HOLY DEER!!

Tuesday wanted to go outside this morning. Sometimes when I have a bit of time I will let her out on the upstairs patio to hang out. AND boy does she hang FAR OUT onto the patio ledge to see all the animals that come to drink from the lake.

I was totally surprised this morning by seeing this -


There had to be about a dozen deer drinking and meandering about. I took a couple of quick shots then ran down the stairs, pulled the patio door open, but they were no longer there when I popped out to take more pictures.

Guess I am a little louder than I thought.

I cannot read minds

I know this is shocking to most people, but I cannot read minds.

Trust me, if I did, my entire life would be different.

People keep assuming that I do though. No other way around it.

This woman today came to me and was looking for a book on drama queen. I asked if that was the title.

No.

Hmm, so you are looking for a Nonfiction or Fiction book on drama queens?

No, just show me where you have books on drama queens.

Really? Do you really think next to Romance, Mystery, there is a section specific to Drama Queens? Odd. Okay, so I look it up. Let's humor her. The only thing that comes up is Fiction and Teen Fiction - shocker. Teens being drama queens.

I show her the teen stuff and she says, well I was looking for something more adult.

Okay, so did you want stuff on emotional drama queens, dressing like a drama queen? Could you be more specific? (I mean are you thinking like drama queens, like drag queens or theatrical queen that is dramatic???)

No

. . . . .

I have no idea what to do.

After some more searching on the computer, I finally found some things that were drama, literally, they were in Shakespeare. This lady seems to be going with this drama/theater thing. I walked her over to the section and picked out a few, then run like hell because I really didn't know what else to look for, BUT not before telling her if she doesn't find what she is looking for let us know and we can continue to look. (yes, I am a helpful SOB)

I find it so odd that people don't do any kind of research on things. You would not believe how many people come in and say, I am looking for that yellow book, you know that one that was on that table a little while ago. (I can usually answer this one though)

Or

They were talking about a book about a boy who dies but doesn't go to heaven - who is they??

Or

I don't know the author, but the title has "woman" in it.

I usually find it fun and entertaining to see if I can guess the book, but sometimes I just want to strangle people. My least favorite is when I quiz someone endlessly about a book and they consistently say, No I just want to look at the section. I take them to the section and they go, Oh, I was really hoping to find THIS book. WTF? You KNEW the book you were looking for after all? Now I have to go back to the computer and look it up because I hate to break it to you, but it's not as simple as being in Fiction section. The books are divvied up in all sorts of odd, but helpful sections amid sections amid more sections.

My favorite joke to play on people, when I am in a very playful mood, is someone comes up and says, I am looking for a book. I say, Ok and continue to look at them waiting for them to say what book it is because they didn't ask me a question yet. I mean really, you are in a bookstore and you are looking for a book - NO! - obvious much?? I don't do this very often because I have to hit just the right person for it to be fun and funny.

Wordless Wednesday - pancake poppers

(hershey kisses filling)

Wordless Wednesday

Link for pancake popper iron skillet

Rough kitty moment

Today I got to wrestle the little lion by tossing a half pill down her throat, closing the wild jaws and then holding her there while I kept her mouth clamped shut to make sure the pill went down. I was so happy, after the fourth try, that it was in her mouth, I kissed her little pink nose. She growled at me.

The holistic drops were making a very small difference, so with the advice of a very trustworthy family vet (and my real vet), I went and picked up the anxiety pills for her to take. I laughed hysterically when the vet assistant came out with a little tiny kitten to show me how to give my crazy lion a pill. He gave me pill hider treats which I was sure wouldn't work. He showed me how to hold her, to open the jaw, to close it and then to make sure the pill goes down. Again, I laughed because she is not calm or even close to relaxed. I will get good at it because I will be giving her these for three to six months depending on how long it takes for her to adjust the crazy noises and wild winds we experience here.

Just the other morning, she was jumping up on the bed and missed (or maybe psyched herself out halfway up) and fell. She fell wrong and her back foot was contorted in a very non-normal position. I immediately had a fit and started hyperventilating. She started to back up on three feet while the other, back foot, stuck out all weird. She was making this horrible noise and growling at the same time. Her foot was broken. I called Saint, but quickly realized he was at work. I then called my mom who transferred the phone to dad because she couldn't understand me. The moment I heard my dad's voice, I calmed down and realized I had to call the vet and possibly the emergency vet. By the time I got the vet's machine to leave a message I realized it was quiet.

Izabel was sitting normal and looking at me. Granted she wasn't moving, but she looked okay. I went downstairs to look up the emergency vet in the area since I had to leave a message on the vet's phone. While I was looking that up, the vet called. I walked up and saw Izabel sitting at the top of the stairs. I didn't get to see how she moved from the bedroom to the hallway. I explained the situation to the vet and she said I needed to figure to view her leg.

