Kittens Update

As many of you know, a while back I took in some little kittens my roommate found in the alley.  In case you were wondering what happened to them, here's a followup.

Franklin was adopted at an adoption fair through MeoowzResQ.  The family that adopted him already has several cats, and their 13 year old daughter wanted a kitten for her birthday.  While Franklin was her first choice, she checked out the other cats at the fair just to be sure.  She was completely sure Franklin was the kitty for her.

Bootsy was adopted by a coworker's friends/neighbors.  A lovely couple came over to meet him.  While I got anxious when they stepped out to discuss, they did decide to adopt him.  He is now named Peanut (I love it!) and living with another kitty.  The best part is that I can ask my coworker how little Peanut is doing.  Status- he's doing great!

And finally, little Curie.  Craig wanted to keep her since she was so shy (and he claims she loved him the best too), but you'd never know she was shy now.  Total affection kitty, she races around to Craig, me, and our other two cats for attention.  Constantly a purr ball, I'm thrilled at the new permanent addition to our family.   

Of course, she does have some boundary issues... (that's my cup of water thank you!)

Now I just can't wait to foster more kitties.... but we probably need to unpack first...

Kelvin Is Not Normal

Warning: Cute Cat Post.

I recently watched a video about Winston, a 'not normal' cat, and it made me think about how my scottish fold, Kelvin is 'not normal.'  

We adopted Kelvin (named after the Scottish Lord Kelvin) off Craigslist when K was about 9 months old, and he's our little burnt marshmallow - burnt and crusty on the outside and creamy and sweet on the inside.

My adorable marshmallow guys.

Scottish folds are quiet kitties... well, you wouldn't know that when dinner time comes around.  K tends to do the 'I'm dying... meow... feed me now.... meow.... I haven't had food since yesterday... meow... I've only had dry food ALL day....MEOW!!!'

Sorta like this guy:

Scottish folds are friendly, and have dog-like personalities.  He lived in the closet for a week when we first adopted him, and usually doesn't like to be pet.

However, he loves to be pet in bed.  He insists on bed snuggles, and lying on his back for belly rubs.  

Rub me now!

He's been rather freaked about the move, but I'm hoping he'll feel better once we're settled in.

Bonus: Baby Pic of Kelvin (his previous owner sent this to me).

A Few Of My Favorite (Tiny) Things

Despite, or perhaps due to, the current things stressing me out, it's always good to remember why life rocks.  A few of my favorite things...

...are tiny!  Maybe it's cliche, but I love tiny foods, animals, and people.  

Tapas, hors d'oeuvres, prix fix menus, and especially sliders - I love small foods!  I think it's because I fill up fast, but love to try different foods.  A friend once said he figured out women, and that they love tapas and sangria, and that is pretty true. 

So small and so tasty!

And kittens!  Especially my kitten.  I don't have much to say here- but I wanted an excuse to post a video of Curie.  It's from right after we got her.  My roommate found her in the street, and she's a tiny, dirty 5-week old kitty.  But she was so sweet, even then.  I instantly melted and let Craig know we had another member of the family.

And babies!  I don't have time/money/maturity to care for a tiny person, so I do the next best thing.  I play with friend's babies!  A bunch of us went to see our friends Jessica and Zach's new baby, William.  He was 6 weeks old, and quite a bit bigger than Curie when she was that age (he's also less furry- is it unusual to compare a kitten to a baby?).  Us girls played 'pass the baby' while the boys played video games.  My favorite part was giving him a baby mohawk.  And he totally rocked it!

The Baby-hawk

Ahh yes, life is good.

Back to "Normal"

I got back to LA Sunday night, then crashed before work on Monday.  I've been pretty tired all week, and may still be on Chicago time.  :p  Got a horrible migraine on Wednesday, at it was around 1:30am by the time the meds killed it.  Also, seems like everyone is getting sick.  A ton of people at work, as well as poor Craig, who has had migraines all week.  Actually, he was sick all day, and the toast I made him (with peach preserve from Chicago) is the only he's kept down today. 

Bootsy, first day

And good news of the day- Bootsy has a permanent home!  A lovely coworker of mine had some lovely friends looking for a kitten.  The couple came over tonight to meet Bootsy.  I got really nervous when they stepped out to talk about it, especially since Bootsy was more interested in foil balls than people this evening.  But they decided to take him home!  Bootsy is such a great mix of social adventurer and love bug, that I'm sure they'll love him.  They're also renaming him Peanut, which will suit him well.  I'm thrilled he has a good, loving, permanent home, but I think I'm going through kitten withdrawal.  Curie is snoozing and purring on the couch next to me, so I think it will all be ok. 

We get to see Craig parents this weekend.  Then it's off to meet our friend's semi-new baby!  I love kids that I'm not responsible for.  I can play with them, then hand them off when they get cranky or smelly.

I talked to Dad, and he's ok.  He's out of 'danger' - thank goodness!  I think this means his immune system is not at deadly low levels, though it will still be a while before he's back to 'normal.'  God, I'm not even sure what that would mean after everything.  However, things are still sucky.  He had to get a line put in his arm, and they hit a nerve.  He's been vomiting so much that he hasn't eaten all day.  (What's up with everything throwing up today?!?) Hopefully, that will settle.  Mom's picking him up a Jamba Juice- and they were a necessity during his interferon treatment a few years ago.

I Fail

Good News:  Craig got Franklin adopted.  A nice family with a few other cats got their 13 year old daughter a kitten for her birthday.  After careful kitten inspection at the adoption fair today, she chose Franklin.  Yay!  We wanted Franklin and Bootsy to go to a home together, but a home is better than no home.  And 'the orange kitten' was so popular before, I'm pretty sure we'll get Bootsy a home soon.

