It has been said that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. While this is probably true, today, I really hope Jake's second impression makes up for his first one. Today, Jake started a new job. It was not a good morning!!
He was supposed to be in Ankeny at 7:00 sharp. New job want to be there early right? Well, when he went to get into his Jeep at 6:25 it wouldn't start. He thought the battery was dead so he asked me to come out and jump it. Let me digress for just a quick moment, on Saturday my Dad came and towed the two UGLY trucks out of our driveway, so I moved his jeep then and it started fine so I was wondering exactly why his battery would be dead.
As I walked out to my jeep to pull over to his I heard him start it. However, I could tell that it was just not running right. There was a weird smell and he kept having to give it gas to keep it idling. Finally after a few minutes it idled on it's own and he finished packing his jeep and left. It died at the end of the driveway, but started right up and he drove off.
About 3 or 4 minutes later I got a call from him that the oil pressure had plummeted and he was pulling off the bypass. So, I jumped in my jeep and sped there, determined to try to "minimize" his tardiness on his first day. By the time I got to him he had it started again and said the oil pressure had come back up. So, we decided I would just follow him in case something else weird happened.
It did. It wouldn't be the Hamilton Family Circus if it didn't. He probably only went 150 feet and the oil pressure started to drop again. So he pulled off and threw his stuff in my car and off we went. By this point it was 6:45 and we were no where close to the north west side of Ankeny. I think my speedometer hit 80 a few times and 90 once when I decided that would be a VERY painful ticket and I let off the gas.
We made it at 7:02 am. I felt really bad for him though. It was his first day and everyone was in the parking lot staring at the new guy who was late and had to be dropped off by his wife. Not to mention that I had driven so erratically that when he went to get his things out of the back of the jeep they all toppled out onto the concrete.
I just called to see how things were going and he assured me that no one was mad that he was 2 minutes late and that he has enjoyed his first 2 1/2 hours. Send your good thoughts his way, I think he needs them after the rough start to his day!! :-) :-)
Monday, October 31, 2005
Friday, October 28, 2005
Internet
I did not post anything yesterday because the internet was down when I was at lunch. It was amazing to me how quickly people started coming back to my corner of the office (I sit across from the tech guy) to ask what was going on and when it would be fixed.
I also noticed yesterday that a website that I read was having some technical difficulties. On my way home I got a phone call from Katie asking what was going on. Where did the website go? I am happy to report that Julie's website is now back up and working. (Although she says that there are still a few kinks to be worked through.)
Both of these things got me thinking about our reliance on the internet for most of what we do in everyday life. Do you realize that this thing that we have become so attached to really only became available to the masses in 1993? That means that in 12 years we have become so reliant on the internet that it is hard to imagine life without it.
In fact, there is now a whole generation of children that will never know what it is like to live without the internet. Makes you feel old doesn't it? Anyhow, I do have a point here, I promise. With the invention of the internet it has made it very easy to stay connected to people. But the connections that we have are not always as "personal" as they used to be.
It is very easy to get onto the web and e-mail all of your friends that you are expecting a baby, or that you got a new house. Before we all had e-mail you would call these people and personally share with them your news. While it is SOOO much easier to just shoot off that mass e-mail, it is also MUCH harder to read emotion in an e-mail. Many of the social skills we have for telling whether someone is joking or being serious are wiped out when we e-mail a person.
That said, it is also much easier to forget that behind the website or the e-mail there sits and actual person with thoughts and feelings. I know that I personally read about a dozen or so blogs, most of which are people whom I have never met and who don't even know I exist. At any point in time, I am well aware that the same could be happening to me.
Anyone can read this blog, and if they don't comment I will never know that they were even here. In the same token, it is easy to write something in the comments that you would NEVER say to someone in person. We forget that eventually those comments go to a person, not just into the world wide web.
So now, I want to hear from all of you. If you have never commented before, take this as your opportunity. How attached are you to the internet? Are you guilty of finding it easier to just send out a mass e-mail then to call people on the phone? Do you read blogs of people you don't know? Have you ever commented on a blog and then kicked yourself later because what you said was mean or just sounded really dumb?
I also noticed yesterday that a website that I read was having some technical difficulties. On my way home I got a phone call from Katie asking what was going on. Where did the website go? I am happy to report that Julie's website is now back up and working. (Although she says that there are still a few kinks to be worked through.)
Both of these things got me thinking about our reliance on the internet for most of what we do in everyday life. Do you realize that this thing that we have become so attached to really only became available to the masses in 1993? That means that in 12 years we have become so reliant on the internet that it is hard to imagine life without it.
In fact, there is now a whole generation of children that will never know what it is like to live without the internet. Makes you feel old doesn't it? Anyhow, I do have a point here, I promise. With the invention of the internet it has made it very easy to stay connected to people. But the connections that we have are not always as "personal" as they used to be.
It is very easy to get onto the web and e-mail all of your friends that you are expecting a baby, or that you got a new house. Before we all had e-mail you would call these people and personally share with them your news. While it is SOOO much easier to just shoot off that mass e-mail, it is also MUCH harder to read emotion in an e-mail. Many of the social skills we have for telling whether someone is joking or being serious are wiped out when we e-mail a person.
