18 lives ... and counting

Cats are suppose to have 9 Lives.  We have all seen how a Cat  has managed to escape a tragedy.. falling but lands on her feet. Surviving many adventures and mishaps.  Narrowing missing death by inches..

One of my Cats fell from the 2nd floor landing feet first on tile floor some 20 feet below, without so much as a bruise (he rather jump off than allow my niece to "capture" him). He checked out fine & rather lucky from the Vet visit I rushed him too.

I have several more stories just like this one.

Rocky 1995

My Rocky came to us in 1995, a couple of nights before Halloween. Seeing how some horrid little neighbor boys killed a cat recently, my Hubby allowed this big ole Tom Cat to "hid" in our garage on Halloween to avoid abuse.  Why oh why must retched souls pick on Black Cats?  I knew we could not keep this Tom. I had just rescued poor Mario the week before & was desperately trying to save his sick little self.  And... well, we had two other Kitties as well.  How could we possibly have four cats, and two dogs???  
However, Rocky, soon won our hearts over. Especially Hubby. 
He was a survivor.  About 18 months old, and a fighter. He had thick muscular legs, one of those thick necks with big jaws, scarred and fresh battle wounds.  We would see him bravely enter a neighbors garage to fight for food.  This neighbor had 10...yep, that's right, TEN cats. Rocky would sneak in the garage and steal what he could, before getting attacked by several of her males.
Rocky loved the coolness of the sinks. We would often find his snoozing away in one. While Mario regained his strength, Rocky, who was the same age, seem to become very gentle and tentative of him.  Curiously, more interested in him, than our other cats.  We had "the Boys", as they were called neutered and de-clawed together. (yes... I now realize the cruelty in de-clawing & we never would have had it done had we known then what we know now). The boys healed together and became sweet playmates.  They always sleep together. Even as Rocky slimmed down from his Tom days, losing the big muscles, and Mario became a HUGE Fat Boy.

The Boys sharing a nap box in 2004

Rocky mourned his Buddy's death in 2007. Mario was getting sicker & sicker with a horrible cancer. He seems to care and tolerate the rest of the Fur family, but this was his Buddy.

It's thought that Rocky was born around 1993. That makes him 18 years old.  His health is ailing.  I thought we were going to lose him a couple of times.  He is senile.  He has difficulty with his joints stiffening up.  He is completely blind now. And somewhat Deaf. Some days are good. Some not so much.  He loves to eat.  Having several small meals a day of dry mixed with canned cat food (prefers Kitten food). He is able to find his litter box daily. As well as making several trips walking around the house "murring".  He will pur like crazy also.  He is strangely a Happy Cat.  Not ready to go.
He may be advancing in age, but don't tell him it's time for him to pass... he just isn't quiet ready.

Rocky 2011

Liar Liar Pants on Fire!

I have been caught in a lie.
yep, It's true. Hate to disappoint you all, but even I have told one or two.

This time it's about something I pretty much decided I would NEVER do again.
But now I am being lured...seduced...enticed to give it another try.

CAMPING

It's not that I'm some kind of Girlie Girl that doesn't want to break a nail. It's just that I have had my share of camping.
Many years of it as a child and teen. All fun. Mostly great memories.

Camp Fire Girls Camp mid 70s. {end on knee}

sharing a soda pop w/ Diamond,Trail Ride '76

HS Student Council '78

Texas Church Camp'79

Young Life Camp "80

See?  I did all this plus the dreaded "Tent" camping as well RV camping nightmare once with my Paternal Grandparents.
I "camped out" in the back yards with friends. Camped out in cars.. that's what we did for the Indy famous Indianapolis 500. And Even "camped out" in living rooms, basements & garages for slumber parties.
Then I grew up and camped out with Hubby.
I was a Happy little camper...  until we had the girls camping with us.

Hubby & Annie fishing on Hardy Lake '99

This is when I started becoming a worry-wart. Partly because of our girls, fearing they'd get hurt, or get whinny.  But also I worried a lot about Annie's asthma.  And I started freaking out about the weirdo's you hear about and even see at our campsites.
When the girls went to CYO camp in the fall, Hubby & I joined a group of friends for fabulous weekend camping trips that I will post about another time.

don't worry the dog didnt eat me

 The last time we went camping as a family, we had fun, but also it was miserable! The rain was CRAZY!

Hubby holding the tarps up

There were other issues...bottom line, felt like been there done it. I can cross it off my bucket list.
So... we haven't been back.

HOWEVER.....
Drum roll please
I have discovered a new passion.
Ran across this little Sweetheart...

and here's an inside peek...

I also stumbled onto this one...

and this one...

and here is a peek at the inside of another airstream...

VINTAGE CAMPERS!!! Oh My...
Now I understand Meredith over at Silver Saffari . She has been passionate about her airstream for years & writes of it's travels on her blog.
sigh...
I wanna go camper camping now.  As long as I don't have to use a latrine or the great outdoors to relieve myself uhm.. outside.
Also, lets make sure I have plenty of coffee, some chocolate, Captain Crunch cereal, maybe a little White Zinfandel, one of our dogs, and Hubby.  I am good to go!

Hello Blog World...

Hello Blogettes... How are you all? I have missed you..

