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December 27, 2005
traffic calming devices
- or - the dumbest cat ever
one night recently after dark i was tooling down Dacian and there in the very center of the intersection with North was a fluffy cat sitting on a manhole cover.
the cat did not move.
i drove carefully past the cat, which watched me dolefully as i passed it. i pulled over, got out of my car, and chased the cat out of the street.
today as i tooled down dacian, the same cat blocked my way. it was sitting behind a pickup truck full of compost. there was a young man in the bed of the truck moving the compost out of the truck and on to the ground. after a few moments, the man noticed me. i gestured to the cat. he chased it out of the street.
as i pulled alongside him, i opened my window and asked if that was his cat. he said that it was. i told him that i'd nearly run the cat down after dark recently. "Yeah, he's only six months old, i'm hoping he'll outgrow that." i advised him to consider keeping the cat indoors more often.
ougrow it? outgrow being dumb as a post and completely unafraid of cars? the only way he's going to learn a fear of cars is if he gets hit by one. and then he'll be dead. that'll learn him.
in other traffic calming neighborhood news, it appears that the traffic circle at markham and glendale is now sporting a menorah made of bricks (and candles, of course).
Posted by lisa at December 27, 2005 04:11 PM
Comments
Jesus (I mean "God" [maybe I should say Allah {oh fuck it}]) -- damn, that's a menorah. You're right. You are smart. I just thought some of the candles had blown out. I'm glad I didn't re-light them or put up my Xmas decorations -- I'd'a spoiled the effect. Maybe I can make a huge dreidl next year. :)
One of my obligatory pet-tending jobs this ecumenical holiday season wound up with another stupid cat (this one non-white [or should I say "of Color"?]) thirty feet up a tree, with insufficient cojones (or in this case estrogen) to climb back down. Someone who does tree work (and apparently doesn't usually have much work over the winter), in exchange for $100, climbed the tree with hooks and a safety belt, and retrieved the cat in a pillowcase. At least the cat was supposed to be outside anyway.
Posted by: Joseph H. Vilas on December 27, 2005 06:25 PM
i don't think it dawned that it was a menorah until i'd passed it twice. and i have a jewish friend who posted a photo of her menorah on the first night, so i had it in mind.
for what it's worth.
Posted by: lisa on December 27, 2005 07:12 PM
is that the traffic circle right by beth el? i'll have to remember to drive by when i'm in durham tomorrow.
Posted by: alicia on December 27, 2005 08:01 PM
no, it's several blocks further north on markham, but not a long drive if you want to see it.
north = take a right out of the station parking lot on to markham.
Posted by: lisa on December 27, 2005 09:31 PM
ok, so a) your comment won't post right away because i have to approve it first and b) you might get a server error but your comment probably posted anyway and c) previewing doesn't work so i've removed the preview button.