The Ballad of Chingu and Mandu

 

Chingu (tuxedo) and Mandu (cream with brown spots) taking a much needed rest after knocking something else over.

I've been working at the local Humane Society for over a year now, but I was one of the only people there who didn't have any pets.  Living with my Dad it would have been too much for him -- I was convinced that during one of his 3 a.m. ramblings to nowhere he might have kicked a dog or cat, or simply just opened the front door and let them out to play with the hungry local foxes and coyotes.

Anyhow, we've moved my Dad into professional care and not long after that I adopted these two knuckle-heads (technically I'm fostering until they're fixed, then will formally adopt).  The tuxedo is Chingu, a boy.  His name in Korean is "friend."  I didn't stop there, so his sister (not biological, but I'd challenge anyone to tell the difference) is Mandu, or "dumpling."

I've hesitated to say more about these two gorgeous creatures for a simple reason.  Chingu was going to get put down due to some health issues.  As horrible as that sounds, it's just a fact that in an Animal Shelter setting issues of "adoptability" and ease of re-homing are always present.

It's been about a month now and while I don't want to jinx anything, Chingu is improving.  He's objectively doing better and growing all on his own.  He had issues with his bowels.  This might mean he'll later have the very common cat issue of bad kidneys.  But for now he's lively and playful and makes me smile even when I'm scolding him for trying to light the house on fire.

And let's not give short shrift to Mandu -- she's also growing, has a beautiful coat and eyes, and will purr on first or second brush of a human hand.  She's actually more shy than Chingu, even though as far as we can tell she's always been perfectly healthy.

I love these two, and in a few months we'll be driving across the country together once my Dad's house is ready for resale.

Cat Life

Chingu Cat: "I am getting in shower with you."

Me: "Why? You hate water."

Chingu Cat: "Here I come."

Me: /splashes some water at Chingu Cat

Chingu Cat: "IT BURNS! IT BURNS! WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?"

/end scene

— "Give Me Ammunition, Not a Ride" James (@wetcasements) December 11, 2022

Whatcom Falls Park

Whatcom Falls Park, Bellingham.

My Dad moved out here while I was in college back in 1994.  As I spend my last few months here before headed back east I'm enjoying visits to spots that my Dad took me to almost 30 years ago.  For any and all complaining I've done about life here, the city has done a pretty amazing job of integrating parks into the city landscape.  There's no excuse to not get your 10,000 daily steps here because you can throw a rock and find a decent walking trail.

As my Dad got into his late 70's and 80's, understandably, we did a lot less hiking, a lot less "stuff" in general.  So it's refreshing, maybe even a bit liberating, to get out and enjoy the cold and damp weather by myself, as only Bellingham can provide this time of year.

And my Dad's fine by the way.  But at 93, and given some very scary moments involving his diagnosed dementia, we've moved him into a home.

Allez Les Bleus!

I think France wins it all.  They're certainly the most fun to watch, although Ronaldo-less Portugal playing better than they have in years was hilarious in its own right.

This Is The Best We Can Do For Now, And That's Fine

So the US has made the knock-out stage (as it almost always does in the modern era, when it makes the tournament to start with) and will likely get beat by an objectively stronger Dutch squad.  Berhalter has done a fine job with a talented but limited squad.  (When hasn't a U.S. squad ever had trouble actually scoring goals?)

So kudos to the team.  You are at least one of the best 16 units in the world, more likely the 10th or 11th best.  (As good as England, let's say.)  (Edit: Better than Belgium, LOL.)

But can we please skip the ritual hara-kiri this year?  And throwing Berhalter out the window?

Soccer is one of the few sports in the world where the U.S. remains a medium fish in a very big pond.  If this ever changes, it will be cultural and social in nature.  And it will take multiple generations if it ever happens.

Why can't we just appreciate what we have?

pene-exclave!

A good friend visited me here in Bellingham for early-Thanksgiving dinner.  On Thursday itself I headed up to Canada to visit a place even my Dad never made it to -- the "pene-exclave" of Point Roberts, USA.

It's a truly weird place, geographically speaking.  You go into Canada on I-5, then towards Vancouver, but you make big left turn / fish-hook to get here instead.  And you actually have to go through Customs (albeit a much smaller operation) all over again.

There's not a whole lot to see.  You'd be crazy to start a business here with all the necessary red tape.  But strangely enough, it is part of Whatcom County and at the animal shelter we do occasionally get a call from here.  Basically, I tell them (politely!) that most of our officers don't have passports, and it would take almost a whole day of driving just to get to and from there from Bellingham proper.

There are some beautiful views though.  On the left of the horizon on the next picture you can see Mount Baker.

 

Welcome!

 

Meet Chingu (black and white) and Mandu (white and brown).  I'm currently fostering these two goofballs for the anima shelter, with the intent to adopt once they're old enough for their spay /neuter.  They're both wonderful, but Chingu is dealing with some intestinal issues that will hopefully go away once he gets bigger and stronger, and he eats enough of the special high-fiber diet he's been put on.

Anyhow, I love them both very much, scratches and all.

WTF?

In terms of upsets, this World Cup has been super weirdly abundant.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Meet Chingu and Mandu, my two new buddies from the shelter.

I'm thankful that I just adopted these two fluffly goofballs, and a college friend visited a few days before Thanksgiving itself.  Going up to Canada for a hike today.  Wherever life finds you, with or without or between family and friends, have a wonderful day.

Winter Is Here Already

Some sunset photos taken in Zuanich Park, Bellingham.  Damn, it's getting cold.  Woke up to (small amounts of) snow this morning.

I complain about B'ham a lot I guess, but there's something endlessly fascinating to me about this part of town.  And it's less crowded this time of year, which I also prefer.

Is It OK That Sad Stereolab Songs Still, Somehow, Make Me Happy?

Stereolab, "Fluorescences"

Fall has definitely arrived in Whatcom County.  I raked yesterday and put a very minor dent in what needs to be done.  In my defense, there's a few trees around the house that still haven't dumped their leaves yet.  For work I'm taking on online class on cat and dog first aid which is about as interesting as it sounds -- a lot of it is common sense, but there are some weird things to keep in mind.  (Dog and cat body temperature runs two to four degrees higher than a human's.  That's one to grow on.)

Speaking of work, I'm picking up some decent extra shifts because the full-time dispatcher / new guy is a musician.  I'm covering him tomorrow because he has a gig in Seattle.  The fact that he's my age (48) and still living the rock and roll dream?  Who am I to judge the greater PNW.

Also reading Harry Crews for the first time and enjoying it as much as you can enjoy the bleakness of poverty in America.

We might be getting snow next week.  Yikes.