My biggest concern has been how Arthur was going to handle losing his brother. Fortunately, he's adapting well to being an only cat. In fact, he's adapted so well, I had to do some research to find out if anything was wrong with him.

It turns out that the bond between cats can go more or less one way. Snickers adored Arthur and groomed him often, but Arthur never returned the favor. Arthur sometimes butted Snickers out of the way to eat his food, and Snickers generously allowed it. It's become apparent that Kittling picked Arthur to be a companion for Snickers, and not so much the other way around.

Her design worked perfectly. If Arthur died before Snickers, Snickers' grieving would have made things very stressful for me. But Arthur's ability to quickly adapt to being an only cat is a blessing.

Each day gets a little easier, but Snickers' passing has left a big void in the house. He was a boisterous cat. At first, he drove me nuts and made me wish he could have been more calm and quiet like Kittling was, but then I got used to his obnoxiously-inquisitive personality and came to love him for it. It's that personality that I miss. Arthur's personality is nothing like Snickers' was. Arthur is not interested in anything I'm doing. He doesn't greet me at the door, follow me anywhere, care about what I'm eating, or investigate anything I'm working on. Getting used to that will take some time.

I immersed myself in chores and projects all week. I cleaned out closets, organized shelves, framed pictures, filled out my coin collection, washed windows, dusted, shampooed the carpets, and tackled all kinds of other odd jobs that had been piling up for months. My next big project is going to be building a display of Snickers' favorite toys and treats along with other momentos, such as his paw print and a lock of fur.

In the next few days, I expect to bring Snickers home and lay him to rest in his custom bronze urn. He will be reverently displayed right next to his beloved Grandma Kittling. Then it will be time to push on and establish a new normal. Life without Snickers by my side will never be the same, but soon I will get back to recording music and enjoying life again. Arthur and I will be okay.

When Kittling was 14 years old, she started making an annual Christmas card. A few years after she passed away, Snickers picked up the tradition, and my cats have been making Christmas cards ever since. Click on the cards to view them larger.

It is with profound sadness that I announce the passing of my best friend and faithful cat of 12 years, Snickers. As most of you know, he'd been battling illnesses throughout the last half of his life. He beat pancreatitis and hyperthyroidism, but was stricken with chronic constipation, and as of recently, became ill with an apparent brain tumor or lesion.

This morning as I was getting ready to give Snickers his medication, he had a seizure. This was not his first seizure, but it became apparent his life was never going to be the same. He was just a shell of the outgoing cat he used to be, and he was in both discomfort and distress.

When Snickers was five, he was diagnosed with pancreatitis and hospitalized. A few years later he started having problems with constipation. Every now and then, he'd have to be treated for it, but it wasn't until 2019 when the constipation got bad. To top it off, he was also diagnosed with hyperthyroidism.

In 2020, he received radioactive iodine therapy which cured the hyperthyroidism, but the constipation continued to plague him and send him to the ER every few months, weeks, or days. The root cause of his constipation was never discovered. To add to his problems, the ligaments in his back legs ruptured, not from injury but with age.

Then just a few weeks ago, he suddenly couldn't stay upright and was walking in circles. I rushed him to the hospital where he was treated mainly for his ligaments, but he was never the same after that. He became lethargic and reclusive. Then medical issues started compounding. He was diagnosed with a bladder infection, then an upper respiratory infection, and then he suffered a seizure. He became even more lethargic and lost his appetite. In retrospect, on the day he started walking in circles, I believe he likely suffered a stroke.

Snickers' lifetime medical bills are just shy of $24,000. That number may come as a shock to most of you, but as long as Snickers could bounce back from a health setback, it was worth it. After all, he was family. When he was feeling well, he was truly a happy cat, and his love of life and love for me and his brother Arthur was priceless. But this time, there was nothing medicine could do for him. It was time for him to go home to be with his beloved guardian angel, Kittling.

I want to thank the doctors and staff of Spirit of 76 Veterinary Clinic in West Allis, MECA in Greenfield, and WVRC in Waukesha for the wonderful and compassionate care they've given to Snickers over the past twelve years. And also thanks to my mom who treated Snickers like a doting grandmother would, buying him gifts for his birthday and Christmas and helping cover some of his medical bills.

