What made me happy today?

[Set2Stun]

I've been really lucky and she's never really needed veterinary care before. Just one quick home visit for a checkup a few years ago. It's pretty damned expensive. Mittens was not pleased about being taken from her comfortable home. I made sure to tip the Uber drivers well due to her constant protestations

 

[Trish]

Grateful I am not posting about this in the unhappy thread, though we're not 100% out of the woods just yet.

My old friend Mittens started showing some concerning symptoms on Friday, looking almost certainly like a partial urinary blockage. She could get a stream going for a short while after a long nap, but after that, just struggled in the litter box and not getting much more than a few drops out. There hadn't been much improvement, so I took her in to an urgent care vet today.

Not a blockage, thank the gods. If it were, I'd likely have to make a horrible choice. She's at minimum 19 years old and could be a bit into her 20s now, and I just can't spend thousands on surgery and hospitalization. The bloodwork and urinalysis suggest an infection and/or bladder inflammation. No crystals, no stones. So I've got some meds for that and also have to get her on pro-kidney cat food. Could have been much worse. Really hoping I see some improvements soon now that we know what's going on and that it's being treated.

As someone with a feline friend who is at least 18 years old (his name is Catface and my daughter insists he's immortal) I know how terrifying it is. All the good thoughts for Mittens that she continues to do well!

 

[Pik]

One of my previous mentors sent us a writing/theatre program to apply for and it made me happy. I sometimes feel like I won't get to see or talk to any of my mentors (professors, people who influenced my life path, etc) again and it makes me sad. Hopefully I'm wrong and that's not how life works.

 

[Rath Darkblade]

Crossing my fingers and toes for Mittens's swift recovery, Set2Stun! Hoping to hear better news soon.

 

[MoonChild]

Got this email tonight:

 

[Naomasa298]

Got this email tonight:

Assuming it's genuine (rather than spam) - congratulations!

 

[Trish]

Assuming it's genuine (rather than spam) - congratulations!

Why would you question if it was spam when it was obviously submitted and posted in the happy thread?

 

[Set2Stun]

Kitty had her best day out of the past five. Doing the subcutaneous fluid injections was a little stressful, but we managed it, and I was able to get a half dose of the oral medication done. I'm lucky she's such a forgiving cat. I could tell that she was pissed. Wish we could all do mind melds with our animal friends and explain that we're just trying to help.

But yeah, so far the symptoms have subsided quite dramatically and I am cautiously optimistic about the days ahead.

My mom sent me some pictures of Mittens from way, way back in the day. Brought a tear to my eye. She looks so young!

 

[Rath Darkblade]

Got this email tonight:

View attachment 166View attachment 167

Congratulations, Moonchild!

Kitty had her best day out of the past five. Doing the subcutaneous fluid injections was a little stressful, but we managed it, and I was able to get a half dose of the oral medication done. I'm lucky she's such a forgiving cat. I could tell that she was pissed. Wish we could all do mind melds with our animal friends and explain that we're just trying to help.

But yeah, so far the symptoms have subsided quite dramatically and I am cautiously optimistic about the days ahead.

My mom sent me some pictures of Mittens from way, way back in the day. Brought a tear to my eye. She looks so young!

View attachment 169

So happy to hear Mittens is doing relatively well. Mittens is adorable. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Dante Dases]

At last. A little time. After a morning of shopping, sorting out the car, the washing, making in-roads to the garden, I have finally found the hour I wanted, to begin Andor season 2 at long last.

We'll ignore the large professional obligation I need to somehow work on during what is laughably called a holiday.

 

[Dogberry's Watch]

My best friend just left from helping me cut down the bushes in my front yard. I've piled the detritus by the mailbox for the city to collect, which will probably be next week, but I'm so stoked to get started on my yard projects now the front is cleared out.

 

[Hammer]

I saved a bee.

I took my housemate to the doctor for a routine appointment and was waiting outside, sitting on a tree-stump, enjoying a bit of sunshine, when I saw a bee walking along the footpath. I picked some daisies and a dandelion and strew them in her path. She buried herself in the flowers doing bee stuff, then I picked her up on the dandelion to carry her to a bit of shade, but she fell from her chariot, opened her wings, and buzzed off.

Stupid really, but it made me very happy.

Sometimes it's the little things.

Like bees.

 

[Hammer]

Got this email tonight:

View attachment 166View attachment 167

Excellent work! Well done!!

 

[Hammer]

Kitty had her best day out of the past five. Doing the subcutaneous fluid injections was a little stressful, but we managed it, and I was able to get a half dose of the oral medication done. I'm lucky she's such a forgiving cat. I could tell that she was pissed. Wish we could all do mind melds with our animal friends and explain that we're just trying to help.

But yeah, so far the symptoms have subsided quite dramatically and I am cautiously optimistic about the days ahead.

My mom sent me some pictures of Mittens from way, way back in the day. Brought a tear to my eye. She looks so young!

View attachment 169

Bless her!

Older cats have a certain dignity. I had one that lived to 23 or 24. She clicked when she walked, she could only eat on one side of her mouth, and could be either cantankerous or loving depending on her mood, but she knew exactly where to go at any time of day to find a warm spot, and she was a sweetheart.

 

[ps102]

Now, until my third and final year starts back on October, I'll have free time again. I'll try to make the most out of it!

So, now that my university is over for the summer, things have been interesting. The most interesting this is how all the things I neglected to do while I was drowning in assignment work have naturally come back to haunt me. But things should balance out soon enough.

Most importantly, I'm glad university is off my back. I can sleep a lot easier now. The weather here warms more and more by the day. Summer is around the corner. I hope it will be one to remember.

 

[Rath Darkblade]

This little snippet of doggerel made me happy and amused me. Cowboys and witches are the same thing, separated by day vs night.

Rootin' tootin', toil n' shootin',
Fire burn and cowboy bootin',
Eye of newt and spicy beans,
toe of frog and denim jeans;
Whiskey, grits, n' demon spittle
tossed into my iron griddle --
By the tannin' of our hides,
somethin' wicked this way rides!

(Sorry)

 

[Mr Mononoke]

I sent my first two short stories to a cousin a few days ago and she replied back today saying she was a tearful and loved them. What was more pleasing is since we've grown up together in the same environment, she understood a lot of the hidden details in the story and liked the structure, difference in how I wrote and really loved the characters.

She asked for the next story and another writing friend here asked for it too, so feeling very blessed.

 

[TrevorD]

Watched the first half of the movie Pig on Netflix and it was pretty good. After, I told Tally (my dog) that he's MY big white truffle pig. He seemed happy at the suggestion.

 

[Catrin Lewis]

Why would you question if it was spam when it was obviously submitted and posted in the happy thread?

Because a lot of us are worrywarts, most likely.

 

[Catrin Lewis]

Got this email tonight:

View attachment 166View attachment 167

Thanks for the link. Your poem is poignant indeed.