RIP

My brother's cat died early this morning. He's Max's brother and just as old. He's been getting thinner and thinner, having problems walking, and all the other things that cats do when they are on their way out.

From my Dad:

"Hi Jode,

I don't know if EJ mailed you but Blinky died in his arms at 5:15 this morning. He was down in his room all night, I am glad Blinky timed it right for EJ. JD took it hard and broke me a bit looking at him so I just held him and told him he was ok in heaven. Last night is the first night Blinky didn't sleep on our bed. I am making a nice spot for him in the back corner of the yard and we decided to put him in a little cardboard box like he loves, Mom gave me a towel to put him in because he always sat on then when she got them out from the dryer. I will be making a spot and will bury him in the next hour or so. He looks so peaceful now, EJ curled him up nice the way he slept. He has to go to work this morning, I felt so bad for him I wanted to hug him too but that would be silly. Say a little prayer to send off to meet Poonsie & Winky.
Love Dad"

Blinkie was the sweetest cat. We called him "Blinkie the dog" because he trotted around the house like a dog, and would talk to you with well timed and loud meows. He also would carry socks or gloves around in his mouth like he had caught a mouse, and make this weird growl noise when he did it. We'd hear a noise from the other room and a few minutes later Blinky would come in and drop a sock at our feet.

I love you Blinky, I'm glad you aren't suffering anymore :(

Here's a pic, he was such a cutie:
http://www.diabolis.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=146&pos=26

Blinkie loved to sit inside of things. This pic is of him this past Xmas sitting inside of a tray that the Tiggerette made for my parents. The second that thing came out of the box Blinkie's eyes lit up and he HAD to sit in it :)

He's the first one of three to go from the kittens that three excited kids picked out many, many years ago. Its very hard to lose such a special part of your family.

Days

Days home by myself are always very productive - mind-boggling so even! They are also very quiet inside and very loud outside as cars speed by, kids are yelled by their mom (the one next-door with the manly voice) and other kids play in the driveways. Kids in this neighborhood are limited to playing in driveways. Gone are the days of playing kickball in the street when people drive by going 55 in a residential area.

Dad came by to bring me some boxes, see Max and chat for a bit. A bit ended up being over an hour - maybe it was two. Its been a tough day for the family, putting the first of the kittens to rest. My dad was astounded to see how good Max looks relative to the two, uh, one cat left at their house.

Brian called earlier from fanzillacon and said its lame. He was in his normal street clothes heading off by himself to find lunch on the streets of Worcester. I'll head to take a shower and then go off to run some errands and attend a cook-out at an old co-worker's house. They are having a housewarming/celebrating graduation and a new job/celebrating 25 years together as a schmoopy couple party. I'm hoping to get the dirt on the most recent round of layoffs there . . . though leaving was tough it was definitely good for me in the long run.

Its very weird - I'm running out of things to pack. Soon I'll start throwing random things into boxes that don't really go together and marking them "Msc". We keep experiencing the lasts: the last time cooking dinner in our stove, the last time doing a load of dishes in the dishwasher, the last time my Dad sees the house, the last time, last time, last time . . .