My mother swears we found all the wells on our old property by having a cousin "witch" for them. I reserve judgment.
I've skipped madly to the end to ask cat-capturing advice: Sammie the Cat, after two days gone, has returned to my patio, and is pleased to see me. I found a bunch of pale fur in the driveway the morning he didn't come back and I was halfway sure he'd been eaten by something. It's been raining heavily the whole time, though, and I know he has some hidey-place he goes to when it rains, so that's probably where he's been. (I am certain he does not have a human.) After that little panic, I'm determined not to let him get away again. BUT! It's nighttime, and the vet doesn't open until 9am. Should I leave him in a kennel-box all night long? Presuming I can even get him in it. Should I bring him in or leave him outside? I don't want him inside until he's been checked by the vet and I know he's not bringing my inside kitties any diseases. I've never had to capture a cat before, and as friendly as he is towards me, I know he's not going to just walk into that box. What should I do? He's usually here in the mornings for food, but what if he leaves again and doesn't come back? fret
If you can grab him, at least lock him in a bathroom or something. My parents keep the ferals they capture in a bathroom until they can get to a vet (and they've had some sad cases that were terminal and contaigious.) I don't think it is necessary to keep him totally outside the house. If you are really worried, in the bathroom in a crate, with a towel barrier at the threshold and wash your hands after contact. Most of the buggyboos require at least a swapping of spit.
My mother swears we found all the wells on our old property by having a cousin "witch" for them.
Could be true without water divining being valid. I've been told that if you dig deep enough any place you hit water, and mostly within the range of standard well digging equipment. So wherever a water diviner choose, chances are it will work. Not a geologist so ...
Zen, I have successfully caught feral cats by putting food inside a carrier cage, tying a string to the door, and watching until they were inside to pull the string and shut the door. If he's calm about you being around you might be able to just walk over and shut the door on him while he eats.
If you have a utility room or extra bathroom, somewhere you can put him (in the carrier) and shut out your cats, that's probably what I would do overnight. He may well yowl and struggle the whole time he's in the carrier. Or he might relax, and just wait to see what happens next.
I gotta admit something: as much as I love my vets and the techs, it seems like the practice has expanded beyond what a single office manager can handle. I kinda wish msbelle had moved here, because I think she'd whip it into shape. I think only having one manager probably abetted the mixup with MK.
The divining he did was basically walking the line along the property. I mean, it wasn't a big range between the access and the fire hydrant where the line could possibly have been. And I'd drawn on the map where the lines were when they laid them. So we were pretty much having him mark them for liability purposes.
But it was still pretty disconcerting to see him tromping around out there with his Y shaped stick. That's my public utility!
Self-defense with a bicycle: [link]
How you may Best Defend Yourself when Attacked by Modern Highwaymen, Showing how you should Act when Menaced by Footpads, when Chased by another Cyclist, and when Attacked under various other Circumstances; showing, also, how the Cycle may be used as a Weapon.
...
Self-protection awheel is an art full of possibilities. The cyclist who is a skilful rider, who possesses pluck and dash, who has mastered the elementary rules of defence on a bicycle, and who is armed with a knowledge of how to use a machine to the best advantage as a weapon, may rest content that he is able to defend himself perfectly when attacked under the majority of likely conditions.
Published 1901.
eta: They recommend women cyclists use a squirtgun for defense.
The last three or four methods of defence that I have described are hardly suitable for the lady cyclists, unless particularly strong-minded and strong-armed! A simple means of defence that may be highly recommended for the use of fair cyclists is the water squirt. This is an ingenious little weapon sold in cycling shops, made in the shape of a pistol, but with an indiarubber handle which holds water, and which, when pressed, will squirt a shower of water for a distance of 20ft. or so. The water squirt is guaranteed to stop an attack from the most vicious dog or man -- and certainly the foot-pad who attempted to approach a lady cyclist, and was met with a douche of cold water, would receive a severe shock that would probably cause him to stand back long enough to allow his prey to escape.
Ah, man, that actor! His TV character and his movie character both got killed!
t /general purpose bemoaning
DAMMIT. I thought I was going to succeed, and just as I got him halfway into the box, there was a flash of lightning and a loud clap of thunder, and he freaked and yanked away and ran. DAMMIT. That was probably my only chance.
