February 9, 2022

Celebrating 20 Years

Today I celebrate the 20th anniversary of this blog, Lionel Deimel’s Web Log. Twenty years ago, the term “blog” had not yet become common. I’ve chosen to leave well enough alone and not change the name. Nor have I changed the description “Random quick takes by Lionel Deimel.” Over the years, my posts became less quick and less short. Most of my really quick takes are now posted on Facebook, often in private groups to which I belong. Occasionally, I cross-post my Facebook commentary here.

My blog was inaugurated under the same philosophy as that of my Web site, Lionel Deimel’s Farrago. I write what interests me, and I don’t limit myself to any particular topic. This makes posts more fun to write, but it attracts fewer long-term readers. So be it.

Many of my posts have been about the trials, triumphs, and insights of ordinary life. For example, one of my first posts was “How Much Power Can It Take to Run a Map Light?” I have often used posts to call attention to my poems on my Web site. Occasionally, I have posted a poem not yet posted there and possibly still a draft. An example is “Happy Summer Day.” Politics has been the subject of a large number of posts, including this recent one: “Letter to Senator Joe Manchin.”

I suspect that I have written more posts about the Episcopal Church, its liturgies, and its politics than about any other subject. Although such posts are not of general interest, they sometimes attract more readers than my other essays. Episcopalians are passionate about things Episcopalian. Many such posts have chronicled and commented on the split between loyal Episcopalians and reactionary insurgents that resulted in the splitting up of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh. An example of a newsworthy post about the diocese is “Trinity Cathedral Casts Its Lot with TEC.” A sample liturgical (and rather wonky) post would be “Line Breaks in the BCP’s Rendering of the Nicene Creed.”

To date, I have published just under 1500 posts. This seems a good time to list some of my favorite posts. The list is chronological and might be different if I made the list tomorrow or thought about it for a month. (Note that some external links may not be current.)

February 3, 2022

A Schroeder Table of Contents

I have now written many posts about the cat I named Schroeder that I began feeding at my back door. For anyone who wants to read the entire story of Schroeder to date, I am providing a table of contents listing all my Schroeder posts.

Date Post Comments
11/12/2021 Schroeder Introducing the cat I have been feeding from time to time.
11/19/2021 Schroeder Update 1 Schroeder visits again. I took a nice portrait.
12/30/2021 Schroeder Update 2 Another nice photograph.
1/11/2022 Schroeder Update 3 I plan to trap Schroeder.
1/12/2022 Schroeder Update 4 I set the trap, but only after Schroeder left.
1/13/2022 Schroeder Update 5 (sort of) I trapped the wrong cat.
1/14/2022 Schroeder Update 6 (again, sort of) Ozzie (the wrong cat) goes home.
1/17/2022 Schroeder Update 7 Cat trapping resumes (unsuccessfully).
1/18/2022 Schroeder Update 8 (caught!) Schroeder is caught and ensconced at home.
1/20/2022 Schroeder Update 9 Schroeder gets improved living arrangements and an appointment with a vet.
1/25/2022 Schroeder Update 10 Schroeder gets fixed and is out of his cage.
2/3/2022 Schroeder Update 11 Schroeder settles in.
3/5/2022 Schroeder Update 12 Schroeder takes another trip to the vet.
6/29/2022 Schroeder Update 13 Schroeder gets the run of the house.
7/4/2022 Schroeder: A Cat Who Needs a New Home Schroeder is up for adoption.
8/24/2022 Schroeder Goes to His New Home Today The Schroeder story has a happy ending.

Schroeder Update 11

 Schroeder has been settled in for a few days now. I have taken the cage and a blanket I was loaned back to the animal shelter. I bought a pad to put under the litter box, water bowl, and food bowl. The litter pan I purchased for the cage in which Schroeder was originally confined was technically made for kittens. Schroeder is definitely not a kitten. (The vet pegged him as two years old and just over nine pounds.) I replaced the pan with a much more commodious litter box. There is now much less litter on the floor. (I had been vacuuming a lot.)

Litter, food & water for Schroeder
Updated facilities for Schroeder

Schroeder continues to be a surprisingly laid-back cat. He spends much of his time in a cozy spot between the couch and a plant stand.

Schroeder’s favorite spot
Schroeder’s cozy spot. Stains on the carpet are from the flowerpot above.

Schroeder comes out immediately when I enter the room and readily accepts my petting him. He has shown no interest in toys, whether or not they contain catnip. I can pick him up, but he immediately jumps down when I try to put him on my lap. Good photos of the cat are hard to get because he is either in his favorite spot (see above) or very close to me.

Schroeder at my feet
Schroeder at my feet.

Note: Schroeder’s story to date can be followed here.