Taking It In Stride

I honestly can't believe that I am staring down the gullet of the last full week of summer vacation, but it seems that I am.  Time certainly does fly when you're busy not doing other things...

There are a couple of different ways to approach this last week of freedom.  The first is to go into full-on Scamper Mode and frantically try to squeeze in all the things I said I was going to do back when the summer season seemed endless.  The second is to relax and just let it be what it will be while I sit back and appreciate the quiet.

The former is more tempting than it sounds, but not really all that practical in the end.  All that scampering never amounts to much more than a great deal of hand flapping and unfinished projects left for the next vacation.  (where they will probably also sit half done...)  The latter makes more sense in the long run.

The fact of the matter is that this coming week isn't really "vacation proper" anyway.  I will have to go in to school and set up the classroom.  The one good thing about being transferred to the middle school is that the upper grades tend to do far less in the way of decorating.  Simpler is better when it comes to the teenagers and most of us tend to focus more on getting the desks set up rather than on the creation of artful bulletin boards.  Middle school is really more about planning how best to foil escapes and other sneaky attempts to overthrow authority.  The less you have to distract you from what's going on behind the scenes, the better.  I'm pretty sure I can get things set up in a day if I put my mind to it.  I've been doing this long enough that I can whip up a good lookin' classroom in my sleep.

That should leave me with plenty of down time if I don't let myself get caught up in Time's Great Toilet Flush.  Nothing is going to stop that rush of water once the handle is pulled, right?  Besides, I've had a fairly productive summer.  I adopted a cat, visited with the dentist a couple of times and learned how to steam clean my kitchen floors.  I've canned enough produce to keep me going in the event of a short Zombie Apocalypse and could probably put a few more veggies aside should I put my mind to it during the autumn months.  I've read lots of books and even knit a few items, which is more than I can say for the ten months preceding this vacation.  The fact that the Situationally Necessary Octagonal Thing (SNOT) is now sitting on waste yarn until I can go back and pick up five million stitches is something we don't need to discuss at the moment.  I still say I got a lot done...

Heck, I even managed to make an appointment with my plastic surgeon, Dah-lings!  Frankly, I didn't even know that I had a plastic surgeon whose name could be preceded by a "my," but apparently I do.  How very up 'n coming of me!

Actually, I am a person who leans towards benign skin growths and we've come to removal season.  Most of the time, my own doc can zap or hack them but she won't touch anything on the face.  I had a cyst of sorts removed a few years back and Dr. NippenTucker's name is recorded in my file.  As a result, I have a plastic surgeon to call my own.  At least by my family physician's standards.  I guess that's something else I can add to the summer's List Of Accomplishments.  I now know I have my very own surgeon...

I don't even need to be stressed about that appointment, since the procedure isn't going to happen until October.  I can just sit back and let this coming week flow, secure in the knowledge that it's OK to relax a bit.  Even then, I still don't have to worry about facing the educational music until September 1st.

After that, all bets are off.  I'm pretty sure I'll start stressing out before the first bell rings and stay on High Alert until they let us go again next June.  But that's then and this is now.

It is still Summer Vacation, dag-nabbit!!!

SA

WMBT: Some Days Even The Post Title Is Wrong

It has been one of those days.  Thankfully, "one of those days" also happens to be the night of the Wednesday Night Bullet Post.  The WNBP will save me from everything that has gone awry!

*Seriously.  Crazy amounts of "offness."


*I went to to several stores to purchase things on my list this morning.  


*Very important things go on lists.


*Which is why I find it unforgivable that many of the stores I visited today did not have the required merchandise.


*Stores today...no respect for lists, I tellya!!!


*I didn't bother going to the Farmer's Market today.  I figured my mere presence would cause the produce to develop malicious mites and festering mange.  


*I went to the grocery store, though.  I needed root beer.


*The grocery store had root beer.  But I had to work for it since they were stocking the shelves.


*They are always stocking the shelves.  Always.


*I am currently knitting a Situationally Necessary Octagonal Thing.


*I almost changed the title when I realized that the acronym was SNOT.


*Then I got to the point where I had about 25 stitches between the increases and my hands hurt.


*SNOT didn't seem so inappropriate at that point.


*Today I realized that my ability to maintain my attention is somewhere around "33 stitches between the increases."


*Rookie mistakes were made.


*Rather than tink back like a responsible knitter, I decided I could repair the boo-boo without such time-consuming nonsense.


*I am not a rookie.


*I have spent more time trying to fix the boo-boo than it would have taken to just tink.


*Two steps forward.  Thirty steps back.


*All stupid day.


*I'm tinking back.  I'm tinking back to the point where life makes sense again.


*As well as the forward progression of numbers....


*Went to lunch with the family today.  It's a monthly thing for most of the group.


*The ones who go regularly all have cards which entitle them to discounts.


*I have observed that at a certain age, one is bestowed with a plethora of cards.


*Cards which, when presented, cause people to shower the bearer with benefits.


*Or inform everyone present of the need for oxygen/hypodermic needles/electric shock paddles.


*Either way, the cards must make a person feel mighty special...


*I used to fear the day I qualified for cards.


*Now I look forward to them.  I yearn for cards.


*People with cards don't have to go back to teach school in a couple of weeks.  They get to go out to lunch on a week day like it's nothing.


*I think I would do well with a few of those cards.


*Except I'd have to stay at home sometimes with a SNOT that won't behave like a good SNOT should.


*There is no card for that.


*However, if you really start to get overworked about the whole thing, you can present one of your cards to the nice paramedics when they come for you.


*I think if I work back two or three more rounds on the SNOT, I might be somewhere in the vicinity of correctness.


*Or I will have ruined rows that were knitted perfection and have to throw myself out the window.


*Either way, the day will be over and I won't have to worry about it anymore.


*Of course, then I won't get any of those cool cards later on... 


Well, I must be off.  That SNOT isn't going to unknit itself, after all.  And we are rapidly approaching the Feline Feeding Hour, something that we don't like to miss around here.  Things get ugly when FFH is not observed and I don't think I want to tempt fate any more today, thank you very much.  Hope your Wednesday was smoother than mine and that the rest of your week is equally delightful.

I have to go to the doctor tomorrow.  I wonder how she will react to my telling her that I'm dealing with a nasty SNOT and that this required I have bacon on my sandwich today?

SA

Very Important Research

Yes, it's been a busy summer.  I've had lots and lots to do, but I still made time for a very important study.  This is the sort of research that can change lives.  I'm dedicated to the betterment of humanity, after all.

Having recently acquired a Very Complicated Kitty, I was presented with a unique opportunity to assess the one quality that most cats have to varying degrees, but which is often left unmeasured.  I am, of course, refering to Flumpability.

