RETIRED Marlboro Outwit the West Funny Farm

Woo hoo! Thank you! Speaking of which, my son is 24 & M sends him really great gifts for his BD. I'm (mumbles under breath) 29 & I got an email for free DLs from Copper Label Music. I guess they figure I'm almost dead any way.. .

I'm back. The last two months have been really hard because my cat, Miss Kitty, was diagnosed with cancer on 6/20. The steroids seemed to be working for a while, but then she got pneumonia and things went downhill pretty quickly. The antibiotics and vitamin C cleared up that problem but it took a lot out of her. I think the cancer started spreading and even though she didn't seem to be in pain (the vets and I agreed on that), she was getting weaker and weaker. She was also getting more dependent. I stopped going to the senior center and basically just stayed home with her.

She used to sleep on a pillow next to the computer, but for the last few weeks, she slept on the pillow I moved to in front of the keyboard. (If I hadn't moved the pillow there, she'd sleep on the wood desk in front of the keyboard and I wanted her to be comfortable.) She'd lean against my chest and I'd put my arms around her sides as I clicked and typed on contest entries and work I did at home for the Center.

She'd always been affectionate – needed and gave more love and attention than any other cat I'd ever had – but for the last month or so, she wouldn't leave my side. When I wasn't at the computer, I'd lie on the couch and she'd sleep on my chest as I read. If I were doing something at the dining room table, I hold her in one hand and work with the other. She couldn't deal with not being touched and held all the time.

On Sunday, she was really really sick and I thought I'd have to take her back to the vet and if he couldn't help, we'd have her put to sleep. He had said from the beginning of this illness that it was fine with him if I wanted to be there when it happened. Well, I got up on Monday morning and it became clear that things were worse. Following is the email I sent to my sister later that morning:

"Miss Kitty waited until I woke up this morning. She hadn't come to bed last nite, but that was okay. I scooted her pillow in front of the keyboard and started to do my contests, but she was insistent about getting her belly rubbed so I did that and realized that her pillow was wet – she'd urinated on it. I realized that she hadn't had the strength to get up and use the litter box and knew I'd have to bring her back to the vet. Suddenly she had trouble breathing – I mean she was gasping so hard – so I held her and told her how she had to be strong and I'd get her help as soon as the vet opened, but she died. She waited for me to wake up and hold her one last time and then she died. She didn't die alone and that's what I wanted. So now I have to wait until 7 when I can call the vet and ask him what to do about the body. Sometimes, when cats die of a specific disease, vet schools want the bodies to dissect and study. That's fine with me because she's gone and if her husk can help another cat down the line, so be it.

I'm just glad that she waited for me and didn't die alone."

I took her body to the vet's that morning, although it was hard to do. As I explained to my sister the next day,

"You know what was really pathetic – I can say that now even though it seemed pretty logical to me at the time. She was lying (dead) on the pillow next to the computer (her favorite spot) and I looked at her and thought, "Hmmmmm, I could keep her there for a few days because she looks like she's just asleep. Maybe it will give me time to get accustomed to her being gone." But then I remembered that it's going to be really hot this week and she'd probably start to smell fairly quickly. So I was good and brought her to vet. But if she'd died in the winter, I'm not certain what I would have done. I told you it was pathetic.
On Friday I'll find out when my new cat will be ready for pickup. It might not be until next week, but when I gave my vet the specs for my new (albeit currently unknown) lovely, he said it should be no problem finding her for me. And in case you were wondering, they're as follows:

We need another cat:
1. Female
2. A cat nobody else will probably want
3. An older cat (up to age 5) – I will undoubtedly die before the cat does and I figure an older cat will need a home more than a younger one.
4. No need for her to be pretty – I'll love her madly even if she only has one ear/no tail/missing some fur/etc.
5. I'd like her to be healthy of course – to cut down on vet bills (sorry, Dr. Jordan)

Azizi needs a new best friend and I need another cat to love.

When I gave him the tote bag with Miss K in it (she was inside a plastic bag and then put in the tote – I had to take her on two buses and didn't want people to freak out if the tote fell open), Dr. Jordan held her like she was a baby in his arms as he read the specs and we talked. I just wanted to rip her out of his hands and take her home. She was such a luv.
My only consolation is that the new cat has to be nicer to Azizi than Miss Kitty was. Well okay, I'm also glad that she won't suffer any more. She had a good sixteen years with me and I know that until the last two months she was a happy cat. I'll sure miss her."

I'm currently able to not cry for an hour or so at a time and decided it was time to start getting back to the real world. I won't go back to the Center until the new cat has acclimated and until I won't make a fool of myself by breaking into tears in public. But you can't see if I'm crying so here I am again. And you know what's funny? I've actually won some good stuff since Miss K got sick. Probably because I spent more time at the computer because I haven't been going out much except to food shop. My sister has been making out like a bandit.

