i have a dead cat on my table.
No this isn't the start of a spooky Halloween tale, it is a eulogy to a very dear friend that passed way too soon.
I first met Patches after work. It was 5am and I was just getting home from the pizza delivery job that kept me fed in college. My dogs were out in their kennel, barking up a storm so I went out to see what they were barking at since I knew that if I didn't the neighbors would have words with me the next day. I got there in time to see a cat run away. I thought I knew what they had been barking at. It wasn't until a set of very tiny, very sharp claws started working their way up my leg that I realized I was only partially right. It was a tiny little white fur ball who, it seems, had just been abandoned by his mother from fear of my dogs.
I grabbed the little guy and brought him in the house. He was so tiny. He fit in the palm of my hand. I showed him to my wife and we decided that there was no way we were going to put him back outside. He'd never make it alone. So we gave him some food, introduced him to the other two cats, and he became our quiet little ghost.
I called him that because though he was always around, it normally wasn't where you could see him. It was under the dresser or under the couch, in a box behind the chair or finally in his Sassy Sofa (TM) under the side table, but above right near the entry way where he could see us come home. His one exception to ghostliness was at bedtime. Then he was always there. He loved to be up in your face, reaching one paw out to pet your cheek, though he was happy enough just keeping your feet warm. Sometimes though he'd crawl up on your pillow and suckle just a bit on your hair. My wife and I thought it a bit gross at the time. I think either of us would be happy to have it again now.
I'm not a cat person. I think that scooping litter is one of the most disgusting things a human can do. I loved that one though. He was the absolute sweetest animal you would ever meet. In my experience, most cats seem to want you for the food you provide. Not Patches, he genuinely seemed to love you. He'd do anything just to be near or touching you. He even learned to open the bathroom door so he could sit in the same room as you while you showered.
Saturday morning, my wife found him, dead, on the kitchen floor. He was lying in a puddle of bile and was stiff. I've been prepared for my oldest dog to go for a while now. He's old and having a hard time of things. But I wasn't prepared for this. Patches was twelve and a half years old and now he's gone.
Today I picked up his cremated remains. I don't know where we'll put them, so for right now, they sit on the table. For once, I'm not afraid of him hurting the finish. Last night my wife dreamed that Patches put his paw on her face in her sleep like he did so many times when he was alive. It seems oddly appropriate that my ghost cat would turn into one just in time for Halloween.
No this isn't the start of a spooky Halloween tale, it is a eulogy to a very dear friend that passed way too soon.
I first met Patches after work. It was 5am and I was just getting home from the pizza delivery job that kept me fed in college. My dogs were out in their kennel, barking up a storm so I went out to see what they were barking at since I knew that if I didn't the neighbors would have words with me the next day. I got there in time to see a cat run away. I thought I knew what they had been barking at. It wasn't until a set of very tiny, very sharp claws started working their way up my leg that I realized I was only partially right. It was a tiny little white fur ball who, it seems, had just been abandoned by his mother from fear of my dogs.
I grabbed the little guy and brought him in the house. He was so tiny. He fit in the palm of my hand. I showed him to my wife and we decided that there was no way we were going to put him back outside. He'd never make it alone. So we gave him some food, introduced him to the other two cats, and he became our quiet little ghost.
I called him that because though he was always around, it normally wasn't where you could see him. It was under the dresser or under the couch, in a box behind the chair or finally in his Sassy Sofa (TM) under the side table, but above right near the entry way where he could see us come home. His one exception to ghostliness was at bedtime. Then he was always there. He loved to be up in your face, reaching one paw out to pet your cheek, though he was happy enough just keeping your feet warm. Sometimes though he'd crawl up on your pillow and suckle just a bit on your hair. My wife and I thought it a bit gross at the time. I think either of us would be happy to have it again now.
I'm not a cat person. I think that scooping litter is one of the most disgusting things a human can do. I loved that one though. He was the absolute sweetest animal you would ever meet. In my experience, most cats seem to want you for the food you provide. Not Patches, he genuinely seemed to love you. He'd do anything just to be near or touching you. He even learned to open the bathroom door so he could sit in the same room as you while you showered.
