Okay, five days without a vehicle with which to rant and rave can make an old cat's fingers start to tremble...

Actually, it hasn't been too tough on the kitty...there has been a veritable wasteland of stories suitable for print. (Yes...I've been faithful to my routine...have searched my local, state, and national sources. but...nothing!)

Other than everybody dropping like flies...Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Billy Mays, Karl Malden. Actually, there was someone prior to Farrah...but I've already forgotten.

(Actually, a name familiar to OLD Cairo School District employees made the news...former District maintenance man James Butler passed away...his obituary was in the Cairo Citizen this past week....saved it for later publication.)

I will have to admit having to tie my hands behind my back when my good friend, Sarah, made her Friday afternoon announcement that the soldiers in Iraq "who refuse to quit" had inspired her to quit as Governor of Alaska. THAT was following Jon Stewart's comment on our disappearing South Carolina Governor...that God had conveniently killed Michael Jackson to get the Governor out of the headlines, and then the Governor had called another news conference to announce that he had had affairs with other women. Stewart's advice to Sanford...STFU!

Otherwise, I've been a contented cat...

However, as we approach a new week, there was one nagging CAT's Tale that went untold...until now.

Title of this edition could be:

ELIMINATING WITNESSES

If a certain local Superintendent of Schools (who shall remain nameless...except that his initials are LEOTIS D. SWOPES)...if a certain local Superintendent of Schools decides that he would like to extend his holiday weekend - evidently NOT being satisfied with his normal leaving at noon on Friday...I mean it is/was the 4th of July weekend!!!...then what should he do???

Why EASY...give EVERYBODY the Friday off!!! And, not to mess with "past practice" - the leaving at Friday noon part - let EVERYBODY go at 2 p.m. on THURSDAY (which was kinda like Friday since it was the day before the EXTENDED weekend.)

What a deal...at least he "shared" his largess for a change, something he is not naturally inclined to do.

Of course, after building up "good will" among District staff, he still couldn't resist an EARLIER departure. Yes, 2 p.m. wasn't good enough for Leotis, uh, our unnamed superintendent. No, our Superintendent was observed exiting "Stage Left" (hanging a left on Sycamore at the Stop Sign in front of the CJSHS site...aka "The Cottage"...aka "Home Sweet Home") at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday. Guess he wanted to avoid the rush hour traffic of CSD employees getting a reprieve!

Oh...YES...that's another catty comment...that Cairo's Transient Superintendent is STILL occupying his taxpayer-provided digs at "The Cottage", despite a contract provision that he was supposed to move to Cairo. (Hmmm...maybe that's what the long weekend was for...he needed to go pack up his stuff. Maybe that's why he gave the District's employees Friday off...maybe they were supposed to drive to Chicago and help out!!! THAT would certainly be more in character for him.)

Can I get a "MEOW"?

Incidentally, the "HELP WANTED" list for CSD #1 is making the rounds of the local media...

(I "assume" the entire vacancy list made it into your paycheck envelope last Friday.)

Ya know what I can't figure out...

Why is the District just now advertising for the new Central Office position that it created for the deposed CJSHS Principal...the Student Services and Grant Position. I mean...if they get applicants for the position...and they find someone they like better for the position...what are they going to do about its current just-appointed occupant?

Hey...on the other hand...I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem for these folks. They could just create yet another administrative position...it's only money...it's only YOUR money!!!

Can I get a "DOUBLE MEOW"??