First of all, I want to thank every single person who recommended 'Puckoon'. Oh my gosh. It has been a long time since I laughed so hard at a book. GZ said that perhaps it was a book to be read out loud. Tim is intrigued by my laughter, and I have read parts of it out loud. He laughed as hard as I did. Today's example was Mrs. Doonan speaking with a solicitor about getting a divorce.
"But Mrs. Doonan, just because you don't like him, that's no grounds for separation."
"Well, make a few suggestions," she said.
"Has he ever struck you?"
"No. I'd kill him if he did."
"Has he ever been cruel to the children?"
"Never."
"Ever left you short of money, then?"
"No. Every Friday on the nail."
"I see." The solicitor pondered. "Ah. Well. Think hard now, Mrs. Doonan. Has he ever been unfaithful to you?"
Her face lit up. "By God, I think we got him there, I know fer sure he wasn't the father of me last child!"
It's like Monty Python in book form. I have giggled all the way through it. The little asides slay me: Milligan arguing with the author about his legs, and then his explanation about being a soldier in WWI. From the waist up, he was a hero. Unfortunately, he had a coward's legs.
The book gallops along at its own breakneck ridiculousness
Thank you for that suggestion.
This week has been a reoccurence of the stomach issues that plagued me a week prior. That finally seems to have eased up, which makes life a bit more endurable as well. I shouldn't be surprised if it wasn't a stress related issue. But I took a deep breath and realized that every single one of you reading this right now has some sort of aggravation in their life. It is just the way it is. I've taken a deep breath and Tim and I agreed upon our next step. We will continue on.
Houdi also aggravated me today, the darn cat. Something that has been happening regularly is that his dry kibble winds up spread across the kitchen floor. Everywhere. Every day. Sweeping it up is the first chore of the day while my coffee is brewing.
He has a tendency to decide (at roughly 4:30 AM) that he wants outside. Due to some pretty costly trips to the vet, he is no longer allowed outside at night. We can sleep through a cat fight. If we are awake, we can react more quickly, hopefully intervening before serious damage happens.
So. When he starts carrying on at 4:30, we simply shut him out of the bedroom and ignore him.
He does not like this.
Tonight, I was putting a handful of silverware into the silverware drawer, and he meowed to go out. I was in the middle of my job, so I ignored him for a minute while I finished. I heard a clatter and turned around to find the little fart slamming the side of his food dish, sending kibble flying everywhere. Moreover, he was staring straight at me with an irritated look on his face.
We are working on the plumbing, as planned. We will work on it again tomorrow. As AC noted, every day, we are making progress there. That's good to keep in mind too.
It was chilly today, but sunny, and that was a nice spirit lifter too.
Debby, I hope you figure out the stomach pains. The older we get, the more nervous I become about such things. Sorry to be a downer.
ReplyDeleteWell, you've been dealing with quite an issue of your own. Chronic pain is always a downer, and I'm sorry you are having a set back.
DeleteI think Houdini's last name is Garfield. What a hoot! (But not when you're sweeping up after him.) Is it a new kind of cat food? Maybe leave it empty and see if he'll eat when the bowl is filled? Hope your tummy gets better. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteNope. Nothing new. The same cat kibble. An empty cat dish? Oh my gosh. He'd really be reading me the riot act if his bowl ever got empty!
DeleteI cat sit for a few people and every cat is different, most of them are a bit spoiled to. One refuses to eat unless I bring her food in by the TV. Another thinks we need to go to bed at 9pm, I got to bed between 1 and 2 am. It takes the cat a few nights to realize she can go to bed without me.
ReplyDeleteI can't say that Houdi is spoiled. He has his routine. His favorite thing is when we go to bed. He likes to nestle in close for a good petting.
DeleteFeed Houdi less, so that he eats all in the bowl and the food isn't sitting there all day for him to snack on. Cats and dogs are feast feeders. They catch an animal for food and they gorge, then go without until hunger drives them to hunt again for food. You are doing the right thing at 4.30am.
ReplyDeleteWith your quote from Puckoon, I can see why I didn't 'get' the book at a young age but I am sure I would now. I will give it a shot.
I would be interested in hearing what you thought of it. I've decided that I want to read Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall by Spike Milligan. My daughter said she thought that was a hilarious read as well.
DeleteHoudi just wants your undivided attention, no matter what time of day or night.
ReplyDeleteI hope the stress is relieved soon and your stomach feels more settled.
There is a lot of things simmering in the background. Really. I just need to learn how to control my response to these things.
DeleteHope your stomach feels better soon...is a reduction in stress prescribed?
ReplyDeleteThe suggestion of putting less kibble out at a time sounds a good idea.
You know, I look at all the people I know, virtually and face to face, and really, everyone is dealing with some frustration. That's life, isn't it. And when I look around there are plenty of people who would look at me and think I'm fortunate. I just need to learn not to allow myself to become focused on just a single aspect of my life.
DeleteOh, cats and their ways to express their displeasure. Thankfully, he doesn't do it with pee. Been there, done that. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteIf he ever started that mess, he would not be an indoor cat. I couldn't handle that. I wouldn't handle it, as heartless as it sounds.
DeleteAn episode of Who's the Boss - Houdini edition!
ReplyDeleteWell, he's not the boss, and he needs to get used to that. Oh. Wait...sorry. I need to tend to my cat...
DeleteI hope that you feel more comfortable soon. I have had similar stomach issues which I am sure has been down to stress.
ReplyDeletePerhaps Puckoon will help??
I am going to bed early to read the last 20 pages of it. I've really had a good time with that book, and now that they are in possession of a casket of dynamite, I am reckoning it will get pretty exciting. I think that it's hysterical everytime that Dan Milligan begins to argue with the author.
DeleteWe had a cat that peed on our pillow when upset with us. So a bit of kibble on the floor isn’t really all that bad. Gigi
ReplyDeleteThat would happen just once. He would never be allowed out of the kitchen and basement again.
DeleteOh, that mischievous, strong-willed cat.
ReplyDeleteThe stinker. Reading other comments, I guess that I can call myself lucky.
DeleteGood sounding literature there. Bad cat! Bad cat!
ReplyDeleteHe's a stinker.
DeleteDebby, you mentioned a little while back having a kidney stone issue. I know that when mine is playing up, I tend to have gastric problems. Probably not your situation but I thought I'd mention it.
ReplyDeleteNow I want to read that book.
You know, the last time that stone acted up, I did have nausea, which has never happened before. I don't know that the two things are related, but I can tell you that since that, I've been drinking a lot of fluid. I slosh when I do my 10,000 steps. :)
DeleteI have got to find that book! Right up my alley.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the tummy issues. I hope you are right, and it's just from stress. Bad enough at that, but better than something that will require surgery.
Oh, be sure to come back and tell me what you think of it.
DeleteSorry about your stomach issues. Hope the stress dies down and you feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteOh, I need to learn to keep things in perspective.
DeleteSun makes a big difference, doesn't it? I haven't heard of that book but I'll have to look for it! I hope your stomach is better.
ReplyDeleteIt surely does! I need you to tell me what you thought of it. It's a hoot.
DeleteSo, Houdi has become a willful, slightly petulant furbag? :) Entering his teen years perhaps........What a rascal.
ReplyDeleteLOL. SLIGHTLY petulant????!!!
DeleteOuch, Debby! I'm sorry about your tummy problems. I know when my tummy is bad, my whole body feels bad. I hope everything gets settled quickly. It sure does seem like I'm falling apart. Sigh... Right now, my left knee is killing me. Doggone it!
ReplyDeleteMy bad knee is my right knee.
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