Saturday morning, my wife found him, dead, on the kitchen floor. He was lying in a puddle of bile and was stiff. I've been prepared for my oldest dog to go for a while now. He's old and having a hard time of things. But I wasn't prepared for this. Patches was twelve and a half years old and now he's gone.
Today I picked up his cremated remains. I don't know where we'll put them, so for right now, they sit on the table. For once, I'm not afraid of him hurting the finish. Last night my wife dreamed that Patches put his paw on her face in her sleep like he did so many times when he was alive. It seems oddly appropriate that my ghost cat would turn into one just in time for Halloween.
today is the first day where the bite in the air makes me think that summer is really over for real.
damn.
damn.
another day, another... bit of debt? somehow that doesn't sound as nice as the real news which is my new car shows up this week.
I was very particular this time around. I've been driving a car I barely fit into (my hair brushes the ceiling when I drive) for the last 7 years now. I was possibly too particular. I actually felt the need to order it from the factory in August. It seemed like such a good idea a month and a half ago. And now, finally, it's nearing home.
So I decided to get the "newly redesigned 2012 Ford Focus". Yellow. I drive about 35 miles each way for work and almost 40 MPG sounded really good. The Twin Cites are a couple of driving towns. At least if you don't live actually and work in one of the downtowns. Traveling, even from suburb to suburb, can be brutal. But now: less gas, less waste and more comfort.
(and of course more debt...shit. ah well, consumerism here I come!)
Photos will follow once it gets here.
I was very particular this time around. I've been driving a car I barely fit into (my hair brushes the ceiling when I drive) for the last 7 years now. I was possibly too particular. I actually felt the need to order it from the factory in August. It seemed like such a good idea a month and a half ago. And now, finally, it's nearing home.
So I decided to get the "newly redesigned 2012 Ford Focus". Yellow. I drive about 35 miles each way for work and almost 40 MPG sounded really good. The Twin Cites are a couple of driving towns. At least if you don't live actually and work in one of the downtowns. Traveling, even from suburb to suburb, can be brutal. But now: less gas, less waste and more comfort.
(and of course more debt...shit. ah well, consumerism here I come!)
Photos will follow once it gets here.
It was a scary day at my house today. I was dozing off after work when my wife comes into the bedroom asking “did you know the gate was open?” I hadn’t, but remembered that I hadn’t shut it the day before. Well, long story short, the dog got out. And since I was asleep and the wife wasn’t watching her we had no idea where she went or how long she’d been gone. I walked around for a bit while she drove around before I also hopped into a car and drove too. Turns out if I had walked a bit further when I first was looking I might have found her sooner.
As it was, I saw a woman and her son walking her, hoping that someone would be looking and would see her. Took me a bit to get over to her since I was driving just as everyone was on the road coming home from work, but I finally did get there.
I thanked the very nice lady, she told me that my dog was nice and that they liked her. I told them we did too and thanked her profusely. The lady told her son "She found her family!" and they cheered. I kinda felt like joining them.
So she’d gotten all of a block away in the half hour I was looking for her. Had to cross a busy street to do it, so her eyesight must not be so bad after all (she only has one). Damn dog.
. I can be mad now that she’s safe.
As it was, I saw a woman and her son walking her, hoping that someone would be looking and would see her. Took me a bit to get over to her since I was driving just as everyone was on the road coming home from work, but I finally did get there.
I thanked the very nice lady, she told me that my dog was nice and that they liked her. I told them we did too and thanked her profusely. The lady told her son "She found her family!" and they cheered. I kinda felt like joining them.
So she’d gotten all of a block away in the half hour I was looking for her. Had to cross a busy street to do it, so her eyesight must not be so bad after all (she only has one). Damn dog.
. I can be mad now that she’s safe.Tomorrow is my birthday. I will be 35 years old. For some reason ages that end in a multiple of five are denoted as milestones. Doesn't feel that way, I have no doubt that 35 will feel remarkably like 34. Which is something. 34 feels old sometimes. Maybe more so for me than for others. My kid has stated her second year of college this year so I have a lot in common with folks a lot older than me. Most people my age have little in common with me. I went through the things they are experiencing with their young children years ago.
