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I'm thinking of getting a cat to keep down here at the shop. I've always wanted one but my wife is NOT fond of cats, but somewhat receptive to the idea now that my shop is not at the house. Can you shop cat owners clue me in to the disadvantages before I take the plunge?
Are there mega problems with cat hair in the paint? Objectionable to customers? Too dangerous an environment for cats?
Thanks for your thoughts.
------------------ Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 ICQ: 21604027 sherwood@up.net
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Road kill on a busy street should be a major concern. Our cat is 16 years old, ready for that kind of commitment? They are creatures of independance and will spend their time where they please (walking across newly painted 4'x8' panels can make for interesting textures)They are however (for the most part) not stupid and will seldom do dumb things twice ...however dumb to a cat is not the same as dumb to a person.Good luck!
------------------ Monte Jumper SIGNLanguage/Norman.Okla.
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I have three cats, love my cats......but it might be a bad enviroment for cats in a shop.....a friend of mine accidently dropped a big roll of vinyl on a tiny puppy this week..(OUCH!) it was an accident, puppy wasn't in the way, but it was unfortunate. If I had a 'shop' I prob wouldn't have a shop pet there. I have my shop at home where my cats let me share thier space. Too bad your wife doesn't love cats too. maybe she never had a loving one like we have. Ask Mike Languien..he says i have wonderful cats Adrienne
------------------ Adrienne Morgan Splash Signs www.splashsigns.com "Rainkatt'
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We've had a 'Shop Puss' here for several years and yes, the hair is a problem at times but I can put up with that better than I can the mouse poop. Our shop is quite large and the cat has plenty of areas to go when the sawdust and paint fumes get thick. Seldom do we get hair (other than mine) in the fresh paint but if the vinyl touches the carpet when it comes off the roll the static attracts cat hair like a magnet but as long as it doesn't get under the application I don't care. If you are in need of a cat I've got some rare six-toed critters I need to part with, Spring is coming soon and they are breeding right now so the twelve I have at home will be 25 or more in a couple months. HELP!
------------------ Larry
Elliott Design McLemoresville, Tn.
If you can't find the time to do it right, where gonna find the time to do it over?
Posts: 486 | From: McLemoresville, TN. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Whatever you get, get it young and use a spray bottle (of water) to train it not to get on your stuff. (Don't throw the bottle too hard or it might break and empty itself all over your paperwork...hahaha!)
Actually, don't throw the bottle at all...I just had an "Alf" moment. It will be so rewarding to have a buddy in the shop. Especially if he does not drink all your coffee and you don't have to put him on your payroll.
It may be hard to adjust to cleaning your mouse pad everytime you want to use the puter. And I hope, when you sit down to look at your monitor, you don't mind a cat butt in your face. I did however get a blast out of playing with my cats while I waited on something to download on the puter. But then, they expect this everytime you sit there again. Keep in mind where you will be able to play and not play in the shop. Leting them dip their paw in your mineral spirits and then flick it all over your freshly painted sign can be exsasperating...so keep them off your rolling table, unless like me, you have shelves they can ride around in underneath the active surface.
(I prefer to have a dog in my shop, to keep the cats outta my paint hahaha!)
I would suggest getting a female, as males are prone to mark their territory. I would also suggest getting the female fixed so other males don't come and mark your territory.
Don't hang a light over your freshly painted sign or the skeeters and moths will fascinate the cats to the point they just have to try to catch it. Once they get paint on their feet, they will go to a higher surface, usually your desk, and walk around and knock things over till it comes back off. You could make a fire red cat print your new logo and have this work for you...hehehe!
Good luck, and don't let this info scare you but make you more aware of what to pay attention to besides, "Oh look...she's purring, isn't she cute?"
4 cats and 2 dogs later...
------------------ Linda Silver Eagle Silver Eagle Graphix Studio Georgia, USA
ICQ# 60434646
Signwriters never die...they've always got 1-Shot left!
[This message has been edited by Linda Silver Eagle (edited February 15, 2001).]
The joys of watching them try to shake the scrap vinyl ball off their paws will have you laughing everytime you walk in the shop...hehehe!
And I almost forgot, anything you don't want them to swat under the heaviest equipment in your shop, put in a drawer or something when you're not using it! The possibilty of this happening is proportionate to how important that item might be or how often you need to use it. No, really.
[This message has been edited by Linda Silver Eagle (edited February 15, 2001).]
[This message has been edited by Linda Silver Eagle (edited February 15, 2001).]
