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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / July 2004Shirk Sighting - British Columbia
After days of hot hot weather here in the Okanagan, it rained today in honour of the Shirk's visit to Canada. Loen (DH) & I drove down and met up with the Shirk family in Penticton for a pleasant afternoon visit. There was an Elvis festival in Penticton at the same time, and I think it was co-incidence (or was that P.C. wearing sideburns I caught singing over there??? Nah.... ) We introduced them to that great Canadian tradition: Tim Horton's and TimBits. We exchanged souvenirs. And we saw all sorts of photos of other RPCA-ers encountered on their voyage. Pam took quite a few photos and I'm sure she'll post them once she's back in arm's reach of a scanner. We ALL wore our Cattitude shirts. Alas, no time for camping in the Canadian rain (honest - it was hot & sunny until yesterday!) so we cut short our yakking and they headed back south again. Until next time, KLC >After days of hot hot weather here in the Okanagan, it rained today in >honour of the Shirk's visit to Canada. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >TimBits. We exchanged souvenirs. And we saw all sorts of photos of other >RPCA-ers encountered on their voyage. That's great! The Shirk tour has just gone international! :) > That's great! The Shirk tour has just gone international! :) You're darn tootin we went international. Now we want to organize a nation wide gathering for next July. We've been gathering imput from Christine, David Y, Krista, and Sam Nash (sorry Sherry and Steve, we didn't think of the idea until after meeting you two) and the more we think about it, the more we like the idea. I suggested Kansas City, Missouri, but Rob suggested Toad Suck, Arkansas; and Krista and I have agreed that (if possible) Toad Suck would be the perfect place. We're talking about a story teller's corner, grafitti wall, booths for interested sellers (I already got a hot prospect if I can get him to make necklaces, bone art, and jerky and bring it down), a raffle for the TED fund, Troll-Be-Ques, and more activities. We've tentatively agreed that the second week of July would be the best time as most of us will be able to get out of work, school, and more at that time. Now for the burning question. How many of you would be interested? We've talked about getting a group site at a campground or advance reserving spaces at a campground. For those of you who are stapped for funds, I'm sure some of us would be willing to kick in a few bucks to a travel fund. Even if only 10 of us are interested in getting together (complete with our long suffering families) that would be something. So Ideas, suggestions, input would be appreciated. Basically would you be seriously interested in going to a gathering of the RPCA clan? Pam S. who's really getting into this idea > > That's great! The Shirk tour has just gone international! :) > [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > So Ideas, suggestions, input would be appreciated. Basically would > you be seriously interested in going to a gathering of the RPCA clan? Not this year, and probably not the next few either, but we are going to come and say G'day sooner or later (thats a threat, not a promise!) As to heat... don't worry me none, I'm an Aussie, especially if its *dry* heat. Its the mozzies I hate. Yowie > As to heat... don't worry me none, I'm an Aussie, especially if its *dry* > heat. Its the mozzies I hate. Arkansas heat is quite Muggy. Mosquitos I've seen a lot worse, but not ticks. Arkansas has more ticks than all the other states combined. >> As to heat... don't worry me none, I'm an Aussie, especially if its *dry* >> heat. Its the mozzies I hate. > >Arkansas heat is quite Muggy. Mosquitos I've seen a lot worse, but not >ticks. Arkansas has more ticks than all the other states combined. And don't forget the chiggers! I don't know if they're widespread, but I was just about ate up while camping in SW Arkansas once. And I HATE chigger bites, as I react to them much the same as fire ants, and have welts which last for weeks.  SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html I did forget about the chiggers. They're as bad as the ticks, if not worse. Many's the night I've stayed awake ALL NIGHT scratching those bites! > >> As to heat... don't worry me none, I'm an Aussie, especially if its *dry* > >> heat. Its the mozzies I hate. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > chigger bites, as I react to them much the same as fire ants, and have > welts which last for weeks. >> And don't forget the chiggers! I don't know if they're widespread, but >> I was just about ate up while camping in SW Arkansas once. And I HATE >> chigger bites, as I react to them much the same as fire ants, and have >> welts which last for weeks. Speaking of chiggers, DH & both came from the Wildlife Reserve with tons of chigger bites. Ick! I hate 'em too. Did you get bitten, too? Sherry >>> And don't forget the chiggers! I don't know if they're widespread, but >>> I was just about ate up while camping in SW Arkansas once. And I HATE [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >Speaking of chiggers, DH & both came from the Wildlife Reserve with tons of >chigger bites. Ick! I hate 'em too. Did you get bitten, too? Sorry to hear that. Which brings up another thing I hate about the little sh*ts... you don't feel them when they bite, but later on the bites itch like crazy. I managed to miss them this time around, and thankfully Sammy hasn't been scratching. Guess it's a good