GetSheila

Crab for the Crabby

Sometimes all you want is a little bit of food to be ready and waiting for you when you get home at the end of a long day, but no...you have to work for it.

I arrived home late tonight at about 9:15. I wanted nothing more than to was wash my face, eat a little something, and crawl into bed. Alas, the leftover crab awaited me from Saturday night's crab feed. I had only cracked about half of it so I spent the next thirty minutes cracking and gutting the rest.

I suppose wearing cozy slippers and eating crab dipped in melted butter isn't the worst way to end a day.

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Note: I would have posted this last night, but TypePad was down for maintenance until midnight. I could not keep my eyes open that long. When they are doing maintenance, you can read the blog but you cannot leave comments. Just an FYI in case you run into that in the future. Maintenance downtime usually only lasts a few hours.

365 Day Photo Project - Week 7

What's in your fridge? (Day 042)
[left over from last week's upload problem]

Cat food, chocolate syrup, cookie dough, insulin...I'm sure there is some protein in there somewhere. I wonder what is in the veggie drawer. (2/18/2007)

The Makeup Conspiracy (Day 043)

Tell me again why women are expected to wear makeup? I hate Hate HATE taking off mascara. Don't much like putting it on in the first place, either. Makes me sneeze. (2/19/2007)

Why it's hard to work at home (Day 044)

Excuse me, I am trying to work here! (2/20/2007)

A vacuum just for pets. Who knew? (Day 045)

Did you know Dyson makes different vacuums for different cleaning needs? This one is especially for houses with pets. (2/21/2007)

Even Prius' need regular service (Day 046)

My dealership has free Wi-fi, coffee, cookies, and they do my service in an hour while I wait...with my laptop and cookies. Then they deliver my freshly washed car right to me. It almost feels like Vegas! (2/22/2007)

Spook ~10/1989 - 2/23/2007 (Day 047)

My 18ish-year-old cat Spook this morning, the day I had her euthanized. She lived a good, long life. Rest in peace my little poop monster. (2/23/2007)

Crab Feed! (Day 048)

Bibs and everything! (2/24/2007)

Sweaters are for gettin' cozy (Day 049)

Okay, I cheated on this one. I actually took in on Friday but it was too cute not to post. This puppy is a sick little guy who was at the vet but he is getting better. I'm sure it's the sweater that is helping. (2/25/2007)

Spookers

Pic taken this morning. I left the electric blanket on for her. She loves that. 

It is time. I am sitting here at 10am with a (very much alive) Spook in my lap, writing her obituary. That is so fucked up.

I have an appointment with the vet at 11:00 to have her euthanized. At least, that is my intent. They are calling it an evaluation where the vet and I will decide together if it is warranted. I call it Evaluation With Intent.

I know Spook is old at eighteen-plus. I know she will not live forever. The standard line to tell myself is, "You are lucky to have had her this long" or "She has led a good, long life. It is okay to let her go," but you know what? THAT IS TOTAL CRAP.

She's old, she's deaf, she has dandruff, she drools, she has bad breath, and although she stands in the litter box when she pees she usually ends up shooting it over the side and onto the floor. I STILL WANT HER AROUND.

But what I do not want is for her to be in distress. It is so hard to tell with cats but last night I got a clue. She had one of those mini-seizures or muscle spasms or whatever they are that make her jump up and run a few paces away and then stand there pawing at the air with her left leg. This is not new behavior but it does seem to be happening more and more frequently of late -- several times a day for sure.

Last night she did something new, though. She turned to me, still holding her quivering paw in the air, and meowed. It was one of her pissed-off meows she usually reserves for when a) I stick her with a needle to administer fluids, or b) another cat invades her personal space and she is telling him to "Get the fuck back, Jack!"

Needless to say, it killed me. I realized those spells are causing her distress and, whether or not the distress takes the form of physical pain or mental freaked-outedness, I think she has had quite enough of that. And so it is time.

