Rainbow Bridge Crossing

While my goal is to have a new blog post hit the internet once a week (I felt that would be a reasonable and easily maintainable goal) - life happens. Thus, I wanted to get a second blog done this week.

I have this wonderful couple Dana and Lisa that I pet sit for, the proud parents of the Geriatric crew that I JUST wrote about. Not only are their fur kids amazing, they are amazing humans. I'm not saying that just because they are clients (and could potentially be reading this..)but because they are truly amazing.

It takes a strong person or sometimes a strong couple to have not one, or two but THREE senior pets needing medications, extra vet visits, a higher level of care on the day to day. I strive every day to give my pets the best of the best - whether its treats, food, healthcare, play time, cuddles - they get it. It's draining when you have a sick pet, or one that needs more than just the daily food, water, exercise and play. I've been there and done that (and still do that). So to find other humans who do just as much, care as much, and spend all of their hard earned money on their pets makes me want to keep them in my life. Because pets are absolutely defenseless and rely on us humans to take the best care of them. Generally speaking pet people are better people than non-pet people in my world.

When we bring home a pet the last thing on our mind is when they get older and the care needed changes, routines change, the unexpected happens. We all know, we are never quite ready for life's curveballs - and the pet curveballs are no different. They hurt more - in a way I truly can't explain. Our beloved pets cannot tell us what hurts, how badly, when it started, why they don't feel good, what makes it better, if the medication is helping, why they don't want to eat. We have to be a sleuth to figure it out, try a million and one things to see if there's a change for better or worse.

When I first started pet sitting for the Geriatric boys, it was Marley and Max, occasionally Lucas until he made the move from NJ to PA to his new home. The three of them, with their lovely personalities and needs. Marley - always in his crate on his big comfy bed, Lucas on the couch, and Max laying between the couch and the wall - no way Lucas was getting around him without getting barked or snipped at. Lucas would always stand up, shake his head and look around when he heard my voice.

For my last overnight with them (yes the one I just wrote about) Lucas' parents had just told me he one foot/toe was slightly swollen and irritated. They had been to a specialist and thought it might be bone cancer. Whenever I hear Cancer, it just kills me. My immediate thought was poor guy, hopefully he still has a long long life ahead of him. It sure didn't seem to bother him one bit.

Getting a text this weekend, "give me a call when you have a chance" I thought oh maybe they need a last minute drop in for a meal, or last minute plans have them going out of town and want me to come stay with the boys. Trust me, I would have been there in a heartbeat. There are days when I think, it's not about the money - I am filling a piece of my life with dogs that I have been forbidden to bring home. All of these dogs get treated as if they are my own. What Dana said when I called, crumpled me.

Lucas, the cutest most adorable dog passed peacefully in his sleep Friday night. I cried. Absolutely cried as if it was my dog. I am so glad he passed peacefully in the middle of the night, on the couch with his absolute favorite human Dana. She told me he had been eating and drinking less and less that week and had a vet appointment scheduled for Saturday morning. As sad as it is that he crossed the rainbow bridge, he was fortunate enough to do it peacefully at home.

While I have no words of comfort for his humans, just know all of our hearts are broken., you aren't alone in the grieving. Some days will be hard, some easy, there will be tears, under it all remember the good days. It will get easier over time.

My upcoming overnight visit with the boys will not be the same minus Lucas. Lukey Loo as I called him will be greatly missed.

Till our Tails cross again,

Mel

Senior dogs for the Win!

3 weeks in, I can't believe my blog site is live! Of course traffic to the blog is light. It'll take time and patience to get a good amount of followers. Patience...the one thing I don't have. In life I was given the short stick on a few things - two big ones patience and height!

I come in at just under 5 feet. I spend lots of time standing on my tip toes, climbing on the counters and standing on anything I can find to give me the extra height needed to reach whatever I'm looking for!

Patience - don't know where I was when that was being handed out, but my fuse is extremely short. The one place you don't want to be is on the wrong end of a fuse that's started to burn. On the outside I might seem cool & calm, but the next thing you know, I'm throwing a bag of ice cause you asked "a stupid" question and I just plain didn't like you at the time. (Sorry Jim, but I laugh about the ice throwing now!)

