Four Wins From the Past Year

A Friday Hodgepodge

Per blog tradition, his alias shall henceforth be Seymour. (Image by the author. Copying permitted.)

1. It's great having cats again.

I mentioned on Labor Day that we welcomed a kitten into our home. We've wanted pets for over a year, but waited until things were more settled after our move to Louisiana.

But you said 'pets,' plural, Gus...

Yes, I did.

We'd ordered two kittens from the breeder, but we ended up having to wait on another litter for our second cat.

He finally arrived a couple of weeks ago. There he is in the picture.

Since we're traveling during the holiday period and the cats are so different in size, we're probably letting a sitter watch Lucinda (who can get wild quickly when she's playing) and taking Seymour along with us.

2. Good bye, bald spot!

I've been thinning for a long time, but about a year ago, was shocked at the bald spot I was developing near my crown.

That got me off the fence I'd been sitting on and prompted me to experiment with minoxidil, which I was surprised to learn is available over the counter, at least for the topical variety.

A big drawback to minoxidil is that it is toxic to cats, even in small amounts.

I use a disposable glove to apply it in the morning and evening, and, while we were waiting for the cats, I established the habit of wearing a night cap any time I sleep or rest. (Good thing I did, too!)

This treatment is a marathon, not a sprint, so I had my barber take a shot of my crown over the first four months of treatment. At the time, I wasn't sure it was doing any good, but the difference between the first day and the 100th day was quite impressive.

3. Our new neighborhood is great for walking.

Back in our Florida days, I found a good way to incorporate daily walks back into my routine despite the heat and blaring sunlight. (I've elaborated on this strategy since then, and, for example, sometimes walk at dawn to simplify the rest of the day.)

That was in a new development, and while I liked the several nature trails I could use, I missed the urban settings of places I'd lived before, like Boston (where I rarely even needed a car) or St. Louis, where we lived close to a nice commercial district.

I missed being able to change my route easily, or incorporate errands into my walks.

Where we are now combines the best of Florida and Boston. Practically living in a swamp makes separate nature areas unnecessary, so I get to see plenty of birds and reptiles during the warm part of the year. And, while it's not as walkable as Boston, here are a few things I've been able to incorporate into walks: getting vaccinated, going to the barber, picking up groceries, working on my laptop at a coffee shop, and eating out.

4. I've taken my Arsenal fandom up a notch.

I've gone to games at pubs with local Arsenal supporters' groups ever since our Boston days, but watching the beginning of the Arteta Revolution up close on Amazon caused me to realize that I have a once-in a lifetime chance to possibly witness the rise of a sporting dynasty.

So I attend matches at the pub more frequently and have found a great podcast to follow. The Arsenal Opinion Podcast generally runs before and immediately after games, which is a good way to enjoy the forty-five minute drive I have to make to see the games this way. I've also enjoyed becoming familiar with some of the other fans, as a result of attending frequently.

-- CAV