When Winter Hinders Jogging, There’s Always Feline Blogging

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There must be a computer out here somewhere, says I, Misty the cat. (Photo by Laurel Cummins.)

Misty the cat here, back for my every-two-month guest post that I’ll continue writing as soon as I grab the hyphens from this sentence and sell them on eBay.

I’m still annoyed at my humans Dave, Laurel, and Maria for leaving me to take a January 5-12 trip to Guatemala, where teen peep Maria was born. I was alone for seven nights: One Hundred Years of Solitude, minus 99 years and 51 weeks. Fortunately, a nice sitter visited three times a day to feed me and administer my asthma inhaler — which I’ll have another dose of this afternoon after I click on the Merriam-Webster website to see what the word “administer” means.

Dave is not a Kindle user, so he visited the library January 2 to take out six paperbacks to bring to Central America along with a wallet full of quetzals — the Guatemala currency that rhymes with pretzels but is baked with less salt. Those small-sized paperbacks helped keep Dave’s luggage light enough to avoid the plane being overloaded to the point of having to make an emergency landing in Narnia, the magical world authors C.S. Lewis and Mary Higgins Clark visited during their famous early-19th-century Lewis and Clark Expedition.

The six novels for plane and non-plane travel reading included Pearl S. Buck’s classic The Good Earth — which Dave discussed last week — as well as Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park and four of Sue Grafton’s 25 “alphabet mysteries” starring the very relatable private investigator Kinsey Millhone. None of that series of Grafton novels included C is for Cat, F is for Feline, K is for Kitty, or S is for Servemefoodnowornomoreunpaidguestblogging, but that’s (l is for) life.

Anyway, Dave thought Jurassic Park was good but not great. Fantastic premise in terms of the hubris to use prehistoric dinosaur DNA to bring those creatures back to life in the 20th century, and some very suspenseful moments, but the characters were mostly two-dimensional and the writing not much more than adequate. Plus, where was Barney the Purple Dinosaur? Maybe in the Jurassic Park movie.

Dave tells me the four Grafton novels (E is for Evidence, G is for Gumshoe, H is for Homicide, and I is for Innocent) were all absorbing, even though absorption wasn’t necessary due to it being the dry season in Guatemala. I’m also told that Dave read the first four “alphabet mysteries” years ago, and plans to get to the post-“I” ones before the aforementioned Lewis and Clark Expedition ends.

Soon after returning to New Jersey the night of January 12, Dave read Lee Child and Andrew Child’s latest Jack Reacher novel: Exit Strategy, which would have come in handy when he, Laurel, and Maria were trying to get out of the airport terminal in Newark, New Jersey. The book was okay. Dave is a big fan of the Reacher series, but things have gone downhill somewhat now that Lee Child doesn’t write the novels solo and now that 30 books have been published since 1997. There are only so many plots, as any cemetery director would tell you.

I, Misty the cat, have a favorite Reacher novel: 61 Hours, which is the amount of time I sleep every day.

Dave will reply to comments as I look out the window at dinosaurs. They’re big.

I, Misty the cat say: “Still too much snow outside to take a walk, but this bed seems to be shoveled.”

Dave’s comedic 2024 book — the part-factual/part-fictional/not-a-children’s-work Misty the Cat…Unleashed — is described and can be purchased on Amazon in paperback or on Kindle. It’s feline-narrated! (And Amazon reviews are welcome. 🙂 )

This 90-second promo video for the book features a talking cat: 🙂

Dave is also the author of a 2017 literary-trivia book…

…and a 2012 memoir that focuses on cartooning and more, including many encounters with celebrities.

In addition to this weekly blog, Dave writee the 2003-started/award-winning “Montclairvoyant” topical-humor column every Thursday for Montclair Local. The latest piece — about snow and more — is here.

91 thoughts on “When Winter Hinders Jogging, There’s Always Feline Blogging”

  1. Hi Dave, what an entertaining and uplifting post! Misty is an excellent writer! I just realized that, for some reason, wordpress had unsubscribed me from your blog. It’s all sorted now, tough, so hopefully no more glitches! I’d like to read “Exit Strategy” and will add it to my tbr list.🌷

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    • Thank you very much, Ada! Happy that you enjoyed Misty’s post. 🙂

      As for that glitch, blog platforms do have their “moments”…

      “Exit Strategy,” while not one of the best Jack Reacher novels, is still a good read. There’s something very satisfying about Reacher getting the best of various creepy villains.