I heard a perfect quote the other day. It was from a TV show but who cares? It is still perfect:

Everything is fine...until it isn't. Then you deal with it.

 

I can hear hoof beats. Guilt rides on horseback, apparently. Am I doing it too soon? Did I wait too long? Does she know I love her? Am I really doing this selfishly for me because she has become "inconvenient?"

Well, I shall deal with all of later. For now, it is time. (10:42am)

*     *     *

(11:44am)

I heart Dr. O'Bannon. Not that it did not suck, but it surprisingly did not suck as horribly as I thought it would. Perhaps because it was so peaceful this time around. I stayed for the entire procedure but, unlike last year with Squeak, I had them sedate her before administering the fatal dose. Not completely out, as we have talked about here before, but the vet gave her an extra heavy dose so she was practically asleep with her eyes all second-lidded. It took several minutes for the sedative to take effect, so I got to sit alone in the room with her for about ten minutes, petting and loving on her and saying good-bye as she got sleepier and sleepier.

It only took a short time -- maybe ten seconds -- once they administered the fatal dose: she gave a small convulsion, more like a twitch really, and then she was gone. Her eyes were closed the entire time. When it was over, she just looked like she was sleeping. I am so thankful for that.

Spook was the last of the old, sick kitties. Hopefully I will not have to deal with this sort of thing again for a while. Thanks for listening to me blather on. It really does help to send it out there into the world of the interwebs.

If you have a pet, give him or her a hug today. I know you will get pet hair all over you. So what?

Tags: cats, grief, spook, euthanasia

It was a hail of a day

I heard thunder and thought I should go out and get the mail before the heavens opened. A few paces down the walk, a streak of lightning lit up the sky RIGHT OVER MY HEAD, accompanied by the loudest *crack* I have ever heard. After hastily picking up my skin and stepping back into it, I scurried inside and stood panting as I contemplated the mail and just how important is it to empty the mailbox every day, anyway?

Here is what it looked like just a short while later.

Hail on the ground.

Hail in the air. I think this picture is very cool. Especially the part where it was a complete accident how it turned out. Those really are giant hail stones caught in mid-air, folks.

Hail, hail, everywhere!

This is, like, the closest we will ever get to snow here. I am sure the roads were a nightmare. People in California have no idea what to do when weather happens.

Tags: hail, weather

What Famous Leader Are You?

I really need to stop taking these tests. They are getting downright depressing. I used to have a Ghandi quote in my email signature:

First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win. -- Ghandi

But could I test as a Ghandi-type of leader, peaceful and nonconfrontational? Nooooooooooo. I get Saddam Hussein. I guess I should just be glad I did not get Hitler, but really, I do not see the difference. Why can't I be a loveable leader, like Christina?

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com 

Via Hsien, also a Saddam Hussein-type leader. We shall take over the world! BWAHAHAHAHA!

Tags: famous leader, tests

THE KITTY TIMES - February 21, 2007

NICK CLERKIN-WHITCOMB
Warrior - Lover - Cat

John and Charles Whitcomb have lost a good friend. Nick the Cat died early Monday as a result of Saddle Thrombus, a nasty event that strikes quickly and without warning. Nick was eight, which makes him almost fifty in cat years.

Not that Nick was a retiring old gent. Far from it. Nick was known to destroy furniture, draperies, carpeting, and window screens without a second thought. Between destruction raids, he bullied his sister incessantly and demanded constant attention from his owners in the form of being held, petted and loved every waking hour of the day. If Nick had been a girl, he would have been a princess.

Why would anyone miss such a cat? Because he gave as much love as he got...and more.

Nick was a large, black and white long-hair with tuxedo markings. He was named jointly after Nick Charles from The Thin Man movies -- always impeccable in his tux -- and St. Nick, because he found his owners Christmas night. In true celebrity fashion, Nick shunned the spotlight, never venturing out from under the bed when a stranger came to call. Precious few were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of him, much less snap a candid shot to sell to the tabloids. He foiled the paparazzi to the very end.

