A little more bad news...

Well, my cousin's cancer has come back. It has been less than a year. This time the tumor is pressing against her urethra tube (the exit route for urine) and has pushed the urethra closed so she had to have stints put in her kidneys...

She is 78. She and mom have been closer than sisters since mom was a tiny toddler. They moved from TN to Ohio within a year of each other and have just always been there for each other.

Well the docs said she can do chemo again and they just don't know what will happen, or she can do nothing. If she does nothing, she has 2 to 4 months to live.

Mom is really hurting over this. My cousin has been in the hospital 8 times in the last year and a half. She was in there 21 days and was put in the day before or the day after dad went in for the last time.

She is tired and it is unclear which way she wants to go.

I want her to do what is best for her. I worry a great deal about mom. Her neighbor, Gladys, just turned 90 today, also has cancer and not much longer to live. Mom's other real close friend is in a nursing home and will be for the rest of her life.

Mom needs a shot of young healthy friends to ease the way. I cannot get her to go to senior center events and such and she doesn't have a large driving radius, so she cannot really go too many social places without someone to drive her.

I am worried about her. I am worried about my cousin Betty. I don't really think she is truly ready to be done with her life, but she is clearly tired.

Her husband is the sweetest guy. I don't know if he will make it alone. He just isn't the type. She is his love, his sweetheart since childhood.

I just want to be a kid again. Young parents, young family friends. Healthy and just struggling with other issues, not serious illness and death around every corner... I am not liking this aging thing at the moment.

Live life like you are dying...

Review your top 3 priorities in life. Can you name the 3 most important things in the world to you?

OK, off to a somber bed time...

Zoo and Bane

So, spent a zooriffic day today at the zoo with my friend Maria, my great niece Savannah and my mom. Maria's beloved, Christi, joined us at the zoo for the cheetah show and then had to get back to bringing home the bacon, no not Sir Francis Bacon, -the pig that was part of the cheetah show - (so named by Maria, btw), but the money bacon.

Well, it was one of those nice summer days. Overcast, cool and really no humidity.
The day was fabulous. Savannah, 7, was a delight. She behaved wonderfully and was very taken with Maria.

Now, Maria is about the nicest and smartest person I have ever known. In fact, she may be the nicest/smartest combo package. She has been going to the zoo for about 35 years and has been a volunteer for probably 15 to 20 years. She is used to taking kids on tours, working the info booths and knows many many people at the zoo. She is a walking encyclopedia.

Savannah was a walking ?, so it worked out well. Just as soon as Maria finished answering one question - in, I might add, the absolute perfect manner for a 7 year old, here came the next question.

Maria must be tired, just from that.

So Ms. S learned a great deal today. Got to feed a giraffe some special giraffe biscuits. Got to have Lorikeet birds crawl on her head and shoulders (as did all of us) while offering up cups of nectar. One apparently mistook my ear canal as some deep welled flower. Tickled at first, but then became a tad bit concerning... Several found my hair to be perfect material to try to pull - perhaps for their nests??? Maria's shirt was mistaken for a porta potty...

Anyway, wonderful day, including watching the cheetahs chase fake prey and make an amazing tight turn and still go in for the kill. We also got to see Tommy T - the 8 month old cheetah cub take his turn at catching the prey. He of course toyed with it after catching it... kids...

To see pics of Tommy, visit his blog. If you go back to November 2008, you can see him as a wee little cub.

So, the day was really wonderful. Then, we went back to Maria and Christi's place, had pizza, got to visit with Christi, got to see their 4 dogs and one of the 5 or 6 cats. After dinner S suggested a game of GO Fish, so we played and I won, whooo hoooo. Then Maria did some magic tricks for S and then S did some magic tricks for us.

Well, it was time to head home, so we dropped S off at her house. When we went to her backyard, her daddy came out of the barn in a pair of shorts and covered in transmission fluid, car grease and dirt. Trying to put a transmission in a vehicle and it wasn't going so smooth. Talk about your grease monkey! He was filthy!

S showed us how she could ride a bike without training wheels (since yesterday!!!), then we had to go home. I dropped mom off and came back to Kia Rio.

Jaz and Heljye waiting on the porch, happily anticipating dinner. Called for Ollie and he didn't show. Sometimes it takes him about 10 or 15 to transition from the hunt to coming inside. I fiddled around the house, and periodically called for him.

