Vote for Gracie! It’s the last week of voting. Gracie’s currently solidly in first place, and I’d like to keep her that way. After Friday, the three judges get to decide who wins, so it’s not in the bag for Gracie even if she gets a bazillion votes – but it certainly won’t hurt!
So, I am back from Myrtle Beach! I had a really good time, although the weather didn’t much cooperate. It was warm, but until the last day I was there, it was overcast and rainy and very very windy. The day I left, it was hot and sunny, and if I hadn’t been already packed and ready to go, I would totally have gone for a swim.
We did a lot of shopping – more browsing than buying – and one of the rainy days, we went to see Ides of March, which I thought was really good.
We were definitely not the only ones who came up with the idea of going to the movies that day, either – the theater was pretty packed. I was worried we wouldn’t be able to find decent seats, so as soon as we got our tickets, we went in and got our seats, then my mother and I went out to the snack bar for popcorn and drinks. When we got back, there were people sitting next to us, and they had to stand up so we could go by to get to our seats. As soon as I sat down, the woman sitting next to me stood up, beckoned to her husband, and huffed off.
Well, pardon me for existing, BITCH.
Tuesday, we drove from Myrtle Beach to Charleston so that I could see the area (my parents have spent the better part of the past two winters on Kiawah Island) and BOY is that a gorgeous area.
Since the cats peed on my good camera, I had to take the small camera with me instead. I got some good pictures, but I’m going to save those for Thursday’s entry.
I’m going in for surgery on Wednesday for my neck lift revision. The surgery and recovery will be relatively quick compared to the breast lift/ upper arm lift/ neck lift I had back in February. I can’t scoop litter boxes or lift anything heavy (or turn my head sharply to either side) for two weeks, but after that I should be good to go. I’m tired of these surgeries, and I seriously considered just not having this surgery, but that area really bugs me and the surgery is costing me nothing at all, so I decided to just shut up and do it.
I spent most of the weekend getting the house whipped back into shape and working out in the yard. The leaves are starting to fall from the trees seriously now, and so I raked up a ton of them from the side yard and tossed them in my largest raised bed in hopes that they’ll compost and provide dirt that something might want to grow in next summer. Next time I rake, I’ll put the leaves around the bushes in the front flower beds, and once that’s done I’ll start tossing leaves on the garden before Fred tills it. With all these leaves falling, we might as well use them rather than rake them up and burn them, is what I think.
The most exciting news is that these were dropped off here over the weekend:
and the guys are supposed to be here this morning to start digging THE POND! They came on Saturday to spray paint the spots where they’ll be digging, and that is going to be one BIG pond. They estimate that it’ll take all week to get the job done.
Regarding the dark spot in Tommy’s eye, which you can see pretty well in this picture:
and this one:
I originally had an appointment for Tommy at the vet’s last Thursday, the day after I got back from Myrtle Beach. But I was fretting about it so much that Fred offered to take him on Monday just to shut me up.
Fred reported that the vet carefully looked at Tommy’s eye and then said that he shares our concern. We’re to keep an eye on his eye (heh) for the next two months. If the spot keeps growing, then Tommy’s eye will need to be removed.
I will, of course, keep y’all informed.
I weighed all the kittens over the weekend, and was very much NOT surprised that Harlan Peppers weighed in the heaviest at 5 pounds, 13 ounces. Everett was a distant second at 5 pounds, 4 ounces. Sally and Lucy were 4 pounds, 4 ounces (Sally) and 4 pounds 3 ounces (Lucy), and Molly was the lightest big Pepper at 3 pounds 7 ounces.
Those of you who feel bad for Charlie Peppers for being bullied? Don’t feel too bad for him. He stands up for himself quite well, and most of the time Molly puts up with him. He weighed in not much lighter than her, at 3 pounds 2 ounces, and little Patty Peppers was 2 pounds 10 ounces.
This is where Charlie and Patty, when they’ren not running around like wild things, like to hang out:
Several times a day, they curl up there and nap or watch the other cats run around. Charlie has turned into the biggest lovebug, and will sit at my feet or at Fred’s feet, and howl to be picked up and snuggled. Patty will put up with being snuggled, but she won’t ask for it, and if she’s not in the right mood for snuggling, she’ll run off if you reach for her.
Charlie in the sun.
Would you look at Harlan and Molly, resting after their hard work of ripping up that scratching post? Brats.
The huge Harlan Peppers.
“What? I’m sleeping. You go ‘way.”
Yes, I know, I need to tuck the blinds cord up out of the way. I did, after I snapped the picture.
I love how Sally and Everett’s stripes show up in this picture.
I sent my camera off to be (hopefully) fixed. I am DYING without it; using my little DSC-W300 is just NOT the same!
