Many new changes since I last blogged

Hmmm, where to start?  I just logged in for the first time in several years and realize all of the changes in our lives.  We lost Granny Jane in Maryland later that year of our visit. She was truly one of a kind and a national treasure.  We also lost the hubby's grandparents in Ohio.  Grandma past 2 years ago and Grandpa passed away last month.  That's the main bad stuff.

On to the good stuff.  We bought a house 4 years ago! Truly a fun experience after apartment living for too many years.  We adopted another kitten/schmelding.  We got another calico and her name is Binnie.  She is the most mischievous animal I've ever met. She's about 7 months old now. The rest of our fur babies are all older and settled so she has brought some much needed spunk into the household.

We have some upcoming changes in the near future that I may blog about when they happen.  For now, we are taking life as it comes our way and enjoying all the world has to offer.

Catching up with Summer Events

I've done some reconstruction to my Blog. I hope you like it. You too can get cute background for your blog at The Cutest Blog on the Block. They have a lot of free options available or you can pay them to do it for you. The have a great explanation on how to do many great things. So don't suffer from a boring blog, head over to see the girls at cutest blog on the block.

The kittens are doing great, I am happy to report. Stubby hops in my lap every night, before Skinny has a chance to. He's not too happy about that. Skinny is still spoiled and bratty. Bookie continues to be the best little snuggle butt in the house. Everyone is healthy. Harley has a nice home with his Daddy. They make a cute couple. Harley's Daddy has some personal dealings to sort out but I know things will soon turn up for them. Harley did recently have a flare up of his bladder infection. I was very proud that his owner took him to the vet.

We have done a lot of traveling this summer. We went to a small town in Ohio, where my hubby is from. His grandparents were celebrating their 50th anniversary. His cousin was also graduating from high school. We met his Mom, step-Dad, and little brother from California, their in Ohio. We had a great time!

Three weeks later, we traveled to Baltimore, MD for a surprise visit to Brian's other grandmother's house. The surprise was for his Mom and brother. This was my favorite trip! We went to Washington D.C. I can cross that off of my "Bucket List". We ate crab til our eyeballs popped out. It was like a scene from Forest Gump: Crab bisque, crab soup, crab balls, crab cakes, crab dip. We left the day that we were invited to a crab boil. I love crab and all, but we may have overdone it. We went to the Country Club of Maryland, that was a highlight for us! The food was great and it had a wonderful atmosphere. Unfortunately, I did not take pictures, we were very tired and very imbibed.

We went to DC on July 3rd. I haven't done that much walking - ever! We saw many of the Smithsonian Museums. They were preparing for the big event on the 4th at the Capitol. We shot off "fountain" fireworks at Granny Jane's house. I was a little disappointed that we couldn't even shoot off bottle rockets, but the fountain fireworks were beautiful and exciting!

This has been a very trying year for us. One of our friends was robbed and shot. I can't help to wonder if the increase in crime in our area is directly related to the declining economy. We've had too many other bad things to list or bother you with. We can only wish that things will get better. That statement is our current household motto. Here's hoping for a better rest of the year.

I miss Harley

We finally got Harley to his new home. I hear he is fitting in well with his new bachelor Daddy. I think they work well for each other. Harley definitely does not miss us as much as we miss him. I have some pictures I'll put up next time. He even has a kitty friend he yells back and forth to from the window. He got along well with Bill's mom's dog - pumpkin. He knew he would win in that fight. She doesn't visit very often, so that is not a problem Harley will be worried about. His new Mommy (Daddy) lets him snuggle up and sleep next to him. They've been good for each other.

Have a nice day!
The Pampered Kittens

This is Bookie - the fat guy. He thinks he's a puppy.

Here we have the new kitten Harley. He put himself in this bag.

This is Skinny, Momma's heart and the most spoiled in the house, maybe in the world.

This is the introduction of Harley into general population, he had been in administrative segregation. He and Skinny had to sort out the hierarchy of top cat with urinary problems.

