Life – Page 17 – Bitchypoo

10/18/11 – Tuesday

From Karen – I volunteer with a small rescue group near Raleigh, NC named Alley Cats and Angels. We were recently contacted by another group looking for help with a very bad neglect situation. We took in three kittens and three adults, all in very poor shape. They’ve all been to the vet now, and … Continue reading “10/18/11 – Tuesday”

From Karen –

I volunteer with a small rescue group near Raleigh, NC named Alley Cats and Angels. We were recently contacted by another group looking for help with a very bad neglect situation. We took in three kittens and three adults, all in very poor shape. They’ve all been to the vet now, and though at first one vet thought at least one of the adults might be too far gone (she feared the foot wound infection had gone into the bones), we are now hopeful that all will be able to make it with proper care. But we could really use some help with the medical expenses for these cats, so have started a chipin campaign.

Our blog will be updated with ongoing status for these guys as they progress. The initial post about them is here.

Once again, the ChipIn for these poor kittens and cats is here. If you can help out, please do. Always remember that every little bit helps!

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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!

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I am very sad to report to you that this morning, I am taking Buster to Petsmart. I am hoping and praying that the right people come along and fall in love with and adopt him, the sooner the better. He is a super awesome cat, but this is not the home for him.

From the beginning, when we let him out into general population, he’s been very aggressive toward the other cats, especially Spanky. (Except Jake. Everyone just LOVES Jake, pretty much without exception.) If it were just a slap fight, I wouldn’t be so concerned – but Buster’s been going after Spanky for real, and Spanky is an old guy who really can’t kick butt the way he used to. Buster tried going after Alice, but Alice turned around and said “Really? You want to mess with ME?” and she showed him she’s not scared to stand up for herself. After that, Buster left her alone.

I know that some of you are thinking of any number of things we could try, but honestly we’ve tried everything. I feel terrible taking him to Petsmart, but this is truly not the home for my sweet Buster. He’s a people lover, and I think that if there were only a couple of cats in this house – cats who could stand up for themselves – he’d be okay. But the number of cats in this house stresses him out, and nothing we’ve tried changes that. He needs to be in a home where he isn’t constantly being stressed out and where he can’t ride roughshod over the other cats.

Like I said, Spanky’s an old guy. I think he deserves to live out his last years in peace. I’ve been truly concerned that Buster was going to hurt him, and I can’t let that happen. I’ve been sequestering Buster in the bathroom when I’m not here to be sure he isn’t going after Spanky, and that’s been stressing Buster out, too. It’s time to let him find his true forever home.

I understand if you’re disappointed in us (hey, wasn’t I super-judgy about the woman who gave Buster up? This is what I get! I wonder if this, and not her doctor telling her she shouldn’t be cleaning out litter boxes is the true reason she brought him back to the shelter.), but it’s a final decision on our part. I love Buster an awful lot, but I think that sometimes loving them means knowing when they’re not in a situation where they can be happy. I hope you understand.

“Am I not beautiful?” You are, Buster. You definitely, definitely are.

(And then he turned around and went after Corbie. Sigh.)

Watching the birds out the porthole window.

Hanging out on the dryer.

See the light spot in the middle of all the dark? I call that his angel’s kiss.

(It’s just the angle. His face isn’t quite that big!)

Bye, sweet Buster. I’m going to miss your goofy face, your drama queen complaints, how excited you get at snack time, your insatiable curiosity (“Hey, what’s up HERE?”) and your loud, loud purr.

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On Saturday, Fred and I left the house for PERHAPS twenty minutes. We drove up into town, dropped off a movie, and came home. In the time when we were gone, some fucking DOUCHEBAG drove his STUPID FUCKING ASS off the road onto our property, hit the utility pole, and then FUCKING LEFT.

Well, THAT doesn’t look safe.

At ALL.

Fred called the emergency number to let them know. A while later a utility truck came along, and the guy checked it out. Another utility truck came along a few minutes later, and the guys stood out there and talked it over, and then left. Then… nothing. Yesterday morning, another utility truck parked in the church parking lot, and the guys came over, looked the pole over, stood and talked on their cell phones, and then left.

Still, nothing.

I imagine that before they get around to replacing the pole, it’ll get windy, the whole fucking thing will fall over and THEN IT WILL BE A BIG FUCKING MESS.

You’ll remember – or maybe you won’t, in which case I’m reminding you – that about a year ago (possibly longer) some fucking DOUCHEBAG drove down the road, swerved off into our yard, took out the mailbox and just. kept. GOING. What the fucking fuck is up with fucking assfucks not stopping and fucking, I don’t know, AT LEAST FUCKING APOLOGIZING FOR FUCKING UP OUR PROPERTY?

There was also the guy who swerved off the road, flew across our property, went across the ditch, and finally came to a stop on the church property. Fred saw him very early the next morning, and tried to help him get his truck moved back onto the road, but had no luck. And then there was the guy who drove into the ditch between our property and the church property and had to be towed out.

I am thinking there’s maybe a reason the people who owned this house sold it.

And I know that four (there might have been one more I can’t think of) incidents in five years is not so bad, but mark my words – it’s only a matter of time before some stupid fucking douchebag drives off the road and into our HOUSE. Or into the garage. Because there’s always some douchebag douchin’ along being douchey.

AND PROBABLY TEXTING WHILE HE’S DRIVING.