I have been WORKING..{yay me!}.
I worked my booty off this week! Let me tell you!
The week back to work was a grand mixture of loving excitement & grueling exhaustion.  My job changed at the last minute and I was assigned one on one with a special needs student. I'm great for this as I can mix being loving and yet be tough, and I seem to have a high patience level (who'd have known?) ..but it is difficult when you are not fully aware or trained to deal with all the medical & physical demands a child with special needs have. For confidential reasons, I can't share much. Let's just say it was a truly difficult week, but I love my job.

I am adjusting to working this shift as well. I enjoy it although working second shift is a change.  Especially when I come home after midnight & try to quietly shower & come to bed without waking the Hubby. We haven't seemed to get the dogs use to my schedule & they give Hubby a hard time, and get excited when I get home. I try to shhhh them but the Little Guy is a yapper.

I spent all of Friday & Saturday free time sitting around relaxing and catching up on email, Blog World, Pinterest, & Facebook. I have a Twitter account but never pop on. Time magnets. I know. But, it was a nice way to unwind.

Hubby & I have really enjoyed this weekend. I guess he missed me a bit♥
We have gone on walks, bike rides, and even drove around a target area we would love to live. What's that you say? Didn't we just move here 2 years ago? Yes... BUT those that know us know we use to move a lot. We made a good chunk of change flipping homes. Stayed for a while in one spot while the girls grew up. But the thought of moving again is lingering. Especially with a favorite house on the market. I will blog more about that on another post.
Hanging with the Hubby has been Bliss.
Today, I work but not until 8pm. I am going to help the Hubby clean the garage. Maybe cook a nice dinner. Hope to see a daughter & give her the little curtain I made her. And, I have a girlfriend that is having a party at a Roller Skate place we all hung out at when we were kids. She is turning 50. How fun to celebrate on skates??? It's been a while... Not since the girls were little. I am not sure if I will actually skate or sit & gab. Either way, Im sure glad she is having it in the afternoon so I can pop in. Lets hope I don't break a leg!
Well, I best be going. A lot on my schedule and the day is ticking away.
Love to you all, have a blessed day♥

Mortality Preparation

I'm at an interesting place.
Thinking about mortality, and how one prepares for the unavoidable, death...

end of life...

Many people can't even talk about death, let alone think about or plan.
But, sometimes we are put in a situation where we must. Maybe about ones own death, or about a loved ones.

Have you ever had a pet that was getting old, slowing down, and you knew, time was short? As a good pet owner, you take your pet to the vet, get the medications they need, and do everything we can to keep Fido or Fluffy comfortable.  As he declines, we have a choice. We have all been there. Those that really loved a pet. Having to make that decision. For us, it has always been a pretty clear line. As long as the pet, is eating, drinking, pottying, and purring. As long as he is happy and comfy, we hang on making "end of life", as bearable as possible.  Once suffering is involved, we go for the euthanasia option. We have done it all for our furry loves. Hand feeding, carrying, cleaning after, and loving as unconditionally as they have loved us. My oldie pets have gone blind, deaf, and had movement difficulties.  But, we tended their every need until they died.  Sometimes, choosing to euthanasia when they suffered.. Horrible hard place to be, but we try to be humane and do the right thing.

When the same is true with our loved human family and friends, it is a different story.
When we know one is suffering, so many of us handle it differently. While we pretty much all agree that bring on the drugs to reduce pain, but even that has many feeling differently.
When we know that death is upon us, what do we do?  What would you do?

Many people react with different feelings depending on if we are talking about our own death or our loved ones pending death.
I know that some are frightened and close up. They avoid the dying having difficult seeing that person, "that way". Others step in to nurturing mode, taking over every need they can handle and then some.

As a Hospice volunteer, I am getting a glimpse into the dying world at a different angle. I'm involved, but I'm not emotionally involved. {please don't misinterpret that, what I am referring to is the fact that I am not related or know the person, other than in this situation in which I have been trained to care for. I am still a very compassionate and nurturing volunteer}.

I see people take on incredible strength physically and ability. A tiny woman, somehow managing to lift, assist and care for a Husband twice her size. A man become a gentle expert at assisting with delicate matters with his Wife.

They keep going and never stop, until they crash.  I'm lucky enough to be able to step in and give a needed break or assist in some simple things we may not ever realize someone needed. The caretaker never ask for help.

In the caretakers task, as well as caring for their loved one, they have to take care of preparing for the death.  Funeral arrangements, wills, insurance.  A world of paperwork and task. The tiny woman, suddenly realizes she has nothing appropriate to wear to her Husband of 50 years funeral, as she has lost so much weight in caring for him.  The Husband caretaker, is trying to figure out how he will take care of the children without her. Their are so many things running through there heads, and they don't dare ask for help from the family member that can be near the dying because it upsets them so.

And then there is ourself.
What do we want?  We certainly don't want to be a "burden". Should we have a living will?  A "do not resuscitate" order? 
Will we be able to handle "knowing"?
Will we fear it?
Or will we embrace it?

I think I know how I will handle it. But until I am there, I really don't know. Every situation can be so different.

I do know, as I watch over my 18 year old cat struggling yet happily getting through each day. And as I watch patients in Hospice I volunteer with, it is something that I think about.
Something I respect.