The Great Bra Search – as I am certain you will be SO very pleased to hear – is OVER. I’ve located the perfect bra for me. Well, almost perfect. It ain’t the Olga Perfect Fit, but it’s as close to perfect as I think I’m going to get.
I scoured the internet, I thought I found a source for the Olgas (thank you again, reader Linda!) and I ordered 7 of them and sat back and waited…. and received one. ONE. Because they were out of stock. And hadn’t bothered to tell me before they shipped ONE instead of the SEVEN I ordered. Thanks a LOT, Lady Grace. I found – and ordered – the Olga Perfect Bra in 36DD instead of DDD. Couldn’t hurt to try, right? No dice. I really do need that third D, it appears.
So, the search was on. I don’t know how many bras I ordered, received, and tried on, it was probably in the neighborhood of 15. Bras would come via UPS, FedEx or USPS, I’d have high hopes, only to have them dashed time and again.
On a side note, how much does it piss me off that the bra they recommend to replace the Olga Perfect Fit doesn’t come in size 36DDD, only goes up to a double-D? Grrrrr.
So, finally, last weekend, I got my latest order from FreshPair – two different Wacoal bras and a Goddess. I tried on the Goddess and didn’t care for it. I tried on one of the Wacoals and… eh. Maybe. Then I tried on the second Wacoal – the 85567, FYI – and it fit perfectly. I’m giving up the search, calling it good enough, and sticking with my one lone Olga Perfect Fit bra and will order a couple more of the Wacoals to get me through to January, when I will hopefully have my upper body plastic surgery and the bra-searching will begin anew. JOY.
I hate that the MOST expensive bra I ordered was the one that worked, but I suppose sometimes you’ve gotta pay more to get something that works. Ugh.
So, thank you all for your suggestions and recommendations and keep in mind that just ’cause I didn’t end up with the bra you suggested doesn’t mean I don’t LOVE YOU. It just means our boobs have different needs, is all.
I think I’ve probably bitched about it in the past, but now that I’ve found a solution, let me bitch about it again. In the laundry room, we have two litter boxes. One is a top-entry litter box (this one, though I don’t leave the lid on) and the other is (was) a covered litter box (not this exact one, but similar). Some cats would use one litter box, some would use the other, and some would use both. I figured that the cats who used the covered litter box preferred not to have to jump so high to get in and use the litter box (Spanky and Miz Poo are getting toward the elderly side, after all. Also, Miz Poo has the portly thing going on as well.). BUT one or more of the cats who were using the covered litter box were peeing up the back of it, and because the covered litter box was only so high, the pee would go between the lid and the bottom of the litter box, and sometimes drip out the back.
Ugh.
I got around this problem by draping paper towels along the top of the bottom part of the litter box before I put the top part on (I apologize for the convolution of this paragraph), which stopped the urine from dripping out the back and sides of the litter box, but led to the funnest part of litter box scooping, which was removing the urine-soaked paper towels from between the upper and lower layers of the litter box before I could scoop, then replace the paper towels with clean paper towels.
Fun.
So I got it into my head that we could get a covered plastic container – like they sell for storage – that was approximately the height of the covered litter box and Fred could cut a hole in the front of the container so they could use it as a litter box, and they could pee up the side of the damn thing all they wanted, and it would just go back into the litter and not drip out the back. Only problem was, we couldn’t find a container as high as the covered litter box, and I didn’t want to go lower (I assumed the cats wouldn’t go for that), so when we were at Lowe’s one day Fred pointed out a container and suggested we give it a try, and I hemmed and hawed because it didn’t have a cover, and then I shrugged and figured “Fuck it”, because the worst that could happen is the little motherfuckers could pee on something else to register their displeasure and THEY ALREADY DO THAT, so we could give it a try.
Fred cut a hole in the container – a bucket, I guess you’d actually call it – and I dumped litter in it, and we waited to see what would happen. What happened is that the cats LOVE the damn thing. They’ve almost all gone to using it exclusively (though the other one gets occasional use). When Fred cut the hole in the front, he did it a little low, though, which meant that the cats were scattering litter all over the place, so this past weekend I stopped by Lowe’s and picked up another one, marked where the hole should go, and eureka! Perfect litter box!
The best part is that the buckets cost less than $6. Beat THAT price for a litter box!
I got an email from the shelter manager yesterday. Apparently they’ve never had a kitten season like this before – cats and kittens are coming in at a very fast rate, the shelter and all the foster homes are filled up, and adoptions are down. There are currently 55 (!) kittens in foster homes, at the pet store, and at the shelter. The shelter manager has come up with a new plan that will helpfully spur adoptions along (basically giving people the option to spend time with the kittens at their foster home – something she’s left up to each foster parent, they’re not required to let strangers into their homes). I’m more than willing to let prospective parents come spend time with the kittens here, and while I hope it helps move adoptions along, I also kinda hope it doesn’t, you know?
