Showing posts with label JezzaBooBunnyBear. Show all posts
Showing posts with label JezzaBooBunnyBear. Show all posts

Friday, April 14, 2023

A Sudden Farewell

Monday, April 10 started out better than most of late. My husband had surgery the Tuesday prior and I’d been coughing for weeks. So I woke feeling pretty well and decided on a garden center visit.

Then I saw Jezebel stumbling around. It was as if her left rear leg wouldn’t support her weight. I immediately called our vet clinic.

A sleepy Jezebel back in February...

No doubt my post title tells the tale. With the clinic’s booked schedule, I dropped her off so they could fit her in and called hours later to learn her status. As it happened, the vet was about to phone me.

She said nobody believed her geriatric age (about 20) but the planned X-ray showed a tumor. Almost guaranteed aggressive cancer, she could prescribe an anti-inflammatory and tranquilizer.

Huh? Why?


I drove back with tears pouring down my face. Due to his post surgical condition my husband couldn’t attend. Thankfully, our kitty sisters keep me laughing. Yet the house seems too quiet.


Jezzy was almost certainly deaf and I took to calling her ‘Mighty Mouth’ (like Mighty Mouse come to save the day!) because she would meow shout for food/attention. Thank heaven we had so much time with her.

Can you believe several staffers, who see euthanasia daily, cried with me? How can I convince my husband’s lack of attendance shouldn’t make him feel guilty?

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Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Aging Health Issues

I’ve (half) joked that Jezebel is my Voodoo doll. When my left shoulder hurt a few years ago I found her limping on her front left leg. As of today we both have kidney issues. ~sigh~ I had to cancel my MRI kidney scan last week due to an upper respiratory infection and, lo and behold, poor Jezzy developed a urinary tract infection (!) that requires twice daily antibiotics.

“Make no mistake, she is my Voodoo doll.”

My active imagination foresaw not bringing her home from Friday’s vet visit. ~shakes head~ My husband assured me as much, though he couldn’t accompany me due to his own medical appointment. Jezebel is officially on a kidney care diet now.

Playing ‘magical plates’ all morning is exhausting, especially since my lungs and sinuses are still phlegm filled. Jezebel’s health is worth the effort of denying her unhealthy foods. Her prescription stuff is safe for the other two kitties, a good thing since Polly seems to want whatever the old gal gets. Thank heaven, Terra is not as food centric.


Why are there no treats produced for pets with CKD? Any fellow cat caretakers have any suggestions?

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Thursday, March 16, 2023

Latest Lessons Learned

I need to start numbering these lessoned learned episodes. ~shakes head~ Anyway, back in 2019 our lovely Chevrolet Volt got scrapped due to a collision. If we’d known better, we’d have collected the cargo net since our gorgeous 2017 Volt (electric hybrid version 2.0) lacked this surprisingly expensive little luxury.

Hence when our last microwave oven died I knew enough to retain its glass turntable. It’s a nice item to switch out when our latest and greatest unit needs cleaning, which leads to another lesson.

I need to stop running the microwave oven without donning eyeglasses. ~sigh~ Jezebel wanted her morning arctic char, stomping on me with her shaky geriatric little kitty feet to the point I felt bad and scurried out to the kitchen (hence, no eyeglasses).

She doesn’t much care if her refrigerated food is warmed, yet I decided to do so. I still don’t know how it happened, but my intended four second runtime went on far past that. Opening the door I found an explosive stinky mess. I should have used our domed splatter guard. ~sigh~ On the bright side, our scrubbed microwave oven looks brand new.
Are you a big user of a microwave oven? Do you own any sort of splatter guard for it?

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Monday, February 27, 2023

Lesson(s) Learned

My husband and I continue listening to a podcast called “Stuff You Should Know” while out and about. The other day we heard a shocking tail about Newport, Kentucky. Across the state line from Cincinnati this virtual suburb boasted a small population in the 1930’s. For whatever reason, illegal casinos popped up and, of course, mobsters moved in.

Long story short, a young Frank Sinatra entertained along with many others until Las Vegas became the go-to din of iniquity. One huge venue called The Beverly Hills Supper Club in Newport turned into a legitimate business in the 1970’s. Alas residual mobster activity continued and mysterious fires sprouted among various nightclubs. Refusing offers to sell, this business man apparently fell victim.

