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News, notes and anecdotes about our life with the Akha hilltribe

Thank you for taking the time to view Journey Notes - our online journal. In this Journal you can read about Paul and Lori's experiences living in Northern Thailand as we work with the Akha Hilltribe.

Please also take a look at our prayer and praise reports and our personal blogs from the links on top of this page for more updates from us in this adventure. You can also visit our homepage at to view our bios, photo galleries, newsletters and a little information about the Akha hilltribe (more to come the more we learn - we're still new at all this).

Now... on to the posts!

Feral Cats and Fake Markers

Friday, July 6, 2007

I think the nesting bug has set in, as we have been frantically scraping, spraying, scrubbing and situating our home in Chiang Rai. Things that we were previously oblivious too are now glaring testimonies of how much life will have to change when we have a child. OK, so we're really not that panicked, but we are working hard on projects that should get done before the baby comes.

The only thing I'm currently concerned about is teaching our child to drive. I love Thailand and the people here, but I constantly switch between fearing them and fearing for them when driving.

An Evil Feral Cat nesting on our roof In this time in the city, while working in the house, we have been hearing strange noises coming from our "attic". The other day while climbing onto the flat roof above our porch to unclog our drains, I saw three adult cats and five kittens scrambling away - the adults over the roof and the kittens into it.

Suffice it to say we are unhappy with the idea of Feral Cats nesting in our roof, but there is not much you can do to get rid of them, I tried to shoo them off but was met with the response in the picture on the right. Out of ideas, I have asked Lori to get me a high-powered pellet gun. We'll let you know how that turns out.

Just because it looks like a Sharpie does not mean it writes like one Amidst the shopping for furniture, organizational supplies, and tools, we stumbled upon a hidden treasure. A five-pack of Sharpie Markers for only 25 baht (about US$0.80)!?! These are impossible to find here, and are wonderful for labeling CDs. However, after closer inspection (click on the image to view) we realized that it was not a pack of Sharpie Markers, but rather a pack of Skerple Markers. But hey, they should write the same, right?

Guess what? They don't. They bleed all over paper and I've yet to try them on a CD. Foiled again.

I think we should have about two more good weeks of work here in the city getting everything ready before Lori hits that "I'm too uncomfortable to do anything" point. That is plenty of time to finish the errands on her list, then it's down to finalizing my honey-dos (crib, rehang two doors, repair all the leaking sinks, child-proof the tool room, put the fear of God into those darn cats...)

Really this has been a great time, preparing for our little newcomer, spending time together and with Esther and doing many of those projects we have been "too busy" to do for the last 2 years.

Lastly, and this word is important, there is wonderful and exciting news hidden within this post. I'm not allowed to officially say anything yet, but with very little mental effort you should be able to figure it out!


Comments on "Feral Cats and Fake Markers"

Blogger Paige said ::

Amen to the cat comment!! I will intercede for you to have exceptional aim with the pellet gun... ;-)

July 7, 2007 at 10:05 PM  

Blogger Unknown said ::

haha! and folks, that last comment was by a cat owner! She came over to help us work on the house yesterday and was able to hear first-hand the yowling and screeching, the snarling and brawling as they tear around our attic.

The best quote from yesterday: "I don't think those are cats, I think you have some panthers up there"

July 8, 2007 at 9:15 AM  

Blogger candymacdad said ::

Let me know how the hunting goes. We have a rabbit problem here, so I am getting close to getting out the old high powered daisy air rifle to take care of them.

July 8, 2007 at 10:02 AM  

Blogger Rose Myers said ::

Hello,
My name is Rose. Have you heard of TNR Trap, nueter, release. These cats are simply trying to stay alive and fed. The same as us. They are victims of someone who neglected to spay/nueter. These cats can have up to 3 litters a year starting at 6 months. The mothers are usually starving as a result of nursing. Please log on to alleycat.org which is a wonderful resource for guidance. I am a Christian and I realize you must have huge responsibilities but TNR is simple and are we not to Lord over the populations of animals as well. If TNR is of no interest to you. Forget the pellets and use bullets as these cats are just born to suffer and eventually die less we intervene.

Thank you
Rose Myers

October 27, 2007 at 3:57 AM  

Blogger faceunveiled said ::

Rose, Thanks for your comment! Unfortunately, here in Thailand spaying and neutering is considered taboo due to the Buddhist belief of reincarnation. From what we hear veterinarians simply do not perform the procedures here (nor will they put a suffering animal to sleep). We certainly agree that TNR is the best way and wish it was an option!
- Lori

October 29, 2007 at 11:55 AM  

Blogger Unknown said ::

to put everyones mind at ease, we did not purchase any sort of projectile weapon, pellet or otherwise. in typical Thai fashion, we ignored the problem until it grew up and moved away.

but i'm sure we'll be writing the same post again next year...

October 29, 2007 at 2:47 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said ::

thank you rose, lori, and anonymous! Cats have a right to live, just like us. They are only trying to survive. Unfortunately, TNR is considered a taboo there...

March 26, 2008 at 9:36 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said ::

I'm very relieved that you did not buy a pellet gun. I daresay you wish to teach your child to be abhorrant of cruelty to animals, and of course the best way is to lead by example. TNR is an excellent programme, and I hope somebody there sets one up.

June 16, 2008 at 6:08 PM  

Unknown says ::
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