That said, it is also much easier to forget that behind the website or the e-mail there sits and actual person with thoughts and feelings. I know that I personally read about a dozen or so blogs, most of which are people whom I have never met and who don't even know I exist. At any point in time, I am well aware that the same could be happening to me.
Anyone can read this blog, and if they don't comment I will never know that they were even here. In the same token, it is easy to write something in the comments that you would NEVER say to someone in person. We forget that eventually those comments go to a person, not just into the world wide web.
So now, I want to hear from all of you. If you have never commented before, take this as your opportunity. How attached are you to the internet? Are you guilty of finding it easier to just send out a mass e-mail then to call people on the phone? Do you read blogs of people you don't know? Have you ever commented on a blog and then kicked yourself later because what you said was mean or just sounded really dumb?
I'm counting on you people!! Fill up that comments section. But remember, for every comment, there is a real person on the other side of the computer who is entitled to whatever opinion they have.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Nutritious and Delicious?
As most of you know, I am not a big McDonalds fan. There are many reasons, but to sum it up, I just do not like the taste of their food. Now, they have released a statement saying that in 2006:
Nutrition information will now be displayed on the majority of McDonald's product packaging using an easy-to-understand icon and bar chart format.
This, my friends, just gives me another reason not to eat there. When I go to a fast food restaurant, I know it's bad for me. I don't really need to see a bar chart to tell me HOW bad. Now what fun is that??
Nutrition information will now be displayed on the majority of McDonald's product packaging using an easy-to-understand icon and bar chart format.
This, my friends, just gives me another reason not to eat there. When I go to a fast food restaurant, I know it's bad for me. I don't really need to see a bar chart to tell me HOW bad. Now what fun is that??
I think it's ME!!
Let's see... Katie - Check, Jess - Check, Danette - Check.... yup... definately me!!Tuesday, October 25, 2005
How good are your company outings?
In looking for something to post about today I stumbled upon this story.
Executive Disputes $241,000 Strip Club Bill
What I find interesting about this is not the fact that they are disputing the bill. It is the fact that
According to the lawsuit, McCormick admits spending about $20,000, but no more. The company said he's "the victim of fraud."
Now maybe as an accountant I think of things a little differently than the rest. (No wise cracks we all know I'm a little different!!) But if one of the people around here had tried to use a company credit card to pay for strippers I just don't think it would fly. I highly doubt we could claim $10 let alone $20,000 as a legitimate business expense.
What his company should have been saying is hope you aren't too attached to your paychecks because we will be deducting this amount from all further checks until it is paid back. As it is, it appears that the uproar created when this story broke has caused them to at least re-think his position. As of 8:00 p.m. last night
the company announced that he was on an unpaid leave of absence and that the audit committee had launched an investigation.
Executive Disputes $241,000 Strip Club Bill
What I find interesting about this is not the fact that they are disputing the bill. It is the fact that
According to the lawsuit, McCormick admits spending about $20,000, but no more. The company said he's "the victim of fraud."
Now maybe as an accountant I think of things a little differently than the rest. (No wise cracks we all know I'm a little different!!) But if one of the people around here had tried to use a company credit card to pay for strippers I just don't think it would fly. I highly doubt we could claim $10 let alone $20,000 as a legitimate business expense.
What his company should have been saying is hope you aren't too attached to your paychecks because we will be deducting this amount from all further checks until it is paid back. As it is, it appears that the uproar created when this story broke has caused them to at least re-think his position. As of 8:00 p.m. last night
the company announced that he was on an unpaid leave of absence and that the audit committee had launched an investigation.
Monday, October 24, 2005
A Few Rantings...
This post may offend some of you, and for that I am truly sorry. In knowing that, you may be wondering why would I even write it at all, well because I can. That my wonderful people is the beauty of the internet, and of this great thing we call blogging. That does not mean that I do not want people to read our blog. It simply means that I can, and will, write my opinion on the way things are going in our lives.
I try not to drag Jake's and my "dirty laundry" out into the open. I try more to write about our adversities as a couple or about things that are happening. However, in doing that some of you choose to make generalizations and assumptions. Some of you who know what is going on between us automatically assumed that last post was about Jake, or something that he did. Then, those same people did not have the nerve to put their own names on their posts.
Please people, if you are going to comment here, don't hide behind the anonymous entry. If you have the nerve to post it then you should have the nerve to identify yourself. If you don't, then please don't post it here, e-mail it to me. We really do not want any mud slinging on this website. If you still feel the need to post something please know that we reserve the right to delete comments that we feel are inappropriate, or uncalled for.
This is our family's personal website. Another blogger I read wrote something just the other day about this. She writes:
Now, let me clarify one thing, I am not saying that I do not want to hear a difference of opinion. I am as open to discussion as anyone else, in fact I enjoy a good debate once in awhile. However, that said, please keep what you say here limited to ADULT discussion. Please no personal attacks on me, my husband, or other commenters.
Secondly, if you are unsure what a post is about PLEASE do not ASSUME you know. E-mail me and ask for clarification or do so in the comments. Sometimes I am not always that clear on things or I may say something that you construe as something else without meaning to.
