Litter Box

Took care of the litter box. I thought it would be an easier chore with this cooler weather, and the temperature this morning was in the lower seventies, but when that sun is hitting you full in the eye like a big old pizza pie, that is not amore. Nevertheless, I got it done in time for today’s trash pick-up, and the day is yet young.

Edmund Burke

It is Burke’s way with words that secured his place in history. One famous lawyer and biographer, James Boswell, remarked on Burke’s oratorical powers in Parliament, “It was astonishing how all kinds of figures of speech crowded upon him. He was like a man in an orchard where boughs loaded with fruit hung around him, and he pulled apples as fast as he pleased and pelted the Ministry”.

{Source: Jesse Norman, “Edmund Burke: The First Conservative”}

A Dream of Being Home Alone

I had a dream that seemed to play off some of my musings about living by myself in the house, presumably after Pop has died and has left me with the house and some money to get by. Even if I am able to live on after Pop, there are the practical problems of being able to go out and get stuff. Bad eyes and no driver’s license.

In the dream, I need to go out and get some water. It is a long walk carrying one of the empty five-gallon water bottles. I make the trip more arduous by taking one of the cats with me. Yes, it is Coco. Now, I wouldn’t even trust Bo on such a long walk without a leash. The dream does reflect some of the harsh reality of walking a cat. More time is spent on side-trips to retrieve Coco and trying to herd her into the general direction, but I am sure such a feat would not be even possible in real life. It is a sweet dream, though, in that respect. At least I have a dear friend in this dream world, even if she cannot help me carry anything. You do not want to underestimate the value of moral support. That friendly companionship matters that much more when you arrive at the store to discover that they raised the price of water and you don’t have the money.

Interestingly, in this dream, there were also a couple of encounters with somewhat threatening young men, who seemed to bristle with frustration and violent energy. They are all the more threatening when I am trying to safely bring home a tiny, cuddly cat. I just look hard at them, standing my ground, and they let me go.

The dream is off base on its premises, of course. Aside from the amusing issue of walking a cat, if I am trying to make a life on my own, I think I would quickly abandon the idea of getting filtered water at the store. I would have try my luck with the tap water. It would be a hard enough time managing the little groceries that the cats and I need. As for the key premise - that I get the house and a little fund to live by - well, I guess that is only the stuff of dreams indeed.