"Long Time"

"Been a long time since I rock and rolled..." is what I think of when I see how long its been since I posted a blog entry. So many things have been happening!

I have a new part time job that I am so excited about doing PET/CT exams. During the arduous and lengthy pre-employment process I got a new friend whom I speak to regularly; he is the best! The kidz... Maverick is 11 months old today! which makes Madison 2 years 11 months. Also interviewed for job number 4, another part time job but with two specific days of the week scheduled so I would have threes days a week with guaranteed hours. If this last job comes through I will probably resign from the other hospital job. The prospective place has a great reputation and they tell me "salary is not a problem".


My new job is PET/CT on a mobile trailer. The trailer travels to the different site locations in multiple states. I will be working locally on Long Island however I went for training in Pennsylvania for a long weekend. That meant putting Madison and Maverick somewhere to be looked after so I went to our local pet hotel.







Layne always loved the pet hotel. They walk dogs 5-7 times a day, bring them out for playtime, give them toys and blankets in the spacious 8x10 ft (I think) crate the dogs sleep in. First time Layne was there they asked me if I knew Layne loved to play fetch... she's a Lab, duh? They have rooms you can select for your dog as well with couches, I think even TV, but my pups are crate trained so it works fine for them. Madison did ask about wifi. :)

For cats they have the cattery which is a room with large crates for each cat. They get their own litter box, toys and pillow bed. The staff plays with the cats at least two times a day. Sounds like a sweet deal.

Seems Maverick was kinda shy and did not want to come out of his carrier until one of the staff brought Madison to see him after a walk. As soon as he saw his sister, he came out of his hiding place. The staff did put a blanket in the carrier so he would be comfy in case he decided it was safer to sleep in there. Madison would not do her business in their back yard play area, she would only take care of things on walks. Its supposed to be a big yard, my guess is that Madison did not want to dirty it up so she would continue to get to play there. Both my Labs have been funny that way.

I guess this is all for this post. Maybe my next post will be of the gardens I visited on my day off in PA... they were beautiful!

"Happy 2010"

Wishing you all a Happy 2010 for health, happiness, love and prosperity!

I hope first thing to find a full-time job, especially one I will enjoy, learn from, etc. It has been much too long!

I also hope to get back to my diet changes & exercising a lot more.

"Maverick's FIRST Snowstorm"

We had an unusually early BIG snow storm December 19-20, 2009. It was called a blizzard (blizzard has nothing to directly to do with snow amounts) and historical because of the amount of snow, it was a Nor'easter!

Nor'easters are coastal storms and always bring with them a lot of moisture and high winds that are damaging to the beaches with erosion. The winds swirl counterclockwise towards the coast here on the East coast hence why they are damaging. When they come during winter temperatures, the 1-2 inches of water turn into a TON of snow! Depending on temperature and other factors 1 inch of water = 10" of snow, approximately.

From Virginia up to the NY area amounts of 20+ inches. We are familiar with getting over a foot of snow but usually in Jan-April, if at all. Luckily, this was a light weight snow, easy to shovel but easily blown around and why there is very little left on the roofs and drifts abound everywhere! During the storm, I had to open the front storm door a few times, clearing a inch or more of snow, to ensure I would not get snowed in. Right before bed, I cleared the porch area about 1 am, and when I looked out about 7 or 8 am, it was replaced though there was an additional 4 inches on top of the untouched porch. We would have been OK but can't hurt to be careful.

This snow is even too deep for Madison who does not seem to love the snow as much as big sis Layne did when she was alive. Madison likes it but does not give me that, "Thanks mom" look and run with abandon into it, at least when it is > 1.5 feet. She made a few of her own paths through it but close to the house. Today I tossed the ball for her and for fetch, she'd go to the ends of the earth. I am sure she has been waiting for fetch to commence, as usual.

This is Maverick's first snow storm. He is an indoor cat but is always at the door when I or Madison are outside. So I put on his harness and leash and brought him onto the front porch to check it out. Don't think he knew what to make of the cold whiteness under him, then Madison came poking her head through the front door, so we all went into the back yard. The sun was just trying to break through the clouds & it was very windy so I only kept him outside maximum 5 minutes total. He was very glad to get back inside, we all were.

Today mid-migraine I went out to clear ice off of Madison's steps and the sun felt so no nice and no wind to speak of (the front is VERY windy!). I tossed the ball for Madison a bit and decided to bring Maverick back out for a little fresh air as well. He explored a little bit and even though I felt toasty in the sun, he was cold so I brought him in. Again, he was only out for about 5 minutes, he is a 5 month old kitten after all.

Not sure if Maverick will think twice before going to either the front or back doors again, but we will see. I do plan on bringing him out with us in the Spring and Summer when Madison and I spend most of our time out in the backyard. He will be on a leash/tether so he can't hop or climb under the fence and get into trouble. I am sure once he finds some nice sun puddles outdoors, he will be wanting to spend a lot of time outside like we do.

"Madison's Mystery Adventure"

As most of you know, I had to take Madison to the 24 hour Veterinary ER Saturday night. She is doing well now. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.

