Sometimes I really, really hate people.
Feb. 27th, 2006 08:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pen_gruntSince our Big Kitty died, we've been stopping by the Humane Society about every weekend looking for a new little bit of our hearts and family. I'm beginning to really hate it.
I love the concept of the Humane Society. Little furry animals whose lives looked bleak are adopted by a calm, loving family that will welcome them into their homes and share their lives forevermore. In concept.
The last few times we've been there I've left--at best--disgusted with people in general. Not only is the shelter filled with four year olds screaming at the pets, but it's filled with pets that really deserved better than the owners that they had. An eleven year old cat. Reason for surrender? "Didn't have time for a pet." When in the eleven years of having a cat do you decide you don't have time for it? You've made it eleven years, no one's going to adopt that kitty...stick it out.
Some cats have been in the shelter multiple times. A kitten who "scratches the kids," "has too much energy," or "meows too much." For christssake they're living beings, not friggin fashion accessories. Heaven forbid they play or make noise.
Derrick and I walked into the building (which on a Saturday is, inevitably, very crowded). Our attention is immediately grabbed by a mewling little kitten in a far cage. I know, adult cats deserve to be adopted too, but our cat would NOT take kindly to a full grown intruder. We walk over to the cage--immediately the kitten starts purring and trying to "bite" at my fingers in play. It's eight weeks old. It's friendly. It's wonderful. It's adorable....Its ears are burnt off, its whiskers are singed, and it looks like someone literally ran it through with a broadsword. I love it, but I know I can't have it. This kitten is eight weeks old, and has four inch scars running along both sides of its foot-long body.
I know, I know. We're exactly the type of family it should have. We're mellow, no bothersome children for years yet, we treat our cats (pathetically enough) like our children. But I just can't take in a kitten that has a risk of potential health problems (my last TWO kittens from the Humane society died of weird congenital diseases...they lived very short, and very expensive lives). The reason for this kitten's surrender? "Too many animals to take care of." Right. I look at Derrick and he says to me, "For that person, one cat was too many." I hate people sometimes.
And the weekend book update:
Can I tell ya how much I LOVE Thrift Stores? It's like a treasure hunt every time. Sure, I can walk into a book store and find exactly what I'd like. Sure, a new book is a thing of beauty...but sometimes they just reek of newness. Knowing that someone has been there before you, knowing that someone has loved this book, written their name in it, left their DNA on the pages--that's something special. I love used books.
Found:
"The Secret Life of Bees"--Sue Monk Kidd--paperback but cheap as dirt. Actually, I take that back. Dirt isn't really that cheap anymore.
"Going Home"--Garrison Keillor--Heh, Derrick decided I was taking too long picking things out and started to read this. He got to the section where it describes how, "for centuries people have been trying to make sex as good as corn-on-the-cob, but have thusfar been unable to achieve the feat," and decided that he HAD to buy it. It's a Minnesota thing. I like sex, sure, but have you HAD good, fresh corn-on-the-cob lately?
"Magician: Master"--Raymond Feist--I haven't read the first book in the series yet (that I have). I figured that if I even remotely like the first one, I'm morally obligated to read the second.
"Legends II"--Ed.by Silverburg--Haha! Hardcover! More GRRM! Just a little taste, but it's enough to keep me going.
"The Odyssey"--Homer--Hardcover 1940's edition in a neat little binding. My old copy was a tattered paperback (with lots of annoying class notes/schedules in the front cover).
"Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency"--Douglas Adams--Hardcover first edition. I loves me some Douglas Adams. . .
Anyways. I started on Carol Berg's "Son of Avonar"...once she managed to shake the quota of describing every noun with at least three adjectives it's gotten quite good.
I finished "The 5 People you Meet in Heaven" (Mitch Albom) but that's a discussion for another day. I'd say it's 3 out of 5 stars, but it does have the tendency to make you think about certain things. Again, for another day that one.
I also discovered that Full Metal Jacket is about the best movie to watch while running on the treadmill. Ever.
I'm feeling particularly boring tonight, so it's all under cuts. Enter at thine own peril.
I love the concept of the Humane Society. Little furry animals whose lives looked bleak are adopted by a calm, loving family that will welcome them into their homes and share their lives forevermore. In concept.
The last few times we've been there I've left--at best--disgusted with people in general. Not only is the shelter filled with four year olds screaming at the pets, but it's filled with pets that really deserved better than the owners that they had. An eleven year old cat. Reason for surrender? "Didn't have time for a pet." When in the eleven years of having a cat do you decide you don't have time for it? You've made it eleven years, no one's going to adopt that kitty...stick it out.
