On Sunday, Mike and I took part in the early voting offered here in Wake County. We found a location nearby (Cary Towne Centre mall) and arrived at 3:25 to find what seemed to be a long line. However, the process was extremely well-organized and it only took us about 35 minutes before we were finished.
Even though we knew who we wanted for the Presidential race, we spent quite a bit of time researching local candidates and creating cheat sheets to take with us. It was a lot of work but in the end I felt like I made more informed decisions in years past. I didn't just vote straight party ticket. And I also took the time to make actual choices for the judges instead of just voting randomly based on names.
A lot of states have very close races, including North Carolina so it's good to feel like my vote might actually count this year. So, whether you can vote early or you have to wait until November 4th, make sure you get out and vote!
Vote for the man who promises least; he'll be the least disappointing. -Bernard M. Baruch
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
A General Update (Kitty Included)
I haven't been blogging very regularly but thought I'd just do a general update about what's going on in my life right now. Don't get too excited, it's not much. Also, an update on kitties.
We'll start with the kitties. A week ago, Mike took Tasha to the vet for her sneezing and slight congestion. She was cooperative, which is odd for her. I think they gave her a shot of some sort and sent her home with a one-a-day antibiotic pill. That day, she ate about half her usual amount.
Tuesday, she ate about 1 oz of wet food but nothing else and she sounded very congested. Concerned that she wasn't eating, I took her back to the vet on Wednesday. Again, she was mostly cooperative. They gave her a shot of benadryl, loaded her up with fluids, and prescribed a twice daily antihistamine pill.
Thursday, she still wouldn't eat. Friday morning, the vet's office said to bring her in and drop her off. The plan was to leave her the entire day for observation and bloodwork. They also said they'd give her a shot of valium which would cause her to immediately start eating. Instead, I got a call at 11:30 saying Tasha was so spazzed they couldn't touch her and she needed to go home to settle down. They weren't able to get the valium in the vein (just the muscle) but still felt it would be effective once she calmed down. They also gave her a shot of anti-inflammatory.
Friday, she still didn't eat. So Saturday morning, back to the vet for the 4th time in 6 days. This time Mike and I stayed with her. Also, it was the other doctor. She was able to get the valium in the vein and though it took longer than expected, Tasha did finally start eating some chicken baby food. After that, she got more fluids and we were sent home with eye drops.
Since then, we've made steady progress. Saturday night, I held her and Mike had to actually put the food on her tongue, shoving it in her mouth. Unpleasant but we were willing to do it to get her to eat. Yesterday, she finally realized it was easier to lick it off his fingers on her own. By this morning, her congestion has lessened and she is eating wet cat food (instead of human baby food) and really perking up.
So, that's a long kitty update. Ripley's health now seems fine but definitely acting up because he's jealous of the special attention Tasha has received.
In other news...
Now that I think of it, there really isn't any other news. We've been spending most of our time dealing with sick cats.
I've been insanely lazy about the gym and really need to get back. Tonight and tomorrow are both free so I'll try to do at least one.
Work has been keeping Mike really busy. Maybe you've heard the economy sucks? Which means craziness at his job as they try to figure out how to keep sales numbers from tanking because everyone's out of cash.
Fall has finally arrived in NC and we're enjoying the cooler temperatures. Or at least I am. I was ready for the heat and humidity to disappear.
And that's about all I have to share right now. Not exciting but just a general catch-up.
Don't ask because I'll be forced to bore you to death with the details of my tortured existence. -Mia, Love and Other Catastrophes (1996)
We'll start with the kitties. A week ago, Mike took Tasha to the vet for her sneezing and slight congestion. She was cooperative, which is odd for her. I think they gave her a shot of some sort and sent her home with a one-a-day antibiotic pill. That day, she ate about half her usual amount.
Tuesday, she ate about 1 oz of wet food but nothing else and she sounded very congested. Concerned that she wasn't eating, I took her back to the vet on Wednesday. Again, she was mostly cooperative. They gave her a shot of benadryl, loaded her up with fluids, and prescribed a twice daily antihistamine pill.
Thursday, she still wouldn't eat. Friday morning, the vet's office said to bring her in and drop her off. The plan was to leave her the entire day for observation and bloodwork. They also said they'd give her a shot of valium which would cause her to immediately start eating. Instead, I got a call at 11:30 saying Tasha was so spazzed they couldn't touch her and she needed to go home to settle down. They weren't able to get the valium in the vein (just the muscle) but still felt it would be effective once she calmed down. They also gave her a shot of anti-inflammatory.