For those of you who do not happen to have cats, I shall explain.  Flumpability is a cat's willingness to be Flumped in a variety of locations and for differing purposes.  Flumping, as you probably already know, is the act of picking up the cat, transferring him to the desired spot and depositing him gently but never on his feet.  Flumping facilitates many daily activities ranging from belly rubbing, snuggling, making room for vacuuming and checking for fleas.  In my household, cats are flumped for napping.  I like to nap with a cat, but it's not worth it if the feline in question is not Flumpable.

As with any other measurable behavior, a rating scale must be used for recording.  This we refer to as the Flumpability Scale.  A 0 means that the cat is completely averse to being Flumped.  Don't go there.  A score of 10 reflects a cat who is quite skilled in the art of the Flump.  Cats will fall anywhere within this range.  Unless you are me and then you will make adjustments as needed because what's the point in making up scientific stuff if you can't play with it a little bit?

A non-Flumpable cat is not necessarily a bad thing.  Cats have many other qualities and it is guaranteed that their other strengths will more than make up for a lack of Flumpage.  However, it is good to know ahead of time where your cat stands of the F-scale.  It can save you a nasty bout of...repercussions.  A few weeks of diligent study and you can easily plan your life (and naps) around your cat's Flump Status.

For example, the Smaller, Less Fluffy Kitty was a -4 on the F-scale.  Flumping was beneath her.  She was very clear about this.  On the other hand, the Big, Fluffy Kitty was a 14.  She was a people pleaser and liked nothing better than to be Flumped at the whim of her humans.  In fact, I think that the majority of her travel throughout the manse was courtesy of random Flumping.

The Absurdly Gi-normous Kitty is a 5.  He is Flumpable under certain circumstances, but is unlikely to stay where he's been Flumped.  Frankly, he's more of a Self-Flumper.  He likes to toddler over and Flump himself on my feet.  Sometimes I can Flump him for belly rubs but that is usually right before dinner time when he is humoring me.

I have been studying the VCK for several weeks now to determine where he falls on the F-scale.  This has required that I spend a great deal of time napping, but I'm willing to do my part for science.  We've been napping at different times of the day and retrieving the cat from a variety of locations for the purpose of Flumping to see how he responds to the Lift-Lug-Flump experience.  I believe that I now have enough data to assign him his official number.

The Very Complicated Kitty is a firm 8 on the F-scale.  He is generally quite open to being Flumped, however he is more likely to accept it when he has already been napping in the recliner.  Once transferred to the sofa and Flumped into place, he will remain in the Flumped state for the duration of the nap.  He does not care for Flumping during the hours when he is scheduled for play or eating.  Oddly, he is also not Flumpable at bed time.

This leads me to believe that he is spending the unsupervised night hours playing online poker, but I kind of hate to think about that for too long....

I'm pleased with his score, overall.  I have missed having a nappin' kitty and it's good to know that the VCK is so high on the F-scale.  Flumpability isn't everything when it comes to cats, but it's awfully nice when it's an option.

There are other benefits to cats who are well-versed in the Art Of The Flump.  Overall, they tend to be more open to indulging their humans.

For example, they will pose with a freshly knit dishcloth and hardly seem bothered by it at all.

When I tried this with the AGK, he attacked the hapless dishcloth.  After I snatched it away from his killer claws, he proceeded to merrily bat at the camera straps until I gave up in disgust.  Knitting is best photographed with cats who rate a bit higher on the F-scale.  That's another little bit of research I've tucked away for future reference.

To those who think I've spent my summer vacation days lazing about, I hope that you now realize this was not the case.  Not at all.  I've been doing careful and precise research and probably will be getting an award any day now for my sacrifices in the name of science.  Others might rest on their laurels after such an intellectual triumph.  Not I.

Next, I think I shall tackle the problem of eating ice cream in bed.  I think we all know how badly that can go.  This is an area fairly crying out for the intervention of a scientific mind!

SA

Bullet Points With Extra Spatter

I am trying mightily to get a handle on "days of the week."  This, I think, will be quite helpful in managing the coming work schedule.  Thankfully, I have the Wednesday Night Bullet Post to give me some guidance.  I always know when it's midweek.  And, if it isn't Wednesday, it might be a good idea to not tell me that.


*I didn't work out this morning.


*I think the mean Wii Fit Lady is mad at me.


*Maybe she heard all the stuff I've said about her.  I didn't think so, but...


*She sent in an different trainer to do the single leg extensions with me the other day.  


*I don't know what's creepier.


*The fact that I think she is mad at me.


*Or how Wii Fit can bring in a substitute like that...


*I didn't knit today.


*Still kind of mad at the scarf for being all "difficult."


*Plus, I had a "salsa situation" going on.


*I made salsa a while back and liked it.


*Makes it easy to forget how messy things can get when canning salsa.


*You seriously have no idea how much of a train wreck I create in the kitchen with this operation.


*I know what you're thinking.  I can practically hear you.


*Oh, Sheepie I have (children/small dogs/a tribe of wild trolls living in my basement/any other mess-makers you might want to insert here).  I think I know what a mess is.


*You don't.  Plus you have wild trolls in your basement and have yet to call an exterminator.  You are untrustworthy, IMHO.


*I canned three pints of salsa, though.  And had an extra pint to throw in the fridge for this weekend.


*Then I spent an hour and a half cleaning the kitchen.


*Sort of...


*I got tired.  Salsa making is exhausting.


*Plus you have to track down every little hot pepper seed that flew into the stratosphere so that none of the cats find it.


*Speaking of cats, can someone please explain to me why the Very Complicated Kitty feels the need to lick things?


*I'm not talking about the sorts of things you'd expect a cat to lick.  I mean other stuff.


*Like the window screens.


*And the living room carpet.


*Today I found him licking the sofa cushions.


*Questioning whether or not he is getting too high a dose of his happy pills...


*He looks pretty happy while he's licking stuff around the house.  Blissful, in fact.


*Now I'm thinking I should go back to the kitchen and reexamine for salsa spatter.


*The VCK might be cured of his licking fetish, but I don't think I want to explain this to the vet.


*Cat with burned tongue and dragon breath compete with actual fire.


*Could be awkward.


Yeah.  I should get on that.  I suppose it's time to call this edition of the WNBP a wrap.  If nothing else, I ate a goodly amount of salsa today and probably should have some ice cream to balance things out.  Happy Wednesday and may your kitchen be spatter free!

SA

Timely Perceptions

One summer during my second or third year as a teacher, I vividly remember the day I decided to go to the beach.  I'd been putting it off what with having lots of other things to do and I've never been much of a "beach" person but I really meant to go before classes started.  It was August and I went in to school to get a few things done so I wouldn't have to worry about it while I was lazing on the sand.

