Sam and I have had a cat for seventeen years. His name was Spook and I had given him to Sam as a kitten when we were dating. Seventeen years ago I was known for bringing home strays. I was still living at home and so mom had threatened that I'd be living in the doghouse if I brought home another animal. I left one afternoon to pick up my brother John from his friend's house. When I got there, he and his friend were busy disassembling a stonewall, within in which, there was a kitten. I (stupidly) left the engine running while waiting for him and soon ran out of gas. The parents of the friend offered to put gas in my tank if I took the kitten. I took the gas and the kitten.
I am not sure that Sam was very much thrilled with my gift. But very soon he and Spook were best buddies. He named him Spook because his eye teeth were long and hung below his jaw, and he had about ten hairs on his black chin that were lighter in color and longer than all the others. He appeared to have a natural goatee. He looked like a feline version of Vincent Price. He also had white markings on his chest that looked like a ghost when he sat.
About six months ago we noticed that Spook was losing weight and we realized that he couldn't eat the dry cat food anymore. We began buying canned food for him. An extravagance no ordinary Smith cat would receive. Yup, Spook was special. We began to feed him in our mudroom, since the other cats would steal his food. He would be faithfully waiting by the door every morning. A few days ago Spook stopped coming to the door. We haven't seen him for about a week now and have presumed that he went off somewhere to die. That would be just like Spook: no drama, no fuss.
Two days ago Miss Terry dropped off a new friend: a calico female kitten. We have named her Patches as she has a "soul patch" marking on her chin. While Patches certainly won't replace Spook, she will make a nice addition to our family.
Showing posts with label cat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cat. Show all posts
Friday, July 17, 2009
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Nothing Done
Ever have a day where you feel like you got nothing accomplished and yet, you are exhausted? Yesterday was that day.
First thing I dealt with was Samantha and her sore throat: Bed and no school.
Next, Abby's cat was chased up a tree on Sunday. Yesterday morning it was still up there despite Sam's assurances that you never see cat skeletons in trees. A stray male cat is in the yard harassing the other cat. It is quite friendly and healthy and I am hoping it will go back home. Unfortunately people see our yard, children and animals and think it is the perfect place to "dump" animals.
Rachel gets on the bus and Hannah is given instructions to try to tempt the cat out of the tree with food. Sam and I leave to take the van to the auto mechanic to figure out why we have gone through 3 batteries in 5 months.
Once there, we wait around until the mechanic tells us he needs to replace the alternator and the van won't be ready until the afternoon. So we swing by my mom's for a few minutes before heading back to Lebanon to pick up Rachel from school for her Doctor's appointment.
Rachel gets her chicken pox booster and does much better than last time; last time she kicked the nurse. The doctor informs me that she can't recommend any testing for Rachel until the school does a complete evaluation and refers it to her. Then she can order hearing testing, etc. She did order some preliminary bloodwork which can rule out certain things.
So we bring Rachel back to school after stopping for a treat for her at Burger King (BLECH!). We drive home to find the cat has come down from 75 feet up to about 60 feet up. Sam calls a friend who has a really tall ladder. Nathalie is ready to leave for girl scouts by then. Sam tells me the ladder will be arriving later in the evening. We drive Nathalie to girl scouts together just in case the mechanic calls. He doesn't, so we drive home again.
Once home, I check in on Samantha who is still sounding scratchy but is not fever-y. I gather up all the library books that are either overdue or nearly overdue. Rachel gets off the bus and the girls go out to take care of the animals as Sam gets the call from the mechanic. So we head off to pick up Nathalie from girl scouts and drop off the library books before heading to get the van.
I drive the van home. I first stop at the grocery store since we need few things. After, as I get on the highway the red battery light comes on and the battery gauge pegs out above the number 18. The mechanic is now closed and I have no cell phone, so I decide that I will just drive it home. I discover that if I let off the gas and coast the light goes off and the needle falls to normal. It also does it if I open and close the power windows. I get home and inform Sam who has the ladder and is trying to get the cat out of the tree. He manages to get the cat down which is quite dehydrated and hungry.
We eat dinner late. Rachel plays waitress while Samantha takes a bath before going to bed. Abby reads them their story while I try to get some laundry done. I think I fell asleep on the couch around 9PM.
Today we will probably do "nothing" all day again since the van must go back to the mechanic and Samantha has girl scouts.
First thing I dealt with was Samantha and her sore throat: Bed and no school.
Next, Abby's cat was chased up a tree on Sunday. Yesterday morning it was still up there despite Sam's assurances that you never see cat skeletons in trees. A stray male cat is in the yard harassing the other cat. It is quite friendly and healthy and I am hoping it will go back home. Unfortunately people see our yard, children and animals and think it is the perfect place to "dump" animals.
Rachel gets on the bus and Hannah is given instructions to try to tempt the cat out of the tree with food. Sam and I leave to take the van to the auto mechanic to figure out why we have gone through 3 batteries in 5 months.
Once there, we wait around until the mechanic tells us he needs to replace the alternator and the van won't be ready until the afternoon. So we swing by my mom's for a few minutes before heading back to Lebanon to pick up Rachel from school for her Doctor's appointment.
Rachel gets her chicken pox booster and does much better than last time; last time she kicked the nurse. The doctor informs me that she can't recommend any testing for Rachel until the school does a complete evaluation and refers it to her. Then she can order hearing testing, etc. She did order some preliminary bloodwork which can rule out certain things.
So we bring Rachel back to school after stopping for a treat for her at Burger King (BLECH!). We drive home to find the cat has come down from 75 feet up to about 60 feet up. Sam calls a friend who has a really tall ladder. Nathalie is ready to leave for girl scouts by then. Sam tells me the ladder will be arriving later in the evening. We drive Nathalie to girl scouts together just in case the mechanic calls. He doesn't, so we drive home again.
Once home, I check in on Samantha who is still sounding scratchy but is not fever-y. I gather up all the library books that are either overdue or nearly overdue. Rachel gets off the bus and the girls go out to take care of the animals as Sam gets the call from the mechanic. So we head off to pick up Nathalie from girl scouts and drop off the library books before heading to get the van.
I drive the van home. I first stop at the grocery store since we need few things. After, as I get on the highway the red battery light comes on and the battery gauge pegs out above the number 18. The mechanic is now closed and I have no cell phone, so I decide that I will just drive it home. I discover that if I let off the gas and coast the light goes off and the needle falls to normal. It also does it if I open and close the power windows. I get home and inform Sam who has the ladder and is trying to get the cat out of the tree. He manages to get the cat down which is quite dehydrated and hungry.
We eat dinner late. Rachel plays waitress while Samantha takes a bath before going to bed. Abby reads them their story while I try to get some laundry done. I think I fell asleep on the couch around 9PM.
Today we will probably do "nothing" all day again since the van must go back to the mechanic and Samantha has girl scouts.
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