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The pond guys showed up bright and early yesterday, and except for a half hour lunch, they worked hard all day long!

The first thing they did with the dirt they dug up was to dump some of it in the pig yard. The pigs have rooted up that yard but good, and when Fred mows out there, the mower gets stuck in the ruts. Once the pigs go off to freezer camp (at the end of the month, by the way), Fred will spread the dirt out and even out the yard.

The pigs reacted to those piles of dirt like they were piles of the MOST AWESOME STUFF EVER. They rooted around in the dirt, they ran up on the hills of dirt, and then they rolled around on their backs like dogs.

George and Gracie snoopervised all day long and thought it was the MOST awesome thing EVER.

I took this picture around noon:

Fred took this one around 4:30 (I was off taking Tommy to the vet) :

Fred stood in the trench that is the beginning of the long side (I think. Unless it’s the short side? Hell if I know.)

At the end of day 1, the pond guy guesstimated that the pond is less than 1/3 dug, and that we are going to end up with far, far more dirt than we need. Luckily, he knows a guy who’s building a house and may be interested in taking the extra dirt off our hands.

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Update on Tommy’s eye: Last night I took Tommy to see our other vet for a second opinion (the one I really like the most, but I hate to put the cats through the half hour drive up there). She took a long look at Tommy’s eye, and then said that she thinks it’s iris melanosis – in other words, a “freckle” on his iris. The patch of discoloration is flat rather than being like a growth and isn’t affecting his vision. Also, I brought the pictures of his eye from 2009 and 2010 to show her, and as the spot hasn’t grown much in two years, she doesn’t think that we have to worry about it being melanoma.

Of course we’ll keep an eye on it, and if there are any changes in the spot, she’ll refer us to a specialist. So – for now, at least – Tommy will keep both his pretty eyes.

(But there’s not any reason he couldn’t still go as a pirate for Halloween!)

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Molly totally looks like she’s in a Logitech ad, no? “When MY sister annoys me by sniffing at my back end, I take a deep breath and remember I have a Logitech mouse, and it’s all good.”

::pbllllt::

Molly and the Ears of Annoyance.

“WHAT. What you want, lady?”

Molly loves loves LOVES to be held on her back like a baby. She was purring up a storm when Fred snapped this picture.

Patty Peppers, keeping an eye on the goings-on.

“What’s going on over THERE?”

She’s the quiet observer, our Patty.

“WHAT.”

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“Wait. We’re ALLOWED to do that?!”

Um, no. No you’re not, Miz Poo. And neither is he. Not that it stops him any!

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Previously
2010: Back from Myrtle Beach!
2009: No entry.
2008: No entry.
2007: he’ll find them on his hard drive under “Memory Stick, October 18, 2007, Motherfucker.”
2006: I hope I mean that in a good way. I’m not sure yet.
2005: For at least five full seconds a big cartoon question mark appeared above my head and my brain flipped frantically through the instruction manual trying to figure out just what the fuck was going on.
2004: No entry.
2003: No entry.
2002: Poor, deformed Miz Poo.
2001: Ya gotta love the Poo.
2000: Remember that episode?
1999: I just love it when I don’t have to cook.

10/17/11 – Monday

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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.

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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.

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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!

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Hmm. Appears Jake might have a case of the loonies. How unusual.

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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.

10/14/11 – George & Gracie, Buster & Corbie Friday

I’m off the grid at the moment – visiting my parents in Myrtle Beach, SC where they have a timeshare. I’ve scheduled entries to post every morning at 6 am (central US time) Monday through Friday, so you won’t have to go without your daily entertainment courtesy of moi. They’re all picture (mostly cat) entries, … Continue reading “10/14/11 – George & Gracie, Buster & Corbie Friday”

I’m off the grid at the moment – visiting my parents in Myrtle Beach, SC where they have a timeshare. I’ve scheduled entries to post every morning at 6 am (central US time) Monday through Friday, so you won’t have to go without your daily entertainment courtesy of moi. They’re all picture (mostly cat) entries, high on pictures, low on words. Just the way you like it!

I don’t expect to be able to check my email or Facebook or anything, but I’ll probably post to Twitter every now and again, so you can check there. Be good, and if you can’t be good, take notes and tell me all about it when I get back! 🙂

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Vote for Gracie! (Thank you!)

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George and Gracie Friday!

George is always on the alert for trouble.

“Hrm?”

Thank god Gracie’s on the case!

::thlarp::

“Nuttin’ over there.”

“Chickens is safe.”

::sigh::

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Buster & Corbie Friday!

Buster has NO dignity.

None at all.

And clearly it runs in the family.

They’re such pretty boys.

This is where Buster likes to hang out during the day.

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Nothin’ Charlie likes more than to bite Patty’s tail.

Lucy Peppers keeps an eye on her brothers.

Charlie discovered the side table in the front room.

(I know the posts have been kind of lacking in foster kittens this week. I’ll make it up to you, promise!)

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Alice disapproves of this “kitten” nonsense.

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Previously
2010: No entry.
2009: Terry the Mouth (with a special vocal performance by Hoyt!).
2008: He’s not usually pink, for the record.
2007: No entry.
2006: No entry.
2005: “M-O-O-N!” Fred said. “That spells Tom Cullen!”
2004: No entry.
2003: I’m pretty certain “Never going to fucking go hiking with him EVER A-FUCKING-GAIN” crossed my mind at least once.
2002: Hotel room so big/ roomy, spacious, perfect. Butt/ is what it smells like.
2001: No entry.
2000: No entry.
1999: Don’t get your bippies in an uproar, though; we’re not trying to get pregnant.

