Creativity Struggle Bus

I'm sure I touched on this slightly before - the decision to start a blog - not a light one. I felt I had plenty of things to write about. Fast forward to 2 years of writing - I've not written as much because now I have no idea what to write about. Shocking - I'm a talker, always have something to say, so why am I struggling to write some blog posts routinely?!? Anything I think to write, I shut down thinking people don't want to read about it. The creativity struggle is happening for my blog and work - read on for more on that.

Recently, I promoted myself at Unveiled Bridal & Formal and their sister store - The Edit Hbg. (Who does that?! Promote themselves at a job where they are the employee?!) I took over doing social media and event planning for The Edit. At the time, it sounded like a great idea. Now, I find myself struggling to come up with new content to share on social media. Some days the creativity flows; most days it doesn't. I end up in a rut where I've written or created basically the same things with the slightest variation. That's for sure not getting us new customers! This applies to The Edit and to my personal blog, so it's also not getting me new readers.

With that, I turn to the handful of readers (Sharon & Barb read most consistently, Gene seldom reads but makes an attempt...) to send your ideas & prompts. What do you think the world should be reading from me? What have I done that needs telling?! As I write this paragraph, I remind myself of a situation with the Constable—absolutely worthy of its own post...

I guess for the blog struggle bus of finding things to write about - my life has become mostly boring, all work, less play. My best stories come from the cats or whatever pet I happen to be house-sitting for. There's a piece of me that shuts down simply writing about the pets - because how many people truly want to read about someone else's pets they don't know?

So please weigh in—no matter if it's your first time reading one of my posts, or you've been reading—what do you want to read about? Will you read even if it's the boring day-to-day of my 21 cats or whatever group of pets I'm house-sitting? Do you want something different? Have a question about me, the cats, or the super allergic-to-cats husband? It's all fair game...help me get writing some good content for your entertainment!

Til our tails cross,

Melanie

Smokey's Cancer Scare

We've had the cancer card hit our house several times already - Pita in her leg, Rollie in her throat/behind her eye, Jasper in his stomach. So we know it's not an easy road that ends with euthanasia and broken hearts. The cost of testing, vet appointments, and just giving them the best quality of life for their last days is astronomical.

Smokey's very swollen check - that progessively got worse each day.

So when Smokey stopped eating dry food and truly only wanted wet/soft food, we had to determine whether this was due to old age, an issue with teeth, or something else. A few weeks after she stopped eating hard food, her chin and cheek swelled up—immediately we thought infection or tumor/cancer. Infection would be the most ideal, easiest thing to deal with. We headed to the vet where they poked and prodded, took x-rays, and reviewed them. From how badly she was swollen and whatever mess was going on, it looked like it was a mass and cancer. Such a hard blow—cancer AGAIN. Every time we have gotten a cancer diagnosis, I question what we are doing wrong, how is it we've had that many cancer diagnoses. This time around was no different. I stood there ugly crying in front of the vet and vet tech and said how I felt. The vet had the absolute best answer. "You've given them a life where they were able to live long and healthy lives, cared for in the best way possible. Extending their life, long past the average age." If we let them go outside, left them outside, and didn't get regular vet care, they would have lived a much shorter life. THIS was eye-opening and so true.

We discussed options for care, ultimately deciding to prioritize her quality of life by letting her live her best days at home and making an appointment when we feel those days are over. She received a shot of pain medication and an antibiotic to hold us over while I waited to hear back from a specialist. We went home, and the next 24 hours were a mess. She swelled up more, and then out of nowhere, the infection ruptured. Smokey is Siamese, so she is a white/grey colored cat. Now she's got blood-stained fur down her chest, and no amount of cleaning could get it out.

Once that happened, she's back to normal (or as normal as a senior cat of 17+ years can be). Eating her dry food, demanding wet food because she knows we will cave and give it to her. Her only sign of old age is a slight bit of dementia—getting on the counters, sleeping on top of the stove, climbing on the printer or other random things that she never did and we never allow. She gets a pass because she is the old lady cat.

This entire cancer scare took one of my lives (and I only get one!) She has 8 more to go....I'm not sure I can handle another scare like that anytime soon.

With a happy heart - we love that smokey is still around demanding attention, to be held, sleeping in bed like a little human, under the blankets head on the pillow and getting extra wet food.

