Queereaders discussion

Bryn wrote: "Writing to my Prime Minister about the refugee crisis. There are public gatherings being organised in the cities, but I doubt there'll be any in my little town. If I were still in Sydney I'd gather..."

That sounds like a worthy activity Bryn. Some of the things I see in the news on it are heartbreaking.

A. wrote: "Greg - I have ridden FOR ages and ages, I think. ;) Can't ..."

Horses are such intuitive and majestic creatures. I do miss it.

They can be, for sure. The horse I currently own is actually involved in a therapy program. He helps people of all ages, kids, teens, adults, develop self-confidence and problem-solving skills. They have to maneuver him through an obstacle course (on the ground, they don't ride him) using nothing but words and actions. They're not allowed to touch him and physically move him over or past anything.

It's pretty fascinating to watch. The therapy horses are also used, as a group, to demonstrate visually how a person works through problems in their mind. When you confront a herd of horses with something scary they first panic and scatter, then they make a wide circle around it and regroup, and then all together they approach the object and consider how to deal with it. It's a pretty impactful visual. I'm really glad my guy has been able to be part of it.

A. wrote: "They can be, for sure. The horse I currently own is actually involved in a therapy program. He helps people of all ages, kids, teens, adults, develop self-confidence and problem-solving skills. The..."

That sounds like a really cool activity to participate in Arin and definitely fascinating to watch. I didn't actually realize horses were used for therapy like that, but it makes perfect sense.

I didn't know either. I've learned a lot through letting my horse be used in this program. It's been pretty helpful to a lot of people. I don't watch their sessions, obviously, since it's therapy, but the woman who counsels them has given me a general run-down of what sorts of issues they work on and how the horses help. It's really nice knowing my horse can do that for someone.

Phillip wrote: "Greg wrote: "Horses are such intuitive and majestic creatures."

If people achieve full enlightenment upon their passing I often wonder whether their biggest surprise is to realize that animals had..."

I think I know what you mean Phillip. There's something special about animals that defies words. As Denise Levertov put it in "Come into Animal Presence":

What is this joy? That no animal
falters, but knows what it must do?
That the snake has no blemish,
that the rabbit inspects his strange surroundings
in white star-silence? The llama
rests in dignity, the armadillo
has some intention to pursue in the palm-forest.
Those who were sacred have remained so,
holiness does not dissolve, it is a presence
of bronze, only the sight that saw it
faltered and turned from it.
An old joy returns in holy presence."

It sounds a bit schmaltzy, but I do often feel that way when in animal "presence."

Beautiful poem.

And I agree with being able to sense it particularly in cats. I don't get the same sense from dogs, but then dogs are completely, totally and irrevocably domesticated while cats (even house cats) are only semi-domesticated.

I also second the request for an update on Pip's status.

Phillip and Rick, I agree with you that cats seem to have their own world sometimes, definitely never 100% domesticated! :)

As far as Pip, it was kind of sad news unfortunately. The type of tumor he has doesn't tend to metastasize, but they don't have any good treatments for it either because it grows back agressively in the same spot if removed. They could do 10 hours of radition once a week, but the vet estimates that would only add a couple months to his life at best. I don't want to put him through that without a possibility of a full recovery.

On the positive side, at least for now Pip is feeling a bit better. He's eating and hasn't been hiding, which I think means he's not in much pain. He's been very affectionate too just like his old self. So now we're just trying to give him the best days we can and to enjoy the time we have with him as long as we have him.

Greg wrote: "...So now we're just trying to give him the best days we can and to enjoy the time we have with him as long as we have him."

Give him a kiss on the forehead for me.

I'm sorry Greg, that's a tough situation to handle. I work in computers now but I was a vet tech for 15 years and I've seen a lot of animals come and go - your kitty definitely knows he's loved. I believe that. It's not easy to go through but it's a gift to love and be loved by your pet, and I'm happy that you've all gotten to experience that. Will send my best wishes Pip's way!

Thanks Phillip, Rick, and Arin - I do think Pip knows he's loved, and I appreciate all your kind words very much. It's not easy, but just as with people, the hard times are the price of loving. Even now, a price worth paying! :)

The topic of animals always hits close to home for me. It's funny we chat about it here because recently I picked up a stray kitten (literally. I found her under a car, determined that no one gave a shit about her, walked away and drove straight to the vet with her). To make a long story short I've spent a lot of time and money in the last few months getting her healthy again. People keep asking me why, and then they follow that up with the observation that I like animals more than people.

