Breaking Cat News by Georgia Dunn for September 26, 2020

Hear, hear! Words to live by, for all of us indeed. (And I spy Burt in the background, and such a gorgeous background too!)

That is a lucky mail carrier to have such a scene on his route—and complete with decorative cats!

SO INSPIRATIONAL!!!!!!

Is romance brewing between Mail Carrier and Bookstore Woman? Stay tuned!

I see the falling leaves in the beautiful landscape. I am eager for autumn, but Saturday here is supposed to be almost 90 degrees. None of the leaves are turning by me yet, but I noticed all the monarch butterflies seem to have migrated. It’s supposed to be cooling off by the end of the week, and I just bought my first flannel shirt in ages, so I am ready.

I saw the Halloween candy in the stores and got so excited. Then Thanksgiving and then Christmas. I’m already planning menus.

Wish my mail carrier/neighbors was so considerate. Many a time I have gone out to the community mail box only to find a notice that mail could not be delivered because someone parked within the 30 feet limit. And then I will look around… and no cars whatsoever.

Is the “That goes for all of us” balloon that seems to go to the rock fence spoken by the carrier? Or hidden creatures (like mice?)

Brilliant! Georgia you’re Brilliant. Stating much needed wisdom in a beautiful wsy

My grandpa Lester was a NYC mailman for forty years. One morning he wasn’t feeling well and didn’t go to work. My mother was surprised to see him at the kitchen table so “late” in the morning and asked what was wrong, and he quipped, “The gloom of night finally got to me.”♥

I have to quote a character from a video game here…

“Remember that bad times are just times that are bad.”

My parents mail carrier saved my Mom several years ago when she fell in the snow and couldn’t get back up because of her hip and knee replacements (both sides). She tried to call my brother (who lives close by, unlike me) but it went to voicemail and then her battery died. She managed to open her car door and honk her horn, but nobody came (my father is hard of hearing and often doesn’t put in his hearing aides, I don’t know how to excuse the neighbors). Finally the mail carrier heard the honking and found her, helped her get up and into the house and under blankets. There was even a write up in the paper! I believe in Mail Carriers!!!!!

OT (Off Topic) – Nushi and me

And are we going to see this masked man change his clothes in a telephone box? I think not. He may be a mail carrier, but so far no proof that he is The Mailman.

Say, look! He left this fluffy kitten!

Who was that masked man anyway?

… Well, somebody had to say it!

Awwwwwwwww.

An inspirational fellow. Bea will probably be telling his stories soon. Fan fiction and all that.

♥️ back to you, too, Georgia Dunn.  ️  

Terrible tumultuous tempests thunder and turbulently tumble away, but stop us not.

Both Puck and Beatrix are waving goodbye to the Mail Carrier.

Anyone want to take bets on whether Georgia wrote that line from memory or had to look it up? Most people think it mentions “sleet” for some reason.

Puck toe beans!

OT, Yen

This strip is absolutely beautiful. Today for us here on the Mississippi Lock 10 pool will be near 80 even tho leaves are starting to turn so still short sleeves today. But tomorrow the temps start to drop. We could still get an October warm spell but until then temps will be brisk….my favorite Autumn weather. The last of the prairie flowers are still blooming, assorted asters and goldenrod, and the tall grasses are wearing autumn colors and abundant seed heads. Note: goldenrod is not an allergen, the Fall sneeze maker is ragweed which blooms at the same time.

Completely off topic: Home schooling great-granddaughter

Well, we have finished and survived first week of her home schooling. I don’t know about Saphira, but I was totally exhausted by Friday noon. I found out on Monday that she has been diagnosed with ADHD. Keeping her focused was virtually impossible during the first part of the morning. She was more willing to engage during the second part, but still had difficulty focusing.

Does anybody have anything helpful to say on how I could help keep her focused? It would be very much appreciated.

This has been a wonderful story arc. I’m so glad Beatrix is back safe in the arms of her woman.

Thank you from a retired USPS employee

In regards to the unofficial “motto” of the Postal Service, I found this and thought it was an interesting bit of history:

“While the Postal Service has no official motto, the popular belief that it does is a tribute to America’s postal workers. The words above, thought to be the motto, are chiseled in gray granite over the entrance to the New York City Post Office on 8th Avenue and come from Book 8, Paragraph 98, of The Persian Wars by Herodotus. During the wars between the Greeks and Persians (500-449 B.C.), the Persians operated a system of mounted postal couriers who served with great fidelity. "

-Source: https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/mission-motto.pdf

From the Pirates of Penzance: Poor Wandering One

Poor climbing one

Though thou hast surely strayed

Too far advance, on the high branch

Poor climbing one

Poor climbing one

Know that you’re never alone

Thimble and ’Style, can help thee smile,

And the mail carrier takes thee home!

…….

Take heart, no danger affords

Take any heart of the orb,

Take heart, fair days will shine

Take heart, all will be fine

Take heart, no danger affords

Take any heart it is yours

Take heart, the bookstore is there

Take any heart, all’s fair!

I’m glad to see that Burt is no longer being held inside against his will. It must be nice for him to get back to his rounds.

The cats are into the onions again…actually not really, onions are poisonous to kitties. Guess I’m just weepy.

Let us also not forget that the USPS is still under attack from the top. It is a vital service to all who realize it or not and crucial to America. DeJoy ran a business before becoming the Postmaster General, which conflicts with its operation. Enough cronies and “privitization” of vital services. We all need the USPS.

