My Lost Weekend

"Weekends don't count, unless you do something completely useless."

-Bill Watterson

It's Sunday afternoon, and I am exhausted. It's a good kind of exhausted none the less. Alan and I had a long weekend together, filled with some much needed fun and diversion from all the seriousness we have been going through lately. Next week will be bringing us some reality that I would rather not deal with now, so I am going to live in the moments the next few hours of the weekend, and then get on with things when Monday get here. Enough of that for now, let's see what Alan and Carly have been up to, shall we?

I have been telling Alan that we need to come up with a name for this holiday weekend. Oh, I know that traditionally, most folks know the second week in May as Mother's Day weekend. A wonderful holiday that celebrates that special woman who gave us life. Fair enough. I lost my mother years ago, and Alan's mother lives clear across the U.S.,but you know us, we will find a reason to celebrate, so we have chosen to celebrate the lessor known local holiday of Parade Day.

Parade Day, refers to the second Saturday in May each year, when the Rowell Ranch Rodeo Parade takes place. Horses, clowns, floats, balloons, and hometown spirit. Yeah, it's a bit cheesy, but it's fun, and it is one of Alan's favorite things to do. Heck, where else can you see state senators walking alongside giant bears and men dressed up as Oakland Raiders? Why at the parade of course, and that isn't even where all the fun begins! It all begins at the Chili Cook-off the night on Friday night! So I guess that is where my lost weekend actually started.

Chili With Fixins

Hillbilly Chillee

Cups of chili, cowboys, a live country band, a hayride, and good eats... fun! We bought enough tickets for fourteen chili tastes. I found my favorite after just the second one. It was called Hillbilly Chillee. It was yummy. Not too hot, but it did have just a little kick to it... enough to be nothing short of delicious. :) The worst part is knowing that I may not ever get to taste that particular recipe again. Sigh. It will be a few more days before I know if they won the contest, my fingers are crossed for them! Alan's vote went to the chili prepared by Frank Bonetti Plumbing. It was pretty tasty as well. Honestly, it was a close second in my book!

Handsome Alameda County Firemen

14 cups of Chili

Alan and I got home fairly early, but then decided to watch the Omen and the Omen II on AMC, followed by Earth vs. The Spider, also on AMC. It was pretty cool to cuddle up and watch some favorite movies, especially with Elvis right next to us. He is a lot of fun to watch movies with. :) I feel asleep before the end of the spider movie, but I slept really well that night, until Elvis woke me around 3:30 for his breakfast. It made me smile to wake up to those soft little paw pads on my face. :)

Then it was off to the parade, I will let pictures show you what we saw...

Miss Alameda County, 2008

A Happy Clown

A Happy Doggy

Miss Rowell Ranch Rodeo 2008

The Castro Valley High Marching Band

San Francisco By Night

Later in the evening, on Saturday, we were off to Treasure Island, to photograph the fireworks from KFOG's annual Kaboom concert. We grabbed a pizza, with a skinny crust of course, and headed to the island. We got a good parking place, and ate our pizza, as we waited for the fireworks to begin at 9:00 PM. Unfortunately, we were just a little too far around the corner from where the barge with the fireworks was sitting in the bay, and all we really saw was half fireworks and the bridge lighting up from the glare of the lights. LOL. Not my best Kaboom year, but at least I now know where the best vantage points are around the bay. It will be either the Marin Headlands, the vista, or Twin Peaks from now on. Live and Learn.

Better Luck Next Year I Suppose!

It was a great weekend, fireworks defeat and all. Now it is Sunday afternoon, Alan is napping so he can work the late shift tonight, Elvis is asleep under the desk where I am typing, and in a few minutes, I am going outside to plant some Stock. I am tired, but it is a good kind of tired to be sure! The weather is supposed to be warming up next week, and that will be good for my sore muscles. There is plenty to look forward to. If nothing else, the sunshine will make me happy.

-OndineMonet
"The Belle And The Bridge"
Treasure Island
May 10th, 2008
Early Evening

I've Got Mail :)

"I get mail; therefor I am."

-Scott Adams

Ut oh. We forgot the mail. LOL. It has been hectic in our house lately, and somehow, in all the drama, Alan and I forgot to check the mail. When it finally occurred to us, almost at the same time by the way, it was already too late. Waiting for us in our PO BOX was a slightly sarcastic note from the mailman, implying that perhaps we really didn't want our mail at all! LOL. I think he must have felt neglected somehow. Here he was doing a perfectly fine job of filling my mailbox with all kinds of treasures such as my vast catalog collection, and an almost personally handwritten mass mailing from Hillary Clinton, but unfortunately, there wasn't anyone coming by to notice his hard work. Poor Mailman. I am sorry.

I think I blame the invention of email. See, 99% of the time, my correspondence seems to be from computer to computer, even with family members that I still keep in touch with. And with those I don't email, I call instead. Sigh. It's so weird. In the mid 90's I had a regular routine. I would grab my box of stationary, or my box of note cards, and head off to my favorite bagel shop to have a little snack and do some writing to friends and family. It was a nice diversion. Some fresh air, and a snack. It did this body good!

