More RL

[blamebrampton]

Cat has pneumonia, we think, is up to nearly $1000 in tests so far. Is also making up for years of being extremely low-maintenance with a huge burst of neediness. Subsequently I am behind on everything.

Will finish up both beta projects I have by tomorrow night, then can get back into some solid writing. Then I can start on the thousand-odd comments I am behind on and remember to give some more people some love, such as no_mad_skillz, who is thoughtful and compassionate, who_la_hoop, who is hilarious and possibly my secret love child, and spark_of_chaos, who I like for so much more than her F1 obsession -- but I love that, too because we can rave at each other crazily in a few weeks and she will wholly understand the Finn fetish (it's a Baltic thing).

Comments

[calanthe-fics.livejournal.com]

Being as Mr Cal's cat has been banished to live with his parents for the last 8 years of our cohabitation, you may imagine I'm not so into cats, or any animals for that matter. Might be able to muster enthusiasm for a goldfish if you're lucky. In view of how strongly people feel about animal welfare I will hold back on the jokes involving cats having accidents with barbecues, which was the only Aussie cultural reference I could think of at short notice. Because I can't think of a way those tight shorty-shorts the blokes wear for Aussie rules football might cause harm to a cat.

:D

*meow*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

That's fine, as we know, I leave babies in bookshops, so I think you and I have both chosen well.

The last time we had a barbecue she sat under the table the whole time and was very helpful when the drunken sausage dropping started. NB, that is not an Aussie euphemism, though it probably should be.

[calanthe-fics.livejournal.com]

Definitely.

Do Aussies play hide the sausage? I always get the impression they're much too roughty toughty for such gay pursuits. Priscilla notwithstanding, of course.

[norton-gale.livejournal.com]

*waves*

I wondered what happened to you. Poor kitty. It's funny, they can go for years as the most low maintenance pets ever, and then WHAM. My 17 year old car got hyperthyroidism when he was 15; I paid $800 for radioactive iodine treatment (and I don't regret it - which makes me a crazy cat lady, I guess).

Don't worry about responding to comments; your life comes first. Hoping for the best outcome for your cat.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It's so disconcerting, she struggles to sit up to breathe! So, several times a day I sit there with her and hold her up until she stops wheezing, then follow her around for the next 20 minutes fretting. While she gives me the "Yeah, fine now, let me out or feed me, bitch" looks.

I accept that she will never thank me for all this. But I will happily hang out with you in crazy cat lady land.

Waves back. The hot vet assures me that we will have her treatment sorted by early next week at the latest depending on how long her germ cell cultures take. At least the week has been full of hot men, that's something.

[norton-gale.livejournal.com]

Oh believe me, I'm sure your cat thinks she is only getting her due. After all, she's deigned to allow you the privilege of caring for her. :)

Hot men?

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

That's true, she did choose us as her staff ...

As to the hot men, the universe has decided that since I am spending this week underslept and wearing J's old T-shirts, and smelling largely of cat snot, I will be surrounded by hot men. J lives here, and I hired one of the others to come and do my garden, but then the vet locum, the new waiter at my fave cafe, the man at the French grocery and my good looking friend B have all been around and they are all being outrageously flirtatious, which my brain is dealing with by saying "Cat sick, had an hour's sleep, Ooh, you took your shirt off ..." (That last was only to the gardener. Must have him back over soon ...)

[norton-gale.livejournal.com]

Nice! What are men's bodies for, if not to admire. You must be giving off hot vibes yourself.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I think I am giving off desperate vibes, which may translate to "Will bend in impressive ways if you'll give my cat her medication so I can keep some skin on my hands" ...

[norton-gale.livejournal.com]

The long thin scars on my hands and torso are a testament to my attempts to bathe my cats (for fleas, and once for a de-skunking).

The only thing that has worked for me as far as giving medication are pill pockets: little treats which you can stuff a pill inside. My Uther loves them so much that he stands on his hind legs and begs. Which looks really funny on a large fluffy cat.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

You are a brave woman!

I have never seen pill pockets, though I did squirt her last antibiotics into a rolled-up slice of smoked salmon, which she deigned to accept.

I am so jealous that you have a Maine Coon, it is J's fave breed and I think they are gorgeous.

[norton-gale.livejournal.com]

I love Maine Coons! Uther was the first cat I ever had (my mother was allergic to them, so I didn't get one until after she passed away). I rescued him from the pound, and didn't know he was a Maine Coon until I did some research. He has a friendly, engaging,and playful personality, although my husband feels challenged by him as a rival for my affections and for alpha cat dominance,

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Yes, that jealousy? Growing like a supernova. Min has Character, but when the vet typed "Sweet tempered and affectionate" into his cat notes the other day James and I laughed like maniacs for hours.

[norton-gale.livejournal.com]

Aw, sounds like she was putting on her best behavior to assure superior treatment. Very Slytherin of her!

