Category: Furbabies

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Show and Tell: Yami's Holiday

So I decided that in order for me to post regularly, I should probably join an activity amongst our IF / Loss community. I made the attempt earlier this year to join the predecessor for IComLeavWe, but failed at it miserably. Trust me, it’s not from lack of trying, it was more because working 10-hour days with nary-a-break (other than to nibble on lunch) leaves me incredibly exhausted with little brain-power to do much else.

Which brings me to this post. I have decided to join the Show and Tell weekly thread, a week-to-week commitment where each participant brings something fun to share. Yes, it sound like fun and it does sound just like kindergarten!

Anyway, for my first week I decided to share pictures of my cat, Yami. Now, I bet you’re wondering why the title of this post says “Yami’s Holiday.” Well, it’s because our kitty is a black cat and this coming Friday is Halloween … the day for black cats to rule! 🙂

Seriously. Check out how MEAN she looks?!

Actually, Yami (pronounced “Yah-mee”) is the most adorably precocious cat we’ve ever had. And, no … she’s not intentionally bearing her teeth at us. I just happened to snap a picture of her at the end of a yawn. This is how she normally looks like.

Ain’t she adorable?! Well, that ain’t the most adorable picture I’ve taken of her. That one happens to be this one.

Yup, I managed to catch the normally hyperactive kitty , who hates to be held, snuggling next to one of my stuffed animals. Busted!

And actually, she does love to snuggle … it just has to be on her terms (of course).

We acquired Yami from our SIL about four years ago, when she moved into a new apartment and wasn’t allowed to take more than one cat. Her name means “The Chosen One” in some variation of Japanese lore. Quite appropriate, as she seems to think she rules the household.

Did I mention that she was smart?! Yes, this girl has managed to open doors and get herself locked into bedrooms she’s not allowed to be in. And some days, I wonder what kind of trouble she gets into when we’re not home. Seriously, do you think she might be posting stuff on my blog?

Oh, but Hubby & I love her so much. Our lives would be so much boring without her in it. So Yami, if you happen to be “googling” yourself … I hope you know that you are my most favorite indoor indoor black kitty ever! Not to be confused with my most favorite indoor kitty … that title is reserved for your sister, Rain!

BUSTED again!!

To read others’ Show and Tell items for the week, click here!

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A "Hula"-va Birthday

Happy Birthday, dear Hubby of mine! I know I’m a day late in posting my birthday wishes to you on my blog, but as you already know … we had one busy weekend!

First there was heading out to the movies on Friday night to watch “The D.ark Kn.ight” which you and I agreed was awesome. Too bad He.ath Ledg.er won’t be around to reprise his role as the Jok.er … 🙁

And then Saturday … on your actual birthday … we spent the day in Ann Arbor, our stomping grounds during the fall football seasons for the Wolverines. Wasn’t it fun checking out the Ann Arbor Art Fair? I love going to there every year because it always reminds me of the summers when we were still dating and the fun and interesting conversations we’d always have on the way to and from the Art Fair. I just find it humorous that we always come back from the Art Fair with more books from Shaman Drum Bookshop and clothing on sale from the various boutiques than we do actual art work! It’s just so sad that very few indie record stores (that actually sell vinyl) exist in the area anymore …

Ann Arbor will always bring back such fond memories of us and our college years … when we would spend countless hours driving back and forth from Oakland University and the University of Michigan, just so we’d be able to spend time together. Remember the times we’d risk life and limb in the dead of winter just to make it to each other’s place? Apparently not much has change in the eighteen years since we’ve been together (not to mention the twenty LONG years that we’ve been friends).

Okay, so that’s not exactly true. I mean, geez … we did age twenty years since then. We finished college and we’ve managed to have pretty successful careers. We got married and we bought our house. We’ve managed, between the two of us, to fill our house with books. And movies. And music. Not to mention photo albums. And cool electronic gadgets. And computers (many of which have been relegated to the computer “graveyard”). And pets, which have become our little mutt of a family.