Now, remember...this was a different time.  We didn't have all the technological advances we enjoy today. I drove a used buggy pulled by a three-legged horse and kept my appointments on parchment scrolls.  It was easy to forget stuff, especially when you couldn't catch a bird from whose feathers you might make functional quills.

Still, it was a bit of a shock when a colleague reminded me that I was due at Teacher Workshops the next day.  And that school itself would be starting the directly thereafter.  How did I miss that????

Suffice it to say, I didn't make it to the beach.

I've had a few similar moments of horrid First Day Realization after that, but none quite so dramatic.  Thankfully, we now have email and school websites to keep us in the loop so we don't have to bother ourselves reading all those pesky letters the administrators send us over the summer.  Now, I always know when school is starting, although I admit to a couple of calendar-confused moments over the years.

August makes me tense.  I feel like I have to get it all done and still practice getting up at 5:00 in the morning no matter how tired I am from arising at the crack of darkness.  This weekend was no exception.  I decided to try using the pressure canner to put up chicken. (and don't think that wasn't a stressful thing requiring that I go on fifty different cooperative extension sites to make sure I wasn't doing anything that would kill me later...)  I crocheted not one, but two, mop head covers for my new steam mop.  (This would have gone more quickly had I bothered to write down what I did on the first one, but let's not get into that...)  I then proceeded to knit two dishcloths, one of which actually came out right and might even be suitable for gift giving.  (The other one was good for washing out the pressure canner since it was a little bit on the chicken-y side...)

Today, I finally managed to get that stupid mini blind installed because you can only stare at a packaged mini blind for so long before you really can't take it any more.  (Three weeks seems to be my limit on that score.)  I vacuumed the carpets in preparation for one more steam cleaning later in the week once the temperatures go down a little bit.  I visited the grocery store where I stocked up on bagels because I will soon be eating breakfast on a more regular basis.  I checked in with the pet supply website to make sure that the Very Complicated Kitty's prescription food is in transit so I don't have to worry about that later.  (It's due to arrive tomorrow...)

I still don't feel like I did everything that needed doing.  I don't even feel close.  I had much bigger plans for this summer than it could realistically contain.  That's always the way, I guess.  I know going in that I won't get it all done, but I still can't help but remember that summer from years gone by when the whole thing ended before I made it to the beach.  Now, I get all...twitchy.  School is starting soon and it won't matter if I did it all or not.

And you know what the worst part is?  Even worse than giving up the days of leisure and not doing all the things I said I was going to do?

I don't even think I'll be missed when I'm gone every day....

SA

Using My Head

I started a new scarf project about a week ago.  Actually, I started it several times, but that is neither here nor there.  We don't need to focus on that part.  Let's just take up the tale after I managed to get into the groove of the k2togs and PSSOs.  I was moving along nicely.

Then things started to go awry.  Part of the problem was the horrific heat and humidity that settled in during the latter part of this week.  The yarn was sticking to my digits and my brain was too soggy to really process what I was doing.  Thankfully, I had the foresight to use a lifeline or two so ripping back and setting the project aside was not such a big deal.  Not like those first few (billion) attempts.

The other issue that may have distracted me was a looming dentist appointment involving two fillings.  Then there was the matter of finding out that it was actually three fillings, followed by a paralyzed face and the final discomfort once the painkillers eventually wore off.  It was really for the best that I put the scarf away.

I was still kind of itching to do something, though.  I needed a project that wasn't intended for holiday gifting and which would keep me entertained without giving off that "finish or feel like a miserable failure" vibe.

Not long ago, I stumbled across a good deal on a steam mop. (Shark Deluxe Steam Pocket Mop, S3501)  I really liked it in spite of its "reconditioned" status.  It does a nice job on the kitchen floors, something I appreciate more now that I have two sloppy boy kitties on canned food diets.  What I didn't like was the fact that the mop only came with one of each mop head cover.  I needed spares.  Did I mention that I have sloppy boy kitties who eat with great gusto and enthusiasm?  And over spray?

I decided to whip up a mop head.  How hard could it be, really?  I opted for crochet since that tends to go a little more quickly and would result in a thicker fabric.  I remembered how stretchy cotton can be, particularly when it gets wet, and accounted for that in the sizing.  I diligently examined the cover provided and worked out a way to stitch it up in one piece.  I crocheted like the wind.  I used everything I've ever learned about the art of looping yarn and making it fit things.  What I didn't know, I made up and pretended that this is how these sorts of things are done by those in the know.  I worked on it for a day.

And when I was done...

I had a perfectly fitted cover for my mop!

I was a little worried about how to fasten it in the back.  The original version uses hook and loop tape, but that was just going to be a sticky mess with the cotton.  I didn't want to use metal buttons because the steam gets really hot and that seemed like a burned finger or toe in the making.  And plastic might melt which would result in messy burns.  I finally decided to make my own buttons using the same yarn. That seemed sensible.  The problem was the need for "roundness."

I learned to crochet about fifteen years ago using a book.  At the time, the section on crocheting in the round sounded awfully complicated and I skipped it.  As a result, I sort of don't really know how to make things go 'round 'n 'round in crotchet.  But this is a mop head cover.  In the long run, does neatness count when something is going to be sloshing around the kitchen floor?

I submit that it does not.

I chained loops along the other side of the mop head cover to correspond with the lumpy buttons and they hold quite well.  I tested the whole thing out yesterday even though adding more steam to the air was probably an ill advised decision.  I couldn't wait, though.  Happily, it fit like a charm and held up well as the steam blasted through the fibers.  All in all, a very successful experiment.

Except for the part where I didn't write down a single thing I did during The Great Mop Head Experiment.  Nothing.  For some reason, I always seem to think that my mind will automatically recall the finer details of my genius even though that has never once proven to be the case.  Now I'm working on a second cover and diligently taking notes in the event that I am able to successfully recreate my most beloved of mop head covers.

We'll see if it all works out.  If it does, I'll have a pattern.  If it doesn't, I'll consider my mop head cover to be a one-of-a-kind art object and treasure it each time I cast mine eyes upon it.  I am rather good at working my mind around these kinds of incidents and finding a way to make it seem like that's what I meant to do all along.

Now I have to wonder if this is going to make mopping the kitchen floor clear of cat food crumbs any more pleasant...

SA

WNBP: Admit It

I can barely see the keyboard through the haze of humidity, but I'm going for it anyway.  Blogging has been sparse this summer and I can't afford to miss an opportunity.  Hopefully, I won't electrocute myself what with all the perspiration dripping onto the keyboard.  It's not really so much about me as it is about my not wanting to admit to having injured another laptop this week.

