bunchofgrapes

Not sure what has gotten into me but I've now finished two fics over the last six months. First there was She Sells Sanctuary in the Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea fandom and just last week I posted to final chapter to a Brass/CSI fic called Shelter from the Storm. This one is a sequel to Forgiveness and features the return of Annie Kramer. I haven't finished two fics this close together since 2007. As painful as it was, changing jobs really was a good thing.

In other news first it was the right elbow, now it's the left. I have a surgery date of April 8th. I guess my left elbow was jealous and wanted a matching scar. I'm just a tad paranoid of getting another frozen shoulder so I'm glad I'm not waiting too terribly long but the freaking elbow hurts so much that I may take a kitchen knife and cut it off between now and April.

And lastly, my kitty-boy, Harry, the oldest of the trio, was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in early January. He's on prednisone now and that's helping him eat. My goal is to get him to his 12th birthday on April 28th. He's lost some weight but other than that and the spit ups he does if he eats to fast, he's doing okay at the moment. I was pretty gutted when I found out and I'll be gutted when I lose him - he's been such an awesome cat - but at least I can enjoy the time he has left. And if he's still around after my surgery, I'll have four weeks to spend at home with him.

Kathryn Joosten died and that makes me very sad. She was easily the best reason for watching Dssperate Housewives.

( Click here for the rest of the randomness )

Two weeks ago one of my co-workers, Kris, had to put her cat to sleep. He had cancer and they tried for as long as they could to treat him but he was just too sick so they made the decision to end his suffering. Kris was pretty upset by it and it got me to thinking about my guys, how much they mean to me and how devastated I'd be if anything happened to them.

When you're single you get very wrapped up in your pets, dog or cat. Ok, maybe it's just me but from what I've seen, it's mostly true. They are your companions, your furkids, your best friends. Tucker and Harry meet me at the front door every night. If I don't give them a scratch and say hello first thing after I walk in the door, they follow me around the house until I stop and pay attention to them. If I'm upset (crying, not yelling - that freaks them out), I will either have a kitty extending a paw at me (Harry likes to touch my arm or my face if he's on my lap) or a kitty will get up from wherever they are and come and sit by me (Sophie and Tucker). We have TV night where one lies across my lap, one lies at my side, and one is at my feet. They make sure I am never, ever a lone in any room in the house. Ever. They alert me to someone at the door and strange noises. Harry once alerted me that the security peg on the sliding glass door had popped up. Scared the crap out of me. They protect me from evil critters like insects and that mouse who likes to hang out under the dishwasher (he's never made an appearance but I know he's there because Harry camps out in the kitchen).

I truly am blessed to have these guys in my life and every time I think about how they came to be with me, I just have to wonder if the big guy upstairs had a hand in it. When I lost my kitty, Basil, I thought I'd never be able to find another kitty like him, who would love and adore me as much as he did. I was wrong. I have three.

This is going to be a long post with a lot of randomness. A lot has been going on in the month since I last posted and most of it is good.

( First I'll start with the semi-scary )

Tucker came home yesterday. He's got a chicken butt from where they shaved him and a two inch scar on his belly where they had to insert a catheter into his bladder but he's beyond happy to be home. He's following me around the house and giving me his happy, chirpy meow. And this is before he's had his pain medicine. One thing I had to give enormous thanks for is that the only medicine he has to take is the pain stick. The doctor sent him home with two bottles of liquid Clavamox but Tucker and oral antibiotics (pill or liquid) don't go together. When Tucker had his first surgery, his regular vet suggested a two week antibiotic shot. It's a little more expensive than the liquid or pill but to not have to put your already traumatized pet through the misery of taking oral medication is worth any cost. So on the way home from the vet hospital, I called the regular vet and asked about the shot (vet hospital didn't have it). Vet had it and they were on my way home. Quick stop in, Tucker got the shot, boom that was done and I have to say, I was feeling very pleased that it all worked out so well. Yesterday, it was easy to tell he was in some pain, especially around the time he was due for the next pain stick. But after the shot he slept most of the day and night. Unfortunately, it meant he was restless most of the night. The other good thing for him is that he's got a soft e-collar instead of that awful hard collar. With the soft one, I can fold it down instead of up so it's not in his way so much but he still can't get to his sutures. So, little lion man is doing well and I'm happy he's home and hopefully, on his way to no more problems.

