j031101 (imported)
November 1, 2003
When I was jogging at four this morning, I came upon several teenage boys smashing pumpkins (oh for a song line to insert here, but they all escape me) on the driveway of the house they’d just done a stupendous job of toilet paper rolling.
Briefly, I thought about pulling out my gun and issuing a citizen’s arrest, but then I remembered who I was. Visions of Mayberry swam in my head as I ran by them.
On my way out of the house at seven to get groceries, I saw this over my neighbor’s house:
Cool, no? I hear rumors you can actually hire the guy who
does this to fly you around.
Because I’m a courteous person — contrary to popular belief — when I’m in line at the grocery store, if a person behind me has only a few items and I have a cartload, I’ll let them go in front of me. Normally this happens most Saturday mornings, but today I think I set a record. I let three people go in front of me.The last one, an older man who shook a lot, thanked me profusely and said, "Courtesy is a rare commodity these days."
Say it ain’t so. Most people are still nice, right?
For three days in a row, Tubby has peed in the floor. Thursday and yesterday, he did it right in front of Robyn and I, when we were watching. Obviously, something is wrong, so I called the vet when I got back from getting groceries and scored an eight o’clock appointment.
The vet was pretty sure Tubby has a urinary tract infection, but couldn’t get any pee to be sure. He said that’s common, because cats with UTIs feel like their bladders are the size of softballs (which might actually be true in Tubby’s case, given his immensity), and he put Tubby on an IV to get some fluids in him. He also hit him with some antibiotics in the IV line, and checked Tubby’s anal glands by sticking a finger up Tubby’s ass.
Tubby didn’t care for that.
He’s home now, nursing his wounds, and walking around like Quasimodo because the saline from the IV gave him a big hump. Of course we’re not laughing at him. Not us.
The really humorous thing about the vet trip was Tubby in the carrier. The boy is huge. Sometimes, you can’t get a real feel from the pictures Robyn and I put up, but I snapped one of him in the normal-sized cardboard carrier we use to take the cats to the vet, so you can get an idea.
Stanley investigates the carrier after Tubby jumps out.
If you look closely at Tubby, you can see part of his hump
behind his head.
While Tubby was getting his IV, the vet pointed out that he (Tubby, not the vet) has a lot of flea detritus in his fur.
Fleas. Motherfuck.
I told him we inspect the cats regularly (especially when they were going out in the back yard) and have never EVER found a single flea, nor have we ever seen any fleas in our house. He suggested that maybe the fleas were brought into our house another way:
He just looks guilty, doesn’t he?
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go get a haircut, drop off a big stack of books at the post office (people love a sale, don’t they?), and get my oil changed.
And to try and not wonder if it’s fleas every time I have an itch.
Its a beeyootiful sight and a fun thing to do ! ( Hot Air Balloon) Yes you can hire one out to fly ya around. My mom bought my dad a trip years ago….they both ended up going up and loved it….so much that they both became licensed pilots and bought one. They have since retired it but boy did we have fun while it lasted!! An amazing journey that you should grab if you have the chance….I could definitely see you and Robyn being the fearless twosome that you are…floating in air
Fearless? You must not have read any of my entries wherein I address my issues with high places.
I do that too Fred, (letting those with a few items in front of me in line). And once in a blue moon, someone does that for me!
Keep your eyes on the horizon….dont look down…thats what I did and was just fine that or you could sit down in the basket lol
I checked on pricing when we went to NY last month, and for two, it was going to be something like $400. So we didn’t do it.
My cat had to be injected with fluids due to a UTI last summer. Whenever I picked her up she would squirt water from her “hump” like a whale with a blow hole. Provided great entertainment for everyone for a day or two.
Just for the record Fred, I am still nice as you well know. I always let people go in front of me in the grocery store if they only have a few things. I also let them get in front of me if they are coming out of a parking lot. I am always amazed that most people will not let someone cut in front of them, especially at a red light. My question is…why not? What’s the big hurry?
Hate to say it, but you’re a rare breed Fred. Chivalry/courtesy has gone to the way side. It’s all about “me” now.
Hot air balloon rides are awesome! I went with a friend whose husband owned two balloons and got a very incredible ride right at sunset (you can only do it at dawn or dusk, apparently). Once you get over the fact that the pilot can’t STEER - they can only control up and down - and look at the sights, it’s beautiful.
The one I went in was shaped like a pirate, and had a 60-foot mustache.
More fun is when your cat’s UTI does not get better and then the vet gives you the IV bag and you put in 50 ml every night, for like 10 days. In fact there is an IV bag hanging in our closet right now and we know the kitty has this infection when she gets up on our bed and pees - in front of us. It’s their cry for help
Joan –
It *is* all about me. I’m just nice about it, so as to not rub people’s faces in it.
LOL!!! In the “guilty” picture of Stanley he looks like Tom from the Tom and Jerry show!!!!!
Fred, Fleas a known for coming in on humans and even come in through screens. Don’t be blaming the baby.
Also, Vet’s are a good place also. I took my two kittens in for shots, and we came home with fleas. Yuck! Val
Not to be picky, but to quote a published author…
“…he did it right in front of Robyn and I…”
Shouldn’t that be…Robyn and me?
Chris
I don’t think so, Chris. I’ve been out of school for a couple of years, but I’m pretty sure that “Robyn and I” is correct. Ummm…I think anyway. Well, crap…now I’m starting to doubt myself.
(grin) It’s ‘Robyn and me.” Think of it as ‘he did it right in front of…me.”
“people are still courteous” - Not long ago, I saw a little boy (perhaps 8 years old) crying, one sneaker on, one off. I assumed he was walking home to tell his mom who beat him up. I stopped my car, got out, went to him and asked “are you okay honey, need some help?”. He screamed his answer at me: “WHY DON’T YOU MIND YOUR FUCKING ‘BEE EYE’ BUSINESS.” Stopping my compulsion to laugh hysterically, I answered him: “Fine then…I sure hope it hurts”, and returned to my car to drive away.