Click on the photos below to view them larger.

On February 7, 1993, in the cold, snow-covered parking lot of the Country Keg in Cedarburg where I was playing a band job, I met my first cat, Kittling. The doctor estimated her age to be about six weeks old, so I designated December 20 as her birthday. Kittling was my best friend and loyal companion for over sixteen years before passing away in November of 2009. But the story of Kittling doesn't end there. If you've ever been skeptical about whether or not our beloved pets go to heaven and continue to love us, please read on.

When Kittling died, all the warmth and happiness was suddenly gone from my home, but I couldn't bear the thought of looking for another cat to adopt. Kittling found me, not the other way around, and I knew I could never adopt a cat in any other way. She was a miracle blessing, and nothing short of a miracle would ever put a cat back in my home.

The following month, I was playing a band job at Prairie Lanes in Markesan when a cute, black, stray kitten came wandering up. Instantly I thought of Kittling, because this was exactly how I found her – in a snow-covered parking lot of a rural dance hall on a cold winter day.

I realized the day's date was December 20. Thinking this must be Kittling's heavenly intervention, I asked about the stray cat and whether or not I could adopt it. Owner Clyde Olson coaxed the kitten out from the shed where he made a temporary home for it, and plunked it right into my arms. A young family member of theirs gave the kitten the name of Snickers because of his long black and dark brown coat. She requested the name not be changed, so the name stayed.

I have no doubt Kittling hand-picked this cat and chose her birthday on which to guide it to me, knowing I'd recognize it as a sign of her love. Even though I was still saddened by her loss and was quite apprehensive about taking that big of a step so soon, Kittling knew that Snickers needed me, and I needed him.

It took some time to adjust to a new cat, but soon Snickers filled my home with warmth and love.

Three years later, that warmth and love would unexpectedly double.

On December 19, 2012, I got a call out of the blue from a former customer from my days as a picture framer. She found a stray cat hanging around the nativity scene on her mom's property in Oak Creek. She remembered I was fond of cats and called me to ask if I could help. The following day, December 20, I went to the house and took possession of the cat. I placed lost cat ads and took the cat to the vet to see if they could find a microchip. After a couple weeks went by with no one claiming the cat, I took it as a sign from Kittling to adopt the cat myself. I named him Arthur.

It was the right decision, because Snickers and Arthur very quickly became the best of friends.

As Snickers started experiencing health issues, the bond between us grew stronger. It eventually became as strong as the bond I had with Kittling. I never thought that could happen, but it did. I have no doubt that's exactly why Kittling chose Snickers for me.

Yesterday, after Snickers suffered a terrifying seizure and the doctor and I had a sobering discussion about his options, I knew in my heart it was best to end his suffering right then and there. It also happened to be December 20. It was Kittling's way of telling me it was time to say goodbye to my beloved Snickers and send him home to be with her.

Snickers was a special cat. He gave more affection than he took, he treated Arthur with respect, he was appreciative of everything he received, and he was remarkably intelligent and resourceful. Even though his later years were a challenge for both of us, we hung in there together through all the veterinary treatments and sleepless nights. He was profoundly loved, and I will cherish my memories of him for the rest of my days.

 
Back in Spring, I noticed Arthur stopped rushing for the automated feeder whenever it would dispense food. I didn't think much of it, but a couple months later I could tell that he had lost weight. I wasn't too concerned since he was always a robust cat, but the weight loss didn't stop. He had lost about four pounds. Out of concern, I brought him in to see his doctor, and tests positively confirmed he had become diabetic.

This was tough news, because I am already dealing with a cat (Snickers) who is costing a few thousand dollars a year in medical bills and may be facing a $6,000 surgery. Now I am looking at a future of Arthur needing daily injections of insulin for the rest of his life, which, at best, will cost several hundred dollars a year. And both cats are now on prescription food. This is an unwelcome expense, not to mention the fact that as Arthur's only at-home caregiver, I will not be able to take so much as an overnight vacation for the remainder of his life, which I hope will be at least another seven years.