Here's a few pics of Harley. We think he is very handsome. He thinks that as well.

Easter festivities and Kitten Updates

It seems I'm not the only one with an animal related blog. Many of us are in tuned and in love with our pets. The article I found on CNN describes how many of us are related to our pets and even speaking for them in today's world.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/03/21/dog.blog/index.html

We've been busy lately with Mardi Gras. Here's a brief update. My Mardi Gras float caught on fire and I stated a cuss word in the local newspaper which was seen nationwide. I'm happy to report that we were all OK and continued our ride once the flames were doused. You can't take the drunkest redneck and interview them and expect to get an intelligent account of activities. We celebrated St. Paddy's day in New Orleans. We watched one of the kissing bandits studying one of our drunken crew members and get his leg ran over - and crushed. We acquired a fourth kitten - Harley. He apparently has a tee tee problem too. So, I've taken him to the vet and given him the appropriate meds and foods. He's a bad ass little cat now. I've even found him a home. He beats up our cats - he's just an adolescent but he has claws. We're having him a going away party today and tonight. I must say I'm a bit relieved to have him a home, as I'm tired of scooping so much poop. You know what I'm talking about. Everyone else is doing well.

Skinny is still chewing on his tail. I think he has a nervous problem, or when he gets upset or depressed. So far we have refused to put him on antidepressants. I just can't see pumping him up with those things. He's the love of my life, but he is a cat you know.

Stubby the old girl hasn't gotten used to the youngster Harley in the house. She spits and hisses every opportunity she has at him. He picks his battles wisely with regards to her. We allow him to rough up Bookie the fatty and Skinny is a butthole in his own right. They can handle themselves. But we draw the line with Stubby.

At any rate, we're all good and getting ready to celebrate Easter this weekend at our friend's Mom's house. The kittens will have "fake tuna" for their celebration. This is a treat the Harley has become accustomed to. I learned it was much easier to feed him the antibiotics mixed in with water and wet Purina Ur cat food. I'm a sneaky babe like that. We hope to try to start on a family this year. We'll keep you updated. I'm sure once that happens this blog will be history!

I will leave you with a few Easter facts:

Easter Facts
-The first Easter baskets were made to look like bird's nests.

-The traditional act of painting eggs is called Pysanka.

-The custom of giving eggs at Easter time has been traced back to Egyptians, Persians, Gauls, Greeks and Romans, to whom the egg was a symbol of life.

-In medieval times a festival of egg-throwing was held in church, during which the priest would throw a hard-boiled egg to one of the choir boys. It was then tossed from one choir boy to the next and whoever held the egg when the clock struck 12 was the winner and retained the egg.

-Easter is now celebrated (in the words of the Book of Common Prayer) on the first Sunday after the full moon which happens on or after March 21, the Spring Equinox.

-Easter Bonnets are a throw back to the days when the people denied themselves the pleasure of wearing fine angels for the duration of Lent.

-Some Churches still keep up the old tradition of using evergreens - symbolic of eternal life - embroidered in red on white, or woven in straw, but most now prefer displays of flowers in the spring colours of green, yellow and white.

-Americans celebrate Easter with a large Easter egg hunt on the White House Lawn.
Every year at Easter Pope John Paul sends his " Urbi et Orbi " to the world.

-The date of Passover is variable as it is dependent on the phases of the moon, and thus Easter is also a movable feast.

Getting ready for Turkey Day (or the day after)

Yes, I'm guilty, I used to feed leftovers to Skinny - he's the only one that would eat them -especially on Turkey Day. But now I've resorted to a mixture of Bonker treats and wet Purina urinary formula in a can. Believe it or not they actually enjoy the treat. I still tell them that it's tuna time! This year they will wait it out until Black Friday - a shopping day for most. We will be away on the day of. Maybe we'll leave a TV on for them. I do wonder if I'm being silly when I do leave a TV and a light on for the schmeldings when we're gone. I at least feel less guilty and that's what it's all about!


