tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-111033312024-03-06T22:10:58.872-08:00Von KrankipantzenLife in the Slow LaneKrankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.comBlogger625125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-59364983316377307092012-03-10T18:50:00.001-08:002012-03-10T18:50:55.717-08:00On Having Chemo AND Being in "Remission"Theoretically I am still in remission. That is what all the tests say. I have no tumour markers in my blood work nor has any cancer come up in my recent PET and CT scans. Yet, we know for a fact the cancer has returned. How did this come to light? Let me explain.<br />
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When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 it was discovered it was HIGHLY estrogen receptor positive meaning that the estrogen in my body was fueling the cancer's growth. This is not unusual and there are drugs used to remove estrogen from the body. I was put on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamoxifen" target="_blank">Tamoxifen</a> for this reason and eventually started receiving monthly <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goserelin" target="_blank">Zoladex</a> injections which turned off my ovaries completely. Theoretically that should have kept my cancer at bay.<br />
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After a few years of these monthly Zoladex injections I asked my oncologist if having my ovaries removed was not a simpler option. She agreed that since it didn't seem likely that I could ever stop taking the medication and that I was having some undesirable side-effects that might be resolved from a simple <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oophorectomy" target="_blank">oophorectomy</a>, going that route was a reasonable choice.<br />
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So on August 18th, 2011 I had elective surgery to yank my lady egg sacs. I woke up from the procedure feeling surprisingly good and was chatting with my mom when my surgeon arrived at my bedside. She looked like she was about to cry and told me that once she had entered my abdominal cavity she found small white cancerous deposits all over the place. Most of them were under 3 mm which would make them invisible on a scan but she had removed a couple larger ones for testing. She went on to tell me that I would likely need more chemo.<br />
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I'm not sure why but I was not particularly shocked or even that upset. Maybe it is because once you've heard a cancer diagnosis it is always in the back of your mind it will come back and you will hear it again. Even being declared cancer-free you are never really free of the memories or thoughts of it returning. You are certainly not free of the scars and even side-effects of your treatment. Cancer never entirely leaves you after you've had it.<br />
<br />
I remember feeling sad for the doctor that she was so upset telling me this news and I patted her arm and told her it would be okay.<br />
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She went on to tell me that while these cancerous spots were all over my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peritoneum" target="_blank">peritoneum</a> the rest of my organs, including my ovaries, looked fine. This was not entirely true as when the test results came back it turned out my ovaries were "completely" cancerous and that 1.5 cm biopsy of my bowel came back cancerous as well. One thing I knew from the start is that my type of breast cancer, <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/invasive-lobular-carcinoma/DS01063" target="_blank">lobular carcinoma</a>, can be sneaky. It doesn't produce actual tumours but simply infiltrates the tissue, symptomless and invisible, much of the time. I've never had <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumor_marker" target="_blank">tumour markers</a> in my blood tests. All my biopsies have looked perfectly fine to the human eye but have turned out to be very cancerous. Needless to say my oncologists' calming reassurances of my remission status hasn't meant a whole lot to me over the years.<br />
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This type of cancer diagnosis is called an incidental finding. If I had not had this surgery I would have never known the cancer had metastasized. So I am lucky. Not the lottery winning type of lucky but the type who finds out her previously thought cancer in remission was not so remissiony after all and gets to have chemo sooner instead of finding out once it had spread to bones, brain, etc kind of lucky! WOo!<br />
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My oncologists were happy to take a wait-and-see approach for treatment but since I have the sneaky kind of cancer I wasn't that confident conventional testing would identify when things might be getting out of hand. I chose to act aggressively and do chemo right away. Sorta.<br />
<br />
I decided to finish my semester at school and managed to do that while recovering from surgery, undergoing tonnes of tests and seeing lots of doctors. My attendance record wasn't pretty and my focus and concentration really sucked but with the help of some very understanding instructors I passed my fall semester with fairly decent grades.<br />
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Then I went to Vegas for a week to spend time with a good friend, had Christmas with my family and started chemo in January.<br />
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So far it is MUCH less debilitating that my previous chemo regimen. Yet, I can't say I am having a blast either.<br />
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When cancer goes rogue like mine has it is likely to be a long-term chronic condition; a disease you can live with, sometimes for many years. The hope is to keep you alive long enough for a better treatment to come along. Only about 7% of people have their metastatic cancer go into full remission. However, I've been oddly lucky so far and my cancer has been weird and rare from the start so I don't see why I can't be part of that statistic.Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-28559389681310527662012-02-27T14:46:00.001-08:002012-02-27T14:47:43.820-08:00Well...crap...Back to the blog. I wish I could tell you it was because so many wonderful things have happened to me I HAD to share them with you. That is not the case. While many wonderful things HAVE happened to me over the last 3 years since I've posted, clearly I was too lazy/ungrateful/oblivious to write them down. This will change.<br />
<br />
What has happened, catapulting me back to the blogging world, is that my cancer came back. Badly. Sorta.<br />
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It's hard to explain but I will.<br />
<br />
In short, I am doing chemo again. I've just finished my second dose out of six. It sucks. I am grumpy.<br />
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Amuse me!Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-15210815683438735912009-03-19T17:40:00.000-07:002009-03-19T18:14:14.415-07:00Actual Recent ConversationThis is why I love my friend Pablo so much.<br /><br />While talking on the phone about death, just now.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Me:</span> "I want to be cremated. But I totally don't want to be scattered in the ocean because I am a little scared of the ocean and all the fish and stuff. I don't want to be scattered in the forest either because I don't like bugs and the cold and all that outdoorsy stuff. Maybe I should be scattered in <a href="http://www.holtrenfrew.com/holts/en/home/">Holt Renfrew</a>...Nah! I can't afford to shop there. I think the place I'd be most comfortable resting eternally is in a couch. So I have to find somebody who will scatter my ashes in their nice comfy couch. Or their mattress. Something cozy."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pablo:</span> "What about me? What should I do with my remains?"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Me:</span> "Hey! I thought we agreed that I was supposed to throw myself on your casket at your funeral. Wearing a fabulous dress."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pablo:</span> "Yes, but then are you going to just leave me there to rot?"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Me:</span> "No! What do you want me to do next?"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pablo:</span> "No wait! I know the perfect place to scatter your ashes. How about a cat cemetery?"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Me:</span> "Perfect! That would be seriously purrrrfect!"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pablo:</span> "No wait, I totally know what I am going to do with you after you die. I'm going to have you taxidermied! I'll have you sitting on my couch with a cup of tea in a motorized hand. And your head will turn too. And when I have guests they will whisper to me that you are very quiet and I will say, 'Yes, she is.'"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Me:</span> "Put a hinge on my head and store your spare change and keys there. Better yet, put a slit in my neck as a kleenex dispenser for when you are sad or have a cold."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pablo:</span> "How about I<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryonics"> cryogenically</a> freeze your head and then attach it to a garden nymph statue so you can play in the garden and weed it too."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Me:</span> "NO WAIT! Attach my head to a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ-jv8g1YVI">Roomba</a> and I'll vacuum your place for you. Maybe I'll do that with my mom. She likes to clean."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pablo:</span> "You're sick!"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Me:</span> "NOW I'm sick?"<br /><br />We finally decided that he will get me made into a <a href="http://www.lifegem.com/">diamond</a> and I will have his body mummified and make a pyramid for him in Egypt to be <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tutankhamun">worshipped</a> for eternity.Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-74479447871112408692009-03-16T15:59:00.000-07:002009-03-16T16:06:19.881-07:00I Posted! A Sign of the Apocalypse?<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CStacey%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Oh mah gah!<span style=""> </span>Where do I begin?<span style=""> </span>I think with a fresh cup of tea.<span style=""> </span>I’ll be right back.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Ok, now I am back but not before getting distracted by 3 different things.<span style=""> </span>And, that, in a nutshell, is the story of the last 3 months.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So many things have happened that I guess I will eventually get them put on paper (cyber paper, that is)<span style=""> </span>but they likely will take on a crazy criss cross pattern easy to spew out but difficult to read.<span style=""> </span>Bear with me.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">January-</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Honestly, I don’t remember very much of January.<span style=""> </span>It was pretty mellow after being snowed in for a lot of December.<span style=""> </span>Christmas was nice and full of low key visits with my dear friend Tina who was here with her husband and parents from <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">London</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">England</st1:country-region></st1:place> for a family wedding.<span style=""> </span>Then my other best friend, Pablo, came out for Christmas very last moment from <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Montreal</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style=""> </span>He and I hung out, ate fattening food, gossiped, and giggled a lot.