More Good News:  Dad's white blood cell count is two thousand!  You need 500 to fight any infection and 1,200 is normal-ish.

Bad News: He's still spiking fevers on and off.  But they say that's normal.  Sucks, but is normal.

This was supposed to be a goodbye photo

Bad News: I can't read a calendar.  I was supposed to fly back to LA today.  After some issues with the self-check in at the airport this afternoon, I went to an attendant.  She let me know that the ticket was for 6.27 - next Saturday.  Oh shit!  I booked the ticket for a week in advance.  Damn.  Ironically, I also sent my itinerary to Dad, Mom, and Craig, and not one of us caught that.  Guess I should buy tickets when stressed out with finals.  American Airlines told me it would cost a thousand dollars to re-book this weekend.  I nearly died.  

4 hours later, my parents got me a ticket back to LA tomorrow on Jet Blue- for far less than a thousand too!  Thanks Mom, Dad, and Jet Blue.  AA- you failed me.  A taxi ride back to downtown Chicago.  I've had better days. 

Better News:  I got to have dinner at Karen's, a favorite vegan restaurant of my mom's out here.  I had an amazing polenta, and an pomegranate soda martini with natural vodka.  Most tasty!  My mom got 'ribs'- which tasted like good hotdogs with amazing bbq sauce.  The cornbread and carrot cake were ok (bit dry, not sweet enough for me), and the mead wasn't as sweet as I like it.  But overall, super fantastic food.  And not even 'fantastic for vegan,' but really tasty.

Even Better News: Now I get to spend Father's Day with my dad.  I tell him I arranged all this to spend father's day with him.  Ok, it's a lie that he knows isn't true, but it's a good lie.

It's 11:45 pm just got back from the hospital.  Kinda tired.  Miss kittens.  But Mom and I picked up brunch stuff Father's Day brunch tomorrow.  Yay.  Ok, nap time.

When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Kittens

On the bright side, I really like the hotel.  I'm staying with my mom at the Seneca hotel.  She's been here for 3 months.  With my dad in the hospital, I get the second bed.  Yay for not having to sleep on the couch.  Two years ago my dad was really sick and my parents stayed at the W Hotel near UCLA Medical Center.  While that place is a chic/trendy

place for a drink, it was a little weird (ok, a lot weird) for people trying to deal with serious illness.  The hotel here is much cozier.  And oh-my-god the water is so soft! I could shower for hours in its soft, warm caress.  Being used to water hard enough to bruise in Los Angeles, this is heaven.  I may never shower again.  (Just kidding Craig... mostly...)

Shower Bliss

I have to admit that I miss my cats.  Ok, I miss my fiance Craig and my friends, but at night, I really miss my cats- especially my grumpy little Scottish Fold Kelvin.  While Craig and I do live together, we have separate rooms.  (Actually works really well- I have room for my shoes and he has room for his multiple fish tanks.)  Since Craig has a back issue, he likes to sleep on the floor (I kid you not).  Plus, he's a night owl and I live in the world of sunshine, so between the weird hours and the fact I enjoy sleeping in a bed, generally the man in my bed at night is my kitty Kelvin.   

Some people have accused me of becoming a crazy cat lady, and well, they're probably right.  If I had the room, money, and time, I'd love to adopt more cats.  As it is, we're a big happy family with 3 cats and 2 more fosters.  Craig also likes to name our cats after scientists.

Our kitties:

Tesla

My big love bug.  We adopted her (with a buddy, Edison, who sadly didn't make it) from the local shelter when she was 4 months old.  She's a total attention slut kitty, and getting fat.  When I feel guilty, I let her sleep in my room.  But then she'll wake me up at 4 in the morning by deciding to sleep on my head.  I then decide to use her as a pillow.

Kelvin

Like a burnt marshmallow, he's grumpy on the outside and sweet on the inside.  (Some would say the same thing about Craig.)  I've loved Scottish Folds since my mom read me the memoirs of the famous Scottish Fold Norman in "The Who Went to Paris," and have read a lot about them.  They are quiet, sweet, and loyal.  So I was thrilled to find a Craigslist posting for a 9 month old Scottish Fold. However, Kelvin is the loudest (meow- feed me I'm dying- meow- I haven't eaten wet food since last night- meow- I'm lonely...), grumpiest kitty I've ever had.  He hates our roommate's dog (who just wants to be his friend), and barely tolerates the other cats.  Yet, all this changes come bedtime.  Then, he's all snuggles and purrs as he flops onto his back in a fat Buddha way to demand Pounce cat treats and belly rubs.

And the rescue kittens! 

My roommate found 3 5-week old kittens on the street, and Craig and I are taking care of them.  We're keeping one, but looking for homes for the other 2 cuties.  (Anyone looking for 2 adorable kittens in the LA area?)

Curie

The little girl.  She's more shy than the boys, but a total sweetie once she warms up.  Craig felt she's too shy to be on her own, so she's the one we're keeping.  (Plus, she has Craig wrapped around her little finger... errr... tail.)  She looks like a mini-Tesla, and is even acting like her.

Franklin (I adore the yawn/moon the camera/nap video)

He was originally called Gimpy.  When we first got him he was the tiniest, scrawniest kitten and one eye was sealed shut.  Happily, he's just as big as his brother now, and his eye is fine.  Totally playful, and with strong attention loving qualities (he purrs when you pick him up).

Bootsy

The only kitty we didn't name, he is the most adventurous of the trio.  He will even take on P-Funk, our roommate's dog.  Ok, it's a small dog, but still bigger than the kittens.  Bootsy is ready for action!