Unlike normal sabotage operations occurring on a quiet Sunday morning, this devastating event took place on a Saturday night. And those thousands (!) enjoying celebrations such as weddings, or just a simple night out were the ultimate victims. Hundreds died yet authorities prevented investigation by bulldozing the place within days. I’ll let you learn more if interested by checking this out. I’m shocked never to have known about this beforehand as its impact upon the city remains, including litigation over proposed development on what many consider a sacred sight.

I mentioned this tragedy to my older brother-in-law, curious if he’d heard this news during his young adulthood in Northeast Ohio. He had not. On a side note, he volunteers at his house of worship’s security team. What prompted my tell is that he and needed to cut short the brothers’ weekly video chat for a fire drill.

In a true ironic twist we endured our own sort of fire drill that very afternoon. I’d been cooking a blackened chicken recipe but didn’t notice smoke building up until our smoke detector sounded. A representative of the home security called and we promptly assured him no assistance was required. He chuckled at my self-deprecating joke before notifying our local fire department.

However, we were too late and a fire truck pulled up. Zack, leading his emerging responders, asked if he could double check inside our home. I agreed, apologetic while expressing an understanding that we’d receive a bill.

“No, don’t worry,” he replied. “There’s no charge involved.”
As if we needed more proof of Jezebel
being deaf, she did not react until
the very tall fireman Zack
stood behind me.

I later surmised the silent young people in uniform might have been on a convenient training mission. At any rate, I again confessed that my chicken was definitely blackened and received more laughter. After ascertaining our safety and making sure we didn’t need anything, Zack took down my name and number for their report. I, in turn, asked their names because they were so professional, polite, and thorough.

Have you ever pulled this type of embarrassing stunt? Isn’t my brother-in-law's volunteer work laudable?

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Tuesday, November 1, 2022

Better Late Than Never

I took time to take photos and video of our kitties’ tails plus bought a Halloween card for my husband. Then I let random busywork let ‘Tock’tober and Halloween pass by without posting the former or handing out the latter. I flat out lost track of the date. ~shakes head~ Anyway, Happy November first and I hope you enjoy my girls’ rear ends.

Jezebel can turn this wispy
thing into a giant brush
if scared or cold...

Jezebel was eating, as was Polly. I didn’t notice the bit of white kitchen floor mat in Polly’s photo until now. It disoriented me during the composing phase. Heh...

As you can imagine, Polly needs
occasional help grooming...

Terra, on the other hand, is more enthusiastic an athlete than eater. Hence the video of her restless appendage.


 

Is Polly not made of absolute floof? And once he opens it, would you like to see my husband’s corny Halloween card?

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Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Chewy to the Rescue

Today I found an email from online pet supply store Chewy announcing my auto-shipped cat food order was temporarily out of stock. After a few minutes perusing their website I made an alternative selection.

A very few more minutes passed after I replied to their email with my decision and customer service replied that it already shipped! My husband will be relieved as I am. Jezebel just loves the Purina Pro Plan Arctic Char canned food. She, Terra, and Polly will have to settle for a variety pack with half of the cans duck flavored.

Our kitties only got the Arctic char after a temporary shortage of the duck flavored entrée, so should I mix the two varieties? Can you believe the char puree smells good enough for me to eat?

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Friday, April 1, 2022

Responses & A Big ‘Huh?’

I appreciate the kind words regarding my handling a centipede. I’m not certain that will ever reoccur. Heh… Meanwhile, Andrew kindly expressed concern for my garden. I am pleased to report that these carnivorous creatures eat many harmful insect species (including those that can transfer dangerous bacteria). And I often use the trick Liz A. described, covering spiders with a glass and sliding a stiff envelope between it and the floor or wall. It’s much easier than what dear Strayer endures trapping to help feral cats. Believe it or not, though, I actually let this little bug free inside.

On a very different and befuddling topic, my husband’s primary care physician is taking much deserved retirement this summer. It had been over thirty years (!), starting just after my husband’s honorable discharge from the United States Air Force and continuing when Dr. T. moved to a teaching clinic. When our health insurance provider forced me to switch yet again in 2019, one of Dr. T.’s residents actually took on my care.

He has since joined a practice much closer to our home. Having him take on my husband’s care seemed ideal, and both physicians agreed. Dr. T. went so far as to say this was a good choice.

However, things didn’t turn out as planned.

