Kitty update

The new cat is fitting in pretty well.

Honeynut is tolerating him better now.  I wouldn't call them "friends", but they're at least not bitter enemies.  She tries to avoid him instead of fighting or hissing at him.

I've made a special effort to give Honeynut the same amount of love and attention that I give the new cat, so she won't feel neglected.

Weird thing:  The new cat does not like kitty treats!

(???!!)

The new cat

Although I still miss Brynden, I have adopted a new cat.
I got him from the Humane Society.
He's about 8 1/2 years old.
Big cat.
Shorthaired.
Black and White.
(Maybe 60% white).

Very easygoing, tame, docile, friendly, sweet.

Honeynut hates him, of course.
This is "her" home and she's not crazy about the idea of sharing it with a stranger.
But I think once they get to know one another, they'll end up being friends.

The new cat isn't aggressive at all.
He hasn't hissed or growled back at her-- not even once.

That's exactly how it was when I brought Brynden home 12-13 years ago.
Honeynut hated him at first.  She hissed and growled as often as she felt like it.
And he never returned the aggression.
He was perfectly fine letting her be top cat if she wanted.

And eventually they ended up being good friends.

I hope this ends up the same way.

LOL.
I just heard her hiss at him in the other room while I was typing this.

What's that, you say?
What's his NAME?

Well, that's the problem.

I can't think of a name.

If any of you have suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

It would be fun if the name had something to do with music or R.E.M.  but it doesn't have to.
It might be fun if the name had something to do with being black and white, but I can't think of anything that fits.
I've tried thinking of other black & white things (Soccer ball?  Panda?  Magic 8 Ball? Oreo? Dalmatian? Holstein?) but nothing fits.
It might also be fun if the name was something nerdy or science-related.  I love stuff like that.  I briefly considered naming him "Sheldon" (after Sheldon Cooper from Big Bang Theory) but it just doesn't fit.

I've looked at tons of "pet name" websites and nothing seems to fit.

When I get my camera working again, I'll try posting some pictures.
.

UPDATE:  I've named the cat "Hopkins".  R.E.M. did a song on their Fables Of The Reconstruction album called "Lightnin' Hopkins".

I've been calling him "Hopsy" for short.

It fits him because he seems to like hopping on things. :)
.

Oh no.

The vet called this morning.

Brynden had a bad seizure in the middle of the night (about 3:30) and they weren't able to save him.

My dear sweet kitty is dead.

I loved him very much.
I don't know what else to say.
Pardon me while I cry.

Update on Brynden

I took him to the veterinary hospital this morning.
They think there may be some kind of neurological damage, like possibly a brain lesion.

They're keeping him there overnight.
Tomorrow they'll know more about what's going on.

There are a few things they need to do to determine the source of the problem.
They gave him sedatives so he could relax and stop the compulsive circling.
They gave him some other things too, and said his response will help them narrow down what's going on.

Their hope is that when the sedatives wear off, his brain will sort of "reset" itself.  Apparently it's worked before with other cats in this situation.  Sometimes.  Not all times.

When I stopped in to visit him later this afternoon, he was completely sedated.  Poor thing.  He was there in his little assigned area, asleep but looking extremely worn out.  I had to look closely to make sure he was still breathing.

They said as soon as the sedatives relaxed him, the first thing he did was pee, since the compulsive circling behavior had been making it impossible until then.  (He hadn't been able to stand still or stay in one place long enough to go to the bathroom.  It's like all his brain wanted to do was move in circles over and over and over and over and over.  He'd keep moving in circles until he was so exhausted he couldn't move anymore.  He'd crouch down in an odd crumpled sort of way until he'd regained enough strength to start circling again.  Over and over and over.  Disturbing and sad!  Tuesday night I held him for three hours, just to keep him still.  He purred at 10:00pm, and after that he wouldn't purr anymore.  He just looked and sounded miserable.)

Depending on what ends up being wrong, they might be able to save him.
And it remains a distinct possibility that he might not be save-able.

They said that even if he recovers, he will never be exactly like he was.

I'm heartbroken.

This can't be good

I'm worried about my cat.

When I got home today, he was acting strangely.  He meowed constantly like something was wrong, plus he kept walking in circles.  It looked like he might have been staggering slightly on one of his hind legs.