So for those of you that I have made assumptions about or have said something without thinking first, please forgive me. A lot of times in the heat of the moment we say things that we may not mean later. Please understand that this website is only a "glimpse" into our lives and should be read as such.
Thank you... and we now return you to your regularly scheduled programming....
I try not to drag Jake's and my "dirty laundry" out into the open. I try more to write about our adversities as a couple or about things that are happening. However, in doing that some of you choose to make generalizations and assumptions. Some of you who know what is going on between us automatically assumed that last post was about Jake, or something that he did. Then, those same people did not have the nerve to put their own names on their posts.
Please people, if you are going to comment here, don't hide behind the anonymous entry. If you have the nerve to post it then you should have the nerve to identify yourself. If you don't, then please don't post it here, e-mail it to me. We really do not want any mud slinging on this website. If you still feel the need to post something please know that we reserve the right to delete comments that we feel are inappropriate, or uncalled for.
This is our family's personal website. Another blogger I read wrote something just the other day about this. She writes:
As I take moments to reflect on my life, I am always blown away to know
that there is someone out there who is unable to see past the story I am
telling, like somehow they think I have not moved past that moment of
pain.....
I wonder why they can't see that my stories are just little glimpses into
my life.
And like my words are little glimpses into my life, I would like to think
(hope) that when someone leaves an ignorant or intentionally mean comment here
that their comment represents just a tiny glimpse of the person they really are.
Now, let me clarify one thing, I am not saying that I do not want to hear a difference of opinion. I am as open to discussion as anyone else, in fact I enjoy a good debate once in awhile. However, that said, please keep what you say here limited to ADULT discussion. Please no personal attacks on me, my husband, or other commenters.
Secondly, if you are unsure what a post is about PLEASE do not ASSUME you know. E-mail me and ask for clarification or do so in the comments. Sometimes I am not always that clear on things or I may say something that you construe as something else without meaning to.
That said, I know there are times when I only see little glimpses, I misjudge
and I click send, tailgate, or yell when ten seconds later I completely regret
my impulses. It only takes one impulse and one second to change the direction of
our lives. Our choices really do affect the people around us. You know what I
mean?
So for those of you that I have made assumptions about or have said something without thinking first, please forgive me. A lot of times in the heat of the moment we say things that we may not mean later. Please understand that this website is only a "glimpse" into our lives and should be read as such.
Thank you... and we now return you to your regularly scheduled programming....
Friday, October 21, 2005
Honesty
Why is it SOO hard for people to be honest with one another? I am probably one of the most honest people that you will meet and so it just BLOWS my mind to see the way other people try to lie and distort the truth.
Here's an example. You do something that you are not so proud of (we have all done it) and then you lie to your spouse, mother, father, friend, etc. about it. They find out. You come clean with them but they are more mad at you for not just coming clean in the first place than they are about the thing that you did.
Then, just for fun, you are still not so proud of this thing so you continue the lie to all of the other people in your life except for the one person you have told making your life a continual juggling act of who did I tell what and when.
Here is my own personal motto. Tell people the truth and let them deal with it. They may not like it, but that is their decision to make, not yours to make for them.
So for all of you out there that I have been blunt with or have told you things that may have upset you. Think of how much more hurt you had been if I had lied to you and then you had found out the truth later. As far as I'm concerned lying gets you know where. All it does is delay the pain.
Here's an example. You do something that you are not so proud of (we have all done it) and then you lie to your spouse, mother, father, friend, etc. about it. They find out. You come clean with them but they are more mad at you for not just coming clean in the first place than they are about the thing that you did.
Then, just for fun, you are still not so proud of this thing so you continue the lie to all of the other people in your life except for the one person you have told making your life a continual juggling act of who did I tell what and when.
Here is my own personal motto. Tell people the truth and let them deal with it. They may not like it, but that is their decision to make, not yours to make for them.
So for all of you out there that I have been blunt with or have told you things that may have upset you. Think of how much more hurt you had been if I had lied to you and then you had found out the truth later. As far as I'm concerned lying gets you know where. All it does is delay the pain.
Happy Halloween!!
Since it's getting close to Halloween, I thought I would post some pictures I just recently received of my favorite Forest children in their Halloween costumes. For those of you who are wondering, yes we are still here. I know I have been neglecting this blog for the past month but I will try to be back next week full bore posting once a day again.
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Friday, October 14, 2005
Have you filed your tax return?
What many of you don't know is that while April 15th is the "official" tax deadline as long as your taxes are paid you can file and extension and have up until October 15th to file your return. However, if you think that you don't owe enough to warrant filing watch out. You could end up like this woman:
Ohio Police Arrest Woman For $1 In Unpaid Taxes
And this is why there is a need for us C.P.A.'s. So that you will have someone to pay $500 to file your tax return with $1.16 due!! :-)
Ohio Police Arrest Woman For $1 In Unpaid Taxes
And this is why there is a need for us C.P.A.'s. So that you will have someone to pay $500 to file your tax return with $1.16 due!! :-)
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Kitten Update
I went to visit Annie, Angel, and River last night while Jake was at the bow shop shooting. They are all doing really well and have changed so much from the last time I was there which was only last weekend. River seems unphased by his past leg injuries and the only residual affect is the fact that all the fur has not grown back yet on his back legs.