I suppose you all realize, though, that I'd rather have Miss K back than all the prizes I've ever won. It's just not possible, unfortunately.


My sister was funny about the new cat being nicer to Azizi. She wrote:
"Azizi will miss Miss Kitty but only for a few days. After that he will go into survival mode with the new cat. He's not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Miss Kitty only let him survive because she felt sorry for him. And he knew it. The new cat has no past "baggage," so she starts off fresh. She can make a whip out of scrap material around the apartment and be the boss from day one.
Nine years of Miss K driving Azizi crazy was worth it for Azizi. Kept him on his toes. If the new cat is even 1 percent nicer to him, it's a "win is a win" for him."

She's right, by the by. Azizi is a total luv, but dumb as a post.

And as for all the complaining I know you've been doing as to how long it's taken to read this missive – suck it up, people. It's not like you had anything better to do. Geez.

Don't know what it is, but I won it.

Spoke to the real estate for mother's house upstate NY. she said if we do not list it soon it will not sell possibly until spring. That means after he has to cut the lawn (over an acre) he will have leaves and then snow. Still emptying the house and has not started the bathroom yet. Isn't it better to have the house empty before showing it? Hope we did not make a mistake doing that.

My mom had a nice house......been on the market since early March......just isn't selling.....even with dropping the price

Cousin of mine is auctioneer who does a lot of house auctions...he said average is about 16 months for our area.

Sisters and I have just prepared ourselves that this could go on for awhile...might be quite awhile before it sells. We pay neighbor boy to mow, go out every few weeks and do weed whacking , keep utilites on low,etc.

I am at work, they said they might let us go at noon but will see. The winds have been gusting to about 45 and the rain just started about a hour ago. If you look at a map of Louisana at the bottom in the middle you'll see a indentation which is a bay we live about 20 miles north of that. When I saw the TV this morning it looks like the huricane is going along the coast and headed our way

I'm here. I'm here. Just posted an horrendously long missive explaining. I missed you people, too, but haven't had the energy to do more than take care of the cats and enter contests.

I won that too. Asked my sister if she wanted it but she didn't. Said my nephew may take it because he likes music. The problem is, after the 3 months run out, you KNOW they'll be emailing every day for the next six months trying to get you to renew.

Hiya K I hope all goes well for them

I'm back.

Isaac is headed for MO

watch out Cindy

I am at work, they said they might let us go at noon but will see. The winds have been gusting to about 45 and the rain just started about a hour ago. If you look at a map of Louisana at the bottom in the middle you'll see a indentation which is a bay we live about 20 miles north of that. When I saw the TV this morning it looks like the huricane is going along the coast and headed our way

Have you tried those stick on letters that craft stores or staples sell ?

I subscribe to their email newsletter, and they sent me one free code in an email today (too late to win the 2013 Jeep that was given away yesterday). Per the rules, during the 'Party', they will be randomly posting codes on Twitter and on their Facebook page. During the last 2 weeks, from 10/02 through 10/14, you can go to Rule 4c and click on the link for 3 free codes/day to be emailed to you. (You can also snail mail via postal cards for 3 codes to be emailed to you -- if you go for that kind of thing; I, personally, don't). Hope this was helpful.

My mom had a nice house......been on the market since early March......just isn't selling.....even with dropping the price

Cousin of mine is auctioneer who does a lot of house auctions...he said average is about 16 months for our area.

Sisters and I have just prepared ourselves that this could go on for awhile...might be quite awhile before it sells. We pay neighbor boy to mow, go out every few weeks and do weed whacking , keep utilites on low,etc.

My mom had a nice house......been on the market since early March......just isn't selling.....even with dropping the price

Cousin of mine is auctioneer who does a lot of house auctions...he said average is about 16 months for our area.

Sisters and I have just prepared ourselves that this could go on for awhile...might be quite awhile before it sells. We pay neighbor boy to mow, go out every few weeks and do weed whacking , keep utilites on low,etc.

Oh Sly I hope every thing will be ok! Praying for you and your family, stay safe, maybe work is safer than home?

I went thru my pile of wins and found an old win from 2011 from Quaker for a $10 Amazon Card which I hope I can use for the keyboard letters.

I'm here. I'm here. Just posted an horrendously long missive explaining. I missed you people, too, but haven't had the energy to do more than take care of the cats and enter contests.

I bought myself a lightup keyboard so I can even see mine in the dark!! Letters wont rub off. I think you're cleaning it with the wrong stuff. I just dust mine and use a data-vac once in a while on it

How do these people rack up all those votes? Do they have some special program ?