night and day

I've commented on the past about how different my two kitties are. I discovered new differences today when I picked up my babies from the vet today.

Magnum (red striped tabby) - Older cat, and was warned about his older age. He'd be slow to heal and would be in more pain. I was given more pain medicine for him.

Adira (loud fluffy calico) - Would do okay from the procedure.

Both had their front paws declawed. Stayed overnight and picked them up late this afternoon. Both were silent staring fur beasts in their carriers. Stopped at Petsmart to get litter pans and the special litter for this week after period. Most people didn't know I had cats in the carriers since they were silent.

On the drive back, I started to hear some quiet pitiful meows. Thought there were from Adira, but wasn't sure.

Forgot to put the litter pans back in cart, so cats were dropped off inside and had to go back to Petsmart. Stupid me.

Opened their carriers after I returned from my second trip to Petsmart. Both slinked out of their carriers, Adira retreated to the bedroom, and Magnum jumped on the couch and walked on to the coffee table. Magnum then jumped off the table on the floor.

Since Magnum seemed no worse for wear, I found Adira in the bedroom. She was laying close to the ground, so I put her on her pillow next to mine. She tried to jump from the bed to the desk (equal height, about 18" apart). She slipped, and managed to get herself on the desk.

I offered both critters their favorite wet food, but neither showed immediate attention to it. Magnum showed slight interest after a few hours. Adira ate some of her favorite treats, but not as many as she could normally pack away.

Gave Adira some liquid pain medicine first. I was able to give her the full dose easily. Maybe because she was hurting. A couple hours later, I offered Magnum some, but got him 2/3 his dose before he ran away.

Adira has made four trips to the water fountain, Magnum has made none.

Both are very affectionate. Adira has been still while I pet her - normally she's in ADHD mode and can't hold still.

Interesting how they both are reacting to their ordeal.

early advantage

More rain in the old pueblo.

They're not predicting the record amounts that we got in the summer that destroyed parts of Sabino Canyon, but periods of intense rain.

So I bring out my pretty umbrella. Doubles as a walking stick when it isn't raining.

Feel a few raindrops on my head when I was walking to my car. Go less than a mile and it starts to really rain. Another mile down the road and the rain is so intense that I'm a bit concerned. People are going 10 miles under the speed limit and can't find the lane markers. Only one intersection with dead traffic lights, but the cops are there, so I get through with minimum stress.

Find a "good spot" in the parking lot closest to my building. Normally I park a few blocks away because the spaces are a bit bigger and it's direcly east of an apartment, so it provides nice shade. No shade today, so I park closer. A good spot is any spot where you can park with one side of your car next to an end of the isle, or a no parking spot. These spaces are smaller, and the big trucks and SUVs will put a nice dent on your door. If nobody can park on one side of you, you stradle the line, and hope for the best.

I had a hard time finding the parking stripes because of the rain. Mostly because it's been rearranged a couple times so there's old stripes and new stripes that look the same in the rain.

As I walk the hall to the lab, I see a couple facilities guys.

"Hi guys, what's broken now?"

*laughter* "Nothing yet, just checking for leaks."

"Oh, you want to see the leaks that were fixed?"

"Sure."

So I show them the last few leaks that were supposedly fixed, and leaked again. They haven't started leaking yet, but I've got the drop cloths and buckets at the ready.

It pays to get in early because then you get the maintainance guys.