For everyone who has been asking, the saga is over. Rupert has a new home. Thank you to everyone who tried to find a place for him and thank you for taking him in. I know he will be very well taken care of, and I’m glad that I’ll still get to see him. I won’t say that I’m not sad about it, because I am, but this is the best possible way that this could have worked out (besides Cindi becomming magically un-allergic).

Alright, folks, I need to put this out there again. I know I’ve spoken with many of you and many of you have spoken to people you know, but I need everyone to make a push again and talk to EVERYONE they know, and have them talk to everyone they know. I have to find a home for this cat. We haven’t been able to find anyone, and now Ali has told me that I’ve got about a week to find a home for him or we’re going to have to put him to sleep. PLEASE…I really don’t want to have to do that. He’s a perfectly healthy, wonderful, sweet cat and if I had to put him to sleep for something that he has no control over it would just be horrible. So I’m begging you all to double your efforts and see if there is anyone you know who can open their hearts and not allow this wonderful animal to die. Thanks, everyone. I know a lot of you have tried, and I do appreciate it. Let’s get him into a good home, okay?

Am I the only one who is tired of hearing the media harp on the “crisis” that is the flu vaccine shortage? People, listen to me…it’s an unncessary shot. You don’t need it. It’s not a big deal. So you might get the flu. So what?

Now, I understand that in older people and young children that it can be dangerous. But the flu has been around for centuries, and it’s very treatable. So what the hell is everyone so worked up about? Once again, the media is sensationalizing so that they can create fear and keep people watching. Well, get over it. It’s not the end of the world. You might just have to sneeze a bit this winter.

I was just watching Ed Koch on The Daily Show, and he said something that caught my attention. What he said was that he is supporting George Bush for re-election, and while he doesn’t agree with him on a single domestic issue, he is supporting him because he feels what what he is doing in terms of going after the terrorists is so important that it trumps all other concerns, and since he feels that Bush is better equipped to handle that situation than Kerry is, he is supporting Bush. He then proceeded to say that if there is to be killing, he would prefer that we are killing them over there than it happening over here.

Here’s my problem with that statement. I’m not opposed to going after terrorists. I think that’s probably a good idea. But you really can’t go after terrorists by invading a country, unless that country is run by terrorists. Even then, it’s kind of a problem. I think there are only two ways to stop terrorism. One, we find out why the terrorists want to kill us in the first place and see what we can do to change that. Two, we send in special forces to specifically target those terrorist groups. Bombing an entire country in order to kill a few terrorists seems like a bad plan. It seems like it will, in fact, only serve to create more terrorists. Am I the only one who sees this? People become terrorists because they hate us. They generally hate us because we have done something to them. Bombing their country, destroying their homes and lives and killing their loved ones…that sort of thing tends to breed hate. Surely this isn’t that hard for people to see. So, yes, I agree that we need to go after terrorists, but let’s not do it half-assed, shall we?

Okay, folks. This is going to be my first, but probably not only, mention of this for this year. I just think it’s such a great charity and so I really want to do my little part to help get the word out.

Penny Arcade, my favorite web-comic, is once again doing Child’s Play this year. It’s a charity to help donate toys and games and money to Children’s Hospitals around the country. Last year they raised over $250,000 for Seattle’s Children’s Hospital. It was really amazing because it was very just thrown together, and it ended up being huge. This year they’re getting organized and trying to help multiple hospitals. I think it’s awesome what they’re doing, and I fully intend to donate again this year. There are Amazon wishlists that you can access by way of that site, and all you do is buy something off of Amazon just like you would for anyone else. It’s really easy to do, and it means a lot to the kids that it helps. I know that each of you can probably find enough in your budget to at least spend $25 on a Gameboy game or something.

Okay, that’s enough for now. I’ll bug you again in a month or so.

It’s been a while since I created a compilation CD. Part of the reason I used to make them was because I’m not a big fan of listening to just one CD straight through. I like shuffle play. Once I got an MP3 player, I had all of my music available and on shuffle play all the time, so compilation CDs no longer were necessary.

But I feel like making them again. The thing is, I don’t want to just make general CDs because there’s no point in that. So here’s what we’re going to do…

I need ideas from you guys for themes for compilations. Feel free to be specific, if you want. I like the challenge. You can write your suggestions here or you can e-mail them to me. Don’t tell me what songs to use, just suggest a theme. I don’t promise that I’ll make every CD that’s suggested and I give no promises about how long it will take me to get to them since I’m somewhat busy right now. But if you suggest it and I make it, I’ll definitely send you a copy. Let’s make it a little contest, too. Let’s see who can come up with the best idea (as decided by me). I’ll send that person a prize. Don’t ask me what…I haven’t gotten that far.

I was just listening to the radio and “God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys was on. It got me thinking, and so I want to now do something publicly which I should do more often. What I want to do is acknowledge just how much I love and appreciate my wife. It is completely true that god only knows what I’d be without her. Pretty much everything good in my life and every smart decision I’ve made has been because of her. When we met, I had no real direction. I thought I wanted to be either a writer or a theater director. She got me focused. It’s because of her that I have this business and that I’m in any way successful at it. So I just want her, and everyone else, to know how much I appreciate her.

Friends, I need your help.

We took Cindi to the allergist on Monday night. In addition to the numerous other things that she turns out to be allergic to, she appears to be allergic to cats. We have been told that, in cases like hers, if she is left exposed to a cat she is 20% more likely to develop asthma. This means that we need to find a new home for Rupert.

Obviously, as a parent, I have an obligation to put the well-being of my child ahead of that of my cat. But please understand how difficult this is for me. I love that cat. That animal loves me unconditionally and asks for almost nothing in return.

When we had to try to find a new home for Anya because she was having behavioral problems and using the house as a litterbox, we could not find anyone willing to take her. We called several shelters who take adult cats, but they would not take her, either. In the end, we had to put her to sleep. That was difficult for me, but if we had to put Rupert to sleep, it would kill me. Beyond how much I love him, he hasn’t done anything wrong. It’s not his fault that Cindi is allergic to him.

So I’m begging you…if you or anyone you know (and trust) might be willing to take in an incredibly sweet, good natured, 7 year-old cat, please let me know.

Last night, at around 9:30, I looked down at my gas gauge and realized that I needed to get gas. I drove by the station and decided that I would just get it in the morning. It was $1.85 for regular. This morning I went to fill up the tank and it was $1.89.

Damn.