Like many pet owners in this situation, I played out several scenarious in my head. It goes without saying that if I did not have either cat, I'd have more money, I'd have more freedom, and I wouldn't have to work as hard to keep my home clean. (My vacuum cleaner collects enough black fur in one week to make a whole new cat.)

But earlier tonight as I was doing laundry in the basement, Snickers came down to play "catch me if you can" and squeaked with delight as I chased him around. And later that night, Arthur jumped up onto my bed and onto my pillow, and nuzzled against me purring like a kitten.

When Snickers and Arthur are feeling well, they are full of joy and contentment. I'm committed to doing whatever it will take to keep them that way. They are family.

Fortunately, Arthur doesn't seem to mind the injections. The needles are thin and short (think of a big mosquito) and he likes the taste of his new prescription food. The biggest challenge will be whether or not I can maintain a regimented injection schedule. Some weeks it will be impossible since my schedule as a performing musician can be crazy, but I'll do the best I can.

UPDATE - September 21:

Arthur weathered the test injections just fine at the vet, but it was a very different story at home. There, he felt the needle. He would leap away and bolt out of the room, making the injections impossible. Another problem making the injections difficult has been my erratic Oktoberfest schedule. The injections have to be given every 12 hours.

I conducted some research online and found a product that numbs skin by freezing it. It's simply a pestle-like wand with a metallic end that you keep in the freezer. It's made specifically for giving injections to pets. It didn't receive the highest overall rating, but I noticed that most of the low ratings came from people who seemed to be more concerned about the product's cosmetics and shipping speed rather than its performance. Desperate, I bought it, and I'm thrilled to say it helps. Arthur has been oblivious to some of his insulin injections.

Although the Oktoberfest season is in high gear, I don't think I'll have any problems pushing and pulling Arthur's injection schedule in small increments in order to accommodate my upcoming music performances.

So things are looking up for Arthur. In theory, if we can keep his diabetes in check, he should be able to live out a good life, but time will tell. For right now, both Arthur and Snickers are feeling good and enjoying life one day at a time.

Although my online schedule looks ominous by the way it says, "We have no public dates for the month of July," gigs have returned for many area bands, and many will be returning for mine. Just by the luck of the draw, almost all of the public dances and festivals my band would have played this summer happened to be the ones that decided earlier in the year to cancel or postpone. So, while many bands' schedules have been mostly or completely restored, my band's schedule is unfortunately looking like it will remain sparse for most of the remaining summer.

When the Oktoberfest season kicks into full swing around mid September, we'll be busy – perhaps not quite as busy as 2019, but we'll be grateful for the volume of work nonetheless. Most of the Oktoberfest events that annually hire my band will be taking place, plus we'll have some new venues to let you know about. I wouldn't rule out the possibility that this Oktoberfest season could turn out to be our busiest on record as post-COVID attendances at dances have been excellent. Anything could happen.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance will continue helping me out through July and August, until it is discontinued on September 6th. Fortunately, the timing is perfect, because September 6 is around the time Oktoberfest kicks in. I'll once again be able to rely entirely on my self-employment income as a musician, and believe me, I'm looking forward to that!

My main concern, however, is what will happen after Oktoberfest. The Oktoberfest season ends around mid-October, and that's when things really slow down. Before COVID, public dances, performances at retirement communities, and a holiday party or two paid the bills during the off-season, but there's no way of knowing how or if those venues will rebound from the COVID shut-downs and current labor deficit. Come November, will those jobs even be there?

Let's all hope for a safe and speedy return to normalcy.

Tonight, Snickers is in the hospital. Trips to the ER have unfortunately become a regular stint for him. He was diagnosed last year with a digestive disease, and every few weeks he gets blocked up and is unable to pass digested food. He becomes sick and has to be taken to the ER for treatment. These treatments can be expensive. His vet bill on Monday was $265. His vet bill tomorrow will be $965. To date, his lifetime healthcare bills total over $18,500.