This scratching post is one of their favorite toys. They like to climb on top and play king of the mountain. Then they stretch out and put their front feet on the garbage can... we are waiting for the inevitable kitten in a can! :-)
For the first five minutes I was there, this is what the pictures were like. Every time I would pull out the camera I would have a kitten RIGHT in the lens. 
Annie is a cuddle bug. Ever since she was little she just wants to be right in your lap observing what is going on. She is by far the daintiest of the kittens. A real girly girl. 
Apparently River decided that rug needed to be taught who was boss.
He only fell off the couch once in the process...
Angel comes in for her close up.... 
Where'd she go? I know she was JUST here!! 
Come back here!! That's MY watch tower!!
Well at least I can keep you from going up there!! 
What are you two doing down there? 
When all else fails bite her on the butt. That will get her to come down!!
So, as you can see, they are doing well. Full of LOTS of energy!
Monday, October 10, 2005
Race For The Cure
On Saturday I participated in the Race for the Cure in Des Moines. This is the second year that Danette and I have walked the 3.1 miles (5K) to raise money for breast cancer research. Last year I walked 3 days after my grandma's funeral. I remember thinking that it was very ironic that Danette asked me to participate with her in this walk for a cause that my aunts and uncles had dontated to in my grandma's memory.
This year as I thought about doing it again I could not believe that it has been a full year that my grandma has been gone and a full year that Clint has been battling with his cancer. The more I think about it the more I think that I will continue to walk every year in memory of my grandma, and most likely very shortly Clint too.
I know that my grandmother did not die of breast cancer, and her husband and son (obviously) did not either. But I think once we find a cure for one type of cancer it will only be a matter of time before we find cures for other cancers. I think that this will just be my one way of remembering every year those who came before me and the lives that they lead.
As for Clint, he is hanging in there. They admitted him into the hospital last Tuesday with the thoughts of getting him first in line to see the breathing specialist. Unfortunately, they have yet to discharge him, and it is now looking like that may not happen. In investigating why he was having trouble breathing they have discovered that he may have congestive heart failure.
Several years ago Clint had a major heart attack and has continued to be a heavy smoker, so the news that his heart is weak is not a surprise to us. What is a surprise is the fact that they are now suggesting that he may die of heart failure before he dies of cancer. I suppose in the end it really makes no difference either way but it has hit our family hard. When he was at home it was easy to convince ourselves that he was still fighting. Now that he is in the hospital with the prospect of him going home dwindling it makes it all that more real that our time with him is slowly slipping away.
So next year I will walk again in the race for the cure and in any other cancer walks that I can find. For my Grandpa, both of my Grandmas, and for Clint.
This year as I thought about doing it again I could not believe that it has been a full year that my grandma has been gone and a full year that Clint has been battling with his cancer. The more I think about it the more I think that I will continue to walk every year in memory of my grandma, and most likely very shortly Clint too.
I know that my grandmother did not die of breast cancer, and her husband and son (obviously) did not either. But I think once we find a cure for one type of cancer it will only be a matter of time before we find cures for other cancers. I think that this will just be my one way of remembering every year those who came before me and the lives that they lead.
As for Clint, he is hanging in there. They admitted him into the hospital last Tuesday with the thoughts of getting him first in line to see the breathing specialist. Unfortunately, they have yet to discharge him, and it is now looking like that may not happen. In investigating why he was having trouble breathing they have discovered that he may have congestive heart failure.
Several years ago Clint had a major heart attack and has continued to be a heavy smoker, so the news that his heart is weak is not a surprise to us. What is a surprise is the fact that they are now suggesting that he may die of heart failure before he dies of cancer. I suppose in the end it really makes no difference either way but it has hit our family hard. When he was at home it was easy to convince ourselves that he was still fighting. Now that he is in the hospital with the prospect of him going home dwindling it makes it all that more real that our time with him is slowly slipping away.
So next year I will walk again in the race for the cure and in any other cancer walks that I can find. For my Grandpa, both of my Grandmas, and for Clint.
Friday, October 07, 2005
New Bow
Okay, I know I have been a HORRIBLE blogger lately! I can explain, I promise. The project that was supposed to take me one week is now finishing up its second week. When I am out at the client I usually only stop long enough to wolf down my PB&J and then continue working. When I get home, I have been bringing the stuff home, so I am working. However, trust me... there is really not anything all that exciting happening in our lives. You are not missing much.
The only thing we have done in the past week, besides work and sleep, is get Jake a new bow. He has been talking to me about it for about two months now and like most of our hunting (i.e. sell our first born child to afford purchases) I have been putting him off. However, last weekend was opening weekend of bow season so it was pretty much now or never.
Since we refinanced our house last month, we get to skip a house payment this month so I figured if we were ever going to have the money to afford it, now would be the time. So, on Saturday we headed out to the bow shop with the intention of buying a medium grade bow. However, when we got to the bow shop we discovered that this bow had what they call the glo sight. Which has a plastic casing (Jake is hard on things... plastic is not our friend!)
