The People I Have Found

Until you've seen this trash-can dream come true
You stand at the edge while people run you through
And I thank the Lord there's people out there like you
I thank the Lord there's people out there like you ....

And I thank the Lord for the people I have found
I thank the Lord for the people I have found

"Mona Lisas & Mad Hatters"

Elton John (lyrics by Bernie Taupin)

from the album Honky Château (1972)

 As I have wandered the streets throughout my life, I have met many a feline and canine friend and foe, and for each and every one, I have been profoundly thankful, for they have taught me the joys of companionship, the strength of vigilance, and the stimulation of unexpected encounters that make life interesting.

But it has been the kind humans I have known, those who have sheltered and fed moi, that have made the greatest impact.  Street life for cats is dangerous and difficult.  We treasure freedom, but we also desire security and serenity.  My human friends have shared this with moi and so much more.  Some felines never encounter a human hand extended with love and kindness.  I have had my share of unpleasant human confrontations.  Ultimately, it has been people like Kindly Couple, who have shared my forever home, along with my colleagues and patrons of Mooresville Public Library, that I shall always cherish and remember.

 As I travel toward my next adventures, there are welcome faces purring and head-butting, barking, or making other friendly noises.  They may be simply hanging out, enjoying the companionship.  Together, we continue our journey.  I will miss those left behind, but there are many roads ahead, and I am confident that we shall once again cross paths and rub cheeks against ankles.  Hope to see you soon.  I have loved you all.

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  Please enjoy this beautiful song by Elton John and Bernie Taupin.

ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz . . .

Today (Monday, March 12, 2018) is National Napping Day.  It's celebrated on the first Monday following the start of daylight savings time in the Spring.  I think we all know where this is headed.

Yep.  Pretty Much.

Humans are always so behind the wave.  We felines have been celebrating National Napping Day on a daily basis forever.  If there's one thing cats know how to do, it's celebrate sleeping.

My advice is simple:  Embrace your inner ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzs.  You'll be glad you did.

Disturbing My Sleep, But a Headscratch is Kinda Nice

Having trouble napping?  Maybe you're a parent whose little human is having trouble catching those Zs.  We've got several sleep-help books available to checkout.  Naturally, we have book trailers, too (click below to play videos).

The Sleep Lady's Good Night, Sleep Tight, by Kim West

(MPL Book Trailer #21)

Nighty-Night, Sleep Tight, by Jennifer Berne & David Walker

(MPL Book Trailer #169)

Of course, you could always listen to Scowl-Face talking about whatever.  That should put anyone to sleep straight away.

Here's 23 Minutes of Ol' Scowlly Droning On and On

Just to be clear, the video's about Samuel Moore, founder of my hometown, Mooresville, Indiana.  Scowl-Face is narrating.  That's the soporific component working, there, so you have to keep the sound turned on.  You've been fairly warned.

Here, you'll definitely need this later, when you're trying to stay awake.

Reuse as Needed

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

What Makes a Cat a Cat

What makes a cat . . . a cat?  That's the theme of a delightful new children's picture book.  Naturally, we have a book trailer.

MPL Book Trailer #419

I Am A Cat, by Galia Bernstein

Simon is a cute cat--what humans typically call a house cat.  (Like we're going to be stuck inside a house if we want to go out?  Still, it's probably less insulting than domesticated cat, which is obviously an oxymoron.)  Simon knows he is a feline, but his bigger cousins disagree.  The large wild felines each describe cats in their own terms, depending upon their specific physical attributes (fur color, fur length, spots, ability to run fast, etc.)  But Simon sees beyond superficial physical characteristics to see the commonality among all felines.  Finally, the big cats get the big picture.

This is a heartwarming book that shows young readers that we may look different, but we're all cats.  I think that works for people, too.

Evergreen Indiana patrons may checkout this book from our online Evergreen Indiana catalog.

Your (Retired) Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

Welcome, TV's Amanda

UPDATE:  Anthony Woodside wrote a very nice article about TV's Amanda in the Mooresville-Decatur Times, Wednesday, February 14, 2018, at pages A1-A7.