I still don't know what to do about Skinny. I've found new spots that he's licking so much, it leaves a sore. He knows he shouldn't do it. When I fuss at him about it, he instantly has a guilty stance and expression, and he stops, if only for a minute. Maybe he needs kitten prozac, and momma needs big cat prozac! Well, he's a bass-turd and will be heading to the vet again shortly. Seems like our lives are a few peaceful moments capped by visits to the vet. (or doctor's offices)

It's been a tough year for me, Big Daddy, and the Schmeldings. We're looking forward to a fabulous 2008.

Kittens say: Gobble gobble you turkeys

Here are some fun facts related to turkeys: http://www.kidzone.ws/animals/turkey.htm

A joke about cooking a turkey:

How to cook a Turkey...

-Go buy a turkey

- Take a drink of whiskey (scotch) OR JD

- Put turkey in the oven -

-Take another 2 drinks of whiskey

- Set the degree at 375 ovens

- Take 3 more whiskeys of drink - Turn oven the on

- Take 4 whisks of drinky

- Turk the bastey

- Whiskey another bottle of get

- Stick a turkey in the thermometer

- Glass yourself a pour of whiskey

- Bake the whiskey for 4 hours

- Take the oven out of the turkey

- Take the oven out of the turkey

- Floor the turkey up off of the pick

- Turk the carvey

- Get yourself another scottle of botch

- Tet the sable and pour yourself a glass of turkey

- Bless the saying, pass and eat out

Skinny is now actively chewing his tail off. We cannot figure out why. Vet thinks due to flea allergies. We seriously don't have fleas. So, Skinny may begin to look like a relative of Stubberina with no tail. She's a japanese bobtail, ya know. Well we've endured a lot lately, including surgeries, poor health and sick family members. This is why I haven't posted in a while. Not to mention the fact that I have been very lazy also. Take care. The Pampered Kittens

Home from our cruise to Mexico

I've just come home from a very much needed vacation to Mexico on a cruise. I decided to post these irresistibly cute pictures of the Schmeldings. The first one is Skinny. Next is Stubby. The last one is Bookie. Hopefully you can see why they cause the Momma cat to be homesick while on vacation. I couldn't wait to get home, even though we had the time of our lives.

Here are the boys snuggling on the couch. The next pic was taken by the daddy cat without my knowing. This is the normal sleeping arrangement both on the couch and in bed. Except in bed Stubby shnoggles next to big d. We have very little room to actually get comfortable, but we wouldn't have it any other way. We love our little family.

This is me on the back of the ship on the way to Cozumel. We had an incredible time. We went with 180 people from my mardi gras society. I'm beat, not to mention hungover. Have a good week!

In Sickness and in Health

I have recently acquired a nasty cold and respiratory infection. It started Sat morning with a sore throat and has progressed and worsened. It was to the point that I had to call in sick to work yesterday. In 5 yrs at my current job, I have called in no more than 3 or 4 times. I had the feverish chills and nasty old man cough. My schmeldings reminded me of why we keep them and take good care of them. They snuggled up with me all day in bed. Sometimes they worked in shifts. The boys always made sure that one if not both were taking good care of the momma cat. The only kitten that did not participate was Stubby, the old gal. I couldn't help but worry if they could possibly catch a human virus. I know that most likely they can't but, one can't help but wonder. I was very thankful to have my own version of pet therapy curled up right next to me in my bed yesterday. It really does make a difference. They love us humans both in sickness and in health, and especially when they are really hungry! I did make it to work today. Hopefully getting back to normal will help me feel better before my cruise next Thursday! I noticed last night Big Daddy started feeling yucky. Normally only one of us get sick at a time! Our 2nd anniversary will be Tuesday, so maybe we will be back to normal by then.