Somehow it seemed to help my thinking process, to do my writing in such a relaxing atmosphere. But one day, I am not really sure why, I stopped writing. Maybe it was the cost of stamps, or maybe because something shiny, like the Internet, distracted me. Shrug. Who knows? But the other day, when I retrieved my mail, I found among all the catalogs, special offers, bills, and mass mailings, there was a special little surprise. One that both lifted my spirits, and reminded me of how much a hand written note can make me smile. I heard from my friend Suzanne, who authors the blog, Living... New Suzanne R's Life.

From the postmark, it was clear that she had sent me the note way back at the end of April! Yikes! And accompanying the note, came a little package of cute little post it notes with my name on them! I LOVE things like this. I use post it's constantly, so now each time I reach for one of these special ones, I feel a nice little smile cross my face. Suzanne, your fun little gift is just perfect! :) I am so sorry I didn't acknowledge your gift sooner. It was so sweet of you to think of me. When I look around on my desk, I see that I actually have a lot of little snail mail gifts from pals I have met through blogging.

A pretty little candle, and a box of tea that Slomo sent me. A silver photo in the shape of dragonflies that came from Vivian, which holds some photos Steven shared with me by email. I have a black and white cat magnet, that looks a lot like Elvis, that was sent to me by Mara. I also have a pin that Karen sent me, which looks like Dorothy's ruby slippers. I put the pin on one of my collectible bears that sits on my desk, so I see it often. I consider all these items among my treasures. Someone cared about me the day they were mailed, and that is a nice feeling. I need to send more snail mail to my friends and family. I need to give back a little, to folks like Suzanne, who have taken the time to remind me I am not alone in this life. It's amazing how much we can touch someone with just a simple gesture of friendship, and a couple moments out of our day.



Thank you Suzanne, for making me feel special yesterday! :)

So tell me, do you do as much snail mail writing as you used to? Do you prefer email to snail mail? When was the last time you got snail mail from a friend or family member? Do you still send birthday or holiday cards? I would love to hear your thoughts!

-OndineMonet
"I've Got Mail"
Berkeley, California
May 9th, 2008
Afternoon

I Am Elvis A. Gordon, And I Approve This Message

"I have come to the conclusion that politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians."

-Charles de Gaulle

Hello. My name is Elvis Aron Gordon. I am here to speak on behalf of all the house cats in America who support Hillary Clinton For President.

First of all, my mommy, daddy, and myself want to congratulate Senator Clinton, on her latest win in Indiana this past Tuesday. Way to go Hillary! You go girl! I will be crossing my paws for you to experience big wins in the remaining primaries, and we will be right by the TV waiting for all the updates! I am proud of you for not giving up. You are showing just how hard you are willing to work for this country, and that's why I am in your yard. It saddened my mommy to hear about yet another defection to the Obama camp, by someone who had previously given his endorsement to you, George McGovern. It made her sad to hear this news, because she had admired him over the years, and to see him jump ship because it seems as if the odds are against you, makes him nothing but a fair- weather supporter. We want to reassure you, we are not. Especially me, which is why I am writing this blog entry today. Well, I am not typing it of course, but I am dictating it to my mommy, so if there are any spelling errors... that's her... not me. Meow. :)

When I knew that we would be electing a new president soon, I was first of all relieved. LOL. President Bush... GRRRR... But then I talked it over with the two human parents I live with, and we discussed all the problems that need to be fixed. It's a long, long, long, long, list. ME--OW. The war is important, the lack of education is big, humans losing their homes is scary, because where will the house pets go? I saw on the news, that some humans are so desperate that sometimes they simply leave their furry friends behind alone, when they have to leave their homes. They couldn't even take their pets with them. Sometimes their pets were found alive, sometimes it was too late. MEEEEWWW. :( That makes me sad. I am lucky enough to have a place to live, and plenty of toys, and sometimes I am even able to get all the medication I need... I am luckier then a lot of humans are.

Recently, I found out that I have the big C... cancer. My cancer is Feline Lymphoma. Dr. B says it is more aggressive then we first thought. My mommy cries sometimes, and sometimes so do I, but we get up, and we get dressed, and we face the day as best we can. We have a lot to be grateful for, she has medical insurance, and I have the best veterinarian in the whole world, who is doing all he can to make me well. Some cats aren't so lucky, and some humans aren't either. If mommy and daddy didn't have any medical insurance, mommy would not be able to take care of her diabetes as well as she has. She and I both have diabetes, and it costs over $100 a month to take care of me alone, if she were paying full cost for her supplies, it would cost another $125.

What about all the humans without health care in America? From what I have seen by watching, Charles Gibson on ABC World News Tonight, people are getting sick like never before. Did you know that there are 12 million Americans living with cancer right now, and another 1.4 million will be diagnosed this year? Senator Clinton has tried for a long time to help bring affordable health care to American humans. She has a solid plan, and according to Factcheck.org, her plan has been lied about and misleading statements always seem to come out just before the primaries, which isn't fair.