The only thing we have done in the past week, besides work and sleep, is get Jake a new bow. He has been talking to me about it for about two months now and like most of our hunting (i.e. sell our first born child to afford purchases) I have been putting him off. However, last weekend was opening weekend of bow season so it was pretty much now or never.
Since we refinanced our house last month, we get to skip a house payment this month so I figured if we were ever going to have the money to afford it, now would be the time. So, on Saturday we headed out to the bow shop with the intention of buying a medium grade bow. However, when we got to the bow shop we discovered that this bow had what they call the glo sight. Which has a plastic casing (Jake is hard on things... plastic is not our friend!)
It also had an arrow rest that was just two metal prongs, which means if you turn the bow and arrow sideways at all the arrow can fall from it's position. (I was told this is not so great)
So, that meant we needed to "upgrade" to get him some better features. Upgrade... such a harmless word, such an expensive price tag...
I was also told that the bow was a higher quality (although this could have been just for my benefit). For the price increase I hope it was just not the two accessories that were different. And speaking of accessories... now we had a bow picked out, but you can't hunt with JUST the bow. No, no... we needed arrows and not just any arrows, special arrows cut to the correct length (called the draw length).
We also needed an arm guard to protect his arm from the flying string should he hold the bow in not such a correct position and have the misfortune of catching his arm upon release. (I was also told that this will help keep his bulky clothing in when he is sitting in the tree stand in 10 degree weather)
A stabilizer. This goes on the front of the bow and makes it so the bow stays in a correct shooting position without you having to grip too tightly to the handle. Why you wouldn't just hold tightly onto the handle is beyond me. I was just told that he required one of these.
Finally, there is the trigger release. Gone are the days of pulling back the string with your hands and releasing. No, now you tie another string to your string in a loop like so...
Then you hook a clip to that loop and pull back. Then when you want to shoot you pull a trigger, just like shooting a gun.
Needless to say, the accessories for this bow made our medium grade bow go up a couple of notches. So, now, I present to you... the bow. In all of it's bow glory!!
Friday, September 30, 2005
Out of Town
Sorry I have not updated lately. I have been out of the office working at a client and so it has left me with little time to update. (Yes, I do most of my website work at work, but in my defense I try very hard only to do it on my lunch hour.)
Anyhow, things with us are doing well. River got new bandages put on on Thursday and they are teal, not the most masculine color, but it is a step up from purple. The doctors say he is healing well and will get to keep his leg, although they can't promise full mobility. They are shooting for one more week of bandages and then he should be done. He, however, has yet to get the memo that he is injured, because he runs and climbs just like the other three.
Speaking of the other three, they now have names. The calico is Annie, as in little orphan Annie, because she has the red face. She continues to improve but still has a slight limp. We are hoping she will outgrow it. The bigger of the two tabbies is now named Angel, although she is anything but. My mom said Angel wasn't a fitting name since she is such a terror, but all that keeps running through my head is those big biker chicks with Angels tattooed on their arm. When I described it to her that way, she said it fit perfectly.
Finally, there is tiger. A friend of mine who used to work with me is going to take him home. They came last night with their 10 year old to visit him and gave him that name. Their other cat is named Lily so they will have Tiger and Lily. Her daughter is SOO excited about this kitten that they are coming to get him on Friday, two days before he is "officially" six weeks. Hopefully we will be able to have him eating solids by then.
As for us, Jake is working on a big shopping center and is finding the days long and hard. Luckily it has been much cooler so he at least doesn't have the heat to worry about. However he is still beat when he comes home so he is usually in bed early. Bow season is also starting this weekend, so between that and his long days I will probably not see him much until January! :-)
As I mentioned before, I have been working at a client all week doing some Quickbooks things for them. It looks like I will be out there at least another week if not two. The timing is not great, as the deadline for extended individual tax returns is October 15th, but we needed to get this done so I had to just pass off my two individuals to other people in the office.
Well, hopefully I will get some more pictures of the cuties taken and posted next week. They are now staying full time at my mom's and I have to admit, Sadie is not the only one who misses them running around the kitchen.
Anyhow, things with us are doing well. River got new bandages put on on Thursday and they are teal, not the most masculine color, but it is a step up from purple. The doctors say he is healing well and will get to keep his leg, although they can't promise full mobility. They are shooting for one more week of bandages and then he should be done. He, however, has yet to get the memo that he is injured, because he runs and climbs just like the other three.
Speaking of the other three, they now have names. The calico is Annie, as in little orphan Annie, because she has the red face. She continues to improve but still has a slight limp. We are hoping she will outgrow it. The bigger of the two tabbies is now named Angel, although she is anything but. My mom said Angel wasn't a fitting name since she is such a terror, but all that keeps running through my head is those big biker chicks with Angels tattooed on their arm. When I described it to her that way, she said it fit perfectly.
Finally, there is tiger. A friend of mine who used to work with me is going to take him home. They came last night with their 10 year old to visit him and gave him that name. Their other cat is named Lily so they will have Tiger and Lily. Her daughter is SOO excited about this kitten that they are coming to get him on Friday, two days before he is "officially" six weeks. Hopefully we will be able to have him eating solids by then.
