So. One of our cats is crazy.  I gave her no reason to fear me, nor any other human.  She’s a beautiful long haired  cat and we recently had to bring her inside to shave her mats off.  Ciri gave her some Benadryl that day to help calm her down while we shaved her down.

Well, she might be getting a little bit of cabin fever because I noticed that she’s been leaving me nice piles of stinky urine around the house.  After I found out she peed on the couch, we decided that her new home would be the garage.

Round ‘em Up.

Corralling a cat is difficult.

I left the garage door open and tried to chase her into the garage, but she wasn’t having it.

I started running after her but that didn’t work either.

Finally I decided to try and catch her.  Bad idea.

She was dumb enough to try and run by my legs so I reached out and grabbed her…  Jeez. Just typing this is making my heart rate go up…  As I grabbed her she hissed and growled then immediately followed up with scratching and clawing of my hands.  When that didn’t work she dug her teeth into my finger.

She did not let go.

After what seemed like an eternity she released her grip on my finger and I immediately pinned her down.  It was about a minute total from grabbing her to actually being able to scruff her and throw her in the garage, but man, it felt like forever.

MEDIC!

I rinsed my hands in hot water and peroxide as soon as I could.  My middle finger is swollen to almost twice its size – making typing a chore…

Anyway, Ciri always tells me stories about cats that scratch her up and are just evil.  In the end, she prevails, but not without a good dose of adrenaline and scratches.  I think I finally understand what she goes through after tonight.

P.S. The pictures don’t do my battle wounds justice. My hands are ten times worse than the photos.  Plus, I was still shaking from the excitement when I took them.

Almost forgot to post this.  Not as many with the kids, we’ll try harder this month.  Lots of the photos are touched up using apps on my iPhone like Best Camera, TiltShift, and, of course, Hipstamatic.

Total photos taken for January: ~237.

CaptainN

A long time ago, when KB’s was the place you went to buy video games, my brother Bobby and I looked on at a fellow kid attempting a demo on the SNES.  Attempting.  Badly, attempting.

My mind is analytical.  Constantly examining variables and outcomes.  When the outcome is clear to me and not to others, I get antsy.  This kid was getting his ass kicked.  Also during those times, Bobby and I were self proclaimed “masters.”  Able to pick up any game and quickly become fluent in it’s mechanics and game play.  Like all kids, we thought we were undefeatable.

Back when video games were hard.

Watching this kid was killing me and I made no attempt to hide my disdain for the amateur.  But, social etiquette dictated that I behave myself and wait my turn.  The game’s defeat was inevitable and the boy would be avenged.

Bobby, on the other hand, was much cooler and nonchalant.  He noticed my antsyness and let out a snicker when he saw my leg vibrating.  After the boy walked away in defeat, Bobby laughed at me and said I should have just jumped in to save the kid.  In my voice he said, “Get outta the way, kid!” and made a pushing motion with his arms, as if jumping into the path of a bullet.

We laughed at the idea but in the back of my mind, I wondered…

Today.

That analytical antsyness still exists today only now it extends to a lot more than video games.  My job right now is with a vet clinic that is converting to a paperless record keeping system.  I know the software, a self-proclaimed master, if you will.   I know what it’s capable of and how to apply many of it’s features to real problems.  Yet, I’m not allowed to make changes right away, and for good reason.  These things need to be slow and delicate.  At the same time, some procedures you just need to dive in head first – with your clothes still on – and with a full stomach.

This new function I am trying to introduce has a simple on/off setting to activate it.  It will solve many logistical issues and will save an immense amount of time.  My analytical mind has determined that this is the best course of action – all variables have been accounted for and the most logical course of action is to stop pussyfooting and go.

I can hear my brother laughing at me.

Get outta the way, kid, indeed. I guess I just need to be patient.

This trip was part of our long distance relationship.  Ciri was stationed in Germany while I was still in California.  I spent Christmas out there with her.  I had such a great time not only because it was time with her, but also because it was my first time around a culture not my own.

Ciri is a veterinary technician and a total bleeding heart. I have a house full of cats to prove it. She’s done well in the past year, until now – um… sort of.  Meet the new “addition:”

She’s sort of a new addition.  I say sort of because the conditions that we agreed to makes the “addition” actually a “fosteree.”  Ciri is supposed to go out and find her real family or a at the very, least, a new family.

The only reason the dog is even being allowed here is this:

We think she was hit by a car, receiving some hip fractures along with the nasty wounds.  She’s a very mellow and friendly dog; it’s really sad to see animals this way, but I’m glad we could offer her something more than a concrete run.

Luckily, Ciri’s coworkers found the owners and the dog went back to her family earlier this evening.  I hope she heals well and lives a long life.

I don’t think they would have found each other if not for the microchip implant.  Love those things.  Anyway, thought that would give some insight into my “twit” from last night.