Let's get to this week's Wednesday Night Bullet Post while I'm still moderately less soggy, shall we?

*In case you didn't catch the hint, it is hot today.


*And muggy.


*I'm all limp and wilt-i-fied.


*90 degrees and air so thick you can slice it like soggy bread.


*And I'm spending the day making tomato sauce.

Yes.  I admit it.  I'm an idiot.  But I had a lot of tomatoes...

*It amuses me to think that, a mere thirty minutes earlier, this was just a pile of tomatoes, onions and garlic.


*I'm a vegetable geek...


*It was crowded at the Farmer's Market this morning in spite of the heat.


*I had to fight for my onions.


*Still managed to get only the red ones which were most decidedly NOT what I wanted.


*The scarf finished blocking.

*Rose Trellis Lace Scarf pattern from Wooly Wonka.


*Yarn by Sheepie from back when she used to spin with more frequency and knew from silk/lambswool blends.


*One of my all-time favorite scarf patterns.


*Ever.


*Good thing it finished blocking a couple of days ago.


*Wouldn't ever dry if I blocked it today.


*Would actually be soggier after a day of blocking.


*It is hot.  I can't remember if I mentioned that.


*And humid.


*The Very Complicated Kitty says, "Thank you" for all the One Month Anniversary wishes.


*Actually, he didn't really say it.


*He's a cat.  Cats don't talk.


*I won't admit to hearing cats talk to me.


*He says it with his eyes.


*I'm just passing it on.


*I finally figured out how to get him to take his anti-anxiety medication in the morning with a minimum of feline fussing.


*And anxiety on both our parts.


*I make the meatball with the crushed pill just like The Cat Whisperer told me to.


*Then I feed it to him on a spoon.


*Slurps it right up.


*No muss, no fuss.


*Don't tell anyone that I am spoon feeding my cat a medicated meatball.


*I'll deny it.


*You'll just look foolish and people will laugh at you.


*And it's not like I feed him his whole breakfast like that.  Just the meatball.


*No one can prove that I spoon feed my VCK.

The only available witness is otherwise occupied.

Well, I made it through an entire blog post without melting or flooding the school laptop I'm borrowing for blogging purposes.  I am glad about that because it would be hard to come up with a good story for how that happened once school starts up in a few weeks.  Now I'm off to get myself some refreshing flavored water and see about feeding some cats.  It's the night feeding so no meatballs are involved in this operation.

Not that I have anything to be ashamed of where the meatballs are concerned, mind you...

SA

Marking The Day

A couple of years ago, I brought home an Absurdly Gi-normous Kitty.  He turned out to be a real firecracker and, while he didn't exactly get along with the Big Fluffy Kitty already in residence, I don't think I could have picked a better fluffy friend.

When he and I reached our one month anniversary, I decided to do a blog post in honor of that momentous occasion.  I wanted to bake a cake, but he was already gi-normous so that didn't exactly seem like the best idea.  I went in a different direction.  I like to think I marked the day well.

Now that a Very Complicated Kitty has joined the Sheepish Family, I wasn't going to let a little technological difficulty get in the way of doing the same for him.  I marched myself right over to the School Stuff and dug out the District Issued Laptop.  That machine used to be the second best computer in the house.  It is now elevated in status since, when I turn it on, it does something besides show me a black screen.  It won't let me install any cool software, but it will certainly make Blogging For My Boy Possible!

Once again, I have managed to find a rather large animal so cake baking is still out of the question.  But I can do what I did for his big brother.  I'd like to put out a little love for all the kitties who haven't yet managed to find a place to call home.  I think he'd like that.  Maybe not as much as cake, but still...

Long time readers are already aware of my feelings around animal adoption.  While I can't think of anything cuter than a kitten even if I try really hard and scrunch my forehead up tightly, I still maintain that adopting adult cats is a truly wonderful thing.  I don't begrudge anyone for deciding to bring home a kitten.  I've done it myself.  But not in a very long time.  Kittens always find homes.  Adult cats aren't quite so lucky, in spite of being amazing companions.

The benefits of adopting an adult cat are many.  I find that they tend to be more settled into their personalities and are often easier to transition.  They kind of know the ropes.  I've never once had difficulties training a mature adoptee to the litter box.  I can't say the same for the kitten I brought home.  Furthermore, adult cats have history and the shelter staff can give you a great deal of information in many cases.  What they share can be invaluable in making the best possible choice for your home and family.

Shelters are also often willing to make adopting an adult worth your while.  The cost is markedly lower when you bypass the kitten room at the facility I use.  There is no rush, you don't need to call ahead to make sure that there are animals available for adoption and the staff are more than happy to work with you as you peruse the aisles.  If you are thinking about bringing a special needs cat home, the price tag can drop even lower.  This, of course, is dependent upon the policies of the shelter you choose but it seemed to be a common theme when I compared the ones in my area.

If you are thinking about adoption and considering an adult cat, I can't claim to be an expert on the topic.  I can, however, make some suggestions based upon my own experience.  Make of it what you will and take away what you think makes sense.

First and foremost, be sure that you are truly in a position to adopt.  My Very Complicated Kitty was adopted once and then surrendered back to the shelter.  The reasons weren't clear and I am the sort of person who believes that people really do try to make the best possible choices, but it had to be hard on the poor fellow.  Sometimes things that seem like a good idea turn out to be...not so much.  Pets are an expense and require a time investment.  Even the grown up pets.  Be sure.

Once you've established your readiness, check out the shelter's adoption policies online.  Most will have everything you need, from paperwork to animal profiles.  Going in prepared can take a good deal of time off the adoption process.  My shelter uses a color coded personality system to help match people to animal types.  I went in with the forms in hand and a clear idea of what I was looking for.  They were impressed.  Given how crowded the shelter was that day, I think I saved myself a good half hour just by being prepared and also made time for someone else to adopt.

Part of that preparedness came from first talking to my vet.  I was very worried about how the Absurdly Gi-normous Kitty was going to react to a new buddy and The Cat Whisperer's advice was invaluable.  Had I not talked to her, I would have gone in a very different direction.  I honestly believed a female would be a better choice and never once thought about getting another male.  Turns out male cats like hanging around with each other.  Who knew?

I also knew going in that there was a good chance I'd be looking at a cat with special dietary needs.  Having reviewed the profiles of available adoptees, it seemed pretty likely.  I spent a great deal of time reviewing pet supply sites and comparing the cost of food before I felt comfortable going in to visit with the kitties.  While the cost of prescription food isn't all that much more than good quality canned cat food, it is an investment.  I wanted to be sure I could afford it and that it would be safe for the AGK should he try to nibble upon it.  As it happened, the vendor used by my vet is the cheapest once you factor in reduced shipping costs.  She was able to approve his prescriptions before I even went online to set up an account.

