#cincinnati felines

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from National Geographic. All photographs byJoel Sartore:

CARACAL | CARACAL CARACAL Consummate predators, some small wildcats can take down larger prey. The caracal of Asia and Africa is less than two feet tall but has been filmed leaping over nine-foot fences to prey on sheep. PHOTOGRAPHED AT COLUMBUS ZOO AND AQUARIUM, OHIO

PALLAS'S | CATOTOCOLOBUS MANUL A famously grumpy expression made this Central Asian species an Internet star. Conservationists hope the cat’s celebrity will help save its habitat from encroaching farms and other threats. PHOTOGRAPHED AT COLUMBUS ZOO AND AQUARIUM, OHIO

IBERIAN LYNX | LYNX PARDINUS One of the world’s rarest cats, the Iberian lynx is slowly increasing in number as scientists release captive-raised cats and boost populations of rabbits, the lynx’s staple food. PHOTOGRAPHED AT MADRID ZOO AND AQUARIUM, SPAIN

FISHING CAT | PRIONAILURUS VIVERRINUS The cat may look peculiar, but it’s perfectly adapted to its lifestyle: Big eyes help snare prey underwater, double-coated fur keeps out the wet, and partially webbed feet and a muscular, rudderlike tail aid in swimming. PHOTOGRAPHED AT POINT DEFIANCE ZOO AND AQUARIUM IN TACOMA, WASHINGTON

EURASIAN LYNX | LYNX LYNX The largest of the four lynx species, the Eurasian lynx also has a huge range, including most of Europe and parts of Central Asia and Russia. Unlike many other small cats, its population is stable and threats are relatively low—although some isolated subgroups are critically endangered. PHOTOGRAPHED AT COLUMBUS ZOO AND AQUARIUM, OHIO

JAGUARUNDI | SHERPAILURUS YAGOUAROUNDI With long, squat bodies and tiny ears, jaguarundis are otterlike in appearance. Thanks to their huge range—parts of Mexico, Central America, and South America—and lack of widespread hunting, the cat is considered a species of least concern. PHOTOGRAPHED AT BEAR CREEK FELINE CENTER, FLORIDA

LEOPARD CAT | PRIONAILURUS BENGALENSIS. PHOTOGRAPHED AT ANDERSON, INDIANA

RUSTY-SPOTTED CAT | PRIONAILURUS RUBIGINOSUS The smallest of the small cats, the rusty-spotted cat, a native of India and Sri Lanka, can weigh as little as two pounds. Not much is known about the speckled feline, but destruction of habitat, hunting, and hybridizing with domestic cats are threats. PHOTOGRAPHED AT EXMOOR ZOO, ENGLAND

AFRICAN GOLDEN CAT | CARACAL AURATA Inhabiting the rain forests of West and Central Africa, this species is threatened by forest loss and bush-meat hunters. This seven-year-old male, Tigri, is likely the only cat of its kind in captivity. PHOTOGRAPHED AT PARC ASSANGO, LIBREVILLE, GABON

SAND CAT | FELIS MARGARITA. PHOTOGRAPHED AT CHATTANOOGA ZOO, TENNESSEE

CANADA LYNX | LYNX CANADENSIS Like the Iberian lynx, the Canada lynx is a specialist hunter, preying almost exclusively on snowshoe hare. The North American species has giant paws that help it run through deep snow after prey. PHOTOGRAPHED AT POINT DEFIANCE ZOO AND AQUARIUM, WASHINGTON

MARGAY | LEOPARDUS WIEDII. PHOTOGRAPHED AT CINCINNATI ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDEN, OHIO

SERVAL | LEPTAILURUS SERVAL. PHOTOGRAPHED AT FORT WORTH ZOO, TEXAS

[sohannabarberaesque]

Postcards from Snagglepuss

And a pretty quick run into Gatlinburg, come to think of it

SOMEWHERE ALONG THE PARKWAY (US 441) BETWEEN PIGEON FORGE AND GATLINBURG, TN: Between Cincinnati and Gatlinburg via I-75 (to Knoxville) and US 441 is about 230 miles, particularly allowing for the narrow north/south axis of Kentucky and Tennessee ... meaning about five hours' or so drive from the Queen City to the Queen Mother of Tourist Traps.

And with such eclectic company on top of other fellow Funtastics making their way unto the Great Smoky Mountains for what cometh Easter Sunday--no less than The Cattanooga Cats' Gatlinburg Easter Parade on The Parkway, the main tourist district of Gatlinburg, as anyone who has visited Gatlinburg heading into Great Smoky Mountains National Park will tell you.

Yet you wonder what makes Great Smoky Mountains such a popular national park to begin with, especially when you have a gateway like Gatlinburg and its kitschiness inherent in contrast to the unspoilt serenity expected of national parks, to begin with.

=============

So anyway, our company--yours truly, Huckleberry Hound, Crazy Claws, The King, Sheena and Ruff and Reddy--are at a gas station/convenience store on The Parkway within eyeshot of Dollywood. It seems Country, with the Cattanooga Cats, wanted us to meet the feline quartet there and get some directions to be led to as much accomodations as Cattanooga Klatsche, their Gatlinburg coffee shop and artisan roastery. Refuelling was more or less a subsidiary activity.

Considering the early traffic for the Easter weekend heading into Gatlinburg being what it was, it somehow required Kitty Jo, who was driving a modest little commuter car, to use back roads to reach our rendezvous.

"Uh, hello boys!" was how Kitty Jo, otherwise the female vocal and dance lead for the band, introduced us with that somewhat chirpy Southern accent of hers. Not to mention Teeny Tim by her side, and leashed, obviously. And pretty much everybody left the motorhome to extend greetings.

"At any rate, on behalf of the Cattanooga Cats as well as Cattanooga Klatsche ... may I just extend to you 'welcome' here to the Smoky Mountains--"

"Obviously," adding my own touch of levity to the proceedings, "not to be confused with Little Smokies sausages!" (Which got chuckles galore, guaranteed.)