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">From Boxing Day to New Years Day I dog sat Xiola and Lulu.<span style=""> </span>This was totally chaotic, fun and very difficult.<span style=""> </span>Chaotic because that meant 4 fur kids in my very small apartment.<span style=""> </span>Dexter got along fine with them and there was even some mutual grooming and kisses going on with the dogs.<span style=""> </span>Yoshi, as expected freaked the fuck out, went on a puking binge and pretty much camped out the entire time on my bed which was festively covered in bright beach towels so I was not forced to strip my pukey bed every day and wash every damned thing.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Fun because I just love those damned dogs.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Difficult because it was so frickin’ cold and snowy it was physically very hard to walk them daily.<span style=""> </span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Vancouver</st1:place></st1:city> is not used to this kind of show so most sidewalks were unshovelled and extremely treacherous.<span style=""> </span>I actually found it better to walk the dogs in the nearby business district late at night when it was practically deserted.<span style=""> </span>Due to its high foot traffic during the day the skyscrapers had their walkways cleared very nicely.<span style=""> </span>And when walking a large German Shepardy kind of dog one feels very safe in a mostly empty downtown core.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">On the health front things have been somewhat challenging.<span style=""> </span>Lots of tests and doctor appointments.<span style=""> </span>So far everything is fine but once cancer has been part of your life every little thing gets poked and prodded and scanned and tested.<span style=""> </span>I have an MRI on Wednesday and an appointment with an allergist next month.<span style=""> </span>The MRI is for a lump that has come up near my cancer surgery site.<span style=""> </span>I’ve been told by everybody that it is not cancer but nobody can agree on what it actually is, hence the scan.<span style=""> </span>The allergist is due to persistent and somewhat alarming hives that I am getting almost on a daily basis.<span style=""> </span>I think all this health crap needs its own post (and be kicked firmly in the crotch!) so I will get to that when more test results are in.<span style=""> </span>So, yes, I am fine.<span style=""> </span>Just a lumpy, itchy, blotchy fine.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I think I’ve posted that I been working at a new job.<span style=""> </span>I LOVE MY JOB!<span style=""> </span>I won’t get too into the details except to say I love my co-workers, I love the people I come into contact with on my shifts and I love that the way my job is set up it is PERFECT for a crazy person like me who has panic issues.<span style=""> </span>Things are getting busier this year so now it is pretty much a 3 night a week gig.<span style=""> </span>Nice little bit of extra funds coming in that allows me the luxuries like regular hair-cuts, shoes and the occasional take-out falafel.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So that is my January.<span style=""> </span>I’ll get the February soon.<span style=""> </span>Hopefully before April.<span style=""> </span>So other topics will include:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">-Dexter the kitten.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">-My 40<sup>th</sup> birthday.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">-Life and Death-that weird and wonderful cycle.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">-My business.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">-Other horrendous boring minutia.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-27231017444290595822009-02-05T13:56:00.000-08:002009-03-13T14:56:52.855-07:00Check Out The Real Talent!Yoshi is not the only famous one in my family. My 19 year old cousin, Julie Jonas, is featured in an online magazine showing up and coming Alberta talent. She is an incredibly gifted musician and actor as well as a university student.<br /><br />Go <a href="http://www.cityspice.com/Archives/Vol3Issue2/#/24">here</a> to listen to her music and flip ahead in the online mag to read the article.<br /><br />I am so proud of her.Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-51980128761495670462009-01-30T17:27:00.000-08:002009-01-30T17:32:34.646-08:00A TidbitI am debating on whether or not to buy a <a href="http://www.londondrugs.com/Cultures/en-US/Product+Detail/Homeware.htm?BreadCrumbs=Homeware;Homeware;Vacuums%20and%20Steamers;All%20Vacuums;iRobot%20Roomba%20405%20Vacuum%20-%2040901&Catalog=Homeware&Category=All%20Vacuums&ProductID=3457827&ProductTab=3">Roomba</a>. They are going on sale for super cheap next week. I fear the Roomba might terrify Yoshi. I also am afraid that Dexter will terrify the Roomba AND Yoshi. However, I hate vacuuming so my selfish desires might win out.<br /><br />What do you think?Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-28212503131675653972008-12-24T23:01:00.000-08:002008-12-24T23:21:49.675-08:00Merry Christmas Everybody!It is 11pm and I've finally finished wrapping all the gifts and have a moment to sit down to write a little note. I'll be posting soon now that things have settled down a bit.<br /><br />Here is what has been happening with me:<br /><br />-still working the part-time job.<br />-trying desperately to sell calendars in a horrific economic climate (and failing dismally).<br />-organizing a large gala fund-raising event as well as participating in it.<br />-getting my Occupational First Aid Level 1 certificate.<br />-making Christmas gifts as well as shopping.<br />-working some free-lance jobs to attempt to pay off my huge calendar printing bill.<br />-yelling at Dexter (all 9lbs of him!) to GET DOWN! and LEAVE YOSHI ALONE!<br />-volunteering as much as I can.<br />-driving down to the US for business.<br />-hanging out with my friends who are visiting from London, England.<br />-hanging out with my friend who is visiting from Montreal.<br />-actually being a little social and going out as well as inviting people over for snacks.<br />-decorating for Christmas.<br />-being stranded by huge amounts of snow.<br />-eating my weight in sugary treats.<br /><br />Here's what will be happening in the near future:<br /><br />-dog sitting Xiola and Lulu for a week.<br />-more hanging out with my friend from Montreal.<br />-saying a sad good-bye to my friends from London, England.<br />-taking down all the decorations.<br />-DESPERATELY!!!!!! trying to sell calendars.<br />-fighting a parking ticket in traffic court.<br />-many trips to the US for my business.<br />-resuming my new part-time job.<br />-more volunteering.<br />-purging junk and re-organising my stuff.<br />-trying to lose the weight from all those sugary treat.<br /><br />Stay tuned!<br /><br />Yoshi, Dexter and I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas!Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-30853641341841027552008-11-07T19:42:00.000-08:002008-11-07T20:08:35.983-08:00Crush Your Cat's Head Friday-A Tip For ObamaDear President Obama<br /><br />I know you have a big job ahead of you involving all sorts of mess and chaos. I sorta know what you are facing as I have a cat and a new kitten who simply cannot get along. The kitten is impulsive, out of control, lacking in subtlety and restraint, and defiant. Not at all dissimilar to many people you will have to interact with in the near future. I contrast the first born cat is grumpy, unforgiving, completely lacking in humor and inflexible. Also eerily alike various individuals you will shortly be spending time with.<br /><br />My cats do not get along under any circumstances...except when one very special ingredient is added to the interaction. This addition is so exceptional and potent that it makes even the most curmudgeonly cat soften. So transforming and influential it makes even the very insanest kitten focus.<br /><br />I thought that this magical element might help you with your very challenging ambitions.<br /><br />What I want to share with you is the power of....TUNA!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SRUOEBEK4RI/AAAAAAAAAdk/RF9SqQ2IQeo/s1600-h/Common+Ground.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SRUOEBEK4RI/AAAAAAAAAdk/RF9SqQ2IQeo/s400/Common+Ground.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266130801447854354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">No hissing. No claws. No blood. Just a common love of the fish.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SRUN81EuOiI/AAAAAAAAAdc/nRwZ-FPnXAU/s1600-h/getting+a+little+too+close.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SRUN81EuOiI/AAAAAAAAAdc/nRwZ-FPnXAU/s400/getting+a+little+too+close.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266130677969861154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Well...until the little shit gets too close to her side of the plate.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">In case you haven't got the news through the newsletter or my recent Twitter the 2009 Iconic Women By Yoshi Calendar is now available for sale. Same price as last year-$18.95</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Check it out!</span><br /><a href="http://www.urbanbeast.ca"><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >www.urbanbeast.ca</span></a><br /></div>Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-14462244123888964212008-11-01T19:55:00.000-07:002008-11-01T19:58:20.942-07:00My Cat: She's a Little FamousThe excellent folks at www.moderncat.net featured <a href="http://www.urbanbeast.ca">The Yoshi</a> on their site. Very cool! I love that blog and have bought more than a couple things from the people and products they feature.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.moderncat.net/2008/10/30/meet-yoshi-queen-of-patience/">Check it out!</a>Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-30184804563726293502008-10-18T12:16:00.000-07:002008-10-18T16:47:56.333-07:00A Cornucopia of Feline Delight<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SPpVFRAu3JI/AAAAAAAAAdU/LohefUWNfS0/s1600-h/Rare+Rest+Pose.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SPpVFRAu3JI/AAAAAAAAAdU/LohefUWNfS0/s400/Rare+Rest+Pose.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258609063862656146" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">A Cute Photo To Reduce Your Ire</span><br /><br /></div>Ok, I am sorry I haven't posted. Very very VERY sorry. But after I spill my brain onto this blog about what has happened over the last month you may regret your recent inquiries into my, Yoshi's and Dexter's well being.<br /><br />We all all good.<br /><br />Now that I got that out of the way I'll get into a little more detail.<br /><br />I've been heinously busy. Partly because I am a terrible procrastinator, partly because I am a good citizen and partly because I need to pay the bills. Against all promises I made to myself, my graphic designer, my family and my friends I once again left the creation of the 2009 Iconic Women By Yoshi Calendar to the last minute. What can I say? I work better under pressure. Just not this much pressure. So it is almost done and will be sent to the printer by next week. I'll be opening up Urbanbeast.ca for pre-sales next week as well so you can order the very first copies right away for immediate delivery.<br /><br />With the addition of Dexter into the mix photographing Yoshi has been a little more difficult. It involves taking Dexter over to my parent's house so Yoshi won't have a grand mal hissy. While more time consuming it has worked out even better as Yoshi loves the one-on-one time and is posing better than ever.