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  4. Misty, please accept my sympathies for the abandonment, though I’m relieved to hear your medical team (and dictionary access) remained intact. I loved this post. The gentle revisiting of books, the honest reassessment, and that familiar truth that some stories change a little when we return to them, while others reveal their limits. There’s something comforting about travelling with old literary companions, whether by plane, audiobook, or the nearest available bed. Wishing you many more hours of well-earned rest, and Dave many more satisfying rereads. And I just had to add this quote from a Guatemala voice that feels quietly present: “I write because I have no choice. I write because silence would be betrayal.” Miguel Ángel Asturias

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    • Thank you, Rebecca! Now that his humans have been back home for more than three weeks, Misty will soon be between 99% and 101% recovered from his “abandonment.” 🙂 And he’s very flattered that you enjoyed his post. 🙂 Also, that’s a fantastic quote you cited from Miguel Ángel Asturias!

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  5. Hi Dave, a thoroughly entertaining post. Misty is such a good writer, much better than the author of Jurassic Park evidently. I’m glad Misty mentioned the limitations of the book before I decided to read it. I’ve been reading Skeleton Crew by Stephen King which has reminded me why I think he is a brilliant writer (or was) and Five Toed Tigress by TW Dittmer which is a good story and totally fascinating in how it portrays young military men and their fascinating with sex and females. It’s been a bit eye opening for me.

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    • Thank you, Robbie! Glad you enjoyed Misty’s post! I’m thinking that cat must have attended a writing workshop, which explains the puzzling charge on my credit card. 🙂

      Stephen King IS a brilliant writer, but I have’t read enough of his recent work to know how much he might have lost a bit of his touch. It would seem inevitable after so many books and so many years.

      And thanks for the mention of T. W. Dittmer’s “Five-Toed Tigress,” which does sound eye-opening — and reminds me that some of your own work has some military aspects.

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  6. Oh, Misty! Dave – since you’re in charge of the comments here, please let me favorite feline know that this one-liner: …”quetzals — the Guatemala currency that rhymes with pretzels but is baked with less salt” made me LOL. Good one! Thanks for this bright spot on this super-duper overcast day! ☀️💝☀️

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  7. Barney the Purple Dinosaur!! That’s hilarious!

    I agree with you there, Dave. It’s very temping to keep churning out novels when the steam has gone a bit! I think authors should be more objective when it comes to their work. Perhaps they should take a break! A break can only help. I’m yet to read a Lee Child novel, I have a couple at home here.

    I was saddened when I heard Sue Grafton had passed away. Again, I’m yet to read any of her books, but I have heard they are good. Great! A good read to look forward to!

    Thank you for your kind wishes for the week.

    Sharon

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  8. Hi Misty, nice to see you on your blog – always good. All that nasty snow still there, that’s a pity for you. Not too much going outside then, and that’s sensible. So what were you reading while you were on your own? Something clever, I am sure, unless you dropped all those things on the floor – it can happen. So what can you see outside just now? I understand it could be a smallish dinosaur… or maybe a dumpster – they’re overdue aren’t they?

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  9. Hi Dave!

    Can you please tell Misty that if he spots a dinosaur he is to take a photograph and send it to me!!! Ha!! Ha!!

    A very amusing and interesting post, Dave. It’s a shame when you can see authors like Lee Child, their work experiencing a downturn especially when they are collaborating with another writer. It should actually be twice as good!!

    Your thoughts on ‘Jurassic Park’ being OK, but not great, are helpful. I may get around to reading it, eventually!

    I’ve heard a lot of good things about the alphabet series by Sue Grafton.

    Thank you Dave for the book tips and commentary.

    Have a great week!

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    • Thank you, Sharon! Ha! 😂 I asked Misty for a dinosaur photo, but all he gave me was an old 1990s VCR tape of “Barney the Purple Dinosaur.” It seems Barney somehow escaped that massive meteor hitting Earth 65 million years ago.