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I have two cats in my shop. One is very independent and I don't see him much. The other is a hell raiser. He is loveable and lots of fun to have around, but a pain in the ass when I'm trying to work.
Laying vinyl is a task. When I'm just about ready to place the vinyl, roscoe will jump up and stick his furry but in face and get himself wrapped in vinyl/transefer tape. This happens at least once every two days.
Several times when coating out a board, I will be just finishing and he will jump up on the table and run through my paint and them continue on through out the house and shop.......drives me crazy.
Cat hair is a problem, but then so is my own long hair.... I think probably one out of every 10 signs has some small piece of hair stuck in it somewhere! lol
It's great to make tape balls and play with him. This cat will actually fetch and bring the ball back and drop in on my feet. He is too cute to get rid of!
------------------ Brenda Beaupit Classic Graphics Kemptville, Ont CANADA
Posts: 346 | From: Stittsville, ON | Registered: Dec 1998
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We still have one, sorta. He tipped a can of Pelucid on himself! He didn't survive it, but before it hardened, we "posed" him. Now we have the purrfect shop kitty, right on the counter!
(if my wife reads this I'm dead)
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
Make sure you don't have any vinyl stuck on ya when she finds you...I hear that the fumes are deadly when it burns, oops, hahaha, you won't have to worry about that will ya?
------------------ Linda Silver Eagle Silver Eagle Graphix Studio Georgia, USA
ICQ# 60434646
Signwriters never die...they've always got 1-Shot left!
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Ok, Linda....here's the truth. We have two Cornish rexs, one Ragdoll and one Exotic Shorthair. We love 'em all, and I especially like the Rex kittys. Most unusual cat I've ever seen.
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
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Aren't they though? I think the type of cat is important. I have had a couple of black longhaired kitties. They're my favorite. When you go to bed, they like to jump on the edge of the bed and stare you down till you pet them. Of course when you pet them, they feel it is necessary to rol over on their back and get into the moment. It never fails, they fall right off the bed!
Orange tabbies are rambunctious.
------------------ Linda Silver Eagle Silver Eagle Graphix Studio Georgia, USA
ICQ# 60434646
Signwriters never die...they've always got 1-Shot left!
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Not knowing how familiar you might be with the Rex, they're delicate, small boned cats with HUGE ears. Their fur is short and slightly rippled. They feel like the softest rabbit fur and do not shed. They're a hypo-allegenic cat. Wish I knew how to post a picture.
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
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nice of you to educate the masses, Pierre, merci...my mother is a bonefied, magazine gettin, cat lady. I have coffee table books out the wazzoo on kitties...any bloody size one could make-up...hahaha! I've never touched one before and was curious about what they felt like. That was nice to imagine. Thank you again!
------------------ Linda Silver Eagle Silver Eagle Graphix Studio Georgia, USA
ICQ# 60434646
Signwriters never die...they've always got 1-Shot left!
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Hey, Drennie!! We're stuck in LostPrairie today. A colossal blizzard hit us and we're taking turns running the snowplow to the county road. I have pics and the scanner in town. I'll be at the studio in the morning and I'll scan and email a couple. Thanks!
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
posted
I tried to post a pic of my Fuzzy Bunny (cat) and it wouldn't work...Darn!
I'd love to have a shop cat, but at this point, I don't think the Bull Dog would have it! We actually boarded a cat (Gomez) here at the shop for awhile, but he still had his balls and was very ornery. The dog didn't mess with him, since he was a puppy and knew better than to go there! Gomez was very independant and didn't mess with us either.
I'd go for it Dave! Cher.
Adrainne, your kitty is a cutie!
------------------ Cheryl Lucas a/k/a "Shag" on MIRC Vital Signs & Graphics, Etc. Cape Coral, Florida VSignsNgraphics@aol.com
[This message has been edited by Cheryl Lucas (edited February 15, 2001).]
[This message has been edited by Cheryl Lucas (edited February 15, 2001).]