When I reached down to pet him, he slunk down as if it was difficult to stand up when I ran my hand along his back.

He hasn't eaten since I got home.

He doesn't seem to have energy to do anything except lay in the middle of the hallway.

I'm worried.
I need to call the vet tomorrow morning.

I'll keep you updated.
.

It seems like it's been awhile since I updated you all on the weight loss thing, so here goes.
I've lost 121.5 pounds so far.
That's the good news.
The not-so-good news is that I'm STUCK.
Plateau.  Big giant screaming plateau.
This new blood-sugar junk isn't helping things either.
Stay tuned.
The road is getting rocky.
And... wait, is that rocky road ice cream?

I can see! I can SEE!!!

I've had this computer for a few years now, and have used it a lot.  The letters on the keyboard were getting so worn I could hardly read them anymore.

So I got a set of those large-print keyboard stickers which are probably designed for older folks who are going blind.

All I can say is, WOW!  What a difference!  I can see what I'm doing!
I can find the right key without having to squint!
Now I can waste even more precious minutes of my life online!

Please tell me this doesn't mean I'm old.
Even if I do wear bifocals, and ate bran cereal for breakfast.

More than you EVER cared to know about me

 Here are answers to 99 questions about me. I got them from this page.

It's pretty long.  You might want to grab a sandwich first.

• 1:Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed? 

 Open, but only because they're stuck that way.

• 2:Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel? 

 On the rare occasion that I actually get to stay in a hotel, yes.

• 3:Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out? 

 I'm a weird person who doesn't use sheets.  Long story.

• 4:Have you ever stolen a street sign before? 

 Wait, what?  Stolen a street sign?  People actually do this?  Really?

• 5:Do you like to use post-it notes? 

 Not an awful lot, but yes, sometimes.

• 6:Do you cut out coupons but then never use them? 

OMG.  Yes.  I forget all about them and the next thing I know, they've expired.  The space-time continuum always has a good laugh at my expense.

• 7:Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of a bees? 

Yikes.  I guess the bees, since I'm not allergic to bee stings.  The bear would probably kill me.  The bees would just make me wish I was dead.

• 8:Do you have freckles? 

Not really; maybe one or two on my arms.

• 9:Do you always smile for pictures? 

Not always.  I hate having my picture taken.

• 10:What is your biggest pet peeve? 

It's hard to choose, because I have so many.  I'm annoyed by people who can't handle anything hotter than medium salsa, I'm annoyed by tailgaters, I'm annoyed by people who don't understand the difference between to/too and its/it's and there/there/they're... but I guess my number one pet peeve is guys who are bigoted against women.

• 11:Do you ever count your steps when you walk? 

My mom compulsively does this.  I generally don't, although a few days ago I actually noticed myself doing it.

• 12:Have you ever peed in the woods? 

Wow.  No, I really haven't!  Am I missing out?

• 13:What about pooped in the woods? 

 OMG.  No!  In the age of camera-phones and YouTube, you should never, ever do anything embarrassing like perform bodily functions next to a rotting log.  Someone will just happen to be walking by with a freshly-charged phone battery, and the next thing you know, your video will be going viral with 90,000 hits.

• 14:Do you ever dance even if there's no music playing? 

No.

• 15:Do you chew your pens and pencils? 

I used to, when I was in grade school.

• 16:How many people have you slept with this week? 

Actual human beings?  Zero.
Imaginary ones?  One.

• 17:What size is your bed? 

Queen.

• 18:What is your Song of the week? 

Life And How To Live It, by R.E.M.

• 19:Is it okay for guys to wear pink? 

Sure.  Go for it.

• 20:Do you still watch cartoons? 

 When I have the chance, yes.  I love Spongebob Squarepants.

• 21:Whats your least favorite movie? 

Anything from The Godfather series.

• 22:Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some? 

I guess if I had to I could bury it in the flower bed which never has flowers.

• 23:What do you drink with dinner? 

Usually some sort of diet soda.  Sigh.  I realize that probably makes me boring.

• 24:What do you dip a chicken nugget in? 

I love sweet and sour the best.  2nd favorite is barbecue sauce mixed with orange marmalade.  Hey, don't knock it til you try it.

• 25:What is your favorite food? 

Gahhh!  I have to choose?  I love barbecued ribs, and I love tacos, and I love fettucine alfredo... but I guess right now if I had to pick a favorite it would be pizza with a giant ton of meat on it.