Til our tails cross again,

Mel

Second comeback....

Blog post Mondays are returning! (hopefully...) It's been over two months since my last post, which wasn't planned. I kept thinking about writing, added it to my "to-do" list, and repeatedly told myself that I needed to do it. Yet, it kept getting deprioritized and never actually happened. Then, a few weeks ago, I finally sat down and wrote what might have been one of my best posts. I was just about to check the spelling, punctuation, and all the details. One wrong click, and the entire post vanished. Words like astounded, cursing, mad, perplexed, and frustrated don't fully capture how I felt. Apparently, auto-save only works when a title is entered—how did I not know that? So I turned off my computer and let it go. I couldn't gather my thoughts enough to rewrite what I had created. So here's to a second attempt at getting back on track.

2025 is behind us, and most people are glad about it. As for me, I'm already tired of 2026. Even though we're only two months in, I'm eager for a reset or a fresh beginning. How could this be possible? It seems like 2025 ended with a lot of unresolved issues that have carried over into 2026. Is this unexpected? No, but somehow, I'm both surprised and thoroughly frustrated by it. Curious about why I want a do-over? Keep reading!

On the list:

Medical issues

Cats & Kittens

Smokey's little scare

Job BS

and more!

The cats, kittens and Smokey will all have their own post - as I truly want to keep my posts short and sweet.

Let's begin with the amusing aspect of aging—medical issues. In 2024/25, I underwent physical therapy three times due to a shoulder problem, which they attributed to poor posture. It turns out my posture isn't the best, but I hadn't realized how much it could impact other parts of the body. During PT, my left forefinger would sometimes become numb, leading them to suspect an issue in my neck. Consequently, I underwent a very costly test in 2024—an EMG on both sides of my upper body.

The results didn't reveal anything surprising; they merely confirmed what we already knew: early stages of carpal tunnel in both wrists and perhaps a hint of arthritis. There was nothing that explained the finger numbness. Insurance was reluctant to approve that test and an MRI at the year's end. It wasn't a major concern since the numbness wasn't constant. Fast forward to late 2025, and my finger has been numb continuously for over three months. I finally had the MRI—quite the experience. The instructions were to lie still for over 20 minutes, which was challenging for someone who fidgets a lot. The MRI revealed two bulging discs in my cervical spine, specifically in sections C3 to C7.

The suggested treatment was a cortisone injection in my neck. It seemed straightforward, but I struggle to stay still even for blood tests. So, I decided to go under sedation to get the injection. Although there was a 50/50 chance of success, I was optimistic. However, it didn't help. Now, I have a second cortisone shot planned and a consultation with a surgeon. The surgeon recommends trying the second shot and returning to Physical Therapy, as he believes surgery isn't necessary at this point.

I'm back at physical therapy and thrilled that I'm not experiencing relief yet. The second cortisone injection has been postponed and will probably be canceled—since, even with insurance, my copay exceeded $2,000. I'll wait until my deductible is met. Considering I've visited my primary care physician, two specialists, had an x-ray, and undergone a full blood panel, I assume the deductible will be met soon.

That's just one aspect of the medical situation. In 2025, my blood work showed concerning results—elevated liver levels and a high white blood cell count. So, I went for a liver ultrasound and discovered it's best to have it done early in the morning. No food or drink for 6 hours beforehand! By 1:30, I was extremely thirsty and hungry. The diagnosis came back: Fatty Liver Disease. What?! I was shocked to receive the same diagnosis as my beloved cat Jasper. What does this mean? A total diet overhaul, including losing 7-10% of my current weight! I already know that changing my diet will be the most challenging part.

In January, I met with a dietitian who assured me that this is a manageable situation and that I'm already making progress with the few changes I've implemented. Her words were reassuring. Even though I mentioned that I veered off my diet during the holidays, she said it's okay and encouraged me to simply get back on track, make small adjustments, and it will all contribute positively. Although the diet change is challenging, I'm discovering some good healthy options, and over time, I won't crave the unhealthy foods that used to dominate my diet. My struggle with the diet continues as I work to get back on track.

In the meantime, I'm seeking some workout or walking companions! If you're also interested in getting fitter, reach out to me, either in person or virtually (phone walks with my best friend Sharon have been fantastic!).

The next post will have updates on the feline part of my household.

Till our tails cross again,

Mel