Weekly update!

[outsdr]

Almost killed the cat this week. Accidentally, I swear!

Last weekend, Andy and I shampooed the carpets in the house. They needed it badly, as it hadn't been done since last summer, and still had all of Ike's dribbles and stains from the last year of his life. We had been noticing that when we came home and the cooler had not been running that the house smelled somewhat ... poopy. So, we figured it was one of two things (or both) ... either it was the carpets, or cats were going under the house and doing their business. Step one was cleaning the carpets.

Step two. When I was a kid, I remember reading that sprinkling moth balls around will prevent cats from entering areas they're not wanted. So, I got a large box of moth balls, and sprinkled them around every hole and opening a cat could get through under our house. Soon, the entire neighborhood smelled of granny's closet.

(I like the smell, but I bet my neighbors hate me.)

Monday, Jinx started to lose his meow. By Tuesday, he was listless and mostly voiceless, ignoring his food, and I was starting to worry.

Normally, when I come across an old folk remedy, I research the heck out of it before I try it, if I try it. I don't know why I didn't this time. Napthalene, the active ingredient in mothballs and what gives them their smell, is highly toxic to pets- causing liver damage, damage to the nervouse system, kidney failure, destroys red blood cells .... granted, the worst occurs when the moth balls are ingested, but our entire house was filed with napthalene. I'm sure it wasn't doing us any good, either.

I called my vet, and she insisted that she come to the house and check him out. I couldn't get away from work, so I let Andy know she was on her way. Honestly, I thik she misses coming by every month. She checked Jinx out, and said he seemed to be okay, but we should definitely clean up the moth balls as soon as possible. And, with a wet dry vac, I did so later that evening.

Jinx was more energetic the next morning. His voice slowly recovered over the course of the week, and by Friday, he was back to his old, annoying self again.



I'm sorry, did you need to get in here? Tough.

The house smells much better now, too.

The artwork I bought from eBay arrived (that's what was in the box) and I hung it on the walls. I like the way it turned out.



I put the four foil prints in the hallway,



And the larger print above my work area. I like the way it all looks.

(I'm having a hell of a time getting the new photo uploader for LJ to work! I wanted to show more pictures of what is on my walls, but it's just not going to happen.)



Finally! Only a few hours and a different browser, and I can post more pictures! These are also in my hallway.




These are on the living room walls. Blurry, sorry. The lower one is a signed James O'Barr print; he's my favorite living artist. I've debated taking down the "Obey the Yellow Lab" poster, but I like it too much.

Ike's urn also arrived Friday, so tonight, I transferred him to his new home. It wasn't quite as large as I was expecting; I was hoping to just take the plastic temporary urn and set it right down inside the new one .... but no luck. Ike would have to come out. I realy didn't want to do it, but I cut the lid open.

Inside was a ziplock bag full of gray dust. It crunched slightly when I picked it up. Hello, Ike. :( I put him in his new box, and there was just enough room on top for his collar and tags to go. I haven't picked the picture I want to put on the front yet. But he'll be going on top of the bookcase, beside my mother's photo.




Ike's favorite spot, no matter where he was.


At Halloween, I'd draw eyebrows on Ike with a black sharpy.



That pretty much sums up the week. I got paid for the furniture job, immediately dropped it all on a credit card payoff (yay!) and got to hang out for a little while with a certain fireman I have a HUGE crush on (he's married, but I can window shop)

(I initially typed 'widow shop' which would have been really creepy.)

The judges in the 72 script fest are working on choosing a winner. Seriously, if I win, I'm going.