I AM Furloughed

17 years ago…

Seventeen years ago the government shut down and I was furloughed.

A lot has changed in 17 years…

Dickens was a young lad of 4.

He only had 3 siblings: Bo, Murphy & O’Malley.

I only had 2 nephews.

I thought Elders were just old people. And I’d never even heard of an Enter the Haggis.

I had never been to Ireland, Alaska or Canada.

I had never been pulled over in Toronto.

I had never seen a hockey game.

I didn’t know that Guinness and Jameson’s Whiskey are the nectar of the gods.

Today, the government is shut down and I’m furloughed.

Dickens is now a geriatric cat of 21. He has more siblings and several have special needs.

I have FIVE nephews.

I took two of them to Germany to drink.

I have embraced the fact I’m a groupie for The Elders and Enter the Haggis.

As are the boys.

I've been to Ireland several times.

And had the pleasure of celebrating my birthday in Dublin with these three -  Kristen, Nancy & Anna!

I’ve been to a dozen Avalanche games and drug the boys along.

Now they play hockey. 

And we are a hockey family.

I named my cat Tuukka after Boston’s Tuukka Rask, #40.

I still consider Guinness and Jameson's the perfect drink. Especially when drinking them in Ireland with good friends and Enter the Haggis!

A lot has changed in the world in 17 years. I have improved and enhanced my little corner of the world.

Politicians, however, have not.

Luna's Special!

Luna's always been special - she just didn't think so. That's because she was the healthy cat in a household of special needs cats. She didn't fit in and the rest of the cats excluded her, making her an outcast in her own home.

If only she had a disease so she could be special too...

Turns out, she had one the whole time!

I'd noticed several times her right eye draining, and sometimes it would get pink and even swell shut. I'd make a vet appointment but every time it would clear up before the visit - so I'd cancel. For the past couple months though, the eye wasn't getting better. It continued to drain and be all squinty (that's a technical term) and  she didn't like to be touched on her head. This time, we're going in.

Turns out, she has feline herpes. It gives her what amounts to pink eye. She most likely picked it up when she was in the shelter before I even adopted her. It comes back every now and then, especially during times of stress.

So, now I get to give her eye drops and try to provide her a stress-free environment! Easier said than done in a multi-cat household. Oddly enough, she IS getting along with the others and it seems she has a new found respect! She is indeed special!

As for me - I am learning about a new cat disease!
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/herpes