After 20 minutes and no show, I got a tad more serious about it. The wind was picking up and it was pretty strong. I got the dog whistle and the treat bag. Now it is 30 minutes.

Last time it took him this long to come when called, I ended up in the Impenetrable Forest with an extension ladder and the Ollievator at 2:30 am.

So, as you can imagine, I was not too happy. I actually have to get up in the morning and be at a part-time job (really PT - like 24 hours a month) so I was not keen on trying to figure out where he was stranded, but what can you do?

So, back in the house. Long pants, tall socks, boots, long sleeve shirt, bandanna, bug lotion, flashlight, dog whistle.

Here we go again.

I start with perimeter patrol. Now it is Friday night and I live on a state route, so there is traffic. There is also a bar out here in the countryside, and it is less than 1/2 mile away. It is about 9:30 or so, so folks are heading out all over the place. Lots of traffic noise to eclipse a weak cat mew in the IF.

I walk back and forth in the yard and hear nothing but loud animal movements (male deer are out there because you can see their markings on the barkless trees) so I am not totally keen on just plunging in. Never mind the raccoons and my neighbor telling me just yesterday that he killed a rat snake in his driveway.



So, after a few trips along the edge of the yard, I go out and walk on the side of the road, hoping not to find his body there. I walk up to the fence - in between cars, call his name and strain to hear a faint mew. Nothing.

I hear my name. It is Oneida, she is on her front porch with a cup of coffee, standing in the dark enjoying the cool summer night. I give her his description and she promises to keep an eye out. I ask about the status of her job interview. They called her twice to update her on when interviews would finish and when she should next expect to hear from them. I tell her THAT is a really good sign, they like you. She was pleased to hear it. Things are HARD here and they have 2 little kids.

So, back at the Ollie hunt. Back into the yard, flashlight to the porch hoping he is waiting there. Nothing doing.

I walk to the best opening spot to enter the IF. I pause, calling his name, flashing the light about to give notice I am in the hood. It is at this point that I think "this cat is the bane of my existence."

I am now in the IF. I am calling. I hear nothing. I move in about 7 feet, get still, call to him and listen. I move 7 more feet crossing over fallen branches and repeat. 7 more feet. Nothing. I hunch down and crawl under growth. repeat. Nothing. 7 more feet. A mew. I call, he mews I zig zag through the growth toward his mew. Squatting periodically.

I am thinking what a total bitch it is going to be to drag a damn ladder back here. Further in than last time. Damn, seems like he is closer to the neighbors house. Call, mew, flashlight around, move. repeat. Jeez, what is mom going to say when I call her at 10 pm and say I am coming for the extension ladder tonight. She nearly had me committed the last time. The biggest ladder I have here is 6 foot. Ok, when I get a steady source of cash, I MUST get an extension ladder. Call, mew, flashlight around, move.

Call. Mew is quite loud and sounds fairly low. Now I am perplexed.

He does not sound high enough to be afraid to come down. What could the problem be? Call, loud mew, flashlight - bingo - I get cat eyes. He is low to the ground. WTF??? I get closer he mews loud, I shine the light. The little fucker is standing on the ground mewing loudly. He is not up a tree, not trapped, not stuck, not being curled upon by black rat snake. Just standing there giving me his loud shrill mew. Not the same one that bolts me out of bed at 6 am, but the other one that demands attention.

Now I am perplexed. I pet him, he is happy. I turn around and begin the zig zag to get back out. I call, he sort of follows all the while with the shrill mew. I wonder. He is walking fine.

I get to the yard, he stands about 10 feet away and off to my left, still in the IF mewing loudly as though he is lost or calling a lost friend.

I call, he comes flying and runs up to the porch and stands by the door waiting to come in the front door with me. I open door, he goes to eat. Heljye jumps him at the food bowl, there is a scuffle. I put Heljye on a cat tree and pet him.

Ollie eats (I pat him down for signs of puncture or other wounds) then walks to his favorite spot in the hallway (world's shortest hallway) and plops down like he was just hanging round all damn day.

BANE.

bane:
killer, slayer b: poison c: death, destruction (the moles use this definition and so do I)

bane:
a source of harm or ruin : curse (we all use this one.)

