Thanks everyone. Yes, Mary, you hit the right day. Got all teary eyed at work today, not just from Laddie and Mickey, but also Mom who died 13 years ago. Strange how grief bubbles up from time to time. All we can do is forgive ourselves for whatever "guilt-trip" we are attacking ourselves with at the moment and take a deep breath and BREATHE IT OUT!!! Thanks, Anne

I guess there's a difference between cats and dogs when it comes to licking. Dogs' mouths are supposed to be pretty clean, but cats' mouths most definitely are not. Both vets stated that a cat can do a lot of damage to a wound or incision. Lydia, that article presents compelling evidence for using honey on a bandaged wound. I'd heard that about honey, but never stated in a scientific manner. When I got to the part about the animal research, though, I could only read so far. They inflicted burns on those animals to observe the effect of honey. I know, I know . . . science. But I would consider the honey option on Mickey if I weren't soaking his leg, or if a bandage becomes necessary. Thanks! I have Neosporin, but it's the ointment. I'm thinking I might take Mickey over to his old rooms in the barn and watch him there for a while. The rooms have been vastly improved since he left--I hope he recognizes them! My son put in new floors and painted all the walls and cabinets. Plus he closed up any holes where a rodent might have gotten in. The place has always been heated, but it seems cozier now, probably because of the holes being filled.

I had the good fortune to be present when he brought his one-man show-lecture to Long Island. He spent several hours talking about his life and career.He had a hard life, working from the age of 2, in Vaudeville, then movies, his career had highs (all those 30's Judy Garland musicals) and lows (Breakfast at Tiffany's), he was a musical genius, played many instruments and sang. Of course his many marriages, including his last happy one. RIP.

suzanne_sl: I love sailing in uncharted waters. I've been in this industry for over 30 years and had never seen a cracked "stainless steel" sink. My guess is the Chinese put some melamine instead of nickel in their "304" stainless. The customer and her husband are first time homebuyers; this improperly installed sink came with the house. She had a chatty 4-year-old and we had a great time discussing Mickey Mouse before nap time and before the infant woke up. They are lucky. Their sink failed and was replaced. Their sink was leaking at the flange and a leaking sink is much more dangerous financially than a dropped one when the reinforcement rod explodes from rust.