• About
  • Mortgage Basics
  • $40K Challenge
  • Aunt Doris
  • Grandfather Says
  • Privacy
  • Archives

Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

Grandfather Says: The Difference Between Cats and Dogs

By RD Blakeslee

Grandfather has always lived with dogs, but now that he’s married to a cat lady, it’s:

Boris, and …

Yeltsin

Grandfather admits he loves dogs, but he also admits cats are easier, at his age.

And they do things differently than dogs.

For example, cats catch spiders and mice when they come in the house as the weather turns cold in the fall.

Like Grandfather, the cats can’t stand spiders and dispatch them forthwith. Mice are a different matter. Animated toys that cost plumb zero.

The cats play endless catch and release and, when the mouse is in the possession of one or the other, it’s a game of keep-away.

If the mouse eventually succumbs (by no means a sure thing), the wife and I ponder whether to leave its carcass in the trash until next Thursday’s trash pickup, or whether I must lay it to rest in the woods before then.

Lots of things lie well in the woods, up here in the mountains.

***

About the Author: RD Blakeslee is an octogenarian from West Virginia who built his net worth by only investing in that which can be enjoyed during acquisition and throughout life, as opposed to papers in a drawer, like stocks and bonds. You can read more about him here.

Photos: Courtesy of the Blakeslee Family

11 Comments March 7, 2019

Comments

  1. 1

    Steveark says

    While dogs seem genuinely affectionate I have always felt my cat’s biggest frustration in life is that she isn’t big enough to eat me or the dog.

    Reply
    • 2

      RD Blakeslee says

      LOL!

      It’s not quite that bad around here – The cats like Grandfather, says his wife, who has a sixth (and seventh and eighth etc.) sense about such things.
      .
      … And, seven months ago we bought a Maltese puppy. He is a great little guy – keeps Grandfather laughing at him all the time.

      Grandfather will write more about him later.

      Reply
  2. 3

    Sue says

    I prefer dogs. They’re easier to train … but cats have their place in life too.

    Reply
    • 4

      RD Blakeslee says

      I agree – dogs are generally easier to train. Remember the funny Budweiser ad a few years ago, when cowboys on horses were trying to herd cats?

      But the Maltese are notoriously difficult to potty train – more about that, later…

      Reply
  3. 5

    RD Blakeslee says

    Grandfather talks about blessings, from time to time.

    Well, the cats are a blessing to Tatjana – my wife – I can see it in her eyes.

    And the puppy is one of mine.

    Times are bitter and hateful in the world right now, aren’t they? It’s a “time of troubles”, but our blessings remain.

    When I was a young child, we used to sing a song in Sunday school: “Count your Blessings, Name them One by One …”

    Are there still Sunday Schools and do they sing that song anymore?

    Reply
  4. 6

    Gee says

    I always make my hubby take dead toys to the woods, Grandfather. It just seems the right thing to do. : )

    Speaking of blessings, I am embroidering a sampler of mine, in a tree of life pattern. Among the many things included (I have been greatly blessed!), there are ten cats across the top – and four dogs across the bottom. That doesn’t include the occasional hamster, guinnea pig, ferret or tank of fish around when the kids were little.

    I agree cats are easier at this stage of the game. We have three who keep my lap and toes warm, and that’s a real blessing.

    Reply
    • 7

      RD Blakeslee says

      You are indeed a kindred spirit, Gee!

      Tatjana is, also. She does oil paintings of our pets.

      I think I may turn some folks off when I talk about blessings, though …

      Reply
      • 8

        Gee says

        That happens to me, too. I guess some folks like blessings … and some folks don’t. : )

        Reply
        • 9

          RD Blakeslee says

          I guess so, Gee.

        • 10

          Carolyn Blakeslee says

          I love talking about blessings! At the previous church where I played, “Count Your Blessings” was a fixture — we sang it every Sunday for months. Two or three of the guys, including the pastor, used to compete to see who could hold the note the longest on “Count your blessings, name them one by OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONE.” They were funny.

  5. 11

    RD Blakeslee says

    Breath holding competition sounds like something for somebody younger than me. My greatest blessing is that I can still breathe …

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

The Question of the Week:

Do you think the US will eventually return to some form of gold standard?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Recent Posts

  • Merger & Acquisition Strategy: The Importance of Staying United
  • A Guide on the Implications of Slip-and-Fall Accidents
  • How to Save For an Emergency Fund
  • 12 Ways to Save Money on Your Sushi Order
  • 5 Tips to Help You Start Investing Online
  • Personal Finance For Dummies: It’s as Easy as A-B-C
  • Black Coffee: Red Ink and Green Confetti
  • Money Issues Ruining Your Relationship? Here Are 5 Ways To Fix Them
  • Filling Out the 1040 Form: Key Points to Know
  • How to Use Line Shopping as a Financial Tool When Betting on Sports

Disclaimer

This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and the content herein should not be mistaken for professional financial advice. In fact, making investment decisions based on information published here, or any other website for that matter, is more than unwise; it is folly. This website accepts advertising in the form of monetary and other compensation; as such, topics of discussion are occasionally influenced by these advertisers. Sometimes, an article may also include affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, this blog earns a commission if you click through and make a purchase (for example, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases). Remember, you and you alone are responsible for the decisions you make in life, so please contact an independent financial professional for advice regarding your unique personal situation.

Sign up for the weekly Len Penzo dot Com newsletter
Len Penzo dot Com Delivered Weekly
Join more than 30,000 readers and fans who enjoy personal finance and macroeconomics with an offbeat twist!
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing!

Popular Now:

  1. 1. The 7 Most Popular Ways to Commit Financial Suicide
  2. 2. 25 Examples of Shrinkflation That No Longer Fool Consumers
  3. 3. The 10 Worst Things I Ever Bought
  4. 4. 7 Perplexing Money Questions Without a Good Answer
  5. 5. My Cola Taste Test: Is Coke Really Better Than Pepsi?
  6. 6. Planning a Wedding? Here Are 9 Ways to Ensure You’ll Pay Too Much
  7. 7. Economic Collapse 101: How to Prepare for Water Supply Disruptions
  8. 8. A Simple Test to Know If It’s Better to Rent or Buy a Home
  9. 9. The Big Secret the Banking Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know
  10. 10. 4 Good Reasons Why Some Quarters Are Painted Red

All-Time Most Popular:

  1. 1. 19 Things Your Suburban Millionaire Neighbor Won’t Tell You
  2. 2. Dear Friend: Here Are 41 Reasons Why I’m NOT Lending You the Money
  3. 3. Why Your Expensive Luxury Car Doesn’t Impress Smart People
  4. 4. If You Can’t Live on $40,000 Annually It’s Your Own Fault
  5. 5. 21 Reasons Why Corner Lots Are for Suckers
  6. 6. 4 Smart Reasons Why College Isn’t for Everyone
  7. 7. 18 Fast Facts About Social Security Numbers
  8. 8. My Ketchup Taste Test: Upset! Guess Which Brand Topped Heinz
  9. 9. Why I Prefer a Spreadsheet to Track Expenses and Manage My Finances
  10. 10. Here’s a Simple Trick for Getting Credit Card Interest Charges Waived

Copyright © 2021 Len Penzo dot Com · All Rights Reserved · Designed by Nuts and Bolts Media

© Len Penzo dot Com 2008–2021