Youngstown, OH

The weather has finally turned and we're at the beginning of autumn. There's the hint of crispness in the air. I turned my a/c off today in the house and actually threw a sweater in the car last night because it felt a little chilly. My girlfriend and I ended up going to a blues bar and we met two men from Seattle. They had never been to Charlotte before so it was fun giving them the inside scoop about the city and the people. My girlfriend isn't so excited about the city any more but I'm perfectly content (other than the shortage of single men). It was nice to get some male attention for an evening, but now it's back to reality, me and my three cats.

Lord - how did it become three? Am I finally morphing into the scary old single lady with a million cats? I hope not.

I took the day off on Friday and drove up to visit relatives in Youngstown, Ohio. I got caught in our first real rain storm in a long time just as I hit the mountains. It was very stressful. After a few hours it cleared up and the rest of the drive (9 hours total!) was uneventful. It was good to see family and be spoiled. Everyone seems healthy and happy.

On Sunday morning I drove back and stopped to visit my cousin Mickey who lives in Marietta, Ohio. The problem with Marietta is that you’re hours away from just about everything. It's a little too small to keep you interested but the thought of driving 2.5 hours to Akron or 3 hours to Cleveland is a bit much. Anyway, it's a charming city and it sits on the Ohio River. Of course all my photos were kaka, so I don't have much to show. I need to work harder on the photography. Maybe actually read the camera's manual.

Lastly, Mr. Tom, surly old tom cat, has begun to sit on my lap and purr and I was so excited. I don't let him anywhere near my face because I don't trust him and today he proved me right by slashing out at my leg twice because he wasn't happy with the food I served him. Here's a stray cat who didn't have a kitty litter pot to piss in and now he's upset at the cat food I'm serving him. Sheesh. Just like all the stray men that I’ve gathered in my life. Will it never end?

P.S. Just one little beauy shot of my little Timmy Abrams, Mama's ray of happiness.

To all my readers (Mom, Emily and Donald), please spread the message of love and peace in your every day conduct. I will try and do the same.

Sara Abrams
visit: www.CatsAndDogsofCharlotte.com