I don't think the next president should be elected because he is something called a "phenomenon." I am sure he is a good guy deep down, but that isn't why humans should vote for him. You should be electing a human president who knows how to roll up their sleeves, and get down to the work that in store for you. Someone who has been working for years to improve the quality of your life. I know from having cancer, that when your health isn't good, it's much more difficult to put your toys away, or to chase butterflies, or even walk all the way to the corner of the yard, to sit in your favorite lemon tree. Mew. :(

My mommy said to my daddy the other night, "Alan, watching Elvis have to go through cancer, is the hardest thing I have ever done, can you imagine what it must be like to watch a human child face cancer? Especially if their parents don't have health coverage?" Mew. :(

I believe that problem can be fixed. And I believe Senator Clinton has the best ideas for getting the job done right. Here is a good article you should read...

Giving Hillary Credit For Schip

I have other reasons for supporting Senator Clinton for human president. And I might write another entry sometime, but for now this is what I have to say.


I AM ELVIS ARON GORDON... AND I APPROVE OF THIS MESSAGE. :)

-OndineMonet
"House Cats For Clinton"
Berkeley, California
May 7th, 2008
Afternoon

Steven's Feline And Furball Friday: Elvis Update

"The cat has too much spirit to have no heart."

-Ernest Menaul

The business end of the cat you see here is Elvis, who had had enough of me at this point. We had a long day of grooming, and fussing about eating, followed by some gardening time, play time, and finally nap time. LOL. We have been together almost constantly lately. He has been following me around the house, and when I don't see him for a few minutes, I go looking for him! He has been really patient with his new special needs, like medicine that smells like bubblegum being forced on him, but sometimes he just needs to be on his own. I can almost hear him say, "Mommy, I need my ME time." Seriously, we need to stop worrying about each other already! He sees Dr. B later today, and we will know more then, but until then we are just enjoying our time, with lots of love, lots of kisses and lots of fuzzy smiles.



Elvis in his "Fortress of Solitude" under the blue wheelbarrow.

Elvis and I Feeling Fuzzy

It's fun playing Steven's Feline and Furball Friday! Friday is the day for pets. Stop by his blog for all the details!

-OndineMonet
"The Business End Of Elvis"
Berkeley, California
May 5th, 2008
Afternoon

How About A Meme For A Monday?

"Life is the art of drawing without an eraser."

-John W. Gardner

I found this cute little meme over at my good pal Suzanne's blog. Feel free to swipe the questions and play along!

1. Who were you named after?

Nobody.

2. When was the last time you cried?

Last night. :(

3. Do you like your handwriting?

Yep. Most of the time. Sometimes I don't when my hands hurt.
4. What is your favorite lunch meat?

Black Forest Ham

5. Do you have kids?

Nope

6. If you were another person would you be friends with you?

Hmmmm... not sure. I can be a pain sometimes!

7. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

Who wants to know???

8. Do you still have your tonsils?

Yep, but my appendix is in a jar on a shelf in my garage!

9. Would you bungee jump?

I would love to bungee jump!
10. What is your favorite cereal?

Special K Red Berries

11. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?

Sometimes

12. Do you think you are strong?

It depends... sometimes
13. What is your favorite ice cream?

Sugar Free Butter Pecan... this week!

14. What is the first thing you notice about people?

Their eyes

15. Red or Pink?

Pink

16. What is the least favorite thing about you?

I am sooo opinionated!

17. Who do you miss the most?

pass :(

18. Do you want everyone to respond?

Only if they feel compelled to

19. What color pants and shoes are you wearing?

No pants, blue shoes

20. What was the last thing you ate?

Cantaloupe

21. What are you listening to right now?

The news

22. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?

Either "Mauvelous," "Wisteria," or "Melon"

23. Favorite smells?

PlayDoh, Baking Bread, Popcorn

24. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?

Alan

25. Do you like the person who sent this to you?

Well, Suzanne didn't send it to me, I swiped it. But to answer the question, I adore her!

26.Favorite sports to watch?

Baseball
27. Hair color?

Brownish Red

28. Eye color?

Green Hazel with purple flecks

29. Do you wear contacts?

Nope

30. Scary movies or Happy endings?

Scary movies with happy endings!
31. Last movie you watched?

Astronaut Farmer

32. What color shirt are you wearing?

White

33. Summer or winter?

Summer

34. Hugs or kisses?

Kisses! Long messy kisses!

35. Favorite Dessert?

It's all good!

36. Most likely to respond?

Don't know

37. Least likely to respond?

Don't know

38. What book are you reading now?

I am between books at the moment

39. What is on your mouse pad?

A Kim Anderson design

40. What did you watch on TV last night?

Desperate Housewives

41. Favorite sound?

I agree with Suzanne, a cat's purrrrr

42. Rolling Stones or Beatles?

Beatles

43. What is the farthest you have been from home?

3,000 miles give or take

44. Do you have a special talent?

Nope, unless you count my photo taking

45. Where were you born?

Oakland, California


So, that's all about me, how about you? Play along so I can get to know you better. Come on, you know you want to! And don't forget to leave me a link back to your place!


