We decided to salvage a couple of days of our vacation and went to
Wilmington, North Carolina on Friday.  We were able to visit the
aquarium (cool) and part of Fort Fisher (a Civil War fort that was also
used for training during W.W.I and W.W.II) before the skies opened up
and a deluge came upon us.

Normally we camp, but we knew that the weather was going to be nasty
Friday and decided to stay in a motel room.  Michael talked us into
staying at a place called the Atlantic Towers.  Basically, it consist of
a Master bedroom, a set of bunk beds set into an alcove in the hall by
the bathroom, a living and dining area and a small kitchen.  Luxurious
by our standards, we could have slept a total of six in there, more if
we'd taken a double suite.  Our private balcony overlooked the boardwalk
to the ocean and we could watch the surfers trying to fight the waves.

We ordered pizza, settled in and watched tv and relaxed.  Saturday, we
got groceries and visited a place called "The Eccentric Cat"  owned and
managed by one of the most colorful people we've ever met.  His store
cat, Oliver, is a gorgeous long white hair with golden eyes and an
inquisitive nature.  He seems to know when someone is coming to the
store and is always at the door to greet them.

Oliver has his own toys, but also loves to play with the merchandise.
The owner told us that he finds acrylic finger rings over in Ollie's
play area all the time.  I picked up a couple of things to bring to
Toadsuck with us, and was telling the owner about this group when he
said that we weren't the first people to tell us about the group last week.

He said that a couple, he thought from the midwest, had also told him
about the group and picked up some stuff from him.  He couldn't remember
who they were and wouldn't have told us anyway, I suspect.  However, we
had a laugh about small worlds and so forth.  I don't know if this guy
is spinning yarns or what, but if 1/10th of what he's telling is true,
he's had an incredible life.  Even if his stories aren't true, he can
really spin a yarn and is worth the visit for the stories alone.  The
merchandise is awesome, but the owner and his cat make the place.
Ollie, the cat, has this little trick he does with his treat container.
 If the container is opened, he will fish his own treat out of the
container and help himself.  He also knows where the treats are kept and
will let the owner know that it is treat time.

Anyway, The Eccentric Cat has it's own website
http://theeccentriccat.com/ and travels to some of the state's
celebrations.  We had a great time, and would still be there, but we had
food in the van.

We also stopped at Wings for the mandatory salt water taffy, and I found
a consignment store next to it where I was able to get a set of cat
shaped drink coasters.  Beautiful.

We spent the rest of Saturday chillin out and playing cards.  I went to
bed early as I was totally wiped out.  The storm had blown the rain out
around noon, but the winds literally whistled and howled around the
building until some time during the night.

Sunday, today, we checked out, drove to the ferry to South park (?)
Island and rode it over.  It is an unspoiled Island and quite nice.  Not
a place for the cheap or timid.  I wanted to check out the other
islands, but Rob was tired and we needed to get home.

We got a call on the way home that Rob's grandfather (in his nineties)
and Step grandmother have been having medical problems again.
Grandmother Sylvia is senile and stubborn.  She refused to move into an
assisted living place (the one picked out for them was awesome) as they
still own a little house and she was willing to pay someone as much as
$6000/month to clean and cook for them.  Believe me, that isn't enough
money for the job.  Grand dad is still in the hospital, and is making a
miraculous recovery of a heart attack (he coded at one point) and seems
like he's going to get through this, as he's gotten through the last six
or seven crises, and join Grandmother Sylvia at the assisted living
center.  If Granddad were a cat, he'd have used up ten of his nine lives.

We got home to find that....The bitties eyes are OPEN!!!  They are so
cute.  I snuggled Eric and told Sonya how much we missed them (the rough
part of the trip was no kitties).  She said that was fine, now feed her.
 Charles took pretty good care of them, but they missed us.  All of the
bitties are doing well and growing like little weeds.  Sonya still seems
bemused by them at times.  Qui Gun Kit is the littlest of the lot (I had
thought it was Traveler, but Mike showed me their sizes, and Kit is
smaller) and Eric is the largest.  Their markings are firming up well
and they are so sweet.  I've got to get more pictures of them taken and
posted.  Not tonight though, it's late and I have work tomorrow.

I missed you all take care and I'll read most of your posts tomorrow.

Pam S.