"At any rate," Kitty Jo continued, "a little later in the evening, back at the Klatsche, we're gonna set up a buffet and discuss some of the plans for the parade weekend, which is also the Easter weekend."

Which had Reddy wondering "what exactly will the tourists otherwise be thinking, seeing us characters more or less along the Parkway?"

"We'll naturally cross that proverbial bridge at that time" was how Kitty Jo explained it. "As a precaution against rain," she added, considering that likelihood, "should rain ensue on Easter Sunday, we'll issue rain ponchos to participants."

"I just hope she knows what she's talking about," Huck remarked.

"And while there may not be a marching band as part of the Easter Parade," Kitty Jo quipped, "I certainly hope our characters' presence will make this Easter especially interesting! Especially with the meet-and-greet angle more than anything!"

After a few minutes more, Kitty Jo was able to lead our motorhome to a private parking area such as the Cats themselves have outside Cattanooga Klatsche in a modest alley just off the Parkway, and close to where the tourist trolley shuttles meet, even! And upstairs to a modest little apartment the quartet keeps above Cattanooga Klatsche, Crazy Claws, Huck and yours truly were directed to a modest little guest bedroom--if it could be called as much, and our presence stunning the band's drummer, resident wit and jock, Groove, who set up the sleeper sofa such as would serve as our sleeping quarters.

"Oh--and don't forget your bags," Kitty Jo chimed in as she and Country, the band lead and romantic interest of Kitty Jo, brought our modest luggage in and got things ready. (The others who came along with us found motel accomodations along the Parkway.)

So how do you think things will turn out?

@warnerbrosentertainment @indigo-corvus @jellystone-enjoyer @funtasticworld @zodiacfan32 @restroom @archive-archives @thylordshipofbutts @thebigdingle @gatlinburgvisitor-blog-blog @themineralyoucrave @screamingtoosoftly @warnerbros-blog1 @ultrakeencollectionbreadfan @iheartgod175 @groovybribri @theweekenddigest @warnerbrosent-blog

[finishinglinepress]

FLP CHAPBOOK OF THE DAY: CARE INSTRUCTIONS by Tanya Sangpun Thamkruphat

On SALE now! Pre-order Price Guarantee:

https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/care-instructions-by-tanya-sangpun-thamkruphat/

CARE INSTRUCTIONS is a poetry collection written during a prolonged, complex, and unprecedented time of personal and global turmoil, change, and loss. These pocket-size poems were intentionally written as short and simplistic, the type of #healing most of us yearn for during unexpected times. Carry these #poems close to you, to be read whenever you need #self-care.

Tanya Sangpun Thamkruphat is a Thai-Vietnamese American poet and essayist. She’s the author of the poetry chapbooks, Em(body)ment of Wonder (Raine Poetry Publishing, 2021) and It Wasn’t a Dream (Fahmidan Publishing & Co., 2022). Her writing appears in The Orange County Register, Button Poetry, Honey Literary, The Cincinnati Review, San Diego Poetry Annual, 2022-2023, Midway Journal, Rio Grande Review, West Trestle Review, and elsewhere. She’s a 2023 Kenyon Review alumn. She lives with her partner and feline overlords in Southern California. You can follow her on Twitter (@madamewritelyso) and on Instagram (@madamewritelyso).

PRAISE FOR CARE INSTRUCTIONS by Tanya Sangpun Thamkruphat

Care Instructions encourage and remind us that on the other side of dark times, there are glimmers of light carrying us back to ourselves.

–K.Y. Robinson, author of The Chaos of Longing

Filled with short but filling poems, Tanya Thamkruphat‘s Care Instructions is a great companion for people who seek comfort in navigating the ups and downs of our daily lives. It’s a wonderful reminder to be kinder to ourselves.

–Dawn Lanuza, author and poet

Please share/please repost #flpauthor #preorder #AwesomeCoverArt #poetry #chapbook #read #poems

[muntzerism-diggerism]

ID: screenshots of a Reddit post on R/Baseball by U/JTCMuehlenkamp. the post reads:

What if every team was named after the most abundantly populated animal in their geographical area?

Given the recent controversies over certain sports team names and the imminent rebranding of the Cleveland Indians as the Cleveland Guardians, I can't help but wonder what animal mascots would best represent the cities or states their teams reside in.

Take the Tigers for example. When you think of Detroit, you do not think of a jugle ruled over by apex feline predators. I don't know if the Detroit zoo has any tigers, or if Detroit even has a zoo for that matter,  but I am 100% certain that there is at least 1 species of animal in Detroit and the surrounding areas that is more populous than tigers. The difficult part, however, is determining which animal is the most populous.

With that in mind, it also gives rise to the concern that some teams would likely share the same name in this scenario due to their close proximity. Both Chicago and New York each have 2 teams, plus the Angels like to pretend that Los Angeles does as well, so there is bound to be some overlap. I have decided that this is okay, primarily because there is no way around it. Just to avoid any confusion as to which identically named team is which though, I'll break up this list by divisions. Anyway though, this is what the MLB would look like if all the teams had to rebrand as the most common animal in their region.

AL EAST

Tampa Bay Ants.

Boston Ants.

New York Ants.

Toronto Ants.

Baltimore Ants.

AL CENTRAL

Chicago Ants.

Cleveland Ants.

Detroit Ants.

Kansas City Ants.

Minnesota Ants.

AL WEST

Houston Ants.

Seattle Ants.

Oakland Ants.

Los Angeles Ants of Anaheim.

Texas Ants.

NL EAST

Atlanta Ants.

Philadelphia Ants.

New York Ants.

Miami Ants.

Washington Ants.

NL CENTRAL

Milwaukee Ants.

St. Louis Ants.

Cincinnati Ants.

Chicago Ants.

Pittsburgh Ants.

NL WEST

San Francisco Ants.

Los Angeles Ants.

San Diego Ants.

Colorado Ants.

Arizona Ants.

End ID.