I guess I could be vague about my response but I'm not usually vague (?? maybe I am, but I don't think so). So I wrote a little blog about why, which you're welcome to read if you're curious (though it does get sort of personal).

I would love if we were related to dolphins more closely than apes. Let's face it - dolphins are way cooler. Unfortunately all the evidence seems to point toward primates. Including the fact that we like to sling shit at each other, even if it's just the verbal and metaphorical kind!

Phillip wrote: "Susan Casey is out with Voices in the Ocean: A Journey into the Wild and Haunting World of Dolphins about d..."

Sounds like a great book Phillip! Once years ago on my one trip to Hawaii, a dolphin surfaced where I was swimming and swam with me just a moment - it was a magical experience. Of course when I first saw the fin I almost had a heart attack .. but then after I knew I wasn't about to be eaten or bitten, I relaxed into the moment.

We found a mama cat and on kitten in our bamboo stand. They were hungry and very personable so of course we adopted them. We soon found out she was already pregnant which resulted in six kittens. We kept one. Kittens are too cute. Before she could be sterilized she got out and got knocked up again, 6 more kittens. We finally got her spayed. We now have 3 inside cats and 3 outside cats. They do keep the mice down which is a big problem when living in the woods. We also have one dog (I'm a dog guy, Chris a cat guy) and I'd really like to get another dog.

Animals are family!

A. wrote: "The topic of animals always hits close to home for me. It's funny we chat about it here because recently I picked up a stray kitten (literally. I found her under a car, determined that no one gave ..."

I love your WordPress post. You're spot on about animals - all they see is the heart!

And although I don't have exactly your experience, I can relate to much of what you say. My parents never will be able to fully understand me as a gay person, but I love them regardless. Life is much more complicated than the labels people use to simplify things.

I don't like labels but I'll admit that as much as I dislike the use, it's been a comfort and a relief to know there are other people out there like me and I'm not just weird or abnormal (ok well at least my weirdness has a name and other people understand it). I used to just think something was wrong with me and I gave up any hope of ever having a self-identity. So my labels have made me relieved but I don't like for them to define me.

Animals will probably always be my 'comfort zone.' Not just because they don't judge but because they cannot advocate for themselves. And I'll stop because otherwise I'll get preachy!!

I do have 3 cats now, a dog (a catahoula), and my horse. It's killing me to have to find a home for my horse but I can only afford one, and he's been diagnosed with a condition that limits his athletic ability. I'm a competitive hunter, and I need my horse to be an equal partner there. I'd kill to be able to hang onto him AND get another but that is definitely not possible.

That's what brought me to the racehorse rescue over labor day weekend. I met a fantastic little filly who was retired early due to a very minor tendon injury. The vet has given her a good prognosis so we'll see what happens! I'm always up for a rescue rather than a purchase.

Ugh I got preachy anyhow. Sorry. :x

A. wrote: "Ugh I got preachy anyhow. Sorry. :x"

I don't think so at all Arin :)

Hope things go well with your filly!

Funny story, when I was a child (maybe 6?), I used to have a fantasy about living in a cabin in the woods with a meagerie of animals. I wrote a story about it in grade school, ha, ha!

You were like a mini dr Doolittle or something!!

The first stories I wrote were all about talking animals. I still have some of them!

We had skunks on our front lawn. They would come up to my bedroom window (basement room, so my windows were at ground level) and I'd feed them apples. They rarely sprayed near the house. Still, I'm envious - I'd rather have had a Maine squirrel than a NY skunk!!

Kernos wrote: "We found a mama cat and on kitten in our bamboo stand. They were hungry and very personable so of course we adopted them. We soon found out she was already pregnant which resulted in six kittens. W..."

Outdoor cats can certainly breed quickly when they're not spayed!

Kernos wrote: "Animals are family!"

Animals certainly are family!

Phillip wrote: "Greg wrote: "A few years later I ended up having a pet squirrel -- named Rascal -- who would run up my leg and perch on my shoulder when I got home from school, and would curl up under my chin against my pillow at bed each night (that's a Maine boyhood!). ..."