Friday, she still didn't eat. So Saturday morning, back to the vet for the 4th time in 6 days. This time Mike and I stayed with her. Also, it was the other doctor. She was able to get the valium in the vein and though it took longer than expected, Tasha did finally start eating some chicken baby food. After that, she got more fluids and we were sent home with eye drops.
Since then, we've made steady progress. Saturday night, I held her and Mike had to actually put the food on her tongue, shoving it in her mouth. Unpleasant but we were willing to do it to get her to eat. Yesterday, she finally realized it was easier to lick it off his fingers on her own. By this morning, her congestion has lessened and she is eating wet cat food (instead of human baby food) and really perking up.
So, that's a long kitty update. Ripley's health now seems fine but definitely acting up because he's jealous of the special attention Tasha has received.
In other news...
Now that I think of it, there really isn't any other news. We've been spending most of our time dealing with sick cats.
I've been insanely lazy about the gym and really need to get back. Tonight and tomorrow are both free so I'll try to do at least one.
Work has been keeping Mike really busy. Maybe you've heard the economy sucks? Which means craziness at his job as they try to figure out how to keep sales numbers from tanking because everyone's out of cash.
Fall has finally arrived in NC and we're enjoying the cooler temperatures. Or at least I am. I was ready for the heat and humidity to disappear.
And that's about all I have to share right now. Not exciting but just a general catch-up.
Don't ask because I'll be forced to bore you to death with the details of my tortured existence. -Mia, Love and Other Catastrophes (1996)
Monday, October 13, 2008
Kitty Update
I guess my last blog about Ripley was too optimistic. Now both kitties are sick.
Ripley finished his week of antibiotics and ear drops on a Sunday and was generally acting better. Then he started sneezing. Constant, repetitive sneezing. On Tuesday morning, it was enough that I called to take him in to see the vet but neither doctor was available that day at our regular office. They suggested trying the other office in their practice if we felt it couldn't wait so we decided to make an appointment for Wednesday and keep monitoring him.
When Mike checked him at lunch, he was sleeping under the bed. Six hours later when I returned from work, he was still under the bed. I pulled him out and his breathing was very shallow and he felt warm. Mike decided to take him to the other vet that night (I couldn't go because I had something else going on that couldn't be rescheduled). Turns out he had a fever of 104° and was dehydrated. They gave him a show of anti-inflammatory and some fluids as well as another 10 days of antibiotic pills (great).
Wednesday, I took him back to our vet and his temperature was back to normal. They gave him a shot of benadryl and a dose of Revolution in case that might clear up what he had going on. At this point, his sneezing has lessened, though he's still doing it occasionally. Overall, he seems to be back to normal.
However...
Starting Friday night, Tasha started sneezing. Guess she caught Ripley's cold. I tried to deny it, but as soon as Mike got home Saturday night from his trip to Baltimore, it was the first thing he asked about. By this morning, she was sneezing constantly, wheezing, and just sitting on the bed with her mouth hanging open. She also refused to eat. Fearing another fever, Mike took her in for an appointment of her own. No fever, which is good news. She was too sick to even fight with the vet - her chart has special notes in I'm sure about how uncooperative she is.
So now we have two sneezy cats that need pills each day. And one heck of a vet bill. Let's hope all the kitties feel better soon.
Never wear anything that panics the cat. -P.J. O'Rourke
Ripley finished his week of antibiotics and ear drops on a Sunday and was generally acting better. Then he started sneezing. Constant, repetitive sneezing. On Tuesday morning, it was enough that I called to take him in to see the vet but neither doctor was available that day at our regular office. They suggested trying the other office in their practice if we felt it couldn't wait so we decided to make an appointment for Wednesday and keep monitoring him.
When Mike checked him at lunch, he was sleeping under the bed. Six hours later when I returned from work, he was still under the bed. I pulled him out and his breathing was very shallow and he felt warm. Mike decided to take him to the other vet that night (I couldn't go because I had something else going on that couldn't be rescheduled). Turns out he had a fever of 104° and was dehydrated. They gave him a show of anti-inflammatory and some fluids as well as another 10 days of antibiotic pills (great).
Wednesday, I took him back to our vet and his temperature was back to normal. They gave him a shot of benadryl and a dose of Revolution in case that might clear up what he had going on. At this point, his sneezing has lessened, though he's still doing it occasionally. Overall, he seems to be back to normal.