-OndineMonet
Beautiful Vanessa cardui
Conservatory of Flowers
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California
April 30, 2008
Afternoon

Martha's A-Z Photo Challenge: D Is For Dessert

"Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart."

-Erma Bombeck

Dessert? Yes please! How about a slice of White Chocolate Lemon Cake with Raspberries on top? Yes please!

I don't know which was more fun. Photographing this beautiful slice of cake, or eating it. ;) It was a treat to be sure! And somebody up there must like me a little bit, because my 2 hour blood glucose reading was a respectable 127! It's not something I indulge in often, in fact it had been 7 months since I had a piece of cake, but heck once in a while a girl needs to be a bit naughty. Too my delight, nothing is strictly taboo to we diabetics anymore, we simply have to put some thought into it. Plan for it. It's a little bit of work, but it's so worth it!

You should join Martha's A-Z Photo Challenge. It's fun. You can see what Martha came up with for the letter "D" and find the links to everyone who participated for the letter "C" just by clicking here.

-OndineMonet
White Chocolate Lemon Cake
May 4th, 2008
Berkeley, California
Morning

Round Robin Challenge: Spring Cleaning

Spring Cleaning
By Susan Reiner

March bustles in on windy feet
And sweeps my doorstep and my street
She washes and cleans with pounding rains
Scrubbing the earth of winter stains

She shakes the grime from carpet green
Till naught but fresh new blades are seen
Then, house in order, all neat as a pin
She ushers gentle springtime in.

My Round Robin teammate Steven, chose "Spring Cleaning" for our photo subject this time around, and we also have the additional task to come up with 3 more challenge topics each for the challenge pool. The last time we did this was in November. Every 6 months seems about right to do these new challenge subject roundups. You Robins have submitted some really great ideas, I am looking forward to seeing what you have come up with this time around. :)

As for the subject of Spring Cleaning, well, see, I thought I was in a bit of a fix with this one. See, I am not a "Spring Cleaning" gal, I am an "Autumn Cleaning gal." I do everything backwards. It's just that I really like getting the house in shape before the cold winter months set in. Because of my Fibromyalgia, I am often limited in the winter in terms of my energy. My hands swell, and I am really tired a lot of the time, and therefore things can get away from me before I know it. So, what's a girl to do? Well, she does a deep house cleaning no later then a couple weeks after Halloween, that way she can take better care of herself during those difficult winter months. But that didn't help me much with this challenge.

So I thought... and thought... and thought. What to do? What to do? Yikes. Would I have to sit this one out? Hmmmm... then it came to me. I did have a bit of a mess on my hands this spring, in the form of those yucky aphids in my beloved rose garden! It was a mess! But all was not lost, in fact, I didn't have to do much cleaning at all to get rid of those intruders, I simply called in the cleaning ladies... The Ladybugs. After a brief trip to Home Depot to purchase them, I put them to work, and within four weeks, we were back to a nearly all clear lovely garden again. In fact, in the photos below, you see a beautiful, spicy scented rose I had all but given up on! Isn't she gorgeous!

Now on to the new challenge ideas!

1. Quench My Thirst

Take a photograph of your favorite beverage, in an artistic light. Include a recipe if you have created a completely unique drink.

2. Politics

Whether we like it or not, at least a little politics is a part of all of our lives. City government, state and federal it affects us all. With the upcoming elections, there will be a lot of campaign signs, and political statements being made. Photograph something that says "Politics" to you. Have some fun with it. Buttons, yard signs, a candidate's personal appearance in your town, a protest, a political bumper sticker, anything to do with politics that strikes your fancy.

3. Numbers

Photograph anything dealing with numbers. The face of a clock or watch. A cash register, a pair of dice or dominoes, a math equation, a scale, a measuring cup.

Okie doke. There are my three new subjects for the challenge pool. Now, go visit the participating Robins on the list below. If you haven't played along with this challenge yet, there is still plenty of time. You have up to one week from today, to take your photos and submit an entry. If you can't play this time around, but would like to submit some ideas, well that's cool too. Just send them to either Steven, Karen or myself. You can find our email addresses on the RR blog sidebar. Hope to hear from you soon!

Linking List

Steven... (sometimes)blog POSTED!

Carly... Ellipsis POSTED!

Karen... Outpost Mavarin POSTED!

Momma... Sandcastle Momma

Gattina... Keyhole Pictures POSTED!

Wammy... The Ellis Family Cincinnatti

Martha... Perception

Lisa... Lisa's Chaos POSTED!

Sarah... Charish Me POSTED!

Vicki... Maracas POSTED!

Angela... Chocolate Syrup For The Soul POSTED!

Marie... Photographs and Memories

Kiva... Ecletic Granny POSTED!

Kim... Nekked Lizard Adventures POSTED!

Julie... Julie's Web Journal POSTED!

