*I Love You Kitty Boy*

Our sweet kitty boy passed away today.  We noticed a few weeks ago that he was looking thinner and getting a bit lethargic, more than normal for a house cat, but didn't think much of it. He was happy and getting along great with our older cat Niles. We only had adopted him in mid February and wondered if maybe the weight loss was from adapting to a new environment.  

We took him to the vet when we realized just how significant his problem seemed to be. The result was that he had a fatty liver and his muscles were deteriorating because he was too nauseous to eat.  He was also severely dehydrated.  He was given lots of fluids and after an ultrasound revealed no tumor or anything funky like that it was suggested that we take him home, force feed him until he started eating again on his own, and bring him back if nothing was improving. When the vet shaved his belly for the ultrasound we saw just how jaundiced his poor little body was. So yellow. 

He spent a few days at home over the heater vent licking up a teaspoon or two of water, but it was obvious that things were getting worse.  He went back in to the kitty doctor the next day and a biopsy of his liver was taken and more fluids were injected. That was on Friday and Saturday afternoon he hid under the far corner of my bed, something he has never done before.  He finally was coaxed out by lots of cozy hot air coming out of the heater vent.  I gave him lots of loves and had a little talk with him that if he was ready to go home we didn't want him to suffer any more.

Sunday he was breathing fast shallow breaths and not moving. It was the saddest thing I've ever seen. It was like all of the life was sucked out of him and he was just breathing out of habit.  His sweet playful personality was long gone at this point.  We called the vet and she agreed that the most humane thing to do was to put him to sleep so he wouldn't have to suffer through the rest of the night, or who knows how many more days. She did an x-ray of him and will tell us the results of the biopsy tomorrow so we may know what took our sweet boy from us. She said that the rapid decay of his back leg muscles and lack of reflex response signal that something neurological was going on as well. 

Whatever the cause may have been we know that he was a wonderful, loving, playful little boy (only about 6 years old) and that the 3 months we had with him were well worth it. I miss my little furry guy more than I can even express.
I love you Tosh Guster Chocolate Moose Colombo ♥

The Ideal Double Date

Yes, the past two evenings have been filled with a Pushing Dasies marathon which has been far too long in the making.  Kristin and I have a weakness for the nerdy too talkitive type and we realized tonight (via cross country and time zone texting) that we would make the ultimate foursome if finally combined with our TV sweethearts. We meaning; Ned the Piemaker and Kristin, Me and Chuck Bartowski of Chuck.  Wahoo! Here's our pretend date. Indulge me and play along?

Well here's Kristin's idea, it begins with dinner at Craigo's (the world's best pizza place, located in Rexburg,Idaho. Yes, there are potato flakes in the crust) and would continue for like, ever because it would end in Eureka (California) at Bon Boniere ice cream (the world's best frozen dairy).  Yes, my best friend is a fantastic schemer.  If you plan the world's longest dates to the best places then you get to spend all of that time with your favorite people! I'd like this arranged please.

Now my idea was an evening at the Buy More in the home theater room playing board games and watching both Tron movies (with cuddling being not optional) followed by something yummy at the Pie Hole. A delicious situation that I would love to find myself in.

But alas, I will not be going on this date any time soon. Nor will Kristin. But I do have a lovely kitty sitting on my back as I write this and I think that will do just fine for now.

Also, I'm not really sure why I chose the ridiculous picture of myself. But it seemed most fitting. And Kristin's new glasses are so cute!

Taking A 15 Minute Break

The packing police arrives tomorrow (aka mi madre) and I want her to be impressed by how much I have done. I actually amazed myself when I got ALL of my clothes except for jackets into a big green duffel bag and a little black carry on suitcase. Yes, the color of the luggage will help you visualize their size and my stuffing abilities better.  The donation pile downstairs is growing and growing and I'm thinking this is the most ruthless I have ever been with de-junking.

I can't figure out which makes me more sad though, getting rid of something that I bought new or getting rid of something that I thrifted or was given.  When I've purchased something full price I kind of expect myself to love it forever but my styles always changing or I really don't need the thing (like all of my kitchen stuff).  But when something is thrifted I've already decided that the item was a one of a kind treasure that was worth rescuing from guaranteed boredom to death on a dusty shelf.  How can I let something be double rejected?? That's just mean! Like kicking out a foster child.

So as I've been going through everything I have made a shopping resolution that I should be standing by better. If something is on sale, or a good buy at a thrift store, don't just get it because it is a steal.  Think about it. Would I buy it if it were full price? Because that is what makes it a good deal, actually getting better price than you planned! (But still feel free to have some of those thrifty impulses).

Here's my poster child for the story. Think long and hard like this kitteh...