That sounds amazing Phillip! I would've died with happiness as a kid! How did you get Rascal so tame? Was he raised by humans as a baby or was he originally wild?

One of my co-workers accidentally hit a possum years ago with her car on the way home. When she stopped to see what she could do, she found that she had killed the mother, but there was a very small baby possum thst survived. So she took the baby home and fed it with a dropper. She raised it in the house and it was very friendly with her. The only problem was as it got older it was fairly destructive to the house & contents. It tore up some of her floor paneling. Eventually she did have to release it back into the wild.

A. wrote: "We had skunks on our front lawn. They would come up to my bedroom window (basement room, so my windows were at ground level) and I'd feed them apples. They rarely sprayed near the house. Still, I'm..."

We have some skunks by me now Arin. I would love to feed them apples! :) And the spray wouldn't bother me - I have a congenital defect that I have no sense of smell since birth (like a blind person except with smell). It runs in the family. My uncle on my father's side had the same thing. It does present some safety issues - I can't smell a gas leak for instance. And my faculty of taste, though I definitely taste, is wildly different than average. For instance, all the different Life Savers flavors taste the same to me (all sweet), and garlic is flavorless to me.

For sure Ron would be very unhappy if I got sprayed however! So I don't get too close to the skunks when I see them. They're cute though. As I'm walking home from wherever I've found street parking, in the dim street lights at a distance I often mistake them for cats until I see the stripe (there are many outdoor cats in my area).. well, that and some of them are much larger than the average cat.

Yesterday I flew into Portland, spent a couple hours at Powell's Books, and then drove down to my friend's house in Grant's Pass. We stayed up until 2 in the morning talking. I'd missed her so much!!

I also coincidentally only just missed seeing Ursula Le Guin at Powell's Books by one day (she was there Thursday)!



Now we're off on a road trip to Crater Lake. :)

Greg wrote: "Yesterday I flew into Portland, spent a couple hours at Powell's Books..."

Is Powell's a chain? I had it envisioned as a giant building full of books somewhere out west. Before Amazon took off, I got most of my online books from Powell's.

Kernos wrote: "Greg wrote: "Yesterday I flew into Portland, spent a couple hours at Powell's Books..."

Is Powell's a chain? I had it envisioned as a giant building full of books somewhere out west. Before Amazon..."

They have a few branches in Portland, but the main one takes up a whole city block! Massive!

Greg - I can't imagine my life without garlic! Nooooo! It does seem dangerous to not be able to smell a gas leak but there are at least sensors you can install for something like that, is that right? Like a smoke alarm? I know technology can be faulty but at least it's something!

Phillip - that's awesome, that you were able to save and raise a little squirrel. That must have been such fun. They seem like such clever little intelligent creatures.

I have never heard of Powell's. Maybe I need to move to Portland and get a job there. I'd be in heaven. I worked for Borders a while back and was sad to see them close. It sounds fantastic. I have a little indie bookseller nearby my place but... Texas... it's mostly, uh, Texas-y stuff. I'm trying to be PC. They don't carry a very wide range of titles. Otherwise there's a B&N about 45 minutes away.

Pretty sad to see the brick and mortar stores dying. There's something so peaceful about wandering through a bookstore.

Phillip wrote: "Yes, we got Rascal as a tiny baby. We found him next to his mom in the woods bordering our backyard who had been shot dead by someone with a bb gun. I had a friend who lived on the water, and they had a pet harbor seal! ..."

How cool with the harbor seal Phillip!

A. wrote: " It does seem dangerous to not be able to smell a gas leak but there are at least sensors you can install for something like that, is that right? Like a smoke alarm? I know technology can be faulty but at least it's something!.."

I guess my partner Ron is my gas leak detector right now :) If I lived alone again, I'd definitely buy something like that. Another problem is telling when food is going bad - most people smell food to see if it's going off. I have to rely on the stamped dates for some stuff and toss things in question. I'm very rigorous about showering and deodorant, since I don't know how I smell .. and I eschew aftershave and cologne altogether since I'd have no idea whether I was putting on too much. I always keep fresh batteries in the smoke detectors!

As far as bookstores, I love them! The online ordering methods are convenient, but there's no replacing the feeling of browsing through huge shelves of books! Powell's is probably the best bookstore I've ever been to - massive numbers of both used and new books.

http://www.powells.com/locations/powe...

