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Engineer's Guide to Cats

Engineer's Guide to Cats: Laser Christmas

Simon's Cat: "Box"

Doggy World

I have confirmed that this novel, Youth in Revolt by C. D. Payne, takes place in the past. At one point in the story, the president is mentioned. The "current" president is Reagan, which sets the book between '81 and '89. The main character, Nick Twisp, also complains about his '60s clothing. He asks himself if bell-bottoms are still suitable to wear to school.

The strangest thing that is occurring in my recent reading is when these identical dogs start randomly showing up. It all starts after the dog named Albert (pronounced the French way: Al-bear) dies from electrocution after chewing wires, or so we thought. A week After burying Albert 3 feet under ground,  he shows up at Sheeni's boarding school hundreds of miles away. When Nick comes home the next night, Albert is in the kitchen with Paul and Lacey. Now Nick has two Alberts to take care of. The next day, he receives a phone call from his mother. She tells him that Albert showed up on her porch, walked into the house and laid down in his bed. So Mom sends Albert to Nick (who lives with his Dad, miles away) and Nick is now stuck with three identical dogs that don't even get along with each other. To top it all off, the dogs don't like Nick and Nick doesn't like the dogs.

Now what is a teenager suppose to do with three unwanted, identical dogs when his dad wants them out of the house, his girlfriend treats Albert as their "love child" so Albert must be kept, and nobody in town will take a single dog? And did Albert reeaally die from chewing that wire and dig himself out? Where are these dogs coming from and why do they seem to share the same memories of "home" and "master?"

Questions, to be discovered?

So, I'm not sure what to think of Nick Twisp's girlfriend Sheeni from Youth in Revolt  by C. D. Payne. She seems to be a smart, independent girl who can get what she wants.

Most recently, she is trying to get Nick to move to her town so they can see each other and not have to make collect calls and send letters in secrecy. She has convinced Nick to secretly aide his dad in getting a job in her town and then convince Dad to let him stay with him and the most recent "bimbette" girlfriend. Sheeni's idea is to have Nick send Dad's resume, which is already mostly B.S. but then even more B.S. when Nick "edits" it, to this Plywood magazine that Sheeni's ex's dad owns. Since Dad won't want Nick, Nick must get kicked out of Mom's house and convince Dad that he would be beneficial to have around. Sheeni suggests that Nick burn Jerry's (Mom's dead boyfriend) Lincoln and the trailer. Nick does this, and burns half of a block down with it. Millions of dollars in property damage. Nick is beaten with a tree branch by Mom's new 2nd boyfriend (a cop) and forced to live with Dad. Now Dad uses Nick as free labor and doesn't have to pay child support. Nick is happy that he can now see his girlfriend without Mom's tyrannical rule preventing all communication. But once Nick arrives, he gets a call from Sheeni saying that she is transferring to a Santa Cruz prep school that is taught in all French. Now here's the kicker: she transferred with her ex, Trent.

Is Sheeni good for Nick? She drank alcohol with Nick's parents, smoked, and done drugs at least once before. Does she tease all of her love-interests like this? Is she still in love with Trent? Does she cheat on Nick? What kind of person is she really?

Another student at Nick's new public school called Sheeni an arsonist in a previous and her current life. "What does she burn?" asked Nick. "Men," replied Paul. "Men and boys." I'm starting to think she is not a good character.

"Simon's Cat: The Box"

I know if you are in school, you can't view this but it is hilarious! If you have a cat, then you understand. It's basically a cat playing with a box. The "author" is called "Simon's Cat" and he draws many cartoons about this cat. Some of them have other animals or humans in them. This video was one the first ones from him that I've seen and I think you should watch this when possible.