Not as Much of a Blubbering Mess

She graces the button of this blog. Cat, Herself, Mistress of All She Surveys. She will continue to do so.

This was not the best week. As my Facebook and Twitter friends know, that final trip to the vet had to be made a couple days ago. It sucked.

Today is better.

Today I can remember her with smiles. She was a bitchy kitty. The other two cats that I share space with were constantly on guard. Had Herself had it her way, she'd have been an only cat. Only in her last days did she allow Sir to groom her. And then only for a minute before she growled and sent him on his way.

 Little Wee was always waiting for the ambush that chased her from my lap, the table, pretty much any place that she was settled.  Lap sharing was not big on the Mistresses list of things to tolerate.

This is Wee and Sir. Wee is somewhat camera shy.

 Ocassionally, there was a truce called, usually on chilly days when a lap was what the weatherman called for.

And Catnip parties were always a free for all.

 Though as a rule, she made it clear who was TopCat.

 

There is a dog also. She was very tolerant of Gizmo. Mostly just ignoring him.



This morning Sir spent time luxuriating in my empty lap. That was good. Wee still awaits ambush, but she's beginning to relax some. Gizmo just knows something is wrong, in his dogly way he's trying figure out how to fix it. Mostly by barking at every imagined bump, thump, or breath someone takes.

There is still an empty space in the house. And empty spot where she would curl in my lap and demand her daily belly rub, head tucked into the crook of my arm.

As Sir and Wee get used to her absence, I have no doubt they will fill those spaces.


But, She will always be in my heart.

My Late Summer What's Up

My schedule has been turned upside down.  I'm still trying to figure out where, when, and what I'm doing.

I haven't written anything, fiction, memoir, Random Rant, for a month.  I'd like to get back to my stories and the characters growing before they just up and leave.  Thoughts pop in and out of my head, and I let them get away.

So I figure I'll write what little is in my head over here in the Rants.  Maybe something will click.  Again.

The Restaurant

We just lost a key employee.  This happens in the restaurant business.  People move on.
So now, I'm on a seven day week.  4 am.  Every day.  Whoopee.

Just before she left, we'd begun a new specials adventure.  Stepping outside the box and trying lots of new stuff.  Mostly a lot less deep fried stuff.

Of course the biggest accomplishment was making more work for myself.  But, I'm enjoying it just the same. I've been making new side salads, using fresh veggies and making dressing.  And trying new dessert recipes that I've found on the Internet and Pinterest.

So by the time I go shopping, fix the daily goodies, and finish the bookwork, I'm on my way home by 3pm on most days.  Noon on good days.

Hopefully we'll find some new help with ambition and new ideas soon.


The Spider

During my off time, I can usually be found loafing in my recliner.  With yarn, the TV remote, or the iPod.  And most likely at least one cat.

The husband was reading his mail or the news on the other side of the room.  Suddenly, he says "Wow, that's a big spider!"

I don't look because he finds it amusing to lie about large insects just to see me squirm.

Okay, I take a sneaky look.

OMG!  This thing was the size of a baseball.  And WALKING TOWARD MY CHAIR!!!

Now I have a contract with spiders, because I understand they are "good" insects.  The contract states they may not be in my space.  The floor is part of my space.

I say calmly to the husband, "KILL IT!"

He did.  He stomped it.  Crunch.  Ewww.  I told him to dispose of it outside.

He flushed it.  Now, I saw that episode of Night Gallery.  I haven't flushed a spider or washed one down a sink drain since.

He thinks I'm nuts.


The Grandkids

I still have my once a week day with the grandson and granddaughter.  And since I haven't been writing I've spent my free time crocheting.  We now have a set of Winnie the Pooh and Friends.  Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger and Piglet.  Each pattern came with an accessory.  Hunny pot, butterfly, dragonfly and flower.

The grandson was adamant that each project was incomplete until its accessory was finished.  I was starting Eeyore before I made the Hunny Pot for Pooh.  This was a mistake.  The Hunny Pot was finished quickly under the watchful eye of a three year old.  Then I was told I could return to the donkey, and don't forget his butterfly.

The granddaughter likes when I'm crocheting because she can get into more trouble before I catch her.  She has emptied the dog's water dish, gotten into the basket of empty K-cups from the Keurig and thrown the used coffee grounds around, played in the toilet, used the cats' litter box as a sandbox, spilled two cans of pop and a cup of coffee.  That was all in one five hour visit.  I can't wait until next week.


The Daughter

Is expecting her third child around Thanksgiving!!

That is all.


The New Litter Box (skip if you don't care)

I had heard of this new litter box system.  Tidy Cat Breeze  I have to say I am impressed.  Litter boxes are the one thing I dislike about my cats. This system works just like they say, and my cats are starting to use it.

The Plumbing

I was crocheting happily and sort of watching TV when I became aware of water running.  I removed the cat and peeked into the bathroom.

The floor was half an inch deep in water.  Only, thank goodness.

So I got the plunger and plunged.

Nothing.

I got the mop and cleaned up the water.  Then plunged some more.

Nothing.

Husband came home.  Got it working.  Yay!

He ran a load of laundry.

The toilet began to burble.

The wash water backed up into the shower cabinet.

Three bottles of drain cleaner later, all is well.  Maybe.

I told him not to flush that spider...

This Thing is Huge!

I was at Walgreens today. Had to pick up cat food and dog treats. It's easier to stop there than run 120 miles inside the super store to the pet aisle.

While I was there, I checked out the kid stuff. I don't have a ton of toys here for the grandkids. I wanted something new for the next time they're over.

That's when I found this:

OK, so it's just a cardboard playhouse. But I thought it was cute.

The grandson will be able to color it however he wants.

The granddaughter will just want to be where her brother is.

Of course, they'll have to fight the cats for it. They're sure I got it for them.

By the way.  This thing is HUGE!!

Poop Diary

Today I am writing about poop.  Yes, poop.  Turds and stuff.
It's not my fault. 
An employee and I were talking about our pets.  I was pleased that my less than intelligent dog seemed to be learning the rule of not pooping in the house.  It's been a struggle, requiring the use of treats as a reward for doing the deed outside.

Anyway, as this conversation progressed, we got into the category of cat poop.  I remarked that Sir, my extra-large tomcat, shits er, poops dog turds.  She understood having had a large cat of her own once.

And Herself, Cat, Mistress of All, poops little dry pebbles of poo easily swept up if she chooses other than the litter box.  Not that she would.  Often.  This elicited an "aw" of sympathy for the trouble it must be to pop those dry pellets out.

Then, there is Wee, who in perfect accord with cat mythology, leaves in her litter, perfectly formed little tootsie rolls.  Which the dog never, ahem, attempts to eat. (Did I mention my dog is less than intelligent?) 

We then look at each other a moment.

We are talking about pet poop.

As though this is an important aspect of our lives.

That we can tell which pet is which by poop.


We need affirmation that we are not alone. 

Please.