Let's welcome my library's new youth services librarian, TV's Amanda (TVA for short).  See if you can guess of which television series she's a big fan.

Amanda Meets the Bibliotarians, by Mooresville Public Library
(Promo Trailer)

As you can see, TV's Amanda knows how to have some fun.

Longtime readers know that I give all my colleagues nicknames, and TV's Amanda is no exception.  Why "TV's Amanda"?  Well, avid fans of Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K) know that Frank Conniff played a character called TV's Frank, because he was a "sidekick" (or, as he called it, "second banana") of Dr. Clayton Forrester, the "mad scientist" on the show who forced Joel Robinson (and, later, Mike Nelson) and the 'Bots to watch the worst movies ever made.  That's not why I'm calling her TV's Amanda, though.  She's nobody's second banana.  No offense, Frank.  (Now, push the button, Frank.)

I call our new youth services librarian TV's Amanda because her ancestor was a pioneer inventor and developer of early television.  That's so cool!  Television must be part of her DNA.  If so, does she get better reception when she holds her arms up like she's a football referee signalling a touchdown?  Just asking.

TV's Amanda will be handling our early literacy (preschool) children's programs, as well as homeschool and elementary school aged programs.  Look over our online events calendar to see upcoming programs.

I'm glad to have TV's Amanda as my newest minion.  Just a view pointers, TVA.  Feeding times for moi are pretty much whatever it says on the clock.  Canned tuna-in-oil is my favorite.  Also, I like back scratches but not so much tummy rubs.  Although you may work for Casey at the Bat and Boss Lady, you really work for everyone's favorite feline roving reporter.  I may be retired, but I'm still a cat.

It's great to have you on board, TV's Amanda.  Now get to work.

Your (Retired) Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  Let's watch TV's Frank from an episode of MST3K.

Lady RaDA Rides Off

My library's technical services director, whom I call Lady RaDA, is riding off to new territories in faraway lands.  Cue the sunset.  Actually, she's not heading west, but north, to another Evergreen Indiana library.

This is how we all feel right now:

We Sooooo Sad!

Lady RaDA was the most experienced cataloger Mooresville Public Library has ever had.  What's more, she developed a wide range of traditionally reference librarian skills, as well as substantial library administrative talents, that frankly makes her library director material.  While at MPL, she became a professor to graduate library students at one of the country's premiere library schools and made (and continues to make) her mark on the Evergreen Indiana cataloging committee.  During her nearly four years at MPL, she has introduced and refined many significant improvements in a wide range of duties.  She is, simply, irreplaceable, and her preeminent standard of excellence will be exceedingly difficult to match.  What a daunting challenge for whomever Boss Lady hires to fill Lady RaDA's staff position.

Since we all know Scowl-Face isn't up to that challenge, we're going to need to find an outstanding cataloger out there in libraryland who wants to join my minions.  We'll probably be posting a job description and what-not on our website sometime soon, so I won't go into details, which is especially good, since nobody has told me anything about it.  I was official MPL feline roving reporter, after all, so I'm feeling a tad bit snubbed.

Our best wishes go with Lady RaDA as she begins this new career adventure.  We will all miss her terribly.  But our loss is their gain.  We hope her new library appreciates what they are getting.  If not, I'll go over there and use their Boss Dude's legs as a scratching post.  I may be retired, but I've still got really sharp claws.

See you later, alligator.  After while, crocodile.

Your (Retired) Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  In 1956 Bill Haley & His Comets released "See You Later, Alligator," written by Robert Charles Guidry, better known as Bobby Charles.

The World's First Notary PAWblic

UPDATE April, 2021:   Mooresville (Indiana) Public Library discontinued notary public services in April, 2021.

 

 

Folks visit my Library for the wonderful services we provide, such as our notary public service.  Our notaries public are available (assuming they're scheduled to work) to notarize your signature(s) FREE of charge!  Just ask for Scowl-Face or BizMeister.  Well, you'd better not call them by my nicknames--just ask for Bill or Sharon, and our circulation staff will find them, no matter how carefully they've hidden in the stacks.

