On The Fly

In this episode - Juniors' Jungle Gym . . . Does a cat own you? Then I'm sure you know what it's like to be a Jungle Gym. You Don't? Well, allow me to explain. It begins early each morning (usually 4:30 a.m.) Whomp, you hear the cat, Junior, jump onto the bed. He climbs onto your chest and sticks his nose directly to mine. A friendly face greets me with two large, bright, golden-greenish eyes, white whiskers, and what appears to be a smiling face. Meow, translation - ”Time to get up.” "Good morning Junior. (Jr.) Ok, ok, I'm getting up.” Stretching, you make your way to the bathroom, have a seat, then Whomp , Jr. leaps from the floor to your shoulders and starts his motor purring in your ear. "What's up, Jr.? Where's Missy.” Both Junior and his sister Missy spend their days lounging around the house, mainly sleeping.  They are decidedly indoor cats. Over the years, we've lost too many cats to varmints that populate the open space behind our hou...

In this episode - Christmas-Eve Day . . . When was the last time your neighbors surprised you? Ours did this past weekend. One young family who passes by our home every day around 5:00 p.m. came to our door, dressed in red, (the little guy peeked in our window) holding a tray of Christmas treats. “You did get Snoopy up for the Holidays, we love Snoopy, thank you.” “Merry Christmas,” he said while extending his platter wrapped in foil. This reminded me of a Holiday poem we recorded to share with our family. We want to share it with you - enjoy. Christmas-Eve Day . . . “Twas the day before Christmas," and all through our house, The kitties were stirring, in search of their mouse. With Missy on guard, and Junior prowling ‘round. We were watching TV, not making a sound.   The stockings were hung on the mantel with care, In hopes that Junior would not go on a tear. Filled with ornaments and lights, to brighten the season, Our house was all warmed . . . 'gainst the chill was the rea...

“Its more than a feeling, when I hear that old song they used to play (more than a feeling). I begin dreaming”. . . . Allow me to set the stage for you. Bradley University, Saturday night, 1977, Peoria, Illinois, the rock band Boston had just released their first album the previous year titled “Boston.” I wore that album out, playing it repeatedly. When Boston played that night on stage, it was magic. We were there! Musician and mechanical engineer Tom Scholz was the first to recreate the exact sound of their hit album live. We were impressed. I fell in love once again with the art of playing the guitar. So, 40 years later, I’m playing the intro licks to Boston’s most famous song, More Than A Feeling. Sounds a little crazy at my age, but this year Santa finally brought what I’ve always wanted: an electric guitar. “Santa knows; he always knows.” It’s a beauty. A Fender Sunburst Stratocaster. Well, technically, it’s a Squire made by Fender, but who cares - it’s magnificent. And ...

Juniors' Buddy Nightly, when I get home from work, I’m greeted at the door by a friendly face with two large, bright, golden-greenish eyes, white whiskers, and what appears to be a smiling face. It’s my buddy, Tony Junior (Jr.), our Tabby. Early evening is when Junior with long, lanky  stretches  - wakes up from his daily snooze. Both Junior and his sister Missy spend their days, lounging around the house, sleeping. They are decidedly indoor cats. Over the years, we’ve lost too many cats to varmints that roam the open space behind our house. Jr. and Missy were four months old when we adopted them from the shelter. Thank goodness they are content to roam the house and sit in the window sills to watch the world pass by. Don’t be fooled, now, four years old, as much as I would like to think I’m Jr’s buddy, he is persnickety. With a rather demanding - meow, he runs to his chair, (my recliner) in the TV room, leaps to the back, turns to look at me as if to say, "A b...