Some cats have been in the shelter multiple times. A kitten who "scratches the kids," "has too much energy," or "meows too much." For christssake they're living beings, not friggin fashion accessories. Heaven forbid they play or make noise.
Derrick and I walked into the building (which on a Saturday is, inevitably, very crowded). Our attention is immediately grabbed by a mewling little kitten in a far cage. I know, adult cats deserve to be adopted too, but our cat would NOT take kindly to a full grown intruder. We walk over to the cage--immediately the kitten starts purring and trying to "bite" at my fingers in play. It's eight weeks old. It's friendly. It's wonderful. It's adorable....Its ears are burnt off, its whiskers are singed, and it looks like someone literally ran it through with a broadsword. I love it, but I know I can't have it. This kitten is eight weeks old, and has four inch scars running along both sides of its foot-long body.
I know, I know. We're exactly the type of family it should have. We're mellow, no bothersome children for years yet, we treat our cats (pathetically enough) like our children. But I just can't take in a kitten that has a risk of potential health problems (my last TWO kittens from the Humane society died of weird congenital diseases...they lived very short, and very expensive lives). The reason for this kitten's surrender? "Too many animals to take care of." Right. I look at Derrick and he says to me, "For that person, one cat was too many." I hate people sometimes.
And the weekend book update:
Can I tell ya how much I LOVE Thrift Stores? It's like a treasure hunt every time. Sure, I can walk into a book store and find exactly what I'd like. Sure, a new book is a thing of beauty...but sometimes they just reek of newness. Knowing that someone has been there before you, knowing that someone has loved this book, written their name in it, left their DNA on the pages--that's something special. I love used books.
Found:
"The Secret Life of Bees"--Sue Monk Kidd--paperback but cheap as dirt. Actually, I take that back. Dirt isn't really that cheap anymore.
"Going Home"--Garrison Keillor--Heh, Derrick decided I was taking too long picking things out and started to read this. He got to the section where it describes how, "for centuries people have been trying to make sex as good as corn-on-the-cob, but have thusfar been unable to achieve the feat," and decided that he HAD to buy it. It's a Minnesota thing. I like sex, sure, but have you HAD good, fresh corn-on-the-cob lately?
"Magician: Master"--Raymond Feist--I haven't read the first book in the series yet (that I have). I figured that if I even remotely like the first one, I'm morally obligated to read the second.
"Legends II"--Ed.by Silverburg--Haha! Hardcover! More GRRM! Just a little taste, but it's enough to keep me going.
"The Odyssey"--Homer--Hardcover 1940's edition in a neat little binding. My old copy was a tattered paperback (with lots of annoying class notes/schedules in the front cover).
"Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency"--Douglas Adams--Hardcover first edition. I loves me some Douglas Adams. . .
Anyways. I started on Carol Berg's "Son of Avonar"...once she managed to shake the quota of describing every noun with at least three adjectives it's gotten quite good.
I finished "The 5 People you Meet in Heaven" (Mitch Albom) but that's a discussion for another day. I'd say it's 3 out of 5 stars, but it does have the tendency to make you think about certain things. Again, for another day that one.
I also discovered that Full Metal Jacket is about the best movie to watch while running on the treadmill. Ever.
I'm feeling particularly boring tonight, so it's all under cuts. Enter at thine own peril.
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no subject
Date: 2006-02-28 03:13 am (UTC)Icon
Date: 2006-02-28 03:36 am (UTC)Re: Icon
Date: 2006-02-28 07:59 am (UTC)Re: Icon
Date: 2006-02-28 03:56 pm (UTC)Re: Icon
Date: 2006-02-28 04:55 pm (UTC)Really, who doesn't love The Seventh Seal? I used to be able to watch it without subtitles. Sadly, my Swedish is slipping from stagnation.
I couldn't find the famous "Dancing with Death" scene in enough clarity to make into an icon. . .
The Virgin Spring (another of my favorite Bergman films) is also (I believe) newly released on DVD.
Re: Icon
Date: 2006-02-28 05:02 pm (UTC)*arches brow* I see you've got yourself a spiffy new icon there, chica . . .
Re: Icon
Date: 2006-02-28 05:11 pm (UTC)Re: Icon
Date: 2006-02-28 05:15 pm (UTC)Re: Icon
Date: 2006-02-28 06:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-28 06:03 am (UTC)actually, i used to get books for my kids all of the time at thrift stores. i bring them all back as the years pass. kid of my way of recycling.
no subject
Date: 2006-02-28 05:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-28 06:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-28 06:26 pm (UTC)