I sat down and pet her, she immediately got up and started talking to me. I could hear the panic in her little cat cry. But she was moving and putting weight on the leg. She was also favoring that leg. When I turned around, she ran down the stairs.

My jaw hit the floor.

Okay, her foot isn't broken. Emergency over.

At this point, the vet wanted me to observe her for an hour and then call if necessary.

I called work and told them I would be late. Then proceeded to sit within viewing distance of Izabel while reading.

She stared at me and I at her. But of course, she never moved.

She was shaking, like she was cold.

She just sat there with her tail underneath her. Looking at me. Shivering.

Poor thing.

I finally got up and petted her. I poured food in her bowl and she came around the corner. She was walking with a small limp. She seemed to be okay. I figured I would watch her over the next couple of days and see if I needed to take her in to the vet, but I felt she was fine.

Now, whenever she has to jump, no matter how short the jump is - she psyches herself out and misses every time. I am worried she will hurt herself while I am gone. Hell, I am worried she will hurt herself while I am here.

She is my baby. I have raised her since she was five weeks old. I can't imagine my life without her. Yes, she is crazy. Yes, she bites when scared or hurt or whatever. But she is mine and she needs me. And god help me, I love her with all my heart.

What are you reading??

I am currently reading Columbine by Dave Cullen and I really like it, but it is disturbing and heart breaking. At first the narration was very emotionless and didn't really pull me in, but once Cullen got the actual event, it all came together and just creates these incredible, hard-to-believe images. I just struggle with holding back tears along with the frustration and heart ache all must have felt.

Previously I read, Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, which I loved, but it was about death, dying and high school girls being mean. And I read it way too fast. It is a Teen Fiction book, but I am finding that many teen fiction books are really good. I just wish they weren't such easy reads.

Before that, I Am Number Four which was FANTABULOUS, but had all that paranormal stuff that freaks my mind when it is late at night. I loved how different it was and not just your standard science fiction or vampire star crossed lovers. I cannot wait til the next book!

And before that I read, Water For Elephants, which I truly believe will be the book of the year - plus they are coming out with the movie. HA! It was simply stunning and I was riveted.



But I am at a loss as to what to read now. I would like to get away from all the paranormal, science fiction and maybe read something happy, but I am totally open for suggestions. I'd really love to read a great biography.

What are you reading?

What book have you read in the past that was so fabulous and you couldn't put down.

Diagnosis: Mental

My baby, the cat that a friend dropped off at my house a decade ago, when she was only five weeks old. The cat that I taught to use the litterbox as a toilet, not a bed. The cat that I bottle fed for a few weeks. The cat that ran full blast around the bedroom, doing somersaults off the walls. The cat that sleeps on my neck like a scarf and takes naps in shoes with her chin resting on the heel. The cat who loves Froot Loops and likes to perch herself on my shoulder and lick the milk as the spoon comes to my mouth. The cat who used to wake me up and (meow) talk me whenever she was feeling needy.

This is the cat that has given me problems since day one. She started out with Conjunctivitis in her right eye and it swelled shut. The cat who has had teeth extracted. The cat who can't seem to hit the litterbox no matter if I set her in it. The cat who likes to not eat, then eat so fast she vomits it all right back up. The cat who has serious redirected aggression and will bite me at the flip of a switch.

This cat, my baby, was diagnosed with a sickness just the other day.

It is official.

Finally.

A vet has found out what is wrong with her.

After a decade of dealing with her.

She is ----

MENTAL.

And I quote, that is what the vet has said.

I can't help but laugh because my family has been secretly calling her Sybil for a long time.

To cope with her "sickness" I have started her on a holistic set of drops that are to help with her mental anxiety. It is like healthy prozac. If this doesn't work, we go for the good stuff.

So far though, she seems to be doing much better since I started the drops. Though giving her the drops are kind of a pain.

Imagine a maine coon (about a 15 lb cat) with long hair with the personality and strength of a LION. I get to wait til she is unaware - finally eyes closing, while laying on the couch and then I pounce on her with my entire body, drops in the right hand and holding her jaw still in the left. I then squeeze that damn little drop bottle til I can't squeeze any longer and then I let her go and run like hell.

You think I am joking??

Not in the least. I will have to try and get this on video. It's has to be a million dollar winner.

It's great because there are moments where she sits there completely calm and takes her drops and there are times she turns into a WWF wrestler.

I used to have to give her eye medicine and it was very similar. My 14 niece does a great SNL type of rendition of me doing so.

Wordless Wednesday - food

Wordless Wednesday