John gets to go home today. I called my mom's cell and John actually answered. He sounds a lot better than he did when I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago. We spoke for just a few seconds before he handed off the phone to my mom and when she got on, she sounded surprisingly upbeat. Apparently, he was scheduled for a biopsy tomorrow but they can't do it because he's on aspirin and plavix. So he gets to go home for about a week. Then they will do a biopsy and once they know what kind of cancer it is, they'll know how to go from there. If it's one kind, they feel confident they can treat it with cancer so as weird as it sounds, we're all hoping it's that kind of cancer. He's on steroids right now and that's reducing the swelling on his brain, which was causing his inability to talk and eat. Also, the doctor took John's youngest son, also an alcoholic, and told him that under no circumstances should he give his father alcohol. Apparently, that has been an issue with John trying to stop. I hope whatever the doctor said to Matt put the fear of God into him too because he's heading down the same path as his dad.

So, today I have a lot to be thankful for. I have some pretty great, supportive friends. Tucker is on the mend, the other two are safe and healthy, and I am loved by all of them. John gets to spend Thanksgiving at home with my mom and seems to be doing better, despite what lies ahead for him. My aunt is healthy and as always, there for my mom and the family. I have a wonderful next door neighbor who brought me a container of her excellent potato salad. We (my dad, stepmother and I) are going to the Inn at Kelly's Ford for Thanksgiving so it's over the river and through the woods and somebody else cooks (this one makes my stepmother happy).

To all of you out there, Happy Thanksgiving! Or Happy Thursday if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving!

I have been very cranky lately (no surprise if you read my previous post). And judging by the general attitude around here, I think most people who live in this area right now are also very cranky. Why? Because of this freaking heat! It's now the 25th of September and for the past 4 - 5 days it's been well over 90 degrees. In September. We should have the windows open. We should be enjoying cool temps at night. Instead my AC is still cranking away and the mosquitoes are still biting. Summer is my least favorite season so I hate this more than I can say. It just stirs up an inner rage that makes me want to punch things. And I know that's not good. Also, I need rain. Where some people have seasonal depression because of rain, I get it due to the lack of rain. Only I don't get depressed. I get angry. Like now. I think I actually feel a little better writing all that out. At least I did until I just heard on the weather that we could have more 90 degree days in October. I wanted to punch the stupid weatherman.

( Now on to kitty TMI, hockey happiness, and a guy named Bill )

Oh, almost forgot, Happy Belated Birthday to smacky30! Hope you had a great day!

I survived the trip to Oklahoma with little to no mom incidents.

( I actually wish I'd stayed a little longer )

It's too bad Russia never showed up for the game with Canada. I had high hopes for a good game but that was pathetic. I blame the whole team but the Russian coach gave the game away.

( Hockey talk and other random thoughts )

If you don't like cats, run away now.

( This is probably about as interesting as looking at vacation pictures )

Dr. W called at 8:20am to say that Harry ate all his food and I cannot tell you all how relieved I was to hear that! He didn't eat anything all day yesterday but when she came in this morning, he had eaten all the RD (bland dry food) and all of the canned food. Boy got his appetite back! And (TMI alert) the squirts are gone! Whew!

He's still going to stay with Dr. W while I'm gone. He's taking about 4 different meds and she wants to make sure he is completely over it, but this went from a medical boarding to a spa getaway. She said they had him out and playing with a toy this morning and set him up so he can tunnel into the blankets in his little room. I know he'll love that.

Thanks so much to all of you. Maybe it was just a 'nature taking its course' thing but I really think all the good thoughts helped him. It sure as heck helped me!