No Business Naming Things

Tonight I was treated to an AWESOME belated birthday gift by the incredibly talented Erika Doyon at Living Colour - a portrait tattoo of my Pretty Princess, Crabby Abby! It turned out absolutely AMAZING. Erika took this photo just before she wrapped me up. It’s going to be sore tomorrow, but boy is it worth it. I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. Endorphins are running out, so I should probably get to bed while I still have the ability to do so.

Eeee!

We brought Abby to the vet today fearing that she may not make the trip home. She had an infection a few weeks back and since then she’s deteriorated. She’s stumbling more than she used to, she’s not as gregarious, and most telling of all: she’s started peeing well outside of her box. The vet gave her a thorough lookover and figures she’s basically healthy with the exception of her arthritis. It’s getting progressively worse, which is why she’s been peeing on the floor - it’s simply too difficult for her to get into the boxes. Armed with this information she’s going on a new pain medication regimen involving morphine, increased MediCam dosage, and a new anti-inflamatory. We also have a new catbox for her upstairs (so she doesn’t have to take the trek down the steps). In addition to this she’ll be be getting a cartilage builder supplement. She now takes more medication than I do. But at least she’s coming home and should be okay for awhile longer. I am starting to feel guilty for prolonging her pain but the vet insists that she’s still okay otherwise. If we can manage the pain we’ll have managed all of her problems. I want to believe he’s right and I will entrust that he is but I can’t help but feel like a selfish asshole for keeping her around. Her and I have bonded to an absurd degree and the idea of losing her keeps me crying like a baby. I know it’ll be sooner rather than later… but it wont be today.

With the help of some family I was able to clear the snow off of the house. This involved soaking my arms up to the elbows in ice cold water in the gutters, but it was done. After coming in and getting my snow clothes off Jack decided to use me as furniture. He’s very warm, so I was happy to oblige.

The boys have the right idea today…

The boys are splayed out on their backs not more than a foot and a half from the fireplace this evening.  I swear that given the chance they’d crawl inside and sleep on the logs as they burned.

We are dog watching this weekend. After work today I walked to retrieve the dog in question and walk her home and I immediate invoked my nascent Caesar-foo. I didn’t leave the house until she was calm and I corrected her whenever she tried to drag me along (every 2 seconds), stopping whenever she became impervious to the correction. It took us about twice as long as it could have to get home but in the end I think it was worth it. By the time we reached the front door she was pretty submissive. When I insisted that I go into the house before her she readily agreed.

And then things went sour. The cats caught sight of her. The boys, chickens that they are, raced downstairs like their asses were on fire. Surprisingly, Abby stood her ground. Not only did she stand her ground, but as I shucked my winter coat she brazenly came forward. I didn’t even notice her stalking us as I got the dog into the kitchen to be cleaned off. I turned around to find her mid pounce. If I had been half a second later the dog would be wearing Abby for a hat right now.

Tensions have subsided but Abby insists on giving the dog the stink eye from a few feets distance.

This isn’t ideal, obviously. Lexy and I are going with some friends to see Bellydance Superstars this evening in Hull which means the dog will be crated for a few hours more than we’d like. Hopefully Abby doesn’t figure out the crate and murder her while we’re gone.

I’m working from home today in celebration/condemnation of the first serious snow of the year - we’re going to walk away with 20cm of it or so in the end.

I’m getting a lot done but certain individuals are trying their best to put an end to that.  These individuals, who have four legs and like to sleep on my laptop, haven’t left me alone for one minute.  I have one pinning down each arm at the moment in fact.  I have to wonder what these cats do when we’re not here.  I somehow doubt they sleep on one another like this…