Jennifer Robin... Robin's Woods POSTED!

-OndineMonet

Karen's Weekend Assignment #214: Fresh Starts

"Sometimes it's the smallest decisions, that change your life forever."

-Keri Russell

Weekend Assignment #214: Sooner or later, pretty much everyone makes one or more major changes in their lives, sometimes several at once. We leave home, go off to college, get married, get divorced, change jobs, have kids, move to another house or another state, etc, etc. These things can be very stressful, but we do them in the hope of being better off in some way. Tell us of one change you voluntarily made in your life at some point, that worked out really well.

Extra Credit: Tell us of a little tiny change that also went well!

-Karen Funk Blocher, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin

It's funny that this subject came up for a Weekend Assignment at this particular time, because it crossed my mind last night to write a little about it. Today, May 2nd, is the 7th anniversary of when we moved into the little cottage we live in now. I love this place, it is more then just the roof over my head... it's the LOVE SHACK! LOL. We moved in here, during a really turbulent time in our lives and in our marriage, but we found this place set back from the road, up here in the hills, and from our first night here, we have been happy, safe, and did I mention happy? :) It has some really charming quirks to it, including a huge backyard that one can get lost in. Three seasons out of the year, we will get nightly visitors to our yard, in the form of opossums. A very misunderstood creature if ever there was one. And on most summer days, you can close your eyes and hear the Ethereal Musician playing his saxophone off in the distance.

In the seven years we have lived here, we have never been able to figure out which direction the music is coming from. He is a great, mysterious force that plays music on the breeze, and so many times he has sent me into a daydream, that gave me the peace I needed inside to face whatever hurtful thing that might have been present. One of these times was in the late afternoon of 9/11/2001, when there were suddenly no airplanes in the air, and no children playing joyfully out in the yard, and everything had taken on an eerie silence, as we all sat paralysed in front of our TV's waiting to see if more devastation would take place. At one point I got up to let Elvis out to play in the yard, and when I opened the back door, I could hear the Ethereal Musician playing America on his sax. It was one of those profound moments you don't forget. The sight of the sun setting on that day, and the sound of the music being played somewhere off in the distance. So sad, so sweet. The fresh start we made by moving into this little place, was the best fresh start I ever made.

Extra Credit: One recent change was from using the One Touch Ultra 2 meter, to the One Touch Mini. I use the Ultra 2 when I am at home, and the mini when I am out with the camera. It has been kinda nice to take the sleeker little meter with me, and it fits well in my camera bag. And besides, it's color is a fashionable PINK GLOW!

-OndineMonet
"I Want Pluto To Be A Planet Again"
January 4th, 2007
Berkeley, California
Afternoon

Steven's Feline And Furball Friday: Caring For Elvis

"The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not."

-Mark Twain

Thank goodness times have changed! LOL. It's not as difficult as it used to be. Take having diabetes for example. There are new insights and products coming along for we humans everyday. I was diagnosed with Type2 diabetes just last year, but from what I understand it I had been diagnosed even 5 years ago, my daily maintenance would have been much more difficult. Just the invention of the newer blood glucose meters that make checking my blood sugar throughout the day, is a big relief. I have read, that in the past, folks would stop checking their glucose readings, because of how painful it was. I can't really complain about that, I mean my fingers get tender and it isn't my favorite thing in the world to do, but I also know who lucky I am to have been diagnosed early on in my diabetes, and to have these wonderful new products and resources available to me. A lot is being done for we humans, I just wish more was being done for our furry friends as well.

Just like with myself, I didn't pay too much attention to the possibility of Elvis developing diabetes. Who wants to think about such things, until faced with it. Fortunately there is some course of action once your kitty is diagnosed. We immediately put Elvis on Petsulin, and a diet that was rich in carbohydrates. We began using Diabetic Management by Purina. He did pretty well on that. He didn't care much for the flavor, which made me a little sad, but he didn't fuss too much. He seemed to understand. I was diagnosed with diabetes just three months after he was. Elvis and I put our heads together, and decided to move forward together. We would just share that darned old diabetes... and kick it's butt. LOL. To a big extent, I am successful with my diabetes because of him. I decided that I wouldn't eat anything that would make him ashamed of me. If he had to be strong, how could I look him in the eye and not be strong as well?

Now Elvis has Feline Lymphoma. There is no cure. But, there is plenty of things I can do for my boy, besides sit around and cry. As an alternative to putting him on the chemotherapy, we have decided to start with a steroid injection every three weeks or so. Like with chemo, there is no guarantee's, but according to Dr. B, there has been a measure of success. Again, it won't cure his cancer, it merely shrinks the tumors and eases the discomfort of having them in his nose. He is happy, he is eating well, he is playing, and we have some serious cuddle time. He just got his first shot this past Tuesday, and it is a little soon to know how it is doing, but I think we are ok for now. I wish we could have afforded the chemo right off, I know that is his best chance, but the simple truth is, we can't. Sigh. That is the hardest part, but I am not letting that distract me from doing all that I can otherwise.