@aspirationatwork

[thecapybarapost]

Local Cat Becomes Homeowner, Immediately Begins Ignoring Mortgage Responsibilities

CINCINNATI—In an unprecedented turn of events, local feline Whiskers has officially become a homeowner, securing a property through what experts suspect was an elaborate mix of squatter’s rights and sheer audacity. “Technically, the house was left to Whiskers in a will,” said real estate lawyer Mark Davenport. “But in reality, he’s just been sitting in it, knocking things off tables, and…

[handeaux]

17 Curious Facts About Cincinnati Cats And Cincinnati's Curious Cat Fanciers

What Is A Cat Worth?

A cat, according to C.G. Pemberton of Withamsville, is worth the same as a Ford motor car or a Chandler & Price Gordon-Style printing press. That’s according to a classified advertisement Mr. Pemberton placed in the Cincinnati Post on 14 June 1921. Intriguingly, he offered his printing press in exchange for either a Ford, or a tomcat, or a yellow dog, or an “educated bluejay.” One suspects there is a curious story there, but the Post never investigated. Maybe it was code for a bootlegging operation.

An Alligator Cat?

Nellie Isaminger was a popular nurse at the City Hospital, where she supervised the staff in Ward K. She was also the owner of a most curious feline. The cat was born at the hospital and considered quite intelligent. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer [10 May 1897]: “The peculiarity of the animal is that all its four legs are only an inch long, so that the animal is forced to proceed alligator fashion, by dragging its stomach on the ground and wriggling its shoulders and hind quarters to aid locomotion.” Miss Isaminger named her unusual cat Dot.

A Kangaroo Cat?

Thomas Evans, a salesman living on York Street in Newport, invited the Kentucky Post to photograph his “kangaroo cat” in 1914. The little kitten, just five weeks old, was born with only two little bumps where his forelegs should be, and taught itself to get around by hopping on its hind legs. For normal locomotion, the two rear legs sufficed, but when in a hurry, the little feller employed his tail as an additional extremity.

The Traitor Cat

Bessie Cline, of 210 Broadway, had a cat named after herself. Mrs. Cline hated rats and her feline namesake was a good ratter, so they got along famously. Bessie, the cat, birthed four little kittens and Mrs. Cline envisioned an entire platoon of rat-chasers. And then, as the Post [9 July 1930] reported, Mrs. Cline’s son Frederick announced that two more kittens had joined the brood. On inspection, Mrs. Cline found Bessie nursing two young rats. The Post consulted experts, who said mother cats nurturing rodents was normal. Mrs. Cline was not amused.

The Tomcat Peace Warrant

A cat sent two Cumminsville women into court in 1907. It seems four-year-old Helene Meyder brought a tomcat home, without mentioning that the cat actually belonged to Thelma Vorherr, who lived just a couple doors away on Collins (now Cass) Street. Thelma, discovering her pet had been cat-napped, charged up the block and let Minnie Meyder, Helene’s mother, know exactly what she thought of her and the horse she rode in on. The very air was blued and Minnie went to court to get a peace warrant, forcing Thelma Vorherr to keep her opinions to herself.

An Official Cat Catcher?

For many years, Cincinnati had an official dog catcher – a job either thankless or repellant depending on one’s opinions of canines. In 1908, a songbird-loving Cincinnati City Councilman named Robert O’Brien sponsored legislation that would have required all cats in the city to be licensed at a cost of one dollar annually, to be tagged, to be muzzled while at large and to be removed from the streets and disposed of if found in violation. O’Brien’s ordinance, which failed in committee, would have created the position of official cat catcher.

Curiosity Caught The Cat

Marion Scarborough owned a Persian cat she valued, in 1934, at $300 – or almost $6,500 in today’s dollars. While she worked downtown as a stenographer, she was in the habit of letting the pet sun itself on the roof of the apartment building she lived in at 3209 Reading Road. One day she returned and her cat was missing. A diligent search found the curious feline stuck in the elbow joint of a downspout. Ladder Company Number 4, more familiar with getting cats out of trees, engaged in some creative plumbing to free the embarrassed cat.

Bill Taft The Hunter

In the early days of the Twentieth Century, the ink-stained wretches who wrote for Cincinnati’s many newspapers constituted the Pen & Pencil Club and met in a suite of rooms in the old Grand Opera Building on Vine Street, south of Sixth. They shared their clubhouse with a cat named Bill Taft. (The future President and Chief Justice was a newspaper man before he took up politics.) Bill – the cat not the politician – was famous for hunting sparrows on Fountain Square and dragging their little carcasses back to the Opera House.

Cat On The Beat

The Hammond Street Police Station went into mourning in the spring of 1878. Corporal Tom was missing and presumed dead. Tom was a tomcat, known as a good mouser, and had made his home at the Hammond Street Station since 1864. Though only accorded corporal status, Tom stood next to the lieutenant at every roll call and inspected each patrolman. When the station was closed for renovations, Tom moved temporarily to the St. James Hotel, but returned during the ribbon cutting of the new station. Before he disappeared, Tom had been showing the effects of old age. He was never found.

100 Percent Episcopalian Cats

Harry Leist, longtime sexton at St. Paul’s Cathedral at the northeast corner of Seventh and Plum streets, had a cat population explosion going in 1930. Mine No. 1, the cathedral’s unlikely named official mouser, had just given birth to three coal-black kittens. Bishop Henry Wise Hobson decreed that one kitten might stay with its mother, but the other two would have to go. Then, Mine No. 1’s mother, ensconced at the diocesan house, delivered five more kittens. Harry called the newspapers and announced that, even though all the kittens were 100 percent Episcopalian, he would place them with any kind-hearted soul, regardless of creed.

The Manx Monster

Although firemen have been identified with Dalmatian dogs for many years, Cincinnati’s firehouses often found a warm corner for a mascot cat. Usually the feline guest was a local tomcat of indeterminate lineage but, in 1901, Engine Company 23 in Walnut Hills adopted a pet so unusual, lines formed to get a gander at it. His name was Alexander and he was dropped off by a neighbor, who informed the fireman it was a Manx cat, from the Isle of Man, with a tiny nubbin of a tail and six claws on each foot. Alexander chased off Horace, the incumbent mouser, and usurped his duties.