Ah well. I don’t know how anyone could resist these little faces once they see them, anyway.
Truly, he is SUCH a Momma’s boy.
Zoe was sitting in her fish. Just as I snapped the second picture, Kaylee’s paws came from out of nowhere for the smackdown.
More kitten pics over at Flickr.
Although he’s still wearing the collar, Sugarbutt is starting to act more like himself. Yesterday, he had a long stare-down with Joe Bob in the back yard, and then he chased him around the yard before sauntering over to the patio and settling down while looking fairly smug.
Previously
2007: It was quite a way to start the day, lemmetellya.
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.
2004: I am smooth like a Barbie doll, and as far as Iām concerned, everyone else in the world is lacking nipples and sexual organs.
2003: Although, my father used to say to me ‘Nando, don’t be a shnook. It’s not how you feel, it’s how you look! And roo look mahvelous!
2002: Because, my friends, I am a squeezer.
2001: Any excuse to hold up the Laziest Gal in the South title.
2000: No entry.
Lack of adoptive homes for kitties must be just another sign of Mr. Bush’s economic disaster we are facing. Gasoline, food,in fact EVERYTHING costing more and more. Your lovely garden will certainly be a help to you and Fred as prices keep rising.
Have you figured out which one of the cats has been doing the recent peeing (on the guest bed, in the kitty bed)? There are so many potential suspects! Are you ever tempted to set up a video camera to catch the culprit? Also, if one of them pees on a bed, how do you prevent the mattress from taking on that hideous cat pee smell? Do you have special Cat Lady techniques that you are willing to share with the world?
I love the idea of using a bucket for a litter box – y’all are genius! What’s the diameter of the bottom of the bucket? What are the dimensions of the hole and what did Fred use to cut the hole? I think we need an instructible!
What a great litter box idea!
Regarding cats. I got one for mother’s day. Well, I told my husband he wasn’t the boss of me and I wanted a kitten. One day my neighbor found a cat in our yard (husband claims she planted him there) I take him to the Humane Society. They are full as is every other shelter in our state. It must be “cat drop off month” I was told to take him to the SPCA. Couldn’t do it. Got him fixed, up-to-date with shots with the intention of giving him away. At this point (1 month later) I don’t think I can do it. He’s to nice and the kitten loves him. Too bad he hates the dog. Too bad the dog doesn’t get why he doesn’t like her.
Love the litter box idea. If I saw it unprepared I would have to wonder what the hell kind of cat you had…leopard, tiger? By the way, have you seen Wipeout on ABC? We watched last night and I am ashamed to admit we laughed our asses off. Good mindless summer TV with people getting the you know what knocked out of them. And then there are the Big Balls…
I don’t know how you do it. This morning I was digging in my closet for work clothes and found that the shirt I wanted had falled off the hanger and was on the floor. I picked it up and got a wiff and realized Darth Vadar had peed on it. I’m so sick of the smell of cat urine. I wanted to just strangle him. He’s lucky he wasn’t in the room.
We actually use a 30-gallon rubbermaid storage tub with the same setup, plus a LID. I love it because it holds about 40 pounds of litter so it’s always nice and deep and there’s no clumps stuck to the bottom (one of my cats used to like to digdigdigdig and pee on bare plastic — argh!). All three of my cats would use the same box, and the wall-peeer only occasionally aimed out the hole, and the litter flinger was unable to fling large amounts out anymore… Sorry — didn’t I ever tall you about this before? Now I feel responsible for your litterbox woes!!
Somebody beat me to the Bush theory. I am sure he had a hand in it somewhere. It’s tough all over, even for kitty parents! heh š
I think I need to try this. The tiny kitty I found almost a month ago has decided that the guest room bed is the place to do her business. I covered it with a plastic sheet, but still ewwww. She uses the litter box occasionally, but prefers the bed. I have made her smell it, then put her in the litter box, trying to teach her, and that doesn’t seem to work. Anybody have any great ideas for me? Other than this, she’s the perfect loving kitty.
Hydrogeek: When Vadar starting going everywhere, the first thing everyone told me was to take him to the vet to make sure he didn’t have a UTI or anything else wrong with him. Supposidly if they pee somewhere that isn’t normal that’s supposed to be them telling you something is wrong.
