My Sick Mind

Thou shalt have no other cats before me. - paraphrased from Exodus 20:3 I decided to check the local PetsMart and see what sort of cats are available for adoption. The store is a satellite branch of our local animal shelter. I was thinking it might be too soon, but maybe I could make some sort of psychic connection and take a cat home. As it turns out, adopting a cat is more difficult than buying a new car or a home. There is a lengthy form to fill out, and the final approval takes two days. There is also a brief interview process which I thought I could sidestep, since I had my cat for longer than most children live with their parents. That didn't stop them from asking me if I was "cat savvy." I'm not sure I've ever been asked that before, but after thinking about it for a second, I said that I had my last cat for 18 years, so "yes." Meanwhile, they let me see some cats. They seemed to be pushing one on me - a bit like a hard sell you'd get at ...

When life deals lemons, one makes lemonade - or so I've heard. One way to make lemonade is to find the lemons and start squeezing. When my friend and I go to Dave Matthews Band shows, she likes to stalk the hotel where they stay. It's pretty easy to stand around and grab an autograph or five, and she has become somewhat of an expert. My job is to stand around and take her photo with the band members. This year, I pledged to become the subject myself, and I was fortunate enough to be around when two of the guys stopped to greet the fans on their way into the hotel. Dave showed up for a bit, but rushed through the autograph line before most of us could snap a photo. Two members of the band hung around long enough for me to pass my camera to my friend to get her to take a couple of snapshots. Me and DMB drummer Carter Beauford. Me and DMB bassist Stefan Lessard. The big fountain at Logan Circle, lit up just before midnight. At this point, I'm on a photographer's high...