Pet Stories

Our latest episode (5 cats) involves attempted pee piping of the right speaker in the living room setup. We have a small place and though the speakers are on 28" stands the dining table is in fairly close proximity to the right speaker (the object of desire). I have gotten up a few mornings to find fluid trails running down the speaker stand starting about 5" below the height of the dining table. I figured, due to the windage and elevation factor, that the speaker was safe and the stand is easily cleaned up with an application of Simple Solution. Well, as time goes by the high water marks are getting higher and higher, either practice makes perfect or the little devils have learned to completely fill their bladders before target practice for that "Magnum Effect." In any case I ended up making a split on the side of a brown paper grocery bag and now place it over the speaker (as a sock or cozy) when we retire for the evening in the case of someone eventually achieving a bulls eye during the night (no big deal, if you own pets). This has worked fine and as of yet no one has scored, so it may be overkill. They also seem to have lost interest as of late. Anyway, last week I warmed up the system in the morning and started a new CD for my wife to listen to in the living room, while I meanwhile played around on the computer in the bedroom. My wife came in and told me that there was something wrong with the stereo. I went into the living room to see what was up and discovered that I had forgotten to un-bag the right speaker (the bag is not only form fitting, but is also the approximate color of the Beechwood cabinets of the speakers and she could not tell the difference without her glasses). I am considering having matching leather covers made to use on both of the speakers (for that Italian/Sonus Faber look) when they are not in use.

Long, long ago, on a lake far, far away...I was on my friend's 32 foot sailboat with a Jack Russell terrier, named "Mate," who always remained on watch at the bowsprit. Under full sail, he would occaisonally be blown off, and we got quite good and scooping him up to keep from having to turn around. (That is a pain in a boat with 3 sails.)

One night, while moored in a cove and getting in a good mood, we were enjoying Pink Floyd's "Animals" and the cut "Dogs" came on. Mate left the bowsprit at a full sprint and jumped through the forward port hole and hit his head on the galley's main beam and nearly knocked himself out. He was quite stunned. He was fine in no time, (in fact he snuck into our rations and ate an entire package of sausage while we rested.)

Best dog I ever had. I miss him.

Charlie

Our labrador retriever makes a great sound absorber. :-)

Nilthepill...let me just agree with Paul. Stereos and pets can co-exist. Pets are wonderful for children...or anybody else. We consider ours members of the family, and they constantly amuse us and enrich our lives. They do take looking after, of course, and training. It's an excellent way for young people to learn caring and responsibility. My 10 year old daughter loves her cat (Richard) and tells him all her troubles (main trouble in her life - I haven't bought her a horse yet!)

I've read the cat stories with amusement. We've always had neutered male/spayed female kitties and never had any problems. We trained (conditioned?) the cats to not jump on counters, not claw furniture/curtains/in the house and to leave my stereo gear alone. It helps to select a people oriented, friendly kitty, but water spray-bottles and a loud, firm "NO" work wonders. Since we live in the country, Richard even goes outside to do his litterbox chores.

The dogs seem to enjoy the stereo system, though they usually end up asleep between the Maggies. The cat hates rock, but sits on my slap and purrs for classical and acoustic jazz.

I thought that I had heard all the names for pets... but Richard takes the prize... there MUST be a story behind that name