Quick update

[blamebrampton]

The Min cat is still with us!

In fact, aside from one alarming night and an ongoing wheeze, she has been in robust good health. She has even reclaimed her kitty tower as 'the' place to be after disdaining it for most of the last year.

In some ways it is simply tragic to see how healthy she is, aside from the cancer. On the other hand, it is wonderful to see that she is in good spirits and clearly no or very minimal pain. The many good wishes she has been sent have definitely been helping! Well -- they've definitely helped us at any rate!

The salmon diet, apparently, is the kitty version of medical marijuana. I have had to go out and buy another stash of tins, hurrah! We're onto the good red salmon, sod the wussy pink.

The weather has been exceptionally cooperative, and after the first wet summer in a decade has continued fine and dry since she has been home, so she has sat in her pot of miscanthus each day, then trotted out to follow the late afternoon sun. Her old people have visited her daily and she is pleased to see that she is finally being worshipped appropriately. In further good news, the local vets will be able to come here to euthanise her when the time comes, and there is a pet crematorium who do local pick-ups. We plan to scatter her ashes in her garden beds (several) and favourite rat hunting ground.

For my part I have been a bit lj invisible for the last few days as I desperately struggle to get through my worldcup fic. No extensions under any circumstances is a bit ghastly, since no one can plan for RL disasters and there are a number of people in even worse situations than me who are left hanging between flogging themselves and letting down their teams. We are all choosing to flog ourselves, but I do feel that in a perfect world we'd have a little leeway to work some more sleep into the schedule.

Oh well, when you read the fic with more typos than any other (and you do not want to KNOW how bad my brain is at homonyms when I am this thinly spread), be kind, it will be mine, and it will not in any way be the fault of my lovely betas.

Back to the writing and the listening to breathing, out and in, with only a little whistle, she still has time ...

Comments

[norton-gale.livejournal.com]

Hurray for Min rallying! Cats are always surprising.

I'm prepared to love your Worldcup fic regardless of typos.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It's lovely to see her so clearly enjoying herself after the other week, even if we know she'll start to decline again soon. All of the vets have spoken glowingly of her personal qualities and toughness, so she continues her lifetime of impressing through grumpy fortitude, bless.

I think that there will be a lot of shared love from all who have made it through worldcup; it's a bonding experience!

[calanthe-fics.livejournal.com]

Great news on the cat, and I'm glad to hear that you're sounding chipper, even if it is probably put on to make the rest of us feel better.

Um, in relation to world cup, surely that's what the back-up writers were for? Why not use them when people have unavoidable situations like yours?

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

The guilt! The not finishing, the failing, the landing my problems on someone else's shoulders with only a fortnight and a half, the conviction that I can do it, really, and who needs sleep ... the fact that I appear to be somehow sharing my brain with a Jewish grandmother, when it all boils down to it.

A genuinely chipper day with the cat. It's still heartbreaking, but compared to he last two people I saw off through cancer, she is having a ball of a time and not being a daily source of heartbreak. We are both prepared to fall completely apart when we have to put her down, though. Happily, the place where I am freelancing has told me that I am to stay home and cry whenever I feel I need to, because they are all crazy cat ladies, too. It's quite lovely.

[absynthedrinker.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear about the cat! Worldcup is busting several people's balls at this moment. Frayach says she is definitely sweating. Aren't these challenges supposed to be fun? Well are you having fun yet? Nice to see you. Bubba

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Yes. Fun. That is the word that springs to mind.

(I have gone through sweating and am up to nausea. Which is why I decided that half a tub of chocolate rock ice cream would be a good dinner. This may have contributed to the nausea. XXX BB)

[catsintheattic.livejournal.com]

Yay for your cat!

*dances*

Who cares about deadlines as long as she's keeping hers out of her way!

*cheers to Min and her excellent care-takers*

And deadlines are exactly why I don't dare to participate in fic exchange fests. Life, as it is, has enough of them already.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Who cares about deadlines as long as she's keeping hers out of her way!

Oh you DARLING! That is now my slogan for the week. Maybe even month, if we are terribly lucky!

[pushdragon.livejournal.com]

You recall I owe you a turn as beta, right? You probably have heaps already but if you need another, well remind me what the deadline is and I'll be sure to keep it free for a quick turnaround!

And I'm so glad your cat is contented. All any of us wants in life is a constant diet of luxury and worship. She's lucky to have you.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, do you have a big Saturday night planned? Because this will be coming down to the wire. (At least the time zones work in my favour)

Min has been a most excellent cat and has on several occasions delivered us truly succulent rats, it is the least we can do.

And if you're available Sat night for proofing, I can certainly extend the diet of luxury when I make it down there in the next few months!

[mahaliem.livejournal.com]

So very glad to hear about your kitty's good spirits!

Good luck on your story. You're a wonderful writer and I'm sure it will be great. As for the no extensions part, I have this fear that my computer will die the day of the deadline and it will be finished, but not sent in on time. Which is why I have e-mailed the stupid thing to myself (though I'm still working on edits) just to be sure.

[lilian-cho.livejournal.com]

You can also save it as a private LJ entry =)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I have a fear that I will day on the day of the deadline at this rate.

Very much looking forward to reading yours, though!

[empress-jae.livejournal.com]

that's really wonderful news to hear about min! :D

and good luck with your fic. i have no worries that it'll be fine. ;)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

She just ate most of my Lemon Crispy Skin Chicken. The little guts! She's still on the way out, but at least with vim and without pain. That's not so bad.

thqnks for the vote of confidence, wish I shared it!

[lilian-cho.livejournal.com]

*hugs you*

And yay for Min! And kitty marijuana!

I bet your fic will be fantabulous! =DDD
Typos can be corrected later when you post it on your own LJ!


