We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:34:14 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification The "Mark" hovers above the new Castle. The barn, at least. A starvling cat, with 9 ticks on her (who were *not* starving), appeared at the Barn of Argghhh! yesterday. You must remember, we a are half-mile off the main road, at the end of a dead-end road, and no lost kitties are known at the three closest abodes-of-two-legs. Ergo, the sign of Saint Francis of Assissi must float in the air above the New Castle, drawing the needy. Tentative name is S'mudge. She has very indistinct markings. That, or she's a white cat and *very* dirty. She's talkative, too.... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html Mon, 23 Jul 2007 07:19:08 -0600 Its the fact that ten years later they gave him my old slot that cures my constipation. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62577 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62577 Wed, 25 Jul 2007 17:01:27 -0600 Ah, I think I understand now, Murray. I may be a bit slow, and getting more so with age, but think I'm still capable of learning. It's the politics of it which really chap you, ain't it! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62535 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62535 Wed, 25 Jul 2007 02:06:34 -0600 Jezze man this is Royal New Zealand God Damn Infantry Regiment, not girl guides. I didn't wipe pink little bottom when he went potty either. Sure we get the frontal lobe removed when they issue us the green hat but I don't think "don't stab yourself in the foot" is too challenging a concept. EDP was fully utilized, I explained, I demonstrated, I had them practice in slow time. Short of time travel and getting to his mother before his dad did there's not much more I could have done. My grandfather brought home a kitten from the rail yards once(he was always bringing home strays - this is not an invitation to say things about my grandmother though). He was going to call it Smudge because it was grey. After washing it though it turned out to be a fluffy white persian. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62529 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62529 Tue, 24 Jul 2007 17:44:56 -0600 Maybe there is a fine line between genius and idiocy. After all, Houdini got the service. PP Kyle is a little different tho, that is self inflicted pain. No Mensa invitations for him. Does this mean dogs are smarter than humans? Maybe not but some dogs must be. Well i know in the country here it can be traditional to dump cats on the neighbours. Not to mention city folk who think it's a brilliant idea absolving them of both sin and responsibility. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62499 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62499 Tue, 24 Jul 2007 05:49:27 -0600 We have had the ranks swell with a couple more felines. Two are going in this Thursday to be spayed and neutered as we can't run the risk of another litter. I have two more females to spay and then we should be all hunky dory except I want a dog. I need a dog. I tolerate cats because they are marvels of creation. Miniature predators who permit their humans to pet them, but who also help to pay the rent by keeping down the vermin. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62497 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62497 Mon, 23 Jul 2007 22:43:44 -0600 A couple of lifetimes ago I had a cat named Smudge. He was a good guy. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62496 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62496 Mon, 23 Jul 2007 20:12:42 -0600 JTG Option #2, always .... (memories of Trooper F). Cheers http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62488 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62488 Mon, 23 Jul 2007 19:10:25 -0600 Dang, Murray, I take it that that particular P. P. didn't have a clue why he wasn't doing well, and didn't say something like, "Sergeant, I don't seem to be very good at this. Could you help me understand what I'm doing wrong, and maybe teach me how to do it right?" You did give him the opportunity to say something like that, right? Or was he the kind of guy who was just totally hopelessly incapable of understanding why the Sergeant was angry? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62483 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62483 Mon, 23 Jul 2007 18:02:09 -0600 Sir, it's obviously written on yer forehead in Invisible Cat, Dog, and Messed-Up Human Kid language, "Come here, all you lonesome critters, and I'll try to help, and would you like to eat some of this, and lemmee scratch behind yer ears, and...." . http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62482 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62482 Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:50:03 -0600 I had a permanent private like that. He went out of the platoon position one night for a piss. We found him the next afternoon two ridgelines over. He was unable to answer as to why he thought crossing a river would be on the way back in when it wasn't on the way out. Then there was the bayonet practice. "Do NOT stamp on the target. It is wet and slippery, run up to the target, STOP, then bayonet the target. Under NO circumstances will you pin your own foot to the ground!" I thought I was clear in my instructions. Private Kyle Harbour pins his foot to the ground, right through his big toe. He thought he was going to get sympathy till I started listing the potential charges. Disobeying a lawful command, destruction of government property (one boots gp), making his platoon sgt look like a dick in public (capital offence) etc etc. Last I heard of him he'd taken over my slot. I suspect his incredibly hot sister may have been a factor. God help the country. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62478 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62478 Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:01:13 -0600 Permanent" Private, Tim.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62448 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62448 Mon, 23 Jul 2007 09:45:00 -0600 lot better than we think they do.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62447 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62447 Mon, 23 Jul 2007 09:41:42 -0600 Oh -- I forgot. The sign over your door applies to all strays based on a much older post about a run away boy who must have seen the sign over the door. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62442 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62442 Mon, 23 Jul 2007 08:44:36 -0600 Well, I'd be willing to bet that the Mark follows above the Master and Mistress of Argghhh at all times. After all, look at how many wayward kitties have wandered in to the Castle over the years! *grin* http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62441 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62441 Mon, 23 Jul 2007 08:44:17 -0600 I have another friend, yes I have friends, who lives in the county and his cat count is always going up. Feral cats seem to show up in barns and at the doors of country folk as well as the dumped cats and dogs. They seem to know where they will be met with sympathy, food and liquid. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62440 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62440 Mon, 23 Jul 2007 08:42:43 -0600 One of the drawbacks of living in the boonies is how many people ...uhm...tactically deploy unwanted furry family members on ones porch. Not saying that sthe case, but it happens in my neck of the woods quite frequently. I would let Huckleberry The Wonder Dog (tm), also known as Huck, Run free on our expanse but I'm afraid my trigger happy neighbors might shoot first and ask questions later of a 120 lb Rottweiler whom is galloping full speed at them in a request to have his bum scratched. Of course the drool, large teeth and slightly glazed look in his eyes might be whats confusing them...... Until such time he is limited to walking with his slightly overweight owner, which works out for the best all around as he can drag me back to the house when I collapse of heart failure from exertion ;) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62439 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/goings_on_at_th.html#comment-62439 Mon, 23 Jul 2007 07:56:25 -0600