As for us, Jake is working on a big shopping center and is finding the days long and hard. Luckily it has been much cooler so he at least doesn't have the heat to worry about. However he is still beat when he comes home so he is usually in bed early. Bow season is also starting this weekend, so between that and his long days I will probably not see him much until January! :-)
As I mentioned before, I have been working at a client all week doing some Quickbooks things for them. It looks like I will be out there at least another week if not two. The timing is not great, as the deadline for extended individual tax returns is October 15th, but we needed to get this done so I had to just pass off my two individuals to other people in the office.
Well, hopefully I will get some more pictures of the cuties taken and posted next week. They are now staying full time at my mom's and I have to admit, Sadie is not the only one who misses them running around the kitchen.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Kitty Sitting
That's where the kitties sit and you watch right?
This has become Sadie's favorite past time. She doesn't really care if they are sleeping or playing she will lay in front of the kennel and watch them. She will even forgo eating to watch the kittens. We actually have to drag her out of the bathroom and close the door to get her to eat.
This weekend we decided to just leave her and see how long she would watch them. It was 30-45 minutes that she sat in there intently staring into the kennel before she finally got bored and decided that she wasn't missing anything.
Last night, I moved them into her old kennel which is MUCH larger and allows them to play some more. However, since this kennel is much larger it will not fit in the bathroom. I put it in our kitchen in one of the corners, so this morning when Sadie came downstairs to check on her kittens she was thoroughly confused. Then she thought maybe she could just get in with them, since it is her old kennel after all.
As for River, he is doing WONDERFULLY! He walks, all be it with his butt in the air, and is happy to play with the other kittens. When I moved them to the big kennel he moved right in with them. The only requirement for him now, is that he keep the bandages dry. In the old kennel it was too close of quarters to guarantee that, however in the new one there is enough space that we are fairly certain he can keep dry. Plus, the new litterbox is larger, and lower to the ground, so he can use it and the other two are using it pretty much all the time also.
Yes, I said other two. The calico is now on the injured list. Yesterday we noticed that she had stopped putting weight on one of her legs. After some investigation it appears that she may have injured her shoulder. The only thing we can figure out is that she had one of her legs through the bars on the front of the kennel and she either fell or one of the other cats climbed on top of her.
River has a bandage change appointment today at 2:00 and so mom is going to take her with him and see if we can get her some pain medicine and some advice as to how to treat the injury. It is just never ending with these four!!
The final piece of news is that we are trying to get them to eat solid food. We have not had much success as they prefer to stand/walk through it as opposed to eating it.
Of course, we have also not been working with them like we should. We have both been so busy (the race track closes this weekend, and I am trying to get ready to be out of the office next week) that it is just easier to give them the bottles and be done with it rather than trying to get them to eat. Hopefully I will have some time to work with them this weekend.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
River
Just hanging out at home (underneath that towel is a heating pad)
The kitten now has a name. His name is River (no Jess that's not where we got it). Here is how we came up with that name. This was the first litter Socks had that was not all tabby cats. So, we figured that there must have been a new tom cat. Last week my mom talked to a lady who lives in their RV park. She has a cat (who looks like River) who was missing for about a week around the beginning of July.So, their assumption was that this cat may have been the father of these kittens. Well her cat came from a lady that works for my mom. This lady lives down by the river (commence the Saturday Night Live Jokes) and always calls herself a river rat. Every time it rains too much the river creeps into her front yard.
Therefore, they have decided to name this kitten River Rat. In the interest of saving his feelings I've decided that River is a little less degrading. :-)
River is doing well, at least what we can see of him. He is eating well and walks around as much as he can. My mom is taking him to have his bandages changed at 2:00 today and that will be the first time we will have a really good idea of how he is healing. Hopefully it will be good news.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Update
This will be the first of many, I'm sure. The white kitten (still needs a name) is doing much better. When I arrived to pick him up from my mom's house last night he was very listless. What had been two open wounds when I left was not a raw area running up one whole leg along with the two open sores. We tried to feed him and he wouldn't swallow. The milk would just fall out of his mouth. His pupils were also starting to dilate and un-dilate rather sporadically. Finally, he would open his mouth to cry and no sound would come out and he was breathing very heavy.
I, of course, began to cry, thinking he was going to die. I called our vet (well paged him as they were closed) and waited. After 10 minutes I didn't hear back and decided to go a different route. I called the Animal Hospital in town and they happened to be open until 8:00. They said they were full but could try to squeeze me in around 7:00. At this point it was 6:00.
I waited around until all of 6:10 and then I couldn't take it any more. He looked so sad and helpless. So, I headed for the animal hospital. I thought maybe if they saw him all sick and helpless lying in their waiting room they could "squeeze" us in a little earlier. It worked. By 6:25 we were in a room with the vet.
She confirmed what I knew, it was BAD. One of his knees was almost non-existent. She said that she could not guarantee that he would keep that leg. However, she was encouraged by the fact that he continued to walk on it and said we would know more in 7-10 days.