Whoops!  Wrong Seal

That's It, Pretty Much

Now, it occurs to moi that this is such a terrific service that I should be involved.  What'd be better than having free notarizations from a celebrity feline roving reporter?  Certainly, it would be a conversation-starter at parties.

Obviously, I wouldn't be eligible to be a notary public, as such, since Indiana law implies that such public officials must be human.  To us non-humans, that seems like a silly requirement, but people make laws, not felines, so I guess we know where we stand (or curl up).  But there's no law against my being a Notary PAWblic.  In fact, I can become one simply by way of my own executive declaration:

WHEREAS, I am a world-famous feline adored by humans far and wide; and

WHEREAS, I have four paws; and

WHEREAS, I can ink one of those paws and place it upon human's written documents to validate their signatures, provided I'm in the mood, and I get proper treats afterwards; and

WHEREAS, everyone who knows moi will tell you how honest I am; and

WHEREAS, this service is PAWSitively adorable.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE OFFICIAL FELINE ROVING REPORTER OF MOORESVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY that:

1.  Cauli Le Chat is hereby empowered to serve as a Notary PAWblic for library patrons; and

2.  A notarization by Cauli Le Chat has no legal effect whatsoever.

Ordered this 29th day of December, 2017, by

Cauli Le Chat

Official MPL Feline Roving Reporter (Retired)

That certainly sounds legal enough.  (Scowl-Face insists that I emphasize that it's not.)  Now for my official Notary PAWblic seal.  Minions, make with the fancy:

Mighty official-looking, I'll venture

(click to bigify)

Ol' Scowlly also said I had to type void on my seal so it couldn't be used by unauthorized kitties (or other critters).

So, all you peeps out there--if you need something notarized, you've now got a feline option.  Of course, if you want that notarization to actually mean something, then you'd better ask for our human notaries instead.

Your (Retired) Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  Here's a funny video called Noter Republic (2010) from Justin Neal on Vimeo.

Crawl Under Our Flipperwaddler

The Decorinator and BizMeister have once again created a charming interactive decoration at the front of our youth services department.  Like the others, this one is a "crawl-through" for our younger patrons.  More like a "crawl-under," I'll venture.

 It's a Flipperwaddler!

 Humans call them penguins

 I wonder if there's an egg under there?

It's crawl-ready, youngsters!

Actually, in my previous blog posts, I've called them penguins more often than flipperwaddlers.  I blame my editor, Scowl-Face.  He's usually responsible for anything wrong.

Our kiddy patrons just love crawling around on the floor through these artistic displays leading into youth services.  I've walked through a few moiself, so I can vouch for the fun.

Great job, Decorinator and BizMeister!

Your (Retired) Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  Here are a couple of our videos (a readaloud and a book trailer) featuring the children's classic chapter book, Mr. Popper's Penguins, by Richard & Florence Atwater.

 Casey-at-the-Bat (i.e., Ms. Casey) Reads a Chapter

From Mr. Popper's Penguins (2015)

 MPL Book Trailer #108

We Can't Spell Ukulele Without U

For several months, my library has offered a beginning ukulele workshop for folks interested in learning how to play.  There's a new batch coming next month (see our online events calendar for details).

If these famous dudes can learn to play ukulele, why can't you?  You can uke, Luke, even if your name's not Luke.

L to R: Jake Shimabukuro; Barack Obama; George Harrison

But, wait, you protest.  You don't have a ukulele, so how can you attend our workshop? We're way ahead of  you.  Checkout a ukulele with your Evergreen Indiana library card, and then come to the classes.  How easy is that?

Our promo trailer (video) explains.

Can't make the workshops?  Checkout our books and DVDs to learn to play ukulele. They, too, are available in our Evergreen Indiana catalog.

This could be you among these ambitious beginners.

Or how about these guys?  (I think they're actually instructors.)

Anyway, you're out of excuses now.  Come on in and have some fun!  You could use it.

Your (Retired) Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  In 1994, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr performed "Ain't She Sweet?" on ukulele.  You can't get much more fun than that.