A Guard Cat

It was fairly common for public establishments in Cincinnati to keep a cat around, mostly for pet control. Joseph Hahnel, who ran a café at Sixth and Monmouth streets in Newport, learned a good cat also provided excellent security. Around midnight one evening in 1926, a dog barged into Hahnel’s café while showing all the signs of rabies and attacked two customers. One jumped on top of a pool table, while the other sought refuge on the bar. Tabby, Hahnel’s elderly tomcat, was awakened by the commotion and leapt upon the intruder, chasing the rabid pooch into the night.

Don’t Mess With The Pressroom Cat

From time to time, most Cincinnati newspapers found space for an office cat and the old Commercial Gazette was no exception. In 1889, a very comfortable and very jealous cat had staked out its domain in the fifth-floor stereotyping department. Somehow, a strange cat found its way upstairs and marched into the stereotyping room as if it owned the place. The established feline took offense, there was a swirling cyclone of fur and claws and the newcomer leaped out an open window, five floors up, on the Race Street side. All worked stopped and the men ran over to catch a glimpse of the corpse, but all they saw was one defeated tomcat running, hell-bent for leather, through the Race Street crowds.

A Master Mendicant

The cat had no name. It was a non-descript grey tomcat and it hung around the Central Union Depot – Cincinnati’s largest train station before Union Terminal replaced it. One day in 1910, the tomcat used up one of his nine lives by zigging when it should have zagged as a baggage truck rolled by, shearing off one of the poor tom’s feet. The wound healed and the lucky tomcat learned to milk sympathy and treats from women passengers in particular. The little beggar haunted the lunch counters and dining tables, purring and rubbing against a silk-stockinged leg until a few cuddles and some sustenance was forthcoming.

Cat Bones In The Privy

Who dumped 60 kittens in a West End privy in 1885? More importantly, why? Mark S. Warner and Robert A. Genheimer, in a 2008 paper published in Historical Archaeology, describe the excavation of a privy in Cincinnati’s Betts-Longworth district from which they recovered a large quantity of cat bones, mostly from kittens. Although they offer several theories, ranging from urban sanitation to animal population control to carcass disposal to antisocial behavior, the authors admit there is no conclusive evidence for any of the hypotheses.

Cat’s Ghost Made Me Do It

For all of her unhappy life, Isabelle Phelps claimed to be haunted by the ghost of her cat. It was the spirit of this dead cat, she said, that drove her to murder. Isabelle was self-employed, peddling toiletries on the streets while living in a tenement on Richmond Street in Cincinnati’s West End. She was often on the road to Dayton, Miamisburg, Lebanon, Middletown and Hamilton, where she sometimes took rooms with the Walker family. One morning in 1911 at breakfast, Isabelle pulled a gun from her waistband and shot her landlord in the head at point-blank range, then fired the rest of the bullets at Mrs. Walker. Her defense – that the ghost of her cat was responsible – did not sway the court. She was remanded to the Lima State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. She died there, a victim of cholera, in 1926.

Thauwald’s Amazing Cat

In 1901, Theodore Thauwald ran a saloon on Richmond Street at Central Avenue. Mr. Thauwald had a most peculiar cat named Terry McGovern II, named for a noted bantamweight boxer of the day. This cat displayed unique markings in the fur along its back, neck and head, resembling a snake. Instead of charming little birds with its eyes, like other cats, Terry used his secret weapon, approaching sparrows with his nose held close to the pavement, the snake-like pattern in full view. Exposed to the cat’s serpentine design, birds froze in fright and were easily dispatched. And then the witnesses adjourned to Herr Thauwald’s tavern for a drink.

[chocoboinspectorbalduin]

So, the pupper is James Tiberius ... or just Tibby ... Mr. Tibbs ... or Tibtib. If I'm honest, he's definitely a Tibby and not a Tiberius. He also likes to try and melt into you. He has no concept of space at all.

The feline you've seen before, his name is Finnick. He likes to headbutt your face for love and belong in your personal space.

The last is just me representing mah team. Because sometimes that's just what you have to do.

[lionessleesha]

Joseph is The One Who Watches by Chris Dutle

[starwell101]

Home.

Hello, Cincy.

[hocad-adventures]

Pallas’s Cat, Otocolubus manul

This is another Cincinnati Zoo pic. I adore these guys. They’re so unusual! I believe this is the only feline whose eyes have a round pupil instead of a slitted one.

[kaitoucat]

[sohannabarberaesque]

Postcards from Snagglepuss

Trying not to get paralysed on Hoosier Hospitality

BESIDE THE DECATUR COUNTY COURTHOUSE, GREENSBURG, IN: As in the celebrated tree growing in the clock tower thereof, which has positively been identified a few years back as being of the mulberry species, and long something of a landmark for travellers between Indianapolis and Cincinnati along I-74 (Indiana Exits 132 and 134) and US 321.

And still something of a mystery as to how such a tree could grow from such a height.

The which surprised even Ruff and Reddy, more or less the "pioneers" of our Funtastic community, who, like a few other friends of ours, are heading to Gatlinburg, Tennessee for an Easter Sunday to outdo Easter Sundays.

"So what exactly is it all about, Snagglepuss?" Ruff, an energetic little kitteh, asked at a downtown Greensburg cafe where our party, which had already included Crazy Claws, The King and Sheena--not to mention much in the way of cheese, sausage and crackers.

"You see, Ruff and Reddy," Huckleberry Hound explained, "our friends out in Gatlinburg, by name of the Cattanooga Cats--"

"I believe we've heard of them," Reddy remarked.

Huck continued: "Anyway, this feline quartet have a coffee house and artisan roastery in Gatlinburg, Tennessee ..."

Moi: "...and they are working on an Easter Parade of sorts for us fellow characters along The Parkway--that's Gatlinburg's main street, more or less--on Easter Sunday. An impromptu, almost casual sort of schtick, even, guaranteed to impress what tourists may be in the Great Smoky Mountains over Easter!"

"Which, you may like to know," Crazy Claws added, "is rather early in the ordained cycle for Easter. It'll be on March 31st this year!"