Posts: 987 | From: Cape Coral, FL USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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This was a great post, best I've seen yet, I have a great cat at home, but he has never seen the light of day so far, and now that I have a "real shop" I've often considered having a shop pet, which I love cats, but I feel a cat in a sign shop that is vacant at least 12 hours, with all the paint and chemicals won't work, and a dog, well, I can't imagine leaving him there 24/7, sounds like a junkyard dog to me, and for me to add a dog to my house after having a cat here, for 8 yrs, all by himself, and adding a dog would be a little much for the boy, But I would love to have a pet in shop, problem is, I'd hate to see a cat get out and get run over, tough call, But if you live in the right neck of the woods, put up with a little extra hair, plus customers love to pet a friendly animal
------------------ Ron Blake Rapid Signs Pittsfield, MA Spiccoli44@aol.com
Posts: 25 | From: Pittsfield, MA | Registered: Feb 2000
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I've enjoyed this post as well! Adrienne, that's a cutie you've got there, and smart enough not to do that stretch gig too close to the edge...I'm impressed hahahaha!
------------------ Linda Silver Eagle Silver Eagle Graphix Studio Georgia, USA
ICQ# 60434646
Signwriters never die...they've always got 1-Shot left!
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Hahahaha.....CATS....they are the most entertaining animals. We have 1 shop cat....which has now become a house cat. When I was at my shop on the waterfront...I had 2 cats. "One Shot" is the one that is still around. He aquired his name by jumping up on a freshly painted 4x8. He took about 3 steps and stopped. He only did it once.. When he was young I installed an overhead fan in the shop. When I came in the next day, he was nowhere to be found. I finally found him hiding in the bathroom closet...shaking uncontrollably...I couldn't get him out. I didn't figure it out for 4-5 days. My daughter came in and said..." Man...can't you hear that squeek in the fan?" It was a terrible high-pitched sound that was like fingernails on a blackboard. Poor cat...he was a basket case! Never really got over it. The other one was a grey long haired cat. Beautiful face...the ones that everyone loves. His name was "Zig-Zag" (now...I wonder how he aquired that name?) There was an antique mall next door to the shop downtown. He would go there during the day. They put up a box on the counter for him to sleep in. The cat lover customers would pick him up and carry him around the store while they shopped...then deposit him back in the box to wait for the next person. He LOVED it. When he was a small kitty he would spend the day wrapped around my shoulders...also when I would wear a hooded sweatshirt...he would curl up in the hood and sleep. He was a great pal. He was run over by a tourist in a cadillac...the guy never noticed. The ladies from the antique mall watched it happen...there was a LOT of tears over that cat... Anyway....They are a lot of company around the shop...I would highly recommend it. Get a young cat...and let him name himself...he will choose a very cool name...Hahaha
------------------ Jackson Smart Jackson's Signs Port Angeles, WA ...."The Straits of Juan De Fuca in my front yard and Olympic National Park in my backyard...
"Living on Earth is expensive...but it does include a free trip around the Sun"
Posts: 1001 | From: Port Angeles, Washington | Registered: Jan 1999
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I have two cats in the shop/home. The one sleeps all day and doesn't bother me unless there isn't any food. Now Corbi is a different story. She demands attention any way she can get it. Running through black paint and heading for the living room was one fun evening of cleaning a kitty (and everything she ran across. She finds it quite entertaining to bring live mice in from outside and turn them loose so I can chase them. (something wrong with this picture). She runs to every customer that walks in the door and demands their attention. Once she jumped in the window of a customer's cadillac and he found her in the back seat as he was leaving. Thank goodness he was a cat lover. Usually, if I empty a foam roller box out and let her have it to sleep in, she is quiet the whole day.
There are pros and cons. They do catch mice, and are very entertaining......but one big problem is, both cats feel the need to walk across the roof and hood of every vehicle that comes in the shop to be lettered. I haven't been able to break them of that. A squirt gun filled with water doesn't bother them anymore.
I worry about the cat hater type customer finding a paw print were it doesn't belong, but I am prepared to say I need the cat for the mouse population problem, sorry about the footprint.
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Hey, I had my dog here for 8 yrs! There is a kitty next door. My dog died of cancer, Think it was the fumes? I think a shop pet is great and cats can be left alone longer than dogs. (mine came home with me)I would however be concerned if you paint alot. The hair did get in a few panels and such, but oh well. On another note my customers LOVED him, they would stop in to see him not me! on the downside, 9 months after his passing I still get far too often "where's the dog?" It can be upsetting expecially in the middle of my day. It also took 3 weeks for me to come back to work so on the idea that it is such a huge commitment, it does become part of your life and work habits. Let us know what you decide Raychel Lexington Signs
------------------
Posts: 13 | From: Arlington, Ma USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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Cats walkingon cars........HMMMMMMMM. I "discovered" something last summer. My tomcat (at home) wouldn't stay off my truck. It was like he was magnetized to it: leaving footprints all over it, scratching the backside of the cab where he would jump or climb up on it from the bed, spraying his vile scent all over it. Then I noticed my sister's female (at the shop and 19 miles away) seemed to be drawn to my truck as well. It was as if she was obsessed. Then I noticed her one day backing up to the front tire and scenting it like the males do. These dumb felines were using my truck as a calling card ...or whatever. Aggravatin' varmints.