Madison why lying down by me before 10 pm, and I noticed some clear fluid on her lower belly area, when I wiped it off with a tissue, there was some blood. Madison & Maverick had been playing earlier so I wasn't alarmed, figured the cat might have scratched her though they usually play face to face and he has never scratched any of us, just swats at her from time to time. I went to get cotton balls and the cleaning solution the vet gave me for her abrasions on her chest, and then I saw it: a 1-1/4 inch gash on the inner part of her back right leg, I guess we can call it the pelvic area. Odd that such a big cut would not be bleeding but I knew it needed stitches, so a couple of phone calls later and off to the 24 hour vet we went.

Madison doesn't hate the vet, she loves seeing all the people and animals, but late at night, only the staff was there, two black and white tuxedo-like cats, and a female Rottweiler, a big pup also; all these animals are the staff's.

(Madison weighed in at 78.5 pounds, she has lost a few from running around chasing Maverick and she and me playing more with the nice weather.)

Madison really liked the lady vet and lady vet technician, gave kisses to both of them, she wasn't too sure about the guy who weighed her but he didn't flirt with her and solicit kisses like the girls did (he doesn't know what he is missing, maybe he's a cat person). Local anesthesia and antibiotic injections, stitches, and the "Elizabethan" collar, maybe 20 minutes later, I heard her toenails tapping on the tile floor towards me and through the door, it was over.

The vet called it a "stab" wound and said, well she's a Lab, as far as Madison getting into things (ain't THAT the truth!). Since we live in a quiet neighborhood and there were not barkfests that evening, she must have stabbed herself. The following morning she and I walked around the yard to see if we could figure out what caused the injury but found no evidence. I did come up with a few possibilities, (1) maybe she slipped on the puppy ramp, no evidence: no blood, no noise, and it had not moved; (2) a stick under the picnic table, Madison likes to run and dive under it, its her open air dog house, again no evidence: wound was clean, no debris around or inside it, leaves look like she has not been under the table lately.

There is a possible third choice, something around the shed, but there is a lot of overgrowth of weeds so I could not check behind there but again, when she runs through there I can her her bang against the shed, so no evidence for that so far.

So this may remain "Madison's Mystery Adventure" to all except for her. I am sure she had to feel something, right?

Anyway, she is healing well, taking her meds and dealing with the collar. She has found some pluses: only she can eat or drink out of her dish, Maverick can not sneak in, I can't lock her in the crate when I leave or overnight so she gets to sleep around the house, extra head scratches especially since she can't scratch for herself, Maverick has been giving her lots of nose kisses, if I toss her a treat if she misses the collar catches it, placing collar on mom's sneakers keeps it at good sleeping level. Minuses: she keeps hitting collar against walls, stairs. I tried to bring her up to my room to sleep but going up a flight of stairs even with me trying to hold up her collar doesn't give her the confidence she needs to believe she can go up the stairs.

We are hoping and praying for her speedy recovery and for health and safety for all of us from now on

"I'm The Momma!"

I think Madison thinks she is Maverick's momma. Madison likes to stroke Maverick, Maverick likes to lick Madison. Have to keep watch because Madison forgets how big she is but things are going very well... except Maverick has an eye and upper respiratory infection, but it is clearing up fast.

As Madison and Maverick say, "Happy Snuggle Sunday!".

“There is no Such Thing as a Free Lunch”

Day 4: Madison & Maverick getting along real well, pretty amazing! I am sure working from home these days allowing me to spend time with both of them has expedited the process. The are sniffing each other, tapping noses, rubbing cheeks, and chasing, all in small increments, without hissing and barking: Amazing!

Came back from Stop-n-Shop (food/supermarket). Finally remembered to cash in $5.75 worth of soda cans and to use my free Freschetta pizza coupon (Note to Self: soda cans sitting in the trunk of the car can get stinky! Make sure a) rinsed better, and b) don’t leave them too long). So I bring in and put away all my booty and decide to heat up my free pizza: 4 Cheese Self-Rising crust, yum! Got myself a Cherry Coke Zero (not bad!) and went into my usual eating place, the TV room/Den; its small but the most used room in the house and where Maverick’s bedroom is first established.

Maverick wants to drink my soda and taste my pizza, Madison is trying to get her tail to hit my plate… Calgon take me away! So I get up, close the door with both of them inside, and retreat to the peace and tranquility of the kitchen to eat my meal.

There is no such thing as a free lunch… not anymore… for now.

"Progress"

We had multiple instances of Maverick and Madison with their noses within inches of each other, now they finally touched noses! Seems as long as my face is between them, no or little hissing and barking. Now both are pooped out on either side of me. A big day for them indeed!

Maverick seems to like my Molson Ice, no he licked the top of the bottle, he's a 3 month old kitten, no booze! Maverick also very interested in my chocolate cake. Well, now I can see why he & I bonded!

Madison seems to be stressing some. Every time they get nose to nose, she starts to pace and then chew feverishly on her bone.

All in all a full, rich, fine day! We all will sleep well tonight!