So, I am going to develop some nutritious and vitamin delicious recipes for my boy. I want to make his food, so that I am not giving him all the bad ingredients that are in store bought cat food. We learned about what canned cat food does to kitties, when Elvis developed some serious digestive troubles about ten years ago. As I have mentioned many times before, Elvis and I love to cook, and I have a little chef's hat for him. Beginning next week, we will be developing new recipes together. It will be a bonding thing for us. Hey, I have had to come up with recipes for my ever changing lifestyle, why not for my boy? There is a lot to be hopeful about, and that helps both of us deal with this time a lot easier. Attitude is everything when it comes to illness, and CATTITUDE is as well! :)

If you have a great cat or dog, you should consider playing along with my friend Steven's Feline and Furball Friday, which can be found at his blog, sometimes photoblog. It's FUN!

-OndineMonet
Elvis and his friend Nurse Mary
April 29, 2008
Afternoon

On A Very Special Episode Of Ellipsis...

"He who sings scares away his woes."

-Cervantes

My energy is super low tonight. I am really tired, and my Fibromyalgia is reminding me what pain feels like. Life has been a bit stressful lately, and my joints are swollen as a result. So, I have decided to take a little break from the usual and just enjoy some humor. Weren't the shows we 40 somethings grew up on just the best? I don't know, most of the time I would rather watch TV Land then anything currently on TV. For whatever reason, I have had this scene from The Munster's, playing in my brain. Like with a catchy song that can be relentlessly haunting, so is this clip. So, for your enjoyment, here is Herman Munster, performing "Dry Bones." Share it with someone you love! ;)

-OndineMonet

Happy Birthday Dear Elvis, Happy Birthday To You

"If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear."

-Winnie The Pooh

Elvis was born at 4:30 PM, April 27th, 1997. He was the last of four kittens to come into the world, and the only one to be a tuxedo cat. He was tiny, and round, and had a huge bum. He yawned, and stretched, mewed, and then made his way to his real mommy. It was an amazing experience to watch him be born. One I am not likely to forget. He had me at "hello."

We had a really good time celebrating his birthday. Lots of fun. No tears. We did laugh a lot at his antics. He loves posing for photos, but he is not without his sense of humor. Just as I raised the camera, he hunched down in his hat. Yep. He planned it... no doubt. Like I said, he as a sense of humor. After I snapped the photo, he peeked out from under the hat, with a sly grin on his face. :) That's just him. I wouldn't have it any other way!

He got new crisp white tank tops, some new hats and some booties for sleeping in. He doesn't like a cold foot. :) I mean paw. LOL. It was a good 11th birthday, and afterward he came and sat at my feet, which is where he is right now. It's nice having him next to me.

There is a lot to share with you about his care, and what will be happening for him this week. I will probably share about that tomorrow after his appointment with Dr. B. I have some updates, but I want to wait just a little while longer, maybe tomorrow after his appointment. For now, lets just have some fun. :) Stay Tuned.

Oh Boy, A New Toy!

I want my cake, and I want it now!

YUMMMMMMMMM

YEA! Presents!

And Balloons Too? You Shouldn't have! :)

"People who don't think, probably don't have brains; rather, they have grey fluff that's blown into their heads by mistake."

-Winnie The Pooh


-OndineMonet
"Happy Birthday Elvis"
Berkeley, California
April 28th, 2008
Late Afternoon

Weekend Assignment #213: Book Boosters

"A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few havens remaining where a man's mind can get both provocation and privacy."

-Edward P. Morgan

Weekend Assignment #213: While it may be difficult to choose your favorite book of all time, there's probably a certain genre or category of books you prefer over other kinds. Do you love a mystery, or would you rather read about dragons? Are you thirsty for a good vampire take, or is science fiction more your style? Do you mostly stick with the classics, or look for the latest spy novel? Are you a biography buff? Do you like to read about real-world politics, science, history or sports, or would you rather escape the real world with a good romance? Tell us! And while you're at it, tell us your second favorite category of books.

Extra Credit: Do you ever loan out books to friends or family?

-Karen Funk Blocher, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin

I love to read, always have. I have so many books that I can read over and over. A few of those titles, I keep on my desk at all times, so if I need a quick getaway I can just take it down, open their well worn covers and dance off into another existence. I have wondered over the years, what would I have done, if I had never fallen in love with reading?

John Scalzi, had touched on the subject of reading, and what our favorite books are, many, many times, but I never tire of it because I am always finding a good read, and it is fun to share. I don't know why I don't write about my love of books more often on Ellipsis, I guess I am too busy complaining about Bush, or fascinated by the current political landscape, or distracted by whatever has chosen to flutter past my camera. My friend Suzanne sent me an invitation to join Shelfari a while back, and I did, but have done little about it since then. I don't know why. Just haven't. So, how about I give you a proper look into my favorite reads...

Silent Snow By Steve Thayer

I can't say enough about this book! I discovered it in the autumn of 2000. Probably my worst year ever! I was completely inside myself, and alone, except for my lovely books. Alan saw it at Barnes and Noble and bought it for me as a gift. It had me at the first sentence. "It always rains when a child dies." Now don't let that sentence put you off. This is not a sad book, it's a masterfully written book that blends the true life history of the Lindbergh kidnapping case, with a modern day story full of suspense and vivid storytelling.

You will find yourself actually feeling cold, while reading a particular description of a trek through the snow to catch the bad guy. You will feel like you are right there with the protagonist, as he races against time. It's one of the best edge-of-your-seat stories I have read to date. I cannot believe it hasn't been made into a movie! Of course, that might be a good thing, books don't always translate well to the big screen. Take my advice, if you are looking for a great read, I promise you will enjoy this book!

Here is a glimpse of what you will find on the book shelf in my office. I highly recommend all of these books!

Humor meets biography with Steven Colbert's
"I am America And So Can You"

My first diabetic cookbook. Delicious and Yummy.

A vivid story of love and fantasy, which will appeal to the witch in all of us!

I LOVE the Idiot's guides. I own 10 or 15, ranging in subjects from living with Fibromyalgia to the guide to Windows' Vista!

I pocket guide to Impressionist art. I take it quite often along with me when I go out with my camera.

Ok, ok, but what can I say? Cats Rule! Right Steven?

As it says on my sidebar, "I can sit in the autumn sun, and read Neil Simon plays all day long!"

My favorite novel

I love humor in storytelling.

This is a MUST have. Whether you are a diabetic watching your blood glucose numbers, or someone just wanting a healthier lifestyle, you should be informed about the decisions you make regarding the foods you choose to fuel you body with! Educate yourselves... live a good life!

Extra Credit: I don't think I break up my reading choices in terms of favorite genres, so to pick my second favorite would be impossible. I think for the purpose of the assignment however, I will say that Horror is would most likely fit into the category of second choice, as I seem to have less of that type of book then all my others. An excellent book from the Horror category would have to be, "Horror Show" by Greg Kihn. That's right, the rocker and Bay Area Disc Jockey can write too! LOL. I loved that book, and I also enjoyed "Big Rock Beat" also by Kihn. Impressive reading, that blends good genuine humor, with scary, scary stuff! Read it!

"Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it."

-P.J. O'Rourke

-OndineMonet

New Monday Photo Shoot #17: Fur Sure

"Life is an endless struggle, full of frustrations and challenges, but eventually you find a hair stylist you like."

-Unknown

New Monday Photo Shoot #17: Photograph something furry or fuzzy, whether it's a textured fabric, an animal (real or otherwise), a beard, a piece of fruit, or something else. All I ask is that the photograph concentrate on whatever it is that's furry or fuzzy, and ignore other features (such as eyes and noses) as much as possible.

-Karen Funk Blocker, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin

Is it hair? Is it fuzz? Is it fur? Whatever it is on the butterfly, it's very soft when it brushes past you, and I found out quite by accident, that butterflies don't mind very much if you very gently touch their mane, if you do so with the utmost respect. :) Have you ever combed the long, well managed hair of a beautiful woman? Was she a Painted Lady? Could she be described as a Cosmopolitan woman? Was she as sweet and beautiful as this Vanessa?

;) WINK!

Note: Please click on the photo to see it in a larger version.

-OndineMonet
Vanessa cardui (American Painted Lady Butterfly)
Conservatory Of Flowers
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California
April 23, 2008
Afternoon

Living In The Moments

"Our task must be to free ourselves... by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and it's beauty."

-Albert Einstein

First of all... thank you. Your emails and comments about Elvis have been a tremendous comfort to Alan and I.

We have an wonderful young man, goofy and smart, silly and kind, determined and stubborn, handsome and charismatic. Besides Alan and I, his great loves are food, slightly slutty women, hats and stuffed animals. His favorite animal is the opossum, and his favorite color is green. He likes long naps, especially if I put on some classical music, and he growls when he sees George Bush on TV! LOL. I have seen this guy do things that are nothing short of astounding. Like the time he sat in the yard watching birds fly in and out of the lemon tree, and after a little while, I saw that he had climbed into the tree, settled down on a particular branch, where he sat with his mouth wide open... apparently reasoning to himself, that if he sat there long enough, a bird would fly into his mouth! LOL. True story.

That is just one of the times we are smiling about, as we get ready to say goodbye. If he were writing this blog, I know he would say to everyone... "don't be sad. Please." Elvis wasn't a sad cat, he loved pulling pranks to make us laugh. Do you remember the time when he convinced Alan that there was some dire need to be let outdoors? Well, Alan and I had just sat down to eat lunch of corned beef sandwiches, when Elvis began to whine, and scratch and claw at the door. Alan took one bit of his lunch and then got up to let him out. Elvis waited for him to get the door open, then bolted under Alan's feet making a b-line to Alan's chair, and up to the table. And I swear... he was laughing! LOL. He got to Alan's sandwich, never took any, but he made his point. He is smarter then us, and many, many times, he has proven it!