So what am I doing to celebrate this non-existant milestone? My wonderful mother-in-law (who gets to say that?) bought me tickets to Thursday night's Packers-Saints game. So I'll be traveling across the State of Wisconsin to visit Green Bay for the night. Then travel back across so I'm back in Minnesota for work on Friday. But I'm so excited, I'm like a little kid. I'll probably get nothing accomplished in the office tomorrow morning for the few hours I'm there.Could be the best birthday ever. Of course if the saints win, then it's just a good birthday.
So what am I doing to celebrate this non-existant milestone? My wonderful mother-in-law (who gets to say that?) bought me tickets to Thursday night's Packers-Saints game. So I'll be traveling across the State of Wisconsin to visit Green Bay for the night. Then travel back across so I'm back in Minnesota for work on Friday. But I'm so excited, I'm like a little kid. I'll probably get nothing accomplished in the office tomorrow morning for the few hours I'm there.Could be the best birthday ever. Of course if the saints win, then it's just a good birthday.
Hi Everyone!
I'm feeling happy today. It's going to be a good weekend. A friend is having a party today. He just found out that he and his girlfriend are having a baby and they are very excited about it. So that should be fun.
Tomorrow I'm going on a tour of the Leinenkugal's brewery in northern Wisconsin. I've been on it before, but my wife and I are bringing a co-worker and her husband who just moved to the area. Totally got a (non-sexual) crush on this girl and her husband so it should be extremely fun to hang out. Smartest people I know. I love surrounding myself with smart people. And there will be beer. What could be better?
I'm feeling happy today. It's going to be a good weekend. A friend is having a party today. He just found out that he and his girlfriend are having a baby and they are very excited about it. So that should be fun.
Tomorrow I'm going on a tour of the Leinenkugal's brewery in northern Wisconsin. I've been on it before, but my wife and I are bringing a co-worker and her husband who just moved to the area. Totally got a (non-sexual) crush on this girl and her husband so it should be extremely fun to hang out. Smartest people I know. I love surrounding myself with smart people. And there will be beer. What could be better?
holy shit, I've been gone since the 21st?!? Of July? Well, hell. That deserves an update, huh?
So I wasn't lying, I have spent an inordinate amount of time playing Civ V. as always, an amazingly addictive game. But since I am also completely unable to pay attention to any one thing at any one time, I've also been re-watching Mad Men now that it is streaming on Netflix. Love that show. Seriously! Though it is extremely hard to watch is 100% sober, just too many tasty looking cocktails to be sampled.
Ok, what else? I haven't spent the last two+ weeks just playing games and watching tv. Well, let's see. I've started a new job search. I'm completely sick of working for the place I work. Actually that isn't 100% true. I love where I work, just not who I work for. My boss is... well... she's in constant need of validation. And she can't seem to work well with others, so she looks for it a lot. A ton of us-versus-them shit. And, I sort of like some of the "them" so I don't see it. I've been waiting for her to get canned for a while now, but since it is starting to look like that won't happen anytime in the near future, I'm starting the search for new employment. Not that I expect to find anything soon. It isn't as if there is a thriving market for print designers. No matter how good (and I like to amuse myself with the notion that I'm pretty good). But I won't ever find one, if I don't start. Right?
Anything else? Well, I made a Key Lime Pie last night. That was pretty good. Looks good, right?
Tasted good too. I guess that's it.
So I wasn't lying, I have spent an inordinate amount of time playing Civ V. as always, an amazingly addictive game. But since I am also completely unable to pay attention to any one thing at any one time, I've also been re-watching Mad Men now that it is streaming on Netflix. Love that show. Seriously! Though it is extremely hard to watch is 100% sober, just too many tasty looking cocktails to be sampled.
Ok, what else? I haven't spent the last two+ weeks just playing games and watching tv. Well, let's see. I've started a new job search. I'm completely sick of working for the place I work. Actually that isn't 100% true. I love where I work, just not who I work for. My boss is... well... she's in constant need of validation. And she can't seem to work well with others, so she looks for it a lot. A ton of us-versus-them shit. And, I sort of like some of the "them" so I don't see it. I've been waiting for her to get canned for a while now, but since it is starting to look like that won't happen anytime in the near future, I'm starting the search for new employment. Not that I expect to find anything soon. It isn't as if there is a thriving market for print designers. No matter how good (and I like to amuse myself with the notion that I'm pretty good). But I won't ever find one, if I don't start. Right?
