They tell me it looks worse before it gets better....

Poor Blue cat is, as expected, still hospitalized and not at all her usual self.

The vet and techs assure me that her current state is no surprise, and the beginning of recovery. She's dopey, groggy, out-of-sorts, and messy. She started feeding with a protein gel yesterday and is getting small feedings every two hours. She's gucky and matted, because she's got enough oomph in her to fuss and hence knock syringes around and get food on her - but not to groom it off. Yesterday she was limp, pliable.. had a little purr for me but was just a lump otherwise. Today, she was a bit more alert, still purred, but was not at all wanting to be handled - if I tried to pick her up, she pushed away and then sat in her litterbox. So I coaxed her out onto one of several quilts and cushions I brought in from home, and just talked to her there. I'm not entirely sure she knows who is there, but she seems to know someone nice is talking to her. There's a weak bit of headbutting and purrs interspersed with a recognizable "Blue frowney face" she makes when grumpy.

She's on lots of meds, and a bout of encephalopathy is resolving. Apparently trying to re-start the liver working results in all kinds of chemistry going off, so she's medicated to prevent bad consequences from that, but the chemistry still affects her brain, sort of like a dementia but one that reverses (I'm told. hope hope hope).

I feel terrible at the idea of leaving her, but I'll be in so much trouble, and so disappointed, too, if I cancelled the Scotland/England trip. And practically - there's nothing I could do anyway, and she's getting better care at the vet than she would if she were at home and we were out at work all day, anyway. Still, it seems a little mean to leave her there without her family visiting for so long.

Here's hoping she'll be giving them all a hard time before too long, and we'll have a fattened-up Blue ready to come home with us when we get back. We'll have one more visit tomorrow before the airporter, then we're off.

Blue News Update

Minor surgery to install an esophageal feeding tube went OK, and Blue is up and about though dopey.

Here's hoping. Vet says no visiting hours today as Blue's upset and groggy and she's afraid I'd be distressed over it.

Blue News, not great, not too bad (yet...)

We have some tests back and are waiting for some, but the diagnosis seems to be hepatic lipidosis/fatty liver disease. A condition that can be fatal (always, if not treated) but has a good prognosis if caught. It occurs often secondary to something, as it is the result of a cat not eating and losing weight rapidly. The "something" it is secondary to can be bad, but can also be stress, social problems - or grief.

Dr. Bonnie is thinking that, without really "looking depressed", Blue is probably missing Maui and is off her food because of it. She quickly felt sick from that - and hence didn't want to eat. It's a quick downward spiral for a cat, cats being evolved to eat constant, small, high-protein meals all day.

The good news (I'm clinging to this, at this point) is that it is treatable, with the not entirely pleasant but relatively routine treatment of a feeding tube. Unfortunately this means Blue is in vet care for a while - we're going away for two weeks on Friday, and she won't be recovered enough to go home before then, so she's just staying.

At least I won't have to worry the whole time we're gone if she's curled up and died while hiding from the catsitters or anything.

Sick of the sick kitties!!!

Wow, I should be looking forward to vacation starting Friday, but I am sad and drained.

Blue is now in Dr. Bonnie's care, as of this morning. She's getting IV fluids, bloodwork, and an ultrasound as soon as it can be arrange. She started moping late last week, and we were watching her and wondering if she'd finally caught on that Maui wasn't coming home. Maui had been gone before, for days at a time, and she never acted like she was missing him but she was always all over him when he came back. So maybe she was getting depressed.

However, Saturday she was lethargic, not eating, looking ragged. By Sunday she was just sitting in one spot, moaning at us a bit, and again, wouldn't eat. Adam tempted her to take a few licks of wet food in the morning. Then she refused everything, and vomited up something nasty hours later (brown-green sludge. Ew). It was apparent her weight had dropped fast.

So off we went to Dr. Bonnie, with me having horrible visions of Maui having died of some poison or contagion that Blue now had. Bonnie was quick to debunk that (as she thought it, too), having got Maui's pathology reports back. It was the cancer that got him, it has spread to the bile ducts and through the intestine, so that's why he had pancreatitis, which is why he went downhill so quickly. Not that it cheered me up alot, but it was better than, say, finding out we were in the middle of a tainted food scare that affected all of them.