<br /><br />She is so totally and completely hilarious and adorable and I could nom nom nom her to death.<br /><br />Now about Dexter. He is the cutest, most loving, friendly, happy-go-lucky kitten ON THE PLANET. Without out a doubt everybody who meets him is charmed and smitten instantly. Saying that he is also horribly bad, intentionally annoying, a less than enthusiastic listener, completely lacking in boundaries and manners, clearly not very bright, a terrible farter, and alarmingly destructive.<br /><br />Yoshi totally hates him.<br /><br />Her initial curiosity and interest in Dexter was replaced with loathing when he grew bigger and started jumping on her when she was sleeping, looking the other way, eating, trying to poop and minding her own business in general.*<br /><br />*See above mention of lack of manners and boundaries.<br /><br />So my day is filled with hissing, growling, spitting, and heartfelt smack-downs. Entirely and totally on Yoshi's part because Dexter just thinks it is all fun and more fun. Did I mention he really is not very bright?<br /><br />I can say with certainty that I understand why my parents used to get so frustrated when my brother and I bickered because I now experience daily (333333333 TBGE3333333333334 -Dexter intruding on this post) the equivalent of a little boy persistently picking on his older sister. Yoshi has a look that clearly conveys, "MOoooooOOOM! He's looking at me again!"<br /><br />I am exhausted. I've also taken to yelling, "Simmer DOWN! You guys!"<br /><br />The futility.<br /><br />Despite Yoshi's hatred she is actually really happy in general. She is resigned to Dexter's presence and, I think, not as bored as she was. Kind of like the curmudgeonly old lady yelling at the neighbourhood children to get of her lawn. Bitter but fully occupied. I expect that once Dexter grows up and loses his kitteny assholiness they will just sleep the day away in each other's company like boring old cats do.<br /><br />Random Dexter von Cheddar Stats:<br />3 1/2 months old<br />5lbs 11 oz<br />Meows a lot<br />Slightly cross-eyed<br />Eats anything<br />Drools when purring<br /><br />Nicknames:<ul><li>The Ched</li><li>Ched Head</li><li>Sir Stink-a-lot</li><li>D von C</li><li>NoooooDEXTERNOOOOOO!</li><li>Duuuuude-don't wreck my shit.</li><li>Little One</li><li>Grandmaster Dork</li></ul>As for me I've suddenly become a little more employed. I've started working a few nights per week as the Theatre Liaison of the 110 person capacity theatre that is located in my apartment building. It works out great since if I feel a little panicky or overwhelmed I can excuse myself for 5 minutes chill-out time in my own apartment with my own kitties. I just make sure that whoever is renting the facilities are treating them with respect and are out of there on time. Sweet little gig, actually.<br /><br />I'm also now part of my building's Resident Council (sorta like a co-op but different) and have taken a very pro-active approach to dealing with various issues with residents and the building itself. This is totally a volunteer situation and waaaay more work that I anticipated. But good work because being pro-active and solving problems makes me a happier camper overall. I'm also on a committee that is organising and participating in a 3 day Christmas Gala fundraiser for our building (to help subsidize rents) involving an art market and cabaret-style entertainment. I am ALSO treasurer for that which is something I've never done before and am a little nervous about. I continue to be an on-call emergency person in my building one week out of every month as well as work a couple hours per week for my dad.<br /><br />Yikes, right? Busy but that scattered kind of busy.<br /><br />So until the calendar is finished and all the surrounding press and products (cards and magnets) are completed I am not going to be posting as much as I'd like. Because my Theatre Liaison position is nights and weekends I am trying to borrow an old laptop so on my down time (when the productions are actually going on) I can maybe write a post or two but, in general, expect me to be scarce until the New Year.<br /><br />Thanks for checking in and being so patient.<br /><br />And now here are more Dexter photos and video than you can watch in one sitting.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SPpTbq4zplI/AAAAAAAAAdM/9mYHSR_8p4w/s1600-h/My+Personal+Sistine+Chapel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SPpTbq4zplI/AAAAAAAAAdM/9mYHSR_8p4w/s400/My+Personal+Sistine+Chapel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258607249742603858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">My Own Personal Sistine Chapel</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SPpTFDbX7yI/AAAAAAAAAdE/onI6V-_qRW4/s1600-h/Snoozen+Housen+Usurper.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SPpTFDbX7yI/AAAAAAAAAdE/onI6V-_qRW4/s400/Snoozen+Housen+Usurper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258606861193047842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Snoozen Housen Usurper Laughs Maniacally At His Sneakiness</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SPpSyPFjqxI/AAAAAAAAAc8/ByLZh64D9gQ/s1600-h/Kitten+%27Tocks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SPpSyPFjqxI/AAAAAAAAAc8/ByLZh64D9gQ/s400/Kitten+%27Tocks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258606537905253138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">'Tocks<br /><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SPpSeUWLIYI/AAAAAAAAAc0/ccUYVOqsgUY/s1600-h/Faceplant+Sleeper.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SPpSeUWLIYI/AAAAAAAAAc0/ccUYVOqsgUY/s400/Faceplant+Sleeper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258606195719741826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Faceplant au Cheddar</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SPpSITwb7MI/AAAAAAAAAcs/CeeW0D6OvPQ/s1600-h/Biter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SPpSITwb7MI/AAAAAAAAAcs/CeeW0D6OvPQ/s400/Biter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258605817604336834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Savouring The Deeeeelicious Full Footed Bouquet</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SPpRzjPQkcI/AAAAAAAAAck/VHL3uLWKLXU/s1600-h/Vegging.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SPpRzjPQkcI/AAAAAAAAAck/VHL3uLWKLXU/s400/Vegging.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258605460982895042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Taken Just Now</span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0-774phftA4"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0-774phftA4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed> </object><br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DTzXTTaYoCc"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DTzXTTaYoCc" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed> </object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AD5B3dkPGyo"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AD5B3dkPGyo" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed> </object><br /></div>Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-59888759459063121942008-09-19T14:43:00.000-07:002008-09-19T14:45:25.007-07:00Ka-ching!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SNQdVDKMopI/AAAAAAAAAcc/FuJbUIAwiac/s1600-h/NoDexterNOOOO%21.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SNQdVDKMopI/AAAAAAAAAcc/FuJbUIAwiac/s400/NoDexterNOOOO%21.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247851713256006290" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">The exact moment I lost my damage deposit.</div>Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-13170337684712652892008-09-11T23:18:00.000-07:002008-09-11T23:59:06.184-07:00The Odd Couple<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;">Terribly sorry about the long delay in a kitteh update.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">As it normally does this time of year things have become very hectic.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I am working on the upcoming <a href="http://www.urbanbeast.ca/">2009 Iconic Women By Yoshi Calendar</a> as well as setting up a new business and doing lots of volunteering. </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br />Dexter is still cute.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Very cute.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">He is also still exceptionally smelly. The vet says he is fine and often kittens do not have the best digestive systems at young ages so I’ve been experimenting with different foods and might have found some that are less rank gas producing than others.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I might publish a research paper: Feline Colon Inexperience and Greenhouse Gasses-Nature's Balance Between Cute and Killer </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br />I’ve never met a cat who is so frickin’ hungry every second of the day.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Dexter wails for food every couple hours and eats like a jackal. There is no nom nom nom but snarl snorf gasp choke hack lick lick sniff sniff root freak-out FEEEED MEEEEEEE AGAIN!</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">He gained ¾ of a pound this week.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">When I eat he tries to climb all over me.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">One night he caught me unawares and literally jumped from the back of the couch right onto my full plate. Yoshi has always been a very delicate eater and nibbles on her food through the day.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Dexter treats food like air and inhales it like he is suffocating.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Dork. </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br />Yoshi is doing much better. MUCH better.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">She is eating just fine and seems to be adjusting pretty well.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I can’t say she likes Dexter but she isn’t about to throw herself off the balcony.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I’ve never had a pair of cats so I’m not really sure what to expect.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Dexter clearly LOVES Yoshi.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Yoshi clearly HATES Dexter.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">But not always.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Or maybe I should say not always with the same intensity of loathing as other times.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I’m thinking I might develop a scale of Yoshi hate levels, similar to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richter_scale">Richter Scale</a>, to apply to various interactions.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I shall call it the Hisser Scale. </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br />So there tends to be two types of interaction between Dex and Yoshi: </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Dexter acting cute and submissive and lurking around Yoshi which she tolerates and then only hisses and growls at him when he gets too close or tries to touch her.</span></li></ul> <ul><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Dexter acting like a complete ass and jumping at, stalking, harassing, chasing, sneaking up on and blindsiding Yoshi which she hates.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">This is when she hisses, spits and swats at him.</span></li></ul><span style="font-size:100%;">Honestly both are totally hilarious and make me laugh.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Occasionally I take pity on Yoshi and squirt Dex with my ever handy spray bottle.