Dear Klimpen,

I stay in a University Dormitory and there's these stray cats who always like to topple the big garbage bins outside our rooms at unholy hours of the night. I don't know if they do it for fun or for food, but it gets really messy in the morning. I'm wondering if you have any ideas about how to get these cats to stop their strange obsession.

Yours sincerely,

Puzzled


Dear Puzzled,

Didn't you know that playing in trash is great fun? But if you really want these cats to stop, I'd suggest securing the lids somehow so they won't spill if knocked over. Trash is great, though! You never know what you can find!

Dear Klimpen,
It seems that my feline companion is pining for you. Her name is Molly. She's very sweet and kind, but has an impish streak and a fierce loathing for vacuum cleaners and brooms. She's a gargantuan orange tabby with white socks, a pale underbelly, large yellow eyes, and four teeth. She's almost 11 by now, but she doesn't seem to see age as an issue. To tell you the truth, I'm not sure if she is serious about this, or merely pulling my tail. Interested? ;)

~Miawing in Illinois


Dear Miawing,

Well, I'm flattered! However, I don't know if your Molly realizes the tremendous time constraints I have. I keep quite a busy schedule of eating, napping, sunbathing, and being adored. I'm not sure if your elderly friend could keep up with one such as me!

Dear Klimpen,

Though I don't think I'm a horrible artist, whenever I see other people's art who are better than mine, I get very meanfully jealous. What should I do? I feel so petty!

Troubled Art Student


Dear Troubled,

This is actually quite common, and very natural for artists and writers to be jealous of those they think are better. But instead of just feeling jealous, try to look at why you think the other artists are better, and see if you can learn from it to improve upon your own works. I think if you use it as a learning tool instead of just getting upset, you will be happier overall and your art will benefit!