What a Dick, Van Patten

All Nikita's tests came back normal, so the only X factor in this equation is Dick Van Patten's Unnatural Offbalance food.

The vet thinks that must have caused the REPEATED PROJECTILE VOMITING and EXTREME DIGESTIVE TRACT UPSET.

Just a little bit of the new food mixed in with her regular food was enough to do the trick. So, lesson learned - no new food, ever - stick with the one that works (which is Wellness, btw).

I'd never have guessed that something purported to be so high-quality would cause such a problem. I'd like to punch Dick Van Patten in his big fat pasty face.

Bay Area Woman Shaves

San Francisco Bay Area, CA - Despite months of neglect and indifference, a female resident of Alameda finally shaved her legs today. Citing no particular reason for the occasion, the long, Sasquatch leg hair was stripped using a Venus razor with disposable blade.

Today's shaving was the first leg hair removal of 2008 and the third depiliation in the last six months. Although lower-leg shaving is a rare event, no nicks, cuts or razor burn occurred.

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As you can see, it's been an exciting week. In addition to shaving, I've had my spine X-rayed, follow up appointments with a wonderful new chiropractor who has pretty much fixed my stupid neck, and taken the kitten to the vet for another spate of vomiting.

She blew chunks repeatedly last night and again this morning, so it was time for professional help. Now she, too, has been X-rayed for the low, low price of $250.

Just two pictures of a tiny kitten costs $250, yet my entire spine was photographed using 8 pieces of film for only $150. Does that seem odd?

Furry Diffusion

Tonight David and I tried to have a perfectly good stupid argument but were continually interrupted by a meowing kitten rolling around at our feet.

She does not enjoy raised voices, or voices that aren't talking directly to her or about her.

We were forced to abandon our argument before we could get it started. We both had half-baked positions we were set on defending with hollow logic and circular blaming tactics, but couldn't stay focused on our lameness long enough to build up the necessary momentum.

Not even a minute into it we realized it wasn't going to happen and our focus shifted back to the only priority there is - serving The Kitten, always and forever.

Because I Don't Speak Cat

I had to take my baby kitten to the vet today because she wouldn't tell me what was going on with her. She was fine yesterday - playful, healthy appetite - her very normal, sweet kitty self.

This morning, she didn't get up for breakfast, something she (and the boys) are always excited about, because they get Greenies treats with their food. And she spent all day at the end of our bed where she slept all night.

Rather than take any chances, I took her in. I hope it was worth the turmoil. Some might think me a bad mother, but I don't take my kids to the vet very often - hardly ever, really.

They're exclusively indoor cats, we feed them the healthiest food we can find and they're well taken care of. And thankfully, being the mutts they are, they have hearty little systems and they're all still young.

But Nikita sometimes eats things she shouldn't, like strips of paper, carpet fibers and now & then, she tries to eat my hair. With her occasional cookie-parking, I couldn't help but wonder if she ate something and was in trouble.

After the undignified temperature taking procedure by the technician, the vet came in and started the exam. Then they took her in the back to get a blood and urine sample. While waiting, I heard what sounded like a wicked cat fight in the back and I wondered what they were doing to some poor cat. Then I wondered, could that be my sweet little kitty who still meows like a kitten???

Annnd yes, it was. Today I saw my loving baby turn into a hell cat, ready to kill anyone in a white coat who came near her.

After the first time they tried to take blood, she put up a great fight and they backed off. Then the vet came to talk to me & told me she (the cat) had reached her limit for now, but they'd try again in a little while. I asked her to please continue in the exam room with me.

They brought her back in and I helped keep her calm while they took blood from both her back legs, because the one they tried the first time had a smaller vein and they weren't getting enough. Ugh. Then they gave her subcutaneous fluids. Then they gave her a shot of antibiotics just in case, while we wait 24 hours for her blood work to come back.

During her struggle in the back she tore a claw, which was bleeding by the time they brought her back into the exam room. I can't imagine how frightened she must have been. I'm so, so sorry sweetie. But what else could I do? I don't have vet care facilities at home, nor do I know anything about veterinary medicine.

After her horrible ordeal, she zoomed back into her carrier and as soon as she was inside it she turned to kill anything coming near her. It was scary and impressive. My little fizzle whisker, squeasel, baby kitten sweet Nikitakita, a crazed vet killer. You made mommy proud.

And now we wait to see what the blood work and urine tests have to say. I say there has *got* to be better ways to treat small animals in this day and age.

What was great to see was as soon as we got home she made a beeline for her food dish and tore through a good portion of kibble and later, a small amount of yummy wet food and she's kept it all down. I think she'll be OK. She has to be.

Cat Power

I worked from home on Friday to go back through a 90+ page copy deck for a major site enhancement. The deck is based on almost 60 pages of wireframes and after the first pass I like to go back through at least one more time to review and catch whatever I missed.

It's a tedious, time-consuming process. It generally goes faster on the second pass, but it's a methodical thing that shouldn't be rushed.

I brought home a new set of wireframes, knowing they'd changed yet again, but hoped the changes would be minor enough that it wouldn't slow down the review process. I was mistaken.

A third of the way through the wireframes I came unhinged. They *had* been approved as final two weeks ago, as they should be before copy begins, but as always, there is no lock down at any phase of any project - ever. The review became all about finding minor tweaks in the wireframes instead of completing a thorough second pass.

I vocalized my frustration to no one in particular, since I was in my living room by myself except for the bird and a couple of cats. Nikita was napping in her kitty bed when I started mouthing off.

She got up and jumped onto the back of the couch, behind my head, and tried to creep down the front of me to get into my lap. I stopped her because I still had my computer in my lap, but she wouldn't be shoved away.

She was purring loudly and ended up nestled against my neck under my chin. She's never jumped on me and started purring before.

I think she was trying to take the wind right out of my lame sails. Why I let this crap frustrate me like this I don't know, and as she forced herself into my shoulders and under my chin, all I could do was laugh. She'd calmed me right down.

Just Another Floor Tile

She sat still just long enough at the same moment I happened to be holding a camera... doesn't happen very often.