Friday Morning and All is Well...

Meet George.

 

George is my 11-year-old Snowshoe Siamese Cat.  He is the most laid-back, mellow kitty you will ever see.  There are only 2 things that excite him:

1.  An empty food bowl.  This is cause for alarm and immediate action!  No matter the time he will hunt you down and behave erratically until you clue in that he has no food.  Now, George is a tad overweight...and don't say FAT because that will hurt his feelings!  So he wouldn't exactly starve to death were he to miss a meal or two.  In his eyes however an empty food bowl is a TRAGEDY.

2.  Other animals getting into trouble.  He loves it.  It's better than being brushed, eating or any other exciting thing in his life.  The second he hears a scuffle, a reprimand, or a scolding going on he IS THERE.  Usually he'll hop up on something and then flop down, casually peering over the edge so you think he was there all along.  He doesn't want you to know he just appeared in time for the show.  If he could smirk or smile he would.  He knows he is pretty much exempt from getting into trouble, based on age and longevity in our house alone.  Besides that, if you are so laid back, how do you ever get riled up enough to get into trouble anyway?

he has been a part of our lives since we moved to alberta 10 years ago and now for the last year back here in n.b.  imagine my horror to discover an enormous sore on his neck that seemingly came out of nowhere earlier this week!!

It first appeared as a smallish clump of fur and skin matter; perhaps a small injury occurring during a scrap with our other cat - who HAS CLAWS!!  In the space of 2 days however this spot grew to enormous proportions and then George did a horrible thing...

HE STOPPED EATING

Oh, that felt like the kiss of death! Without a moment to lose, I rushed him to the Vet.  Thankfully it is a skin infection and it was caught before it became very serious.  This patch on him is termed "a hot spot" on a dog....however it doesn't normally spread as fast as it did on our kitty.  Any nick, big or tiny, can let bacteria in and depending on the animal and its immune system, the infection can be slow and mild or fast and scary, as with George.

A cleaning, some ointment and a run of antibiotics were the order of the day.  George took everything in stride and just kind of flopped on the table and let the Vet do her thing.

 

He is feeling so much better today and is much more like his regular self!  I am sparing you the grisly sight of such an ugly area on such a beautiful cat.  All of us (yes, including you rotten-good-for.....dogs) are relieved and happy to have our old boy back.

Here's to many more happy, relaxed and illness-free years buddy.

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As if that weren't enough for one week my daughter gave herself quite a scare earlier this week.  As you know she belongs to the theatre technical crew at her high school.  On Monday (yes, EASTER Monday) the crew was out in full force, painting props and doing other tasks for the upcoming play on site at the school.

My fearless daughter was at the top of a ladder...not exactly sure if she was painting or what... but she fell off.  At the precise same moment her teacher told her to come down as she was too high!! Nothing like perfect timing.  She fell about 6 or 7 feet.  Her toe got a bit smushed up so on Tuesday we went to our local outpatient ER to make sure it wasn't broken.  I snuck a peek at her xray... such cute toe bones!  All in one piece though, I am happy to report.  So, aside from some bruises and sore muscles (and toe) she is in good form. 

Tonight I join her at her school, for a fundraiser the tech crew is holding.  They are showing a movie in the school theatre, complete with popcorn and cotton candy!  For $5 you and your loved ones can enjoy a theatre experience of seeing "National Treasure:  Book of Secrets" and support a good cause.

Oh ~ me?  Heh heh heh.... I'm security.  Don't worry.  I make sure yer leetle ones behave.  Hands to themselves, no hanky-panky or loud noises allowed.  Loving daughter has requested we be assigned different areas of the theatre so we don't argue.  Gosh....argue?  We never do that!  One of the grade 12 teckies thought it might be even more fun than the movie to put her and I together and see what sparks fly..... seriously though, I have to behave.  She doesn't want me to embarrass her.  *sigh* No fun for this Mum. 

She does plan to take me on a tour, to expressly show me the evil ladder that booted her off.  A righteous dignity and an unforgivable offence in her mind.  And look ~ I thought the school was KIDDING when it sent home the health insurance coverage information when she first started this job!!

 

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Hey - don't go!  I'm not done ~ the week isn't finished YET....next I'm going to whine about the weather again since winter came back.  Not that it ever left....but it has been 7 weeks since that nasty, rotten, little groundhog saw its shadow.  Math could not have been its strong suit because it said 6 weeks more of winter...not 7...not 8, do you hear me you wretched little animal??

 

Granted we do not have this much snow anymore but we're getting the big, wet flakes!  The kind that sticks to everything and makes it seem so dull and grey out there.  Hey, give it a REST already!  We get it - this was a fallback to old winters and YES, we have suffered enough, thank you very much!  Now I want to see some of those buds and daffodils that are popping up on blogs from warmer places!

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That is STILL not all folks!!  Son is sick again.  NO school on Monday, came home sick yesterday and is off today.  He still sleeps as I write this.  The flu has hit the area and the seniors homes have been locking their doors to visitors off and on for the past month or two, to keep the germs from spreading.  Whatever son has, as much as I love him....please keep it to yourself!  My week has been hard enough without adding anything more to it!

I am looking forward to what is hopefully, going to be a relaxing weekend.  Somehow in the past few weeks I did manage to read a couple of Jane Austen books, for you book lovers out there.  My favourite is still "Persuasion".  Has anyone else noticed that Jane's characters seem to be quiet types?  That they get pushed around and looked down upon?  A reflection on what type of women stayed single perhaps?  Although in Pride and Prejudice the main character isn't shy or retiring at all....never mind, ok, only some of her characters are the quiet types!  I have a few more to go before I look at all of them and decide which are my favourites and why.  What a shame Jane's life was cut short by illness.  Who knows what further works she could have produced with advancing wisdom and experience if she had lived longer?

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Another Birthday snuck through!

My nephew turned 14.  He is part of the "second pack" of grandkids, as I call them.  My daughter starts the second group, with her birthday on 26 Feb.  Then comes this cousin, followed by 2 more boy cousins, in June and July respectively.  Starting in the fall, 3 of this pack will be attending the same high school.  All I can say....is knowing this lot..... the high school has NO CLUE about what is about to hit it!

This birthday boy is quite a character.  He loves to joke and kid around.  You just never quite know what he is going to do or say next.

He is an active teen and enjoys playing hockey.  I had the privilege of watching him play a game and as any good auntie does... I got very vocal in cheering him on!

Here is the birthday boy with my daughter - and George! - looking at her like she is CRAZY.

It is amazing how fast these people are growing!  I remember when these 2 first met when they were about 5 months old.  Two babies eyeballing each other curiously.  Nephew was a BIG baby - my SIL had HUGE babies, while I thought my daughter was huge at 9lb 4oz!!  As you can see, birthweight does NOT predict later size!. I know these 2 are checking to see who might be taller....depends on those genes, kids.  There are tall people on all sides of the families ~ it's all about how they got distributed!

 It can be a challenge catching my nephew long enough to get a picture of him!  He is always busy doing something. 

So happy belated birthday (it was last weekend) and we are happy to be around to watch you grow.  Even if you don't remember to call me "Aunt".  Or hassle me when I insist that you do!  It is an honour for me to be your Aunt, and I want the title so others recognize I'm related to a great person like you.  Although once you start high school next year, all bets are off.... you can advertise being related to your cousins but we'll have to rethink the auntie thing then.... your mischievous nature... propensity for stirring the pot here and there....ha ha, just kidding.... I think!

Many very happy returns of your birthday ~ Love your Uncle, Aunt and cousins