This health network, we were told, no longer accepts new patients insured by Molina Healthcare. Huh? I’m very glad my established patient status exempts me from exclusion yet upset for my husband’s sake. Both clinics are under the Kettering Health Network umbrella. So what’s the difference between which one he chooses?

Have you heard of a patient denied care for having the wrong insurance? Should I worry this is a warning sign Molina Healthcare was a bad choice?

Regarding Jezebel, I want to thank sweet Cleo and our lovely Eastside Cat friends for their research. To ease your concerns, I am happy to report her vet check-up last month was great, her head pressing activity is both gentle and rare, and she actually gained lost weight running around. Terra and Polly keep her on her toes. ~grin~ 

Back to silly stuff, those squeamish about bugs will want to skip this final note about centipedes.

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Back in her feline youth, dear old Jezebel would sometimes catch centipedes in her mouth, tossing them in the air and actually disarticulating the unfortunates. It was quite a sight, and also disgusting as removed legs kept twitching. ~shudder~ So far, Terra and Polly stick to chasing ladybugs.

“I did what, you say?”
“You remember, Jezzy… Right?”

“Bleh! You have me mistaken for another cat.”

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Thursday, March 31, 2022

A Moment of Zen with Jezebel

 


Do you have any idea why she keeps rubbing the top of her head against me? Is it perhaps a tic of old age?

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Sunday, March 13, 2022

Replies to Some More Appreciated Comments

Pradeep Nair shared a sad fact that his gymnasium’s overly loud sound system makes him steer clear. Blessedly, none of my YMCA establishments blast music. In fact, my ears strained a bit identifying what the radio station aired this morning. Enjoy your park, my friend!

Sandee gave a kind warning about a dock crow accustomed to handouts turning vicious if she and her husband didn’t provide. Yikes! Well, I haven’t seen any since my little feeding attempt. ~sigh~ If things do progress, I’ll be careful and hope our breed of corvid are more shy/polite.

Bathwater, Cleo, Eastside Cats, J E Oneil, Pam, and Liz A. (in alphabetical order; sorry if I missed anyone) all provided well wishes regarding dog poop next to my mailbox. Thank you! Some neighbors let their dogs roam and do as they please, but these folks are all decent and good relations make tolerating the minor annoyance worthwhile.

Did I miss any folks requiring thanks? Are you ready for more kitty shenanigans?
Jezebel wants the shenanigans to stop,
but at least she still has her friend...
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Thursday, December 30, 2021

Observations by Jezebel the Wise

Napping is a feline duty, not solely a delight. I take it very seriously. Two others I’ll call out by name, Terra and Polly, are mere posers.
This is how you do it...

Just today I lay on the couch trying to catch some beauty sleep when a terrible raucous arose from the basement. My mom hollered and laughed, laundry room doors opening and closing until Dad finally dragged himself away from his computer. A few words were exchanged before he snagged the treat container. Yawning and stretching, I followed along.
Another classic pose I've perfected...

Luna, Tilly, and I were never locked out of any room because we had enough sense to stay out of trouble. Wisely, the folks don’t trust these hooligans around various household chemicals stored down there. But Terra snuck inside when Mom tried to haul out her laundry basket, Polly followed, and hilarity ensued.

~rolls eyes~

You see, our cellar is about two-thirds carpeted. The rest serves as Dad’s hobby room, the aforementioned laundry space, and general storage. For whatever reason, walled partitions were never installed despite the area having a whopping three complete doorways. It seems the disastrous duo sent Mom trotting from one entrance to another while they led her on the proverbial wild goose chase.


Can you explain why anyone would chase a nasty old goose, tame or otherwise? Don’t you think all birds are best out of a can?

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Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Observations of Polly courtesy of Jezebel the Wise

For some reason my mom added something to the end of my post title. It began with the letter A and ended with two dollar signs in brackets. I don’t know what that means and walked over the backspace button to be on the safe side.

At least she’s letting me share this despite wanting to put it under one of Polly’s Follies. I probably could have done better photography work. However, my speaking voice isn’t as clear to human hearing. So she filmed that goofy yet amicable ball of fluff. Mom and Dad both think Polly embodies the spirit of Tilly. They didn’t nickname my former roommate ‘Silly Tilly Willy’ for nothing.

But I digress… For your viewing pleasure, I present Polly’s latest and greatest endeavor.


I crack myself up. Here is another clip illustrating her rather adorable (I must say) excitement.