With Vadar however, he checked out just fine and he just likes to pee on my stuff when he’s mad at me for something. Like, I didn’t pet him 5099 and only pet him 5098 times or something.
You might want to consider the vet though if you haven’t. Then again if she’s just a kitten it could just be she doesn’t get it yet??
I bet that visitation idea will work wonders.
Elaine, you are correct. Wipeout is too effin funny! We snort and laugh the whole time. The first round is the best. I never get tired of folks coming down the ramp and sliding into the water and the announcers, both of which I loathe but for some reason the show outweighs them, state glibely, ” That isn’t supposed to be an obstacle.”
Robyn, I was wondering how it works with the kittys being stuck at the petstore before adoption. I foster dogs for a local rescue and we have adoptions on Saturday and sometimes Sunday for about 3-4 hours. We take the dog and stay there with them to discuss the pup with potential adopters. We actually get a say in whether the potential adopters can get the dog or not. Granted, they go through a ridiculous adoption screening, but sometimes the foster can just feel whether it will be a good fit. There are times when a potential adopter just screams to me that they shouldn’t take the dog. It is important to get a good fit. Just wondering if you get any input is all.
Hydrogeek: Three years ago (nearly), I took in three kittens that were born in the garage across the alley. Mama kitty was abandoned when the former tenants moved away, and was left to fend for herself. We captured the kittens and had them spayed and neutered. We never could catch the mama.
All three kittens outgrew their “feralness” fairly quickly, but one would not use the litter box. Not even her own special box. So, like the hard hearted asses we are, we made her be an outdoor kitty. She has a special area on the back covered patio that is somewhat protected, and she had adapted to outdoor living quite nicely. When she’s in the mood she gets to come in to eat, otherwise we just put food out the back door for her. She actually never covers her poop, even outdoors; she just does it on the lawn, like a dog. So, I’m thinking we did the right thing.
Also, she manages just fine in the cold weather – rain, a little snow – neither seem to bother her a bit.
I love the bucket idea too! Pity the OH didn’t go for it – our bathroom is a bit cramped at the moment and the covered litter tray *just* fits as it is. bummer.
Can you tell us more about that collar that Sugarbutt has on? I’ve never seen anything like it! I’m betting we probably don’t even get them in Australia though…
Robyn, this has nothing to do with anything, really, but I notice that Sugarbutt’s got SoftPaws on. I was just wondering if you could explain how you get these on the claws – is this an adventure that you take all alone, or do you have four hands to get the SoftPaws glued on? Do you throw towels over the cats to get them to not freak out and claw at you to get away?
Also, I was hoping you’d be able to offer a little advice. I’ve recently attempted and mostly succeeded at training my little Mia to scratch her climbing tower rather than the sofa, so I know I can sort of train her to do some things. We live pretty high up in an apartment highrise, and we have a large balcony with a railing which Mia, the little minx, has taken to jumping on. This not only gives us a heart attack, but also, if she jumps down off the railing on the other side there’s a ledge that goes all the way around the building, but it is certainly not big enough that I’m going to go walking out there after her. She has jumped on the railing, she’s jumped down on the other side, and she’s walked around a little bit on the ledge (it’s about 12 inches wide in most places so she’s not likely to fall off because of bad balance, but still). Each time, well, let’s just say I am displeased. Do you have any advice on how to train her to NOT jump on the railing? It seems my yelling her name and shaking treats to entice her inside when she does jump up there doesn’t seem to dissuade her from ever doing it again. Short of being able to teach her to cut it out, I’m going to have to keep the balcony door closed, which in this weather is not the most ideal solution.
Hi Robyn – love the litter box idea! Any suggestions as to what to do about a darling kitty girl that alwasy gets all four feet in the litter box to pee and then hangs her ass right over the edge so pee goes on the mat/paper towel rather than in the box? She gets all the was in the middle to poo, no problem, but not to pee (and the box is clean, so that isn’t an issue). Once in awhile the pee goes down the outside of the box, but most hits the floor just outside. Sigh. Anyone?
Hi Barbara,
My elder statesman did the same thing due to lack of mobility and what I did was get some puppy housetraining pads (I get them at target) and place them under the litter box. You need to leave a few inches of the pad showing outside of the edge of the box to catch the errant pee. Works pretty well. I don’t know what to do about getting her to pee inside the box. Maybe try a bigger box?
Thanks for the advice guys! At this point we’re going to try a different litter box option, but if that doesn’t work, she may just have to be an outside kitty. It’s almost time for her 2nd round of shots at the vet, but I really don’t think it’s a UTI problem because it’s ALWAYS on the spare bed (pee AND poop!), not in random places.