Not For the Bibliophobic

Our technical services director, Lady RaDA, has just mentioned on Facebook this bizarre little pop-up book that came across her desk, which we presume is not recommended for those suffering from bibliophobia.

The Pop-up Book of Phobias (1999), created and written by Gary Greenberg, illustrated by Balvis Rubess, with pop-ups by Matthew Reinhart, is listed in our Evergreen Indiana catalog as missing. Apparently, it has been found by Lady RaDA.  Better her than moi, I'd venture.

I have a bad feeling about this.

Don't let the Lady With the Red Hair see this next one.  Or Indiana Jones, for that matter.

The one below looks a bit like the giant spider in that sci-fi film that Mystery Science Theater 3000 riffed (The Giant Spider Invasion).

I'm really getting creeped-out now.

Okay, I'm outta here!

This must be a grown-up parody of children's pop-up books, I'm hoping. Maybe adult humans will get some laughs.  But for us felines, it's just too freaky.  We like things in our environment to look normal, as we cats see things.  That's why it scares some of my housemates when Scowl-Face wears a hat--or just enters a room, actually.

Let moi know if you think of a way to un-see all this.  Thanks.

Your (Retired) Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  We close with "Phobia," by the Kinks, from the album Phobia (1993).

Do They Serve Nine Lives There? Just Asking

Where can you find good food and kitty companionship?  Drop by Fountain Square in Indianapolis, and you'll discover the city's first feline restaurant, Nine Lives Cat Cafe.

Indianapolis Star, Sunday, February 5, 2017

(Click Image Above to Bigify)

As you can see from this article above, this is the perfect place for feline-friendly humans to visit.  All the kitties are adoptable, so you should take home plenty.  We all need nice forever homes.  Besides, you can never have too many cats.  Just ask Buffalo Gal.

Your (Retired) Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

Mooresville's Founding Feline

Nearly a year ago, Scowl-Face gave a program (motto: At least there was cake served) at the library about Mooresville, Indiana's founder, Samuel Moore, and his wife, Eliza Worthington Moore.  He's also blogged about the couple.  We have a ton of stuff about them on our website.

"Narration" of Samuel Moore at the Old Settlers Picnic (1885),

by Mooresville Public Library

Those who attended Scowl-Face's program will back moi up here ("booorrring!"), so I thought you might be interested in learning more about Mooresville's founding feline, who happened to be an ancestor of yours truly.  His name was Hippolyte, who was Samuel Moore's cat.

Hippolyte (1817-1828) travelled with the Moore family from North Carolina when they migrated to Indiana (in 1819), and (in 1822) Hippolyte accompanied Samuel Moore when he moved to Brown Township in Morgan County.  Mooresville was founded in 1824.

We have no artist renderings of Hippolyte, but we do have a reenactor photo showing my feline pioneer ancestor.

Reenactor photo of Hippolyte, my feline pioneer ancestor, as Hippolyte may have looked on the Moore family's northern migration to and within Indiana (1819-1822)

Hippolyte was a "mouser" who had earned a reputation for clearing rodents from Samuel Moore's trading post and storage cabins where he kept perishable supplies, dry goods, and assorted items for sale to the public.  The trading post was situated atop a hill approximately where today's V.F.W. Post #1111 now stands on South Indiana Street, a few hundred feet east of White Lick Creek.  Moore's storage cabins were also nearby this location.

VFW Post #1111

411 South Indiana Street

Mooresville, IN 46158

(visit their Facebook page)

In 1824, when Samuel built his wood-frame general store in downtown Mooresville (on the northeast corner of Main and Indiana Streets), Hippolyte took up service there. Rattermeeses (sometimes also spelled rattermeeces) go where the food is, so there's always a need for good feline hunters to keep edible merchandise safe for folks to buy.

As a proud descendant of Hippolyte, I am another in a long line of pioneer kitties who have called Mooresville home.  (Take a peek at my feline genealogy to learn more about my family history.)  Our town's humans should hold a parade in our honor sometime.  At least we deserve a float in the annual Old Settlers' parade.  Just saying.

Your (Retired) Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat