Koko update and news of other furry critters

Hello again - is there anybody out there? Can anybody hear me?  Is there anyone there?  Would make a good song you think?

Before I forget, here a couple pictures of Buddy the latest addition to the 'pride'.

 I have to dump him off the washing machine to do laundry.  He gets a perfect view of the birds in the woods from here.  Also gets a kick out of watching the dogs when they are out on the overhead line.


<<----And one of Polar Bear and Charlie 'discussing' ownership of a bone

Needless to say, Charlie ended up with  it and Polar Bear feigned disinterest---->>

As for Koko, here she is causing mischief.  She is waiting to attack Buddy when he emerges from the kitty litter pan!  Poor guy can't even use the litter in private.

Regarding the extra potent antibiotic she was on for a couple of weeks for her eye socket; there is good news sort of.  It appears to have stopped the seepage.  Why sort of good news?  Cause if it stopped it that means there was infection all this time and it wasn't just a tear duct or something that hadn't been removed.  If the seepage starts again either way the socket has to be re-opened (4th time!) per the new vet.  So far so good.  No mushiness or swelling and she doesn't seem to be inclined to rub it against things so keep your fingers crossed for her.

I was going to go to Northern Ohio to visit my Uncle today cause he isn't doing all that well and we don't know how much longer he will be able to recognize people at all.  I was going to take the Blazer cause he uses a walker and it is easier for him to climb into a larger vehicle (I was going to try to convince him to go to breakfast-not easy to do) than to try and crawl into my teeny Saturn.  Unfortunately, even tho the Blazer has a brand new battery and is parked in the garage, it wouldn't start.  Not even a whimper.  Leads me to believe electrical somewhere altho nothing seems to have been left on.  It is trickle charging now to see if it will start tomorrow.  Just as well cause we had a nasty ice storm here and they had nasty weather up there too.  

Worse than that was the fact that the hard contact lens in my right eye apparently has a nick in it and has scratched my eye.  I can't keep it on center.  I move my eye I feel like I have a stick poked in it and away goes the contact to never-never land.  So I had to take it out and function with just the left contact for the last two days.  (And I am REALLY blind without them!!!!.  No. REALLY!!!!) I found an older lens so will try to stick that in my eye after it has had a rest.  Then call the eye Dr. tomorrow for an appointment and more $$$$.  I need to try and get a cheap (yeah right.  Cheap.) pair of glasses to use in an emergency.  Unfortunately my eyes are such that I can't get near the amount of correction out of glasses as I can with contacts. Sigh.  

Guess I will wait til warmer weather to visit my Uncle anyway cause then I can leave the three big dogs in the garage kennel and my neighbors will keep Charlie in their garage in a crate and walk him a couple of times a day.  He is still small enough he can squirm out of the portion of the kennel in the garage and there are too many potentially fatal things for him to chew/eat in there!!!!  Cats can stay on their own for a day or so as long as I leave food out for any that don't make it in the house before I leave.  They have a restricted entrance to a pet house outside so most of the wild animals can't get to it.

Per my concerns, Buddy has snuck out several times.  Was kindof funny to watch him toboggan across the deck and through the railing posts after this ice storm!  One surprised kitty!  Then watching him try to get traction on his rapid way back to the door to come back in was priceless.

Poor Slim, on the other hand is middle aged and has some pretty bad arthritis so he didn't want to go out at all.  I had to carry him across the icy deck to the grass.  In the process I nearly put Buddy to shame with my own form of tobogganing.

Beautiful Ohio weather.  You don't like it?  Wait five minutes and it will change.

-me

Koko and crew in the new year

Koko went to a different vet for a second opinion the other day.  We are trying a much more potent, all encompassing antibiotic for two weeks.  If that doesn't stop her eye socket seepage we may have to consider opening her up - again.  This vet says it can be any one of a number of things but doesn't feel it is a major concern.

She also has what I was afraid was another hernia down on her belly between her back legs.  I can grab it and it fills my fist.  He checked it out and said there was good news...sort of.  It isn't a hernia it is FAT!  A very defined ball of wobbly fat!  Says it will just wiggle to and fro and not cause any harm.  Putting her on a diet would be of limited effectiveness with this kind of pocket fat.  Sheeze!  She is just like her human!

I have stopped giving her the special kitty milk and she sticks her nose up in the air and walks away from most canned cat food, the milk was her favorite, so all she is eating is the regular dry cat food now.

Charlie is also a stocky little sucker.   The whole family is tubby!  And the one ear up, one down thing?  Looks like that is the way things are going to stay.  He is improving regarding potty training but the chewing is driving me nuts.  I bought what was supposed to be an indestructible toy made out of canvas.  Didn't last a full day! 
He finds things I didn't remember owning and destroys them.  Sometimes to the point I don't recognize them so I don't miss them that much!  8-}  I know he will grow out of it but will somebody adopt him.  PLEASE!!!!

I had to hide all of Slims squeaky toys cause Charlies' idea of 'playing' with them is to absolutely destroy them within minutes.  VERY sharp little teeth.  And poor Slim likes to sleep with his squeakies.  He treats them like pacifiers by grabbing a hunk of the squeaky in his mouth and holding it there while he falls asleep.  He is NOT happy that his pacifier is no longer available.   

Oh well.  The new kitty, Buddy, (no pictures yet) is doing well and gets along with just about everybody.  Keeps trying to sneak out the door when I let the dogs out so I suppose he will succeed eventually.  All I can do is hope he doesn't wander off too far in to the woods and become coyote or fox food before he learns his territory.  Some of the other cats are always outside so he will probably stick around. 

On a personal note, I had an interview with the County Veterans Society for a job.  I felt reasonably confident about it.  I was one of three finalists and they said they wanted to make a decision quickly but... I have heard nothing back from them.  They are closed today and for the weekend so I may do a follow-up call next week.

Meantime I had to spend more money on my 'new' vehicle, a 95 blazer.  It went down the road like a big boat, wandering all over the place and scaring the crap out of me.  Apparently lower ball joints are in bad shape so bought them and will have them put on as soon as I can. 

Then the tail pipe came loose and the 'new' muffler (a teeny little round thing off of a Pinto or somesuch) was already rusty so nothing to clamp the tail pipe back onto.  I had to take it to a weld shop.  Exhaust consisted of multiple size pipes and a teeny round muffler from a pinto or some such.  Catalytic converter is small and bright blue which I am told means the fuel/air mixture apparently isn't right so that is something to add to the list.  I had him burn a hole in part of the pipe and insert a fitting for the missing oxygen sensor that is apparently/hopefully what is causing the "Service Engine Soon" idiot light to stay on all the time.  Soon as I can afford to buy that I will put it in and have the sensor reset.  Altho if the converter is any indicator it may come right back on again even with the sensor.

Bought used tires, which should last for a while and will be going to the junkyard to try and find a radio that works.  Bought new struts to hold the back window up when I open it and got a 'new' rear view mirror from a friend.  Replaced a headlight and had new body panel welded in and dents pulled out of passenger door.   All in all I decided to withhold part of the payment/trade I had offered for the vehicle.  That didn't go over well with the guys I got it from.  I will start piecing it together once I start working so I have it ready to drive by this summer.  Hopefully.

 

Whether or not I get the job with the veterans I should probably get the one with the local grocery store part time.  I am waiting to hear from her as they are having some issues at their new location.  My 'retirement' payments started Jan 1st so I at least have a bit to tide me over for a while.  Life is never dull.

Polar Bear is sniffing at the computer room door...  that means he wants to go out.

More later...

-me

Happy New Year to all......

Koko is doing pretty well.  Has a bothersome cough almost sounding like she has a bone caught in her throat but nothing visible.  She has been on several programs of Amoxycillin and other antibiotics so not sure what the issue is.  Her bad eye socket has started seeping again - a small amount but seeping none-the-less so I suspect an infection of some type.  It doesn't appear to have any swelling or puss, just clear seepage.  I will try to get her to another vet this week for another opinion.  If that doesn't provide any relief I will probably take her to the vet in Cinci I volunteer for when he has clinics in Adams County as he seems to be very good. Expensive kitty that Koko.    Meanwhile her assumption that she is the queen around here is keeping things lively.