You could hear our little company gasping at the revelation.

"But," The King remarked with some swagger, "let it not be hoped that the parade will be rained upon!"

The whole accompanied over rather generous helpings of what would pass for the Blue Plate Sepcial down Indiana way, served rather generously and the waitresses trying not to be jerks. Or, worse yet, on a par with Hooters Girls. But still, it's just Indiana. Next stop, Cincinnati and a bowl of Cincinnati Chili galore!

*************

@warnerbrosentertainment @artistic-octopus @iheartgod175 @theweekenddigest @funtasticworld @archive-archives @thylordshipofbutts @themineralyoucrave @thebigdingle @screamingtoosoftly @warnerbros-blog1 @groovybribri @jellystone-enjoyer @indigo-corvus @ultrakeencollectionbreadfan @warnerbrosent-blog

[wheresmynaya]

Two Ghosts Ch.13 | Brittana

             In the weeks following the homecoming bonfire, Santana and the girls are more focused than ever on coaching the squad now that they perform at weekly football games. Thanks to Coach Beiste, the football team is actually pretty good so it’s a real confidence boost for the squad because they’re on the winning side. Santana remembers how disheartening it used to be when the team completely sucked in the days of Coach Tanaka and how they still managed to perform cheers about winning even though the Cheerios were pretty much the only team at the time with any significance. Whenever the current squad begins to get a little full of themselves, Santana and the coaches love reminding them of the fact that they were the trendsetters and that they shouldn’t get too cocky because the weight of the Cheerios legacy rests on their shoulders.

             In a way, that weight rests on Santana’s shoulders too.

             But the team works hard and they stay focused, so when Quinn receives word that they’ve earned a spot to compete at the sectional competition in December no one is that shocked. Afterall, the Cheerios have competed in every sectional competition since before Santana joined the squad. During their own reign, they placed first place in every competition aside from their junior year when they performed with the Glee Club instead so they’re no stranger to the pressures of winning either. It’s that experience that allows them to connect so much better with the squad because they can relate and they’re able to coach in a way that lands better.

 \\

               It’s the last day before school lets out for Thanksgiving break and the coaches decide to get together for drinks after Cheerios practice. They head over to Breadstix which has become their spot although it started off as a joke coming there because it’s such a high school them thing to do. But Lima is still a small town and there’s not much around in terms of nightlife so Breadstix it is.

             Of course, Santana doesn’t mind. New York doesn’t have a Breadstix and she has kind of missed it.

             They’re sitting at their usual table outside, sipping on cocktails they found listed on the Happy Hour Specials menu, chatting about work and their plans for the break.

“I can’t believe we’re going to sectionals,” Quinn says after the waitress sets down a basket of breadsticks.

             “I know, right?” Brittany adds, “I haven’t been to Cincinnati in forever, probably since high school.”

             “Same!” Quinn replies, “I’m getting nervous already, we have big shoes to fill.”

             Santana quickly grabs one like she hasn’t eaten in days and starts nibbling on the end, “At least we don’t have to compete with them. I don’t think I could pull off the moves we used to do back in high school. Pretty sure I have permanent back problems now from being on the bottom of the pyramid.”

             Quinn chuckles as she reaches for a breadstick, “I don’t think I’d be able to either, I’m just not that flexible anymore.”

             “Tough work being on top?” Santana teases and knocks her shoulder with Quinn’s.

             “You wouldn’t know now would you?” Quinn quips back and Santana rolls her eyes.

             Brittany snorts as she moves to take a sip of her cocktail, “No, she really wouldn’t.”

             It’s in the way Brittany says her comment and the smirk that follows that makes Santana’s cheeks instantly flush as Quinn high fives Brittany from across the table, but she tries hard to play it off and act as though she’s unfazed, “You guys suck.”

             “Anyway, what are you guys up to for the break?” Quinn asks.

             “I’ll most likely do some small Thanksgiving dinner thing,” Santana says in between nibbles of her breadstick.

             “Do you have family coming?” Quinn asks but Santana shakes her head.

             “My dad definitely won’t be there and I think my cousins will be in San Diego this year, so it will probably just be my mom and I.” Santana answers, “The only other family that’s left in Lima is my abuela, but I don’t think she’ll come around either.”

Brittany catches Santana’s eye as she bites her bottom lip in thought then hesitantly asks, “Has she spoken to you yet?”

Santana takes another bite of her breadstick and tries to fight the hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach. She hasn’t seen or heard from her abuela since she came out and to be honest she didn’t think the grudge would last this long, but her abuela is a stubborn old woman and when she’s made up her mind about something that’s it. Even if that means losing contact with her favorite granddaughter.

Santana shakes her head again and forgoes giving an explanation, but judging by the sigh Brittany let’s out she doesn’t need to explain a thing. Brittany gets it and Santana’s thankful for that. It’s still a touchy topic with her and she’d probably burst into tears if they delved in deeper.

“I’m sorry, Santana.” Brittany says sincerely then gives her a small smile, “She’s missing out on a great person.”

             Santana ducks her head bashfully, but she feels unsure of that greatness.

“Yeah she is,” Quinn adds then says a little hopefully, “I’m sure she’ll come around though.”

Santana just shrugs, “Maybe.”

But she doesn’t really believe that she will.

“What about you, Q?” Santana says quickly to change the subject, “What are your plans for the break?”

             Quinn goes on talking excitedly about plans of returning to New Haven with her mom because she loves it there in the Fall and she doesn’t have much family in Lima to spend the holiday with either.

             “It has become tradition for us to do an orphans’ Thanksgiving since not many of my friends there go home for the holiday. They all usually leave for Christmas. Plus, I want to make sure my roommate hasn’t trashed the place,” Quinn adds as she flips through the menu then says a little softly, “I miss my cat too.”

             “Is that a metaphor?” Santana jokes and it makes Quinn roll her eyes.

             “Cats are felines.” Brittany deadpans and everyone giggles, “I didn’t know you had a cat, what’s their name?”

