Today, while walking in the neighborhood of Hillcrest, along University Avenue, not far from Eli’s, I came upon a tabby wearing a GPS collar. He moved with assurance, not bothered by my following and unsuccessfully taking a good photo (I got plenty of his back). As he moseyed into a parking lot, someone called “Oliver” to him and said “That’s my cat” to me.
His owner had one of those meshy cat carriers that are often worn on the back. She is former military, from Portland, Ore., and lives here—having once been stationed in San Diego. The thirty-nine-year old was refreshingly friendly, particularly considering current American society’s stereotypes of animosity and division: Woman of color and aging white male are supposed to be enemies of gender and race.
But our banter is another proof that most of the hyperbole spewed by news media wonks and social media agitators is a crock of lies and misinformation. I can’t say what she thought of me, but I found her to be enchanting and engaging. In our culture of fear, people like her are treasures.
The conversation skipped along topics, like a flattened stone over the still surface of a fresh water lake. She believes younger folks are pressured to buy residences, or at least rent, when living at home is more sensible. Her reason is the point that matters: Maintaining the integrity of extended family and creating generational wealth. Absolutely.
That topic tied into the unaffordable housing problem, and tricks used to make “market rate” measures to drive up prices (for sale or rental). She has good insight. The skipping continued: News media bias. Social media-instigated narcissism. How the rich create generational wealth for their kids while telling you to do something different.
We traded book titles regarding the narcissistic disaster that is the modern Internet, and she offered to lend me her recommendation. To a stranger? That’s character. But being so caught up in our daughter’s health crisis, I politely passed. An ebook would be easier, for now.
I could go on, and into greater detail, but this post is supposed to be about Oliver—the second one in the series since its start in October 2016. Following editorial convention, so that two kitties with the same name don’t cause confusion, “too” is added.
Near the start of our conversation, she praised the tracker Oliver wears—and she said something about selling cat paraphernalia; we moved on so far afield, I forgot to ask her for more information.
Out of the 536 profiles (including this one), only 23 are of cats that live, or were seen, beyond the neighborhood’s boundaries. Oliver makes twenty-four, ah, Honorarians. The others: Boo, Buddies, Chill, Coal, Comber, Cotton, Envy, Fancy, Floofy, Guapo, Lonesome, Jade, Mona, Moophie, Ninja, Promise, Queenie, Raven, Sammy, Shakey, Timber, Tom and Jerry, and Tula.
Let’s discuss the Featured Image and three companions, all captured using Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Oliver’s owner shook the snack bag, which caused him to look up for what was the last shot of a dozen. Vitals: f/2.4, ISO 50, 1/210 sec, 70mm (film equivalent); 10:19 a.m. PDT. The second is same but 1/160 sec.
For reasons perhaps you could explain to me, approaches are among the most popular style that I take. So someone is going to love the third shot. Vitals are same as the others but 1/750 sec, three minutes earlier. In the final photo, Oliver contemplates his treats. Vitals: f/1.7, ISO 20, 1/180 sec, 23mm (film equivalent); 10 a.m.