Everyone who loves a pet, believes they have the best little friend on earth. The smartest kitty, or the most intelligent dog, and they are probably right, but Elvis is my hero. He has been nothing but sheer joy, making us laugh every single day we have had him. I believe he was made of pure love. To me, it's like he doesn't just know what love is HE IS LOVE!

Alan and I are pet people. I know we will have another friend one day. We will need a little time to heal from losing Elvis, and we have a time frame that seems about right. In truth, we both know that it will never heal completely, but we will be ready for a new friend at some point. I can see a lot of light in that fact alone. For now, there is a lot of life in our house, and we are doing our best to do our normal routines. I will continue to post here, you know me, I have an opinion about everything! LOL. So please keep coming back! Elvis is having a birthday this coming week, and I have already chosen the theme, so, I will be posting a lot of photos of the fun. His life is to be celebrated. So stay tuned! There's much more to come!

-OndineMonet
"Elvis As Art"
Berkeley, California
April 24, 2008
Afternoon

Heart And Soul, I Fell In Love With You Heart And Soul

"If you should die before me, ask if you could bring a friend."

-Unknown

The worst possible news came to visit us the other day. Elvis has cancer. Feline Lymphoma. There are no good options. Even with treatment his doctor believes that Elvis would only survive about a year. With treatments we can hold things off, and shrink the tumors in his nostrils, but it would not do a lot more then give us a little more time with our boy. He would be comfortable, and then the drugs would stop working and we would be right back here, watching him fight for his life. I have read that some kitties live as long as two years, but there is really no guarantee.

Alan and I want to put his dignity first. That means letting go in a few weeks. Right now he is in the back yard, chasing butterflies. He is in a good mood, he is still cleaning himself, and loving on us, and I look at him, and I think to myself, this can't be right. But at the same time, he has lost weight because he wouldn't eat, and even now we are giving him medicine to stimulate his appetite, without the medicine he wouldn't be eating.

Alan and I are in pieces, after spending a couple days in shock. He and I are going to go back to see the Elvis's doctor tomorrow, and ask some questions again, just so we are sure about what to do. Right now we still have a happy boy. He is such a happy little boy, and we are indulging him like crazy. That's where things are at the moment. I was telling a friend that I think Elvis knows what's going on, on some level. Last night Alan and I were sitting together crying, and Elvis came into the room and sat down between us. He put one paw on Alan and one paw on me, as if to comfort us. That's what he does. He takes care of us.

-OndineMonet
Elvis
April 21, 2008
Afternoon

When Beans Find Their Way Up Your Nose!

"With their qualities of cleanliness, discretion, affection, patience, dignity, and courage, how many of us, I ask you, would be capable of becoming cats?"

-Ferdinand Mery, Her Majesty The Cat

My boy hasn't been feeling well. There is something wrong with the right side of his nose. Last week he stopped eating, and drinking water. I tried everything. I even bought him his very favorite baby food, and gave him a little cut up chicken, something he has never turned down, but he would have none of it. He was interested in the food, but because he couldn't smell it, he wouldn't eat it. That's the thing about cats. You can put food in their mouths and force them, but it will be going against their natural instinct. I know better then to try and force him to eat, all that would accomplish would be stressing him out, which in turn would complicate his diabetes. Sigh.

So, with all else failing, we took him to see Dr. B. Elvis was dehydrated, and his nose was swollen, so tests were done. A chest ex-ray first, then a cardiogram. His heart wasn't sounding right to Dr. B. It was a long wait in the waiting room. When the doctor called us into his office, I didn't see my boy. "We have mostly good news," said the doctor. His heart looked ok, no evidence of heart failure, and all his other vitals were good, but he was quite dehydrated and needed fluids. He was too grumpy for the doctor to do a blood test, so he got a little dose of kitty Valium, and an IV with fluids, and he was all set to spend the night, with tests scheduled for the next day.

My boy was in the hospital from Thursday, until Saturday afternoon. My goodness I missed my friend. I missed his morning kiss and pat on my face, and his goofy little routines, such as his rearrangements of his stuffed animals, and his knocking on the back door when he wants to check on the garden. One of our very favorite routines is the way he asks for dinner, every night at 5:30 when Charlie Gibson appears on ABC World News Tonight. Apparently Elvis likes to stay informed while dining. LOL. On the other hand it might be that Charlie Gibson and Alan sound a little alike. I am not sure which. ;) Last night, he asked for dinner, and he ate a little, which made us very happy, but it wasn't during the news. It's a start.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, he has a follow up appointment, and we will have all the test results by then. Too many scary words are coming up. Cancer is the scariest one. According to the doctor there was significant damage on the inside of his nostril, but a lot of things could have caused that. Sigh. I don't know. Maybe he inhaled a bean or a seed. His little nose is so small... I can't imagine how he could have, but then this is probably the only cat in America who actually has a personal choice in who delivers the news! LOL. It's just one more thing that makes me love him.

Please keep your fingers and paws crossed for my boy!

-OndineMonet
Elvis
Berkeley, California
April 20th, 2008
Afternoon