So, Bane is now sitting in the window of the office, enjoying the cool breeze coming through the window screen and watching me type, then looking outside. Pretty as a magazine cover.

Bane.

I now feel icky ooey and buggie... covered in herbal bug repellent, spider webs and who knows what. Never mind the potential for a snake to drop off a tree at or on me.

So, um, to those people who need to scientifically "prove" that cats control their owners.

F you. Just get a damn cat and save all the research money and time. Please. Any cat person could tell you that while standing in line at the pet store with their umpteenth brand of cat food that the finicky little beasts turn their noses to.

Must bathe and pet Bane kitty nice nice before I go to bed.

Social & Business Marketing newbie

Well,

first off a shout out to Miwako!!!!!!!!

Hey girl! Thanks for the beautiful email. I will respond soon. Glad to hear about the new job and that my blog brightens your day!

So... Jaz is fine, and yes, Miwako, he is jumpy now. Jumps at every little thing since his run in with the racoon. Always was a bit jittery, but now he is down right jumpy.

Good boy though. Snoozing on the chaise lounge a few feet away.

Ollie is a prolific hunter. Managed to head him off at the pass a few days ago. I went to the window to read the fine print on the hard drive my Stubba Bubba sent for mom's pc (was trying to sort out that master and slave business) -well needing that light was a good thing, cause little Ollie was trotting across the yard with a snake in his mouth.

Well, you know I dropped that hard drive and bolted out the office through the living room and out onto the porch. Ollie was just coming up the steps with it.

I managed to slam the window down to close off the window mounted cat door at just about the time he deposited snake at my feet. eeeeeeeewwwww.

Well, I had the foresight to grab the broom on my way out of the house. So, knowing the snake would play dead for a few minutes, I snatched proud little Ollie up, kissed him and put his butt in the house.

Next, I swept that snake off into the side flower bed. It took a lot of sweeps to get it off and I did feel bad. It had to fall about 3.5 feet to hit the dirt.

It was hot as blue blazes that day and I again felt bad for the little f*er, so I made a shade shield for it. I figured it must be traumatized and just because I don't want the damn thing in my house does not mean it needs to be dead or hurt...

So, next I called Heljye and sweet boy came to me. Walked right by the snake, I held my breath, and he did not seem to see it. I snatched his butt up and took him inside.

Jaz was, well it is Jaz. He was sleeping on the bed. Snuggie stays so far gone that he is not much of an issue... so, the Rough Riders and Jaz stayed inside for a couple of hours to give snake time to slink off.

Then, yesterday, I found an animal that had made a valiant attempt to hide from 4 cats. Unfortunately it died as a result and that was NOT pretty, not pretty at all.

Damnable cats.


Well, I am trying to get it together to work as a consultant.

I am currently working for Sedi, helping her with marketing the airport shuttle...

A Greener Oakland-Marin Shuttle

I am learning to do internet based marketing. I am working on creating a linkedin account, a yelp account and a facebook fan page among other things.

I also discovered that the web designer did not put the correct info on her webpages to get search results to show her website... so working on getting that resolved quickly.

I am not really trying to work in marketing, but it is what she needs, benefits from the great insight of an anthropologist, and, it gives me a client name for my consulting work.

I believe we call that a win, win, win.

Ok, some lunch and back at the marketing work!

SF - OH Anniversary????

I really don't know, life was such a fog a year ago, but I think today or tomorrow might be the 1 year date for my arrival here in Dayton. Well, I got here around 12:30 or 1:00 am, and I just don't know what day it was. It could have been anywhere between June 25 and 30th...

Not really sure anniversary is what I would call it.

At any rate. I expected my life would be MUCH different than it is today.

C'est la vie.

My current obsession is vanilla bean ice cream with pure maple syrup. Sickening sweet, yes. Somehow in this horrid humid muck, it is satisfying.

In other news, I am dancing very close to trying to launch a coaching and consulting business here.

I am encouraged in this process by having been approached by the author of 2 leadership books (a connection I made as a result of posting a question in a org mgmt group on linkedin) as a possible person to conduct seminars and executive coaching for his second book, The Superperforming CEO. The problem with this was that he thought I was still in SF. Turns out he has somebody for the local marketplaces...and needs some folks in SF Bay Area.

