Thanks..

Thursday, September 13, 2007

.. But no thanks!

Not for the faint of heart..

Pets and pests, Photo

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Salmonella, the story

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

We get a few strained chuckles every time we explain why Salmonella is named Salmonella. And I guess I understand, we’ve had our share of Biscuit, Crumb and O’Malleys. The cats I had with my ex were named after booze, so we had a Chivaz (named by my mum), Mozart (a sweet liquor) and Negrita Blanco (a white rum).

So, when I came here I brought Negrita with me. Some neighborhood cat had kittens in our backyard, in the chicken house to be specific. The first year it happened the litter was huge - probably six or so kittens. The smallest of them all was this little calico, scrawny fuzz ball that looked exactly like the momma-cat.

All summer we kept an eye on them, until fall came and they all scattered. Except the little scrawny fuzz ball that decided to hide in our garage. I would leave food out for her, and water. By the time it got so cold that the water I left out for her froze solid I knew it was time to take her in or I’d find her dead within a week. So, I went kitten hunting.

I cut a hole in a big cardboard box, put some deluxe cat food in the box, and waited. And waited. I nearly froze my butt off that day, but finally she showed up. It took a while, but the hunger finally drove her to crawl into the box, and that is how I got her inside.

That night she and I both slept in the laundry room, on a pile of dirty laundry. Well, I slept on the laundry, while scruffy hid in the corner. I knew I’d done the right thing when I woke up to diseased purring against my cheek. Her fur was matted and seedy. When it came time to name her it only seemed natural that she’d be named after a disease.

The very next summer the momma-cat returned, and we ended up with yet another cat, but that is a totally other story.

Pets and pests, Photo

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Play and pretend

Saturday, July 16, 2005

As it turns out, I had to do the whole cat / prey thing again yesterday, only this time with a bird. I can’t imagine what life is like with your head wrapped in CAT, but I’d guess it’s hard to get any lower than that. Except if it happens 3 times within 10 minutes. I had to retrieve it from Negrita first, then from Olivia twice. What can I say, I’m not quite as quick as a cat (haha). I did get my fair share of ants crawling all over me while I was trying to get the thing out of the bushes so it could get the hell out of there before another cat came by. I’m thinking that is what I get for saving a bird that was clearly suicidal.

We did an overhaul of the kitchen the other day. It took all night (who, in their RIGHT mind, would lift a finger in this heat while the source of the heat is still glaring at you?), and even though the distracting odors have vanished, I gained a major pain in my back - again. Sitting here for more than an hour or two at a stretch makes me want to cry. But it’s not just the sitting down part, it’s the leaning over part and the standing up part, any part involving me not lying down on my back. It is SO time for me to get in shape, because I’m guessing my excess fat depots are, if not solemnly responsible, then at the very least a big part of why I feel like I need a stroller.

I was supposed to send off a birthday package to an old family friend’s stepdaughter today, but I’m pretty sure we won’t make it before the post / grocery store closes. If we don’t make it tomorrow I think I might have a nervous breakdown. I’m not used to this “Auntie” role, at all. I never had siblings and I was about 13-14 when my first cousin was born, so I never had the chance to practice. Last time I bought my cousin something it was.. a disaster to tell the truth. Furthermore, I can’t remember what a 12 year old likes. Wft? It’s not like I skipped my 12th year, going from 11 straight to 13, but I can’t remember..

But then, being 12 was probably not the best time of my life.

Family, Pets and pests

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