Pat another: Scruffy, Roly Poly, Woo, Skull, Biscuit, The Colonel, White, Chipper, Frisky, Stretch, Honey Bunny, Farfisa, Mates, Hunter, Pee-Pee, Blue, Blue Too, Bonded Pair, Patience, Fess, Jumper, Frenemy, Looker, Cozy, Scout, Lurks, Skit, Mini, Betty, Black and White, Stalker, Bell, Chill, Sammy, Scratch, Poser, Star, Grey and White, Watcher, Herman, Comet, Roman, Willow, Chub, Nimbus, Watson, Lilo, Kit, Pepe, Henry, Sebastian, Spot, Booger, Ash, Veruca, Riley, Mellow, Bonde, Cocoa, Glass, Black, BeBe, Fang, Bruce, Siamese, Pounce, Tortie, Haiku, Fraidy, Peso, Daniel Tiger, Dusk, Stride, Dainty, Spry, Tabby, Betty Too, Still, Levi, Shadow, Sophie, Wink, Ferals, Momma, Charlie, Tux, Cool, Benny, Bandit, Itchy Valentino, Goldie, Anthony, Amanda, Siesta, ChaCho, Charlie, Too, Mika, Crystal, Seeker, Mittens, Dancer, Smokey, Monkey, Captain Blackbeard, Johnny, Maeven, Tink, Chunk, Curious, Hanoi, Bella, Tarry, Guido, Maxine, Mr. Kitty, Peohe, Panda, Frankie, Moose, Twain, Willow, Too, Nelson, Reddy, Burglar, Laramie, Lupe, Bright, Norman, Charm, Buddies, Milo, Ohana, Seer, Fresh, Token, Lola, Carl, Bramble, Finny, Cal, Lilly, Zander, Mew, Penny, Charlie (the Third), Bob, Apple, Persepolis, Sebastian, Too, Holiday, Snow, Desire, Luci, Torbie, E.T., Bushy, Cali, Precious, Gracie, STAR, Sky, Amble, Aylin, Lucky, Herbie, The Love Bug, Roadie, Harley, Kit (Coon), Dizzy, Moophie, Lucy, Choontzy, Abby, Kitty, Stella, Tigger, Mimi, Sweet Pea, Donuts, Envy, Vivienne, Stripe, Smokie, Dare, Gipper, Little, Bushy Black, Princess Leia, Darth Mew, Phil, Maui, Patch, Royal, Sleepy, Spice, Dutch, Striker, Maxie, Fluff, Gazers, Georgia Twain, Friends, Cupcake, Caddy, Ginger, Shrub, Brumble, Junebug, Patriot, Backyard, Prim, Tuna, LilyTiger, Nala, Poise, Amazon, Night, Olive, Honey, Shine, Sugar, Clarity, Alfredo, SID, Bashful, maow maow, Sentinel, Grape, Usher, Serenity, Teach, Tocino, Stark, Huey, Tranquil, Storm, Mitsie, Monarch, Ruff, Shadow, Too, Calm, Brick, Shy, Mewl, Valentine, Siamese Twins, Tony, Mao, Starlet, Sly, Alley, Luna, Sphynx, Jake, Rocky, Peanut, Giotto, Swirl, Rosie, Smudge, Bliss, Charlie IV, Risky, Pinky, Patches, Ninja, Cat, Olive Oil, Toasty, Mandy, Ludwig, John Adams, Hawk, King, Fuki, Pace, Astral, Zeppelin Pom Pom, Forrester, Glow, Cricket, Lively, Gucci, Misty, Topper, Jester, Sable, Dragon, Leo, Sentry, Zephyr, Steppy, Jedi, Pedro, Namaste, Kitty (Oh, Boy), Chums, Spunky, Zero, Hero, Meadow, Dash, Savvy, Squint, Poinsettia, Sparkle, Gem, Kip, Ranger, Maceo, Sparky, Glory, Petri, Autumn, Buttercup, Huck, Ash, Too, Spy, Keen, Danger, Promise, Chum, Jolly, Shade, Shelter, Digger, Mercy, Mustachio, Tang, Pebbles, Sprint, Blossom, Birdy, Dusky, Bella, Too, Lily, Velvet, Scamper, Sylvester, Friday, Candor, Hope Tangerine, Rebel, Alvin and LB, Snowy, Cocoa, Too, Chancy, Frosty, Speckle, Whiskers, Spur, Charger, Houdini, Mona, Pepto, Sundown, Spirit, Prowler, Sadie, Puss, Domino, Sundae, Measure, Lovely, Angelo, Tails, Peek-a-Boo, Bubbles, Demure, Stern, Cobby, Grasshopper, Gleam, Weepy, Blueberry, Buff, Champagne, Pepper, Clover, Peach, Bello, Dido and Dodger, Paws, Goose, Olive, Too, Breezy, Alcatraz, Aisho, Curly, Mane, Gallant, Amanda Too, BonBon, Spooky, Leery, Mr. Frankie, Schroeder, Annie, Majestic, Tango, Suave, Smooth, Joy, Jasmine, Bear, Wary, Plush, Harvey, Carrot, Sweetie, Romper, Noir, Posy, Honcho, Loki, Samba, Gracious, Proudfoot, Silver, Snuggles, Rick, Spalding, Mocha, Bold, Grit, Cookie, Delilah, Ozzie, Droopy, Cutie, Jax, A.C., Gypsy, Winter, Petey, Spartacus, Damsel, Jack, Pixie, Parker, Squeaky, Meowy, Springer, Scooch, Tinsel, Queenie, Cinnamon, Gazer, Happy, Smokey (Maine Coon), Kittens, Pudding, Mizu, Muncher, Cuddles, Saunter, Tucker, Dragon Claws, Solemn, Champ, Posey, Little Spunky, Mittens, Too, Bleu, Noire, Chicken, Regal, Creamy, Wilbur, Leo, Too, Rosie, Too, Kuro, Oreo, Scooter, Dagger Tooth, Coy, Conrad, Sheen, Tom and Jerry, Apricot, Sharky, Dreamer, Jade, Frost, Coal, Fabby, Juicy, Arrow, Chocolate Pan, Guapo, Defender, Doodle, Blackie, Solo, Jabba, Twinkle, Sneaky, Meegels, Forest, Lanky, August, Retro, Homey, Nugget, Tracker, Quizzical, Butterscotch, Oliver, Shakey, Lonesome, Boo, Mariner, Nutmeg, Jet, Fancy, Thin and Slim, Scamp, Tula, Sphynxes, Comber, Destiny, Pawky, Baron, Raven, Peeky, Aristocat, Scorpius, Timber, Sunny, Cotton, Bristle, and Floofy.