It isn't always a smooth path, but sometimes it is.  Sure, it is an adjustment period.  You might find yourself having one or two "tense" moments.  And it all pales in comparison to the look on a happy kitty's face once he realizes that he is "home."

Trust me.  He's happy.  He's just thoughtful is all...

And then there's kitty toes.

I mean...my God!  Is there anything better than kitty toes?????

Introducing cats to one another doesn't always go smoothly except for when it does.  And then...well it warms the heart.  

    

  

It's a match made in heaven, the kind of thing that shouldn't happen but still does.  I like to think that being prepared was the key to this successful partnering, but I can't help but wonder if it was meant to be.  Yes, a kitten would have been cute.  But would it have been this?  There are all kinds of cute and I think that two big 'ol boys going all snuggle-cuddle-umpkins at least equals kitten cute.  Maybe even surpasses it.  And, at ages two and three respectively, Da Boyz have years and years ahead of them to enjoy each other's company.

So there you have it.  A Happy One Month Anniversary gift to my Androcles.  He is a Very Complicated Kitty, but worth every minute spent ordering his food, picking up his meds and devising crafty ways to administer it.  He's a love and was more than willing to give up his nap time in the recliner today to snuggle with me when I needed a rest from the computer woes.  That's love for you.

Maybe not quite as enthusiastic as his love for his big brother, but still...

SA

Late, Late, Late...

Sheepie runs to the blog and comes to a screeching halt, panting and gasping and clutching the stitch in her side.  She was visiting with the family tonight and is a bit late getting home for the Wednesday Night Bullet Post.  She made it, though!  Never fear, for Sheepie is nothing if not dedicated to her readers and their need for random blurts of information.

*I may be dedicated to the blog, but I am not so consumed by it that I will pass up the chance for a free meal.


*Channeling my Inner Undergrad...


*It was hot today.  I did not appreciate that.  But I've seen worse this summer so I'm being gracious about it.


*I am barreling along on the scarf like winter is right around the corner.  There is hope for blocking by the weekend.


*Going to a parade on Saturday so there will be no blocking.  There will be much in the way of flag waving, baton twirling and candy tossing.


*Not so much with the blocking...


*The Very Complicated Kitty is learning some hard lessons around the morning schedule.


*He needs to take his medicine.  He takes it in his food because I suck at giving cats pills.


*Here is how I was directed to do it by The Cat Whisperer and the Nice Vet Down From Canada Who Was Sitting In On The Appointment Because She Is Covering During Vacation Time.  It's quite simple really.


*Step One:  Make a meatball with the cat food and squashed up pill.


Step Two:  Say, "Now, you cannot have the rest of your food until you eat your meatball."


*That is word for word what I was told to say.  By BOTH vets.


*Step Three:  Give the cat the rest of his food after he has eaten his meatball and coo appreciatively at his good behavior.


*This would be great save for one thing.  The VCK, for all his girth, is not the chow hound you'd think.


*He's a nibbler.


*A nosher.


*He likes to eat a bit, wander off, come back...it's all quite leisurely.


*If he leaves the food, his brother will eat it.


*It is illegal to share prescription medications.


*For the past month, I've been able to accommodate this.  But it can't last.


*We need to get on schedule here.  When school starts, I can't call in sick because the VCK won't take his anti-anxiety meds.  There is nothing in my contract that allows for this.


*Then I will have to take his anti-anxiety meds and we'll be right back to the whole illegally sharing prescriptions situation.


*The new plan is this:  he must eat his meatball or the food goes away.  He gets it back for dinner.


*I feel like the meanest Mom EVER.


*If you tell my Mom that you really, really like the peanut butter chocolate sauce she served with the ice cream for dessert, she will let you take it home.


*Mommy Sheep is not the meanest Mom.  She is a nice Mom.


*I don't know where I got this...


*Oh, and I performed the Weekly Visit With The Vegetables today, too.


*I'll show you pictures later.


*Here's a cat picture:

Da Boyz sharing the ever-popular Dollar Store Cat Cave.

*That should tide you over until I can do something photogenic with the vegetables.



Phew!  I made it!  Wednesday can now officially come to a close because I have bullet posted for God and country.  Hope your day was a good one and that any and all meatballs were consumed in a timely fashion as prescribed.


SA

August Looms

I know it sounds strange to say that this is kind of like the last "real" week of summer break, but it is for me.  Yes, I know. School doesn't officially start until the very end of August and that would indicate that I still have plenty of time.  However, August marks the season where I have to start thinking in terms of Going Back.  It's not like I just walk in on the first day of school and everything is ready.  I have to go make it be ready and that takes some time.  Granted, I do this on my own schedule and am generally home for lunch and a nap by midday, but still...it's a very different mindset.

I think that is why I am suddenly feeling pressure to do as much as possible this week.  Suddenly, I have knit three feet of scarf.  I've washed the kitchen floor and started sorting through some of the grown up clothes required for keeping my career.  I also canned three more pints of pickles in order that I might be sustained pickle-wise in the coming work-a-day lifestyle.

I took a picture of the pickles, but then realized that I've already shown you a picture of pickles.  It is unreasonable to assume that people want to gaze upon pickles more than once.  Anything beyond that is just pickle overkill and looks braggy.  Like my pickle wealth somehow makes me better than everyone else...

I'm lining up the next knitting project and have actually gone so far as to wrap a Christmas present.  I'm making a list of the books I'd like to read before I have to go back to work so that I don't spend my days wondering what happened to all my favorite characters while I should be teaching Very Important Skills to Very Deserving Children.  I have taunted the mean Wii Fit Lady with my upcoming schedule so she knows she can't torture me in the mornings forever.  She doesn't seem all that fazed by this revelation.  She knows she'll just get me in the afternoon.  She's smart like that.

The only thing I'm not really worried about is getting myself up in the mornings.  Since The Cat Whisperer put the resident felines on a no-carb diet, there is no issue whatsoever with my lying abed.  The mighty beasts begin the hunt for sustenance at the crack of 5:00 a.m. since there is no kibble upon which to nosh while they await my achieving consciousness.  For the record, I don't get up when they tell me.  I hang in there and fake sleep for as long as I can stand it.  My iron will is the only thing that has kept me even remotely close to the top of the hierarchy here.  However, I do have to admit that the cats have really done a marvelous job of keeping me on the school schedule at a time when I might be tempted to slack off and act like a person on vacation.