10/13/11 – Crooked Acres Thursday

I’m off the grid at the moment – visiting my parents in Myrtle Beach, SC where they have a timeshare. I’ve scheduled entries to post every morning at 6 am (central US time) Monday through Friday, so you won’t have to go without your daily entertainment courtesy of moi. They’re all picture (mostly cat) entries, high on pictures, low on words. Just the way you like it!

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Vote for Gracie! (Thank you!)

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Sights from around Crooked Acres.

Dem pups.

Ducks. They’ve grown so much since we got them!

They’re always this close together. I don’t know for sure, but I’m thinking we’ve got four girl duckies, here. (Yay!)

Mama hen and her babies.

Someone asked what the daddy of all those babies looks like. This is him, the only grown rooster we have. He’s a big boy, and apparently QUITE fertile.

Two mamas and a gaggle of babies.

Snoozin’ pigs.

::perk::

::stampede::

“You has cookies?”

Stampeding tires a girl out.

Silkie. I call her the angry Muppet.

Ducks like tomatoes too. Go figure.

Crested Golden Polish (ie, The Rock Star) is the prettiest chicken we have, if you ask me.

Not quacking yet, but he’s getting there.

Caught in the act of taking a dust bath. Doesn’t she look guilty?

Lone duck, separated from the other three.

The volunteer tomato plant at the edge of the chicken yard. It didn’t get very big (it wasn’t watered very often), but it’s still producing!

Wee baby chick.

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Harlan has a crush.

“Hey, mister!”

“Hi!”

::smooch::

“What was THAT?”

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Previously
2010: Greetings from Myrtle Beach.
2009: “This would be the perfect time to clean out the refrigerator,” Fred said, all perky-like.
2008: Like I was having a temper tantrum, so I grabbed his list and took off so he couldn’t check it twice.
2007: No entry.
2006: I sure do wish I was going to see Callie Torres and not some old guy.
2005: Does this mean I’m getting old?
2004: No entry.
2003: Bringing home Mister Boogers.
2002: No entry.
2001: No entry.
2000: All about the cats.
1999: I certainly am bitching a lot today, aren’t I?

10/12/11 – Spanky, Elwood, Jake, and Buster Wednesday

I’m off the grid at the moment – visiting my parents in Myrtle Beach, SC where they have a timeshare. I’ve scheduled entries to post every morning at 6 am (central US time) Monday through Friday, so you won’t have to go without your daily entertainment courtesy of moi. They’re all picture (mostly cat) entries, … Continue reading “10/12/11 – Spanky, Elwood, Jake, and Buster Wednesday”

I’m off the grid at the moment – visiting my parents in Myrtle Beach, SC where they have a timeshare. I’ve scheduled entries to post every morning at 6 am (central US time) Monday through Friday, so you won’t have to go without your daily entertainment courtesy of moi. They’re all picture (mostly cat) entries, high on pictures, low on words. Just the way you like it!

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Vote for Gracie! (Thank you!)

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Spanky (and Elwood!) Wednesday

This is where Spanky spends his mornings, sitting on this box which is located right next to my chair. Every now and then he gives me this look.

Late morning/ early afternoon, he moves to the living room. This is HIS spot on the couch.

He ventures outside when it warms up and moseys around.

Mosey.

Glare.

He must have sensed Elwood coming up from behind.

Elwood’s all “Whatcha lookin’ at?”

Spanky’s appalled face is cracking me UP.

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Buster and Jake Wednesday

“If I don’t look at him, he isn’t there.”

“If I don’t look at him, he isn’t sniffing my paws.”

“If I don’t look at him, he isn’t sniffing my ear trying to start a fight.”

“WHAT?”
“Gee your breath smells terrific.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere, mister.”

::smooch::

“I LOVE YOU.”
“Of course you do. Everyone loves the Jakey.”

“I LOOOOOOVE YO-”
“I’m late for an appointment. BYE.”

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Everett Peppers and the pretty gold eyes.

Sally checks out the scratcher. See that scratcher? Brand spanking new. Elwood sat on it and crushed it ten seconds after I took it out of the wrapping.

“WHAT HAFF WE HERE?” Detective Harlan Peppers, on the case.

Lucy, getting ready to jump.

Molly Peppers might be gorgeous, but she’s mean as a snake when it comes to little Charlie Peppers. She just doesn’t like the cut of his jib. Or something.

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Previously
2010: No entry.
2009: “He needs one of Lieutenant Dan’s magic legs,” I said.
2008: No entry.
2007: Robyn, why do you use so goddamn many exclamation points?! It makes my eyes hurt.
2006: “Dude, that’s gross,” I said to Spot, who didn’t care and gave me a nasty look as I picked it up and threw it away.
2005: I hate those stupid tests. I always think I’m going to find out some deep, hidden truth about myself, and then I get “Oh! You should be an artist! You’re the artistic type!” Bah.
2004: No entry.
2003: No entry.
2002: No entry.
2001: TV talk.
2000: I’m about the laziest chick in the world, I think.
1999: Yeah. I’m a bitch.