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">And even less commonly squirt Yoshi if she is beating him up too much. </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br />The thing that I am not sure about and gives me hope that one day they will really love and appreciate the other is that Dexter still tries to suck up and doesn’t seem to take the beatings seriously and Yoshi, while putting on a show of hating his ass, quite often seems to make an effort to be near him.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Especially when he is playing.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">She seems fascinated by him interacting with his toys.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">We’ve had a few evenings where Yoshi, while hissing and growling, has run around and played along side Dexter. </span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Sorta play with him without actually playing </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >WITH</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> him. </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br />Sometimes I start feeling bad that Poor Yoshi is so annoyed by the kitten all the time but then she’ll quite often plonk herself down on her back RIGHT NEXT TO HIM! As soon as he shows interest in her she’ll freak but not always move away from him.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">The only way I can explain it is that it seems like she likes to hate him.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">So they run around beating the crap (Yoshi) out of or jumping (Dexter) on each other.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">It sounds scary but instead of running away or leaping out of reach they both stay very close and settle down and then hang out near each other. </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br />What does this mean?</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I know that things would be less hissy and spitty if only Dexter would chill the fuck out and learn to respect boundaries but being a kitten and all he loses his fool mind and takes unnecessary risks like attacking Yoshi’s tail or standing right outside her litter box staring at her when she is pooping.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Thankfully Yoshi is a good multi-tasker and can freak out while making a deposit quite easily.</span><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">I have video I am working on but my new digital camera uses <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.MOV#QuickTime_file_format">a file extension</a> not compatible with my lame-o Windows Movie Maker program.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Yet, I feel that a documentary format is best for this footage so you all will have to be patient with me.</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">So I consider, overall, that things are good.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Yes, it could be better like cute snuggling and such but knowing Yoshi I think that will take some serious time.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Also I think it will help when Dexter matures and isn’t so spastic around her.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">A vet friend of <a href="http://twisteduterus.livejournal.com/">Twisted Uterus</a>, Dr. Cheryl, suggested <a href="http://www.feliway-us.com/feliway_us.nsf/Page?OpenForm">Feliway</a>, a calming cat pheromone, which I got and hope will help.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">It takes time to kick in so my weekly “buddy” test is seeing if they will eat tuna next to each other. So far Yoshi won’t but I’ll try again next week.</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Here is actual photographic proof that Yoshi is indeed alive and well and not kitten chow.</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
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<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SMoQ0JnaRbI/AAAAAAAAAcU/x5Of4qHkTc8/s1600-h/Stalker.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SMoQ0JnaRbI/AAAAAAAAAcU/x5Of4qHkTc8/s400/Stalker.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245023204146824626" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia; text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Stalking The Rock Star
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<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SMoQiYu4jkI/AAAAAAAAAcM/c4GTwOOuaJ0/s1600-h/What+Have+You+Done.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SMoQiYu4jkI/AAAAAAAAAcM/c4GTwOOuaJ0/s400/What+Have+You+Done.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245022898967055938" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia; text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Calm Tolerance
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<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SMoQSKHModI/AAAAAAAAAcE/-yRZ134N9Ow/s1600-h/Calmer+Times.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SMoQSKHModI/AAAAAAAAAcE/-yRZ134N9Ow/s400/Calmer+Times.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245022620164596178" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia; text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sucking Up
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<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SMoPsLJ9NnI/AAAAAAAAAb8/prcRFW3ovl8/s1600-h/Trying+to+Connect.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SMoPsLJ9NnI/AAAAAAAAAb8/prcRFW3ovl8/s400/Trying+to+Connect.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245021967609575026" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia; text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">About To Incite A Riot Through A Brief Touch
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<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SMoPaGWf_hI/AAAAAAAAAb0/M4sBbCCkkxA/s1600-h/Had+Enough.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SMoPaGWf_hI/AAAAAAAAAb0/M4sBbCCkkxA/s400/Had+Enough.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245021657082363410" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia; text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Yep! Adios Pain In The Ass!
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<br /></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-31569199837231754872008-09-01T16:38:00.000-07:002008-09-01T17:09:02.635-07:00How Smelly Is He?There is something wrong with the kitten. Nothing obvious. To the casual observer he is a regular kitten doing regular kitten things like attacking his tail, being bad and looking cute. However, if you are unlucky enough to be around him for any length of time you will soon come to realize that something dark is brewing in the bowels of his being. Literally. This kitten stinks. He emits such revolting odoriferous clouds of funk playing with him becomes an exercise in gag reflex control. Cleaning his litter box of his rank deposits is not so much a kindness to him but a desire to breathe in my own home.<br /><br />If his smell was a book it would be War and Peace-The Director's Cut. If his stink was a biblical reference it would be the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse pulling a manure cart. If his stench was a person it would be Hitler with hemorrhoids. If his inner essence was a sandwich it would be Ebola on Rye. His farts could be classified as weapons of mass destruction. The US will be bombing my living room next. And rightly so. I should be charged an environmental fine for illegal emissions. Brain cells die upon inhalation.<br /><br />He is eating well and getting very high quality food. He's been wormed twice at appropriate intervals. Clearly, I need to get him to a vet for some antibiotics. Maybe he has food allergies.<br /><br />Next logical step is an exorcism by a qualified priest. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SLyDe9sUSoI/AAAAAAAAAbs/BaMMtzcvBGs/s1600-h/Cute+and+Flirty.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SLyDe9sUSoI/AAAAAAAAAbs/BaMMtzcvBGs/s400/Cute+and+Flirty.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241208634332170882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Looks sweet. Smells like a bloated corpse.</span><br /></div>Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-21049059596154491772008-08-29T22:37:00.001-07:002008-08-29T23:10:50.040-07:00Crush Your Cat's Head Friday-You Can Lead A Cat To A Kitten But You Can't Make Her Like Him. Who Am I Kidding, You Can't Lead A Cat Anywhere.AC<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CStacey%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]-->Here is the kitteh update you’ve all been asking for. <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">How is Yoshi doing?<span style=""> </span>Well…not great but not terribly awful either.<span style=""> </span>She stopped eating all together a couple days ago and still occasionally (meaning pretty much every day) yaks bile which, I’ve discovered, leaves a lovely green stain on my carpet. Who said having cats was not like having kids?<span style=""> </span>My berber disagrees.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">So I started getting desperate and bought all sorts of yummy things Yoshi might successfully ingest with no luck.<span style=""> </span>I vacillated wildly between guilt and exasperation.<span style=""> </span>It was not pretty around here.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">I tried to push the limits a little by keeping the cats separated all of the time except in the evenings when I allowed them to be in the same room with each other-supervised for fair play and safety.<span style=""> </span>And the thing is that Yoshi, while not happy, was fairly calm and resigned to Dexter flinging his noodley kitten body all over the living room.<span style=""> </span>She didn’t even blink when he chased a toy under her chair or ran close to her head.<span style=""> </span>One night, when I was playing with Dexter and some toys she jumped down from her perch and crouched about two feet away to watch us, her eyes never leaving the kitten or the feather wand.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">I thought I was seeing a very faint glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.<span style=""> </span>Not so much because Dexter started really wanting to be with Yoshi and to approach her and play with her and if he so much as looked in her direction that is when the hissing, spitting, and growling frothed up in full vitriolic volume.<span style=""> </span>Only on Yoshi’s part as Dexter is probably the most laid back kitten I’ve ever met.<span style=""> </span>Nothing fazes him at all.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">So as I watched Yoshi losing weight and some days getting worse instead of better I started thinking that maybe this whole kitten idea was just not meant to be and that Yoshi simply couldn’t handle a new addition.<span style=""> </span>I resigned myself to returning the kitten after the long weekend and feeling very incredibly horrible about it.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">Then I saw <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwM6f0liHpo">this</a>.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">And I got MAD!<span style=""> </span>People introduce new cats and dogs into their house all the time with little or no problems.<span style=""> </span>I saw all those cats living together in harmony and I decided I wasn’t going to let a 9lb cat with a bad attitude run my household.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">But I wanted a medical assurance that pushing her further wasn’t going to jeopardize her health.<span style=""> </span>So off to the vet we went today and this is what she said:</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"></p><blockquote style="font-family: georgia;"><p class="MsoNormal">-I do not have to get rid of the kitten!