Another new kitty came from the young men who used to do some work around my house for me and baby-sit the animals when I had to go out of town.  They saw it dumped in an intersection and rescued it but the cat (Buddy) was an intact male and their other animals were NOT amused.  So of course, I went to get him and immediately took him to the vet to be tested for FeLV.  After he tested negative he came home and in a large dog crate for a day til the majority of the hissing was done.  Then out and about for two days til he went in to be neutered.  He is a handsome gray short hair with light tiger stripes and beautiful green eyes.  He is a lover, plays with Koko - running all over the house.  Also plays with Charlie and the others so for the most part things are going well.  Vet estimated him to be less than 1 year old.  He keeps trying to sneak outside tho so I suspect come summer he will be an in/out kitty.

Charlie is... Charlie.  He behaved better when I first brought him home than he does now.  Definitely a puppy and MOST definitely a chewer.  Books, paperback or hardcover, he isn't choosy, are going fast if I am not careful.  One leash, the power cord for my portable DVD player (last puppy Nameless did the same thing!) and thinks the kitty litter pans are buffets!  Gross.  He is getting a little better but if I can get him adopted his new family will know up front they still have some training to do.  At least he is paper trained so if he can't hold it overnight it isn't a disaster.

Slim is doing OK, seems to be slowing down more and more but no new growths other than the small one on his bottom lip so that is a good thing.  He had been a bit overwhelmed and grumpy about Charlie and still is if he gets too obnoxious but they have actually started play fighting now and then so that seems to be working out.

Polar Bear and Chica play fight with Charlie-The-Obnoxious all the time and tear the house apart.  They will usually settle down and look guilty if I yell at them tho so for the most part we are surviving.  The house is a zoo... everywhere you look there are cats; I feel like a cat lady and it is a bit worrisome.  But so far it is working out, the cats usually get along and I clean the multiple litter pans 2 times a day so have no problem there.  Problem is the money it takes for cat food and cat litter... adds up much quicker than you would think.

Speaking of money, I have an important job interview this coming Wednesday with the County Vet Admin/Services group here in town and I am hopeful.  I went out and bought some 'interview' duds.   Had to be a veteran to apply and neighborhood scuttlebutt says they are friendly, laid back people.  Looking for an administrative assistant so I am very excited although I am apparently one of several who will be interviewing with the entire Board of Commissioners.  I think there are 5 on the board... will have to check before I go.  Will probably feel like I am on trial... Yeeeeehhhhaaaaa!

The same day I got the call from them I got a call from a locally owned grocery store asking me if I wanted to start with them - immediately - as in THAT DAY!  Sheeze!  After all this time of NOTHING I get two calls in the same day.  I think I have it worked out to where I will start part time for the grocery tomorrow or Tuesday (Jan 2 or 3).  They know about my interview on Jan 4 and understand that if I am lucky enough to get the job with the Vet Svcs group I would only be available to work for them some part time on weekends and maybe evenings.  If I don't get that job she wants me for up to 32 - 38 hours a week so what the heck.  She is understanding, (we met and talked a couple of times) and now that my retirement has started (got my first check Saturday), even at minimum wage (less than $8/hour) it will be enough to live on if I am careful.  Also, either one of them is but a 15-minute drive.  Maybe the New Year will work out OK.

Super windy and chilly today but so far this winter hasn't been much of a winter temperature wise.  We had our first snow, just a teeny dusting, the day after Christmas but otherwise it has been in the 40's and even 50's with a day or two in the 60's.  I keep the thermostat set at 60 degrees and wear a hoodie in the house most of the time.  Keep my ceramic heater going in the bedroom if I want to go in and lay in bed to read a book.  So far am using a lot less propane so that will help too.  Meanwhile I am hoping the wind doesn't damage or even blow down my car size canvas garage cause it is REALLY strong and gusty today!  That would NOT be a good thing to see that sailing through the neighborhood.

OK.  Enough rambling.  I hope everyone had a good New Years Eve and there is a better year ahead for all of us.

-me

Slim, Polar Bear, Chica & Charlie

Koko, Shaggy, Lucky, Sid Vicious, Newbie, Scruffy, Lil Red, Taz & Buddy

      Remembering Puss Puss & Luke