10/11/11 – BUGS Tuesday

I’m off the grid at the moment – visiting my parents in Myrtle Beach, SC where they have a timeshare. I’ve scheduled entries to post every morning at 6 am (central US time) Monday through Friday, so you won’t have to go without your daily entertainment courtesy of moi. They’re all picture (mostly cat) entries, high on pictures, low on words. Just the way you like it!

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Vote for Gracie! (Thank you!)

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BUGS! Tuesday

(Note: There are kitten pics, if you’d rather skip the bug pics. They’re not THAT scary, wimps. Also, Elayne, no frogs. I promise.)

Praying mantis. We almost never see these around here, I’d seen maybe three or four in the five years we’ve lived here. I think they’re really neat, but they kind of scare me.

Young assassin bug.

Hanging out on the rain gauge (which is dry).

I think assassin bugs are really kind of neat-looking when they’re little.

Also, they eat flies, which is A-OK with me.

They can hang out in the rain gauge forever, as far as I’m concerned.

BUT.

When they get big and ugly

and hang out on the okra and eyeball me like they’d like to chew my face off

then I’d kind of prefer them to move along, thanks.

MOTH SEX. Didn’t know you’d be seeing insect porn today, did you? (I assume they were mating. They were attached at the back end, in any case.)

Web. I don’t know where the spider was. Maybe she gave up and left because the assassin bugs were getting all the flies.

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They really do love that cat tree an awful lot.

Especially the hammock part.

Leapin’ Molly.

Charlie Peppers in the sun.

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Alice is exhausted from her perusal of the Gardener’s catalog.

She’s a Ham-mick loving monkey.

Alice has a theme song. It goes:

Alice Mo
the calico
sure does love
her daddy!

If I could sing at all, I’d totally record that for you. I need to look into getting me one of those Auto-Tune programs!

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Previously
2010: Yes, that IS an eye booger on his cheek.
2009: No entry.
2008: No entry.
2007: I was so concerned for their safety that I ran and got the camera. Ahem.
2006: But there’s no horn on the lawnmower!
2005: Did you feel the earth shake too?
2004: No entry.
2003: No entry.
2002: No entry.
2001: No entry.
2000: My breasts are strawberry scented.
1999: I was ambitious today.

10/10/11 – Maxi Monday

I’m off the grid at the moment – visiting my parents in Myrtle Beach, SC where they have a timeshare. I’ve scheduled entries to post every morning at 6 am (central US time) Monday through Friday, so you won’t have to go without your daily entertainment courtesy of moi. They’re all picture (mostly cat) entries, high on pictures, low on words. Just the way you like it!

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Vote for Gracie! (Thank you!)

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Maxi Monday.

Fred went outside, where Maxi was hanging out on the side stoop. She spends a lot of time there, just keeping an eye on things.

Something seemed different about her.

She seemed a little… I don’t know…

FANGY.

Just hanging out…

With her fangs out…

Just checking out the sights.

Honestly, I don’t know where those fangs came from. They seem especially long.

I swear it’s like she’s got fake teeth in, but she doesn’t.

Maybe she was bit by a bat?

“Who, me?”

“What fangs?”

“Come a little closer…”

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Charlie Peppers and Harlan Peppers, checking out the cat tree in the front room.

Harlan Peppers checking out, I don’t know. The ceiling? He’s such a laid-back goofball, this one. He reminds me a lot of Sugarbutt, only less hissy about having his space invaded.

More cat tree hijinks.

Everett, checking out the front porch.

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Previously
2010: No entry.
2009: No entry.
2008: What kind of freak writes a daily journal for nine years?
2007: “Because you’re a spineless, self-indulgent, self-absorbed narcissist, DUH.”
2006: As of today, I’ve been journaling for seven years.
2005: What I’m not going to miss is the rotten-egg gas Sugarbutt’s been suffering from lately.
2004: Off to Myrtle Beach.
2003: Instead, we should probably go for “Shizzle M. Andersizzle.”
2002: Why I journal.
2001: No entry.
2000: Okay, enough of that mushy crap.
1999: So. Welcome to my journal.

10/7/11 – Friday

Vote for Gracie! (Thank you!) Gracie is the Healthy Smile of the Week, but the voting for the “Next Pet Star” doesn’t end until October 21st, so please keep voting, please! She’s in first place (at least at the moment I’m typing this), and I’d like to keep her there. Once October 21st comes, then … Continue reading “10/7/11 – Friday”

Vote for Gracie! (Thank you!)

Gracie is the Healthy Smile of the Week, but the voting for the “Next Pet Star” doesn’t end until October 21st, so please keep voting, please! She’s in first place (at least at the moment I’m typing this), and I’d like to keep her there. Once October 21st comes, then the judges take over and decide who the final winner is. I think it should be Gracie!

Thanks again, those of you who’ve voted (and those who want to but can’t!), Gracie thinks y’all RAWK!

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Wednesday afternoon, Fred had to work later than usual. This doesn’t happen very often, but when it does it falls to me to feed the pigs and toss out the scratch for the chickens, refill the waterers, and gather the eggs. Feeding the pigs used to consist of dumping their food in their trough, but that changed last week. One of the pigs is going to a different processor – one that the guy who’s buying the pig prefers – and she needs to go next week, because after the end of October this processor only processes deer.

(The other two pigs will go sometime in November, I believe.)

