ManCat Monday, Carlos and Zeuss Style

Carlos and Zeuss are two of our extended family that were returned to us back in May 2013, because of inappropriate urination issues, one of the most common reasons cats are surrendered to shelters! You can read more about them here, a post we did right after they arrived: 

http://furrydancecats.blogspot.com/2013/06/simply-sunday-evening.html

They have both been very good boys while they have been here, other than Carlos having a penchant for chewing holes in socks and almost severing the foot on the catnip duckie Teri gave him. 

He probably has some separation anxiety issues as he digs up the carpeting by the door to their bedroom and by the closet doors, too. So Teri has put down plastic to keep him from doing that and they are both on a low dose of anxiety medication, too, to see if that helps.

Zeuss has relaxed a lot since he first arrived and is quite the gymnast, as you can see from these photos!

They both love being brushed, especially Zeuss, who will flop over on his side when Teri walks in their room. They both have thick, luxuriant coats and actually shed quite a bit, so it's good they like to be brushed!

They have a family waiting for them that wants to adopt them together, and Teri is very excited about that. But there are a lot of 'what if's' still that could prevent that from happening.

First, they have to move back to Virginia from Hawaii, which they are doing next month. Then the Dad has to find a job. Then they have to find a house. Then they have a new baby coming in November, to add to their family of one son and two doggies...

But, Carlos and Zeuss used to have kids to call buddies and while they have never been around dogs, this family filled out Teri's Adoption Application with very good answers and Teri talks to them often. Both Mom and Dad are on the same page as far as wanting to adopt these two kitties, and have worked through many issues with the dogs (and not just given them up!), so Teri is hopeful this will be the right forever home for them...even if it takes a while to come to be.

That would be one less worry for Teri 

and one more happy Cornish Rex family, too!

Simply Sunday Evening, Sammy Style

Sammy got to spend some time out in the tent today

...here's a little 'slideshow' of him!

Caturday Saturday

Kely, who has a thing or two to say!

So much has happened at our place in the past few weeks, we cats aren't sure we know what it's all about.

So today, Caturday, we are letting Teri tell the story from her perspective, since our perspective is probably kinda skewed.

We are still getting our stinky goodness (though Teri says it's the cheaper version) and we are still getting our snuggletime with Teri...more of it, even and we don't think that's bad (but Teri says snuggletime doesn't pay the rent).

And we know that we still have lotsa kitties we are 'fostering' because their families gave them up (Carlos and Zeuss, and Kely and Bebe) and Teri hasn't worked very hard on finding them new homes, with everything else that is happening! Though a family has spoken for Carlos and Zeuss, they can't adopt them until the move back to Virginia in the fall.

Carlos and Zeuss (Brothers)

Kely and Bebe (Mother and Daughter)

Anyway, here's where we let Teri take over...

Hi friendly followers of our blog. If someone had asked me 3 months ago, how the rest of my year was going to be...I would have said Great!

There was BlogPaws to attend in May, something I look forward to every year and because it was in my neck of the woods, all 3 Fashionistas would be able to attend with me.

Then there was the Wigglebutt Wedding in June, and besides being a fantastic way to raise funds for Life's Little Paws Cocker Spaniel Rescue, it would be a chance for the Fashion Cats and I to meet up with some Fashionistas dogs that we only knew as Facebook friends.

And I had registered for Barkworld and was going to drive down to Atlanta with a fellow blogger, Carol from Coffee, Cats n' Yarn, and we would have fun meeting some new blogging friends as well as learning a thing or two. Of course, those plans had to be set aside...

I was let go from my job of 11 years, working at an all feline veterinary hospital. It was not my decision to up and leave a job that rounded out a life that was... Cats 24/7.

So, now what to do? I am trying to make my job hunting a job. Getting up, showering and getting dressed, working on job searches and applications for a few hours and trying to stay positive.

I'm getting unemployment, which pays the mortgage but nothing more and the kitties and I still have to eat.

My mom actually flew out from Oregon and stayed with me for a week and we cleaned and purged closets and cupboards and donated 20 pairs of shoes, 3 bags of clothes and lots of kitchen stuff I never use!

Oh, and we ate and drank our way through many a pleasant evening, too! It meant so much to me for her to be here to love and support me!

Fortunately, every cat is stable and healthy at the moment, and thank goodness the tooth implant I am half way through was begun and paid for (well, with Care Credit) before my dental insurance was terminated, too.

I think back on my career in veterinary medicine, from my first job with the vet who cared for my families dogs and horses. Then on to the big practice in the San Francisco area where I moved after I got married.

And there are the fond memories of the dog and cat and livestock practice in Oregon, where I moved after I got divorced and where I stayed for 22 years, eventually taking on management and bookkeeping duties.

When I got married again and my husbands job brought us to Virginia, I thought my dreams had come true, which included working at my first all-cat practice.

I would have never guessed that I would lose my husband unexpectedly to an aneurysm in 2007, or that I would find myself without a job just as unexpectedly...

I am also saddened that I have let something else I love, this blog and blogging, fall by the wayside while the turmoil of all this has gotten me on a roller coaster of emotions...none of them very uplifting and upbeat to blog about at the moment.

So, today, I am going to do something that makes me happy. Make a commitment to set aside a little time each day to 1) write a blog post and 2) visit some blog friends...EVERY DAY! There is still a lot in my life that is good and that I am thankful for...

That includes friends and family who have helped me with everything from my résumé, to cleaning out closets, to taking me out to dinner. I shudder to think of what depths of despair I would be in without them!

And may the next chapter in my life be as good as some of the chapters before this...after all, I have a part in writing this book, right?!

Oh, and don't forget to Hop!

Happy Independence Day!

Here's hoping your 4th of July is a Blast!

Wordless Wednesday, B & B Style

This fine floofy kitty is Pearl. Pearl is a guest at our B and B along with her buddy, Henry.

Pearl loves being brushed, and Teri said she could make a whole 'nother cat out of the fur she has combed out, hahameow!

Henry has Diabetes, but he is a very good patient and lets Teri test his blood twice a day and takes his medicine without a hiss or a swat, and Teri appurrciates that!

Henry and Pearl even got a postcard from their family, who are vacationing at their Cool Cat Cottage. 

You might recognize Henry and Pearl from The Sandpiper Cat Blog, as they belong to our friend Rachel and her family! Teri said it's been fun getting to know them both on a purrsonal level and their family is glad we are cat sitting Henry and Pearl so they can relax and enjoy their vacation!

Teri Tuesday...

Well, here is it Tuesday and Teri's home with us! What gives with that, we say? We aren't complaining, mind you, cuz we like having her around, hahameow!

She told us that she lost her day hunting job, 

so that explains it.

Teri can't retire yet, even though she tells us that she feels really old some days. She says she needs to work another 7 years to be able to retire and while her job was stressful lately as two other employees had left...she was hopeful that everything would smooth out eventually.

Well, maybe they will, but Teri won't be there to experience that, and she said that makes her kind of sad. But what makes her happy is knowing that there is another job out there for someone like her and so she is working on getting ready for that!

http://shirt.woot.com/offers/cats-resume

She is redoing her resume, and meeting with friends in the same field and going out to buy new interview clothes, since she outgrew the ones from 11 years ago, hahameow! Her mom is going to fly out from Oregon for 10 days and help Teri clean and purge and organize and just be around for moral support, so she will be ready to start a new job soon...

Teri's Mom

She will be busy for the next month, but she said she is going to try and post to our blog every day, but on some days, she will go back into our 'archives' and recycle some old posts, especially the kitten ones since there aren't any kittens 'round here any more and who doesn't love to squee over kittens?!

Baby Bo