Nick was loved fiercely and he takes that love with him wherever he has gone. Perhaps to the Rainbow Bridge, where he will greet his owners when they join him there one day.

So leave the fluffy clumps of black hair lying on the carpet. Vacuum later, for now you must mourn. Mourn the loss of your beloved cat and celebrate the joy and wonder Nick brought into your life.

(Unless you are Nick's sister, in which case just be happy you can now eat in peace without fear of a stealth attack from a black and white ninja-kitty. You will miss the ninja-kitty one day.)

"No matter how we suffer now, if that's the price for having loved him and been loved in return, it's well worth it. There can be no life without death, and I believe it's always good to keep that in mind." -- John Clerkin-Whitcomb

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Compiled from John's emails

Tags: cat obituary, pet loss, nick the cat

Good-bye Little Nicky

My friend John's kitty Nick died yesterday. Nick was afflicted with Saddle Thrombosis Thrombus, which is a blood clot in the aorta. Poor little guy.

You know John here as the commenter JCW. He does not have his own blog so please feel free to leave him lots of love and kindness here.

More about the perky furball that was Nick to follow in another post.

In the meantime, John, I love you and I am so sorry about Nick. My sister Karen sent me a link to Rainbow Bridge when I was dealing with pet loss last year. It made me bawl but made me feel better at the same time. Maybe it will do the same for you.

Even better, she also sent me a link to Dealing With the Guilt. Don't beat yourself up.

Thinking of you, John and Chas.

Tags: cats, pet loss, jcw

365 Day Photo Project - Week 6

Maggie May watches TV (Day 036)

This is actually a picture of a picture. Maggie May is no longer with us. When she was, she liked TV. (2/12/2007)

Turvy the Attack Cat (Day 037)

He thinks he is a big cat, spending his days lounging on a tree branch in the Serengeti. (2/13/2007)

This is my butt (Day 038)

This is my butt on tax season. The good news is I couldn't fit into these pants a few months ago. Hee! (2/14/2007)

Micky turns 51! (Day 039)

Micky & her daughter Liz in a candid moment at Outback (2/15/2007)

Hello (Day 040)

Frightening self-portrait (2/16/2007)

Turvy's Digits (Day 041)

A little pawsitude (2/17/2007)

Day 042 pending. I am having upload troubles. Grr.

Tags: 365 day photo project, 365days, photos

Recruitment or Planned Bloodletting?

From a church letter thanking the donor for making a monetary contribution in 2006:

..we are looking for a harvest of souls in the coming year.

Is it just me or does that sound...sinister?

Tags: tax season follies

Leonard Nimoy to Host a Star Trek Retrospective 2/19/2007

Gentle reminder for my fellow Star Trek fans, or rather gentle reminder for my mom and sister since I don't know any Star Trek fans besides us. Anyway, Leonard Nimoy hosts a two-hour special on the History Channel this coming Monday, February 19th, called Star Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier:

For forty years Star Trek has engrossed our imaginations and sent us on voyages across the galaxy. Through ten films and five series this entertainment juggernaut has become a pop culture icon and a window to our society. We will look at the impact that Star Trek has had on fans around the world. From the conventions in Europe and Las Vegas to the billionaire collector who scours the world for memorabilia, we will try to find out just what it is about this supposedly "silly" series that has meant so much to so many. Leonard Nimoy hosts.

It first airs Monday at 9:00PM but later repeats. Follow the link above to find a time that works for you.

Ah, Star Trek. I watched it after school every day when I was growing up. My favorite episode was The Trouble With Tribbles. I watched it again the other day and I am sad to report it did not age well. It is still a cute episode, don't get me wrong, but I had trouble getting past the Klingons. They had no cranial ridges! They looked just like human men, only kind of...sooty...and some had twirly mustaches. Twirly, I tell you!

Tags: leonard nimoy, star trek, beyond the final frontier