Anything else? Well, I made a Key Lime Pie last night. That was pretty good. Looks good, right?
Tasted good too. I guess that's it.
oh crap. Civilization V is on sale for $17 on steam. (I resisted when it was $60). There's no help for it, the next two weeks just got shot to hell.
i have a shit ton of raspberries.
I didn't start out with this many. I only had a few plants. And most of them died. But the ones that survived, thrived. And now I have a big 'ol patch. And that gives me the previously mentioned shit ton of raspberries. We picked two ice cream pails in the last two days and put most of them in the freezer until we can decide what to do with them. Luckily there seem to be a lot more desserts that call for frozen than for fresh.
So... anyone have any suggestions? I'm making a raspberry cobbler right now, but with just two of us in the house, I can't make a ton of desserts. We'd never eat them.
I didn't start out with this many. I only had a few plants. And most of them died. But the ones that survived, thrived. And now I have a big 'ol patch. And that gives me the previously mentioned shit ton of raspberries. We picked two ice cream pails in the last two days and put most of them in the freezer until we can decide what to do with them. Luckily there seem to be a lot more desserts that call for frozen than for fresh.
So... anyone have any suggestions? I'm making a raspberry cobbler right now, but with just two of us in the house, I can't make a ton of desserts. We'd never eat them.
I bought my dog diapers today. Ollie's been having age related incontinence lately. He even pissed on my bed. Twice. In two days.
I've known he was having trouble for a while now. I've cleaned up the messes. But it wasn't until I actually was standing in front of the rack of dog diapers that I realized how bad he's gotten. I feel horrible for the old guy. He's not happy about the diaper. He's always hated having any accessory on him. Clothes, bandana, didn't matter. His head hung and he just looked at us as if wondering what he'd done to deserve that kind of treatment. The diaper was much worse. Tail tugging and this big ball of something between his legs making it hard to walk added to the shamed look he gave us.
I'm starting to wonder when his time will come. He's been to the vet for this, they tested for diabetes and kidney failure. They speculated cancer. He's too old to put him through discomfort of the treatments so why bother getting the diagnosis.
I love this dog and I don't think he's suffering. If he was, the decision would be easy. In fact he even seems to be doing better lately. He's getting around a lot better. He can even jump on the bed again. Of course when he does, some muscles relax and he pees. But he wasn't able or willing to make that jump for a long time now. I know that I'll probably know when the time comes. I did when it was finally time to put my cat down a few years ago. But I worry that I won't. That I'll miss it because I don't want to see it and that he'll suffer because of that.
this was my Ollie-dog when he was younger and felt better.
I've known he was having trouble for a while now. I've cleaned up the messes. But it wasn't until I actually was standing in front of the rack of dog diapers that I realized how bad he's gotten. I feel horrible for the old guy. He's not happy about the diaper. He's always hated having any accessory on him. Clothes, bandana, didn't matter. His head hung and he just looked at us as if wondering what he'd done to deserve that kind of treatment. The diaper was much worse. Tail tugging and this big ball of something between his legs making it hard to walk added to the shamed look he gave us.
I'm starting to wonder when his time will come. He's been to the vet for this, they tested for diabetes and kidney failure. They speculated cancer. He's too old to put him through discomfort of the treatments so why bother getting the diagnosis.
I love this dog and I don't think he's suffering. If he was, the decision would be easy. In fact he even seems to be doing better lately. He's getting around a lot better. He can even jump on the bed again. Of course when he does, some muscles relax and he pees. But he wasn't able or willing to make that jump for a long time now. I know that I'll probably know when the time comes. I did when it was finally time to put my cat down a few years ago. But I worry that I won't. That I'll miss it because I don't want to see it and that he'll suffer because of that.
this was my Ollie-dog when he was younger and felt better.