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">-Yoshi is an exceptionally high-strung cat.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">-It is possible if a cat has not eaten for a <u>very</u> long time for their whole digestive system to shut-down permanently and they can die.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">-Yoshi is not even close to this stage.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">-Yoshi has lost almost a pound this week but she is not underweight by any stretch.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">-When a cat is stressed and vomits a lot their digestive tract gets all irritated and they lose their appetite.<span style=""> </span>This is probably what is going on with Yoshi.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">-They took blood and urine to rule out any other issues that might be complicating things.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">-Being a jerk is not an official feline medical condition.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">-I have to give her an antacid pill every night.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">-I have to give her a syringe of laxative twice a day.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">-I have to pry her stubborn Siamese lips open and force feed her a foul smelling cat mush every couple hours.<span style=""> </span>Literally poke it down her gullet.<span style=""> </span>Although she makes terrible noises and spits most of it out doing this will get her tummy working again and her appetite shall return. However, she will hate my ass for some time to come.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">-This unanticipated and expensive vet visit means I will not be getting a new pair of winter boots next week.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> </blockquote><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">The main thing I came away from the vet with is that while Yoshi is very high strung she only is so when it suits her.<span style=""> </span>She did something similar to this several years ago when I went on holiday.<span style=""> </span>I returned and that night she started vomiting uncontrollably and then started barfing blood.<span style=""> </span>A visit to the emergency vet and almost $2000 later it was decided that she was stressed about my absence.<span style=""> </span>And we all know what happened when I brought <a href="http://krankipantzen.blogspot.com/2007/03/plan-b-for-total-bummer.html">Lulu</a> home.<span style=""> </span>Yet every time I’ve moved into a new apartment she’s adapted just fine to her new surroundings.<span style=""> </span>No hiding under the bed or anything.<span style=""> </span>She was fine when I was going through treatment and in the hospital a lot.<span style=""> </span>She acts totally freaked when the dogs come to visit or friends and family are over but the minute they leave she is all perky and cute like she didn’t just hiss and try to bite them. <span style=""> </span>So there is definitely a component of my energy that is affecting her as well so I’ve got to get rid of all the guilt and fear and concentrate on visualizing exactly what I want to see happen in my house.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">MY house.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">Fight the feline power! </p>
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<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SLjfH8rYHQI/AAAAAAAAAbk/aYVKZFHiieI/s1600-h/Love+Fest+Attempt+%231.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SLjfH8rYHQI/AAAAAAAAAbk/aYVKZFHiieI/s400/Love+Fest+Attempt+%231.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240183494085713154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">First co-mingling of death ray kitties- lasers on standby. Yoshi rasps, "Dexter, I am <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> your mother" *gaspgasp*</span>
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<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SLjcx-oDHMI/AAAAAAAAAbU/ckCCDcS_iK8/s1600-h/Love+Fest+Attempt+%232.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SLjcx-oDHMI/AAAAAAAAAbU/ckCCDcS_iK8/s400/Love+Fest+Attempt+%232.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240180917628247234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Second meeting-Yoshi is more relaxed. Dexter is trying to eat the kitty crate/cat jail/feline transport unit.</span>
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SLjcpNIfdBI/AAAAAAAAAbM/vq9pR_czn6M/s1600-h/Love+Fest+Attempt+%233.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SLjcpNIfdBI/AAAAAAAAAbM/vq9pR_czn6M/s400/Love+Fest+Attempt+%233.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240180766903596050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Third meeting. Dexter bogarts the kitteh drinking fountain. Yoshi is not amused. Barfs on my bed later to prove that bad manners go both ways.</span>
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<br />Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-47351458695457594712008-08-23T18:57:00.000-07:002008-08-23T20:28:41.659-07:00Kitteh Update<span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 3 of </span><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kitteh</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Intro Hell:</span><br /><br />Yoshi is really, really, REALLY pissed. She has taken to barfing twice a day on a 12 hour-you-could-time-your-watch-to-it schedule. She also will froth at the mouth to make a point of her displeasure. She won't eat. Not even tuna. Today she has taken to her bed with the vapors. In Yoshi world that means she is in her <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Sno</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ozen</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Housen</span> and won't come out. Last night after a little hissing but mostly curious <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">sniffings</span> I brought the kitten out and I think that is when Yoshi realized that he was not even remotely phased by her <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">growlings</span> and might actually be hanging around. Things got nasty when the kitten went to jump up on the sofa where Yoshi was. She literally screamed, punched the kitten in the head and then levitated off the couch to behind the plant knocking over the phone as she went. The kitten was unhurt and totally couldn't care less. I tried to stay calm and laughed it off. The sad part is that the kitten is absolutely fascinated with Yoshi and clearly wants to be friends.<br /><br />Yeah... *swallows a handful of anti-anxiety <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">meds</span>*<br /><br />So I am staying firm on this. I'm not sure how long Yoshi can go without food but she has some weight to spare around the rear end. The kitten is in my bedroom for now. I am really hoping Yoshi will finally get so hungry she will give up. I am trying to stay positive and visualize the results I want out of this. Yet, there is a little tiny part of me that wonders if Yoshi could starve herself to death out of spite.<br /><br />I thank you all for the most excellent name suggestions. I took the ones I liked and tried them out and ended up going with one I had written down many weeks ago when I started this whole adoption process. So with a nod of recognition and imitation-is-the-sincerest-form-of-flattery <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">acknowledgement</span> to <a href="http://www.iprettymuchhateeverything.com/">Torrie and her pooch</a> I have decided to call the kitten Dexter. Dexter von Cheddar. It simply suited him the best.<br /><br />Dexter purrs constantly. I am totally serious. He purrs when he plays, when he snuggles, when he is getting a huge vaccination in his neck, when you accidentally step on him... The vet couldn't hear his heart because he wouldn't stop purring. When I lay on the couch with him he will walk up my body and throw his furry self onto my face drooling with purrs and joy. Settling in under my chin for a snooze is his favourite thing. So cute. He is absolutely the sweetest, bravest, cutest kitten. He loves everybody and is not remotely shy or scared.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Thank God because Yoshi will try to break his spirit after she finishes with mine.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SLDU5fC5JAI/AAAAAAAAAbE/U76tv7EBGbM/s1600-h/Making+Biscuits+13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SLDU5fC5JAI/AAAAAAAAAbE/U76tv7EBGbM/s400/Making+Biscuits+13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237920450683151362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Making Biscuits on Yoshi's Bed. <br />She Won't Sleep On It Now.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SLDUZ-ZcF9I/AAAAAAAAAa8/a30trVQ47iE/s1600-h/Den+of+Depair.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SLDUZ-ZcF9I/AAAAAAAAAa8/a30trVQ47iE/s400/Den+of+Depair.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237919909343401938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Den of Despair</span><br /></div>Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-7108814295802184242008-08-21T19:47:00.000-07:002008-08-23T20:23:27.414-07:00Summer Lovin' Happened So FastWell, let’s see what I’ve been up to lately.<span style=""> </span>You know; typical summer stuff.<span style=""> </span>My very good friend, Pablo came for a visit from <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Montreal</st1:place></st1:city> and we went to the beach a couple times and even went Par 3 Golfing with my mom.<span style=""> </span>I was caddy with the putters. <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>I put my panic disorder to the test and actually ate out in a restaurant twice.<span style=""> </span>So YAY!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>On the down side I mysteriously broke out in terrible hives for about three days.<span style=""> </span>I had huge welts or hives on my knees, shins, one foot, upper arms, hands (including palms) and chest.<span style=""> </span>A monstrous dose of antihistamines did the trick. <span style=""> </span>No clue what I might have reacted to.<span style=""> </span>My doc thinks it could be sun. I may have to rethink a Cuban vacation in the near future. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Also Pablo had to cut his <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Vancouver</st1:place></st1:city> vacation very short due to work issues.<span style=""> </span>Dammit!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>So I’ve been planning the upcoming 2009 Iconic Women By Yoshi Calendar and hopefully will avoid the heinous time stresses I had last year.<span style=""> </span>So far so good.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>And, um, let’s see…what else is new with me?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Oh yeah…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I GOT A NEW KITTEN TODAY!!!!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SK4rJBEJwWI/AAAAAAAAAa0/o5_gewUMLRY/s1600-h/No+Name+Kitteh.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SK4rJBEJwWI/AAAAAAAAAa0/o5_gewUMLRY/s400/No+Name+Kitteh.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237170850583134562" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">9 Weeks Worth of Flame Point Terror Recently Neutered</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Yoshi is separated from him for now and they have seen each other from behind bars.<span style=""> </span>Yoshi is clearly not impressed with lots of hissing but when the kitten is out of sight she is VERY curious lurking outside the bedroom door.<span style=""> </span>The attitude seems to be turned on and off as she sees fit.