Forgotten pics posted

I forgot to post these cute upclose pics of Skinny, the bad cat. He looks very distinguished, don't you think? I also took pics of him as "mother mary". He often does this pose on his own, however we had to pose him for this one. You can never get to a camera when you need it.

Have a good weekend!

Cute Kittens and The Atlanta Aquarium pics

Here, Bookie is dreaming of goldfish and tuna. I did disturb his beauty rest with the flash on my camera. He sleeps 23 hours a day. Notice his Cindy Crawford type mole near his nose. This is how he received the nickname "Crawford Bear". I know it's hard to keep up with all of the aliases we give the kittens, but it's fun to confuse them.

This is the petting pond of stingrays. There was also a small shark in this tank. The stingrays seemed to enjoy human interaction. They would brush against your hand so that is rubbed on top of their head, much like the Schmeldings do. I was too chicken to pet the shark.

This big turtle came out of a shadowy corner in one of the tanks. We were amazed at his size. He quickly scooted away into the darkness.

The Beluga whales were the star of the show. They enjoyed human interactions too. They seemed to smile at everyone. I was mesmerized and could have watched them for hours.

This penguin reminded me of Skinny. Do you see the resemblance? The volunteers came in everyday to clean the football field sized tanks. They don't get paid with money, only with lots of smiles and flashes (by cameras, not by ladies).

This was a very impressive large fish. Skinny could eat this guy for a whole year.







I found this R2D2 painted mailbox on the streets of Atlanta in front of our hotel. Considering my hubby is a Star Wars "freak", he was thoroughly amused.

I hope you have enjoyed our pictures. If you are ever in Atlanta, I highly recommend the Aquarium. I also highly recommend going on a Sunday at 8:00am. The enormous crowds prevented us from going Saturday. We had around 3 hours that were virtually tourist free.

Now I have to get the cats off of my side of the bed so that I can get some sleep. Have a great weekend.

Kittens on Vacation

You see, anytime we go on vacation, when we come home we always ask the kitties where have they been. We also inquire where "they" went on vacation. This turns the tables on them so that they can't be mad at us if they are the ones who actually left us. I figure if we confuse them long enough, they'll actually fall for it. Surprisingly, this never works, go figure! When we came home this time, the cats were "on the 5th" with us. They got better eventually, but that only lasted until we gave them their hairball treatments last night. Now, we're on their poop list. Even the pretty little princess was upset with the big cats. Until, of course, we went to bed. None of the schmelders can resist making a big cat pile with the big cats at night. Especially Stubby girl. She curls up right next to big daddy and doesn't move at all. You might think this sounds really neat, but it becomes exhausting for big d trying to remember not to squish or kick the girl every time he moves or gets out of bed. I have my own nighttime debacles. Skinny, the bad cat, sleeps directly on top of me every night. When I turn, he walks me like a log. Bookie likes to sneak in between us and curl up with his fluffy tail in my face. But, all in all everything works out just fine. We enjoy going on vacation, but we always miss our babies. That's the main reason we get home sick, well memory foam on our comfy bed makes us homesick too!

A necessary mechanism for survival - me?

Skinny - the bad cat - has figured out how to be cuter than a newborn baby to entice me to refill his food bowl. All of the kittens think their bowls should remain full at all times of day. If by chance the bowl happens to stay empty over night, all three kittens pile up in the bed with the "big cats" (that's us) and lay on us in case we have forgotten to feed them. Feeding time is a booger around here. The turds manage to get under your feet and in your way as you are trying to get to the food area. Then they just end up getting the boot - literally.

I must say that I secretly enjoy all of the sweetness oozing from the Schmeldings around feeding time. It makes me feel appreciated, rather than a necessary mechanism for survival.