So Blue is getting looked at. She'll also be boarding with Dr. Bonnie while we're away, which is an immense relief, as she hides from the catsitters and they'd never know if she was well or not.

I'm tired of this, though. I just want well kitties for a while.

Better Days

A couple of the more recent favourite shots of the Him-cat.

He did seem to like posing for cameras.



And I have no idea what he thought he was doing here, but this is what happened when the "bird" toy got "caught".



Bye-bye, you little space cadet. I'm sorry. We tried so hard.

Saying Goodbye, Again.

Well, I'm now down to a "normal" number of pets, which for some reason most of society thinks is two.

Maui made it through a complicated surgery, which involved some kind of bile duct repair, only to crash in recovery and not make it back. Dr. Bonnie was incredibly gentle and I guess quite upset herself, she was with him the whole time. He had severe pancreatitis, we don't yet know why. She said the pancreas was black and green and full of bile, and his liver was in trouble, but it seemed to be something fixable. Three hours of surgery later and it looked OK. But the poor tyke had just had enough, he didn't have the strength to come back out of it.

Blue seems to know I'm upset, I don't know if she knows Maui is gone yet. Sprout is her usual oblivious self.

I now have more urns than I have cats. Still haven't figured out a good idea about what to do with them.

Waiting Game....

Maui's having surgery at 2. We were down to "he'll die soon, or we open him up to see if it's fixable". He's been at the vet since yesterday morning again, on IV because he can't eat or drink. Dr. Bonnie left a message at 12:45 that the surgeon would be in at 2, did I want to go ahead.

It's risky and might not help, but I can't really say no, as it seems he's close to the end without it.

This is the worst part of caring for little lives like his.

Biked and Hiked and Still Rolling

Well, despite the cold, damp morning, the Bike and Hike went well overall for the hospital. Without even all the final on-site and last minute donations, the event was able to announce that Cardiac Care in Waterloo Region was $225000 better funded than it had been before Sunday. So, thank you, everyone who donated whatever amount you could. There are so many worthy causes out there, I appreciate the support for this one.

Without slowing down, I and my crazy colleagues launched off the Bike and Hike and into Commuter Challenge, so I'm leaving the four-wheeler alone this week - hopefully for the full week. We'll see if weather and the need for vet appointments continue to cooperate. I'm not sure I'd like to try to bike to our adjacent city, even as close as it is, with an upset, sick cat tied to the bike. There are, alas, a few good reasons for the car.

I'm off to try to figure out what's wrong with my bathtub (It's a whirlpool, but not whirling lately) or at least clean it then try to steam away the bad case of biker butt I have going on right now.

Donate! It's Good for the Heart!

Did you know that in Waterloo Region, a person suffering a cardiac event can be whisked from wherever they fall, by ambulance to St. Mary's Hospital and a possibly life-saving angioplasty in less than an hour?

That's what I've helped accomplish over the past 5 years.

Once again, on June 1 this year, I will be participating in the Bike and Hike Corporate Challenge, raising funds for the St. Mary's Regional Cardiac Care Centre, a facility which has gone from barely established to one of the top Cardiac Care Centres IN CANADA thanks in part to support from this event.

I know my readers are few (Hi Mom!) and often distant (hey! Y Knits looked at my blog!), but if any of you are so inclined, I would appreciate any and every donation you could offer to this worthwhile cause. I have needed critical, though not cardiac, care in the past, and while I hope to beat the odds, there is still a statistical likelihood that I will again. I want that care near home, accessible, and top-notch. So on June 1, I'll be hauling my bike out to go the distance. Click the link below to help me get there.

To donate, please visit My Bike and Hike Page.

An electronic tax receipt will be sent to you by email.

Bit of Better Meezer News

Maui's staying for another overnighter at Dr. Bonnie's Home for Incorrigible Meezers (aka The Cat Hospital of K-W), as he was severely dehydrated which was the most acute cause of his discomfort and disorientation.