<span style=""> </span>Everybody pray hard for us that Yoshi and The Kitteh can become friends.<span style=""> </span>Or at least tolerate each other.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>His name?<span style=""> </span>No idea yet.<span style=""> </span>I didn’t expect to get him so soon so I am kinda unprepared.<span style=""> </span>He is absolutely the snuggliest and friendliest kitten I’ve ever met.<span style=""> </span>Constant purring.<span style=""> </span>Wants to be on you all the time.<span style=""> </span>Very clingy.<span style=""> </span>I REALLY want to keep him but the SPCA says I can bring him back if Yoshi freaks out.<span style=""> </span>But that is not going to happen, right?</p><p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"> *pleasepleasepleaseYoshibeagoodgirlandlovehimtoo*</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Any name ideas?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SK4q2iYXONI/AAAAAAAAAas/ueTym-iz5gA/s1600-h/Just+Thinking.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SK4q2iYXONI/AAAAAAAAAas/ueTym-iz5gA/s400/Just+Thinking.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237170533108758738" border="0" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">You Know, Just Thinkin' 'Bout Stuff.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SK4qsz_l01I/AAAAAAAAAak/GDZsarzrsw0/s1600-h/I+Has+a+Tired.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SK4qsz_l01I/AAAAAAAAAak/GDZsarzrsw0/s400/I+Has+a+Tired.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237170366038004562" border="0" /></a>I Has A Tired.<br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-8894024565363936302008-08-08T16:41:00.000-07:002008-08-08T17:02:57.296-07:00Crush Your Cat's Head Friday-DoppelgangerWhen I recently dog-sat Lulu and Xiola for 5 days I bought them some new toys to play with at my house. Their particular favourite was this hedgehog that made an alarming "ack ack ack" noise when shaken. The dogs LOVED it. They loved it so much I found myself tripping on it quite often when it was left in the middle of my floor. Except when that would happen I'd do that awkward 'sacrifice your spine alignment' avoidance skip/jump/lurch because I always thought this toy was actually Yoshi and I was about to step on her. If I didn't actually have any reflexes and had the luxury of time to think about it I'd never make that mistake as Yoshi, for the first 3 days never left my bedroom. Never.<br /><br />I started calling the hedgehog Yoshi since it was under my feet far more than she was that weekend.<br /><br />Then on the last day Yoshi got brave and started emerging from the bedroom merely to walk right up to the dogs and hiss in their faces only to turn around and walk right back into the bedroom again. The best part was when she would walk up to the hedgehog toy and hiss at it too for good measure. You know, just in case it was trying to make friends or thinking of eating her kibble.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SJzd1lE0-mI/AAAAAAAAAac/ID1WWbmFDO4/s1600-h/Twins.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SJzd1lE0-mI/AAAAAAAAAac/ID1WWbmFDO4/s400/Twins.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232300779652840034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">See? TWINS!</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SJzdni5W6LI/AAAAAAAAAaU/pFw4NkWoP80/s1600-h/Giving+Hedgy+The+Ass.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rz_pKJLQkrc/SJzdni5W6LI/AAAAAAAAAaU/pFw4NkWoP80/s400/Giving+Hedgy+The+Ass.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232300538549692594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Show it how you really feel, Yoshi.</span><br /></div>Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-89898937582936975682008-08-07T12:43:00.000-07:002008-08-07T12:51:43.695-07:00Doing My PartI'm off to get a <a href="http://www.dairyqueen.com">DQ Blizzard</a> as all proceeds go to the <a href="http://www.miracletreatday.com/?utm_source=caBFCblast&utm_medium=email&utm_content=MTD&utm_campaign=0808oreo">Children's Miracle Network</a>.<br /><br />It is a sacrifice I'm willing to make for the kids.Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-33696944148217128502008-08-07T00:12:00.000-07:002008-08-07T00:16:56.253-07:00One Of Those 'Life' Posts Filled With Questions That Have No Answers And Lots Of ' Marks<p class="MsoNormal">Do you ever find yourself in the same difficult and perplexing situations over and over again?<span style=""> </span>You start to wonder if the universe is trying to teach you something or it is some heinous personal defect since the only constant element in all these situations is you.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Or in this case, me.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>My particular situation is that am finding it increasingly difficult to be in the company of people.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>I have a couple things going against me.<span style=""> </span>First of all I have terrible social anxiety complicated by some pretty weird phobias.<span style=""> </span>Any social situation is pretty agonizing on most levels.<span style=""> </span>Secondly I am very sensitive to the emotions of others and so called ‘vibes’.<span style=""> </span>Just very aware of the undercurrents of most interactions.<span style=""> </span>Some therapists think this is why I have such bad anxiety.<span style=""> </span>It is like I am lacking some sort of protective life filter.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>That is another consideration as well.<span style=""> </span>I’ve had a lot of therapy.<span style=""> </span>A <st1:place st="on">LOT</st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>Some really bad but mostly good.<span style=""> </span>I’ve learned a great deal about myself and the various limits and problems I deal with daily and as a result I am also able to recognize various psychological ‘issues’ (pronounced ithews) in others.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Let me give you an example.<span style=""> </span>I have some family members who bicker a lot at family gatherings.<span style=""> </span>You know, insults with smiling faces.<span style=""> </span>They would also talk poorly about other family members behind their backs.<span style=""> </span>When I first started seeing these people socially I would become seriously depressed for a day or two afterwards.<span style=""> </span>On a couple occasions I was even teary.<span style=""> </span>It got to the point where I would decline invitations to be social with them.<span style=""> </span>With a couple therapy sessions I came to realize that bickering is the way some families show affection.<span style=""> </span>Certainly not how I am comfortable with showing affection but each to their own, right?<span style=""> </span>And I also learned that I could very subtly and politely show that I was not accepting of the negative talk about other family members.<span style=""> </span>It totally worked and I am now able to be social with these people again.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>The fact is that I was not raised to be assertive at all. <span style=""> </span>I was raised to be ‘good’ and we all know that being ‘good’ often means being a doormat. <span style=""> </span>For years I have not stood up for myself when being treated poorly and have swallowed all the emotions that go along with that.<span style=""> </span>No wonder I have depression and anxiety, right?<span style=""> </span>It is only in the last few years that I have stood up for myself and become pretty open about how I am feeling and, especially, how I want to be treated.<span style=""> </span>As when anybody learns a new skill it is not always performed perfectly but overall I am happy with these changes.<span style=""> </span>I’ve learned that not only am I a pretty quirky outspoken person with people I know and trust but in fact a leader in many respects opposed to the follower I always thought I was.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>But here is the thing; I still am not sure how to deal with people who hold back from me.<span style=""> </span>I’ve had a few friends/family members/acquaintances who I could sense were annoyed, displeased, or outright angry with me and for whatever reason couldn’t tell me so.<span style=""> </span>I trust my gut that I am right about this and can probably guess what I had said or done to make them feel this way.<span style=""> </span>Usually it is that I have an opinion that differs from theirs or have done something that they disagree with.<span style=""> </span>And fair enough.<span style=""> </span>I am happy to say that I am ok with all this and am totally happy to be disagreed with. <span style=""> </span>I can safely be sure that I’ve not done or said anything out of malice or anger. Or it might simply be a misunderstanding. But they won’t tell me.<span style=""> </span>They just start treating me differently.<span style=""> </span>Sometimes it is just a feeling and sometimes it is outright passive aggressive behavior.<span style=""> </span>In any case I just don’t know how to talk to somebody who cannot tell me what is wrong.<span style=""> </span>And I hate being afraid to be myself and have my opinions and own ideas when I think they clearly are uncomfortable with that.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>A few years back I had a very good friend who I met at work.<span style=""> </span>We totally hit it off and became very close very quickly.<span style=""> </span>We had a blast hanging out and were very similar in many ways.<span style=""> </span>I totally trusted her and really felt like she had my back.<span style=""> </span>After a couple years she seemed to be having some problems at work.<span style=""> </span>I tried very hard to be supportive but found it very hard to know how to do that.<span style=""> </span>So I just tried to listen and agree with her feelings.<span style=""> </span>A few months went by and her behavior towards me started to change.<span style=""> </span>I’d ask her if everything was ok and she’d say it was just work.<span style=""> </span>But I knew it wasn’t.<span style=""> </span>Unfortunately she decided to bring up everything that had been bothering her about me while we were on vacation together.<span style=""> </span>Stuff that had happened over a year or two in the past and unto itself not a big deal but over time it had festered within her until it became so overwhelming she damned near lost her freaking mind.<span style=""> </span>Her behavior scared me and after she brought up personal stuff I’d trusted her with and thought she accepted me for (mostly about the limits of my anxiety disorder) and then threw it in my face I knew I couldn’t save the friendship and I’ve never spoken to her since.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>I hate that it got so out of hand.<span style=""> </span>I really missed her but ironically not as much as I thought I would as I didn’t realize until I was out of the friendship how much I had to tippy-toe around her ‘stuff’.<span style=""> </span>It was somewhat a relief in many ways to have her out of my life.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>So what do you do when you just wish your friends/family/aquaintances would come out and say what they are feeling?<span style=""> </span>How do you deal when you feel like you can’t be straight with them or else they will disengage or ‘punish’ you in some way?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Is this a common situation with friends and acquaintances or am I just some crazy lady?<span style=""> </span>Is being up-front, honest with how I am feeling, and willing to talk about how we can agree to disagree maybe not a good thing?