As for what caused all of this damage: she thinks he was crushed when his mom was. She said that it would have been a pretty significant injury and since he was in a controlled environment for the past week it would have had to be something that happened before we found him. Her best guess is that it started as a small injury but since we didn't know it existed, and therefore didn't treat him, it festered inside until the scabs came off.
So at 6:40 I left him there for a "cleaning and clipping" session. When I returned at around 8:00 he was sleeping but looked more comfortable. Both of his back legs are in hard bandages (almost like casts). They are purple, very manly huh? Underneath the bandages is the mesh stuff that they use to treat burn victims. They are hoping it will help him regrow skin in that area.
When we got home I tried to feed him several more times and did manage to get a little into him before he would fall back asleep. He had a rough evening, I don't blame him for just wanting to nap. Last night I stayed on the couch so I could get up with him every couple of hours. By midnight he was much more alert and I thought we had finally turned a corner. He still wasn't sucking on the bottle, but would swallow when I put it in his mouth.
At four I gave him more pain medicine and then he decided it was time to play. He was well rested, why wasn't I? By the 6:00 feeding he was chewing on the nipple to get milk and trying to walk around. He looks really goofy when he walks because his back legs are taped straight so his back end is up farther than his front.
I will try to get some pictures of the purple people eater tonight and post them tomorrow. I will also keep you posted as things develop with his leg.
I, of course, began to cry, thinking he was going to die. I called our vet (well paged him as they were closed) and waited. After 10 minutes I didn't hear back and decided to go a different route. I called the Animal Hospital in town and they happened to be open until 8:00. They said they were full but could try to squeeze me in around 7:00. At this point it was 6:00.
I waited around until all of 6:10 and then I couldn't take it any more. He looked so sad and helpless. So, I headed for the animal hospital. I thought maybe if they saw him all sick and helpless lying in their waiting room they could "squeeze" us in a little earlier. It worked. By 6:25 we were in a room with the vet.
She confirmed what I knew, it was BAD. One of his knees was almost non-existent. She said that she could not guarantee that he would keep that leg. However, she was encouraged by the fact that he continued to walk on it and said we would know more in 7-10 days.
As for what caused all of this damage: she thinks he was crushed when his mom was. She said that it would have been a pretty significant injury and since he was in a controlled environment for the past week it would have had to be something that happened before we found him. Her best guess is that it started as a small injury but since we didn't know it existed, and therefore didn't treat him, it festered inside until the scabs came off.
So at 6:40 I left him there for a "cleaning and clipping" session. When I returned at around 8:00 he was sleeping but looked more comfortable. Both of his back legs are in hard bandages (almost like casts). They are purple, very manly huh? Underneath the bandages is the mesh stuff that they use to treat burn victims. They are hoping it will help him regrow skin in that area.
When we got home I tried to feed him several more times and did manage to get a little into him before he would fall back asleep. He had a rough evening, I don't blame him for just wanting to nap. Last night I stayed on the couch so I could get up with him every couple of hours. By midnight he was much more alert and I thought we had finally turned a corner. He still wasn't sucking on the bottle, but would swallow when I put it in his mouth.
At four I gave him more pain medicine and then he decided it was time to play. He was well rested, why wasn't I? By the 6:00 feeding he was chewing on the nipple to get milk and trying to walk around. He looks really goofy when he walks because his back legs are taped straight so his back end is up farther than his front.
I will try to get some pictures of the purple people eater tonight and post them tomorrow. I will also keep you posted as things develop with his leg.
Monday, September 19, 2005
Guilt
The white kitten (you know we really need to get names for them) is sick. As I was bathing him this morning two scabs fell off of his back legs and underneath were these big open wounds. They are in his elbow area (I will spare you pictures).
The guilt I feel for letting this happen to him is enormous. Maybe if I would have cleaned him more often, etc. I know that in the long run if my mom and I had not taken care of these babies they would have died. And as it is, the vet doesn't think they are THAT serious. The vet is closed today so I have to take him tomorrow, but they said as long as he is still eating well he should be fine.
After I found the sores I just wrapped him in a towel and sat on the couch crying (maybe it's hormones) but I just kept looking at his innocent little face and saying I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen. I was supposed to take care of you.
If I am THIS emotional about a cat, people just watch out when I have kids. Someone please smack me if I become one of those mothers that has her kids at the doctor for every little bump and bruise.
In the mean time, we are washing him, and keeping him dry and I will keep you posted as to how the vet visit goes tomorrow.
The guilt I feel for letting this happen to him is enormous. Maybe if I would have cleaned him more often, etc. I know that in the long run if my mom and I had not taken care of these babies they would have died. And as it is, the vet doesn't think they are THAT serious. The vet is closed today so I have to take him tomorrow, but they said as long as he is still eating well he should be fine.
After I found the sores I just wrapped him in a towel and sat on the couch crying (maybe it's hormones) but I just kept looking at his innocent little face and saying I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen. I was supposed to take care of you.
If I am THIS emotional about a cat, people just watch out when I have kids. Someone please smack me if I become one of those mothers that has her kids at the doctor for every little bump and bruise.
In the mean time, we are washing him, and keeping him dry and I will keep you posted as to how the vet visit goes tomorrow.
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Bath Time
First we wash...
Apparently when you are not even three weeks old, cleaning yourself is the least of your worries.
