So here's the deal...

I look for patterns in things -- what's the next number in the sequence, how are the tiles laid out on the floor, how many steps to get from here to there, etc. A couple of days ago, it occurred to me that it was possible to make my 200th post, my 1-year blogaversary AND my birthday to align. I'd only have to post a little more than once a day to make it happen.

So, you know I have to try. I'll apologize now for the boredom that is sure to follow ;) Hey, maybe I'll photograph all my UFOs/WIPs and post one each day... at least there'd be pictures. Hmmm...

On a happier note, George's bloodwork was all normal. Just one more test for basic kidney function to rule out super early-stage renal issues, then he's in the clear. Lucky him -- that means a new low-calorie, high-fiber diet to encourage weight loss!

One last thing... new season of Project Runway starts next week. Are you up for the challenge?

George

... has been under the weather. We went to the vet today, where they drew blood (yes, there's a theme for the day!). I was sure it was his blood sugar, given his symptoms and behavior, but that's normal. The doc will call tomorrow... next most-likely issues are thyroid and kidney. Given that he continues to gain weight (23.75 pounds today), thyroid makes sense. I guess we'll see. (This is an old pic, but one of the few where there's enough contrast to see his face!)

The Jerk

Image by David Cowles, who is a fantastic illustrator in Rochester, NY. This is from his kids portfolio -- it just seemed apropos in my life ;) Shown here only for my own amusement, of course.

This week's adventure

Tuesday, George-the-cat was desperate for cat food. I had already determined that the grocery store doesn't carry his food. I know, there's no rule that he has to eat IAMS weight control, but I was reluctant to choose something else given his recent hunger strike. A little web searching revealed a PetSmart about 10 miles from my apartment. No big deal, right? Wrong. 45 minutes and a splitting headache later, I was home with a 20-pound bag of cat food. Where I'm going to store all this food, I have no idea, but I'm definitely in no hurry to go back out for a fresh supply!

Think of your typical street on which the usual assortment of retailers, restaurants and "big box" stores are located. It's probably 4 lanes, plus a center turn lane... I was prepared for that. I was not prepared for 6 lanes, divided not by a traditional median, but by a wide median upon which more restaurants and retail stores were located.

Traveling east, I could only see things on the south side of the road, and in the middle. Coming back west, I could only see things on the north side, and in the middle. How is anyone supposed to FIND anything that way?! I hope this particular street is an anomaly... I can't imagine the shipping cost to order cat food online ;) Wait, I went to check... a 20-lb bag is $28.49 online; ground shipping is estimated at $15.19. Hah. Wonder who orders that?

Cute story about George-the-Cat

I *so* wish my mom or I had thought to take a picture of this, because it was just too cute! Alas, no mug shot of handsome George :-(

So we got to Jersey about a week and a half ago, on a Friday afternoon. I got the keys to my apartment, and we brought in some stuff from our cars, including George-the-Cat. The movers were coming Saturday morning, so we planned for the people to stay in a hotel and the cat to stay at the apartment. Although I've smuggled a cat into many a hotel room over the years when moving, we all knew there was no way that would work with this big boy!

Now, let's pretend that my parents and I easily found a place to stay (and that we weren't lost in the dark and rain), and fast-forward to Saturday morning. We got here before the movers (a good plan!) and thought we'd go ahead and transfer George to the bathroom for the morning. But I couldn't find him. Remember this is an 800 square foot, one bedroom apartment. The walls, doors and cabinets are all painted white, and the floor is light hardwood. George, you'll recall, is completely black.

We opened all the closet and cupboard doors, and I was starting to panic. I was sure he must have made such a racket that someone came and took him away in response to complaints from the neighbors! Finally, I happened to look UP in the kitchen, to see him curled up on top of the cabinets above the refrigerator.

Are you KIDDING me? My 22-pound cat is above my head. There's an excellent plan, no? He must have jumped onto the stove top, then the top of the fridge, and from there, it was barely a stretch to be on top the cabinets. (In my house, the kitchen cabinets go all the way to the ceiling -- here, there's probably a 12" gap.) Apparently he felt safe there, so we decided to leave him there as long as he didn't want to get down. He stayed during the entire time the movers were in and out (almost three hours), and ambled down to ground level shortly after they left. Goofball.

When my mom unpacked my kitchen (thanks, mom!), she put some stuff on top the cabinets and the fridge to discourage such behavior in the future. Fingers crossed... he seems to be happy napping in the cabinet under the kitchen sink, so I guess I'll just remove the cleaning products to another location and move on!

