Monday, June 30, 2008

Missed Opportunity

"Now, over here we have our reception desk where we greet all the visitors.  And, if you look just to your right, you'll see our display of grooming aids.  What's that?  Back there?  Oh, that's where we let patients rest before and after procedures.  And look!  There's a nice shelf!"

This is what I was listening to while I sat all alone in the examination room at the vet's office this morning.  And Prometheus?  Well, he was out and about getting a tour of the facility.  He was accompanied by no less than three staff people, including the doctor.

Our vet is one of those people who probably has one or two moments of "social awkwardness" while she is out in the world of human beings.  In the Kitty Kingdom, however, I believe she might be considered something of a saint.  She is sort of like The Cat Whisperer.  Since my handsome boy wasn't feeling all that receptive to the idea of claw clipping, she thought that the Walk 'n Clip method might be a little more effective.  So she took him on a guided tour.  Isn't that nice?

I suppose I could have used that time to work on my sock.  I had it right in my purse.  But I was sort of preoccupied with the whole business of trying to stop laughing before she came back and never got to it.  For the record, the claws were clipped quite handily and with much less of the back-pedaling seen during the first attempt.  But I do believe that it is worth mentioning that I have never had a tour of the office...

Otherwise, my boy was a champ.  He charmed everyone, investigated everything and passed his first check-up with flying colors.  He was appropriately fawned over and pronounced to be every inch the handsome boy I already know he is.



She told me we were going to the circus.  I was lied to.  


We were all tuckered out after our big morning, though.  Naps were taken and snacks consumed.  However, I sort of felt badly about not giving the sock any attention while I was stifling mad chortles at my vet's expense.  I cut short the afternoon snooze in order that I might tend to that matter.



Yup.  There she be...


I know it doesn't really look all that different from the last viewing.  But this piece of footwear represents a great departure from my usual knitting of the socks.  2/3rds of those stitches currently reside on a piece of waste yarn in order that they may one day grow up to be an Afterthought Heel.  What's this?  No flappage?  Heresy!!!!  What can I say?  I seem to be finding my inner Zimmerman.  I thought I'd give it a shot.  If it doesn't work out, then I can always rip 'er back and return to my traditional flappy ways.

And, if it does work out, then I will have a new sock strategy.  I can just knit merrily away no matter where I be and not have to worry about picking up heel stitches in public.  That never seems to go well for me.  It is not one of the more attractive sides of knitting I've found.  Heck, I can even knit in the round when Prometheus and I go back for his next check up and I'm all by myself in there while he is having tea with the staff!  That'll be nice for me.



What?  You mean I have to back?????


SA

17 comments:

Donna Lee said...

He is quite the handsome boy. Good thing. Calvin does that to me and then I wait until he is sleeping peacefully and pounce on him and rudely awaken him. I figure he deserves it. Vindictive? No, why?

April said...

Your vet has a nice shelf?!?

Wow!

I recognize that yarn.

Anonymous said...

I once tried an afterthought heel on a Christmas stocking I was planning to felt anyway (you know just in case things didn't go so well). I guess I actually did it twice since I made both Samm and Jay stockings that way. I enjoyed it and kept meaning to do it with real socks but I'm old and forgetful. I never have the "afterthought" until after the heel has already been knit. Next time I will remember(of course that's assuming I ever even knit a sock again).

p.s. who is your vet? she sounds wonderful.

JB at MM said...

Walk N Clip? How does that work? I might need to try it on my clawful bunch. I'm glad you all survived. Prometheus! So cute.

MathIsBeauty said...

I tell George and Millie that they are going for a pony ride and they fall for it every time. Actually, I also have to do the sneak attack thing also or they hide under the bed where I can't reach.

Mel said...

I have found that our boys are much more compliant if we do maybe a paw at a time while they're stretched out and in happy kitty mode. It takes longer, but it's less fuss in the long run.

Kath said...

Oh yeah, I'm with Mel on this one. I get the little Princess all relaxed on my lap, purring and grooving along...and just a little snip snip, a claw on on paw, a claw on the other paw, another claw on the first paw...and before you know it we're done and no drama! Possibly the only thing she does with no histrionics - but I'll take what I can get!

You know, I kind of like the heel flap and gussets interrupting the monotony of leg and foot rounds. But I'm sure I'll try an afterthought eventually!

catsmum said...

Oakley wishes to know whether Prometheus's back fur is showing any signs of growing yet?
I tried to involve Sophie and MissC as well but they were too busy muttering about the fact that the grandkittens haven't vacated the premises yet

Alwen said...

I do my dog's claws one or two at a time when she's laying down, half-napping. The trick is keeping the clippers where you can get at them. I'm thinking they should make them as a pendant. Maybe with rhinestones.

Anonymous said...

That sounds like a wonderful vet. Don't you wish your own doctor would make you feel that comfortable when doing less than pleasant procedures.

sheep#100 said...

You'll have to let us all know how the heel works out, of course. I don't like 50% of the stitches for a short-row heel of any sort but haven't tried messing with the ratios yet, either.

::absolutely refusing to throw around words like "heresy" and "traitor":: :o)

Mia said...

love the expression in that last pic *grin*

Cursing Mama said...

Surely the vet will make a house call for such a handsome boy....

debsnm said...

Did you ask about the "party all nite" thingy? Does he have days and nights confused, or do the "bugs" really have a little rhinestone ball that they party with?

Yarnhog said...

I think we go to the same vet. After years of struggling with bad vet experiences, we finally found the World's Greatest Vet, who happens to work at the animal emergency clinic. So now we only take our dog to the vet after hours and on weekends, which is the only time the emergency clinic is open, and pay twice as much, just so we can see her. We can't make an appointment, so we just call ahead to see if they're busy, but it's worth the hassle!

Anonymous said...

I've done a number of different sock heels but hadn't tried an after thought heel until this year. Most heels are done on 1/2 of the total stitches so I think having 2/3 of the stitches available for an after thought heel might be a tad much. But, I'm only guessing so I'll be very happy to hear how it comes out.

And I enjoy the Kitty Adventures.

Lorraine said...

LOL - what we do for our "babies"! I can't wait to find out how the afterthought heel works. For all my knitting prowess, I am NOT an experimenter where socks are concerned. Heel flaps 'til death us do part!