We're not sure what the root is, but he stopped eating/drinking at some point. X-rays were normal except for air pockets in his intestine, which, while not "normal" could have had alot of mundane causes and may simply be cat farts waiting to happen. A quick blood biochem showed only the dehydration, nothing else odd. The methodology to follow this up was repeated X-rays. If the bubbles moved - normal and OK. If the bubbles didn't move, either we were looking at something that was NOT necessarily just gas, or was gas but was indicative of some kind of obstruction that was not itself visible. But, they moved.

So, Maui's on an IV and at an evening visit, had perked up a bit from even 1 pm. He's vocalizing more normally (for him) and was feeling better enough to be annoyed at the IV and complaining that his leg must have been broken in several places by The Evil Doctors, as it was obviously useless (he said, falling over sideways into his litterbox for the third time). I wasn't buying it.

For safety, the sanity of the sleep-deprived humans, and further observation, he's spending the night and as much of tomorrow as it takes for some kind of, well, poop to happen, so we know he's not entirely clogged. THEN we're going to have to reassess the Leukeran approach -because the cause of all this still remains some mysterious discomfort in his gut, we think, based on his fur-removal pattern.

More Meezer Misery

Ah, there's more angst in the cat house.

Maui's been perking along with an approximately monthly injection of Vetacortyl, basically a broad steroid to control whatever combination of allergies/IBD/lymphoma he has - with cats, really, what can you do but try to make them "feel better"? It's about quality of life for them and for us.

Well, after the last one about 3 or 3.5 weeks ago, he really didn't seem to perk up. The fur got thinner and thinner again, and the slow weight gain reversed again. He's back to being pretty boney, pretty naked, and miserable. So, after discussion with Dr. Bonnie, we decided on another course of the Leukeran. We think it snapped him out of the downward spiral last time, and even though he didn't bounce back until after we'd stopped it, he did seem to recover for a while. Dr. Bonnie has suggested a different dosage approach - relatively large hit over 4 days, once every 3 weeks.

Well, we're on day 2, and last night was not fun. There's very little documentation of feline reactions to leukeran. It's generally reported to be well-tolerated. Bone marrow suppression happens with long-term dosages. But Maui, as always, has to be different. He started wandering, stumbling, and howling last night. I have no idea if this is the Leukeran, whatever's been wrong with him anyway, or something else. It's not quite as severe as his already documented hypersensitivity to sedation and anaethesia, but partway there. Almost like he's having a bad trip. And he's not eating, and not (apparently) going to the bathroom. I keep walking him down to the litter boxes, and he heads right back upstairs, stumbling and tripping as he goes.

And I couldn't get a call back from the vet today. *sigh*

Been Too Busy to Blog

Yep, so busy I'm titleing both today's blogs (the dye blog and this one) the same. Different content though. Check the Gallery, my Lofty Blog, or Etsy for the dye jobs.

Monique and I are slowly working away on that 100 grams of superwash I bought for "practice".



It is possible that trying to spin all of it into one long single for Navajo 3-ply sock yarn wasn't the quickest way to spin gratification.

And, I do still knit. April's Sockdown! socks, which became very boring after a while, but got done:



I just had to show off the clear shoes, too.

G'night. There's more yarn and fibre drying, see ya tomorrow.

Store is Open!

Quick note here, as I'm at work.

Check out the Etsy Mini (the yarn pictures, over there --->) on the right. I've dyed up a few more skeins, and have two more dye project trips this month, so I took the plunge into the online sales world with Etsy.

We'll see how that goes. It's not a living to be made, but maybe a step to a self-supporting hobby.

Also, I've added a new blog, specific to the spinning and dyeing projects, at Lofty Fibres.

*Deep Breath* I Quit.

Well, quit school, that is.

I think I'm finally giving up on the idea that I want to "further" my education, at least in the computing field. I just dropped my course at Athabasca.

Pretty much since graduating, with distinction, with my B.Sc.Eng., I've been "in school" trying to get somewhere. The M.Sc. fell through, then my health nearly fell through, and since getting over the whole who-needs-a-pancreas-anyway thing, I've been noodling about between Guelph, Conestoga, and Athabasca trying to fit in to a Comp Sci part-time program and get a certificate or minor or something.