<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Being with people is hard. </p>Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-16389302802802665472008-07-29T21:48:00.000-07:002008-07-29T21:57:18.979-07:00Experience Yoshi's Magnetic Personality For YourselfI've been working on them for ages and finally have some <a href="http://www.urbanbeast.ca/magnets.html">very cute Yoshi Magnets</a> for sale on my <a href="http://www.urbanbeast.ca/index.htm">UrbanBeast</a> website. Come check them out. I have even put together two combos, <a href="http://www.urbanbeast.ca/magnet-wiggycombo-shipping.html">Wiggy</a> and <a href="http://www.urbanbeast.ca/magnet-iconiccombo-shipping.html">Iconic</a>, to save you money!<br /><br />And as always a portion of profits will help animal rescue and advocacy groups. In fact I was thrilled to recently be able to send a nice cheque to the local SPCA for their fund to help animals in urgent medical situations.<br /><br />Thanks.Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-16948979731232814382008-07-28T14:57:00.000-07:002008-07-28T16:01:14.361-07:00Well On My Way To CrotchetyoldwomanvilleI live in an apartment building that has retail spaces on the ground floor. Right below my balcony is a little cafe that has outdoor seating. Most sunny days this guy sits outside for a couple hours and chats with friends while enjoying a beverage. He is disabled and he parks his scooter-thingie on the grass and ties his dog up to it. His dog is this seriously cute Miniature Pinscher. Well, cute until he starts barking. And barking. AAAAANNND barking. Yip! Yip! Yip!<br /><br />The damned dog barks pretty much constantly the whole time this guy is at the cafe. Honestly, I'm not sure what bugs me the most, the incessant yapping or the fact that the guy just sits there about 10 feet away and does nothing about it.<br /><br />Here's the thing. I could go downstairs and ask the guy to deal with his dog. Or I could phone the cafe and complain. Better yet, why don't I just shut my windows, buck up, and get on with my life?<br /><br />All very good options. Yet, I am not compelled to use any of them.<br /><br />Instead, it is ALL I CAN DO not to drop a water balloon on that dog. I have a perfect vantage point and I know I would very easily soak the thing. Probably get the scooter splashed pretty good as well. Despite acknowledging that all the dog lovers in the area would burn me at the hydrant I cannot stop aching to feel that squishy orb of water and latex leave my hand knowing that it would stop the barking, give a clear message to the dog owner and not actually harm anybody.<br /><br />Somebody stop me! Or better yet, anybody want to join me?Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-70844303214622873442008-07-26T19:28:00.000-07:002008-07-26T19:33:32.637-07:00Crush Your Cat's Head Friday-Being Flexible About The Friday PartSo I took some video of when I dog-sat lat week. I wanted to do a little movie for you all but with a recent update of my Quicktime plugins I now cannot do anything unless I 'BUY NOW" the whole software package. Not to mention the fact that no other programs on my computer recognize the Quicktime movie format (MOV) all of a sudden. DAMMIT!<br /><br />So here is a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPuAHAALNe4">plain old unedited video</a> for you. You'll need sound to get the full effects of Yoshi's discontent.Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-76788634794112280012008-07-22T17:49:00.000-07:002008-07-22T18:11:36.060-07:00A Long Post As Life Is Never Concise<p class="MsoNormal">Well, I’ve been leaving cryptic <a href="http://www.twitter.com">Twitter</a> messages over the last few days as I’ve been going through a minor (and often not so minor) emotional rollercoaster.<span style=""> </span>Here’s what has been going on.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>In a nutshell I tried to adopt a kitten.<span style=""> </span>And in another nutshell (I hope you’re not allergic) it got weird.<span style=""> </span>The end result was that somebody else adopted this kitten and I am very sad about it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>I’ve wanted another kitten for years and for one reason or another I’ve not acted on that urge.<span style=""> </span>Not for lack of obsessive internet searching on <a href="http://www.petfinder.com">Petfinder</a> and all the local animal rescue shelters, mind you.<span style=""> </span>First of all, when Yoshi was young, I knew I was going to be moving and while it is easy enough to find accommodation that accepts a cat it can be a bit harder to find a landlord ok with two cats.<span style=""> </span>When I did find cat friendly living space it was so small and entirely without doors so I just couldn’t see how I would successfully introduce a new cat into the situation.<span style=""> </span>Well, I lived there for almost 8 years.<span style=""> </span>Then I got cancer and dealt with the possibility that I might not be around to successfully see Yoshi to the end of her life like I expected to which was, seriously, my greatest worry throughout my treatment.<span style=""> </span>Then I got better and, as many of you remember, I moved to my new apartment and attempted the Great Dog Adoption Experiment with very poor results.<span style=""> </span>So I put the whole thing on hold.<span style=""> </span>Yet, in the meantime I still obsessively lurked on adoption sites…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Fueled by stories of people successfully adding a new cat to their home, an enlightening dog sitting long weekend where Yoshi showed me that she could possibly handle a new addition to the family (anything would be better than 2 freakin’ dogs, right?) and the fact that I simply fell in love with this little tiny face I saw on the screen motivated me into applying to adopt a little boy kitty I saw on a cat fostering blog.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>There are many MANY more pros and cons to adding a new ruler to this dynasty but that is a post (or twelve) for another day.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Now I am going to be kinda vague here as this particular blog with the cats is very popular and the content of my post is really only about my side of the situation.<span style=""> </span>I can assure you all that the foster people are exceptionally great to their furry little wards and do a wonderful job.<span style=""> </span>In fact that is partially why I really wanted to adopt one of their foster kitties as I knew they were loved and well taken care of in their first kitty days.<span style=""> </span>These people are good people to the kitties.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>So I saw this little kitten and fell in love with his eyes.<span style=""> </span>He reminded me so much of Yoshi when she was tiny.<span style=""> </span>All kittens are super cute but, honestly, for me, only a few tweak that aching in my tummy.<span style=""> </span>I call it my ‘caternal’ instinct.<span style=""> </span>I was smitten with this kitten.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>The site said that if one lived in the area and was interested in adopting a kitten featured on the blog to email them.<span style=""> </span>I did that knowing that I didn’t really live in the area (I lived about 3 hours drive away across the border) but hoping that my suitability and willingness to drive down for however many interviews, security checks and cavity searches were necessary to complete the deal might allow for flexibility on their end.<span style=""> </span>Alas I got a reply saying that, indeed, they did not adopt out of the area.<span style=""> </span>I accepted that and returned to my busy week walking dogs and doing fiddly tax reports for my business.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>A couple days later things settled down, the pooches went home and I started thinking about this particular limitation and how when I was inquiring about adopting dogs as well as researching what was necessary to foster kittens myself that the typical rescue shelter mandate was finding good homes for pets and if the applicant met the criteria and was willing to deal with distance and travel issues it was not at all a problem to adopt across large distances and to neighbouring countries.<span style=""> </span>Also I remembered reading on the Cat Fostering Blog that they have flown kittens to other states so…WTF? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Out of curiosity I checked out the website of the rescue organization these folks fostered from and couldn’t find such a rule. <span style=""> </span>Now feeling a little odd about this discrepancy I called the shelter and asked if they adopted to folks in my situation/location and they said they did.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Now I got more than a little weirded out.<span style=""> </span>I was very puzzled.<span style=""> </span>Why would these people, on the basis of a couple sentences I emailed to them asking about a kitten, decide to go against shelter policy and deny me the opportunity to submit an application based on a non-existent rule?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>You see the whole spirit of fostering is that you take care of an animal who might need extra care, medical attention, socializing etc. that a busy rescue shelter might be too busy/over capacity to provide in hopes that the animal could be eventually adopted opposed to euthanized.<span style=""> </span>You do not own the animals you foster nor do you normally have much say or the final word on who adopts the animal you are fostering.<span style=""> </span>That is the responsibility of the shelter that has its own adoption screening process.<span style=""> </span>The adoption fee is paid to the shelter only.<span style=""> </span>That is not to say that a foster caregiver doesn’t fall in love with their foster pets and want only the best for them and even encourage potential adopters to fill out applications but the final decision is from the shelter. So if they are not happy with the type of homes the shelter is finding for the animals then they shouldn’t foster from that shelter.<span style=""> </span>Alternately if fostering doesn’t give them the control they desire over who with and where their foster pets end up then they should start their own small in-home animal rescue situation and then pick and choose where the pets go based on their own criteria.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>So I emailed the foster blog folks again explaining that I had inquired to their shelter and was told there were no reasons why I couldn’t apply to adopt this particular cat.<span style=""> </span>I asked why their policies differed from the place they fostered from.<span style=""> </span>The reply I got made me furious.<span style=""> </span>Suddenly the reason changed.<span style=""> </span>Basically it was stated that for them it wasn’t the distance that was the issue after all but the border crossing that might cause delays/detention and since they cared deeply for their kittens they didn’t want to potentially subject one to that.<br /></p><blockquote> ::<a href="http://maddenvision.typepad.com/maddenroundtheland/">Mrtl</a> Style Tangent::<span style=""> </span>I’ve researched bringing a pet cat over the border and it is seriously no problem.<span style=""> </span>Any cat over 3 months of age simply needs a current rabies vaccination (And proof thereof. <span style=""> </span>IE: the receipt) and that is it!<span style=""> </span>Younger kittens don’t need anything.<span style=""> </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region> doesn’t quarantine pet animals at all.<span style=""> </span>I wouldn’t even have to get out of my car crossing the border.<span style=""> </span>Soooo not any kind of potential negative situation.<span style=""> </span>If there was any risk that the cat would be taken away from me at the border for ANY reason I would never ever think of risking that.