So there you have it.  Sheepie is changing gears.  It's early, I know.  I don't have to go back to school just yet and I really do still have days of peaceful relaxation ahead of me.  But it's not forever and the last week of July is a gentle reminder of that.  I need to start thinking seriously about what I want to tell everyone I achieved this summer.

I wonder if there is still time to re-tile the bathroom and learn how to yodel?

SA

Chain Of Unrelated Events

I thought I had the day all locked up when I managed to sleep until after 6:00 this morning.  I know that doesn't seem like much and I wouldn't blame you one little bit for thinking, "Yeesh...she's on vacation for the whole summer and she thinks sleeping until 6:00 is a good thing?"

But I haven't been sleeping very well for a while now and just can't seem to break the Up At The Crack Of Still Dark habit that permeates my school year.  Granted I woke up to the sight of two furry feline faces inches from mine own and the distinct feeling that I should be feeding someone sometime soon, but still...it was kind of nice to make it past the 5:00 mark.

Things sort of fell apart from there.  I got all dressed up in my workout gear, but never really worked up the will to face the mean Wii Fit lady.  I'm certain that the whole system is just lying in wait for me to come back.  Wii Fit is going to torture me for this.  I just couldn't do it today for some reason.

Even though I didn't work out, I still managed to stumble out the door much later than I'd planned and arrived at the grocery store just in time for shelf stocking and tourist shopping.  It was a madhouse in there. I didn't get much of anything I needed because I was so focused on escaping with my sanity and clean arrest record intact.  This will require my returning tomorrow and fighting my way through the weekend crowd.

Things took an upturn when I suddenly discovered the tank for the carpet cleaner.  It was right there with the machine.  I don't know how I missed it, but was pleased to know I could now shampoo the carpets like I said I was going to do last summer.

Then I realized that all this meant I had to shampoo the carpets and that sort of took the giddy out of me...

As I was doggedly pushing the contraption across the carpets and marveling at how black water can become when it has been forced through a dirty carpet, I suddenly realized that I was not alone.  Yes, the dudes on the ladders were back.  This time it was the siding dude and the window dude, both with power tools and no fears around using them.  I live on the second floor.  I do not plan for people being at eye level.  Until we live in that brave, bright future where we all have our own jet packs, I feel that I should be able to safely assume that there will be no one outside my windows.

I'd like to blame the ladder lads for The Great Scarf Screw Up, but I can't.  I dropped a stitch and failed to notice it.  That wasn't their fault.  It is also not their fault that I detected a vast amount of white fuzziness on my navy blue polo shirt.  The yarn was shedding wicked bad and this is not such a great thing for people who tend to wear dark winter jackets.  Most everyone I know wears a dark winter jacket, including myself.  It probably wasn't worth finding that missing stitch.  I ripped back, re-wound the yarn and looked for something more suitable.  I tried, but couldn't find the loophole that would make this the responsibility of the people lurking outside my windows.

It all came to a head when I heard a strange sound from the kitchen.  Since the window people were on the other side of the building, I knew they hadn't migrated.  I went to investigate.

I found the Absurdly Gi-normous Kitty proudly sitting on the counter and pawing at the cutlery drawer he'd just opened.  (that would be the drawer with the very, very sharp knives in it that should never, ever be touched by cats and which I have declared off limits in no uncertain terms.  Several times.)  On the kitchen floor was the Very Complicated Kitty.  He was gazing up at his brother in wide-eyed wonder and clearly communicating something along the lines of, "Ohhh...so that's how you do it.  And may I say that you are truly a gentleman and a scholar, my fine sir.  An educator worthy of the hallowed halls of Harvard!"

I cleared my throat and everyone scattered, but I don't believe for one minute that this is the end of it.  The AGK has taken it upon himself to teach his baby brother the ropes.  This does not bode well for me.

I can haz intern?  Yippee!!!

Doesn't bode well at all...

SA

WNBP: Stuff I Did

As I was sitting down to write tonight's Wednesday Night Bullet Post, it suddenly occurred to me that I felt rather...accomplished.  Probably once I get it all written down, it will seem like less but, for now, I'm going to ride the high.  Here's tonight's bullet points!

*Wednesday is the day of the weekly Visit With The Vegetables.


*You never know what you're gonna find.


*I found tomatoes.


*I found onions.


*I found mild jalapeno peppers


*I already had some garlic left over from last week.


*There was really only one thing I could do under those circumstances...

I made salsa!  What other choice did I have, really?

*I'll admit, I had my doubts on this one.  But, I forged ahead and processed it anyway.

*Even though it didn't look quite how I'd thought it might.

*While it was in the water bath, I tasted the little bit left over in the pot.

*Best salsa...EVER!!!

*Don't ask about the cost per jar.  I think we have established that this is not necessarily always a cost-effective way to stockpile spicy condiments.

*I'm glad I'm an early riser.

*Today was another day where I got to look at men on ladders outside my living room window.

*Could have been a disaster of epic proportions had they shown up while I was yelling at the mean Wii Fit lady.

*Scary middle aged woman screaming curse words at a cartoon lady in a leotard.

*Still working on the building.  Wish I'd known that in time to close the shades.

*Hate to do that right in their faces...

*Plus one of the shades is broken so I took it down on Monday and didn't get around to replacing it yet.

*They got to watch me make salsa.  I'm certain they were awestruck by the whole process.

*Or at least by the god awful mess I made in the kitchen...

*Hey!  Guess what else I did?  It's amazing!!!

I finally finished the socks!!!!

*Yes, it was quite a show for the dudes on the ladder.  

*Actually, I think having an audience kind of inspires me.

*Not really.  I just didn't dare to move around too much for fear of startling anyone on the ladder.  

*Knitting was one of the few options left to me once the salsa was done and I was settled on the sofa.

*I finally made a decision regarding my next reading adventure.

*I thought and thought.  But just couldn't seem to settle on anything for the longest time.

*Finally, I decided to return to my good buddy Simon R. Green.  I knew he had another series out there and figured it couldn't hurt to give it a try.

*So I downloaded a copy of The Man with the Golden Torc (Secret Histories, Book 1).

*Not as good as this one:  Eight from the Nightside Series ~ COMPLETE 8 Book Set ~ (Novels of the Nightside, 1 - 8).  

*But still pretty darned entertaining.

*It's a short series so I'll probably work my way through it fairly quickly but that is what summer is for, right?

*Once I finished the socks, I was so filled with the love of all things knitting that I started a scarf.

*It's an easy one, but I hate to let myself get lulled into a false sense of security.

*The socks were easy, too.

*I started them in December.

*That is just sad.

*Won't think about that.  Will focus on finished socks.

*And salsa.

*And reading material that meets my expectations.

