Northsiders, Put a ‘Protect Trans Kids’ Yard Sign Near Your Home Today!

If you’ve been following the story of the O’Donnell-Collar family, you know that in the face of years of hate-driven harassment – they want to focus on affirming trans youth, BIPOC youth, and all LGBTQ families. Ke’Juan is a 15-year-old Black trans girl and the family member most recently targeted by their neighbor and she […]

Trans Man Matthew Spampinato Killed in Hit and Run While Walking Home From Work

Matthew Spampinato

Matthew Angelo Spampinato was a 21-year-old white man living in New Castle, Delaware walking home from work when he was run down by a hit-and-run driver on February 9, 2022. The accident took place along State Route 237 near the intersection with Quigley Avenue. Matthew was born and raised about an hour outside of Atlanta, […]

Caturday Update – My Community Cats Slowly Return to Colony After Their Home Demolished

Feral Cats

It has been a tough week. The house that was home to my community cats and in face, many generations of cats, was demolished after the roof collapsed. That was a necessary action, but it brought to light the systemic failures that compromise the City’s own laws. But that’s a post for another day … […]

Tour a 1900 Manchester Home the Night Before It Is Demolished

Travails of the Yinzer

My friend Ed wrote this on his blog Travails of the Yinzer. This house has been empty for 20 years and home to many, many generations of cats and groundhogs and possum and some humans here and there. Miss Maryjanes haas. They are tearin dahhn Miss Maryjanes haas today. I stopped in for one last […]

Here’s our list of neighbors taking care of homeless cats – Please donate food if you can

where to donate cat food Pittsburgh

We’ve added three new feral cat colonies to our Virtual #CatFoodDrive … with this bitter cold snap coming, you can help – food and shelter are the best tools for them to survive. This is the answer to your question “How can I help cats?” We have a list of neighbors who need help feeding […]

Homeless Cats on the Northside Need Help

Homeless Cats

It has been awhile since I wrote an update on our foster cat lady status. For most of this year, we’ve had three cats living with us – Stefano DiMera and Spencer Cassadine are now 14 month old siblings and their mom, Helena Cassadine (age – timeless) is living in our bathroom. COVID and their […]

Life on the Ground in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (Yep, The Home of Pittsburgh)

I live about a mile from the vote tallying garage. The past few days have been rife with tension, heightened by the incessant whir of the helicopters from the local TV stations. I can’t figure out why they need to send helicopters when a van would be sufficient. Maybe they are afraid of violence? The […]

Home Alone – Day 145

working from home with cats

So today is already weird. Ledcat had to go into her office for an all-day training. She’s had to go in for bits and pieces before, but never before mimicking her before-pandemic schedule. Since March 17, she’s been home and in the kitchen doing her magic. I dropped her off at her usual spot. Traffic […]

Pennsylvania to Require Face Masks Whenever People Leave Their Homes

As a founder of The Pittsburgh MasQUe ProjecT I was pleased to learn that PA Secretary of Health Rachel Levine M.D. and Governor Tom Wolf have significant strengthened the guidelines for masquing up in Pennsylvania. Under today’s directive, everyone must wear a mask Gov. Tom Wolf and health secretary Dr. Rachel Levine on Wednesday expanded […]

Depression and leaving me home with the dog

Content Note: depression, bipolar disorder, trauma The past few days have been rough as I struggle through this depression. Very tough, painful and scary tough. The sort of symptoms where other people walk away because my pain and anguish are so big. And I can’t blame them. It is like these intense feelings are pounding […]