This old chair and other stuff

It's the "post Kitty" era, and Paul and I have been washing and cleaning in our bedroom. That was home base for Samantha - our cat of 19 years who went to kitty heaven last weekend. Our room was hairball central. It's amazing how much fur a short-haired cat can shed over the course of time. I'm not Holly Homemaker, but do run the vacuum periodically.

Kitty spent time under and on our bed, and on my mom's old chair. I've had the chair for over ten years - since dad's second wife Pat (we called her P2 since Mom was also named Pat) decided to re-decorate their Atlantic condo, and for some strange reason Mom's chair wasn't part of the plan. Dad's chair was too far gone to save - a smokey blue wing back recliner.

We started to vacuum, and noticed dampness, stains, rips - it had to go.

Mom's chair - complete with ottoman, is a comfy wing back. I love that chair. Sitting in it is like a little hug from Mom. It didn't go with our living room colors (orangish/cream), so I put it in the bedroom. The ottoman has served well as a step stool for the pets to get onto the bed, which is high for their little legs. The chair has been great for reading, even work, or when others take over the living room for watching the Packers.

While cleaning yesterday we made the decision. The chair has to go. Tough decision to make, but stains and the faded, torn covering helped. Three pets and 30 years have taken their toll. We'll keep the ottoman for now - until we find something else. Hate to do it, but gotta. Stinky!

And I still have Mom's blue suede bell bottoms and cardigan!

Other stuff:

• You may recall my blog about my elbow surgery and the tumor the surgeon discovered in there. Jokingly I said the tumor was my twin Imelda - the shoe lover, and that I'd lost my lust for shoes upon removal. Take heart all ye! I've recovered a bit. (Hopefully without any foreign objects growing inside me).

My foot is on the dash of Paul's car. I know the socks are nerdy - so am I.

• Found these cute slip ons at Marshall's.  Our office is so chilly with the AC on, sandals are not going to be possible for a while (my body temp runs at about 97.6 degrees, and I'm always cold, especially my feet!) - so I need something to wear with skinny jeans and cropped pants.
• Quiet weekend in Creston with the Gsmiths. Odie had shots at the vet Friday. yesterday she was either feeling poorly from that or down in the dumps, missing her kitty sis. Me too.
• Saw these at Seed on my walk during lunch at work this week. This store is on Grand in the East Village. That store always makes me wish I had a green thumb. Alas - I don't. Pablo did put plants in pots (his thumb is greenish) on our front porch this weekend - from photos I took of ones I liked in Decorah. So I do take credit for good plant taste...

Welded birds and plants at Seed are springy!

Our Kitty 1994-2012

Samantha the Panther

She saw me through my maturing years. And now she's gone. I just spoke with Amy on the phone to tell her the news - we both cried. I told Jud yesterday. She was their kitty sister.

Samantha (a/k/a Pooncy, and mostly Kitty) Goldsmith passed away yesterday at Creston Vet Clinic. She'll be cremated and scattered at the Pet Cemetery in DSM. Paul and I were there as our longtime vet, Richard Brus gave her the shot to render her unconscious for the next part of the humane "putting to sleep" routine. I gave her one last kiss and we left. I shed a few tears, just like I did when I called and talked to Mindy, the vet tech to make the appointment. Our cat had been slipping health wise and when we returned to town Friday, we found her totally blind. It was time.

As you can tell from her birth year, Kitty was old - we figure 19 years (I know the math doesn't make sense - but we thought she was 18 last year...) at her passing. (I was only 36 when we got her - a mere child!) Samantha was Amy's  9th birthday present - but she was already 6th months old by then. You see, Amy ever the softee, really wanted a kitten - but decided to adopt this beautiful black stray (with 4 white paws and a white beard) from the vet clinic. (This after a disastrous attempt at a kitten adoption when we discovered we had a boy kitty instead of the girl she wanted).

Samantha, was never a greatly affectionate cat. I believe that was due to her being mistreated as a kitten. Prior to our adoption, she lived in a cage at the vet clinic for several weeks. But she tolerated us quite well! And for some cats - that's saying a lot. Kitty was supremely mellow when compared to my first cat Bucko (RIP 1980-1993), who used to spring off my back and onto the shelf of my closet when I leaned over to put on my shoes.

Kitty left, Odie right - me in the middle

Samantha also got along quite well with our dogs. Most recently, she was queen over Odie, except when genetics took over and Odie chased her like the rodent hunter she is. If Odie was on my lap and Kitty decided that's where she wished to be - by golly, Kitty just walked on Odie and the dog skedaddled! The pecking order was set.

When we first moved to our present home, Kitty checked the whole thing out, pausing to hiss at herself in a mirror under the stairs. She also loved to sit by the back door waiting for a visit from the neighbor's cat, so she could pitch a fit.

Paul has been a trouper through the years, taking on the brunt of her care - food/poop scooping. Until recently she hasn't been to the vet for years - because she bit the vet, even when he tried to utilize a Plexiglas box to give her a shot. I guess she remembered those months of confinement as a stray...

When Kitty was much younger, she used to jump up on top of the cabinets in the kitchen (before our remodel made the cupboards taller), and lean on a stuffed wiener dog (before we got Odie) observing us safely from above when we entertained. Oh - she never liked any people but our family. She always knew the kids right away, even after they moved away.