Hmm. Appears Jake might have a case of the loonies. How unusual.
Previously
2010: No entry.
2009: No entry.
2008: Questions and answers.
2007: At one point, Fred and I were on our computers and Nance and Rick were on their laptops in the dining room, and it was like a total dork convention.
2006: And since I’ll be dead long before then from (1) PSC, (2) Weight Loss Surgery (3) Heart Murmur or (4) Throat Chewed Open By Crazy Wild Cats, I’m not going to worry too much about it.
2005: And I like Nicole Kidman and I loathe Sean Penn and didn’t want to see him rubbing his liver lips all over her.
2004: No entry.
2003: Poor Stanley. All he wants to do it play, and none of the big cats will play with him.
2002: That’s a lot of poop to scoop.
2001: “I don’t like it,” he said haughtily. “It’s not even REAL lemon juice. It’s citric acid!”
2000: Now I just have to decide what to spend it on.
1999: When I got to the top of the stairs I found Tubby huddled there soaking wet, and Mr. Fancypants circling him in a hostile manner.
I hope Tommy’s eye turns out to be nothing serious!
I’m going to fret about Tommy’s eye now……one of my cats has finally got over an ulcer on her eye. Took over two months of treatment and at one stage we were treating her 16 times a day with various drops etc. You can imagine how well that went. Only using ointment twice a day now and I hope that won’t be for ever.
Aye aye aye…what? Someone had to say it. I hope Tommy’s eye gets better, not worse.
As for Gracie, 2280 after casting this morning’s vote.
Pirate Tommy… I’m sure if anyone (anycat) can deal with it, Tommy can.
But is the vet pretty sure on what it is? No referral to a cat eye specialist or anything if it gets worse? That sounds odd but I’m sure there would be such a person!
1) How could the judges choose any dog BUT Gracie? I mean, she IS smiling, her teeth are as white as white can be, and 2300 people canNOT be wrong.
2) POOR TOMMY!!! Echoing other comments: what does the vet think it is? And can you get a second opinion?
jac, there is certainly a cat eye specialist! We’ll probably get a second opinion on Tommy just to be safe, but we really like this vet – he’s seen it all – and I think that he’s probably right about this. Doesn’t hurt – and is always smart – to get a second opinion, though!
If it keeps growing, it’s likely that it’s iris melanoma – which is bad that it’s cancer, but good that removing the eye will likely stop it from spreading further.
Robyn I don’t want to sound like an alarmist but after 10 yrs in vet med. the last thing I’d want to do is take a 2 month wait and see approach w/a possible melanoma. They can be highly metastatic, especially in cats. Please take him to a veterinary ophthamologist soon. Yes removal of the eye is curative, but it can spread to other organs during this wait and see period. I had a cat w/a conjuctival malignant melanoma and it grew from nothing to a pea size lump in her eyelid in less than 1 week. 2 days after discovering it I was at the specialist & had it removed and she never had another problem w/it, but the specialist said speed was the key w/melanomas. I don’t want to freak you guys out, and I know I probably am, sorry.
Mia, I really appreciate your comment. I made an appointment for him today at 5 with our other vet; I expect it’s likely that she’ll refer us to a specialist.
See, by “cat eye specialist” I totally meant “veterinary ophthamologist”. And that is scary how quickly it could take hold – glad it looks like it’s hopefully nothing too serious…
Cool.
I’m so sorry about the Tommy eye situation.
sooooo sorry to hear about Tommy’s eye! Hopefully everything will turn out better than you think!
Regarding Charlie and Patty Peppers, and their “love bug” status….do you find that your little boy kitties are generally more that way than the girl kitties are? I keep hearing that female animals are generally more independent. You seem to be the best person to really know….given how many cats have been blessed to be with you.
Robyn, I’ll keep my fingers crossed for both you and Tommy that things go well this week. I’ll send some “shouts” your way. 🙂
2353 for Gracie!
I also hope Tommy’s eye will heal but I must tell you my new sister-in-law has a Greman Shepard who had an eye removed and the dog is doing very well living a happy normal life. So even if the eye must go he will still be ok.
I hope Tommy will be ok. Let us know what second vet and vet specialist say. We are all worried right along with you!
I hope Tommy’s eye is ok. I’ve never been to Kiawah Island, but 2 summers ago the man & I spent a week on Seabrook Island, which we loved. I suspect they’re pretty similar.
I hope Tommy is okay.
It’s cool that it’s been a week between kitten pictures-because now I can see how huge they’ve gotten! I honestly thought the first picture of the big peppers was one of your grown cats:-) They practically grew all up in just one week! Was it like that to come home and see them?
Love,
Annika in Sweden