However...
Starting Friday night, Tasha started sneezing. Guess she caught Ripley's cold. I tried to deny it, but as soon as Mike got home Saturday night from his trip to Baltimore, it was the first thing he asked about. By this morning, she was sneezing constantly, wheezing, and just sitting on the bed with her mouth hanging open. She also refused to eat. Fearing another fever, Mike took her in for an appointment of her own. No fever, which is good news. She was too sick to even fight with the vet - her chart has special notes in I'm sure about how uncooperative she is.
So now we have two sneezy cats that need pills each day. And one heck of a vet bill. Let's hope all the kitties feel better soon.
Never wear anything that panics the cat. -P.J. O'Rourke
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Good Job, Mike!
Yesterday, Mike ran the Baltimore Half-Marathon. He's been training for months and had an awesome run.
I wasn't able to go with him to cheer him over the finish line but he said he's never been a participant in something so huge before. There were 7500 half-marathon participants, plus over 2000 full marathon runners. They also had a 5k and a fun run. I'm not sure if they ever released a number but they were also expecting 25,000 spectators.
Next up - he plans to run a full marathon in the spring.
I loved the feeling of freedom in running, the fresh air, the feeling that the only person I'm competing with is me. -Wilma Rudolph
I wasn't able to go with him to cheer him over the finish line but he said he's never been a participant in something so huge before. There were 7500 half-marathon participants, plus over 2000 full marathon runners. They also had a 5k and a fun run. I'm not sure if they ever released a number but they were also expecting 25,000 spectators.
Next up - he plans to run a full marathon in the spring.
I loved the feeling of freedom in running, the fresh air, the feeling that the only person I'm competing with is me. -Wilma Rudolph
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Ripley's Allergies
It appears Ripley shares my seasonal allergies. Only, mine seem to last all four seasons - and I'm also allergic to cats. Anyways...
I took him to the vet back in early August because he was limping and they gave him a steroid shot before sending us home with antibiotic liquid. I thought that would be easier than pills but he was quite successful at spitting it out all over me, the carpet, and everything else within spitting distance.
Since then, he's had two sores - one in his elbow area that eventually went away and another on his chest. Before we went on vacation, it seemed to be getting better so we left him in the capable hands of the kitty sitter and didn't worry about it.
When we got home, the sore had gotten worse so Mike took him to the vet on Monday. Another steroid shot but this time they sent us home with ear drops (two in each ear twice daily for ear infections) and antibiotic pills (also twice daily). We're only up to dose #5 of each and he's already impossible to deal with. He's got mad skills when it comes to holding a pill in his mouth for extended periods, even while swallowing and exhibiting all the other signs the vet said indicate he's swallowed the meds. And then he spats it out on the floor anyways.
Hopefully he's on the mend. The vet noticed it's usually about this time every year that we have him in because he's sick one way or the other, which is why she thinks it's seasonal allergies. We'll see if we can get him cleared up and happy again. He's such a sweet little kitty, I hate to see him looking hurt.
There are few things in life more heartwarming than to be welcomed by a cat. -Tay Hohoff
I took him to the vet back in early August because he was limping and they gave him a steroid shot before sending us home with antibiotic liquid. I thought that would be easier than pills but he was quite successful at spitting it out all over me, the carpet, and everything else within spitting distance.
Since then, he's had two sores - one in his elbow area that eventually went away and another on his chest. Before we went on vacation, it seemed to be getting better so we left him in the capable hands of the kitty sitter and didn't worry about it.
When we got home, the sore had gotten worse so Mike took him to the vet on Monday. Another steroid shot but this time they sent us home with ear drops (two in each ear twice daily for ear infections) and antibiotic pills (also twice daily). We're only up to dose #5 of each and he's already impossible to deal with. He's got mad skills when it comes to holding a pill in his mouth for extended periods, even while swallowing and exhibiting all the other signs the vet said indicate he's swallowed the meds. And then he spats it out on the floor anyways.
Hopefully he's on the mend. The vet noticed it's usually about this time every year that we have him in because he's sick one way or the other, which is why she thinks it's seasonal allergies. We'll see if we can get him cleared up and happy again. He's such a sweet little kitty, I hate to see him looking hurt.
There are few things in life more heartwarming than to be welcomed by a cat. -Tay Hohoff
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