It is the early part of the stormy season. We had one thunderstorm the other day but the bulk of the bad stuff went through south of us. The cats don't like lightning and I had three of them occupying my lap for a while during the NCAA game. Hobbes loves the flashes and sits in the windows looking out at it. Strange fellow, Hobbie.

I took three weeks off painting but resumed the art last week. I am working on some unfinished paintings. I had 17 of those laying around and completed one already. Right now I have two undergoing final stages and a large one awaiting the brushes. Most of the works are smaller, ranging from little 8 x 10 studies up to 20 x 16. The smaller paintings sell better than the large ones. Price is a factor in that as well as wall space that people have available for art.

I got so sick and tired of political bull-s*it and the farce that NATO is making of the Libyan adventure that the TV is now on ESPN most of the time. last night it was STO (Sports Time Ohio) to listen and occasionally watch my Indians beat the Red Sox. Boston is 0-4. My Tribe is 2-2 (.500! OMG!)

Sports is so much better than reality TV.

I never watch Dancing With The Stars. I heard that someone named Kirstey Alley fell down on the show. Who the hell cares? I want to know important things, like what is happening in the NFL labor talks. Geez.

I am being sarcastic, of course. Really important things do not include major league sports.

Hobbes got four care packages just before his 5th birthday last Friday. We have so much cat food that I can avoid Kroger for a couple weeks, except for Viva towels, Charmin and coffee. Oh, don't forget kitty litter.

Now that we have 6 cats the litter replacement factor is huge.

This time of year I really miss cracking rocks with my rock hammer. Every now and then I slip on my goggles and take the hammer outside to bang some chips off a large chunk of local limestone I have in the yard. It is Silurian so there are not any fossils in it. But it feels good. My neighbors must think I am nuts.

I wish I could go to Nova Scotia and traipse around looking for minerals but I don't think any motels there will allow 6 cats. Besides, I would have to get a loan to purchase gasoline.