Contrary to my tone, Polly and Terra are okay in my book as long as I get quality nap time. But Terra needs to help her sister understand what’s worth stalking.

The mystifying target of her fascination.

Do you understand the significance of Wise[a$$]? Should I be flattered?

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Sunday, November 14, 2021

Observations of Jezebel the Wise

Spoiler alert, cats and kittens: the Dimbulb Duo will never achieve my level of feline fineness.

Sometimes I just cover my eyes and
pretend I’m an only cat again.
The fat one… Oh, excuse me, Polly is just ‘big furred’. Anyway, she is so dumb she chews furniture and appliances! I guess anyone reading this probably knows that.

Pretty, but not exactly the face of an
intellectual cat about town, is it?

Excuse me a moment. You say I’m supposed to feel sorry for her being taking from her mommy too soon? Whatever, human. Her sibling is no better.

Terra thinks she is both cute and clever.
My opinion? She is neither.

For example, explain this next stupidity away. Terra the terror twin destroys her own toys. I didn’t need my biological mom to teach me not to tear things up.

She (a cat!) plays fetch like some dog &
sometimes the toy tail stays behind.
Then again, maybe that old holiday movie line is not fictional. How does it go?


Oh, yeah. When one mousie rattles another loses its tale. Or something like that. I do like Jimmy Stewart. He was one cool cat. But check this nonsense out…


 

Back in my day we had to play using our imaginations, too. This pair of rotten teenagers get all the latest and greatest gadgets. Even worse, they needed their floppy fish wrapped in tissue paper. Come on…


Can these juvenile kitties be any lamer? On a cooler note, did you know actor Jimmy Stewart served 27 years in the United States Military, retiring with the rank of Brigadier General?

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Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Jezebel the Wise

Hello, cats and kittens. I’m back with another installment sharing my feline wisdom, however obvious the lesson. After all, any kitty worthy of her fur understands the fundamentals of sunbathing.

I permitted my human to take this portrait
for demonstration purposes only...

Not these interlopers, though. How Terra and Polly fail to understand the concept is beyond me.

Here they are: Dim and Dimmer...
Is it too generous of me to think they were trying to blend in with the shadows? That maybe they thought I couldn
t see them taking tips from the master? Either way I should just be glad they left me alone to bask in the heavenly warmth, huh?

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Friday, October 1, 2021

Jezebel - Old and Wise, Feline Style

Must I speak again. ~sigh~ Okay...

Well, it's Jezebel here again. The delightful Pam asked for my expertise and thus I decided to change my blog title.

But I'll let my human tell this stupid story, long as usual.
~rolls golden eyes~
Darla here, so thank you, Jezzy. Ahem...


As our cat Tilly got older I noticed she liked nestling onto my husband's heating pad, even unplugged. I began turning it on and finally decided to purchase a pet specific unit. Sad to say, the item arrived the day after Tilly passed away quietly at home.

Regarding high temperatures, one year our cooling system failed and the cats left tiny sweaty footprints. We kept plenty of water available and all ended well. So that's all for now. Be well!


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Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Jezebel – Just Being Me

Jezebel here. I understand that some cats get an online voice. I’ve been around a while and think speaking out is my prerogative. Call me too tolerant but first off I’ll admit that those feline interlopers, Terra and Polly, are mostly okay.


My humans say I’m doing great with them here. Whatever that means, I discovered the joy of treats. Those brats shouldn’t get all the goodies. ‘Nuff said about them.


Is there anything better than naps? Do any of you kitties out there have your own heating pad (its corner is poking out above my paws in the above photo)?

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Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Black Cat Appreciation Day

I learned the significance of this date thanks to Eastside Cats. For those who don’t know, on August 7th the family lost beloved kitty Paddy O’Malley far too soon. I know their hearts still ache, so bless your humans, sweet PO’M, for resuming the heartwarming blog so soon.

Now that two “holes in space” own us now, heart to hearth, here is another portrait of the pair. The Dactyl sisters and their extra toes certainly keep me on mine.

Want toy meow!

Jezebel is doubtless not impressed. Don’t tell her, though, but we’re sure she has benefited from the activity. A long ongoing and increasingly frequent leg tremor is now all but nonexistent. It’s as if losing her complacency has somehow rewired Jezebel’s brain.

Whatever...

Shouldn’t every day of the calendar year celebrate a certain wild creature or family pet? Don’t you think animals offer more to celebrate than things like ice cream and hoagies?

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