The medical records of the plaintiffs on my cases always claimed the patient was "pleasant," even though these people often seemed quite the opposite when I was deposing them. :)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

She is good at the vet, I think she has heard stories. Actually, I have to say that whenever I have been in hospital I am always at my most charming and delightful, because I think people will go to superhero efforts to keep me alive if they really like me ...

[norton-gale.livejournal.com]

My husband confirms that doctors think complaining patients are bad patients.

But what do they expect when they make you go for painful procedures without anaesthesia?

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

OW! Yes, I think that is a perfectly reasonable time to complain.

I share out my chocolates and tell jokes, a strategy that usually works in the bonding fashion, but did once have a casualty doctor asking me what I'd taken and refusing to believe me when I replied nothing. He expected me to be in lots of pain because I had three broken toes from having a foot stomped on by a horse, but I had been carried in by the hottest ever groom who had stayed and was holding my hand during the exam, and I could feel no pain!

[bryoneybrynn.livejournal.com]

Poor kitty! And poor you. I hear you on the pet bills. We have to take our dog in to get his teeth cleaned to the tune of $500 or so. *sighs* I hope your little one ends up recovered and healthy. It's hard with animals - you just wish you can make them understand somehow so they won't be scared. But I have to admit I grinned at the image of you chasing her around, all wringing-hands and anxious face. Because I am evil like that and laugh at the misfortune of others.

And ha! about the F1 obsession because my husband is a huge F1 fan and I have, over the years, come to know far more about it than I ever thought I would. Mark always laughs at me because I have favourite drivers because of their driving skills and favourite drivers because they are the cutest. Somehow, he doesn't feel the latter should be part of my judging criteria. And I say please. Alonso clearly waxes his eyebrows. It IS all about the looks!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I think he waxes his eyeBROW in a bid to achieve eyebrows.

But yes, I used to wish Fisichella was a better driver so I could see him more often. I do love Kimi, but he's not that pretty. The World Rally drivers actually have a far higher hotness quotient.

Min is not scared, she's annoyed. She seems to believe that the not being able to breathe thing is somehow my fault, so she sits and glares at me for hours, but she is also smart enough to know that I am helpful when it is severe, so she will come and sit on me when she is having a bad attack so that I can help her out. Which means I have had very little sleep this week.

But yes, I am the over-protective cat owner -- another reason not to have kids. ("Mum, we put up with the home schooling, but you have to let us leave the house to attend uni, don't make us take you to court!")

[bryoneybrynn.livejournal.com]

Ah cat glare. I was going to say this is why I prefer dogs, because they don't do that to you. But then I thought of my dog giving me his ridiculous "what did I do to make you stop loving me" eyes whenever I pass him over for Ben. Or his hopeful "are we finally going to go for a walk - it's been two DAYS!" dance every time I walk by the door. Oh the guilt. Maybe the glaring would at least make me a little cross, shore me up against the guilt...

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I have to say that I deal with cat evil so much better than dog guilt. And the pathetic trust that dogs have in you to fix situations ... I nearly stole a puppy last week because it was convinced that I would untie it from the post it had been left at for too long and take it somewhere nice, it kept taking its leash in its mouth and tugging, then looking at me hopefully while wagging its tail.

On the few occasions Min has seemed grateful, it has seemd the most monumental achievement.

[empress-jae.livejournal.com]

oh i am so sorry about teh kitteh! :(

isn't it amazing how our pets become our children? not just with vet bills, but the fact that life is put on hold for a sick animal. the same way life would be put on hold if your child was sick.

when i moved to baltimore, i decided to keep my cat with my mother, since she already had a cat. i figured, i'm never home, and she'd have another kitty to play with. that was two years ago, and i still have moments when i cry cause i feel like the worst mommy in the world abandoning my cat! :D

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to hold back from the pet = child thing, because I grew up on a lot of farms and I have shot the odd pet when it was necessary and the vet was too far away, but I am a sucker for animals. I found a lovely cat the other year, and my partner took it over to the local vet to see if it was chipped, because my cat wanted to eat it and he thought it would be best to not have it here.

It had no ID and there were no alerts out for it. They sent it off to the pound, as law dictates for lost animals. My partner was consumed with guilt when he found out this was a killing pound. But he left it to me to rescue it. So in the end I spent $200 retrieving a cat I had already had, plus buying it a litter tray and collar and ID, and paying for it to be registered, then our cat still hated it, so I had to find it a new home. And I never once considered doing anything differently. Though I should have demanded he pay for it since he was the one who had shopped it.

It's the big eyes, I tell you! They make us do stupid things!

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes, vet bills. Nothing, that's NOTHING compared to what we've spent on our dog. I said to my husband the other night that this dog has used up all the dog points in our life (i.e., she's boggarted all costs for any future dogs), and he didn't look at me, just keep reading the newspaper and said, "Got that straight."