I could relate some observations about canines too......predatory critters are gross man!
------------------ Wayne Webb Webb Sign Studio creators of "woodesigns" "autograph your work with excellence" webbsignstudio@digitalexp.com
[This message has been edited by Wayne Webb (edited February 16, 2001).]
Posts: 7405 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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When we got our shop in 96 there were 18 cats in the barn outback. The landlord would give them food but that was about it. When customers started coming into the shop thes guys were fasinated..I looked out the door one day and here's almost all these cats climbing over a new Mercedes 600 convertable. Well in time some started coming inside some stayed away others were killed on the road, we had foxes two years running and they like nothing better than fresh cat. We also had two at home till the old guy died. Well the wife and I said no more animals at home the cat died, the dog died and we had one old cat left. That was a year ago..we now have one cat as a permanent resident of the shop and he doesn't bother too much, two more are daytime residents only and two more are still out and mostly wild. Meanwhile the population has grown to 8 at home. The foxes would take the mother and partial litter and leave us with 3 week old kittins and no mother, so they started going home with us and now we can't part with any of them... Calico's, orange tabby's, long haired black, black and tan tabby's, long haired white we have it almost all covered.
Dave
------------------ Ace of Signs Selinsgrove, Pa. www.aceofsigns.com
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Since our shop is in the house, we have four shop cats, one dog, two rabbits, and as Samantha puts it "gallons of fish."
All the cats like to help when you're working at the computer, but Gwen, our Maine Coon, has to help with everything. She's never far away when you are working.
Valerie
------------------ Valerie Connot DOA Flatliners North Wales, PA
Posts: 138 | From: North Wales, PA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Awww, I LOVE Maine Coons..my Towsee was part Maine Coon, he's been gone just a little over a year and a half...I still miss him terribly ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Now, for Pierre's Rex cats........
------------------ Adrienne Morgan Splash Signs www.splashsigns.com "Rainkatt'
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Actually the Maine Coon is DeWayne's baby. She's the only cat that we chose, the rest chose us.
Gwen, the Maine Coon, is the most curious. She has been known to turn off the computer by turning off the surge protector.(With helpers like this.....!) As soon as you get out ANY type of equipment she's right there supervising, and of course being a Maine Coon, she tells you all about it.
Two are black and white Domestic Shorthairs rescued from a campground. The orange and white was rescued from a dumpster at a couple of days old. His littermates didn't make it, but Gizmo had the fighting spirit. http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1126382&a=8273935
Hopefully I've added a link to a photo album of my helpful kitties. And of course particularly to Gwen the helper cat.
I think the Rex's are adorable, but Samantha (my 10 year old) doesn't. But I bet if she saw them in person she'd be loving them to pieces.
Valerie
------------------ Valerie Connot DOA Flatliners North Wales, PA
Posts: 138 | From: North Wales, PA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Actually the shot doesn't look much like she really does. Bad color, bad perspective and an uncharacteristic expression. If I didn't know it was her I wouldn't have recognized her. She looks a lot like her younger sister, just a different color.
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
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Hi, Brenda! They truly DO feel like rabbits. Strangest thing. A cat that doesn't shed. They also have exTREME personalities. Each as different as day and night.
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
I have to admit, I have a soft heart for animals. 2 dogs, 1 cat, 1 farret!
The Farret is full time in my work production area, the cat comes and visits, the dogs stay outside.
We clean up the cat and farret hair before we start a critical job, as well as dust ( Gerber Edge printing and hair and dust just don't mix.)
The farret gets locked up in her cage and the cat gets booted out into another room during sensitve work. Not a problem for them becasue they sleep a lot.
Here is a picture of the two critters! I can't imagine life without them. They are both great friends.
Enjoy!
------------------ Draper The Signmaker Bloomington Illinois USA Stop in and visit a while! 309-828-7110 signman@davesworld.net Raptorman or Draper_Dave on mIRC chat
[This message has been edited by Dave Draper (edited February 17, 2001).]
