.
Barbara
So, you have perfected doomspeak as a way to avoid crowing about some really spectacular news. Congrats about your kitties, your house, and your podcast! Wow!
Chacal Charles Calthrop
So pleased you are doing this but cats were always conservatives. IGMFU is just the way they’re wired.
and the great thing about renovations/homebuying is that at some point they’re finished – and now you have a working kitchen, the right kind of stove, and a nice shower and/or a bathroom with the features you like, such as a rainhead shower or a soaking tub or some counter space near the sink. And it’s a joy every single day (& when you visit relatives & try cooking in someone else’s kitchen, you’re like, WTF? Why do they put up with this?)
twbrandt (formerly tom)
I am so stealing this.
cain
Wow so many wonderful things ! Yeah house closings sucks and then there is the fix everything phase .. just look at ABLs feed in regards to that !
So happy about your podcast ! ❤️
Joy in FL
The cats are so beautiful.
Thank them, please, for letting you share their photos : )
gwangung
Woot!
zhena gogolia
Great cats!
Sister Golden Bear
Thank you all for last night’s advice about cats and leather chairs. Still deciding if I want to live dangerously. Need to make a decision soon before the sale ends since it’s a pretty good deal discount.
Chacal Charles Calthrop
@Sister Golden Bear: live dangerously but protect the chair.
also if you adopt older cats you’re more likely to get cats who can understand that this is their territory & they don’t need to scratch things up quite so much
H.E.Wolf
It is so good to see a front-page post from you. Congrats on podcast and effing old/new house! Will be thinking of you as I postcard.
ruemara
@Sister Golden Bear: My cats have their own chairs right next to me so they don’t care about my stupid leather chair.
Steeplejack
@ruemara:
FYI, your (much longer) “AAAaaaiiiggghhh!” Is right at the edge of “undividable” words that exceed the margin on some devices in mobile mode and hamper the comment box.
ruemara
@Steeplejack: I just like to excel in all things, Steeplejack
@SpaceUnit: If you don’t have a sphere, you can be a sphere! EAT SNACKS; AIM HIGH!
CaseyL
Excellent news about the podcast, the nomination, and the house!! You have a LOT going on, not to mention the election work – keep taking those deep breaths, and just revel in being so involved.
Your kitties are adorable.
The good news in my sphere is that my older cat, Jeannie, had a health crisis earlier this month that she is now recovering from. She also has a nifty new look: a lion cut, made necessary by the sheer number of matts all over her body. (Yes, I did try to deal with them myself; no, she would not let me. She was very emphatic about it. The vet techs shaved her while she was unconscious for an emergency dental procedure.) She looks about half her former size without all that hair.
Lyrebird
@ruemara:
You are amazing! THank you for the laugh.
And congrats on so many things!
Leslie
Thanks for the kitty pics! And for everything you are doing.
opiejeanne
@ruemara: Haha! Thanks for the laugh. It’s good to see you for a brief moment. I hope we get to see more from you.
Your kitties are gorgeous.
Sister Golden Bear
@ruemara: Brilliant.
In a similar vein, I’ve seen folks who use a tablet to create a “cat mini laptop” that they place next to their actual computer.
TaMara
Cats! A Podcast! A New House! This post had it all! Excellent news all around. And I’ll be listening.
NotMax
@Jerzy Russian
Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad rule.
(With a tip o’ the topper to Judith Viorst’s Alexander)
BigJimSlade
@ruemara – don’t take over too much from John on the new house front. For instance, don’t put your foot right through the front porch and get cuts all the way up on your thigh!
Yutsano
Wait…
I had a post here.
WHERE THE FRAK DID MY POST GO???
‘Basically said, I’m stealing Putin-esca and you can’t stop me.
Also: greetings m’dear.
StringOnAStick
Just got home from seeing Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin perform; excellent concert. Shocked to find out Lee is 70 and Dave is 88; old dudes rule!
AJ of the Mustard Search and Rescue Team
So happy to hear your updates, and a big congrats on the podcast! Hope that gave you some satisfaction and pleasure.
Congrats also on house-getting. Hope you and the cats will be comfy and cozy.
I’m off for some sleep!
Kathleen
Congratulations on your podcast, nom and new home!
Betty Cracker
Good to see you here!
I’m currently in a podcast hole because I caught up on one long-running program I discovered years after its debut, so yours is a timely announcement! I will add “Fast Track” for my weekly trips into town and monthly excursions down to Tampa to stock up on proper Cuban bread and deviled crabs!
I’m a fellow postcard writer and poll worker volunteer (though the county hasn’t taken me up on the latter yet). You’re so right about the importance of lower profile races. I just finished a pile of postcards for a congressional race in Minnesota.
Congrats on the podcast, new house (with cellar!) and award nomination! You sound busy in a good way!
scribbler
Great to see you! I always look forward to your posts. And congratulations on all your good and happy news. The kitties obviously approve!
ETA: I’ll be checking out “Fast Track to Forty” too.
Dorothy A. Winsor
Congrats on absolutely every last thing to do with your podcast. You rock.
Also, home ownership is an endless stream of unpleasant surprises.
O. Felix Culpa
Congrats on your many accomplishments, and thanks for all the cats!
We sold our house last month. The closing costs are a mugging on that side too. Something to look forward to in the distant future, only after many years of enjoying your new home.
Son #2 is a podcast writer/producer, so I know secondhand how much work it is. Good on you for making it happen. Not-so-humble brag alert: said son’s show was named in the FTFNYT top ten podcasts of the year last year, and he received a Writer’s Guild Award for his work this year. I feel amazed and honored on his behalf, especially since he’s such a nice guy. Says the not-at-all biased parent.