JoeyMoggie

I know we’ve all heard in the famous dog vs cat arguement that a big plus for dogs is that if you died, they’d be so heart broken they’d starve themselves and die beside you.  Ever constant, ever vigilant.  Where as cats - well - cats will eat you.

As much as I would have to assume that if my demise came on the ‘earlier’ than ‘later’ of things, Colin would be around to ‘clean up’ as it were and this wouldn’t allow the moggies to make a meal of me.  But assuming the conditions are correct, and no one would be checking in on me or to moggies for a period of time and that they would now be hungry.

I say,  dearest moggies, eat away!  I just hope that my ‘meat’doesn’t spoil on them.  Perhaps I should teach them to make marinade for a steak tar-tar, or perhaps I need to teach them how to turn the stove one.  2 out of 3 of them are polydactyl, having thumbs has got to be good for something.

I’m making light of the topic, in short - I think any animal that has enough common sense to take care of their own in a desperate situation is worth to be idolized (oh wait the Egyptians already did that).  I appreicate that they are self-sufficient creatures.

Be back shortly, the moggies are hungry. . . .and they are giving me ‘that’ look. . . . .

I have a jar that sits on my bed side table.  Its the moggies treat jar.  I have it filled with all sorts kitty delights.  The jar is glass with a metal closure, it looks like something you’d see in your italian grandmother’s kitchen holding pasta.  . . .

No matter how quiet I try to be when I open the treat jar, the slightest ‘clink’ of the metal there is a scurry and scamper of 12 little pussy cat paws as they dart across the hard wood, in an attempt to be the first one at my feet for a treat.

Even if all I am doing is tidying the bedroom, one false tap the moggie crew comes running. . .. .

Its actually very cute.

If I come home at a weird time, and the moggies aren’t lined up to greet me at the door, often I go grab the jar and give it shake, its sort of like roll-call.

All three of them art at my feet right now, eyeing the treat jar.  I’m off, must play with the cats. . . . .

I make make some enemies for this theory. But bear with me, I’m not all cold-hearted.

This is my rule for donations: If I make a donation to a charity, I don’t donate directly to ‘dieases’, and I much prefer local charities to national/international charities.

The reason why? I like to have some control of where my hard-earned money goes, and (the part people will hate me for) I believe there are already cures for all these diseases. (That would be the conspiracy theory part)

What if someone like Sir Richard Branson, Bill Gates, Sir Paul McCartney or any of the 48 Saudi Princes got AIDS or Cancer. How quickly do you think they would be ‘cured’?

These diseases are almost ‘natural selection’ weeding out people and controlling populations.

And then there are the jobs. Millions of people around the world make their lively hood by working in Research and Development of drugs and treatments. The doctors, nurses and therapist who deal with the sick. There are a thousand different sectors who work directly or indirectly with these diseases.

Then there is this very cynical & skeptical part of me that questions if this charity is in fact who they say they are. Think about all the ‘charities’ that popped up after the Tsunami in Thailand, or after Katrina. They say over 9 million dollars was raised by false charities after Katrina alone. And what about all the people who took advantage of the Red Cross ‘debit cards’ at the same time??

This time of year is especially rampant for charities collecting. . . my pointers are

• Donate locally whenever you can. You’ll be able to see your money at work.
• Donate to charities that your friends or family work directly with.
• Always get a receipt for your donation. Many ‘true’ charities will provide you with one, even if it cannot be used for tax purposes (usually only donations over $25.00 can be used for tax purposes)
• Donate ’stuff’ rather than money. Clean out your cupboards of food you don’t need, clean out your closet of un-wanted clothes (launder first), shoes, books, media, old cell phones can all be donated)
• Choose a charity that is important to you and your family. Perhaps one that directly helped your family.
• Donate your TIME rather than your money. Volunteer.
• Pick a set amount you will donate for the year, choose a limited number of charities to donate to, and stick to your guns about it.

My main yearly donation is to Ronald MacDonald Houses of Canada (A House where families of terminally ill children can stay while their child is in hospital). I also donate small amounts to Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada, Children’s Literacy, Animatch Animal Rescue, and I alway buy a Poppy every year.

