Mood Music For Cats (And Cat Lovers) – A Ball of Twine is an interesting audio CD that designed for both cat lovers AND their cats! It’s a collection of soothing and gentle music that can serve as music therapy for both cats and their humans.

It’s a great gift for someone interested in spending a quiet and tranquil evening with their kitty. And with the purchase, a donation is made to the ASPCA and the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation – Fisher Center to help other animals and humans.

These are frosted glass platters sold at Uncommon Goods, each of which goes to help a separate great cause. The platters are all designed and handmade in Pennsylvania and support various great causes in the western Pennsylvania areas. Each reflects the mission of the cause it supports.

Forget Me Not Platter for Alzheimer’s
The illustration of the “forget-me-not” flower illustrates how precious memories are, and the tragedy of those who cannot keep theirs. 10% goes to support the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Pennsylvania.

Heart Platter for Habitat for Humanity
10% of proceeds from this platter benefit Pittsburgh Habitat for Humanity, which organizes volunteers to build houses for low-income families.

Star Platter for AIDS
10% of proceeds from this platter go to AIDS service organizations in Pittsburgh.

The Giving Tree Platter for CASA
10% of sales of this plate goes to support the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Allegheny County, which organizes community volunteers to serve as advocates for children who are victims of abuse or neglect in western Pennsylvania.

Now that baseball season is over (actually, for us Yankee fans it ended a couple weeks ago), it’s time to settle in for the long, dark winter before pitchers and catchers report to spring training in February.

Here’s some great reading that’ll keep you company all winter. It’s a book by baseball writer Alan Schwarz. In this book, Schwarz interviews a number of notable baseball stars and other personalities with baseball ties, and documents their innermost memories of the game. Read how Derek Jeter told his parents at age 10 of how he’d play professional baseball. Hear Ernie Banks tell the story of how he coined the phrase “let’s play two”. Hear great memories from Yogi Berra, Kevin Costner, Reggie Jackson, Pedro Martinez, Cal Ripken Jr., Nolan Ryan, Charles Schulz, and more.

This book is available at Amazon. The Amazon listing doesn’t mention it, but on his own Web site, the author has committed to donate a portion of all proceeds to help Alzheimer’s research and patients.