Then we towel dry...
Then we blow dry...
Ahhh... there's nothing like a good warm hair dryer... 
Then we eat...
Then we nap...
Bath time is SUCH hard work!!
Oh, and just in case you're wondering why all this bath stuff is necessary... here is a BEFORE picture.
Apparently when you are not even three weeks old, cleaning yourself is the least of your worries.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
It's a Boy!!
Molly(Jake's sister) & Marshall are having a boy.
They just got the ultrasound done today that confirmed it.
Molly is now 19 weeks and 5 days and is due February 4th!
CONGRATULATIONS GUYS!!
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Budda
I am in shock right now. I just talked to my mom and she mentioned to me that one of her workers has a sister who would like one of the orphans. Okay... in three weeks we will think about it. No, she wants it now. Apparently she is home with a broken arm, or something, and would have time to bottle feed it, etc. I said no. I'm not willing to part with these kittens until I know they can survive on their own.
Then, she just nonchalantly mentions, well she had Circles but he got hit on the road. Who is Circles I ask. Oh... you know... Budda. I just about cried right then and there. In June we helped my sister move into her new place in Kirksville, MO. While we were there a three week old kitten came crawling across the street meowing.
I tried to take it back, but the mamma cat that I tried to give it too hissed at it and batted it away. So, I set it in the middle of their yard and it followed me back across the street. Finally a lady came out of the trailer and so I picked him up and took him to her. She stated that he had been under their deck for two days and that the mom had abandoned him. She had left him there in the hopes that she would be back, but now guessed she would have to take him in with her other 10 kittens and three mamma cats!!
At that point I offered to take him home with us and give him to Socks, since she only had three kittens and was a very good mom. I went to Wal-mart, bought him a baby bottle (the very same one we're using now) and bottle fed him for two days until Socks other older kitten was adopted and then she took him under her wing.
Budda thrived under Socks care and grew big and strong. He had a fighter personality which is what allowed him to survive those two days without his mom. One month ago, Socks weaned him and this same employee's sister said she would like to have him. I questioned whether he would be inside and was told that they thought so, but she had a farm and so he would be safe either way.
That was ONE month ago. I am just sick right now. There is no way in HELL I want this woman to take another one of my babies. She only had my last one for less than a month and now he is gone.
However, I'm very conflicted. I'm sure this woman didn't mean for anything to happen to Budda. We only had Ozzie for a little over a year when he was hit on the road so a lot of people could make the argument that we are irresponsible and shouldn't' have another cat. (Although after he died I did make the decision that we would never own another outside cat, but that is a different story all together.)
With Ozzie we took the stance that he came to us as a wild outside cat and so he just stayed that way. I supposed the same argument could be made about Budda, although it doesn't make it any easier. It is just so hard to pour your heart into saving these kittens only to give them away to uncertain futures. I suppose in the end it is probably not my decision to make. Ultimately these are my mother's kittens and she will get to make the final decision about where they will live.
Until then we have decided that they will at least stay together until they are old enough to eat on their own. From there, I guess it is up to her.
Then, she just nonchalantly mentions, well she had Circles but he got hit on the road. Who is Circles I ask. Oh... you know... Budda. I just about cried right then and there. In June we helped my sister move into her new place in Kirksville, MO. While we were there a three week old kitten came crawling across the street meowing.
I tried to take it back, but the mamma cat that I tried to give it too hissed at it and batted it away. So, I set it in the middle of their yard and it followed me back across the street. Finally a lady came out of the trailer and so I picked him up and took him to her. She stated that he had been under their deck for two days and that the mom had abandoned him. She had left him there in the hopes that she would be back, but now guessed she would have to take him in with her other 10 kittens and three mamma cats!!
At that point I offered to take him home with us and give him to Socks, since she only had three kittens and was a very good mom. I went to Wal-mart, bought him a baby bottle (the very same one we're using now) and bottle fed him for two days until Socks other older kitten was adopted and then she took him under her wing.
Budda thrived under Socks care and grew big and strong. He had a fighter personality which is what allowed him to survive those two days without his mom. One month ago, Socks weaned him and this same employee's sister said she would like to have him. I questioned whether he would be inside and was told that they thought so, but she had a farm and so he would be safe either way.
That was ONE month ago. I am just sick right now. There is no way in HELL I want this woman to take another one of my babies. She only had my last one for less than a month and now he is gone.
However, I'm very conflicted. I'm sure this woman didn't mean for anything to happen to Budda. We only had Ozzie for a little over a year when he was hit on the road so a lot of people could make the argument that we are irresponsible and shouldn't' have another cat. (Although after he died I did make the decision that we would never own another outside cat, but that is a different story all together.)
With Ozzie we took the stance that he came to us as a wild outside cat and so he just stayed that way. I supposed the same argument could be made about Budda, although it doesn't make it any easier. It is just so hard to pour your heart into saving these kittens only to give them away to uncertain futures. I suppose in the end it is probably not my decision to make. Ultimately these are my mother's kittens and she will get to make the final decision about where they will live.
Until then we have decided that they will at least stay together until they are old enough to eat on their own. From there, I guess it is up to her.
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