      Yes, a shame when a book series loses some of its steam, but probably inevitable. Maybe more series should end at, say, seven books — like the “Harry Potter” series did — but there’s money to be made for the author and many fans are happy for a series to go on even if it isn’t as good. I’ll probably still read future Reacher novels.

      As for Sue Grafton, it was sad she died before being able to write a “Z” book to complete the alphabet. I’m currently reading “J,” and plan to get to “Y.”

      Have a great week, too!

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  10. I was reading two Reacher books and then stopped reading them because I found there was a too big spagat between his past as a military policeman and the ronin-vigilante protagonist in the books. In my experience, MP’s where the personification of The Book, and when they strayed away from it, they slid into crime (taking bribes for covering up minor infractions being the least of it: weapons, drugs, and diamants trafficking on the other end of the scale). But yeah, it’s a novel and people who don’t know too much about the military can get sucked into these well written tales.

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    • Thank you, Shaharee! Yes, the Reacher books are not exactly realistic. 🙂 But, at their best, they are absolutely riveting page-turners. Fewer of those in recent years. Actually, Jack R. is a very moral/”by the book” person in certain ways, while not so in other ways.

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  12. Misty, we humans would appreciate the snow disappearing too. It’s pretty for a short time but it’s overstayed its welcome. And it’s too cold too.
    I’ve never read any of the alphabet mysteries, but I’m looking for a new series, so perhaps I should give them a try! (K)

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  13. Well hello again, Misty; it doesn’t seem that long at all since you were last looking after things while Dave went off to enjoy himself elsewhere and left you home alone. Thank goodness you survived the experience and that Dave had the good sense to find excellent home help for you; it’s so hard to get the staff these days. I’m sure you weren’t upset at being left in the cold north while the rest of the family sunbathed in Guatamala; you’re a saint and no mistake. A good thing though that he let you check his reading matter for the trip, although I’m sure you could have found him superior texts had he asked you sooner – I read ‘Jurassic Park’ many years ago and agree with what you’ve said about it here. The family is lucky to have you, and no mistake. Here’s hoping you stay safe, warm and well-fed for the rest of the winter, and that you’ll be able to get out and police the neighbourhool when the better weather arrives. Best wishes to you. xxx

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    • Thank you, Laura! Loved your at-times-very-funny missive to Misty. “…you’re a saint and no mistake” — ha ha! 😂 Yes, I could have read some weightier stuff in Guatemala, but chose to go mostly vacation-time escapist (as in those “Jurassic Park” dinosaurs escaping their enclosures when the electric fences were turned off). Misty is definitely looking forward to resuming his duties as mayor of his apartment complex when the weather improves. 🙂

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      • Misty is a responsible governors of his territory so I’m not surprised he was champing at the bit to get back to his duties, Dave. I’m sure there were many interesting sights to see in Guatemala, so you did well to stick to mostly-lightweight literature for the duration. Hoping you’re well-settled back at home now, and that the year ahead brings some much-needed improvements to the world. Stay safe. 🙂

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        • Yes, Laura! Misty wants to make sure he’s out there among his constituents in order to have the best chance of being reelected as apartment-complex mayor. Of course, there’s always the alternative of a coup…

          Hoping 2026 doesn’t bring a version of a coup as Trump tries to rig or call off this November’s midterm elections. 😦

          Guatemala is a beautiful country — including the gorgeous old city of Antigua and the Lake Atitlan area.

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  20. Hello, Dave. I hope you had a great time in Guatemala. Fun to hear about what you read. I agree with you about the Jack Reacher books. The first ten or eleven were terrific, then they became so-so, and after the one about hunting people for sport, which I found both silly and bizarre, I just gave up. Haven’t read a single one since then. My favorite Michael Crichton is TIMELINE. It’s fascinating and exciting, about a group of 20th-century history graduate students who time-travel back to 14th-century France during the Hundred Years’ War to rescue their professor. Highly recommended!

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    • Thank you, Kim! Guatemala was memorable. 🙂

      Yes, a shame about the Reacher novels, though I loved perhaps a few more than you did — maybe the first 20 or so. (I do agree that the first dozen or so were the best.) I still somewhat like even the recent ones, and perhaps it’s inevitable that a series with that many books will eventually go downhill.

      I read “Timeline” a year or two ago (perhaps you recommended it 🙂 ) and agree that it was excellent!

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