So because the guy who’s buying the pig who will go next week wants her to go to the other processor, he brought his livestock trailer to the house this past weekend, and he and Fred set it up so that the pigs have to go up into the trailer to eat. (This is so that on Monday, they won’t have to chase the pig into the trailer, because she’ll already be in there eating.) Unlike our trailer, which is open-topped, this trailer has a roof on it, so you can’t just get up on the hitch and dump the food over the side of the trailer into the trough. You have to walk across the pig yard and go into the trailer and dump the food in the trough.

Since Fred has been feeding the pigs since the trailer was set up, I didn’t realize I’d have to enter the pig yard until he called and asked me to feed them.

Now, the pigs are about 200 pounds each, which means that they far outweigh me, and I had JUST THAT MORNING been laughing with the lady who cuts my hair about how I do NOT go into the pig yard ’cause I don’t want them to knock me down and eat me.

I told Fred I’d feed the pigs and I put on my figurative big girl panties and went out to the pig yard, bucket of scraps in hand. The pigs greeted me at the gate, and then watched me open the gate. As I started walking across the yard they took turns pressing their snouts against me, none too gently.

“Quit it!” I shouted, and waved my hand in their direction. This used to startle them and send them running. You know, back when they weighed about 30 pounds each. Now that they outweigh me, the waving of my arm and a shout doesn’t apparently scare them much. At ALL, really. They ignored me and got more aggressive about rubbing their muddy snouts all over my shorts and the hem of my shirt.

“QUIT IT!” I yelled and waved my arm again, again to no avail.

And then one of them shoved me and I fell to my knees. Then another grabbed my arm in her mouth and suddenly the “Yeah, Fred will come home from work and he’ll be ‘Where’s Robyn? In the pig yard? No, IN THE PIGS!'” seemed a little less funny.

I was absolutely terrified, and if you’d been watching me from a distance, I imagine you would have thought that I’d been hit by a jolt of electricity, because I screamed and started flailing both arms and punched the nearest pig and struggled to my feet. The pigs had moved away from me, but as I got to my feet they were too close for comfort, and I grabbed the bucket and dumped the food on the ground, and then clanged the bucket against the nearest pig’s head and I ran out of that yard as fast as I could. The pigs, seeing the pile of food on the ground, ignored me in favor of food that didn’t scream and flail.

When I got into the house, after I showered the mud off me and inspected my appendages to be sure they were all there and inspected my arm to see if it was okay (it was; it’s a little bruised today, but no broken skin), I threw my clothes into the washer and emailed Fred and said “In the future, if you work late, the pigs eat late.”

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Yesterday, one of the Peppers was doing something super-cute, so I went looking for the big, expensive, good camera, a Sony DSLR-A100 that we bought shortly after we moved into this house, the camera I get most of my good pictures with. It was sitting on the table, where I’d left it, under a pile of (clean) cleaning rags, which I’d dumped there until I got around to folding them and putting them away.

As I picked up the camera, I noticed something dripping off of it, and I knew. I just KNEW. Things had been going too well, and things had been too quiet.

Someone had peed on the camera.

As I picked it up, I turned it over to see, well, had someone peed on the rags and a little got on the camera or had they soaked the camera? One instant I realized that they’d soaked the camera, and the next instant it slipped out of my hands and hit the floor and I heard something crack in a rather disturbing way.

Today, the camera stinks like cat pee (I wiped it down with Nose Offense the best I could, but it didn’t do a lot of good) and that’s okay because, hey. It doesn’t work anyway!

On the good side, I do have the little camera – the DSC-W300 – to take pictures with while the big camera is off in Texas being examined to see if there’s anything that can be done with it.

I really need a vacation right about now.

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From Miz S:

I feel compelled to tell you this story: my sister-in-law recently took some turkey sandwich meat out of the kitchen trash can (I AM NOT LYING) because she insisted it was still good even though 2 different people had sniffed it and pronounced it not fit for consumption. Several hours later, she was sick to her stomach. According to her, she felt sick because she had eaten Thai food the night before. HA!

That is both revolting and hilarious – and also, it makes me think of the Seinfeld episode where George took the donut out of the trash and took a bite just as his girlfriend’s mother walked into the kitchen.

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This is going to sound a bit weird, but since I know you think it’s fun when your readers dream about you – in my dream last night, you and Fred visited us at our family’s summer house by the sea in the south of Norway. We all went swimming in the sea, for some reason in the seaweedy place rather than off the pier in the deep water, and our bedrooms were heavily spider-infested, though luckily you didn’t seem to mind (and don’t worry, there are no poisonous spiders in Norway!).

So yeah, I’m not a weird stalker or anything, I swear – but I’ve been reading you regularly for about ten years, so I guess it’s no wonder that you should show up in my dreams 🙂

I LOVE it when y’all dream about us!

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Your Meyer lemon tree and tomato plants look unmolested. Do you get a lot of bunnies and squirrels nomming on them?

I think the occasional squirrel goes after the occasional tomato, but Maxi and Newt hang out in the garden a lot, and I believe the squirrels and bunnies don’t visit very often.

Actually, I think the squirrels are more interested in the pecan trees, which is probably why they don’t spend much time going after the tomatoes!

There’s been no harm to the Meyer lemon tree, but it’s in a little fenced area (with my raised beds), so is probably a pain in the butt to get to.

I can’t remember the last time I saw a bunny. We used to see them running across the back forty a lot, but that was before we fenced it in and got George and Gracie, so they probably found greener pastures to hop across.