             “His name is Binky.” Quinn replies, “My roommate and I found him at a shelter a few years ago and he already had the name. He’s the best.”

             Brittany smiles, “Cute name.” Then she softens in looks to her drink somberly, “I’ve been thinking about getting another cat, but I don’t think I’m ready yet.”

             Santana looks to Brittany with furrowed brows then looks to Quinn who has a similar look but then her heart suddenly lurches as she begins to put two and two together. She asks gingerly, “How long has it been?”

             Brittany takes a steadying breath and looks up at Santana as her shoulders slump, “Almost three years now. He developed a heart condition. I tried everything to help him but it seemed like nothing I did worked.” Brittany stops as her voice begins to crack and she goes to take a long sip of her cocktail.

             Santana just watches as sadness washes over Brittany. She can’t imagine how heartbroken Brittany must’ve been; Lord Tubbington was her whole life. Santana instantly feels guilty for not being there for her, not that she could’ve done anything to save him, but she knows how it feels to lose a loved one. And judging by how Brittany reacts after talking about him, she didn’t cope very well with losing him and there’s still a lot of things she’s keeping on the inside.

             Then Santana remembers what Sam told her the night of the bonfire about how Brittany had kept a lot of things bottled up; maybe this was one of them?

             “I’m sorry,” Brittany says after a sigh and plasters on a fake smile, “I don’t mean to a be a buzzkill. I’ll get over it eventually.”

             Santana’s heart breaks even more and she can’t stop herself from reaching across the table to place her hand over Brittany’s. It’s electric but Santana holds it there and rubs the pad of her thumb over soft skin as she says, “Don’t be sorry. He meant a lot to you, it’s okay to be sad about it. It’s not something you can just get over and that’s okay.”

             Brittany smiles softly, a real smile this time, and says, “Thanks San.”

             Santana just nods and gives Brittany’s hand one last squeeze before pulling away.

Quinn smiles softly at Brittany too and adds, “Maybe I can bring Binky here with me after the break? You can come over anytime you want for a cuddle. He’s actually pretty lovable.”

             Brittany’s smile grows, “That would be awesome, Q.”

             “It’s a deal then,” Quinn winks and looks back to the menu, “Have you guys decided?”

             They fall into deep discussions about the menu and what they’re feeling and that turns into Quinn and Santana debating which city has the best food: New Haven or New York. Brittany just sits quietly watching, giggling at her friends argue about taco trucks until the waitress arrives to take their order.

             “I’m Latina. I know my tacos, Q,” Santana says like she’s trying to have the last word as she hands Quinn her menu but Quinn just smirks.

             “I’m sure you do.” Quinn jokes, straightening the menus to hand over to the waitress, “Thank you.”

             “You’re an actual child.” Santana says feigning annoyance even though a smile breaks through but then she turns to Brittany and remembers, “Wait, Britt, you never said what you’re doing for the break.”

             “Oh yeah!” Quinn adds, “Any big plans?”

             Brittany just shrugs, “Not really. I was going to fly to San Francisco, but I forgot to look at tickets earlier and now they are really expensive. I’ll definitely have to go for Christmas now and that’ll probably be even more expensive.”

             “I thought you didn’t like your cousins?” Santana asks, knowing that that’s who is San Francisco, “I remember you saying once that they stole your Christmas presents one year and replaced it all with coal.”

Santana remembers Brittany has a few relatives living in California but she always hated visiting her cousins. Thankfully it was only for the Christmas break during school, but even then Brittany thought that was too much. Brittany’s aunt and uncle always spoke so highly of them and she remembers Brittany saying she always felt like they were showing off how much better they were than her. Her cousins went to the best private school in the area and made straight A’s and they were involved in all these different clubs and they volunteered; the list goes on. Santana remembers how Brittany said she always felt so small around them which she’d always follow by saying it was silly because she’s been taller than the both of them for all her life.

Still, Santana hated anyone who made Brittany feel like she wasn’t worthy and that feeling is still there now.

              Brittany chuckles, “I don’t think it was actual coal, just rocks they found outside.”

             “Like that’s any better? No offense, but they sound like jerks.” Quinn frowns but Brittany just shrugs.

             “I wouldn’t really be there to visit them. I mean, they’d be there because it’s a holiday, but I want to see my parents.” Brittany says then adds softly, “It’s been awhile.”

             Santana tilts her head in thought, “Your parents moved to San Francisco?”

             Brittany nods, “Maybe a year and a half ago now?”

             “Wow,” Santana blinks slowly, “I didn’t think they’d ever leave Lima. They loved your house, they were so settled. They had just started doing all those renovations too,” Santana stops and reminds herself that those projects started five years ago even though it feels just like yesterday when she was cleaning paint off of Brittany’s nose.  

             “They wanted a change of scenery I guess.” Brittany adds but her tone makes it seem like there’s so much left unsaid.

             “So what are you going to do for Thanksgiving then?” Quinn asks, getting back on track.

             “I’m not sure,” Brittany replies as she looks over the cocktail menu again, “I don’t really have anything planned.”

             Santana can feel Quinn nudge her under the table and she scowls back in return. Quinn’s eyes flicker to Brittany like she’s trying to tell her something but Santana isn’t getting. Quinn finally gives up and rolls her eyes at Santana.

             “You can come with me to New Haven?” Quinn offers and it makes Brittany perk up a little, “No one would mind at all, plus there’s Binky.”

             Brittany smiles softly then relaxes, “Thanks Q, I don’t want to impose though. It sounds you have a lot of catching up to do with your friends there.”

             Santana frowns because having Brittany around would never be an imposition, especially during the holidays. She wouldn’t want her to be alone on Thanksgiving, that’s just sad.

             “What about Sam?” Santana says and it surprises her that she even mentioned his name, “Is he doing anything for Thanksgiving?”

             Brittany looks surprised too and purses her lips at the question, “Probably.”

             “There you go,” Santana says simply, “You can hang out with him and his family.”

             For a split second Brittany seems to look a little dejected but then she quickly hides behind a weak smile and shrugs, “That’s true. Maybe I’ll call him later. I’m going to go to the bathroom before our food comes. Be right back.”

