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just mud by Ron's avatar

Was an insomniac last night, Sharron. Who knew there was a pawed cast to bide my time! You brightened my coffee time!

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thanks, Ron. Insomnia...what a curse. But, since you were up all night, I hope you at least got some writing done?

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just mud by Ron's avatar

Ba ha! That would have been a better use of fidgeting!

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Linda Brown's avatar

Cute!

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thank you, Ms Brown. More Ray foolishness...

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Kim Smyth's avatar

Love it and you beautiful cat!

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thanks a lot, Kim, for dropping by over here at Leaves. Welcome! Ray has six pawed-casts in the archive. Here is the first one if you would like to see what he was up to.

https://sharronbassano.substack.com/p/pawed-cast-up-all-night-with-raymond?

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Kate Henry's avatar

Thanks Raymond. It is comforting to hear it is still above 50 out West. The last couple of nights here were in the frost zone, so all the potted flowers came into the porch. they'll be ok for another week-ish. No rain all week. Farmers happy to pickup dry corn. Beans are all in. Hansel chased something up the oak in the kitchen garden. KittyBoy winding down. Had to nudge him out the door for licks of his faborite "frog water" and carry him in for breakfast. Ate most of his gravy allotment. Refused treats. Went back to bed under the sink. He may be older than 20 now....got his gold ticket in his pocket. Be well Fuzz. ))

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thanks for the Indiana report, Kate. I am always glad everything is well with you. I am very sorry to hear about KittyBoy, though. He has been such a wonderful part of your family for so long, he will be sorely missed.

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James Ron's avatar

We really enjoyed tonight's Pawed Cast, Raymond! Thanks for sharing your school endeavors. Bobbie wants me to check out DVC, Diablo Valley College, to see if F.L.E.A. has any of their programs there. She's most interested in any class that deals with how to get along with others when you have no tail. I keep telling her she worries too much but she's insistent. If you have any advice for her, I know she would like to hear it. Anyway, hope all continues to run smoothly there in Santa Cruz-by-the-Sea. Thanks, again.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Raymond is sorry that Bobbie is so self-conscious about her missing tail. It is a cruel, judgmental world, indeed. But if she cannot change her concern for what other cats think, he suggests you buy her a .... skirt?

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James Ron's avatar

Well, it turns out that Bobbie is not self-conscious about her missing tail. She says it sets her apart from the other cats and they are just jealous. I just can't figure cats out.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Well, I am glad to hear her self-esteem is intact! But I can't figure them out either.

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Janice Walton's avatar

What an excellent job you do, Raymond, of keeping us up to date on the catly news in Santa Cruz. I so enjoy reading about what's going on !!

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thank you Ms Walton. My greetings to your two resident beauties!

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Carol Roe's avatar

I love Raymond

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Umm... EVERYBODY loves Raymond... except for the gophers ,that is. ha ha ha! Thanks, Carol for reading Ray's pawed-cast.

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Sue Cauhape's avatar

OMG!!! This was hilarious. I laughed all the way through it. And isn't Raymond just the most gorgeous Wedgie alive? I love wedgies.

Meanwhile, I'm glad to hear that Santa Cruz hasn't succumbed to Gen-Z self-righteousness. Bless 'em.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Oh Santa Cruz has more than its share of Gen - Z. University students for the most part. However the "entitled" and the geriatric hippies seem to live in peace here. As for Raymond, he is a real character. Thanks, Sue, for reading the latest Pawed-Cast

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Jim Cummings's avatar

“Kitty-Lit 101” LOL, Raymond. Thanks for the update from the west coast. And go easy on Dennis--he's only human.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Old Ray was a little snarky this time, wasn't he? I think that fitness class is getting to him...

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Richard Blaisdell's avatar

Love to see a Raymond Fan club. I think he should have his own special flag. He must have a special spot to sleep. How many cat naps does he take. Did he forget chasing the mouse in the lime tree? I think he is very special and needs a cat treat. Ou a stuffed cat nip mouse or his own cat mint patch.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Well! Richard Blaisedell is a catman. I had no idea... You could get together with Bill Adler (Fiction by Bill Adler) who is a major catman. As is Terry Freedman (Eclecticism). As for a Raymond Fan Club? Hmmmm.

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Richard Blaisdell's avatar

Did you ever read Bebe my poem about being a cat person versus a do person.? Yes love cats. Your Raymond is a charmer.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

I have not found the poem in your archive. Is there somewhere else you have it posted?

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Richard Blaisdell's avatar

Mar 12, 2024 I just checked

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Ah yes, I found it. I had commented on it. I remember. You seem to have 2 different "Richard's Substacks"? One has a heading of Bathing at Baxters (five posts) and a second one witha different URL with the heading of "Homei: How Close" (three posts). Is that correct?

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Richard Blaisdell's avatar

Yes all my writing. Your honorable Raymond fan club member.

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Rebecca Holden's avatar

Wonderful, just wonderful! Thanks for the entertainment, Raymond! 😻

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

He is a silly boy and the source of endless entertainment. He does not mean to be, but he is.

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Rebecca Holden's avatar

He’s a natural, simple as that! He’d be a different Raymond altogether if he MEANT to be entertaining!

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K.C. Knouse's avatar

Another clever, fun read. The acronym F.L.E.A. was hilarious. Dennis talking cat is me talking Spanish sometimes.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Yes, I understand. Same as me with French... anything beyond ordering from a menu and finding a room to sleep in is beyond me...

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Mark Starlin's avatar

It's a cat's life, for sure. But humans should never try to speak cat. Cats understand Human just fine.

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Penny's avatar

Tried to leave a comment on the story about Halloween in Santa Cruz…now I can’t find it.

We may have been still in high school when we somehow got into the Catalyst for the Halloween Dance. At the edge of the dance floor, a man was dancing his heart out, wearing only lit Christmas lights.

Still can’t get the image out of my mind.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Ha ha ha! Yes! ca. 1980 I went to a Hallowe'en dance at UCSC and I can't tell you how many students showed up as "Naked Hippies" wearing only flowers in their hair and love beads. Men and women. It was so very funny I was tempted to strip down myself right then and there. Now... which story can you not find, Penny? Was that Raymond's latest Pawed-Cast where he describes the costumes on Pacific Avenue? I think it is the only one I have?

https://sharronbassano.substack.com/p/pawed-cast-6-up-all-night-with-raymond

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Penny's avatar

That’s it.

Wow! Santa Cruz Halloween… nothing like it… nowhere like it

Sweet Holidays to you

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

And to you as well, penny!

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T. D. Wolf's avatar

Absolutely hilarious, Sharron!

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Raymond. He gets such hare brained ideas. My fault.

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palmisanocj@yahoo.com's avatar

Love that Big D thinks he's talking cat (would that sound like "caterwauling" to Raymond?) 😂 😂 😂

50 degrees frigid?!?!? He better never visit New England where temperatures have been dropped to -50°F (yes, that's MINUS 50 degrees Fahrenheit (-45.5556 Celsius).

Classes at F.L.E.A.?! Oh, my... You're killing me, Sharron. 🍃🌺🍃

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Ray has been taking courses in Psī-kology and will soon offer counseling via Leaves. Subscribers can write in with their questions a la "Dear Abby"

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