I had an argument last week with someone on a forum I go to about how much money you should spend on your pets. Now this argument was more about vet and medical needs more than everyday needs like food, shelter, toys etc. Although the cost of food and type of food become an issue during this argument as well.

This person I was arguing with PTS (Put to Sleep) a beautiful cat that was less than a year and a half old because of urinary blockages (or crystals).

Many people know that crystals are very common with male cats (especially when they eat a kibble diet, and cheap kibble increases this chance even more). A simple preventative measure is to insure your male cat gets enough fluids, a wet food suplemented diet is the easiest way to do this.

This person, that I will now refer to “S”, told us that she couldn’t get her cat (that we will call “D”) to eat wet food. S would not disprove or deny that she fed cheap kibble either, but her other 2 cats were severally obese, a common side-effect from cheap kibble.

It is my opinion that if she feed D better food (including wet) he would never have been in distress and needed emergency medical attention (and subsquently be PTS). Basically I feel this could have been PREVENTED, and its her FAULT D is dead.

Now, this medical attention that S would not pay for was $500. There was a pretty big chance that it would not work, but a bigger percentage said it would. She didn’t even try.

She claims she loved D and did what she felt was best for him.

I believe 2 things.

1. She could have prevented (or drastically delayed) any need for emergency vet attention by feeding D wet food, and good quality kibble.
2. She should not have given up so quickly, and tried to save D.

Now I’d like to state for the record that I am not a rich person, but my Moggies are my pseudo children, and if $500 could save them I’d risk that chance (at least once).

Now, I don’t endorse people putting second mortages out on their house to give fido braces or anything - but when you signed that adoption contract you VOWED to take care of that animal in ways that they can’t care for themselves.

S did not do this.

For a little more background S, in chrological order as I recall it.

• Had 4 pets, 1 dog and 3 cats (D and 2 obsese cats)
• Got engaged after dating a man (now called BJ) for 2 month
• D died
• Moved out to new place with BJ. Left obsese cats with grandparents, only took dog.
• Got a kitten.
• Got another kitten.
• Got married
• Adopting another dog
• Joey commented about new dog (its mixed breed, and the breeds are not for an inexperienced owner who doesn’t have time - or money. This is what sparked the whole debate, and I brought up D in my arguments)
• S got pissed off at Joey’s comments.

Now you are up to speed.

So, in the end, the question is - what are you pets WORTH to you? Would you save them if you could?

That is one LOOOOOONNNNNNNNGGGGGG title for an entry. . . .but I wanted to get it all in there instead of making three different entries.

Colin and Scott went out last night with the guys from work, Scott drove Colin home to island from downtown (what a nice guy!) Instead of driving alllllll the way back to the city, Scott stayed over.

He was cordially greeted by the moggies, who didn’t really venture very far from his side while he was here. Funny though, because he IS a cat person. Cats have a funny way of trying to hang out with the one person in the room who either a) hates them or b) is a die hard “dog person”. Weird breed those dog people.

In the morning I got up early and scrambled around tidying up things like the foot and a half of dishes in the sink, or the underware on the floor in the bathroom. Needless to say I wasn’t prepared for company, in fact I’m not really prepared to be ‘domestic’ either. I suck at it.

Anyways. I made some coffee, and then we went to the saturday morning quebequois institution that is the Bellepro (La Belle Provience in full) . Full breakfast with sasugages and eggs and french toast.

We divised our plan for the day, Scott decided he’d stick around the island and help us out.

We started by raking up all the leaves and cutting back all the dead leaves and plants. We then trimmed the “ugly tree” in the front yard. The aircondioner got covered, and all the summer equipment got brought into the house. The drains were fixed and the gutters cleaned out. We painted the pole for the front walk light, and re-painted our mailbox and numbers.

Then we moved onto the Christmas lights. I was ever so excited to put the lights up (I will hopefully post some pictures later). This is our first house, and the first time we’ve ever had Christmas lights. Even more than being merry and cheerful, it makes me feel like home. I now have a home more than a house or place to sleep and that feeling is just incredible!

