Eagles Over the Kennebec

The number of supervisors at the Cat Farm has varied over the years since its establishment in Maine.  We've had as many as six, and as few as two.  Recently, we've made do with three active supervisors, with the fourth slot held open.

Today -- well, actually, yesterday, we filled the fourth slot and are now at Full Capacity.

Pray for us.

Some of you may know that the various animal shelters in Central Maine have been experiencing a surfeit of cats.  They've valiantly been trying to find homes for everyone, and have been offering a number of "deals."

For instance, right now, at the Waterville Humane Society, there's a special on kittens:  Adopt one kitten for $100 and you may have your choice of a second kitten for free.

The shelter has also been waiving the adoption fee for all cats over one year of age.  You must be a member of the shelter for the waiver to be in force, but considering it costs all of $15 to become a member, the price couldn't be better.

We here at Cat Farm have long supported animal shelters.  Despite a late-developing taste for Maine Coons, most of our cats over the years have been shelter cats.

So, anyway, yesterday as we were out and about, we thought we'd stop by the shelter out on Webb Road to see if anybody Needed Us.

Our last few visits to the animal shelter hadn't turned up anybody in need.  Which was fine; the fourth position stayed open.

Yesterday, however, we had an embarrassment of riches:  No less than five worthy felines put themselves forward.  We spoke to Whiskers, a grey-and-cream gentleman with an easy-going way about him; Gorilla, who very much wanted to sit on my lap and purr; LuluAnne (or possibly LuluBelle), a high-white with grey long-hair lady who was a little shy at first, but once she'd been coaxed out from behind her pillow was very vivacious and affectionate; Telly, a silky-furred black with astonishing amber eyes, who wanted to be mine, all mine!; and Icarus, an older orange gentleman, who displayed the graceful manners of a bygone age.

We also spoke in passing to Brinks, a lively orange-striped fellow; Baby, a perfectly charming calico; and Ziggy, who ran up to greet us, and who would have qualified as Candidate Number Six, save he has a partner from whom he will not be parted, and we only had one slot available.

It was tough call.  In the end, we decided to offer the position to Whiskers (this is, you understand, his surname by which he was known to Shelter Admin; we expect to discover his call-name by-and-by).  He accepted, and we brought him home today.

Here's Whiskers, in Steve's office window:

The reaction of the three Senior Supervisors has not been Unqualified Delight, but we expect them to come 'round in a few days.

Well, actually, no. We’re not going to Michigan; the post takes its title from a song from Audiobody, called (wait for it) “We’re Going to Michigan,” which has gotten stuck sideways in my head.

(Audiobody was a great find; I have their CD “Do Something Difficult,” and I couldn’t be more pleased. Thank you, EepyBird)

So, anyway, a busy couple days here at the Confusion Factory. Work on Dragon Ship continues; putting the house back together continues; planning for our various winter trips continues (Chattanooga on January 19! Um. Eeep!)(Boston on February 17! Urg!); deliveries continue to arrive (this just in — and I do mean just; the UPS truck is driving away as I type — give-away ribbons, including but not limited to, Happy Birthday Theo! Want one? Come see us at Chattacon.). The guy who was to come back and finish the couple little chores in the house for us has vanished into the ether, sigh. And I have a call in to a young lady who will help me hang the paintings up in such a manner that they won’t fall down again.

Discoveries continue, too. Just yesterday I discovered that it’s harder to upload a video to Youtube than Youtube lets you know. Also, I learned that some folks think a book that you can’t give to a YA reader is by definition a bad book.

Someone in the recent past asked why our books aren’t in the SFBC (Science Fiction Bookclub) catalog. The short answer is: both Balance of Trade and Partners in Necessity were available through SFBC. They didn’t do well (though there was a while there where I couldn’t talk to a SF-reading mundane* who didn’t say, “But! I read your book from SFBC! Why weren’t there any more?”) and SFBC has passed on any more Liaden material.

So, anyway, this is a check-in post. Things — lots of things! — are in process. The cats are asleep. And! there’s nothing much to see here.

What’s going on with y’all? Everybody ready for whatever Winter Holiday you honor?

___
*”Mundane” is the word that self-identified, con-going, and/or fanzine fans use to connote people who are not self-identified con-going and/or fanzine fans.

Originally published at Sharon Lee, Writer. You can comment here or there.