Repurposing with a very Specific Purpose

Sitting in my comfortably warm brick home electricity on and backup heating solutions in place this afternoon, I heard the most pitiable cat cries outside. I’m not aware of many strays around and our winters tend to be mild. But tonight’s forecast predicts icy wind chills as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit below zero.

I tracked the sound and stepped onto our back patio but the yowling had stopped. Regardless I called out, willing to let the poor creature into our basement and deal with any future consequences after this weather emergency. Shivering, I stepped back through the basement sliding door and wandered in search of sheltering possibilities.

My eyes landed upon a tall litter box that our girls left untouched. I covered the unused litter with two outdoor seat cushions, overlapping them at the bottom while tucking the rest up each wider side. Scrounging two soft foam packing pieces from amidst old computer boxes, I wedged them into each narrow end.

Once complete, top latched into place, this makeshift shelter got placed near the freshest prints. I’m crossing my fingers that this might do some good. I need to plan ahead for potential future emergencies.

Those poor, cold toes...

I’d appreciate any feedback from all those heroic folks helping animals year round that might read this humble post. Please be honest if my efforts today are misguided.

Can you imagine how wild critters survive such extreme weather anomalies? Are you surprised that I wouldn’t last long trapped in an unforgiving wilderness?

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I Did it Again - This Guy is So Awesome...

Only Me…

My husband and I stopped drinking soda a few years ago, so recent prohibitive costs didn’t affect us. When our local Kroger runs a buy two get three free (!) sale we can’t resist. However long the shelf life, grocers apparently need to rotate their merchandise.

Dr. Pepper has always been a favorite of ours. Today I tried opening a cold can and the following happened…

The tab broke off...

Are you a fan of carbonated drinks? What do folks in your region call them?

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A Movie Review of “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple”

2025’s film “28 Years Later” didn’t impress me nearly as much as the franchise’s first two installments. And my husband and I didn’t even know the follow-on “Bone Temple” had been released until a positive review came out on YouTube.

We only watched until The Critical Drinker warned there would be spoilers. His opinions, good or bad, have never let us down. So my husband and I braved the icy winds to attend a showing the very next day.

The Real Handsome Man, Mostly Sober...

Upon returning home, we finished watching, agreeing as The Drinker opined that the two flicks could have each been condensed a bit and combined for a more cohesive story. The obvious bridge ending left us baffled outside clear plans for a sequel.

But I guess that’s Hollywood greed for you. Anyway, here are my thoughts. First off, it’s not for everyone, even some horror fans without a strong stomach. I’m a confirmed scary movie aficionado and looked away several times during the first act.

I enjoyed the second and third acts far more than the violence repulsed me. Ralph Fiennes’ reprised character performance brought humanity, heart, wisdom, hope, surprising humor, and even some amazing theatricality.

It’s understandable if you’re no longer reading this post. I just needed to share my thoughts. And if anyone does decide to watch “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” or are otherwise curious I have two silly, innocuous related questions. And if you do, below is the spoiler review...

Are you a fan of Duran Duran’s eighties pop music? Do you know what an ossuary is?

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The Muppets Perform Kodachrome

This video makes me so happy. My husband discovered it a few years ago. Knowing the characters from childhood makes this really special for us.

Are you familiar with the music of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkle? Do you believe puppetry is a true artform?

Addicted

I cannot stop playing Word Carnival on my Kindle. Today I sat with my husband actively listening and watching something unrelated while word challenges scrolled through my mind.

Some levels stump me, particularly those that (sometimes loosely) follow a theme while forcing me to assemble each word. The most useful clue is how many letters each word contains.

It takes a lot for me to admit defeat and seek help. Instead, I’ll start randomly poking at the scrambled tiles. It often proves successful like the following example.

Now I remember; a derailleur switches gears...

I understand wrench and pump, but how are the rest of these related to bicycle repairs? Have you ever obsessed over a hobby to the point it encroaches upon your dreams?

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Oh, Come On! I am so addicted...

I Cannot Stop Sharing This Man's Videos