Grande Galerie des Glaces

As you all know, I am a cat lady (but not crazy yet.) Last week one of the outdoor kittens began limping, so I took him to a vet. Apparently an adult cat had bitten it; it's a very common thing with cats & kittens. The vet gave it a shot of antibiotic, worm medicine and some antibiotic drops to take home.

So I have been giving him the drops but he wasn't really improving and the limp did not go away. Yesterday, his leg suddenly swelled up and so I took him back to the vet just before closing. The vet thought it was probably a very bad abscess and he would have to keep the kitten for a few days to lance it and give it stronger antibiotics.

The vet called this morning. He said the abscess had been "extremely severe" and worse, it was hiding a fractured femur. While he could amputate, at best it would only give the kitten a few extra days to a couple of weeks and he would always be in pain. He said it would be kinder to put him to sleep, and I agreed.

This makes the third pet I have lost in less than a year and I tell you, I feel absolutely gutted. Lucky and LeeAnn were bad but in a way expected because of very advanced age and general failing health. But this little kitten has really shaken me up (not sure why, just that it did.)

Details of the vet call & diagnosis under the cut, 'cause it's kinda gory. Read at your own risk. You've been warned.
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We are under a *tornado watch*. =( This sort of thing never happens here in February -- at least until today. I heard that there was a tornado that touched down very briefly out by Broken Bow/North Platte earlier so... now it is a lot of "wait and see." *sighs*

Thia has been something of a long day anyway. I had to take LeeAnn to the vet because she seemed to be walking "funny" but apparently, it is nothing serious or lasting. (She does have luxating patellas [sic] but that is very common in small breeds and it doesn't seem to bother her, and her vet is all about "if it doesn't bother and she's not in pain and happy, leave it be". Which is really sensible because vet surgery is iffy enough at the best of times, no matter what they say.)

After coming home, I went into Hastings to the Y and worked out for a bit there. Not too long though because the machines were full and the weather was supposed to get iffy about noon. I didn't get there until almost 11 am, so I only had time for the cross-trainer (which I love) and then the new bike (which I am having trouble with and don't like very well -- I need to change to a different one, or the older model.) The treadmills were all full, and I missed getting one by literally one minute. But the bikes do seem oddly hard and I need to focus more on the treadmill.

Then I went and bought a pizza, came home to eat it -- and share a bit w/LeeAnn -- and surf a bit online -- and then I took a much-needed nap.

And now? Now I am shutting down because the wind is howling and I need to focus on weather updates. Later everyone!

Today I took LeeAnn to the vet so she could get her 3 mo. flea treatment, and she also gets a quick once over too: eye/ear/teeth check, listen to heart & breathing and the always enjoyable "taking her temp." Oy. Or to hear LeeAnn's version, I woke her from her nice relaxing nap and took her away from home to be tortured. ::eye roll:: But all was forgiven once we left, and now she is asleep in my arms whileI attempt to type with one finger.

The weather is just gorgeous today, nice and just a teeny bit warm and it's supposed to stay that way for the next few days so perhaps I will get some yard work done after all.

Yes, I haven't done one of these for a long time. After July's heatwave, everything has been -- well, more or less normal weather-wise. Tonight though we have an interesting storm system moving up from the south. Lots of sharp, streaky lightning (my little dog was demanding walkies but I took one look at that and said no way) which is cool to look at but not so fun to be out in.

I took LeeAnn to the vet on Monday for flea drops. Of course, I could have done it myself but (a) I didn't have any on hand and (b) I don't want her to think every vet visit equals a shot or something of that sort. So we went and she was very happy that she didn't get a shot. She was rather sulky going up and refused to look at me (instead curling up and staring at the passenger door, lol) since last time -- only a couple of weeks ago -- she ended up having dental work done. She definitely was warmer toward on the trip home though still a bit miffed that I had upset her morning routine (*and* made her worry about getting a shot, which is really unforgivable, amiright? ;)

Writing continues. I am working on a couple of fics -- one due the 27th (AinA), and the other... whenever, I guess. Another will start probably over Labor Day weekend.

Back later on tomorrow, probably.

Today was actually nice, weather-wise. Hot, of course. But there was a stray breeze or two which made it bearable. *AND* I got my a/c put in -- yes!!! Normally I am a fan-person but when the heat index is over 100 (supposedly 105 or better for the next few days... ugh!), that is the time for a/c. So now I am enjoying my *new* a/c, and making plans to stay inside for the next few days.

The morning was busy since I took LeeAnn to the vet for a check-up. She's still been "eh-eh-eh-ing" and her breathing has seemed labored. Otoh, she still has a very heavy coat, and w/the fans not cooling things down that much (though they have been a help), I decided it was better to be safe, especially with the weather predictions for next week. Driving up, she enjoyed sitting on my left leg in order to check out the scenery (I am so thankful to have an automatic, lol) and it was all good. Happily she checked out ok (lungs and heart sounded good), though she did get a shot of general antibiotic just to be safe. She was *not* pleased about that and screamed to the waiting room that she was being tortured. Driving back, she laid in the passenger seat with her back turned and wouldn't even look at me. I was most definitely persona non grata! However, with a nice treat of carefully chosen people foods, with many hugs and skritches, all was forgiven. [g]

So, with lots of nommy stuff on hand, I am prepared for the upcoming heat wave.

Niters all.