thing she spent most of the time in the carrier instead of exploring. I wonder if Revolution works on chiggers? I need to add that to my list of things to ask TED, as it's almost time for annual boosters. SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html > >>> And don't forget the chiggers! I don't know if they're widespread, but > >>> I was just about ate up while camping in SW Arkansas once. And I HATE > >>> chigger bites, as I react to them much the same as fire ants, and have > >>> welts which last for weeks. My husband, David and I, are long time campers. We love everything about camping except (as you all do) the chiggers. We received some great advice from a neighbor camper years ago which has helped us greatly! When you pack up take a bottle of clear fingernail polish. When you get a chigger bite dab a bit of polish on the bite. It seals the tunnel where the chigger burrowed in and cuts off the air supply. Good-bye chigger. The polish and the chigger are removed as you shower. Hope this helps. Charleen >My husband, David and I, are long time campers. We love everything about >camping except (as you all do) the chiggers. We received some great advice [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >the chigger are removed as you shower. Hope this helps. >Charleen Thanks for the tip - it's a new one on me. SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html Chiggers don't "burrow in." That's a myth. The itching comes from the enzyme they inject when they bite. The enzyme softens tissues so they can easily suck them out. Nail polish probably counteracts the itching tho. > > >>> And don't forget the chiggers! I don't know if they're widespread, but > > >>> I was just about ate up while camping in SW Arkansas once. And I HATE [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > the chigger are removed as you shower. Hope this helps. > Charleen >Chiggers don't "burrow in." That's a myth. The itching comes from the enzyme >they inject when they bite. The enzyme softens tissues so they can easily >suck them out. Phew, am I relieved! I would hate to have some bug living under my skin! >Chiggers don't "burrow in." That's a myth. The itching comes from the enzyme >they inject when they bite. The enzyme softens tissues so they can easily >suck them out. They still attach, like ticks do though. The enzyme *hardens* the tissue which forms a feeding tube of sorts for the chigger. Even though the chigger itself has fallen off the skin, it's going to itch until the feeding tube (stylostome? Not sure of the spelling) falls off. The good news is, I've never heard of any chigger-transmitted diseases. Sherry <--- scratching just thinking about them Sherry >>Chiggers don't "burrow in." That's a myth. The itching comes from the enzyme >>they inject when they bite. The enzyme softens tissues so they can easily [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >chigger-transmitted diseases. >Sherry <--- scratching just thinking about them Ain't this internet great for finding answers to things you've wondered about but isn't worth the time to pick up a book and look for the definitive answer. After I sorta started this thread by saying how much chiggers bug me, and reading some replies, I brought up Google, typed up chigger bites, and presto up comes several sites with all you'd ever want to know about chiggers. They all pretty much agree on the basic information, but here's one for anyone interested: http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/nathis/arthopo/chiggers/ Anyway, the studies pretty much agree with the above statements. Only disagreement is that in Asia and the Pacific chiggers can cause disease, scrub thyphus. Thankfully (?) our North American variety just cause misery. The upside for those in the Pacific and Asia is that that their chiggers have evolved to bite humans, and don't cause the intense itching. Oh, and it appears that nail polish is of limited help. Some studies call its benefits a myth, while a couple say it helps to prevent the victim from scratching the itch. The biggest problems are caused by secondary infection from scratching, so I guess that anything that helps you stop scratching is good. I guess the reason I lucked out with no bites was dumb luck. I was still wearing my work clothes (overalls, boots, long sleeved shirt) that had been sprayed with repellant. I had done a couple vacant lots earlier that day, and I apply repellant when I work areas that might have ticks, ants, chiggers, etc.. But the repellant had probably worn off long before I got to the campground. It's more likely that I just happened to pick the right spot to sit. The studies agree that chiggers congregate in certain locations. A person can be covered with bites, while someone sitting a couple yards away may not get a single bite. SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html >Oh, and it appears that nail polish is of limited help. Some studies >call its benefits a myth, while a couple say it helps to prevent the >victim from scratching the itch. The biggest problems are caused by >secondary infection from scratching, so I guess that anything that >helps you stop scratching is good. My experience has been that nail polish reduces the itch, but doesn't totally eliminate it. SignatureJohn F. Eldredge -- john@jfeldredge.com PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria >>>> And don't forget the chiggers! I don't know if they're >>>> widespread, but I was just about ate up while camping in SW [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >chiggers? I need to add that to my list