Kitty Litter

So this morning when I was cleaning the litter boxes I wondered "who invented kitty litter?" What would make someone even think about such a product and did people have indoor cats before kitty litter? If they did have indoor cats what did they use? This is what I found via the Internet:

Edward Lowe was born July 10, 1920 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Lowe served in the U.S. Navy from 1941 to 1945. After the Navy, Lowe worked for his father selling industrial absorbents, including products such as sawdust and an absorbent clay called Fuller's Earth. Edward Lowe's neighbor Kay Draper asked for a replacement for the ashes she was using in her cat box. (George Plitt first packaging ashes from burned wood for cats to use.) Her cat was trailing ashy paw prints all over her home and she was hoping for a cleaner alternative. Ed Lowe suggested that she use absorbent clay, she did and loved it.

In 1947, Edward Lowe decided to package the clay in 5lb bags marked "kitty litter" to sell in a local pet store. The store owner did not think the product would sell for the asking price of sixty-five cents, sand for cat boxes was very cheap. Ed Lowe convinced the store owner to display his product and give it away. Soon, the customers were willing to pay for more kitty litter.

Thank you Edward Lowe!

Heavenly Father

This past Sunday was fast testimony meeting, a time when members of the congregation will get up and bear their testimony. A Sister was telling how her dog had this problem with eating things he shouldn't and now had a major blockage. They could pay a large some of money for a surgery or play the waiting game and hope for the best. The chance of the blockage taking care of itself wasn't likely so the family was trying to prepare for a loss. She decided to pray and fast-something she really didn't have a testimony of-she prayed to be able to handle the situation. When she arrived home from church she found the dog had managed pass the blockage on his own, something the vet said he had never seen happen before. What amazes me about this story is how our Heavenly Father teaches us lessons in unconventional ways. He knows that all of his children have different lessons to learn and need to be taught in different ways; what works for one person does not necessarily work for another. It is proof to me once again that he knows each of us individually and will give us what we need, when we need it, and how we need it.

Today

So today I went shopping-for clothes-the worst type of torture I can imagine. Nothing ever fits, EVERYTHING is too long. My feet are so small and fat I can’t just buy shoes like a normal person…Grrrrrr! However on my travels from one torture chamber to another I noticed how green the grass was, the new leaves on the trees, the temporary ponds with ducks and geese… I love spring, more daylight, warmer weather, and the bright promise of things to come.

Airline Check List

After every flight, pilots fill out a form called a gripe sheet, which conveys to the mechanics problems encountered with the aircraft during the flight that needs repair or correction. The mechanics read and correct the problem, and then respond in writing on the lower half of the form what remedial action was taken, and the pilot reviews the gripe sheets before the next flight.

Never let it be said that ground crews and engineers lack a sense of humor. Here are some actual logged maintenance complaints and problems as submitted by Qantas pilots and the solution recorded by maintenance engineers.

(P = The problem logged by the pilot.)
(S = The solution and action taken by the mechanics.)

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.

P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what they're there for.

P: IFF inoperative.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.

P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.

P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget poundingon something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget.