Livin' In a Cat House

It's official, I live in a cat house.
 
It wasn't always this way.  My husband and I, still in the giggly stages of newlyweddom, decided to buy a house after living in a duplex our first married year.  We looked around and found a 2 bedroom bungalow with a finished upstairs and a full basement.  Perfect for our kids, his two and my one.  The day we moved in was during a nice "January in Ohio" blizzard.  We survived the move in, the kids found their rooms, all was well.

That first year, the furnace broke down during the coldest days of winter, the basement flooded during the rainiest days of spring, and the a/c died during the hottest days of summer.  Everything was repaired, all was well.

Time moves on.  11 years of home ownership, and we've survived it all.  Storms, kids, neighbors and everything else you could think of, all was well.

I decided to adopt a cat last October.  "Elizabeth Taylor - Hilton - Wilding - Todd - Fisher - Burton - Burton - Warner - Fortensky" or "Lizzy Boo" for short, is a sweetheart black and white, domestic shorthair cat.  I adopted her and she adopted me.  I love my Lizzy Boo.  She follows me all around the house, and has to lay right up against me when she sleeps.  One cat in the house was fine, all is well, until........

We decided it was time for my Mother to move in.  (cue "Jaws" music)  My Mom is a great lady, fantastic cook, and all around the best Mom ever.  ("Jaws" music getting louder)  I love my Mom and we're very close, so the whole move was no problem. ("Jaws" music getting even louder)  My Mom has three cats, DJ, Pixie, and Pumpkin (or Meowzebub as I call her). 

Don't get me wrong, I love animals.  We grew up with cats, dogs, hamsters, fish etc. so I have no problem with pets or animals in general.  All of my animals are rescues and I donate to different animal rescue groups, but 4 cats in a house is a lot of fur.

It's been four months now.  Thanks to "Arm & Hammer", there is no litter box smell, but everywhere I step there's a cat.  I don't know how they do it.  You would swear there are 8 or 10 cats around by the way they can be everywhere at once.  Sitting down in the living room to watch TV, there's a cat in the chair.  Head into the bathroom, there's a cat in there.  I've started closing my bedroom door due to rolling over on a cat in my sleep - oh that's fun - the cat screaming, me screaming - I had nightmares for a week.

I can't get rid of any of them though.  They each have very distinct personalities, and I've come to love them all.  So, I keep a lint roller in my purse and kitty treats by the door.  I never, ever, thought I'd live in a cat house, but I do - and I wouldn't have it any other way.

The Raw Emotion of 3am

It's 3:00 in the morning.  Where are you?  Sleeping, working, praying, playing?

Typically, I'd be sound asleep with visions of Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman dancing in my head.
Not tonight - no, my slumber is stolen, my dreams interrupted by this hideous disease known as Dermatomyositis.

My skin is red, hot, burning.  No relief in sight.  Cool showers make it worse.  Creams or ointments have no effect. 

I found two bags of frozen shredded zucchini in my freezer.  One on my arm, the other on my chest. Ahhhhh.........a moment of relief.

All this because the insurance company is dragging their feet on the renewal of my medication approval.

Without this medication, my skin will get worse to the point of open ulcers on my arms, back and chest.  My legs and arms have started weakening and eventually I won't be able to walk. 

As it is, internally I have a fire as well.  My muscles and some organs inflamed.  Waiting for the IV Meds.  I want to scream.  This has been my life the past few nights.  It's just getting to be to much for me to handle anymore.

Memorial Day, It's Not About the Cookout

Have you ever read, "The Constitution of the United States of America"?  I understand if you haven't, it's not an easy read.  Honestly, I have yet to finish it in its entirety.  That will change this Memorial Day.

I know it's great to have a three day weekend, but as you're eating that hot dog or hanging out with friends and family, take time to realize what this day is about.  It's a day of remembrance.  To remember those that have served, and are currently serving, in our military. It's a day to remember those that never returned, and those that did.

This day touches us all.  Everyone knows someone who has served.  Many of us know someone that has returned injured, physically or mentally.  So many people killed, hurt, maimed.  For what?  What is it all for?

FREEDOM

They serve because I can't.  They took a bullet because I couldn't.  They lost their limbs so I wouldn't.  They sacrificed everything so I can live free.  They gave of themselves to protect our rights, to protect our Constitution, to protect us.

How can the government these folks fought and died to protect treat our veterans so bad?  We need to be mad, and we need to make changes to protect them.  The current mess of the Veterans Administration can't be swept under a rug.  They've protected us, let us now provide for them.  Start calling, writing, screaming to our Congressmen and Senators to take care of our Veterans.

Today and everyday - remember their sacrifice.  Enjoy your freedom - it takes a lot of blood to keep it.