• 26:What movies could you watch over and over and still love? 

Pretty Woman...

The Wizard Of Oz...

Goldfinger....

• 27:Last person you kissed/kissed you? 

This is really sad.  I haven't had a boyfriend in almost two decades, and the last time I kissed a guy was back in 1994.

• 28:Were you ever a boy/girl scout? 

 Ugh.  No.  I'm not exactly the scouting type.

• 29:Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine? 

 Ack!  No!  Gasp!

• 30:When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper? 

 A few weeks ago.

• 31:Can you change the oil on a car? 

 Nope.  Not at all.

• 32:Ever gotten a speeding ticket? 

 More times than I care to admit.  :)

• 33:Ever ran out of gas? 

 Yes!  Twice!

• 34:Favorite kind of sandwich? 

 Hmmm.  I love Monte Cristos.... and I love pizza subs... and I love bacon cheeseburgers...  but if I had to choose, I think right now my favorite would be a footlong BBQ pork sub with cheese and hot peppers.

• 35:Best thing to eat for breakfast? 

 Breakfast burritos with plenty of hot sauce.

• 36:What is your usual bedtime? 

Somewhere around midnight, give or take.

• 37:Are you lazy? 

I consider it an art form.

• 38:When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween? 

 I never dressed up on Halloween.

• 39:What is your Chinese astrological sign? 

I think it's the dog.  (1970 is the dog, right?)

• 40:How many languages can you speak? 

English and a very teeny tiny bit of Russian.

• 41:Do you have any magazine subscriptions? 

 Discover Magazine.  I like it because it has all that nerdy geeky science stuff I love.

• 42:Which are better: legos or lincoln logs? 

 Lincoln logs.

• 43:Are you stubborn? 

 I can be, when the situation calls for it. :)

• 44:Who is better...Leno or Letterman? 

 Letterman!

• 45:Ever watch soap operas? 

Ugh.  No.  Too annoying, too full of romance that reminds me of my own loveless life.  Very depressing.

• 46:Are you afraid of heights? 

 Yes!  Very!

• 47:Do you sing in the car? 

 Every single time I drive anywhere, I always sing at least once.  Always.  Especially songs by R.E.M.

• 48:Do you sing in the shower? 

 Nah.  Not sure why.

• 49:Do you dance in the car? 

 I've been known to bob around in a slightly disturbing manner, yes.

• 50:Ever used a gun? 

 Nope.

• 51:Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer? 

 Wow.  2004, I think.... ?

• 52:Do you think musicals are cheesy? 

 Most are.  :)

• 53:Is Christmas stressful? 

Nah.  I just let it flow quietly on by. 

• 54:Ever eat a pierogi? 

LOL.  When I first read this, I thought it said "Ever eat a pigeon."
But no.  I've never had a pierogi either. :)

• 55:Favorite type of fruit pie? 

Blueberry!

• 56:Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid? 

Writer, Musician, College Professor

• 57:Do you believe in ghosts? 

I believe in spirits, but I don't believe they're the spirits of dead human beings.

• 58:Ever have a Deja-vu feeling? 

Yes!

• 59:Take a vitamin daily? 

I try to (and want to), but almost always forget.

• 60:Wear slippers? 

No.  Just shoes.

• 61:Wear a bath robe? 

When I'm cold, yes.

• 62:What do you wear to bed? 

Depends on how cold I am.  If I'm freezing, I'll wear multiple layers of nightshirts and a bathrobe.  If the temperature is comfy, I'll just wear the nightshirt (or nightgown).  If it's absolutely sweaty-sweltering-dripping hot, I might just wear nothing at all.

• 63:First concert? 

If you mean Rock Concert, I've never been to one.  (*sob*)

(This kills me, since I would've LOVED to have seen R.E.M. in concert.)

If you mean ANY kind of concert, it was a band concert, and I played french horn.

My first symphony orchestra concert was in college.

• 64:Wal-Mart, Target or Kmart? 

 Ugh.  If I had to choose, I guess I'd pick Wal-Mart, just because it's the closest.

• 65:Nike or Adidas? 

 I have absolutely no preference there, so just go ahead and flip a coin.

• 66:Cheetos Or Fritos? 

 I love Chili Cheese Fritos, but usually I love crunchy Cheetos even more.