I forgot to mention that yesterday was Baby's last vet visit. The vet was pleased with her recovery, though it wasn't quite what he had hoped for. Still, her back paw is no longer "knuckling" under and the small abrasion on it is healing nicely. He said that even with surgery her back leg would never be quite right again, and there was no sense in continuing visits that were little more than check-ups (especially since gas is $2.50/gal here). If Baby had been an indoor kitty -- but she wasn't, and that is that. She is now though, and soon she will reside on the porch which should make her much happier. The others are very unhappy about being banished from the porch but I simply cannot keep 6-10 cats on a very small porch during summer! I Can Not Do It! They still get food and water, and there is shelter to be had outside. [With any sort of luck I can fix up a nice area in the garage for this winter.] I've already spent $$$ on the furkids already, and I still need to set up an appointment for my little dog with *her* vet for shots and teeth cleaning. ::winces:: Owwie! But has to be done, and that is that.

Today was much cooler, only in the 50's at the most. I woke up because the little wrens were having an argument with another couple just outside my window. Heeee. I got to watch it all from my bed. They were most entertaining, though I can see how it might drive some people crazy with all that chirping, tweeting and wing-fluttering. For me, it is a way of life; how better to know what is right/wrong in the world outside my door.

I took Baby to the vet and he was pleased with her progress (she weighs 6 lbs. now :), gave her another steroid shot and put a very light splint on her leg as she was still bending the lower part of the toes and had a small abrasion worn there. She was not happy with either procedure but she proved how active she was by running and leaping quite nicely. So she is to wear the splint until Friday, when we go back *again* to see how things are progressing. Unless she manages to remove it before then -- we shall see.

Then I went to get a haircut, though I had to leave her in the car. Luckily the place I go is mostly walk-ins and there was no-one else there, so that was quick. Though the stylist was horrified when she saw the way I had chopped off my hair in the back -- I had told her the last time I had a haircut was from the same store and she was "Who did that?". I then explained that I had done it a few days ago, because it was just too unbearably hot on my neck. Gah. She asked me how I wanted it cut and I told her: "Just however you can make it look nice, as long as it's short." Which is rather unhelpful when it comes to hairdressers, I know -- but I wasn't sure what I *had* done when I was snipping away the other evening -- and no, I was not drunk. [Maybe I should have told her I was but she probably thought that anyway, lol.] So she did some cutting and trimming and it ended up quite nice.

It started raining about 8pm and there is still some very very light rain out.

Not much other news for now. Niters.

Well, Lucky is back and feeling ok, if still a bit skittish. The vet always makes sure they are fully "awake" and out of the anesetic (sic) before letting the family see them and take them home. Which is a good thing really because I know I tend worry *a lot*. The good news is that there was no abscess or infection; what they did find was a tiny piece of root that needed to be removed. A couple of other teeth were removed during the cleaning as they were so loose they were about ready to fall out. They also took a second x-ray to check an "iffy" shadow but all turned out to be well. Her blood work came back very good too, considering she is 14.

So what did I do with my day while waiting for my furbaby? I traded a few more books (and yes, I got a few more as well), unloaded the dog house and bookcase I bought yesterday, and got a few groceries. I also checked prices on sheet rock (at Menards, Ace and Home Depot) and other things needed to finish the living room; then I talked with a guy who might be able to help get the place ready to live in (as in making sure the water and lights are ok.) The roof and foundation are ok and so are a lot of other things, mostly it is just cosmetic stuff that needs to be done. So that is a *big* relief. (It's all just a question of being able to get things done before the family shows up again in June...)

Ok, time for me to have a nice long nap.

Today I took the Blazer in to get the trunk "door" (which, btw, is essentially the upper half of the rear window) fixed since the arms had apparently rusted shut so that I was totally unable to open it at all, thus making over one-half of the vehicle unusable. Too much rain, snow, etc. from earlier this year. Now I could have tried to force it open but one thing I *have* learned over the course of many years is that if something is stuck so badly it needs to be forced, then if you force it, it will probably break and/or be seriously f'd up and cost you a *lot* more $$$ than if you took it to a repair shop in the first place. Which is a very fancy way of saying 'bye' to $100. *sigh* But at least it works now. (I also learned that on Monday I will be going back to have the engine serviced -- approx. another $60. Oh Yay.)

I also was organized enough to take in a couple of sacks of clothing to Goodwill -- I had intended to drop them off at St. V's (weirdly, the Salvation Army no longer has a store in Hastings and I have no idea where the new SA drop is located.) I am going to try and dig out more clothing etc. and drop it off for Monday. Now that I have my trunk back, I can get more than just two small sacks donated -- or so I hope.

Then I went to GI to do more job apps; it was a decent day and I decided to take the risk. If I have to move (which is at over 60% probability now) I may as well apply as many places as possible and look around at potential rentals when the weather is decent. We'll see.

I am probably going to see TDK again either Friday or over the weekend, when they have matinees and thus lower prices.

Yesterday was a trip to the v-e-t and distemper/parvo boosters for LeeAnn (she had her rabies shot last year and in NE they are good for three years); rabies and boosters both for Lucky. More $$ but at least they are current again. I was definitely on both of their short lists, at least until it was supper time and they managed a few nibbles of people food. Heh heh. Yes, I have no shame. Besides, they don't get *that* much, just literally a few nibbles.

Time for me to go and sleep for a change. It will be nasty-hot these next few days, which means I won't be able to do very much work outside except from just after daybreak to about noon.

Niters all!