People who leave children and pets locked in closed-up cars during the *heat* of summer are either unforgivably stupid or unforgivably cruel ~ or both. I see nothing wrong with this kind of justice! :)

In case you can't read the balloons:
Panel 1 ~ "Yeah, you keep drinking, little guy..."
Panel 2 ~ "You're okay now..."
Panel 3 ~ "We're gonna get you nice and cooled off."
Panel 4/1 ~ "You better let his owner out of the car now, Nate."
Panel 4/2 ~ "Yeah, come on, buddy! I'm ROASTING in here with the windows up!"
Panel 4/3 ~ "Oh, NOW you care how hot it is in there."

I'm Catholic, and ~ unfortunately ~ I feel this way, too. My faith is strong, but lately I haven't been so happy with my church!

I care thismuch about Barry Bonds's breaking Hank Aaron's record. Hank Aaron was and is such a gentleman, and Bonds is so NOT. In my heart, Hammerin' Hank will remain Number One! :)

Stories like this help me keep my perspective as I face an $800 plumbing bill and several days with no hot water! Note to PETA, the ASPCA, and the Humane Society ~ keep up the pressure, guys! I hope Michael Vick never collects another penny of endorsement money and as little NFL money as is legally possible!

Speaking as someone who just spent nearly $500 trying to keep a kitten alive ~ and as just a human being in general ~ I think the death penalty is too good for the likes of Michael Vick. Let's spread dog food all over him and then lock him in a room with a pack of ravenous dogs and PETA people! GGGGGGRRRRRRRRRR! Or maybe do the same thing to him that he and his *peeps* did to those poor puppies???

Janet ~ thanks for the loving and understanding response to my last post. I am still missing my little guy a lot. He was just a baby, so I am struggling with the unfairness even though I know that God has His reasons and life is frequently unfair.

Today I received a sympathy card from the Flora Vet Clinic, where Woody passed away. It contained the story of the *Rainbow Bridge* that I mentioned in my previous post. For anyone who may not know about the Rainbow Bridge, here is the story ~ by an anonymous writer:

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

I take a lot of comfort from these words, not just for Woody, but for all my beloved pets who will be waiting for me later.

My baby boy didn't make it. :( Dr. Herliman called me early this morning to tell me that Woody had passed away overnight ~ I had been scheduled to pick him up today and bring him home. However, his frail, little body had handled all that it could I guess. I am heartbroken ~ but I will bring him home in a way: he is being cremated, and I will sprinkle his ashes beneath the lilac bush where he and his brothers played so happily and provided me with so much enjoyment when they were first venturing from the shed. Ironically, on the day I learned of his death, I also learned that he had been named Kitty of the Week for a Santa Barbara e-zine: http://www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?id=1839: a sweet tribute for such a sweet little guy. Mommy will see you again on the Rainbow Bridge, precious.

Happy 4th, everyone! Please keep my baby boy in your good thoughts. He's a very sick little kitty. :(

I have had a very sick baby boy. Woody has had prolonged diarrhea that Albon hasn't stopped. And wouldn't you know it ~ my vet's office is closed all this week. Consequently, I called the vet clinic I used before the Douglases opened their clinic here in Salem: the Flora Vet Clinic. It's 45 minutes from here, but I had to do something. Dr. Lacie was wonderful with Woody. The poor little guy has lost .7 of his 2.5 pounds during this ordeal, but please join me in praying that Dr. Lacie's treatments will heal the little guy.

What I actually wanted to share, however, was a brother's love in action. I've been trying to get Woody to drink Pedialyte to keep him hydrated. When he resisted drinking it from both bowl and dropper, I emptied the waterer and put the Pedialyte in there ~ about half and half with water ~ and he's drinking it better that way, thanks to his big brother, Joey. If I hadn't seen this myself, I wouldn't have believed it. I kept setting Woody next to the waterer, and he just stared at it. Joey was watching ~ and with his paw he tapped Woody on the top of his head, then guided him closer to the waterer, drank a bit himself, and then sat and watched until Woody drank water/Pedialyte, too. Woody has been drinking better since then. I told Joey that he is the *best* big brother ever! I'm sitting here bawling just thinking about it ~ of course, very little sleep doesn't help the emotions much. :) We had a rough overnight with Woody having two poo accidents on the bed. He was trying valiantly to get down and to the litter box, but he just couldn't make it. So I was changing bedding twice overnight and doing a couple of loads of laundry.

Please keep my baby boy in your good thoughts? The picture shows my two little boys on the back of the loveseat. :)