I think it's time to toss it in. I'm not interested anymore. I did well in academia when I was immersed in academia, but now I'm in a healthy career that's going places in spite of my education, and really doesn't seem to be furthered by my attempts to stress myself out of sleep and into an ulcer over pointless recursive programming exercises. I think those who decide my annual bonus are more interested in me brushing up on project management - though not enough to fund it. And I want to spend my free time on the rest of my life at this point.

I suppose someday when the IT market dunks again and I'm laid off an in need of "retraining" there might be motivation to go back. But for now - I think I need energy to invest elsewhere. Gonna go have a coffee and ponder, as this is a little disorienting after spending all but the first couple of years of my life with "schoolwork" of some sort looming over me. Good riddance.

Bad Blogger, No Cookie!

OK, OK, I am a neglectful blogger this month. Work is draining, I've been busy, I've been away, I've been reading Ravelry melodramas....

There's been nothing that exciting, really. I'm writing right now as the spouse is trying to nap in the other room and I can't really do anything that might make the slightest noise or it wakes him up - or at least, it sets the cats talking to me, and THEY wake him up.

Here's some socks that got done:



And another pair I just finished:


Lapis Monique and I have come up with two yarns, but nothing great:




I'm spinning too fast and over twisting, so these are a bit string-like.

Other than that, I just spent 3 days in Toronto, mostly at The Yoga Show doing some great workshops, and catching up with friends in the evenings. The TTC went on strike WHILE I was waiting for a bus and hence stranded me north of Dupont, but luckily it was just outside my friend Stephen's house and he drove me back to my conference hotel.

Back to the mundane tomorrow.

Inexplicable Knitter Update

So, nothing new from me today, but just got to update on yesterday's amusements.

Hot as my Firefighter with Sock was, I totally got trounced by some of the Toronto competitors.

Nobody actually caught David Miller, but a couple of people got the Mayor's EA.

We had Mounted Police Officers.

Apparently a somewhat questionable mis-interpretation of Mounted Police was not only allowed but encouraged by the Harlot.

These two totally take not just the cake but the whole damn buffet though: Gord Downie and MARGARET ATWOOD.

For.The.Win. Go, knitters, and congrats, all - I never had so much fun missing an event in my life.

Inexplicably for The Harlot

So, I'll bet today Stephanie Pearl-McPhee has accomplished more for Toronto Tourism than the city's entire budget for the year.

You can check out this post for the explanation of the inexplicable, but as many things Stephanie suggests seem to do (see: Knitters Without Borders), I'm guessing this got bigger than she ever thought. Just for fun I thought I'd play the home version, since I couldn't get away this time to go cheer her new book launch.

You'll be able to check out all the photos, mine and everyone else in the Canadian and International Freestyle categories, over here at this Flickr group. Have fun.

Here are my highlights:

First, one of the few that was an exact category point:


This is a Tim Horton's Employee holding my Sock, as well as The Doughnut Of Our People, a Maple Glazed, er, Maple Dip (Stephanie said Glazed, but there are Maple Dip and Canadian Maple, I think).

And while I couldn't get one of "Toronto's Finest", I hope I can still get a point for what I bumped into in the Tim's line - one of Waterloo Fire and Rescue's finest, and wow, this one's even a candidate for that Firefighters' Calendar they do every year.

In order to one-up the generic Tim's point, my entry to the Canadian Freestyle is Mark, here. Mark serves up a mean cuppa mornin' Java at Whole Lotta Gelata, a VERY Knitter-friendly business in Uptown. Whole Lotta' is not only a regular knit-night venue but the home of a weekly Roving Spinners' meetup. Mark is holding what may very well qualify as The Gelato Of Our People - a luscious Maple Walnut frozen confection handmade by his boss and the cafe's proprietor, Chris.