             Santana watches as she leaves, feeling somewhat confused as to why Brittany suddenly disappeared. Then again, she could just be overthinking again.

             Quinn just throws a broken breadstick at Santana, “You’re an idiot.”

             “What?” Santana snaps defensively, dusting the crumbs off her top.

             “Why didn’t you just invite her over for Thanksgiving? It was right there and you missed it.” Quinn whispers as if Brittany can hear her from the bathroom, “You really are exhausting.”

             Santana leans back as she racks her brain for a comeback, “I’m sure she and Sam are doing something. She said she was going to call him later and they’re like best friends or whatever, as if he wouldn’t include her knowing she’ll be spending it alone. Besides, it’ll just be my mom and I, we won’t be doing anything big anyway. I’m sure Sam’s family will though, they’ll probably decorate and have a huge dinner and it’ll be so much better than what I could offer her.”

             Quinn sighs exasperatedly, “Sounds like a bunch of excuses to me.”

“Whatever.” Santana grumbles guiltily, “I’m not going to get my hopes up only to be rejected.”

“How do you know that unless you ask?” Quinn asks, “I even asked. You have got to stop putting him up on a pedestal. No one else is doing it but you and I don’t get why? He and Britt and best friends, so what? You and Britt are friends too so you’re allowed to do things with her.”

             Santana says dismissively, “You don’t get it, Q, it’s more complicated than that.”

             “Only because you’re the one complicating it,” Quinn replies simply, “Being friends with Brittany has to be the easiest thing for you to do. That shit is like second nature but you have to be so goddamn difficult.”

             “Seriously?” Santana argues, growing tired of Quinn’s probing comments, “You don’t know a damn thing, Q. Britt and I have always been something more, the lines between friendship and dating didn’t exist. You know that. So you can see why I’m having a hard time now because I’m trying to set boundaries.”

             “Don’t give me that,” Quinn replies, “The only reason you’re having such a hard time is because you love her and for some odd reason you don’t want her to know that.”

             Santana stares back, in shock, and tries to come up with a witty comeback, but she can’t.  All she can do is stare with her lips parted, her heart pounding wildly.

             Quinn sits back in her chair, looking a little surprised at herself, as she tilts her head curiously, “That’s it, isn’t it?”

             Santana feels like she’s under a microscope and it makes her palms sweat. She’s never admitted it to herself that could be it but she never denied it either. The only thing she tried to do is bury those feelings deep and hope they’d never resurface again. Why? She doesn’t really know. She messed up before and she can’t do it again so if all she can have with Brittany is a friendship then so be it.

             But whoever told her that she wasn’t allowed to try again?

             “I don’t know,” Santana says truthfully.

             Quinn nods then says after a pause, “I think you should invite her over for Thanksgiving. I think she’d really like that, shows you’re making an effort in your friendship.”

             Quinn’s tone is less accusing and it makes Santana feel less defensive. She begins thinking about how it’ll be to invite Brittany over for dinner when it’s just her and Maribel. That’s too familiar and sure Maribel knows they aren’t together but she wasn’t exactly welcoming to that news. Maribel loved Brittany and loved them together. And Maribel gets weird, like any mom wanting to set their daughter up, so who knows what could happen. She doesn’t want to make Brittany feel uncomfortable. But Quinn also has a point and Santana should just cast that line and see if Brittany takes it. It doesn’t hurt to ask.

             Santana finally sighs exhaustedly, “Why are you like this?”

             “Because I love you guys,” Quinn says sickeningly sweet, “And I know you’ll miss the crap out of me while I’m away for 3 days-“

“Such a long time.” Santana teases.

Quinn purses her lips, “I just want to make sure you guys won’t be lonely. Where’s your holiday spirit?”

Santana exhales deeply, “Fine. I’ll ask.”

             “Yes!” Quinn cheers.

             “But on my terms,” Santana quickly adds as she spots Brittany exiting the hall where the bathrooms are, “You let me worry about my friendship with Brittany and you can go back to minding your business.”

             Quinn takes the hint and reaches for her cocktail, raising her glass to Santana, “I’ll drink to that.”

[robertcraigw-blog]

Things you don’t know about Kroger

1. Kroger had an influence in the vibe great story of the mid year

One of the vibe great accounts of the mid year developed out of a Kroger simply a month ago. In June, ruined 16-year-old Chauncy Jones Black inquired as to whether he could help convey his staple goods to the man's vehicle at the Poplar Plaza Kroger in Memphis, Tenn.

Matt brought the adolescent into the store and went on a shopping for food binge for his benefit. Later when bringing Chauncy home, Matt understood the full impact of the destitution stricken conditions the straight An understudy and his mom lived in: No beds, camping cots on the floor and no sustenance in the icebox.

So Matt set up a GoFundMe page to enable Chauncy to raise $250 that would enable him to purchase a lawnmower and begin cutting grass for cash. The Internet has reacted with $340,000 in gifts to date subsequent to being moved by Chauncy's story!

RELATED: Teen requests to help man with staple goods, and his life changes until the end of time

Be that as it may, the two never would have met had Chauncy not moved toward Matt and offered to help convey his food supplies at Kroger!

2. Kroger has the humblest of starting points

Barney Kroger ended his life reserve funds of $372 and opened a market at 66 Pearl Street in downtown Cincinnati in 1883. Today the store does yearly offers of more than $109.8 billion in business!

3. Kroger is a noteworthy player in the natural market

Kroger has its own marked natural line called Simple Truth. It's a private name which has deals without anyone else that surpass the yearly offers of a great deal of whole store chains in the United States! In 2015, Simple Truth items did $1.5 billion in business,according to Food Business News.

4. Kroger has $4 nonexclusive prescriptions for pets

When you go to the vet and they compose a solution for your pet, they ordinarily additionally fill it for you at a high markup. That is made an open door for Kroger to offer $4 conventional prescriptions for felines and mutts at all of its drug stores. The $4 value point is for the most part for a 30-day supply. On the off chance that you need 90 days, you'll for the most part pay around $10 or something like that.