I love used book stores, but only have access to B&N locally which is not bad. We had a treasure house in St. Louis in '70 or so. Three stories with 12 foot ceilings, nothing but bookshelves and books. Very unorganized. I spent many hours up on ladders treasure hunting, most books less than a dollar. I remember finding a little tome signed by a Nobel prize winner who discovered vitamin K—$1

Every 2nd Sunday of September is National Pet Memorial Day. So it was appropriate to have so many posts about pets over the last couple of days.

Over my life I had 6 pets.
3 cats: Muffin, Nellie & Squash
1 dog: Mandy (technically my sister's dig, but she lost interest fairly quickly)
2 hamsters: Cornelius & Caesar

The only ones I got to name were the hamsters.

We used to have a wonderful used bookstore in town called Paupers Paperbacks. Stacks and piles and shelves of books everywhere. Often with no discernible order (although the owner could always find a pecific book, if asked for one). Great place to get lost in.

Rick wrote: "Every 2nd Sunday of September is National Pet Memorial Day. So it was appropriate to have so many posts about pets over the last couple of days.

Over my life I had 6 pets.
3 cats: Muffin, Nellie..."

That is good timing with Pet Memorial Day Rick! I'm sure you loved your 6 pets as much as I have mine. My pets have all been cats so far - if I can ever afford a house at inflated California prices, I'll get a dog too.

I tried to convince Ron that we should get a rabbit as well, but he's convinced the cats would "eat" it. Who knows, he's much more practical and realistic than me so maybe he's right. :)

Had a fantastic time in Oregon with my friend Zahra that I've known for 20 years, one of my best friends. I'm back in California and I miss her already!

We went to Crater Lake in Oregon and did a road trip to hike some Redwoods trails in Northern California. Now unfortunately, it's back to work. :(

Looks like you had some awesome weather Greg! What a gorgeous trip. And you guys look like you're having fun. :D

On the topic of cats and rabbits, when I was younger my parents got me a kitten. My brother had a dwarf rabbit. We kept them separated for a few months until one day we realized my brother had left his bedroom door cracked open with Cinnamon (bunny) loose inside. We rushed in all worried and discovered Fluffy (I was 6, ok?) and Cinnamon curled up together, fast asleep.

Obviously that was the exception to the norm but they can coexist! They were best buddies until Cinnamon passed away six years later.

(As an aside, my family STILL give me shit for naming my cat, who turned out to be a 20-pound monster and NOT overweight, Fluffy.)

Greg wrote: "...I tried to convince Ron that we should get a rabbit as well, but he's convinced the cats would "eat" it. Who knows, he's much more practical and realistic than me so maybe he's right. :) .."

I think Cornelius & Caesar were terrified of Muffin. But he just loved to watch them in their Habitrail home. He never tried to get into it. At least as far as I know. But the hamsters would hide when he jumped up to watch them.

Phillip wrote: "Rick wrote: "The only ones I got to name were the hamsters."

Haha . . . Cornelius and Caesar definitely were not named by the same folk who named Muffin, Nellie & Squash!"

Muffin & Mandy were named by my sister, who tired of both pretty quickly. Many were the nights when I had the cat, dog and hamster all in my room. It seemed the preferred place for animals to sleep. Of course, the hampsters didn't really have a choice.

Nellie was named by my friend Paul before he left her with me when he joined the peace corps.

Squash was named by someone, I have no idea who. My friend Linda got him as a surprise for me from the humane society after Nellie died. I was furious at her for doing that, but it was all over when he poked his little ginger & white head out of the box. He had me at "Meow."

Oh, Cornelius & Caesar were named after characters from the Planet of the Apes films. ;)

A. wrote: "...(As an aside, my family STILL give me shit for naming my cat, who turned out to be a 20-pound monster and NOT overweight, Fluffy.) ..."

Muffin was also, way tougher than his name. He would chase dogs if they looked at him wrong. I'm not kidding. He chased a trained doberman pincher around while the dog just yelped and yelped. It was hysterical. Nobody messed with him. Actually since that dog absolutely terrified me, he might have been protecting me. Whoever says cats don't love people is a complete moron. He was always a little purr box for me.

Greg wrote: "We went to Crater Lake in Oregon and did a ..."

I'm jealous! I've always wanted to go to Crater Lake.

