Cat Tales

It's been a while since I last posted....sorry. Blogger, WordPress, and KCL are just not JS.... God I miss that place!!!

As most of you know, I have been having "issues" with my cat, Shila. It started last December when I noticed her having eye problems. So I took her to the vet and then the fun started (giving her eye drops). At first the eye looked like it was getting better, but then it started getting bad again and our choices of treat ment were not many. You have to realise, Shila will be 17 in May, so she's pretty "aged", yet she is still fit like a teenager.

In the end, we decided to remove the bad eye...here she is just after the operation with her protection "bonnet".

That was an unexpected expense, right before Christmas.

This is Shila today....

She's guarding the puzzle I started (I used to puzzle a lot before the internet)...

Anyway, now her other eye has started. Some of the treatment is not possible since she only has one eye left. This time we took her to a special animal eye clinic (yes, such a thing really exists!). They said it was a typical old age thing for her race (Persian). I was given new eye drops, to be given 3 times a day, 2 different types of drops (so actually 6 times a day).

NO WAY!!! Shila has discovered her claws, and even wrapping her up in a blanket doesn't help. She gives me the evil eye and wiggles herself out. It's stress for her.... and for me. So far she still comes crawling back onto my lap for some loving.... *sigh*

So, soon I'll have to decide what to do. I'm thinking of just letting nature take it's course. So many people have told me that cats adjust to being blind, but I don't think it'd be good for her or for me. We shall see....

And so 2012 goes on....

This year for New Years Eve I had a party in my apartment for the first time. I invited my direct neighbors as well as two of my dancers. I set up a buffett and made a wine punch with berries. I had "normal" wine and beer available but my punch was the hit! No beer or wine bottle needed to be opened! One of the guests brought his collie dog (yes, he asked before hand). She was so well behaved! And Shila didn't seem to mind her, either. It was quite a nice start to the New Year.

The goodies...

 

We've been having the oddest weather in centuries. Much too mild temperatures... even some plants are beginning to blossom and the animals in the zoo are having trouble hybernating. Then the past days we had some strong storms passing through with hurricane force winds! 

So, with such crazy weather it's no wonder that many people are sick... including me. I've had such a hard dry cough the past days, last night it kept me awake. At times I cough so hard I feel I'm going to suffocate. So today I called in sick and the doc gave me some antibiotics and "ordered" me to rest... and signed me off work through next Wednesday! There is an event on Sunday, New Years reception of the local women's club and I'm a board member,  I so wanted to attend, yet I can't go.  DARN!  

Otherwise this year should end up pretty good.... I RETIRE on July 1! YAY!!

So, that was a short update. I read facebook, kcl, and blogger daily but don't write or comment much anymore.... I've just lost the blogging spirit....  

Christmas in my world 2011

Today is the 26th but in my world it's still Christmas. It's kind of odd that the main Christmas events, from church going to opening presents to big feast, are all done on Christmas Eve, making the other 2 days nothing except not having to work, shops ALL closed, and visiting relatives that were around on the Eve.

I must admit, my tree turned out pretty well this year....

I joined in the festivities at my daughter's home on Christmas Eve. I arrived while they were all at church at this quaint little village church where a children's service was going on...

Instead of Santa coming while the children are asleep, the "Christ Child" brings the presents. So, how to manage that without them catching on WHO really brought the presents? While they were all at church, I got the presents from their hiding places and placed them under my daughter's tree. Then I stopped at the church so the kids wouldn't catch on that I had been at the house. So, we got home and SURPRISE!

My camera's flash decided to act up so the following pictures are not too good. As you can see, Tamara liked her "wedding" dress so well she wore it again on Christmas.

My daughter and her little family....

Yesterday, the 25th, the kids spent with their dad while their mom and her new hubby came to my place for dinner. Later on today my son is coming with his girls to visit me, also for dinner. I think we have the whole family covered.....

Hope you all had a great one!!

Dorrie

Wedding Bells....

No, not for me... but my daughter once again has gotten married! It happened last Saturday and it was beautiful! SHE was beautiful! *brag*

 

and the girls looked cute, too.

 

Tamara (8) and Emely (6)

We laughed a lot.... there were no glitches. Even the weather held up... don't forget, this is December!

One "tradition" that was new for me... they had to cut out a heart using nail sissors...

and then her new hubby had to carry her through it (instead of over a threshold)!

It was a fun weekend..... and I wish them lots of joy for the future!

Justfly-ing around!

We actually met!! Justfly, KCL'er and former JS'er, flew with a friend to visit German Christmas markets. First stop was Frankfurt, and no way were we going to miss this opportunity.

Their adventures during the trip over (Jeanette getting trapped in a restroom, Justfly losing her luggage, etc.) I'll leave for Justfly to write about. I met them at their hotel, then we walked downtown. First stop was the top of one of Frankfurt's skyscrapers....