We took the sock out to Walk Club this evening, and while it was really too cold and windy to walk too far, my coaches and I wrapped up with some photos, including this one, which I *think* may be an angora goat have now identified via reliable intelligence as a Jacob Sheep. So I DID get a sheep point. If you look at the right of the photo, you can see the bum of her little lamby-pie there, the baby was busy licking a fence for some reason and wouldn't come over.



OK! So the whole photo tour will be on the Flickr group shortly.

Beginning the Journey!

Hee! Look what's arrived this week:



After a week's dalliance in a Customs depot in Quebec, during which she seems to have acquired the name Monique, my long-sought JourneyWheel made it here, safe and sound. The first evening was spent figuring out how to get the belts on properly - several times over as I was retying them to adjust - and then having Adam do her glamour-portrait as you see above.

However, by this evening, we seem to be working well together!



Having not spun for a month and just starting the honeymoon with my brand new wheel, this single is rather uneven, but I will work it out. I think the wheel's full name is now Lapis Monique - Monique acquired during her wait in Quebec, and Lapis as she looks good with blue. Also because I've dorkily extended my longstanding habit of naming computing devices after semi-precious gems to my spinning gear, apparently. Why not? She's going to be even more joyful to play with than Obsidian the Macbook.

Help Keep Us All IN THE DARK!

A year ago, one city, Sydney, Australia, decided to take an hour to reduce energy consumption. Their goal was 5%, their means was to turn off the lights for one hour during peak evening consumption. They reached an energy consumption reduction of over 10%, calculated by some reports as equivalent to removing 48,000 cars from the road.

This year, March 29th, at 8 pm local time, cities around the world are turning off the lights. Yes, it is mostly symbolic, and no, one hour a year is not enough. But I encourage everyone to try it out. Turn off the lights - and computer, TV, and stove! Maybe even your furnace, just for the hour (in this climate. Turn off the AC if you're in the warmer latitudes). Light a candle and have a cold picnic dinner. Go outside for a walk and watch the stars rise. Who knows, if enough of your city participates, you might SEE stars like you never do, with all the light pollution. Take the opportunity to think, as well. Imagine if this was not a voluntary, symbolic project. Imagine the day when the lights are out, because we cannot sustain the consumption we currently do. Think about the impact if you could not turn ON the lights (or anything else) and what could happen then. Spend an hour in the dark, and learn to appreciate what you have - and then use it more wisely.

The Knit Spot

After a couple of scores at upscale furniture store Schreiter's over in Kitchener, our loft decor and furnishing intentions got stalled for a little more than a year. The sofa itself has seen little enough use as it seems we spend most of our time in desk chairs, even at home.

However, I was still harboring the intention to get rid of the last few student doofers and slowly-disintegrating chairs, so a couple weeks back another trip to Schreiter's ensued, this one ended up up at least partially with instant gratification as I stumbled upon *exactly* what I had in mind for our next chair, and less than half price as it was a remaining floor model from the boxing-week "Ready To Go" sale.

Voila - the Knit Spot!



Yes, it's a black chair. Technically, it's slightly off-black, there's a very deep cool charcoal tone to it. And, yes, I got it knowing that I have a pale cat. However, it is the same high-grade microfibre suede-finish as our sofa, which means most of the fur wipes off. And it is *not beige*. I have declared our palette to be in the grays, and given the sofa we landed, muted blues, out of my still feeling excessively saturated in Builder Beige. I think a pop of black, and our nod to "colour" being a big red ottoman, looks fresh and a bit edgy with our cottagey wood tones in this place.

Nicer than the colourway, really, is having a cozy chair. It's low but high enough to get out of, I can tuck my feet up, and it's a 360-degree swivel, which is exactly what we needed. It meets Adam's criteria of not blocking off the doors/view/light from the glass wall, and being completely round, there are no edges and corners to bash into with doors and cupboards.

There is a storage Ottoman on the way which does not match either, but coordinates with both, the sofa and this chair as it's in a medium gray microfibre. That'll be my replacement coffeetable (as you can both sit on, and put things on, an ottoman) and it is also sized to go with our sofa, so that when slid into the L of the L-shaped sectional, we have a spare bed in a pinch.