I am planning to take him to a specialty clinic to see if surgery would be an option for him. If he is a good candidate for surgery, then I'm probably looking at a bill upwards of $6,000.

To many people, especially those who are not that close to animals, the obvious option would be euthanasia. After all, what cat – especially one that's 12 years old – is worth $25,000?

Snickers is not just any cat to me. When he first started encountering health problems a few years ago, that's when we started to bond, and to my surprise, he eventually became as close to me as my dear Kittling was many years ago. The photo above captures his adoration for his papa. That's how he looks at me when he's on my lap or in my arms. I can feel the depth of his dependence on me to take care of him. And I believe his guardian angel, Kittling, led him to me because she knew from experience that I was the one person who would make sure he got the care he deserved.

If Snickers is approved for surgery, I will most definitely hold a fundraiser dance. I did this once before to benefit a couple of local cat shelters. People will be able to freely attend the dance and donate whatever amount they'd want.

Snickers surgical consultation is set for October 19.

I apologize for sounding like a broken record, but this bears repeating every year.

If you are a private party or public venue looking to hire a polka band on a Saturday from mid-September to early October, your odds of finding an available band, especially a good band, are slim. Experienced venues have learned to hold onto the same band every year for their Oktoberfest, but other venues often run out of luck as there are literally not enough polka musicians in the circuit to meet the demand.

I created this chart to show how the demand for polka bands exceeds the supply on three Saturdays every year. This chart is based on my 25 years experience as a bandleader. The green area represents the total number of polka bands available. The purple bars represent the number of venues seeking live polka music. Every weekend of the Oktoberfest season is shown.

Please consider booking your Oktoberfest event on any other day but those peak Saturdays. If you book your event on a peak Saturday and happen to find a band that's available, hang onto them for next year.

I'm well into the production of a new Cleveland-style polka-variety album. To date, I have over a dozen new songs written and will be writing a few more yet. For this album, I'm doing something I've never done before — I am teaming up with another musician and splitting the billing with her. She will be taking center stage on the album cover. She's a vocalist who hails from the pop/rock side of the music business. This will be her first polka venture.

So why am I bringing a new vocalist into the fold? There are a couple of reasons:

I've worked with this singer before, so I am familiar with the breadth of her talent. Singing polka music professionally is not as easy as one might think. You can't take just any pop, rock, or country vocalist and expect them to deliver a polka, but she is unique. She has the chops. And I wouldn't disregard the notion that her ability to cross over to polka may be inconspicuously rooted somewhere in her Slovenian ancestry.

The other reason I'm bringing her in for this album is that new, young artists are always welcome in polka music. Polka people are notably kindhearted and welcoming toward new musicians. We love our current stars, but there's always room in the polka industry for fresh talent.

Speaking of current stars, this album will feature several A-list guest vocalists, including Mollie B and Steve Meisner. The instrumentation will feature some of the industry's top musicians as well.

Polka fans are going to be given a unique opportunity to contribute to the production of this album. I'll be posting more information about that later in the year.

My goal is to have the album finished by the end of the year and distributed in time for the Illinois Polka Fest in February, as that would be the perfect opportunity for everyone to come out and meet the new singer. I don't foresee anything delaying the project, but just to be safe, I'm not making any promises, either!

The album will be released on compact disc. Now I know what you're thinking... "Tom, you vowed that you were done with CDs and would only release music digitally from here on out!" Yes, I did say that, and if this were going to be a typical polka album created mainly to sell at gigs, that would most definitely be the case as CDs just don't sell locally like they used to. But this particular album with the new vocalist is going to be exceptionally marketable, and I'll be doing more advertising and distribution, taking the album well outside my local area and reaching as many people as possible through multiple retailers.

Hank Heinzinger, longtime polka bandleader from Milwaukee, seemed shocked to discover what the APMF research revealed. "I've been playing music all over town since the 1970s. I guess I just lost track of time. Heck, before you know it, the new millennium will be here!"

We attempted to inform Heinzinger that the new millennium had arrived more than two decades ago, but he was too preoccupied with trying to wrestle a dime back from a parking meter.