Greg wrote: "Had a fantastic time in Oregon with my friend Zahra that I've known for 20 years, one of my best friends. I'm back in California and I miss her already!

We went to Crater Lake in Oregon and did a ..."

Great photos again, Greg! Glad you had a great time with your old friend. Long-enduring friendships always make me smile!

Rick, I think it must be a cat thing. Once you give them a goofy name they spite you by waiting until you go to bed then lifting weights and doing feline calisthenics until they're total beefcakes. That way everyone will look at you, raise an eyebrow, and question your choice of name while your studly cat laughs at you.

I wouldn't put it beyond ANY cat.

A. wrote: "Rick, I think it must be a cat thing. Once you give them a goofy name they spite you by waiting until you go to bed then lifting weights and doing feline calisthenics until they're total beefcakes...."

LOL!

You're probably right! ;-)

They're gonna do whatever they darn well please. Period.

A. wrote: "Looks like you had some awesome weather Greg! What a gorgeous trip. And you guys look like you're having fun. :D

On the topic of cats and rabbits, when I was younger my parents got me a kitten. My..."

Thanks Arin and that's heartening about Cinnamon! :)

The trip was a lot of fun, and you're so right, the weather was great! Last time I went to Oregon to visit her, it was raining the whole time - this time we got to see a lot more! One of my favorite trips there was rafting on the Rogue River - that was such a blast and surprisingly cheap too since a friend of hers was a river guide at the time.

Phillip wrote: "A. wrote: "On the topic of cats and rabbits"

I would have loved Cinnamon and Fluffy. The bonds that can develop between animals never cease to amaze me, and even more so when it extends beyond th..."

Thanks Phillip! And so true about the bonds between animals. When I had Maggie and Brick some years ago, Brick was moping for months after Maggie died.

I think I'm going to poke Ron about the rabbit again after Arin's Cinnamon story. :)

Lee wrote: "Great photos again, Greg! Glad you had a great time with your old friend. Long-enduring friendships always make me smile! ..."

Thanks Lee! I love Ron, but I don't know what I'd do without my long-time friends like Zahra. They ground me and keep me sane as well as making my llife a lot more pleasurable to live!

A. wrote: "Rick, I think it must be a cat thing. Once you give them a goofy name they spite you by waiting until you go to bed then lifting weights and doing feline calisthenics until they're total beefcakes...."

Ha ha, love your sense of humor Arin! :)

Rick wrote: "Oh, Cornelius & Caesar were named after characters from the Planet of the Apes films. ;)"

That's awesome Rick! And I love your story about Muffin too!

As far as Crater Lake, you should definitely go sometime. It was gorgeous! I think next time I go to Oregon, I'll go in winter - Zahra was telling me about snowshoeing around the lake with the snow in huge walls over the entrance road. That sounded magical to me .. I haven't lived in a place with snow in so long!

I think I'm going to poke Ron about the rabbit again after Arin's Cinnamon story. :)

Ruh-roh. My luck you'll get a rabbit and your kitty will eat it. Cinnamon and Fluffy were both VERY young and they were definitely the exception to the rule. I think it can work, but likely only if both critters are babies while you raise them. Also, after that first scare where Fluffy got into Cinnamon's room we only let them play together under supervision - they did still have plenty of 'separate space' time. However, yes, when they were together (which was a significant part of the day - probably about 6-8 hours at a time), they cuddled with each other, and played a little. Well, Fluffy played. Cinnamon just kind of hopped around wondering what the damn cat was doing.

In a similar vein, I currently have a Catahoula who's a little aggressive with other dogs. With Evil Kitten, though, and any other cat I've ever had, she seems to see them as interactive doggie toys. No aggression whatsoever. She pounces and plays with Evil Kitten, licks her, nuzzles her, the whole nine yards. It's hilarious.

Also, in other news, my trip to visit the ex-race horses on Labor Day weekend had another result - I'm adopting one. My application was accepted, I visited her last weekend, and as soon as I hear back from the lady who runs the organization, I'll know when she's coming home.

A. wrote: "Also, in other news, my trip to visit the ex-race horses on Labor Day weekend had another result - I'm adopting one. My application was accepted, I visited her last weekend, and as soon as I hear back from the lady who runs the organization, I'll know when she's coming home. ..."

That's fantastic Arin!! :)