Is it evil of me to be thankful that I didn't win the hd_worldcup lottery?
Especially since I found out that watchers can also participate with the same prompts? ^^;;

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It is evil of you to mention it *sneaks away and plots how to trade places with you!* XXX

Thanks for the hugs, it's actually better that she is having such a good time, when she starts to decline sharply near the end we will bop quickly so she remembers the goodness.

I'm just hoping my fic will actually *be*

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

The rumours about all those Omega3s apparently isn't exaggerated. I'm so glad Min is doing so well, and enjoying this time on earth.

Writing fic is always an acceptable excuse, especially if it's hot H/D fic (actually, if it's not H/D fic, it's no excuse at all - I'm fussy that way).

*hugs to you and chin scritches and fresh fishy for the Mincat*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

OOh, she loved the chin scritches!

Tonight she ate my Chinese takeaway, but back to salmon tomorrow!

[enchanted-jae.livejournal.com]

I tear up each time you write about Min. *sniffles*

How bittersweet this must be for you. Enjoy each moment you can.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

You and I have exactly the same emotions on this whole thing. XXX

[lackofmendacity.livejournal.com]

Like I said, I know you're making Min's last few weeks as comfortable as possible, and it's great to hear she's still so perky. :)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

If she did not have her bad wheezing moments, I would swear the little bugger was faking it. On the exceedingly off chance that there is a kitty afterlife, I expect to hear our names praised in it as magnificent suppliers of treats, though absolute bastards about the pills and the not going out at night.

[no-mad-skillz.livejournal.com]

Back to the writing and the listening to breathing, out and in, with only a little whistle, she still has time ...

Aw, BB. Aw, Min. *hugs* I've been on a couple of deathwatches...it's a weird sort of thing, isn't it? Everyone involved existing very tentatively. *sigh* Still, I'm glad to see (more or less) good spirits all around.

Fandom is supposed to be fun. I will be upset if the worldcup people break any of my favorite writers. *glowers*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I can't tell you how much less hideous it is for a cat than for a human, though. At least when she starts to go into distress I can legally put her out of it. The last human I did this with ... it was harrowing ... Give me trauma any day!

Many thanks for the hugs. I need them more for worldcup than Min at the moment!! It is breaking people.

[lisbet.livejournal.com]

omg...I missed some posts about Min, I had no idea about the cancer. I am so sorry! *hugs* But I am glad that she is doing well for now. And yay for salmon!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Thanks, dear. She is having a good final innings, and between her emergency exploratory 'procedure' the other week and her pills she has a reasonable airway at the moment and is enjoying her life as usual, just with a bit of wheeze. Salmon is my new idea of a miracle food, and, unlike wheatgrass, is delicious!

[snottygrrl.livejournal.com]

it's nice that min is enjoying her time (kind of like the kitty version of the bucket list only with more realism and better acting.

and yes, i'm been lined up as emergency beta grrl for one of the worldcup writers. i can't believe how much this is stressing everyone out. makes me glad i chose not to take part.

the fics will be wonderful though i've no doubt.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I suspect that there will be great stuff, mine will be ... er, maybe finished? That's all I ask for at this point.

If she starts acting like Jack Nicholson, I will bop her on the head prematurely. BUt yes, in terms of salmon, garden time, tower time, patting and loving, this has been her perfect month in many ways. Big hugs to you, emails next week!

[sundappled.livejournal.com]

Her old people have visited her daily and she is pleased to see that she is finally being worshipped appropriately
Hee, there is always a silver lining! Well, a silver and salmon lining evidently!
Extra good luck to the kitty and your mental wellbeing!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Hey, sorry for the late reply, but, well, urgh.

She has definitely seen this as the silver in the situation, and even now she's not really keen on food she is still having a salmony nibble, bless her greedy little heart. Thank you for the good luck, I think we are at an end today, but at least we have had a lovely goodbye.

[jackieohno.livejournal.com]

Hurrah for cat-rallying! That's wonderful news. I've lost an old pet dog before and it's so terrible, so I'm glad you're doing well considering! Plucky little cat :)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

She IS plucky. I let her out last night, because I decided it couldn't do any harm and she deserved a last night of All Min Adventures, as her rambles are known (there was a period where she would regularly return with cat collars, we assume she ate the owners). At 3 I thought I would see if she wanted to come in, she came bounding across the neighbour's shed, along a wall and down a tree. Dying cat is adventure kitty! Glad I left her out now, even though I worried till dawn.

[pinkdiamond.livejournal.com]

Sorry about the tough time for Min and yourselves, Mr Expensive Abcesses Boy would happily send all our salmon to Min if he could. And that's not just because he hates the stuff (bad taste!)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Heh, Bunny boy has always been an eccentric cat! Thanks, dear. Sadly we're pretty much at the end now, but she's had a good farewell. I think that I will rush to the animal shelter as soon as J is up to it and rescue someone else, not to forget her, but to save another cat from death row in her honour. And then I will give it a lifetime of kitty therapy needs by frequently saying "Oh, Min did that better ..."

[madchemist36.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm glad to see that the well-wishing is helpful. You are currently using up my daily allotment of well-wishing, so it would be a shame if it hadn't helped. The random strangers I am chucking the bird to in the streets would curse your name if they knew. Also that puppy I kicked. It was just the one puppy...It's hard when my essentially evil nature isn't being restrained by any good thoughts. (Obviously I am just kidding. It was a toddler.)

Keep up the good fight, and take a break now and again to lay in the sun with Min. I'm off to shout obscenities at the elderly!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Oh I needed a good laugh! I am sorry for the toddlers in your neighbourhood, but they need some toughening up if they are to make it in the rough and tumble world of tomorrow.

We think that tomorrow might be bopping day, but she had a great weekend and is just starting to get a bit weak and raspy now. Time to go before there's pain.