How to Enjoy the Cottage / Camping Trip

This is what is called getting away from it all, yet a lot of people don't really understand how to do this. Literally they've done this of course, they're away from all their stuff, except for what they've taken with them, but they probably haven't really mentally done this.

I will explain what I mean.

This is something I've thought about for a while, and it's something I've had to teach myself. Subconsciously at first I was doing it, then when I realized what I was doing I was proud.

In the beginning Tom created a cottage wardrobe. I will preface here by saying that some time ago my parents bought a cottage near Gracefield, Quebec. I'm sorry if I've never taken you there, I have a problem with driving there, and I don't go often. Anyways, this cottage wardrobe is just clothes that I've worn throughout my life, all of it still fits to a degree, the pants are too big, the shirts are sometimes a bit too small, I have a Bartman shirt that I'm pretty proud of.

When I change into these clothes, I don't look like the other Tom, because he wears different clothes. There, now when I look in the mirror, I can say that I look different. This doesn't make me different, but it helps.

I couple this with acting different, and by being out of routine.

At home, you tend to follow routines, even on the weekends. You can't help it. Unless you get a 3 day weekend. Then you have this weird extra day where you go crazy trying to pack in all this super fun stuff, or doing nothing.

At the cottage, fuck it. Get up when you want, 7 a.m., 10, 1, 5, who cares. Take naps, get buzzed in the day, early, then go running, or on a boat, I don't care. Also, play board games and cheat, then when you lose, go crazy, like scream and yell. You will end up acting the way normal people in the city would tell you is insane. This is acting different. This is what you need to do.

Sometimes I start a giant fire for no reason, at like 8 in the morning. My parents and my wife aren't fazed. Sometimes they watch me to make sure I don't start a little forest fire like I have before cause the foliage tends to get close to the fire pit, but other than that, these relatively unorthodox behaviours are quite normal for cottage Tom. Because he's just not city Tom. Just not at all.

Cottages and camp sites are fun cause they allow you to escape from yourself. You can become a character you have inside you, or one that you've always wanted to try out. A different person for a weekend. At least that's how I see it. But it was my reflection on it that made me realize that it has happened naturally for me.

Cat Times at Maxton High

As a young boy, I had a couple cats, one was named Bridgette, and one Casey. Bridgette just showed up at our door one day, Casey was a gift.

Casey was an aggressive little fuck, no one could even touch him but dad. Bridgette was sweet as strawberry pie. They both got shot when we came back from our trailer (we used to live in a trailer sometimes) and had piss all over the place to clean.

My next cat experience, other than lovely little affairs with Drama, Hanky the retard, and Twila the Queen, comes from the Dr., Freeman Mittens.

Freeman is a funny cat, because I was too young to remember living with kitteh's and he is one. Every morning, or night, he will run around like one of Holly's patients, wanting to see what I'm up to. I'm the first one up, and I go upstairs at night to get ready for bed, while Adam and Jessie pretty well live mostly downstairs.

Freeman's funny trait is feet biting and screen climbing. He bites feet thinking they are spiders, or plants, and he climbs our screeen doors (causing no problem, although if we aren't home, I don't know how he gets down.)

Hanky has a funny trait too, he likes to have his head jerked off. You sort of pretent he has a horse penis for a head and rub it (the tip) to and fro. He loves it, he's a deviant.

Twila, seems pretty ho-hum. This is what Holly and I call boring things. Not to say that it's not a good thing for a cat to be boring.

Here's some info on the biting phenomenon:

"Cats, especially kittens, love to play. Abruptly ending a play session is an extremely powerful reprimand. With a few repetitions, kitty will learn that it is his own overly rambunctious or aggressive behavior that brings an end to all the fun.

While your cat is learning not to bite and claw you, it is equally as important that you provide kitty with something he can pounce on, attack, grab with his claws and sink his teeth into.

Unless your cat has real prey to hunt, you are going to have to provide the play prey. If you simply toss a few toys on the floor, your cat may give them a few swats then quickly lose interest. It is up to you to make the toys fun. Play should be an interactive game between you and your cat. Tie a toy to the end of a length of string. Drag it around your house with kitty in pouncing pursuit. Pet stores are full of both inexpensive and exotic toys for your cat. Use your imagination and create your own toys. The idea is to stimulate your cat's interest and participation. Two 15 minute play sessions a day will work wonders in venting your cats excess energy as well as fulfilling his predatory instincts."

citing : http://www.perfectpaws.com/agg.html

All in all, a visiting cat works for us, full time would not work. Freeman is so cute, but he can be annoying. I will miss him when he's gone though.