It was always surprising when she would allow strangers to pet her. In her "golden" years she began staying on my footstool when friends would visit. If we were out of town, cat sitters rarely caught sight of her - and she would hiss at them if they did.

About a month ago she decided she needed a drink of my ice water...

When Paul and I returned from trips, Kitty made sure to let us know how angry she was at us - knocking over things on our dresser or tipping water glasses (or drink from them) over on my bed stand. She would often meow during the night the past couple years and walk on my head. Love those pets! She and Odie both slept with us at night. And oh those night I awoke to...if you're a cat owner you know the noise. Hairball! I'm pretty good at scampering out of bed to rush the cat to the tiled floor. (That I will not miss, along with the shedding)

I didn't sleep well last night - and today I keep thinking I see her sleek dark figure in the corner of my eye. After 19 years, I miss the old girl. Having pets is bittersweet - the end is so tough. Samantha you gave us many years of purring, companionship and stories.

We thank you! See you in the next life.

The Adventure Begins

We leave for DSM today as Pablo the Poolboy starts his new Pool job tomorrow. No, it's not really a pool cleaning gig. But we're going on Sunday, because just like when I started at my DNR job, that first day - one wants to arrive on time, bright and shiny.

Our loft won't be available for a couple weeks. So we're living out of suitcases in motels until then. Marriott this week, Embassy Suites next - decent places at least. I get to travel to Spencer and stay in the AmericInn Wednesday though, for work. Yeehaa.

We've called the neighbors to let them know to watch our home. Plus we have the Kimster cat and house-sitting. If you are a robber, consider stealing our 18 year-old kitty, or other old things. Think again. She will hurt you. Odie will be at Lila's for this time. It's Odie's birthday on the 26th - she'll be 7! We'll have to celebrate on the weekend. I'll pick her up something fun

The next two weeks will be a transition to our new temp life. Change is good. Bring it on!

Sick cat

The kitty is congested again - poor thing. She's been like this the past couple years - every few months it gets bad enough that I take her into the vet for a shot of antibiotics. Last night when I got home from DSM, she had a crusty nose. This morning she sneezed in my face. It was time for the vet!

I called early and lucky for me I could get in right away - the joys of a small town. I put her into the small pet carrier and away we went. The tech weighed her right in the carrier - she's down to 6.8 pounds. A few years ago, she weighed 10. Scrawny old thing. Kitty got her shot, and Doc Bruce told me he detected a heart murmur.

On the short drive back home, I found my mind wandering. So much so that I nearly drove through the  red light near the YMCA. For some reason I had suddenly pictured myself as one of those old ladie who pushed their cats around in a cart outdoors. Wacky. It could be me someday..the cat will be 38.

Ridin' solo

And I don't like it. For one thing - being home alone is lonely. No offense Kitty and Odie. You keep me warm at night, but you're not much for conversation. And keeping the house running? Over-rated!

Today, I realized I hadn't checked the kitty litter and food since I'd gotten home. I know! How awful of me! I used to always be the one in charge of all pet activities and food/output. Until I got pregnant that first time and read about the parasite cat poop can carry - causing toxoplasmosis. I jumped right on that! And Pablo took over cat scooping duties and has carried them out admirably ever since - some 26+ years. And I'm not even of child-bearing age any more (I think he knows I no longer have a uterus).

Suddenly this morning it hit me - I bet the cat didn't stop pooping, just since Paul left. Sure enough, she didn't! There was a nice little mess on the floor to clean up. Kitty does not like dirty litter.  I guess I don't blame her. I decided the litter area needed the once over before the cat-care providers (the neighbors the Taylors) come tomorrow. so I got out the shop-vac and the mop this afternoon after church. Now the place looks spic and span again. Kitty should be pleased.

The Kitty

The kitty is getting really weak back legs. At least yesterday they were weak. When she jumped off the stool suddenly, she collapsed. And she was pretty wobbly otherwise the rest of the day.

I'm worried about her. She is 17 you know. I read on the Internet that weak back legs can be a sign of lots of things - one being chronic renal failure. She drinks lots of water - another sign.

One good thing is she's not feeling any pain. So we've got that going for us!

This is the bad part of owning a pet. A couple weeks ago She was was laying on the bed and I thought perhaps she was dead. But no...just sleeping very soundly. She's pretty deaf! Sometimes I wish she would just slip away - so I wouldn't have to make that call...

In the long run, pets are worth it. But the end-of-life decision is a gut-wrencher.

Pet synergy

I really think the word synergy is pretty hokie. It's a phrase I hear in meetings now days. I don't think anyone really knows what it means, we just use it cuz it sounds like it would be good. Maybe it's a combination of sin and energy...hmmm.

I worked at home today and with pets Odie Pearl and Kitty (Samantha). They provided great synergy. I got a lot done.

The pets didn't bother me by talking loudly in the next cubicle. They didn't make snot noises or clear their throats over and over. I did hear a little snoring though. They usually cluster around me - especially when it's storming like it was today. Odie doesn't like thunder.

But the pets didn't bring treats like someone did at our office yesterday - some kind of bars with cream cheese frosting. Yum. So there are benefits of working with other people. Plus I still have a lot to learn about my job from others who have been doing this stuff for a while. So I don't think it would be good to work at home all the time.

But today - the pets and I were digging it!