Hi everyone. Yes, the chick that keeps going MIA for months at a time is back again.
Life updates:
Let's see... Well, I'm typing this on a smartphone that won't give me access to anything other than plain old text. Not even bold or colour. And no smilies! Using this little gadget because it's easier on my eyes than the 'puter.
Hubby is working again. YAY! The downside is the usual - if shop is slow, he loses time. BUT the upside is he is one of two staffers and the other runs the office! Best of all, he's been there four months so far and it appears the new boss actually meant what he said during the interview...he's been really great about working around my medical appointments. Seems to actually understand that you go when the specialists tell you to, not when it's convenient for the boss. (Which is huge given that my vision keeps going wonky without warning. Makes driving just a tad challenging...plus other people on the road get testy when you can't see where you're going. Picky people!)
Hmm, what else? Ooh, very exciting news...
In March, our dear grand little lady, Sheera, had what appeared to be two seizures or strokes. They scared the stuffing out of me and I thought for sure the end had come. Off we went to the vet, and to our utter amazement she came home again. The vet gave her a thorough exam and ran some blood & urine tests, which my dear kitty passed with flying colours!
Yes, she is still scrawny and yes, her kidney disease has progessed, but other than that, she's still going strong! She was put on some new supplements to encourage her appetite and her diet restrictions were relaxed as the focus is now more on getting her to eat, than what she's eating. The vet was frankly stunned at how well Sheera is doing and said she had rarely seen a cat look, act and respond as good as Sheera. And guess what????
Sheera turned 20 years old on Mother's Day. TWENTY!!! Of course she recieved a bag full of Birthday loot. (Younger brother has tried several times to make off with her plush catnip mousie. Brat.)
As for those two episodes in March? They could have been mini strokes, but there's no way to tell and there is no apparent after effects. So I am a very happy camper!
Keiko (dog) turn 13 on June 1st. She is completely grey in the muzzle now, a bit more senile than when last I checked in here, but is happy and doing very well too! (Shhh, don't tell, but I hear she's getting a new bed and a new stuffie for her B-Day. But it's a secret.
And then we have the fat, bratty, Aries cat. (The aforementioned mousie thief.) He is, happily, doing very nicely as well. He did have a strange problem just a few days after Sheera's emergency vet trip. He tried to morph into a lizard.
Lemme 'splain. He walked up to stare at me one one fine morning, just a few inches from my face. I had noticed the night before that his right eye was a little weepy, but no biggie. It was clear with now sign tenderness. Probably just a hair or something irritated it. No surprise given his plucking routine. But as I reached for a tissue the next morning, I notice the eyeball itself looks distinctly lizard like. Blood h***, what now.
So one call to the vet later, I'm advised about what to watch for and told it's nothing likely serious. But within 24 hours I'm freaking out so back to the vet we go. Apparently when a cat's third inner eyelid comes like that to cover a large area of the eye, it's called Horner's Syndrome and is *almost always* in response to injury or illness. Neither of which could we or the good doctor find any evidence of. Another first in her book. Sigh.
Two days later he seems to be experiencing a bit of discomfort or pain, but it seems dependent on the audience factor. Still, we can't take any chances. So despite Aries have a long history for being a bit of a drama queen, the vet prescribes some non-steroidal drops that will help if there is any real pain, but do nothing harmful if there isn't. One week later lizard boy returned to full feline status and we still have no clue what happened. Personally, I have a horrible suspicion he willed it on himself. Out of sheer jealousy!
As usual, I've babbled on about my furbabies. Sorry. But hey, at least you know it's really me!
Books...right, the purpose of this forum. The only one coming to mind at the moment is Arguably, by Christopher Hitchens. It's one I've had for a couple years and am currently re-reading. He is (or rather was, being now deceased), paws down, my favourite atheist writer. That man could debate his way out of anything!
And now, I'm getting sleepy. Now that I've popped in and word puked everywhere, I'll slink quietly away for the night. But I will come back and catch-up. Soon. I promise! (See, this is what happens when you let insomniacs join your club...)