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We need to start up a collection to get you a new kitchen rug – your current rug is pretty but it does not provide a proper compliment to the cats. A few of them just fade into it especially Miz Poo – and that ain’t right! What were you thinking?

I was thinking “That’s a good price!” 🙂

We got that rug at the local flea market, it wasn’t horribly expensive, and I knew I did NOT want a solid-color rug. If Miz Poo wants to be properly displayed, she knows she can go to the couch or the carpet in the foster room!

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I’ve been meaning to tell you that a while back, I read one of your old entries where you mention Andrew Vachss’ Burke series of books, which then made me check which ones I hadn’t read – which was surprisingly a lot. So for about 10 days straight I was obsessed with Burke and his family. Thinking of it again to thank you for the short lived obsession as I box them up for goodwill and someone else to enjoy.

I LOVED the Burke series and I was sorry to see it end – though they did get a bit, uh, complicated toward the end of the series, and I know that more than once I thought “I do not have any clue what’s going on here, but I love you, Burke.”

I’m glad you enjoyed them, too!

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Question completely off topic – have you ever tried making your own cheese? I’m thinking of mozzarella and ricotta – soft cheeses – not the hard kinds with rind. If so, do you have a recipe?

I have never made my own cheese, actually! Wine.woot had a “make your own mozzarella” kit for sale a few weeks ago and I ordered one, but haven’t received it yet. I’m looking forward to giving it a try, if only for the experience. Probably if we had our own cow I’d be more gung-ho about cheese-making. I love reading about Suzanne McMinn’s cheese-making experiences, I bet she’s got some good recipes over there!

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Robyn, I don’t know if anyone else has said this before, but you keep having these crops of Peppers and I keep reading Peepers. I think you need to name a round of Peepers soon.

When I thought I was going to have a bottle baby several weeks ago, all I knew was that she was a calico and I had decided I was going to name her Polly Pickles. Then when I got Charlie and Patty, I thought about naming them Polly and Peter Pickles, before I decided I wasn’t done with the Peppers surname (also, I really want to save “Polly Pickles” for a wee calico for some reason).

Which is neither here nor there, really – I kind of like “Peepers” as a surname, but I may have to put it off for a while until my fingers stop wanting to type “Peppers” instead of “Peepers!”

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I was thinking about your babies yesterday – have you had a batch named after candy bars yet? Because Zagnut would be the perfect name for an orange kitty. 😉

I have not had a batch named after candy bars, but I did have a Skittles a few years ago!

I like the name “Zagnut” for a cat. I know that a lot of candy bar names (Snickers, for one) have been used for Challenger’s House cats in the past, but y’all leave candy bar name suggestions, I’ll add them to my list of potential foster names!

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Did you tell us that you use olive oil to wipe down the sides and bottom of the clean litter boxes to keep the stuff from sticking? Does that work? I’ve got a spray can of PAM that I refuse to use for food purposes and wondered if that would do the trick? Ever used spray Pam? The main issue I have is that Mackie never aims his butt in the MIDDLE of the litter box, but just kind of haphazardly pees on the SIDES where there is no litter to dehydrate it.

I have used both regular olive oil AND spray Pam, and both work really well – the spray Pam more so than the olive oil, but the olive oil will do in a pinch!

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That yum yum cat reminded of NONONONO cat.

That video freaked me OUT at first, because I thought “What the HELL are they doing to that cat?!”, but apparently the cat was looking at a friend (of the video poster’s daughter)(that’s not a convoluted description, is it?) and making that noise. I’m going to have to state right now that if any of my cats look at someone and make that noise, whoever they’re making the noise at is just going to have to live with not being able to come into my house because I wouldn’t be able to handle it!

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From Elayne:

I honestly don’t mean to be a concern troll or a downer, but I’m actually a bit worried about the cat in that video eating from the spoon. I know a lot of cats will making “mine all mine” noises while they eat, especially if the food is not in a traditional food bowl, but it’s the way he moves his head that bothers me. Those noises and head/mouth movements were EXACTLY what Mr.T was doing, in the days before I learned that his mouth had basically turned into an enormous maggot-ridden* ulcer**.

So at the risk of being That Commentor (sorry), I would encourage anyone whose cat is doing this to check the cat’s mouth, or better yet have the vet check the cat’s mouth, just in case it’s a pain reaction and not just a “don’t you think about taking my food away” reaction.

*To be fair, I don’t know for sure that the maggot came from his mouth. I mean, I saw it fall from his mouth, but IT wasn’t bloody and his mouth definitely WAS, so maybe it had been hitching a ride in his fur or something, or in the towel I had wrapped him in, and just chose that moment to appear. I never did ask the vet about it, first because his kidney stuff was more important, and then because it was all irrelevant.

**Mr.T was never a sit-by-you, let-you-pick-him-up, come-when-you-call kind of cat; he was always reclusive and aloof and don’t-touch-me, so I didn’t realize that he was losing weight until he’d already lost a ton. He obviously wasn’t eating, so I got a jar of baby food, and he tried to eat that, but made those noises and head movements, which was when I noticed that his mouth was bleeding. I took him to the vet right away, but it wasn’t soon enough. He had massive kidney failure, and the vet said that apparently the buildup of toxins in his bloodstream and tissues had caused the mucus membranes to ulcerate – which of course was why he was barely eating, and losing so much weight, and when he DID eat, even babyfood or broth, he made those noises and those head movements because it was hurting him so much to eat. The vet tried for almost a week to kickstart his kidney function, but in the end we had to put him down.