<span style=""> </span>Jeeeez.<span style=""> </span>::End of Mrtl Style Tangent::</blockquote><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>I</o:p>t was then said in their email that, differing policy aside, they thought they had possibly found a home for the cat anyway and they were sorry they couldn’t help me.<span style=""> </span>Yes, a home for a cat I wanted to apply to adopt SEVERAL DAYS prior.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>So in short I was told I couldn’t apply to adopt a kitten due to a rule that didn’t exist by people who normally have little to no final say over who gets to adopt said kitten or make rules in the first place and then was told upon further questioning that it wasn’t actually the first stated rule that was keeping me from applying to adopt the kitten but now a fear of ‘potential’ issues that are, in fact,<span style=""> </span>total non-issues (easily discovered by anyone with internet access and Google) (and really only the concern of the shelter anyway) that imply a lack of care and concern by me for the kitten. <span style=""> </span>This situation caused me to miss my legitimate and time sensitive opportunity to apply to adopt.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Um…OK!<span style=""> </span>Not so short, huh?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>I know I might not have been accepted to adopt this kitten by the humane society but I should have been offered the opportunity to apply.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>I was terribly upset, angry and insulted.<span style=""> </span>And sad, really sad.<span style=""> </span>Hence the emotional rollercoaster mentioned above.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>So I called the shelter again and explained everything that had gone on wondering if somehow I had missed something or if there was some sort of unique arrangement with these foster people that gave them special authority.<span style=""> </span>The regular fostering co-ordinator was not in but the woman I talked to encouraged me to call the acting co-ordinator today and report what had happened.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>I just got off the phone with her and she apologized which was very kind and much appreciated.<span style=""> </span>While I won’t get into any details of our conversation I can say I feel much better about the situation and I felt very heard and understood by her.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>And if you love happy endings then I’ll give you one.<span style=""> </span>There apparently is a leeetle eeeensy teensy kitten that is similar to the one that got away.<span style=""> </span>He/she is too young to be adopted yet but I get first dibs when that time comes.<span style=""> </span>I’m just waiting to receive the call to drive down and take a look.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>So YAY! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>And whew!<span style=""> </span>I need a nap.</p>Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-53942736876978692292008-07-07T21:12:00.000-07:002008-07-07T21:14:26.135-07:00Hmmmm....In light of my last post is <a href="http://www.tothinkistocreate.com/2008/07/07/gimme-mo-gimme-wii/#comments">this</a> merely a coincidence or The Universe providing? Only time will tell.<br /><br />I entered.Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103331.post-7610490977824065172008-07-02T13:11:00.000-07:002008-07-02T13:29:34.309-07:00The Silence of the Hamstrings<p class="MsoNormal">I’ve never been one for video games nor do I salivate over the latest technology.<span style=""> </span>I can’t say I’m afraid of it but have more of a certain distrust of The Hype and a desire to keep life pretty simple.<span style=""> </span>I also don’t have a lot of disposable income.<span style=""> </span>So the other day I noticed <a href="http://www.dooce.com/">Dooce</a> was <a href="http://www.dooce.com/2008/06/30/my-hearts-beating-rabbit">giving away some Wii Fit sets</a> and I immediately started to covet.<span style=""> </span>Sadly being a Canadian resident I am not eligible for the contest.<span style=""> </span>However, I suddenly decided that I desperately neeeeeed <a href="http://www.bestbuy.ca/marketing/wiifit/EN/default.asp?logon=&langid=EN">one of these things</a>.<span style=""> </span>Admittedly I’ve never tried <a href="http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0926INGFS10094887&catid=24354&logon=&langid=EN">one</a>.<span style=""> </span>I’ve never actually seen one in the shiny and plastic-y flesh.<span style=""> </span>But for some reason I am absolutely convinced that this, THIS contraption is the key to my physical fitness reform.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>I have a long and sordid affair with exercise that has left me wary as well as emotionally and physically beaten.<span style=""> </span>It all started when I was born.<span style=""> </span>I don’t have any other reason why I was never really adventurous physically or competitive on any level other than it has got to be missing from my DNA.<span style=""> </span>Kids in the playground would run around screaming their fool heads off swinging on monkey bars and flinging their bodies in all sorts of dangerous ways and I was the one sitting off to the side with a book.<span style=""> </span>As a child I was cautious and always afraid to get hurt.<span style=""> </span>Perhaps it was that I was very small and not very strong.<span style=""> </span>Or maybe it was that I was a city kid who wasn’t exposed to the great outdoors a lot.<span style=""> </span>In any case I was, from an early age, an obvious target for ridicule and torment by ‘regular’ kids.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>When I was 10 years old we moved from the city centre into a suburb and the new school had a very different type of Phys Ed curriculum.<span style=""> </span>Specifically it was much more competitive, team based and not at all user friendly for geeky little wimps like me.<span style=""> </span>Very soon I found myself caught up in a nightmare of bullying-verbal, physical and even, frankly, sexual from my classmates.<span style=""> </span>It certainly didn’t help that my PE teacher laughed at my expense frequently and quickly nicknamed me ‘Useless’ in front of my peers.<span style=""> </span>It got so bad that my younger brother soon was identified by this teacher as ‘Useless’s Brother’ and eventually transferred into a completely different school as following in the footsteps of my academic reputation was too unbearable to contemplate.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Some highlights of my PE classes were team captains arguing over who would NOT get to have me on their team.<span style=""> </span>I also was kicked in the face causing my front tooth to crack and called a wuss when I asked to go to the school nurse.<span style=""> </span>Good times.<span style=""> </span>I could go on an on but I fear, should I do so, I may eventually find myself in the corner of my closet weeping and viciously stabbing my lone dusty pair of running shoes.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Later I was diagnosed with asthma which explained why my stamina wasn’t so hot but it didn’t take long before I was dreading PE to the point of other physical symptoms.<span style=""> </span>Once at the doctor office I begged to be excused from PE class due to some small ailment.<span style=""> </span>The doc sensed my desperation and asked me some pointed questions.<span style=""> </span>I explained everything with tears rolling down my face and he wrote me a note excusing me from PE for the rest of my school life.<span style=""> </span>And then the angels sang and the weight of the entire 6<sup>th</sup> grade co-ed second period PE class was lifted from my shoulders.<span style=""> </span>Literally.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>A year or so went by and I joined a friendly neighbourhood girls softball team with much encouragement from my friends (AKA: peer pressure) and assurances (from my deluded parents) that it was all about having fun and it is not whether you win or lose but…say it now, people…<span style="font-style: italic;">how you play the game</span>.<span style=""> </span>I hated it and I totally sucked at it but I tried to be a good sport and did my very best, which was, obviously, not very good at all.<span style=""> </span>Then one day I overheard the coaches talking about how they thought our team was ahead enough to put me on the field.<span style=""> </span>I was so crushed and embarrassed and learned that for most obsessively competitive folk sportsmanship was a load of bullshit and even pot-bellied middle-aged coaches of girls softball teams only cared about winning.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>So now I am an adult and as much I know that all that happened in the past is over and the bullies were a bunch of ass-wipes who are now probably meth addicts or in jail I STILL dread any kind of sports or exercise.<span style=""> </span>I dread it, dread it, DREEEEEEAAAD EEEEET!<span style=""> </span>I become paralyzed and absolutely refuse to participate in any kind of organized sports and fall into a shame spiral at the thought of working out. <span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>I’ve tried all sorts of fitness regiments and I either hate it, can’t afford it, or I hurt myself.<span style=""> </span>Damaged rotator cuffs and shin splints.<span style=""> </span>I think I even broke my axel once.<span style=""> </span>Pinched nerves and pulled muscles. <span style=""> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bikram_Yoga">$25 individual yoga classes which make you sweat.</a><span style=""> </span>Crowded and smelly gyms where it is more about getting picked-up than getting fit.<span style=""> </span>Driving in traffic and costly parking fees for <a href="http://www.curves.com/">specialty fitness centres</a> catering to us gals who are chunky and just really want to be left alone when we copiously sweat while doing puny exercises with eeensy teensy weights. <span style=""> </span>All of it = <a href="http://failblog.org/">FAIL!</a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>I get discouraged easily and bored almost immediately.<span style=""> </span>And being prone to panic attacks in crowded and noisy places doesn’t help.<span style=""> </span>But I have to GET OFF MY ASS!<span style=""> </span>Some way, somehow.<span style=""> </span>I’m putting on weight, I have arthritis in my foot and my right upper body is so stiff and sore from all <a href="http://breastcancer.about.com/od/reconstructivesurgery/tp/latissimus_dorsi.htm">my breast re-construction surgery</a> even getting started on anything is daunting.<span style=""> </span>I can’t even say I am out of shape as that would imply I once was fit.<span style=""> </span>It feels like a lose/lose situation and I am not talking about the saddlebags below my hips. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>But what?<span style=""> </span>WHAT?<span style=""> </span>What is out there for me that isn’t too hard, too expensive or too humiliating in some way?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>And that is where the Wii Fit comes in.<span style=""> </span>Yes, it is more than I can afford but it is certainly cheaper than a year’s gym membership.<span style=""> </span>Bowling, boxing, tennis and yoga…interactive style!<span style=""> </span>All sorts of fun stuff that I couldn’t and wouldn’t normally do right at my fingertips along with goals to set and achieve.<span style=""> </span>My own little white cubic fitness instructor! <span style=""> </span>It sounds like it just might work.<span style=""> </span>Is this Wii Fit thing the way to go for a fitness-phobe like me?</p>Krankihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462291033293033179noreply@blogger.com11