Hard to believe

I'm sitting at my work desk, and my Bug is on the chair next to me. I haven't decided yet if she's there to be close to me, or because the chair is covered with a snuggly soft fleece, and the space heater is spitting out heat directly onto my Bug. I kinda think it's the latter! It's hard for me to believe that I brought her home over 2 1/2 years ago. When I first saw her, she was alone in a cage because according to NOAH, she didn't get along with other cats. She was a beautiful orange tabby. When I talked to her, she came over to the front of the cage, and allowed me to pet her. Her fur was so soft!! I read her chart and saw that she had been returned by her previous owners and had been on medication for anxiety. I knew that she would not be easily adopted, but I also knew that I wasn't sure if I wanted the responsibility and the cost of buying medication for her. I asked the staff if she was still on medication. They weren't sure. So I left and thought about her that night. I went back to NOAH the next day and found out that she was no longer on any meds. I knew then that she would be coming home with me. I've never regretted that decision, but in hindsight, if I had not adopted her, I would have missed out on so much love, laughter, and joy that she brings me every day. There is a part of me that sees the stories of cats that need to find a forever home and part of my heart and soul wishes that I could open my home to some of them. But then I look at my Bug, see how content and safe she seems to feel, and I know that bringing another cat into our world would not be fair to her. While I hope I have many more years with my Bug, I also know that the next time I adopt, I will be looking for a cat with some special needs, a cat that is not so adoptable as the cute playful kitten, a cat that will fill my heart and home with love in much the same way my Bug has.

Odd day today

So today I'm hanging out with Bug, and looking forward to attending a friend's wedding tomorrow. I decided that I want something cold for dinner. So I found a recipe for spicy peanut noodles that can be served hot or cold. As I was in the kitchen getting everything ready and prepared I had one of the Comcast Music stations on. So there I was, attempting a new recipe, enjoying the day, and feeling pretty good. Then Alan Jackson's song "Where were you when the world stopped turning" came on. From the very first time I ever heard that song, it has always brought up many memories and emotions. And it did today too. I stopped what was I doing and just listened to the song. I still feel lucky to have the friends that I do, a safe place to live, a job, and of course, my Bug. But I also feel sad that there is so much violence, cruelty and hatred in the world. So after the song ended, I put my noodles in the frig and then went and irritated Bug by forcing some love on her. I used fresh ginger for the first time today, and I think Bug likes it. She wouldn't stop licking my hand. I hope everyone has a great day.

My Bug

My Bug decided that she wasn't getting enough attention from me lately. Today, twice she came into the bathroom with me, went to her litter box, squatted like she needed to pee, but nothing came out. Even though I had already scheduled an appointment for next week for her annual check up, I called the vet, explained what happened, and they said that they needed to see Bug today. So, off we went. Now Bug has been to this vet twice before, once after I adopted her, and then again to gt her teeth cleaned. So I had an idea of how she acts at the vet's. That was NOT how she acted today. Now since today's appt was unexpected, I didn't spend a lot of time telling Bug what would be happening. Call me crazy, but I will not make that mistake again! When I picked her up to put her into the carrier, she fought me. Then on the way to the she cried, but thankfully no peeing. But it was how she acted once we got there that surprised me the most. The last time I took her in, she wanted to stay as close to me as possible during the exam. Today, she tried to jump off the table, she was shedding a lot, the vet commented on how big her pupils were, and she was shaking and her paws were sweaty (the vet's term). When the vet left to run the tests, Bug seemed to be trying to make herself as small as possible. I talked to her, and tried to pet her, but when I touched her, she turned away from me, and started staring at the wall. It broke my heart! I sat and wondered if these was the behavior that her previous owners saw that prompted them to put her on anti anxiety meds. If she acted that way at home, I would be tempted to put her on medication too, for her sake. The vet said that she did see a tiny amount of blood in her urine, which could be a couple of different things. She didn't see any bacteria, and she won't have the results of the blood work until Saturday. On the drive home, Bug lifted her head once when got into my parking lot, like she was beginning to smell familiar smells. Once we got inside, she checked everything out, then settled in on my lap. Looking at the paperwork the vet gave me didn't help any. Since Bug is 10 yrs old, they ran a "geriatric" panel of tests. they think my Bug is old!! Don't they know she's my baby Bug? I hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th!