In the time since the blog went live I've been busy house sitting a crew of 3 dogs. Whom I lovingly call the Geriatric Crew. They are 3 senior dogs who are low key, but come with the standard old age issues.

First, Marley - he is blind in both eyes and a diabetic. On my meet and greet last year, he couldn't get close enough to me - he was already sitting on my lap on the floor and he wanted to be CLOSER still. He once "disappeared" on my first overnight visit. I searched all over the house and the yard, video called the owners, had a panic attack - just to find him chilling in the farthest corner of the yard under a tree in the shade (complete with legs crossed and nose to the wind). After getting him inside, I was able to calm down and he crawled right up on the couch, on top of me for a nap. As if to say, sorry....just had to make sure you could handle me. I thought for sure they would fire me from that. How could I possibly lose a blind dog?!?

Next up is Max - he's just a senior dog that has non cancerous tumors and a thyroid issue. Loveable, but likes to act like he's the one in charge. He's a chill dog who has a huge appetite so I'm always watchful of him at meal times. He tends to get a little barky with his blind siblings if they get in his personal space. Seriously, he can see, they can't - but yet he makes no effort to stay out of the main walkways. I sound like a crazy person yelling at him no barking, growling or being mean cause you're laying in the walkway!

Last but surely not least is Lucas - small but mighty! He is also blind, has a urinary incontinence issue - so he wears a diaper with suspenders -and is absolutely adorable in them! When it's time to go out, there's a mere few seconds of taking the diaper off and him starting to pee - a few close calls with my feet and I've learned to take the diaper off only when I'm completely ready to walk out the door with him in hand! When I house sit he curls up on the couch right next to me. All three of these boys definitely had a love at first meeting with me!

Since these adorable senior pups don't do the stairs, if I'm not staying more than a single night - I sleep on the couch, we watch tv most of the night, and act like we are all kids again!

Till Our Tails Cross Again,

Mel

Fresh Start!

It's a new year, January is winding down - and I'm just getting around to making this blog live...but first I want to get a few blogs written so I can stay on schedule with a hopefully bi-weekly post! Deciding what to write about - there's so many things I want to write about. Picking where to start is hard!

I'm afraid of failure - which is why I keep dragging my feet to kick this off. I'm afraid that I will have missed something on the back end to make the website work how I want, that I'll miss posting a blog - cause life happens. People are judgey and cruel all the time. By doing this bog I'm opening myself up to all of the judgey, cruel, mean people...is my skin thick enough to handle it? I'd like to think it is. So 2024 is the year - a late start, but it's the year I make this happen for real!

What's been simmering on the back burner the last few months?

Building up my Etsy site (https://lovecatseverything.etsy.com) Which takes a considerable amount of time. I've partnered up with someone to sell some of her crafted items. I have the time consuming job of taking the pictures, pricing and listing them. Additionally I am working on my own crafts to list and sell. My schedule doesn't allow for as much craft time as I'd like so that's a little slow going.

In addition to Etsy - I have an online bookstore at Pango: (https://pangobooks.com/bookstore/melanie-c). Another great little side gig - I sell my books once I have read them. When I'm looking for a new book I can support other bookworms by buying here as well. Pango replaced half.com for me which technically no longer exists. I much prefer Pango for selling my books. When someone buys a book, I don't even have to leave my house to send it out! Pango sends the pre-paid shipping label to my email so I can print and mail in my PJ's!

Meanwhile, I'm running two meet up groups the first a Child Free Couples Group https://www.meetup.com/childfree-couples/, the second a Crafters Group https://meetup.com/annville-artists. I truly love meeting new people so these groups allow me to do that! They are still small groups, but that's alright. Coming up with ideas/places to meet/crafts/activities can be challenging. In addition to the meetup I run a facebook book club, and do weekly live readings! I'm not sure who enjoys the live readings more - me, the cats or the people who join the live reading. I do it on video so everyone gets to see the cats.

On a personal level I have once again decided to read more this year, be more active and spend 1000 hours outside. All of which was my goal for last year and I failed on all but the reading challenge (just barely made that!) I only spent about 350 hours outside last year. So shocking cause I feel like I spent a decent amount of time outside. This year I've spent less than 10 hours - so I gotta step it up if I'm going to surpass last years hours!

Till Our Tails Cross Again

Mel