I never intended to be one of those writers who use dramatic titles to draw readers in, but today I must confess to guilt of that very ilk. However, if it works, I may just join the ranks of those journalists at National Enquirer and the like, who seem to specialize in histrionic headlines, e.g., "Saddam and Osama Adopt Shaved Ape Baby", or "Al Gore is a Sex Poodle and Treat Ho" (actual headlines, folks).
At any rate, today's title has nothing to do with actually de-furring a feline, but rather relates to the old saying "There's more than one way to skin a cat". (For those of you who are now disappointed at being titillated and let down, I will refer you to August 23, 1992 edition of the previously mentioned periodical. Personally, I think you need serious help.) As a true cat person (and I like dogs, too), I find the mere notion repulsive, but as we all know, disgusting suggestions are often the ones that intrigue us the most.
Now that I have your attention (unless you are presently perusing the National Enquirer archives), allow me to digress, please. I just picked up my copy of Thomas Moore's Meditations, the foreword of which gives a brief account of his biography. At age thirteen, he left home, in his words, "to enter a seminary designed to prepare young men for the Roman Catholic priesthood. I was filled with idealism and had a driving desire to aim as high as possible.......". Long story short, he lasted twelve years, but dropped out just prior to becoming ordained (oops), returning to the secular world to pursue a career as a musicologist, in which he achieved degrees, leading to further studies and degrees in religion and theology. After publishing a couple of books having to do with those subjects, he was soon invited to speak at a Catholic church by a priest who insisted that his delivery be made from the pulpit. Thus, he found himself realizing that he was, more-or-less, in a position he had imagined when he first set out, but having arrived there by a circuitous and entirely unexpected path.
I like this story because it allows me to forgive myself when my contrivances don't go exactly as planned. In all honesty, I am amenable to just about any form of rationalization, but this particular one leaves open the possibility that I might eventually achieve precisely the goals I set out for, provided I remain open-minded and active in my pursuit of the next right thing. Plus, it reminds me that unlike the hopeful monk-to-be, I had to abandon neither sex, money, nor the exercise of free will to get there.
And now, to placate my fellow cat people who I may have upset with my disturbing headline, please accept the following offerings regarding cat-centric architecture:
and finally, what may just be the cutest kitty-vid ever:
(with killer sound track, from Steeler's Wheel).
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