of things to ask TED, as >it's almost time for annual boosters. When I was a teenager, I went to a church-run summer camp a couple of times. Every night, they showed an hour-length movie outdoors, with all of the boys sitting on the ground on a hillside. Since this camp operated all summer (with each batch of boys there for a week), that hillside was teeming with chiggers, and I got quite a few bites in places that it isn't polite to scratch in public, even with an all-male group. SignatureJohn F. Eldredge -- john@jfeldredge.com PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria >When I was a teenager, I went to a church-run summer camp a couple of >times. Every night, they showed an hour-length movie outdoors, with [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >places that it isn't polite to scratch in public, even with an >all-male group. Yep another reason to hate them. They crawl under tight fitting clothing, under socks, underwear, behind your knees, armpits, etc., before they bite. All places which, even after they're long gone, just keep being irritated by your clothing rubbing as you go through your normal day. SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html > Speaking of chiggers, DH & both came from the Wildlife Reserve with tons of > chigger bites. Ick! I hate 'em too. Did you get bitten, too? So that's where we got them from:-) Rob got them on his legs and my arms were covered with bites. I still have some residual scarring from them. Pam S. who thought they were mosquito bites from West Memphis >Not this year, and probably not the next few either, but we are going to >come and say G'day sooner or later (thats a threat, not a promise!) [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Yowie I checked online, and the average temp. for that area in July is 91 (high) and around 70 for a low. Tomorrow's forecast is 82 (high) and 66 (low). That doesn't seem so hot to me...but then I live in OK. It probably doesn't seem hot to you either! Sherry > I checked online, and the average temp. for that area in July is 91 (high) and > around 70 for a low. Tomorrow's forecast is 82 (high) and 66 (low). That > doesn't seem so hot to me...but then I live in OK. It probably doesn't seem hot > to you either! > > Sherry Just about everywhere is hot this time of year. One of the reasons we picked Toadsuck is obvious, it has caught everyone's imaginations. Another is that it is close to the geographic center of the US. The Oregon Coast is lovely just about any time of the year, and I love it. But then I'd also love to hold this in the Idaho Mountains, but wouldn't it be unfair to make some of us have to travel much farther than the rest of us? Toadsuck, like our second choice, Kansas City Mo, is inconvienent for everyone, so more fair for everyone. Besides, it's a lovely place and we really got a kick out of it. Pam S. >Just about everywhere is hot this time of year. One of the reasons we >picked Toadsuck is obvious, it has caught everyone's imaginations. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >Pam S. I think it's a wonderful idea, Pam, and like you, I think it's good to have a centrally located place. I would love to come, health permitting. Sherry > I checked online, and the average temp. for that area in July is 91 (high) and > around 70 for a low. Tomorrow's forecast is 82 (high) and 66 (low). That > doesn't seem so hot to me...but then I live in OK. It probably doesn't seem hot > to you either! > > Sherry I couldn't get google to let me post to the question about camping equipment. I have a spare 8 x 10 cabin tent that I'm willing to bring and set up for someone or two. I also have spare sleeping bags (though We only used ours when we were in Flagstaff) and am quite willing to let people use our propane stove, campfire and other equipment as needed. I'm sure that others would be willing to loan, share, or give equipment as needed as well. Pam S. who would love to bring a parachute as a tent, but can't afford one Forget sleeping bags in Arkansas in July - unless they're lined with ice :) > > I checked online, and the average temp. for that area in July is 91 (high) and > > around 70 for a low. Tomorrow's forecast is 82 (high) and 66 (low). That [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > Pam S. who would love to bring a parachute as a tent, but can't afford > one I echo Yowie. Mind you, there ain't nothin' stopping us from having an Aussie (and Thailand??) version at the same time, complete with a dodgy web-cam link. Wollongong's nice at that time of year ... Tish (being cheeky) > Not this year, and probably not the next few either, but we are going to > come and say G'day sooner or later (thats a threat, not a promise!) [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Yowie Thats true. Wollongong is a fine place, with lots of yummy food. And not so far away that Jean couldn't join us if her foot is better. Shall we make a date? Yowie > I echo Yowie. > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > > > Yowie Wollongong is a wonderful place with cheap, good restaurants. I'd be up for the inaugural RPCA Greater-Sydney meeting sometime. From memory, there are also a couple of other RPCA folks within coo-ee of Sydney. Shall we take this to email or catslaves so as not to disturb the smooth functioning of the group? (and not make them too jealous of the Good Things that Wollongong provides!) Tish > Thats true. Wollongong is a fine place, with lots of yummy food. And not so > far away that Jean couldn't join us if her foot is better. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > > > Tish (being cheeky) > Wollongong is a wonderful place with cheap, good restaurants. > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Tish Don't you dare! I don't travel well, but really wish I did. I love to hear all the planning and results of others trips. And who knows what you might inspire the rest of us to do. Jo > > Thats true. Wollongong is a fine place, with lots of yummy food. And not so > > far away that Jean couldn't join us if her foot is better. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > > > > > Tish (being cheeky) >> Wollongong is a wonderful place with cheap, good restaurants. >> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > >Jo Besides if you keep it on group, we get to travel vicariously. Suz Macmoosette Thank Heavens There's Only One =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= Waiting for inspiration. Please hold while I contemplate my navel. |\__/| (=':'=) (")_(") Well, anyone from this NG is welcome to stay with us in Thailand any time. However, in February of 2006 is Dennis and my 10 year wedding anniversary and we were thinking of going back to where we were married. Dunk Island, Queensland. We'd definitely see everyone on the east coast of Australia then. But we are also considering going to Germany for World Cup 2006 and can only do one of the 2 trips. Haven't decided which one yet. -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album > I echo Yowie. > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > > > Yowie > Well, anyone from this NG is welcome to stay with us in Thailand any time. > However, in February of 2006 is Dennis and my 10 year wedding anniversary > and we were thinking of going back to where we were married. Dunk Island, > Queensland. We'd definitely see everyone on the east coast of Australia > then. But we are also considering going to Germany for World Cup 2006 and > can only do one of the 2 trips. Haven't decided which one yet. You'll be coming to Sydney????? <bounce> <bounce> <bounce> Yowie > > Well, anyone from this NG is welcome to stay with us in Thailand any time. > > However, in February of 2006 is Dennis and my 10 year wedding anniversary [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > You'll be coming to Sydney????? <bounce> <bounce> <bounce> Heh. Well, maybe. It's a long ways away and all that. But if all goes well with our resident visa and we end up moving to Australia, we'll certainly be travelling in Australia extensively and should be in Sydney on the odd occasion :-) -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album I like Toad Suck but anyplace in Arkansas in late July is miserably hot. Ditto for the rest of the midwest, and south. The coast of Oregon would be ideal.... > > That's great! The Shirk tour has just gone international! :) > [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > Pam S. who's really getting into this idea > You're darn tootin we went international. Now we want to organize a > nation wide gathering for next July. ...> > I suggested Kansas City, Missouri, but Rob suggested Toad Suck, > Arkansas; and Krista and I have agreed that (if possible) Toad Suck > would be the perfect place. ... > Now for the burning question. How many of you would be interested? ... > Pam S. who's really getting into this idea I'd be interested. I'd love to meet everyone. Toad Suck would be appropriate, and probably not much worse than Texas in July (which is miserable, by-the-way). I think, though, that some thought needs to go into how people would get themselves and camping equipment there. And what about those of us who do not have camping equipment? Maybe there would be a campground with some sort of cabins as well as tent spaces? Annie >> You're darn tootin we went international. Now we want to organize a >> nation wide gathering for next July. ...> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >sort of cabins as well as tent spaces? >Annie Could we bring our own toads? ;) Theresa My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ > Could we bring our own toads? ;) I'm a big toad lover myself :) but if I bring an animal along, it will only be........ ABELARD! > > Could we bring our own toads? ;) > > I'm a big toad lover myself :) but if I bring an animal along, it will only > be........ > > ABELARD! Again we'll be willing to help with equipment, for those who don't have any. But I think there'd be a problem if all of us brought our cats. Can you imagine the discussions that would abound among them? Can you imagine what they'd report to the mothership? Can you imagine how we'd have to keep them locked up in cages, or on leashes, rather than let them loose in an unfamiliar area. I'm arranging a cat sitter for mine. I figure that I have a whole year to find someone who'd do a good job and that the cats can properly boss around. I understand that Simeon is properly trained, but he hopes to be out of the army before next July, so is not going to be available again. Pam S. who is really getting into the idea of a gathering, or is it a clowder? But if we don't bring the Masters, we can bring plenty of good photos. Pam S. & I figure, if we bring at least one good one each, we can set up a big bulletin board and have a match-the-cat-to-the-RPCA-human guessing contest. KLC (Polaris would come, but only if she gets to wear a crown. U.S. Customs might not agree, though) >>> Could we bring our own toads? ;) >> [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > Pam S. who is really getting into the idea of a gathering, or is it a > clowder? |
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