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Oh dog costs are gruesome! I have to say that the cat has been very good, her lifetime costs for us over seven years would have just hit $3000 at the vet, it's just that almost all of that represents two incidents. Still, I used to have horses, so everything seems cheap by comparison. When you feel depressed about the dog, find someone who does showjumping or dressage and ask them to give you figures until you cheer up.

[who_la_hoop]

Wheee! *basks in your admiration* :D Have some love back <3

Poor cat! I think what it needs best is more half-naked man gardening to make it feel better. Hush. You know I'm right.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

She did actually sit and watch him for several hours the last time he was here, though he kept his shirt on that day since it was for tea. Pervy kitty!

BTW, you have the same birthday as my mother!!

[who_la_hoop]

Hehe. All the best people have Feb 22nd birthdays :)

(Pervy kitty FTW!)

[lackofmendacity.livejournal.com]

0_o

Oh, your poor cat, I hear it's terrible when cats catch a cold. :/

(I could be your secret love child! ;D)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It's just awful, and I have had so little sleep this week, and am so far behind!! But at least she's not in immediate danger anymore.

You are too sweet to be my secret love child, I am sure that my grumpiness is genetic! But if I was adopting, I would attempt to bribe your parents.

[alex-s9.livejournal.com]

Can we bond? My cat's at the vet for observation. It's probably some kind of cancer in a digestive system.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Oh no! That's horrible! How are the tests going? Are there options?

The one good thing with Min is that cancer is off the list of possibles and so it is either pneumonia or else a chronic condition that will shorten her life, but is treatable for several years of good quality kittydom. And she is breathing better tonight, so I might even get some sleep. I will keep my fingers crossed for your cat, and for you. It's horrible having a sick pet.

[alex-s9.livejournal.com]

The surgery was yesterday. He had a hole in the stomach's wall, 1 cm wide. He's very weak and can't eat nor drink for few days. He's still at the clinic, I'm picking him up tomorrow. We'll see what will happen in few days.

Thanks for wishes and please pet Min.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Poor cat! Does this mean that he has a good probability of a few more years? Sounds very traumatic for both of you. Min and I both have our digits crossed for you.

She has stayed at her lower level of wheezing for all of today. While that's not getting better, I am happy she's not getting worse while we wait to find out what it is. The pettings have been delivered and appreciated, please give your cat some very gentle pets back from us.

[tsosh.livejournal.com]

I wish she'll get better soon!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Me too!

[enchanted-jae.livejournal.com]

Poor kitty.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

She is doing a bit better tonight. Fingers crossed!

[no-mad-skillz.livejournal.com]

Oh my. My very first shout-out. *blush*

I would have a cat, if I weren't emergency-room-asthma-attack allergic to them. I hate to think of yours suffering....and ahahaha, it sounds like I'm trying to be thoughtful and compassionate.

Really, though, poor kitty. *sends healing vibes*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Thoughtful and compassionate are your mad skillz!!

It must be terrible to be that allergic! I sneeze around pigs, but that's easily dealt with. Though my dad did once buy an organic pig farm as a surprise, we never moved in ...

Your healing vibes seem to be helping, she has been much better tonight!

[who_la_hoop]

Excuse me while I reel slightly at the news that you are allergic to pigs... and that your dad bought a pig farm as a surprise...

Was it a special Valentine's present for your mum? :D "I love you - have some pigs!" (How does one discover that they are allergic to pigs? Did you have a pig-related upbringing?). Why are you so endlessly fascinating? Why do I keep asking questions? Must. Go. To. Bed. (Tiiiiiired).

:)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

My dad was lovely, but a tiny bit vague …

My grandparents own a horse farm, and we would often ride over to visit other farms nearby, which is how we discovered that pigs make me sneeze. It's quite bearable for a visit, and I do love a fat free-range piggy with almost Wodehouse-like glee, but after a while it gets tiring.

Dad decided one day that I was turning into too much of an urban muppet during our London weekdays (most weekends were at the farm or some commune or other) so he popped me in the car one day, took a long drive, opened the door at the world's cutest little farmlet and declared "Ta da! New house!"

I declared it lovely and tried hard to bear it all but after two straight hours of sneezing, he suggested it may not have been his best thought-out plan.

Mum was long off the scene by then, but she thought it was very funny when she heard the story.

AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

[madchemist36.livejournal.com]

I hope that your cat is feeling better soon! Real life can be a bit much at times can't it?

[spark-of-chaos.livejournal.com]

I think if I spend $1000 on my cat in my country she'll be serviced in the president's reserved room in the best hospital findable with lithe tomcats peeping in to her every mrow. What on earth did you do to her? :blinks: That said, I still hope (as in my prev comment) that she'll get on top of it. She sure seems like a strong gall.

OMGOMGOMFGTheFinnFetish!!! In a few weeks I'll be so deep under my 800-page anatomy textbook and the impending exam from hell that I might be fully purged of all things blond and fetish-y :/ But I can delude myself a bit longer... :g: