Just wanted to drop a quick transitional note, especially after the last post. We are doing a little better. We buried Oscar near where Ranma the last cat was buried last Monday. I've been going along since then.
I was going to skip going to the comic shop last week, as there wasn't much due in that was worth the 21 mile trip. But I got some of the cabin fever last Thursday and decided to go ahead, mainly on the strength of the new Back Issue magazine. Boy, Highlander was right, Firestorm's alter ego Ronnie Raymond was a dumb jock. It must've been the execution of the concept that allowed my 8th grade last person on Earth to identify with a jock to even go along with the concept. I'm sure H will pipe in with additional thoughts as he did when we last planned our Heroclix match up and I was going to run JLA and was keen to use my Firestorm piece.
My mom went out of town on business, but my dad who's retired wasn't up to going, so I've been checking in on him and trying to help out when I can.
And I broke down and got Lemonade Tycoon to play on the computer. They had a similar game at Showbiz Pizza/Chuck E. Cheese amongst the arcade bell and whistles. You determine how much to spend on supplies, advertising, etc. based on a weather forecast and outlook for the next day. This version is spiffied up a little, with additional accessories you can buy for your business. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any point in playing after getting all the accessories and you get your business up and running to a point where the money rolls in. I wish they'd let you expand further, instead of selecting one location to do business each day, they should let you expand in each location, and even further (franchising?)
I was lucky enough to have Kathy fix French Toast for brunch today. She strives to equal Tammy's that we had on our last visit (inspired to buy french bread to slice up) but should take comfort that it was better than the Baron's.
And I have the end of the NFC playoff in the background, it looks like Da Bearsss will be going to the Super Bowl, contradicting a prediction I made in comments that can be found here that the powers that be determined that the New Orleans Saints would go all the way. At least he'll be happy until Now I've got to get ready to see the Colts take on their arch-rivals the Patriots and hopefully this'll be the one.
And a little bird told me that Lisa's birthday is today. Hope it's great for her and her's.

There's no easy way to say it, so...Oscar finally passed away last night.
He was starting to get bad again, and I gave him the medicine prescribed, and he seemed to get better. And then, he seemed to be breathing even heavier than usual. I called the emergency vet number and they said to bring him in. Since I thought this was it, I didn't want to put him in a pet carrier and have that be his last moments, we wanted to love and pet him, even if it was a little longer. We didn't get more than a couple of miles out of town, and he was getting more and more agitated, even bit Kathy, I was pulling over to put him in the carrier. But by then, it was too late, he was gone.
We went back home and wrapped him up, and decide what to do in a day or two. Mom said something about arranging cremation, I don't know, it's too soon.
I'm sorry to burden you with this news, but I wanted you to know. And thank all of you for your kind words and wishes.
We did all we could for Oscar, and loved him until the end. Given that he was the runt of the litter, and how sickly he was that first winter, I don't think he could've survived that winter out on his own. But they provide very little comfort right now. Four and a half years wasn't enough. 8 years wasn't enough for my last cat.
Here's a good picture of Oscar from Flickr, he's the one on the right.

On the right I've added a Flickr badge. I just got back most of the pictures I took of my big trip last July, outside Casa Collett, and if you wondered what my cats look like, click on the link in the box.
And as an added bonus, most of the readers are probably in at least one of the pictures.

Two of my good friends are gettin' hitched, and set the date! Hoody Hoo!

I just checked my archives and yesterday was the 3rd anniversary of this blog.