• 67:Peanuts or Sunflower seeds? 

 Peanuts.  Especially if they're dry roasted.

• 68:Ever hear of the group Tres Bien? 

 Nope!

• 69:Ever take dance lessons? 

 Nope!

• 70:Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing? 

 Assuming I ever HAVE a spouse, I'd love it if he was a professional musician, a professional writer, or a college professor.

• 71:Can you curl your tongue? 

 I can't!

• 72:Ever won a spelling bee? 

Yes!  Yes, I have!  It was in 6th or 7th grade... There were eight different schools that got together and competed.  I won!  I got first place out of all of them!  I still have the award here somewhere....

• 73:Have you ever cried because you were so happy? 

 I think I cried when I learned I got first-chair french horn in honor band when I was in high school.  (We had to compete for the position.  The others were pretty good, so it was a real honor to win first).

I might also have cried at high school graduation in 1988 when I learned I got the John Philip Sousa award.

• 74:Own any record albums? 

 Vinyl?  No.

CD's?  Wow.  Yes.  Especially anything by R.E.M.

• 75:Own a record player? 

No.  I used to when I was younger, though!

• 76:Regularly burn incense? 

Rarely, but not regularly.

• 77:Ever been in love? 

Yes.  Unrequited every time.  Thanks for asking.

• 78:Who would you like to see in concert? 

R.E.M.

Sadly, they retired last year.

• 79:What was the last concert you saw? 

It was a wind symphony concert a couple weeks ago.

Hopefully that counts, despite the fact that I was a musician on stage instead of a spectator in the audience.

• 80:Hot tea or cold tea? 

I guess I'd choose hot tea.  Preferably peppermint.

• 81:Tea or coffee? 

Definitely tea.

• 82:Sugar or snickerdoodles? 

I'm not fond of either, since neither involves chocolate.

But if I had to choose, I guess I'd pick sugar cookies.

• 83:Can you swim well? 

Yes, I guess so. :)

• 84:Can you hold your breath without holding your nose? 

Yes!

• 85:Are you patient? 

In traffic, usually not.

Online, waiting for slow internet connections, usually not.

At other times, I guess I can be patient if the need arises.

• 86:DJ or band, at a wedding? 

DJ, as long as he/she doesn't blast everything too loudly.

• 87:Ever won a contest? 

I won a music composition contest in college.

• 88:Ever have plastic surgery? 

Nope!

• 89:Which are better: black or green olives? 

I like both, but I guess I like the black ones best.

• 90:Can you knit or crochet? 

 I can crochet!

• 91:Best room for a fireplace? 

 Whichever room you spend the most time in!

• 92:Do you want to get married? 

 Do bears crap in the woods?

• 93:If married, how long have you been married? 

Never been married.

• 94:Who was your HS crush? 

Mike Spencer, Jerry Kennedy, and Joe Kennedy.

They had absolutely no interest in me whatsoever.

• 95:Do you cry and throw a fit until you get your own way? 

Nope.  Too annoying.

• 96:Do you have kids? 

Nope.  Too annoying.

• 97:Do you want kids? 

Nope.  Too annoying.

• 98:Whats your favorite color? 

It changes, depending on my mood.  Usually it ends up being some version of green or blue.  Today it's sapphire blue.

• 99:Do you miss anyone right now?

I miss myself when I was in my mid-20's.

It had pepperoni and bacon, in case you were wondering

For no particular reason, here are pictures which include two of my favorite things on the planet.
Spongebob Squarepants and pizza.

I had pizza for dinner today, and my expression looked almost exactly like that.
.

I should just buy my own continent or something

Hi, everybody.

I'm just stopping by to briefly update you on the weight loss thing.

118 pounds so far.

It's going slowly lately, possibly because it's so COLD outside that I haven't been able to take any walks.
I know I could probably walk indoors at a store or something (we don't have any malls around here), but that would just feel weird. I can't stand having people look at me when I'm walking.
And I know that there are people in malls who, for some god-forsaken reason, actually sit around and do what they call "people-watching". I don't get it. I've heard people say it's fascinating and fun, but to me it just sounds awfully rude. I mean, would you like having someone stare at you and analyze you and make a mental list of all the ways in which you look weird or act weird or move weird?
I get the creeps just thinking about it.
.