Update on George -- and a Winter Warning

George-the-cat is basically fine -- his hunger strike seems to be driven by anxiety. He's still not eating as much as normal, but he's eating some and he's definitely "himself."

That said, my aunt's cat Amos -- who is even bigger than George, and is indoor-outdoor -- ALSO quit eating. My aunt took him to the vet, where they did the same lab tests, but with a more conclusive (and unfortunate) result. Amos has pancreatitis, and he's not doing terribly well. Her vet has seen several cases of it in cats recently, and says it is caused by the cat licking shoes or lapping up snow melt from shoes or boots or shovels or whatever has come in contact with road salt and ice melt products.

I encourage you to be aware of this if you have cats yourself.

It's going to be a long four weeks...

At least :)

• George is eating a little -- not his usual amount, but his personality is back in full force, so I'm much less worried. The vet gave us an appetite stimulant on Saturday, and he actually ate quite a bit last night. I can't believe he didn't want the chicken I made him for dinner, but he's still picking at the (nasty) canned food. He's still overly skittish, which isn't really a problem as long as I remember not to drop things!
  
• I've spent a LOT of time in the sewing room this weekend... not sewing, but packing. Sigh. I'm down to mostly odds and ends. I'd like to get that wrapped up tonight if I can so I can fold up the tables and make room to take down the peg board and the design wall. That should be an easy evening project one night this week (I hope -- just have to ask dad how to get at the nails in the peg board. I'm sure we screwed the spacer strips to the wall, so that's no problem... or so I say right now!)
• If I don't call moving companies tomorrow, I'll probably have to carry all these boxes to NJ myself! And that will not be fun.
• In between the vet appointments on Friday, I went to the doctor myself... the sinus infection I had in January didn't completely go away, and it's back in full force this week. He prescribed three weeks of a different antibiotic, which hopefully will do the trick. I'm allergic to so many of them that I won't take them unless I REALLY need them...
  

On a completely different note: have you ever had Sparkling Shiraz? Someone gave me a bottle, and I'm not sure if it's a parting gift or a parting salvo! Apparently they're relatively popular in Australia... I found these notes, but would love to hear your experience

He ate...

Not a lot, but he did eat last night -- some of the canned food the vet gave us. He turned his nose up at it again this morning, but I'm definitely less worried today... right now he's sitting in one of his favorite spots in the living room (on the arm of the sofa, looking out the window), and he's been on my lap and running around a bit -- more like his usual self. I suspect the sub-q fluids yesterday (he was a little dehydrated) made a big difference, and maybe the antacid.

Does YOUR cat weigh 22 pounds?

Mine does. YIKES. George-the-cat is in serious need of Jenny Craig! (He's so handsome, but very hard to photograph since he's all black, except for a tiny white patch on his throat and about a dozen white hairs under one arm.)

Anyway. We had an emergency vet visit today because George hasn't eaten anything since Wednesday. I'm pretty sure it's anxiety related -- I brought home a whole bunch of boxes and papers that morning in preparation for packing, and he's been in a snit ever since.

They had to sedate him in order to get an x-ray, but fortunately, it seems clear. They also drew blood for the usual panel, and will call with results on Saturday. In the meantime, I'm to encourage him to eat anything, healthy or not, cat food or not. The first temptation was a bust, and he's probably gone back to the nest he made in the guest room closet. I'll try again after a bit, maybe with something else.

Please think calming, but appetite-stimulating, thoughts for George!

Pet Peeve (literally!)

Why, oh why, my dear George, is my presence required in the kitchen while you partake of your evening meal? Once your head is in the breakfast bowl, I think a truck could drive through the house and you wouldn't come up for air. Is breakfast that much more delicious than dinner? (Should I mention that the food is the same -- it comes from the same bag, is measured with the same measuring cup, and is dumped into the same bowl?)

But dinner, now that's an entirely different proposition. You greet me at the door, howl for food, and then, almost daily, can't decide if you should eat dinner or sit in your favorite window which I've opened upon my arrival. When you do choose food, you can't seem to focus on the meal and keep wandering back to me. When I go to the kitchen in search of my dinner, you're crying again. You'll only eat quietly when I'm standing in the room. My dear one, why is this? Why the crying and moaning and carrying on, day after day after day? Please, please -- could you get just a touch of laryngitis for a couple of days?!