We bought energy efficient LED lights. Blue for the roof of the house, and multicoloured for the “ugly tree”. We also have a little remote to turn the lights on and off. . . .I love gadgets. The house looks great, so good the Ugly Tree even looks nice.

After we were done in the yard and the lights were up we came back in and hooked up the PS2 to the gamming tv, Scott brought “GUITAR HERO”. Its this game were you get a huge controller that looks like a guitar and you have to ROCK OUT to some classic 80 and 90s hard rock.

I’m not very good but its a good laugh.

I think I will get Colin the XBOX 360 version for Christmas, its wireless.

All in all, a very good day. It feels good to accomplish so much in a day. I don’t think I wasted any moment.

Great weather, a good friend, husband, moggies, good food and lots to drink.. . . .life is good.

Back to Guitar Hero. . . .its my turn.

I’m looking for a receipe for meat fondue.

I have the oil, I have the burner, I have the little fork things. . . . . .

I know so little about fondue, I don’t even know what meats to use, or where to get that meat. . . . .I really need to know the hows & whats of fondue making. . . . .

anyone?

anyone?

For the record.\’c2\~ Left leg first.

I’m stealing this idea for an entry from another blog I visited, and that website ‘43 things’ - here is 100+ factoids and tidbits about yours truly . . . . .\par

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1. I hate tomatoes

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2. I cannot (under any circumstances) sleep with the tags of my bedding not at the bottom left-hand side of the bed.

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3. I am the oldest ‘child’ in my family. I don’t have any older cousins or anything. I have 1 brother and 1 sister, and only 5 cousins total.

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4. I’m a “cat person”.

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5. I am anal retentive about signaling when I drive.

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6. I was the third woman in Canada to be a certified Box Lacrosse referee.

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7. Hate socks, Love sandals. If I could live my whole life in sandals I would.

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8. I can’t knit. But I’d like to learn.

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9. I had my birthmark removed when I was 14. It was on my forehead.\’c2\~ The scar is not even noticeable now.\’c2\~ The cut was 1.5 inches long and I had almost 30 stitches, I had a plastic surgeon do the removal.

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10. I chew pens.

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11. I love the smell of fresh brewed coffee, but can’t stand the taste.

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12. One of my favourite films is “High Fidelity”

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13. My one hour of must watch TV is “ER”

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14. I have lots of “food phobias” - my biggest fear is spaghetti and meatballs.

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15. I wanted to be race car driver when I was younger.

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16. I taught dancing. Tap, Ballet and Jazz (among others)

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17. I always give the same gift for weddings. Its my signature gift.

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18. I always print, my cursive handwriting is very poor.

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19. I’d love to own a Shelby Cobra edition Mustang in Blue with white racing stripes, or a Mercedes C230 hatch in lime green.

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20. I don’t cook very well, but I try.

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21. I collect pro paintball jerseys, coins and cheesy magnets.

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22. I’d love to go to Sweden.

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23. I will clean hair out of the bathroom drains, but won’t clean out food from the sink drain.

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24. I love decorating Christmas trees.

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25. I have “ad night” with Marty. We sit together once a week and read the circulars from the local stores in bed.

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26. I love baths. With lots and lots of bubbles.

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27. I have asthma.

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28. I’m allergic to real Christmas trees, and some dryer sheets.

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29. When I get super-stressed, I get heartburn

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30. I have a Blackberry, but I don’t think I am addicted it it.

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31. I hated Colin the first time I met him.

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32. I still call my inlaws “Mr and Mrs Graham

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33. I always order a slice of lime with my coke in restaurants.

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34. I could eat sushi for every meal if I could.

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35. I want to learn karate.

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36. I love “Dollarama”.

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37. I don’t fly well, but I love travelling.

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38. I prefer to write in black ink over blue ink.

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39. I write my Christmas cards a month early every year.

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40. I don’t swim very well.

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41. I’ve already planned all the changed and renovations I’d like to make to our house. I have a binder.

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42. I’d love to get married all over again in Vegas. (To Colin of course)

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43. I try not to buy any ‘Proctor and Gamble’ products, as they test on animals.

