News connectivity back for the moment, although this is the second backup
computer -- main computer had a bad disk crash before leaving for St. Louis,
and the LINUX/Windows machine was power-dead this morning.

Things are slowly recovering, although not the same without my own cats. Mr.
Clark, Rhonda, and Ding are staying with my ex, Kathleen, and her housemate;
I've talked to Mr. Clark over the phone.  He is recovering well from some
nasty dental problems, which were worse than I had realized. Indeed, he is
recovering so well that he's not even dominance-challeging the resident
dogs -- he simply raised a head and hissed "begone". They scattered.

It doesn't surprise me that Ding is hiding much of the time, although he
does come out at bedtime when Kathleen sleeps in their room. As they do with
me, Mr. Clark gets on her chest and Ding gets on her legs.  He does
occasionally demand a belly rub.

It does surprise me that the normally very extroverted Rhonda is staying in
hiding, cuddled with Ding. She did respond to me on the phone.

Meanwhile, my friends' cat, officially Tiger but answering to Fuzzbutt,
usually sleeps with me. He's quite cuddly, and doesn't seem bothered by some
cuts and an irritation on his face. We think he's getting into the drop
ceiling and scratching himself on something; there have been at least 3
distinct cuts on his cheek and brow. They've merged into a good-sized
scabbed area, and he's lost fur above it. One of my friends here is a human
physician, and thinks there might be a reaction to triple antibiotic
ointment, which we had been using.

When it started to affect his eye, he, of course, went to the vet. It wasn't
clear if the reaction was purely allergic or allergy with infection, but he
did get a corticosteroid injection (Decadron/dexamethasone) with
amoxicillin, and is now on amoxicillin with clavunate (Augmentin). The area
looks ugly, but isn't sensitive when touched. Himself has taken to complete
back sprawl on my bed, paws at random angles and, when awake, wanting chest
rubs. He's a kisser, but not as much as Mr. Clark, and has the three dogs
well trained.  More dogs are coming; my friends are still moving from
Louisiana.

I'm hoping to be able to arrange a car and drive to Massachusetts to pick my
guys up within a month or so.