It was cold and windy but still groovy!

As the sun went down, and the Christmas lights became prettier, we walked to the Christmas market. They were awed at the crowds on a Thursday night! Of course they tried the "famous" German mulled wine.....

We had dinner at a typical German restaurant. Then we walked back to the hotel so they could crash... it had been a long day for them.

The next morning I returned to the hotel where I joined them for breakfast. We then packed their stuff into my car, drove to the airport to pick up Justfly's lost suitcase, then on the my quaint medieval village. First stop there.... my daughter's office so she could also meet them (kids were in school unfortunately)....

Then a walk through town...... here Justfly sitting on the "stocks" of the Witches Tower....

 After a stop at my apartment, then I took them to the train station so they could ride to their next stop, Nürnberg, to visit the famous Christkindl Market and after that, Munich.

It was such a FUN and lovely two days!!! I extremely enjoyed my time with them and hope we'll have a repeat visit some day, with more time to spend in MY world!!

Dorrie

Poor Kitty

I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving! It's one of those American holidays not celebrate over here in Europe. I used get invited to the local American military base, which was always nice, but they have all been closed.... at least those in my area.

Yesterday was a yucky day. My kitty has been having eye trouble for the past weeks and I've been having to take her to the vet. On Tuesday the vet didn't like the looks of it, but just said to continue watching it, apply the medicine, and bring her in if it gets worse. Yesterday I came home from work and it looked BAD! I called the vet to see if I could bring her in, since they are normally closed on Wednesday. Yes, I could bring her. The vet, a different one this time, didn't like what she saw at all! She gave Shila eye drops, a shot, weighed her, and called a special animal eye clinic. Talked to the doc there and it was decided I didn't have to drive there, that my vet did everything so far possible and that for a 16 yr. old cat, the other clinic would probably not be worth the trouble and cost (about € 700!). Since blood work still had to be done, etc., we decided to leave Shila at the vet.   

So everyone, wish my kitty luck....

 

Edit: Friday.... we decided to have her eye removed yesterday (her left one).... she's too old to try any experiments that may or may not be affective at her age. I will pick her up in an hour. *sigh*

Dorrie

Long time.....

gosh, it's been almost 2 months since my last entry. That is sooooo unlike me! But somehow I'm just not in the blogging mood anymore. There are a number of reasons for it, I guess.

1. real life busy.... as usual
2. I still miss JS. Yep, journalspace was real special. There was a lot more community feeling (here there is NONE). I've been trying the site "xanga", which has many of the JS features and more, but it's just not the same.... too big, lots of drama which even I, as a newbe there realise, and well, I just can't get that "home" feeling
3. I don't just write/blog for ME, if I did, I could write anywhere.... I write for the sharing, for the feedback, for the comments which I so enjoy getting. I write for the interaction between me and my friends across the globe, not just for family.
4. As most of you know, I did my darndest to keep the JS community together, helping others where I could,  doing layouts, giving advice, etc. I set up a static site, not as a blogging site but as a nostalgia site. On that site is a worked over list of members and their facebook names so that people can reconnect; I set up a list of JS authors with links to their available at Amazon;I added alist of couples who met on JS and are (as far as I know) still together. I asked via facebook and on the site itself feedback in form of corrections, additions, etc. What did I get? NOTHING! So why do I bother???

And then there is that other site that was set up by former JS'ers (I will mention no name, but most of you know which site I mean).  I am no longer able to read some of the entries.... I've been blocked by the one or other member and they are members that I NEVER said or did anything negative to! I sent messages to them, asking what was wrong, I sent friend requests..... and got absolutely NO response! And I'm off their friends list in facebook, too. And then I read comments from them in entries about me that make NO sense.... and it hurts!

Again.... why do I let it bother me? Why do I even CARE???

So, if I'm not around much.... I may stop all this internet interconnection completely, maybe read and comment at the one or other dear friend, but otherwise I'm curing myself of this addiction I think..... *sigh*

On a nicer note... my oldest granddaughter turned 8! Where has time flown?? We'bve been having an excellent fall, weatherwise (much better then the whole summer was) so she was able to have her party outdoors. Here are some pictures for your enjoyment (grandma's are permitted to brag, right?):

My daughter, Regina, holding one of two rabbits they now own...

My cat, Shila, has been having eye problems so I've been doing a number of visits to the vet... but it seems to be getting better.

Tamara opening her presents...

Her party was on the day before Halloween but Halloween is just now getting to be a big deal over hear so we didn't bother having the kids dress up.

yummy.....

and last but not least... all the girls:

It's Saturday morning but I have a work related class to teach this morning... with at least 40 people attending! (and Shila is hiding under the bed to avoid getting her eye drops... grrrrrrrr).

Dorrie

P.S. only 8 more months until retirement..... *grins*