I was right.  It doesn't look like that much in print.  But it felt like a lot of work when I was doing it so I'm still going to pat my own back vigorously.  I might even reward myself.  I could get the next book in the aforementioned series.

And some corn chips.  You know...so I can test the salsa again.

SA

The Best Intentions

First of all, let me state clearly and for the record that  my intentions were very, very good.  Stellar, in fact.  I had an unfinished sock.  I was not going to allow myself to start anything else until I finished that dad-blasted thing.  So, I made a plan.  I was going to finish it by Saturday.  I even put it in that cool little app. I have on my Ipod that tells me everything I'm supposed to be doing and which makes me feel terribly guilty when I don't do lots of stuff.

For the record, I did not need that new Ipod.  But I ended up making more money off those four workshop days than I thought I was going to collect.  Not quite twice as much, but close.  Using part of it towards replacing the little shuffle model I dropped whilst attending those workshops seemed perfectly logical.  I also blame Kat.  She influences me.  Now I have an Ipod Touch and a waffle maker thanks to her randomly mentioning all the cool things she has in her life.  This is not my fault...

Where was I?  Oh, yes.  The sock.  I was going to finish it on Saturday.  I had quite a bit done already so this was not unreasonable.  However, as Saturday drew nigh, I sort of thought it might be a good idea to adjust the due date in my helpful app.  Sunday seemed like a good safety net.

I didn't plan on the heat.  No one told me that there would be heat.  I suppose any number of meteorologists might have mentioned it, but none of them bothered to call or email me personally.  Frankly, that seemed a bit negligent but I'm too hot to do much about it right now.

I tried, though.  I really did.  I knit in the cooler morning hours and hung in there until the sticky air made moving the needles impossible.  I did my best.

Close...but no cigar.

The heat beat me.  There was nothing whatsoever in that helpful little app. for this kind of situation.  Maybe when things cool down a bit tonight I'll be able to give it another go.  I might still make it, but I doubt it.  I think I might need to sneak in and change the due date again.  No one needs to know.  It'll just be between me and the Ipod.  I don't feel guilty, not one little bit.  It's not like I've had much in the way of support here.

My cheering section demonstrated a marked lack of enthusiasm which didn't help matters at all.

SA

WNBP: Sleepwalking And Shuffling

Wednesday is once again upon us and it is time for Sheepie to toss out a Wednesday Night Bullet Post.  This is the best I could have done even if it wasn't Wednesday.  I'm barely awake, hardly functioning and giving new meaning to the word, "groggy."  Frankly, I think it best that I stick with the random format!

*Horrific insomnia last night.  Crazy bad.

*Not sure what the problem was.

*Could have been the impending storm.  The air felt all...tense.  

*And the low pressure did very weird things to certain felines who wander about the manse.

*There was much in the way of capering and gamboling well into the wee hours.

*Could also be the fact that I am steadfastly marching my way through The Dresden Files series and sort of got caught up in that.

*I finished Turn Coat: A Novel of the Dresden Files while the rains fell around 3:00 this morning.

*Started Changes (Dresden Files, Book 12) this afternoon.

*Now I need to come up with something else since the next one isn't due out until November.  Thoughts?

*I've really enjoyed reading the saga of Harry Dresden in spite of what I consider to be some questionable editing. (or lack thereof)  The story is strong enough to stand in spite of that, though.

*Deadliest Catch was a real gut wrencher last night.  Suppose that could have kept me awake.

*Capt. Phil's last show.  It was probably one of the best examples of the whole "reality" genre I've ever seen.

*Beautifully done and handled with amazing sensitivity.  

*Capt. Johnathan tweeted earlier in the day that he'd be watching last night.

*That made me sad since he was there when all that was going down.

*I knit a few rounds on the sock while I watched, but had to put it down so I wouldn't miss anything.

*Even if sleep eluded me, I still needed to hoist my sorry self out of bed this morning.

*Back is hurting these days so lying abed is no longer really an option.  

*And I had to visit with the mean Wii Fit lady who says things like, "Be honest.  You put your foot down, didn't you?"

*Heck, yeah I put my foot down!  I am a middle aged woman with a sore back and cats frolicking all around me like it's Mardi Gras!  I can't balance on one leg for days on end like you, Miss High And Mighty!!!!

*I am tired.  Perhaps I went a little too far.  Wii Fit Lady didn't seem to take it to heart so I think we're good.

*Went to the Farmer's Market for the weekly Visit With The Vegetables this morning once all that nonsense was done.

*Picked up some tomatoes, garlic, basil and onions.

*I had a plan.

*Unfortunately, I failed to do the usual weekly photograph to document my purchases because I was so focused on the plan.

*How about I show you what I did with them instead?

Tomato sauce with all sorts of the freshness contained within!

*I have made sauce from scratch, but never before scratched so far below the surface.

*This is "sauce" sauce.  No chunks.  Actual sauce.  There was a sieve involved and everything!

*If you factor in the cost of the veggies, my time and the Advil I took to deal with my aching back after standing over a pot for twelve hours, this is the most expensive sauce in the history of condiments.

*But it is a taste of summer that will last me into the winter.

*Yeah.  That's the spin we're putting on it.  

*Things continue to go well with the Absurdly Gi-normous Kitty and his new brother, the Very Complicated Kitty.

*I woke this morning to find myself contorted around two flabby, furry bodies who were taking advantage of the "extra" bed space.  

*They were probably tired from all the high jinx of the previous evening.  

*The abuse of a felted mousie was involved and it was not pretty.

Wednesday is winding down and soon it will be time to roll off the couch, shuffle my old, haggard self to the kitchen and feed a couple of hungry cats.  It's been almost two hours since their last vet approved snack and I don't know how the poor boys will survive if I don't get on that.  Then, if I can stay awake and find a comfortable enough position, I might even get in a little more sock time.

Or I'll fall asleep in a sufficiently awkward position on the sofa and have to be rescued by paramedics tomorrow morning when I can no longer move independently.  Maybe I can give them some nice sauce as a thank you...

SA

One Wonders...

Near as I can figure, I have managed to wade my way through the five billion appointments I set for myself over the past couple of weeks.  At last, I can slow down and have some "me" time.  I need that.  Every once in a while, I enter into a phase where the world outside my walls becomes oppressive and I need to hibernate for a period of time lest I become the sort of person who wears a tin foil hat as a fashion statement.

The down side of this behavior is that I'm pretty much on my own and have no one but my little ol' self to pass judgement upon my actions.  Given that I will have to go out periodically to dispose of the trash and forage for food, I really need to make sure that I haven't crossed that delicate line between A Person Taking Some Me Time and A Person Who Has Lost All Perspective Regarding Normal Behavior.  I have to ask myself a lot of questions if I'm going to successfully analyze myself.