I don’t consider your comment to be at all trollish, Elayne! (And I’m sorry about Mr. T.)

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And will you look at all those cat beds on the shelf in the background of the pic with Molly and Harlan…LOL

Horrifying, isn’t it? And lately, I’ve been looking at patterns online to see how hard it is to make a “donut” cat bed. I’ve found instructions that indicate it’s not too hard, and I have all this material that I keep buying, so I think it’s only a matter of time before I actually make one. I’m not much of a seamstress, though, so I’m not confident that I’ll be able to do it (just sewing a straight line is, I swear to you, beyond me sometimes), but if I can, it will be ALL OVER. You won’t be able to go two feet in this house without having to step across a cat bed.

(Oh, wait. You already can’t do that!)

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What’s the little spot in Tommy’s right eye? I just noticed it in his last couple of pictures.

I recently noticed that spot and just went back through his pictures to see when it turned up. About a year ago, there was a very small, light spot there, but the year before there was no spot at all. He’s got an appointment next Thursday with the vet. I’m hoping it’s nothing, but I’m worried. He’s always had the most beautiful eyes, I can’t believe it took me so long to notice that spot.

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The bigger Peppers are looking huge; how old are they now?

They’ll be 4 months old on the 12th and they’ve hit that ridiculously long and lanky stage. Remember what scared little hissers they were when we first got ’em, two months ago?

They’ve come a long way, baby!

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Patty Peppers vants to be alone.

It’s a rough life, Charlie Peppers.

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Glaring Sally Peppers.

Check out the size of Harlan’s paw. He’s going to be huuuuuuuuuge.

Peppers taking over the couch!

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The Beautiful Bookworm Boys!

I managed to get exactly two pictures of Buster and Corbie together this week.

(“Together” might be a bit of an overstatement.)

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Previously
2010: Crooked Acres tour continues.
2009: “That’s like me!” Fred said. “Maybe I’m schizophrenic! I always need stimulation!”
2008: And he likes the chickens, but I think if a hawk swooped down and snatched one up while he was watching, it would make his YEAR.
2007: No entry.
2006: No entry.
2005: 9. What is your biggest mistake? Immediately believing what I’m told without standing back and thinking about it.
2004: Reader requests.
2003: Why have kids if you aren’t going to make them do the scut work?
2002: You know, I don’t even have the words.
2001: No entry.
2000: No entry.

10/6/11 – Crooked Acres Thursday

Vote for Gracie! (Thank you!) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Sights from around Crooked Acres. Probably the last Rose of Sharon bloom for the season. I am now understanding why y’all were amazed that I planted Purslane. … Continue reading “10/6/11 – Crooked Acres Thursday”

Vote for Gracie! (Thank you!)

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Sights from around Crooked Acres.

Probably the last Rose of Sharon bloom for the season.

I am now understanding why y’all were amazed that I planted Purslane. Invasive is exactly the word I’d use to describe this stuff. It’s growing EVERYWHERE now. (On the plus side, next year I’ll just harvest it from the lawn!)

Left to right, Meyer Lemon tree, sweet gum tree (which started growing in the driveway, then Fred potted it to see if he could keep it growing. Because we don’t have enough sweet gum trees. Please, can we have more gum balls to slip on in the Fall and Winter?) and garlic chives, which didn’t do much this summer.

Leaves are finally changing.

Volunteer tomato plant in the middle of the row of butternut squash.

Teeny tiny butternut squash. Hope springs eternal, I guess.

If he plants Tabasco peppers next year, I’m going to kill him. What a PAIN to deal with, these tiny peppers.

Morning Glory, I love you.

Okra flower. So so pretty.

Sungold tomatoes. I finally started pulling up the tomato plants earlier this week – got about half of them pulled up – and got a huge bucket of split and chewed-on tomatoes for the pigs and chickens. I’m going to pull the rest of the tomatoes up later today. Time to put the big garden to bed.

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Charlie Peppers now has the nickname “Chuckles.” Patty’s nickname is “Sissy.” I remember a time when I thought Charlie Peppers was never going to meow, he was so quiet. Now he’s the whiniest little complainer I’ve ever seen. Good thing he’s cute.

“I sleep now. You go ‘way.”

“HEY. Where you goin’?!”

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Molly, near the laptop where Fred works on his book. One day he reported that when he sat down to write, the document had a row of Ts across the bottom. Clearly Molly wants to be a writer, too!

The face. The little crossed eyes. Doesn’t Lucy Peppers just kill you DEAD?

Molly makes herself at home.

Tree full o’ Peppers.

Pepper tree!

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In the evening, when it gets dark out, we call all the cats inside so we can close the back door. As a reward for coming inside, they get crunchies. Some cats like them, others don’t. These cats assuredly do.

Tommy, Jake, Elwood, Buster, Miz Poo, Corbie.

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Previously
2010: “I SAID stop making the googly eyes at me, Melodie!”
2009: I love me a good juicy Asshole.
2008: Pretty batshit crazy, as it turns out.
2007: No entry.
2006: You all have my full permission to skip the boring stuff to get to the cute kitten stuff.
2005: I forsee a lot of spud-teasing this evening.
2004: Phil Hellmuth is a whiny little bitch.
2003: “And then he told me he likes to have sex with you in the break room every day at 11!” he lied.
2002: No entry.
2001: Recovery.
2000: No one ever said I had a long attention span!

