Herding cats... or not...

A friend of mine posts up a celebration for every day. Today it was Cat Herding Day. It's a little complicated to picture someone trying to herd cats but if your imagination is up to it you'll definitely get a picture. Cats tend to go in all directions at their own whim so herding them is basically an effort in futility. Unless they're really hungry and you have the food. Something else I learned about cats... petting a lap kitty is a stress buster. I have a small tabby cat that absolutely loves to be subjected to petting. She rubs her ears on your hand until you give in then she purrs and purrs and purrs her gratitude. I have to admit I really enjoy her desire for attention. It reminds me that we take a lot of things and people for granted. I assume that my family and friends understand how much they mean to me but if I don't express that sentiment there are moments when they could really use some attention. Simply a kind word or a few minutes of conversation can make the difference. I also have learned the age old testament regarding effort and application. You only get out of something what you're willing to put in it. There are times I simply send a hello. I'm also starting to realize I often send a hello hoping someone will throw me a life ring. A hello out of the blue may be a cry for help, similar to a cat that rubs it's ears on your hand when you aren't expecting it. It's nice to know we're needed and nice to know there are those we can turn to when we just need a little attention. To all of you I offer my gratitude..
Next subject.
I have a hankering to adventure. From previous posts you can read about some of my adventures and adventurers up for the challenge. I love the Harley trips but I've set my sights on something else. I'm not giving up the Bill ad Glen trips just supplementing with something a little more out of the box. I hope it's a dream I can bring to life someday. Curious? I found a book on iBooks titled Skirting the Shore. It taught me something. Not just geographically but also challenged me to stretch my capacity. I'll leave the book for you to read but touch on the subject covered. I learned (and yes I should've paid more attention in school) it is possible to launch a boat four miles from my house and circumnavigate the globe. 4 miles from Oologah Oklahoma is a pathway to the world. The McClelland-Kerr  navigation channel is fed by the waters of the Verdigris and Caney Rivers. The verdigris flows out of Oologah lake. The boat ramp is below the dam, from this point the river flows south to the Port of Catoosa. From the Port of Catoosa it flows south through locks and dams to join the great Arkansas River. The same Arkansas river that begins just northwest of Leadville, Colorado. The Arkansas flows into the Mighty Mississippi which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. Once one arrives in the Gulf the world becomes a destination. My adventure is not oriented to making a trip around the world. I simply want to circumnavigate the eastern United States. Travelling out of the Mississippi into the Gulf and turning east would take me around the coast skirting the shores of Alabama, Florida, the Carolina's and points north. The inland waterway runs up the east coast providing access along the east coast. New York City becomes the way point marking a turn to the west up the Hudson River. Follow the Hudson to the Erie Canal, I can still hear a song in my head I learned about the Erie Canal I learned in elementary school. Run the Erie Canal to Lake Ontario then turn west exploring the Great Lakes. Traversing Lake Ontario, Lake Hudson, and Lake Michigan leads to an embarkation point of Chicago. Running the Chicago trash and ship channel west eventually ties into the mighty Mississippi once again. Once on the Mississippi a turn north would make a run deep into Minnesota. The Twin Cities and points north become available if the draft on your craft will allow it. Turning south points you back to the Gulf of Mexico. Not wanting to be so quick to return to Oklahoma I would run the Mississippi south to the Ohio river and turn east. East on the Ohio opens the door to points in the interior of the eastern U.S. as far east as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Turning south off the Ohio on the Tenn-Tom waterway keeps one looping towards the Gulf of Mexico. Traversing south leads to Mobile Bay on the Gulf of Mexico at Mobile, Alabama. Turning west out of Mobile heads towards New Orleans and the Mississippi again. At the mouth of the Mississippi I would have to decide to turn north or head for Galveston and the inland waterway to see how close I can get to Friendswood, Texas to visit my Aunt and Uncle. Going north on the Mississippi would take me back to the Arkansas and headed home. Back to the ramp below the dam 4 miles from my house which still astounds me. I think Oologah would be a good place for a pirate to hide. Here's to boys and their dreams! I think I need to start looking for a boat... By the way, donations are welcome, might even invite you to go...