Posts: 2883 | From: Bloomington Illinois USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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They can be a nuisance with your work but if you love them you can live with it. do watch them around wet paint tho. They dont necessarily understand it. I had one plop down to lay on the lid of a gallon of paint once. Cleaning him was no fun for either of us.
Do get your cat neutered. They will be much better pets and wont bring unwanted babes into the world or go thru their (to us) obnoxious courting rituals.
The orange kitty is Twinkie (yellow and white and sweet all over) She loves everyone and zooms in for cuddling. The grey one is a blue grey tabby named Bubba. Hardly anyone knows he exists as he dissapears from sight of everyone but me. I love their obnoxious little selves!
[This message has been edited by Sarah (edited February 17, 2001).]
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When I was homebased, I had my cats in my work area. EVERY MORNING before starting work, I had to clean all my desk tops, work table and mousepad of cat hair. Let's not even talk about my vinyl holding shelves.
I adore my cats, however I detested the cat hair. I'm about to be homebased shortly again, which is a separate building from the house this time, and I vow NO CAT will enter the premesis. I adore my cat hair free environment where decals and paint are concerned.
Now if you could section off a certain area of your shop where it needs to stay critically clean, that would be another option I suppose. However if I had my cats in another room locked away, I'd want them on my lap.
At home, Teddy loves to jump on my monitor and just hang out while I'm online. Her paws are in the way of the screen, but it's so adorable I put up with it. But my mouse only works properly half the time due to the cat hair...
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Mine are in the house (they also go outside)and altho i used to also paint in a room on the house. I did most of the large panels outside. Mine werent too interested in this stuff and especially when i was doing more woodworking with loud machines. I can imagine the hair would gravitate to vinyl. There may be some varieties that dont shed much. Mine go in and out and I dont notice much hair except the mousepad problem but hey, Donna, what do you expect from a cat and anything called a mouse
posted
There's a funny scene from a very funny movie "Meet the Parents" between DeNiro and Ben Stiller about Stiller's dislike of cats: When Greg tries to explain that he is just "more of a dog-person," dad questions him: "You need that assurance do you? You prefer a shallow animal?" Whereupon he explains that cats' independence of spirit is to be preferred to the slavish worship of dogs. "Cats don't sell out like dogs do."
------------------ Wright Signs Wyandotte, Michigan Since 1978 http://www.wrightsigns.bigstep.com
Posts: 2786 | From: Wyandotte, MI USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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I can't let this topic (sign related, by the way) go by without mentioning "Shadow". About 8 years ago, when I had a little shop by the railroad tracks, this little black cat started coming around and sitting by the door and watching me work. He started coming inside to get a closer look but he would never touch wet paint, or any signs. Sometimes the floor would be almost covered with panels, letters, etc. and he would carefully walk between them, so I knew he wasn't an ordinary cat, he was a sign cat. He would eat out of the cat's dish at the plumbing shop next door. When I bought the house I work out of today I decided to bring him with me. He's still here today, keeping an eye on me.
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Thank you all for the huge response to my question. It has been very enjoyable reading all your posts. And I love all the pics. Trouble is, I haven't made up my mind. I know I would love the company, and I've always loved cats. Many of you had me convinced to go for it but there are a few posts that have made me wonder. I guess I'll just have to kick it around some more.
Maybe a bird. I could get a talking bird and teach him to say stuff like:
Check the kerning. Don't use helvetica.
And when there are customers in the shop: Pick the expensive one. Make a down payment.
hehehe
------------------ Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 ICQ: 21604027 sherwood@up.net
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Funny you mention birds. Long story short.....15 years ago, before her surgery, my wife had the largest indoor Psyttacine breeding facility in Montana. Macaws, Dwarf Macaws, 4 varieties of Cockatoos, African Parrotlets, African grey Congos, Timnehs, etc. etc. etc.....some 2,000 birds in all, give or take a load of spoon fed babys at any given time. On weekends we allowed guided tours of the aviaries, not the breeding flights, but all the rest. We had one single bird that was not a hookbill. A Mynah bird. He said two specific sentences very clearly. "Are you leaving soon? Are you taking your damned kids with you?" GREAT shop bird, eh?
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
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Last cat that came into the shop I was running went out fluorescent orange and minus some hair compliments of my apprentice. Guess she just wasnt a "cat person" David
------------------ D.A. & P.M. Fisher Signwriting Brisbane Australia da_pmf@yahoo.com
Posts: 1450 | From: Brisbane Queensland Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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