But, his opening up the dialogue gave me a shot of confidence. I still have to deal with a local culture that is very short on leadership awareness and in general has a very punitive and liability minded approach to employees. I have been conducting informal research over the past 2 months with nearly every person I meet, regarding the life of an employee around here. It ain't good.

So, my challenge is to start finding folks that sorta get it and then build from there.

Tons of groundwork to do to mentally prepare for this.

In yet other news: Jaz is just fine. Couple of big scabs on his back, but he is good ole Jaz.

Ok, see some of ya out on FB.

18.6 Pounds

Well... I was hoping to avoid this most recent vet trip, but it did not work out that way.

My dear boy Jaz had a bite on his back - well more like upper hip.

I was kinda relieved because it seemed like it wasn't infected. But then, all his previous cat bites (3 of them...) got infected. This was a much bigger and more intense area affected, so... I was thinking raccoon. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing, but I thought it might not have the infection issue like you get with cat saliva.

Well this morning it was showing signs of infection. Luckily, my vet always has some same day appts available. This is my guess as to why a vet visit here is the same price as in Bay Area - good luck getting a same day appt there, which means a full patient load and solid income. I guess the folks here have to have higher prices to allow for the gaps every day. Given the extreme cost of living difference, you'd think it would cost less here even considering that...

Anyway. My adorable blue-eyed boy weighed in at 18.6 pounds. I was petrified.

That is horrid. I figured he might have hit 16.5. but 18.6???

Ok, it is true he is a big framed cat, but still.

She (young, kinda cute vet) said he really should be about 14 pounds for an ideal weight. She mentioned supercalifragilisticexpialidotious - well, it was kinda like that which was basically when the liver gets "consumed" due to high fat content. bad news.

Jaz isn't there, he is healthy, but shit. Not going there.

A few weeks ago I bought him weight mgmt food and he likes it, so I am gradually incorporating it in his diet.

They are all about to transition to a set am and pm feeding schedule and no more free feeding. The Rough Riders are big enough now that they can deal with it.

I may be irritated to death by 3 cats mewing all day wanting to munch. I had BETTER get a daggone job, or I will go nuts!

Anyway, she felt confident it was a coon bite. I find that interesting since he spends the least amount of time outside of all 4 cats. Anyway, his rabies are up to date, so no worries there. It is a big area and the puncture wounds were good sized holes.

All right.

Cats cats cats.

Crazy cat lady signing off!

11 months and 2 weeks - it is official

I wanna go home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


well, as I am standing around the dining room, broom in one hand, flashlight in the other, front door standing wide open, I am sweating like nobodies business... just waiting for that slithering slitherin to come outta there.

Now, part of me thinks, hey get a cat, but then I can envision the Lucy-esk helter skelter that will likely ensue, so I pray they stay outside.

Now, I have a choice, keep the lights on - it is 9pm folks - or turn them out.

Keep them on - this means I can SEE slitherin, but it also means a housefull of bugs, mosquitos, flies, moths, millers, you name it, they are all out there just waiting for an oppty...

Turn the lights out - not so many bugs in the house, but that means me and slitherin are in the house together in the twilight.

Well, dumbass decided that maybe a piece of cardboard at an angle would encourage the bastard to slither up it and I could broom it out the door.

OK, I really have to stop skipping lunch, clearly my cognitive function is suffering from it.

So, after I slammed around the house finding things to cover all the vents and cold air returns, they are all covered, some with plywood, some with plastic grocery bags, some with peel backed vinyl tile squares meant for under the kitchen sink, well, now it is just slitherin in that duct and me.

So, the bastard hides behind the cardboard which puts him right next to the duct work that leads to all the other vents in the house. Well, I don't have to tell you he went for the long dark tunnel.

Now, I just read that snakes can stay alive for months in a duct system.

GREAT.

I repeat.

I wanna go home!

2 cats hanging at the hvac vent in the dining room =

one freakin SNAKE...

ok, what the F*ing hell do I do?????

anybody???

man, man, man, do I ever miss the urban life.

although, yesterday while I was strapped to the pc all day, I was able to look out the office window, whilst sipping blackberry lemonade and watch my unmentionables gently sway, drying in the humid breeze...

but, now there is the snake...