But let’s not forget the one thing that has always filled our home and our hearts since that incredible day almost 12 years ago. And that’s the love that we have for one another. The one thing in my life that I am most grateful for. I thank my luck stars every day that we share the same love for one another, the same heart.

So today … err, or rather yesterday … I want to wish you a wonderful birthday. May the fun and happiness we’ve had in Ann Arbor and in every moment of our lives … continue for years and years (and years) to come.

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Down for the Count …

But like the Bozo Punching bag, I still come up smiling.

Thanks for all the wonderful comments and words of encouragement that y’all have given me. I truly do feel the love out there. It literally made me shed a few tears … knowing that I’ve got some really good internet buddies and IRL buddies (soon to be both … can’t wait!) that care as much as they do about my well-being.

Wednesday at work was extremely frustrating and … quite frankly … much too overwhelming to deal with. And after attending my weekly meeting for this work group, I decided to go home. Mentally, I could not even process what my tasks at hand were. What good am I if I can’t think?

So I wrapped up what I was currently working on prior to the meeting, shut down my computer and promptly told my supervisor that I wasn’t feeling so well and was heading home. And seriously, I wasn’t … I had this horrible headache (most likely Lupron-induced), my nose was stuffed (d*mn allergies) and I was actually feeling quite nauseated (most likely from just the negativity at work).

I slept away the rest of the afternoon. And boy, did I need that. Just the comfort of having my two kitties on either side of me as I lounged about was the best thing I could have done for myself. I totally needed to decompress.

So the next morning, I reinflated myself (but not necessarily my ego. I have self-esteem issues … can’t you tell?) and walked back into work with a smile on my face and my head held high.

Because seriously … whatever bad day / days I may have … however many times I get knocked down … I still have to somehow pick myself off the ground and come up smiling.

Thanks again for all your wonderfully warm wishes and sentiments. You. Guys. Rock.

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My Furbaby Can Vote! ~100th Post~

So my oldest furbaby, Rain turned 18 years old this past month. At least we think so.

Dr. Brother, future-Hubby & I found her 18 years ago this upcoming weekend after arriving back home late one night from London, Ontario. It was my grandmother’s birthday and all of the cousins made it a point to be there for her party. It was a crappy night to be driving; horrible thunder and lightning with heavy downpours all the way home. And as we pulled into the driveway, all of us were anxious to just get inside the house.

But amongst all that noisy thunder, Dr. Brother (who was still in undergrad and also home for the summer, as was I) kept hearing this sad, long howl. He was the one that said to check under the cars because it might be a cat that was hiding under the engines. He just wanted to make sure that the poor animal wouldn’t die in the morning when he went to start his car.

Yes, I know I already posted this, but it’s such a d*mn cute picture!!

So Dr. Bro, future-Hubby & I went about trying to find exactly where this pitiful meow was coming from. And as we checked under the bushes in our front yard, there lay a little grey and white furball, all shivery and shaky.

We picked her up, dried her off and placed her in a box with some soft towels. We gave her a little milk to drink and let her sleep. Unfortunately, we had to keep her in the garage that evening because Dad was still in London, and we couldn’t very well take the kitten in without asking his permission.

The next morning, we took her back inside the house and showed her to Dad. Yup … as I suspected, he couldn’t say no to the little furball.

And that’s how Rain became part of our family. At first she was my little furball sister. But as I moved into my own apartment after graduation, she packed her bags to come live with me and has been my furbaby ever since.

So Happy Birthday, Dear Rain! We’re so glad that you are still with us … even though you’ve gotten kookier in your “old age.” We love you very very much …

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And now … to mark my 100th Post …

I figured we could do something fun in honor of Rain’s 18th birthday.
Unfortunately, I was not able to properly add this poll to my blog (d*mn fixed width columns!), so you’ll have to click HERE to get to it …

Have fun!!