10/5/11 – Kitteh Wednesday

Vote for Gracie! (Thank you!) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Y’all, put on your advising hats, please! I’ve got two questions that I know y’all can help out with. First, Lori: I have a kitten question so … Continue reading “10/5/11 – Kitteh Wednesday”

Vote for Gracie! (Thank you!)

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Y’all, put on your advising hats, please! I’ve got two questions that I know y’all can help out with. First, Lori:

I have a kitten question so thought I would go to the expert. I have had all ranges of animals, but I have never had a kitten so ignore my ignorance please.

Approximately a little over a month ago, I suddenly aquired a tiny kitten in my horse barn. He/She has never allowed me close, as she runs and hides but loves to hang out with my horses. I purchased kitten food and have been feeding it daily in a protected old grainery. I have no idea whether the kitten has another home and/or is provided food, but it is eating well, so I guess not.
If it is to stay, which I do not mind, what is your knowledge about if, and if so, how to get it to interact with me in the future? If it stays, I do want it neutered and vaccinated. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

(Lori, I’m posting this at Love & Hisses as well, so make sure you check the comments over there, too!)

I’m going to bet that the best way to make progress in interacting with the kitten is to use food. Work on getting closer to the kitten as he’s eating – if need be, you can use canned kitten food or Gerber chicken and gravy baby food to make it more enticing. Once he allows you get close to him, start trying to pet him and go from there.

It’s hard to know whether that will work or not, though, because of course we don’t know whether he’s been around people before and is just skittish, or if he’s feral. In a perfect world, you’d be able to trap him and bring him inside and work on socializing him from there, but I know that’s not always possible. Hopefully other people will have other suggestions!

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I have a question for you & your amazing readers. My little boy, Vash (5 years old) has been very sullen lately. He lays around a lot (which cats do – but he seems excessive), and is whiny a lot. He also wants to play with Kairi (his sister), but most often she doesn’t want to play. Do you have any toy suggestions for him? He plays with lasers but gets frustrated because there isn’t anything physical to catch. He loves Da Bird, but breaks them quickly. We recently found some spring toys that he loves, but I was hoping that you (& your readers) could maybe suggest some more toys for him. I tell my husband I think he needs a little brother (a kitten) to play with, but that’s really NOT an option for us. I want to help my little Dude. If he spoke English I know he’d tell us what he wants, but he’s horrible at English and he can’t sign so he just MEOWS and MEOWS and MEOWS and we don’t know what to do!

A little more story – we thought he just might want more attention, but no matter how much attention we give him – whether we’re playing with him, petting him, or cuddling with him – he seems to get grumpy and sullen after a bit. I just want him to be happy!
Also – We don’t think he’s sick – he’s not losing weight & his diet hasn’t changed. He’s not puking or anything like that.

Oldcat suggested: Perhaps a kicker toy or suffed animal that he could wrestle with like another cat would help

And I said: I was going to suggest one of those toys that fits over a door, you know, with the toy that hangs down that cats can bat around and jump up after? We have one of those in the foster room and one in the guest bedroom, and they’re a big hit with the cats and kittens! The only down side is that eventually they chew through the cord holding the toy on and the toy gets lost, but I always just tie another one up there.

I know y’all out there have suggestions, too, so let’s hear ’em!

Edited to add: Doodle Bean said: Since he’s sullen and meowy, you might want to get him checked for a bladder infection. Neutered male cats are prone to that problem, and they don’t necessarily run a fever or show much sign of it until it’s well advanced. If it’s been awhile since he’s had a vet check, you may want to run him over to the stabby place.

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“Ho hum.”

“Hey. Something’s missing. Where…”

“HEY!”

“What?”

“Get over here! I’m bored!”

::thlurrrp::

::leap::

“Go ‘way, lady. No one invited you!”

Brats.

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I know that sometimes Molly looks brownish in her pictures, but here she is with Harlan, so you can see the difference in their colors. Also, Harlan’s going to be HUGE and Molly’s a petite little thing.

Molly shows Sally who the boss is.

Sally shows Molly how sharp her teeth are.

“What?” (They moved the fight to the other side of the bed, so they could tussle in comfort.)

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Tommy, hanging out in his favorite hanging-out spot.

Yesterday morning at 4:41, when I was sound asleep, I apparently moved in a way that Tommy thought meant I was going to wake up and pet him. Tommy gets VERY excited about being petted, and he throws himself on his back and writhes around, flailing his claws in all directions. One of his claws sunk into my arm, and that was an unpleasant way to wake up, believe you me. Then he jumped down off the bed and proceeded to barf up a lung on the bedroom floor.

It was not the best start to a day, if you were wondering.

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Previously
2010: NOTES TO PAST AND FUTURE ROBYN FROM PRESENT ROBYN.
2009: We are far too amused by ourselves.
2008: No entry.
2007: I had NO IDEA Red Lobster was such a den of heathenry.
2006: The rags used on that closet: ONE MEELLION.
2005: And then the last straw came along and broke the fat woman’s back.
2004: Because he’s a skinny bastard.
2003: No entry.
2002: No entry.
2001: Day One.
2000: So obviously I don’t know nothing’ ’bout picking out no paint.