“They call it ‘Stormy Monday’ but Tuesday’s just as bad.” – Aaron Thibeaux “T-Bone” Walker (May 28, 1910 – March 16, 1975)

You know that there had to be someone walking the wall.

Mom would have been 85 today.

Thanks Georgia/postal carrier. I needed that

Burt on the stone wall!

One more storm indeed, Georgia. We understand, and in turn, will stand together.

I spy Burt! I don’t see Homestyle and Thimblefist.

After escaping the box canyon…

Yes, this mail carrier is a real person, the way Georgia has depicted him. Thank you, Georgia, for your very nuanced art!

I really like this mail carrier. He’s a good guy. :D

Another Saturday night

And we ain’t got no party

We got no money ‘cause we don’t get paid

Now, how we wish we had something to do

We’re in an awful way

Let me tell you ’bout it, lookie here

We got shut down 6 months ago

We seen a lotta Netflix since then

If we could get snacks, we’d eat ’em

And so yes we been diet cheatin’

That’s why we’re in the shape we’re in

Now, another fella told us

Everything was gonna be just fine

Instead of being our deliverance

His words had a strange resemblance

To a bigly dose of hydroxychloroquine

Here, another Saturday night

And we can’t have no parties

We got some hope though ’cause we still can pray

Now, how we wish everyone will feel better

Lookin’ forward to brighter days

(Sam Cooke)

Wish I could be so politically optimistic….

Awww

I love all the “hidden” cat drawings in the bushes in the last panel.

AMEN – a very timely reminder, Georgia. All storms end and we will get through this one … but if you can spare a few prayers, I have some family members that have been exposed. One was very sick but should get to come home soon; the others are waiting for their test results.

It is now official. This is definitely one of the best.

Today is:

National Situational Awareness Day —Situational awareness is a skill that has to be learned. Unfortunately, we live in a society that actively discourages it. It is so bad that Randy Cassingham, of “This Is True” fame, invented a word for that portion of the population: “Obliviot.” Don’t be one. Be awake. Be aware. Eternal vigilance is not merely the price of liberty. It is the price of life, itself.

National Hunting and Fishing Day —Loved hunting, whether successful or not (“success” being defined as bringing home FOOD.) Great way to develop situational awareness. Hunting has been described as “Freezing to death while waiting for something barely adequate to come just out of range.” In other words, “a fine and pleasant misery.” Fishing, not so much—hours of staring at nothing, getting eaten alive, while you learn the average fish is smarter than you are. I’ve never considered either a “sport,” but rather a quest for something tasty. Yes, I’m an unashamed carnivorian.

National Rabbit Day —Except in Australia, where rabbits are illegal. Robin can tell you why. Hint: there is no bag limit on rabbits there. They may even tell you to go out and get more. (Yes, Australian rabbits are deadly.)

Fish Amnesty Day —Not sure what crimes they have committed, but I’ll forgive them. Perhaps the crime is aiding and abetting grand theft. After all, fishing tackle is expensive, and designed primarily to catch “sport” fishermen.

Museum Day —Sigh. I guess it’s time to go visit my relatives …

National Better Breakfast Day —As far as I’m concerned, a “better breakfast” is described under the next holiday.

Lumberjack Day —When you work like they did, you need a “better breakfast”: flapjacks, fried eggs, bacon, ham, steak, more flapjacks, more eggs, more bacon, more ham, lots of hot coffee (which you stir with your thumb, not being a common bum), and a waffle for desert. (continued)

Today is (continued):

Lumberjack Day —(continued) “What’s for dinner?” you ask. “It’s a surprise," comes the answer. Those who are true hivernants and denizens of the wild now know that if you complain about the food, you get to cook. MTP: a pie with a thick, flaky crust, containing certain “fruits of the forest.” The woods-savvy will all proclaim: “It’s good, though!”

Brilliant words Georgia!

OT: I thought for a while before I said anything, but…

A few comments above are creeping into the “politics zone” that we try so hard to avoid here. I know no one is doing it maliciously- but I’d just like to take an opportunity to gently remind us all that we don’t want to start these debates for a reason.

Thank you, Orb, for always being a place of kindness, respect, and mutual support. We all need that, and I know we all want to keep it that way.

OK, I just started reading BCN in the spring of this year. I have gone back to the beginning on this site to try to figure out all the characters and who they belong to, but I am still TOTALLY CONFUSED! (Put it down to old age). So Puck, Lupin, and Elvis live with the Man and Woman. They adopted an outdoor cat last Christmas, who is orange. Is that Goldie? Then Beatrice belongs to the bookstore lady? And can anyone direct me to a month and year where Puck had some sort of adventure with a mailcarrier? Thanks, Cat Lovers!

Spoken like a true mail carrier.

Thanks for this one, Georgia. We all needed it! <3

Georgia Dunn, YOU are the BEST. Thanks for the perspective!

The mail carrier says “one more storm to get through” and waves his letters at the same time. What does that mean?

He’ll return with the mail in ballots.

Nope, never say stays this courier. And as I said some time agian, the old saying is becomeing largely untrue, at least around here.

“That goes for all of us.”

✨❤️✨

It’s coming this Friday!

How very true this is. “Just one more storm to get through” I am reminded of Psalm 34:20

Words to live by, valiant mail carrier

Adults over a certain age in this country know the song “The Mail Must Go Through”. I propose the lyrics be changed since, the US Post Office literally stops delivering at 8PM.

I keep hearing that motto in Laurie Anderson’s vocoder-processed singsong…

I STILL love this strip. Thank you, Georgia, for shining a light when the orb needed it so much.

Burt!