Letters to the Editor
molly picon
Published Letters: 72 Editor's Choice: 3
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this letter...
[Read the article: My girlfriend's stepfather is a real a-hole ... and a dying man]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I don't post to the letters section very often. But something about this letter made me- on the scale of LWs, this guy's perception of things is so off as to make one stand up and cry, WHAT THE HELL?
I'm picturing this poor guy. Old, but not too old. Living in a house with his wife and his stepdaughter, to whom he has some attachment, maybe love. He's in pain, he's sad. He may have all sorts of character flaws, but they aren't the subject here. He's mortal. The nicest of people would be mute and depressed under these circumstances. He's taking drugs, just trying to stay alive. And- and-
Just who the hell is that guy? Jenny brought him over last week, didn't she? What happened to the other one, the guy she was going to take her to Florida? I thought she was getting things in order for herself. What happened? Who is this kid in my living room? Seems flaky, a little desperate. Is Jenny going to stay here and watch "Law and Order" with me or not?
As if it matters. Crap.
(Grow up, kid. It's about time!)
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your cat
[Read the article: I hate my cat!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I would like to split the difference between Cary's searching, moralistic advice and my own sentimental pragmatism. Other posters recommended letting the cat outside or neutering him. You've already tried the first and I'm assuming you've done the latter. By all means, call a cat behavior specialist and get expert advice. You owe yourself, and your cat, that much. But my impression was that you were already at the end of your rope, had exhausted all the usual options, and could not live with the cat anymore. I don't think you're just reaching your crisis point, as Cary observed- that has been going on for a few years already. You need to find out if there is a way to save this cat, i.e. socialize him so you can all be happy. If there isn't, and you are not happy, there are so many cats who need homes who were not abandoned immediately after birth and thus never socialized. I have a few of my own dog and cat rescue stories involving elderly cats in pounds and mange infested kittens and foster cats I've kept, and they've all been wonderful and sweet and unique and made my home a happy place. Cats can be wonderful, and I do think that my sleepy black ball of fur is a happier creature than one who lets no one near her. I've seen my own cats go from crabby and irritable to peaceful and happy and loving, but I don't know how you would lead a cat away from really aggressive behavior. If you love your cat too much to consider that option, then keep on trying. But if your cat's psychotic tendencies have inhibited bonding, you might need to take the responsibility of making an ugly decision.
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more advice
[Read the article: I hate my cat!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I just thought of a piece of advice- have you tried exercising your cat with a cat dancer or laser toy?
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the other day...
[Read the article: Why is "Sgt. Pepper" so overhyped?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I was listening to this album, just 'coz I felt like it, and somewhere during the course of "With a Little Help from my Friends" I started to cry. I know that can happen randomly, in the face of rather ordinary or even saccharine artistic productions, but I always feel a certain license to do this when I listen to the Beatles.
No other music has that effect on me. I have always bought into the mythology of these short-lived angels who disbanded a few months before I was born, but apart from some part of my teenage years into my mid-twenties, I've never felt embarrassed by that. I don't even buy into the "why is Sgt. Pepper so overhyped" trope I was reading in rock criticism sometime in the 80s.
There is a strong temptation to dismiss things that are too perfect, as if the messier masterpieces like "The White Album" were the underdog. Fine. But this is just plain silly.
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I second Heathrow...
[Read the article: Ask the pilot]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]...as not so horribly bad. It's so large and confusing I can barely piece its bits together in my mind, but the international arrivals terminal is cheerful and has some good cafes, and the Tube leaves you right there. There's no need to take an expensive cab into town. I can't comment on the experience if London is not your destination.
What else? Domodedovo (the other Moscow airport) offers a nice view of the runway and cleaner facilities than Sheremetovo (sorry, can't spell Cyrillic names). Coffee is ten bucks if that's your bag.
Large airports are hard to like. Whenever I get stuck in one of those Dallas- Houston- Atlanta places (I never remember which is which) I feel so depressed, so dispirited. But smaller airports can be really pleasant. The airports in El Paso and West Palm Beach are lovely and full of regional flavor. I don't recommend flying from one to the other, however, as it involves one of those other aforementioned places.
No one has mentioned Benito Juarez in Mexico City. It is effective in foreshadowing one's experience of Mexico- my god, the crowds! Also very accessible to the city. Great energy, fairly clean facilities.