Feeling patriotic

So, I just read a story about a man who lives in an apartment complex in Webster Texas. He has an American flag flying on his balcony. He has been asked to remove the flag, not because it violates the complex rules, but because it is "a threat to the Muslim community". Really? In America, someone sees the American flag as a threat? Perhaps those people are living in the wrong country! What is going on in this country when people can wave the Mexican flag on Cinco de Mayo. but the American flag can't be displayed? I'm feeling sad and angry because it seems like the very freedoms that people came to this country to enjoy, are the very freedoms that they are now trying to change! There's a part of me that is relieved that I won't be around in a hundred years to see what our great nation has changed. I can't believe it will be 2 years this July 4th that Bug and I met. She still makes me smile every day with her playfulness and demands for love. I think she and I are both pretty lucky!

This is still America, right?

So, the NBA playoffs are happening. The owner of the Clippers has a bi-racial girlfriend. If I understand things correctly, the girlfriend took a picture of herself with a black man and posted the picture online. The Clippers' owner, her boyfriend asked her not to post the pictures online or bring black men to the game with her. This conversation was a phone call that just happened to be recorded (apparently without the boyfriend's knowledge) and then the tape was released to the press. Now the media is in an uproar, the NBA has banned the owner for life, and is going to try to make him sell his team. For what? For a supposed private conversation he had asking his girlfriend not to do something? This was a (supposed) private conversation. He (as far as I know) has not danced around in a white sheet with the KKK. What happened to freedom of speech? Or is it now only freedom of politically correct speech? And what about people like Michael Vick, who tortured and killed innocent creatures, and is still allowed to make millions playing football? Yes, the owner of the Clippers may be racist. But I still believe that he has the right to voice his opinions, even if I don't like them. this is still America, right?

What caught my attention this week

I saw some comments made by conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly. Now, granted, my views tend to lean towards the liberal side, but even so, it's still hard for me to wrap my brain around her logic. She is opposed to paying men and women equally for doing the same job. Her reasoning? According to her, if a woman makes as much money as a man, it will greatly decrease her chances of finding a husband, since men "prefer to be the higher earning partner in a relationship". (As if the only thing that all women dream of is finding a husband!) She also stated that women do not deserve equal pay because they "work fewer hours per day, per week, per year” and “place a much higher value on pleasant working conditions: a clean, comfortable, air-conditioned office with congenial co-workers.” Schlafly concluded that the best way to empower women "is to improve job prospects for the men in their lives, even if that means increasing the so-called pay gap." Please excuse me if I don't want that type of empowerment! I would hope that whoever I did choose to marry would want the best for me, including being paid fairly for the work that I do. Another story that had me shaking my hear happened in Pakistan. I have not been able to find out exactly what happened, but from what I have been able to read is that in a town in Pakistan, there was some sort of confrontation between police officers and people in a neighborhood. The confrontation was over the electricity to the neighborhood being shut off. Not just to one house, but to the whole neighborhood. So at some point during this confrontation, the police officers felt threatened enough that they decided to actually arrest (as in take to the station and fingerprint) a 9 month (yes, 9 MONTH) old child. The charge was attempted murder. But wait, it gets better (or worse maybe). Not only was the toddler arrested and fingerprinted. Apparently they also booked the baby into some sort of holding facility, and bail was set. Really? Like the baby was a flight risk?? Hang on! Let me jump on my Big Wheel and flee the country! The baby even had to appear before a judge. The judge appears to be the only public official with any common sense, since the judge threw the case out of court, dismissed the charges and recommended an investigation and discipline for the police officers involved. Closer to home, I had to actually go into the office last week, for a mandatory meeting. When I got home, the first thing I did was go in and use the bathroom. Normally my Bug follows me in and asks (ok, demands!) attention. But she didn't do that. So I finished, and came out of the bathroom. Who do I see up on the kitchen counter, staring right at me to make sure I saw her? Some cutie patootie orange kitty! That's like only the third time I've ever seen her up there. And she jumped down as soon as she knew that I had seen her, like she had made her point. She then spent the rest of the evening snuggled in on my lap. I think she missed me while I was gone.

Hard to believe

It was a year ago today that a dear friend of mine passed away. It's been almost two years since Baby Bug has come into my life. It doesn't feel like that much time has past. The older I get, the quicker the time seems to fly by (except when I'm at work!). I miss those souls that I've been lucky enough to know, but who have moved out of my life. They have left their imprints on my heart and my life and for that, I am truly thankful. I hope our paths will cross again and I can once again learn from their wisdom, and laugh at their humor, and be warmed by their love.