Chapter 76.4: Cat Calls

I know that I shouldn't expect much of a cat, but our boy's been clammoring for the past 10 minutes for me to play with him. I've been trying to write (having already "enjoyed" cleaning the gutters; God, that stuff is disgusting!), and he keeps popping his mouth off, flicking his tail at my nose, and bopping his head under my chin.

Or maybe he's saying, if you let me out in the back yard on this lovely day, you can finish the last few pages of revisions to your novel in the porch you cleaned up. Wouldn't that be nice?

Maybe with a scotch.

Chapter 72.2: Burns Supper

We're about to head out for a Burns Supper. For those who aren't familiar with them, Burns Suppers are the annual remembrance of the Scottish bard, Robert Burns, who is best known for the poem Auld Lang Syne as well as A Man's a Man For A' That, To a Louse, and To a Mouse. Burns was born on January 25, 1759, so next year will be a hearty anniversary indeed!

Of course, at a Burns Supper, you can't enjoy the night without the Address to a Haggis. While people usually have a bad impression of haggis -- primarily because it's cooked in stomach lining -- it's actually not all that bad. And it goes well with scotch.

In keeping with the life of Rabbie Burns, who fathered at least eleven children, a Burns Supper has a tendency to be filled with vitality and fun. Ribald stories are often told in addition to respectful recollections about the bard himself. But like most special dinners, it's mostly about community getting together and sharing a meal and a pleasant time. Aye.