Happy New Years

"I am an Ape-Man"
--Ray Davies, From "Apeman" from the LP Lola, 1971

Well, Happy New Years.

I will not make resolution on anything that be documented, although I hope to lose weight, be kinder (uh...I suppose), and be more studious.

Now that that crap-ola is over, I think New Years is also my time to send my warning. As the Monkey says, Don't rattle my cage. What do Monkeys do when they are ticked? That's right, they fling feces at objects of scorn.

We could learn a bit from a mad monkey.

I have looked at historically successful people and they all share the Monkey's philosphy as a common bond. George Washington--rattle his cage and he would rip you a new one. Truman would cuss you out. Teddy Roosevelt would scream and challenge you with his big stick. Patten would slap you and then run you over with a tank. Attila would conquor you. Ghengis would kill you. Taft would eat you like a twinkie. Lincoln would make you the butt of his jokes. Twain, the same. Poe would get drunk and then be obnoxious. Socrates, Plato, Descartes, and the like would outwit you. The list goes on and on.

I am reminded of our dearly departed feline friend Pep who was loyal and intelligent. She, however, hated anyone who rattle her cage and upset her world.

Dylan the tough buff shares that quality with Pep. We brought in a 22 pound cat for a trial basis. His name was Shiloh but I have called him "Chumley" like the cartoon Walrus. He is reasonably stupid like "Chumley" and he is kind-spirited at least to the people. Guinness, who likes everyone, is not fond of him. Dylan hates him, and Foggy hates everyone except me and sometimes Pam.

So Chumley follows us around, is a bit of a pain, and when he approaches Dylan, Dylan hisses and spits and the like. Dylan has rickets, hip dysplacia, bad teeth, and some slight emotional problems and yet he is willing to fight for his space.

Good Old Dylan. The old boy does us proud. Whereas Guinness will fight, he is much more readily approachable (somewhat like me).

He and I need to gain some of Dylan's fortitude.

Anyway, this has fallen into the rambling category that I try not to develop when attempting prose.

Have a Happy New Years and try not to rattle cages.

Next blog--The Secret Of The Chicago Bears.