Schmelding = another name for kittens
Kitten Pile = kittens piled up in your bed leaving you only millimeters for sleeping

Update on previous entry

I am happy to report Stubby has a clean bill of health. We will alter her diet with old lady food and gastro-sensitive foods until we find one that works well for her. We also got some hairball remedy. With three Schmeldings, we have a lot of hairballs! I am nursing my bad nerves with a cocktail currently to soothe my soul from the rough vet visit. Stubby never goes anywhere, nor does she want to. She squawked the entire time. She was a very brave old bird though. She will get lots of bonkers tonight!

A Vet Visit for The Princess

We will be going to the vet today with Stubby. She's been vomiting a lot more than normal lately. She even vomits on the bed often. I have turned my mattress forty-two times! I know she's considered a "senior" at her age of 12 now. I'm hoping there will be some food alterations that will cure her unladylike behavior. I am requesting them to do some blood work on her to make sure everything is within normal limits. I'm preparing for the visit by drinking a glass of wine. Stubby does not even dare go out on the patio without freaking out. So, I'm certain I am in for a fun filled afternoon. Of course I will re post with the outcome.
Purrs and Kisses!

Vet visits are stressful for everyone!

I decided to take Skinny, the bad cat, to the vet last Friday. It has been 2 years since his perineal urethrostomy. We haven't been back for a struvite crystal test. We should go about once a year to make sure the very expensive and special cat food we eat is increasing the acidity of the urine and pH as well, enough to fight the formation of the crystals. But, with inside cats, taking them anywhere is a stressful adventure. I try telling them we are going on a field trip when we must evacuate for hurricanes. Somehow they just don't buy it. We received good news from the vet who had to use an ultrasound to locate Skinny's bladder to draw off urine. I realized at that point we were in for a much more invasive visit than either of us anticipated! Skinny also received some injections to update his vaccines. He didn't have any signs of crystals - yeah! Our only option if the food didn't fight it well enough would be to give him medicine, which neither of us would enjoy.

Once we got home safely, and with beer in hand, Skinny got "tuna", which is his struvite food in a wet formula from a can. Momma cat had beer, Skinny and the others got "tuna"! After 2 years you'd think they would forget the sound of you opening the certain drawer that the can opener is located in and opening a can of anything. Skinny never ever forgets any of those familiar sounds. He perks up and meows like crazy. Making tuna salad is out of the question. He will not let you eat it in peace. There's just no way to eat it without feeling very guilty. Just like Stubby never ignores the pouring of milk over cereal - the daddy cat gave her milk one time several years ago - we now have beggars forever! But, they are awesome and wonderful cats that each have their own way of working their way into your heart. I also wouldn't let the daddy cat hold Skinny too much - which Skinny enjoyed thoroughly, due to the possible soreness he may have encountered from any of the injections. I did tell you that Skinny only like the momma cat and whomever happens to be feeding him, briefly.




I assure you we did not pose these cats in this position. This is a natural state for these two brothers. It never gets old, we crack up laughing and make fun of them every time we see them in this compromising position!!

Introducing the Pampered Kittens

We have 3 cats that we refer to as: Schmeldings. We revolve our lives around them. At any given moment I may have at least one in my lap and one sitting beside me. Often after dinner, I acquire the trifecta, all three lying on "Mommy mountain". The amount of hairballs and fur collections we accumulate is very shocking. We try very hard to keep up with the day to day care of the animals, but it is overwhelming!

I'll introduce myself with the name my friends call me, BoBo. My hubby is Big Daddy. The rest of the family includes Stubby the Princess, she's around 12 years old. We also have Bookie, he's around 7, he's the lover of the family, never meeting a stranger. Skinny is the turd that only likes me. He is about 6 years old. Being the youngest of the three, he has also encountered the most health problems. He was abandoned in our neighborhood. Two years ago his urinary tract was blocked and $1,200 later we opted to have a perineal urethrostomy. It's almost like a sex change for him. We feed all three the especially expensive food to prevent the build up of struvite crystals.

I'm not sure how often I'll post here, but I thought we might enjoy blogging about our lives.
Can you guess who is who?