Tabitha

Two Reasons Why Cats Knead Paws
You've probably witnessed the behavior hundreds of times. You might even have been the recipient of it. Kitty picks out a likely spot, and begins working those paws like she's stomping grapes with Lucy and Ethel. Sometimes it's just soft pawing, sometimes the claws spring into action, but while she's into it, she's totally focused on the job at hand, er... paw.

Cats just seem to have a deep seated need to knead, and they are not particularly concerned whether they are kneading their own comfy cat bed, your couch cushions, or better yet, your lap.

The question seems to be not so much whether they enjoy this activity, but what inspires them to do it. Let's examine two of the strongest reasons.

Emotional Security
One reason why cats knead paws stems from their kittenhood. Kittens must nurse their mother to get life-sustaining milk. Kneading mom, stimulates the let-down response, causing the milk to flow more freely. The movements are instinctive, and since they incur a reward, kitty naturally transfers the behavior to other places and things in the hope of more good things to come.

Territorial Marking
While kitty generally kneads its paws to make sure its chosen spot is as comfy as possible, there is another reason for this behavior.

Cats have scent glands located in the pads of their feet near the base of their claws, and each feline produces its own unique scent. While humans don't generally notice this scent, other cats and animals can, so the scent serves as a marker to show where your cat has been.

When kitty wants to mark out the boundaries of its territory, it will paw and perhaps even run its claws across the item, leaving those signature scratches and a bit of personal eau de feline in the bargain.

I read this on the internet and it touch me today.
While at work this afternoon, my doctor ask me to get a cute Torti cat out of her cage and prep her for an ultrasound. Her name was Tabitha. Right away I could tell she was in much discomfort. I am always one to take special care of all the cats, but especially Torti's, because I have one at home. Well, the Ultrasound revealed cancerous growths in her stomach and liver, and really all through her abdomen. The call was made to her owner and the decision was made to put her to sleep. It was the right decision since she couldn't eat anymore. We gave her some pain medication, and waited for the owner to come down to the hospital to say her goodbyes.

While waiting, I decided to just talk to the kitty and pet her myself. For 10 minutes, I pet her and found her favorite spot, along the bridge of her nose, and around her eyes. She also favored her chin. Minutes went by and slowly she started purring. Then I saw her toes start moving. For several minutes this kitty was lost in the time of her kittenhood, purring and kneading. Within the hour her owner had come and said her goodbyes. 17 year old Domestic Tortoise hair cat, named Tabitha.

We're hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services.

I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell "Shifty" Powers.

Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Infantry. If you've seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the History Channel, you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them.

I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was at the right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle", the symbol of the 101st Airborne, on his hat.

Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne or if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served, and how many jumps he made.

Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so, and was in until sometime in 1945 . . . " at which point my heart skipped.

At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy . . . . do you know where Normandy is?" At this point my heart stopped.

I told him yes, I know exactly where Normandy was, and I know what D-Day was. At that point he said "I also made a second jump into Holland, into Arnhem." I was standing with a genuine war hero . . . . and then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of D-Day.

I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France, and he said "Yes. And it's real sad because these days so few of the guys are left, and those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart was in my throat and I didn't know what to say.

I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in Coach, while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came forward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have it, that I'd take his in coach.

He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are still some who remember what we did and still care is enough to make an old man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it. And mine are brimming up now as I write this.

Shifty died on June 17 after fighting cancer.

There was no parade.

No big event in Staples Center.

No wall to wall back to back 24x7 news coverage.

No weeping fans on television.

And that's not right.

Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our own quiet way. Please forward this email to everyone you know. Especially to the veterans.

Rest in peace, Shifty.

"A nation without heroes is nothing."
Roberto Clemente


Bro Cochrane from Texas sent me this in an e-mail and I wanted to share it with you. My grandfather served in WWII, he was in Italy on D-Day, I believe. When ever I read things about WWII, I think of my grandfather and how humble WWII veterans always seem to be. Just like "Shifty" Powers my grandfather was quiet and humble when talking about war in general, and I never remember him talking about any of the conflicts he was personally in. He was a Japenese american and joined the Army shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. (He lived in Hawaii at the time.) One of the most famous battles he was in, was the famous rescue of the "Lost Battalion" at Biffontaine, France. The 442nd suffered the loss of nearly half of its roster—over 800 casualties, including 121 dead—while rescuing 211 members of the 36th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry, which had been surrounded by German forces in the Vosges mountains since October 24. My grandfather was one of those survivers. I know he watched a lot of his friends die, and that may be one reason he never talked about the war. I couldn't imagine the things he saw.



When I remember my grandfather I wish I would have heard some of these stories first hand but I never thought of asking these things, lets never forget the veterans that are still with us today, the young and the old.

Alton Eiichi Nakama (1921 - 1992)



GO FOR BROKE! (442nd Regimental Infintry moto)

Happy (Hoppy) Easter/Toby Basket

I just had to post this pic today. No the Easter bunny didn't come to our house today but someone was auditioning for a substitute bunny. I had to explain to him he's not an herbivore, he's a carnivore. Big difference. He still thought that the basket Madison bought to put her school project in was the next best thing to sliced bread. He shifted and turned trying to fit his 10 pound body into this very small basket. He's my oldest cat, but he always acts like a kitten.



He stayed in this basket for over an hour. He was convinced we bought it just for him.

Jonathan's buck

My brother in law got his first buck recently, I was very excited for him and posted the pic's he sent me. Wish I was in Texas for some venison steaks! Way to go Jonathan!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCdZwitrNoY

Please watch this video, its amazing.
Alice

TAG!!!

Unspectacular

6. I love Hot Cocoa with marshmallows.
5. I would rather sit and read a book about the birds of North America, than read the newspaper.
4. When I catch the rainbow through the spray of water coming from my garden hose, I smile.
3. Writing is NOT by best subject.
2. If I have a passion about a subject, then I can write about it.
1. I secretly love hats, even though I never wear any, save for the occasional baseball cap.

http://tatijoy.blogspot.com/ Sis Crystal, http://debbiepryor.blogspot.com/ Sis Pryor,
http://rainbowreflections.blogspot.com/ Sis Philana
http://dogsbark150.blogspot.com/ Madison

Meme terms & conditions
1. link the person who tagged you
2. mention the rules on your blog
3. list 6 unspectacular things about you
4. tag 6 other bloggers

Hurricane

Hurricane Ike

An alligator is seen crossing a road in Sabine Pass, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008, as the area recovers from the effects of Hurricane Ike.



A church reflection