Raymond is one of our shelter guys, named after where he was found -
Raymond, NH.  He had a small problem when he was turned into us by his
finder - he nips, but has really improved and will be looking for a home
real soon.
 
Anyway, Ray loves our ceramic tile kitchen floor.  It measures nearly 18
feet of continuous tile.  When it's his and his buddies' time for play, he
starts at one end of the kitchen.  His nails start skritching the tile as
his legs come up to full speed, but he's not moving anywhere.
 
"S c r i t c h, scritch, scritchscritchscritch - Zoom" as the pads finally
find a grip and propel him across the tile.  About three-quarters of the way
across, after a 180 degree spin, he begins reversing power - "schriiiiiiich -
thump" as he bangs against the wall.  In the process of rebounding, his paws
get up to speed for the run back in the opposite direction.
 
Today he made the circuit twice and was in the process of rebounding for the
third run when Joan called to him:"Ray, quit fooling around.  Do you want
some treats or don't you?"
 
The treat cabinet is halfway back on his run, so a little way after gaining
full speed, he begins braking for a stop in front of the cabinet.  Just to
show off, he attempts to do a sit-up before coming to a complete, sliding
stop.  Ray does great at first, but his smooth bottom doesn't quite grip the
tile and he goes all the way over on his back into a literal tail spin, into
the treat plate sending him, treats and plate crashing into the cabinet.
Undaunted, he scrambled back to Joan and sits up for his treats, waiting
patiently for Joan to quit laughing.
 
Ray is a nut case.
 
     Dick B.
[Posted in FML issue 1857]