For example, is it reasonable for me to think that I am going to finish that stupid sock this week?  A couple of years ago, it wouldn't even be a question.  I'd finish that and then some.  But production has slowed and I have to wonder if I'm really going to make the commitment.  I think I can do it.  I really do.  It is a sock, not a peace accord.  It is doable.  But still...past behavior makes me less than certain.

And what about the cucumbers?  When I swung by the farmer's market on Saturday, it was way too crowded for me to consider much in the way of shopping.  I just wanted to snag some basil and garlic and be done with it.  I didn't need cucumbers.  In fact, I had some at home.  But when the nice older gentleman gallantly handed me a bag with which to collect produce, I didn't have the heart to tell him that I wasn't in the market for baggable items.  I took it with heartfelt thanks and grabbed the first thing I saw in order that I might get the heck out of that packed stall.  More cucumbers.  Did that really have to happen?

For that matter, did I need to get so giddy over the subsequent making of the bread & butter pickles?  

I was rather perplexed by my having rolled out of bed at 5:00 this morning.  I don't understand.  What possessed me to crack open my eyeballs at such an ungodly hour when I am supposed to be all relaxed and whatnot?  Am I doomed to a life of early risings because I have lost the ability to sleep in like a normal person who doesn't have to do anything but engage in "me" time?  This concerns me.

Lots of questions, lots of pondering.  It's a burden and I hate to lay it at your feet.  Worse, I have one more upon which you might reflect.  Is it weird that looking up to see the Very Complicated Kitty giving his Absurdly Gi-normous brother a bath was enough to make me a little teary eyed?

Kind of choked up even...

I mean, c'mon!  They're cats being cats.  Granted, the VCK was targeting that one spot behind the ears that the AGK tries mightily to reach and never seems to quite get.  It was a very nice gesture.  But it's not like I was watching them coordinate a rescue operation to get Timmy out of that darned well or anything.  They were just doing what cats do.  Getting all smooshy-hearted over that sort of thing just isn't normal...

Right?

SA

Debits And Credits

When last we left our intrepid Sheepie, she was happily reporting on the acquisition of a free cat courtesy of the local shelter.  Since then, it has been difficult to not notice the way things sort of waver between the debit and credit columns on life's little tally sheet.

We made it to the vet on Thursday without incident.  The new carrier (forty dollars for the sturdiest one I could find, ten of those being for the bigger size) worked like a charm.  I was able to get the Very Complicated Kitty in and behind bars before he had a chance to realize what was happening.  We were off!

When adopting from the local shelters, the first visit to participating vets is at no cost to the adopter.  A free check up for the free kitty?  Yay!  (free plus forty bucks for the new carrier...)  However, I knew I was going to be dropping some dollars there so I brought my checkbook and kept it handy.  The Cat Whisperer gave the VCK a clean bill of health (known issues aside) and then we began shopping for foodstuffs.  They happened to have two cases of the edibles he can have (low cal and good for cats with struvite crystals) so I snagged both.  We also agreed that he would continue on the medication prescribed while he was at the shelter.

The VCK is on a tricyclic for anxiety.  I kind of hoped to start weaning him off that, but the doc suggested we keep him on it.  Since she is an Earth Mother of the first order, I kind of took that seriously.  If she wasn't asking that I get up at 4:00 each morning to wave aromatic oils around, burn sage and then lead the household felines in meditation exercises, then he probably really needs the meds.

The vet tech assisted me in getting everything out to the car.  Two cases of canned food and a bag of freeze dried treats designed to help the resident fat boys get over the loss of their beloved kibble made the ride home with me.  Total cost:  $83.00.

The Cat Whisperer called the prescription in to the local pharmacy for me, but managed to get the wrong one.  I spent some time tracking down a bottle of anti-anxiety medication, finally locating it today.  Now my cat and I are registered with completely different pharmacies and I don't think that bears discussing too much.  Fortunately, he only needs half a pill per day instead of the full pill I thought he was taking twice per day.  (glad I caught that little detail before I overdosed the poor guy with good feelings...)  A thirty day prescription will last him two months.  Total cost for today's excursion:  $12.00.  It would have been less, but I don't happen to have my own pill splitter on hand and the very nice pharmacist strongly suggested this investment based upon his own pet medicating experience.  (he has dogs, but I don't hold it against him...)

Yesterday, the online service that the vet uses for home delivery called to see if I was ready to set up auto-shipping for the food.  I was planning to call them myself, so this was a nice gesture on their part.  The pleasant lady couldn't pronounce her patient's name, but she had the good grace to be embarrassed by that.  I opted to not tell the whole Androcles And The Lion fable by way of explanation and just let her do her job.  A monthly delivery of prescription canned food will start arriving next month.  Cost:  Around forty bucks per month.  Half-price delivery if you do the whole auto-ship thingie.  Beats driving to the vet's office in a snowstorm, I suppose...

The cynics amongst you might be thinking, "Well Sheepie, I guess you got a little more than you bargained for there!"  Not so.  I actually went on the shelter's website before visiting in person and noted that many of the "interesting" kitties had some dietary restrictions.  I'd already planned ahead for that possibility.  I'll admit that the carrier and the meds were not quite what I expected, but I still think I was more prepared than not.

And where are we in the debit vs. credit standings?  Well...I guess it all depends on how you look at it.  I have taken a goodly chunk out of the money I earned for working that extra week at the start of the summer vacation, granted.  But that's just dollars and cents.  I still feel like I'm head and shoulders above the poverty line when it comes to feline bliss.  The VCK is a love bug who keeps me in snuggles and the Absurdly Gi-normous Kitty in good company.  The big investment from a financial standpoint is done now.  It's all about reaping the rewards from here on out.

While not getting the newest resident settled, I've managed to get in a few other activities.  Yesterday, I made some relish using cukes and onions from the farmer's market.

Three jars ended up in the credit column.  The fourth didn't seal.  Which means I need to go buy some hamburg and buns fairly soon.  Not sure if that is a debit...

The poor, abandoned sock project finally saw some game time once the humidity settled down a bit.  It now has a heel and the beginnings of a gusset situation.  That is a credit no matter how you look at it.  Slow credits, but credits nonetheless.

And so it goes.  You win some, you lose some.  If you come out of it all with a little bit more than what you started with, then you can call it a good day.  The cats are all fed, medicated as needed and napping happily.  I've got more in the way of sockage than I did a week ago and the means for dressing a burger should the urge overtake me.  I'm feeling pretty good.

That's not to say I didn't consider dipping into the VCK's pill bottle once or twice, though.  I'm only human...

SA