5. Kroger values supportability

Maintainability is essential to numerous organizations and Kroger is no special case. By 2020, the organization has define the accompanying objectives:

Extending their 100% manageable fish duty

Accomplishing the EPA's "zero waste" limit of 90% in all offices

Advancing 100% of corporate brand bundling

Changing toward a 100% enclosure free egg production network

6. Kroger is trying unique evaluating in at any rate one store

Dynamic interest valuing may have begun in the carrier business, yet it's extended wherever from retail to the evaluating on condo rentals.

RELATED: 6 effortless approaches to get a good deal on food supplies that don't include coupons

What precisely is dynamic interest evaluating? The thought value climbs and down dependent on interest. Prior this year, The Wall Street Journal detailed one Kroger in Kentucky is exploring different avenues regarding electronic sticker prices that change for the duration of the day.

So you may put a crate of grain in your truck believing it's $1.50… and after that when you get to checkout it out could cost $1.59 or perhaps 99 pennies!

7. Kroger has a fine adornments division

This may sound insane, yet did you realize that Kroger works a fine adornments division comprising of 323 gems stores in 30 states under the standards of Fred Meyer Jewelers and Littman Jewelers? It's valid!

Stranger yet, Kroger's site reports that while you're probably going to discover these stores inside shopping centers, they are a few areas inside sustenance stores! Search for them at select Kroger Marketplace, Dillons Marketplace, Fry's Marketplace, Smith's Marketplace and King Soopers Marketplace stores around the nation.

8. You'll normally discover the freedom rack in the back

While Publix will in general make their freedom rack or table somewhat simpler to discover by and large putting it at the front of the store, Kroger adopts the contrary strategy. Search for their freedom territory close to the back of the store.

"These leeway racks have possibly VERY GOOD value things," as per the blog Living Frugal Does Not Have To Feel Poor."We discovered in the no so distant past that Nature Valley's Sweet and Salty nut boxes [were] $1.00 each!!! As a rule, this expenses $2 ~ $2.50. So's a decent arrangement."

[junichiboar-blog]

8 things about Kroger

1. Kroger had an influence in the vibe great story of the mid year

One of the vibe great accounts of the mid year developed out of a Kroger simply a month ago. In June, devastated 16-year-old Chauncy Jones Black inquired as to whether he could help convey his staple goods to the man's vehicle at the Poplar Plaza Kroger in Memphis, Tenn.

Matt brought the high schooler into the store and went on a shopping for food binge for his sake. Later when bringing Chauncy home, Matt understood the full impact of the neediness stricken conditions the straight An understudy and his mom lived in: No beds, hiking beds on the floor and no sustenance in the fridge.

So Matt set up a GoFundMe page to enable Chauncy to raise $250 that would enable him to purchase a lawnmower and begin cutting grass for cash. The Internet has reacted with $340,000 in gifts to date in the wake of being moved by Chauncy's story!

RELATED: Teen requests to help man with goods, and his life changes until the end of time

Yet, the two never would have met had Chauncy not moved toward Matt and offered to help convey his food supplies at Kroger!

2. Kroger has the humblest of starting points

Barney Kroger ended his life reserve funds of $372 and opened a market at 66 Pearl Street in downtown Cincinnati in 1883. Today the store does yearly offers of more than $109.8 billion in business!

3. Kroger is a noteworthy player in the natural market

Kroger has its very own marked natural line called Simple Truth. It's a private mark which has deals without anyone else's input that surpass the yearly offers of a great deal of whole market chains in the United States! In 2015, Simple Truth items did $1.5 billion in business,according to Food Business News.

4. Kroger has $4 nonexclusive medications for pets

When you go to the vet and they compose a medicine for your pet, they normally additionally fill it for you at a high markup. That is made an open door for Kroger to offer $4 nonexclusive prescriptions for felines and pooches at all of its drug stores. The $4 value point is normally for a 30-day supply. On the off chance that you need 90 days, you'll for the most part pay around $10 or somewhere in the vicinity.

5. Kroger values maintainability

Maintainability is imperative to numerous organizations and Kroger is no exemption. By 2020, the organization has define the accompanying objectives:

Extending their 100% practical fish duty

Accomplishing the EPA's "zero waste" limit of 90% in all offices

Upgrading 100% of corporate brand bundling

Progressing toward a 100% pen free egg store network

6. Kroger is trying powerful evaluating in any event one store

Dynamic interest valuing may have begun in the carrier business, however it's extended wherever from retail to the estimating on loft rentals.

RELATED: 6 effortless approaches to get a good deal on food supplies that don't include coupons

What precisely is dynamic interest evaluating? The thought value climbs and down dependent on interest. Prior this year, The Wall Street Journal announced one Kroger in Kentucky is exploring different avenues regarding electronic sticker prices that change for the duration of the day.

So you may put a container of oat in your truck believing it's $1.50… and afterward when you get to checkout it out could cost $1.59 or possibly 99 pennies!

7. Kroger has a fine adornments division

This may sound insane, however did you realize that Kroger works a fine adornments division comprising of 323 gems stores in 30 states under the flags of Fred Meyer Jewelers and Littman Jewelers? It's valid!

Stranger yet, Kroger's site reports that while you're probably going to discover these stores inside shopping centers, they are a few areas inside nourishment stores! Search for them at select Kroger Marketplace, Dillons Marketplace, Fry's Marketplace, Smith's Marketplace and King Soopers Marketplace stores around the nation.

8. You'll commonly discover the leeway rack in the back

While Publix will in general make their leeway rack or table somewhat simpler to discover by for the most part putting it at the front of the store, Kroger adopts the contrary strategy. Search for their leeway region close to the back of the store.

"These leeway racks have conceivably VERY GOOD value things," as indicated by the blog Living Frugal Does Not Have To Feel Poor."We discovered in the relatively recent past that Nature Valley's Sweet and Salty nut boxes [were] $1.00 each!!! As a rule, this expenses $2 ~ $2.50. So's a decent arrangement."