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44. I read magazines, but don’t spend enough time with “real books”

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45. I’m a horrible speller.

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46. I fear death.

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47. I still have all the letters I wrote during classes in high-school in a tin at my folks place.

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48. I was a pretty good artist when I was younger, I took art classes.

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49. I had a poem published in a book when I was in grade 5. It was about a black cat.

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50. I wore a florescent pink dress to the first middle school dance I went to.

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51. Joey McInyre was my favourite member of “New Kids on the Block”.

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52. Manilli Vanilli was the first tape I ever bought with my own money.

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53. Wham! Make it Big was the first tape I was ever given.\’c2\~ I played that cassette until the tape was stretched and wouldn’t play any more.

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54. I took CPR courses every year when I worked at A&P.

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55. I prefer “drive through” parking places at malls, and will park much further from the door if I can get a drive through.

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56. I love red.

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57. I spend way more on eyeglasses frames than I should. (They are the only designer thing I splurge on)

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58. I don’t have that “maternal instinct” and often I feel guilty about it.

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59. I donate money every year to Ronald MacDonald House & Make A Wish Foundation. I prefer not to donate directly to ‘dieseases’

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60. I think I have a mild case of dyslexia.

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61. I rubbed my nose so hard up and down when I was young, I have a crease across my nose.

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62. I secretly want to get a tattoo.\’c2\~ A butterfly as a living memorial to my Nanny.

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63. I love thunderstorms.

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64. I have a scar on my back from an office chair that “attacked” me.

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65. I suck at math.\’c2\~ But my transcripts all have good marks.\’c2\~ I took summer school and upgraded all my math marks.

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66. I have very brittle fingernails.

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67. I love sleeping.

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68. I adore sleeping on new, fresh, high tread-count sheets.

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69. My Nanny is my biggest hero.

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70. I have to pee all the time.

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71. I had a collection of GI Joes when I was younger.

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72. I’ve never had a cavity in my teeth.

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73. I love theme parks, but I hate heights. I will, however, still go on rollercoasters provided they aren’t wooden. I won’t go on height drop rides, or my biggest fear - Ferris Wheels.

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74. I prefer lip gloss to lip stick.

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75. I have really wide feet.

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76. I love Walmart, and hate Zellers.

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77. Ryan Hann is the only baby that doesn’t cry when I hold him.

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78. I look up every single email ‘urban legend’ I get on www.snopes.com

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79. I speak more and better French than I lead onto.

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80. I wish I could lose weight, but I love to eat to much.

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81. I love extra cheese on my pizza.

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82. I practise tap dance time steps when waiting in lines at grocery stores.

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83. I have dandruff, and it sucks.

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84. I have night myopia, and prefer not to drive at night.

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85. I once nearly ran into Elvis Stoko (literally) at the CNE one year.

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86. I like to touch paintings at museums. I’ve touched “Whistler’s Mother”.

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87. I have shoplifted before, although I’m not proud of it.

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88. I like sour/tart apples - like Granny Smith.

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89. I have short chubby fingers like my dad. I also inherited his pre-mature grey hair. I’ve been going grey since I was 12.

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90. I like to sing show tunes in my car.

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91. I prefer to drink soda from a can than a bottle. I like the “tin-ny” taste.

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92. I’m the shortest one in my immediate family. I’m 5′8″. My Mom is 5′10″, my sister is 5”9″, my dad is 6′ and my brother is 6′7″.

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93. My hair is very very thick.

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94. I’d love to learn photography.

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95. My maiden name “DeCaire” is french, it means “Of Cairo”. Its from the Napoleonic War, when Napoleon invaded Egypt.

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96. I’m a Libra, I was born year of the Horse and my natural element is Earth.

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97. I crave savory/salty things more than sweet.

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98. My favourite Chocolate bar is “Max 5″.

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99. I’m crap at replying to emails, but I love to receive them

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100. I really enjoy the TV Show “Bones”, based on the book by Kathy Reich. I had bought the book about 4 years ago (long before the TV show), got to the last chapter and never finished it because I thought it was boring and I didn’t care a bout the characters.

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101. I sometimes pop my zits.

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102. I can drink a super-huge Slush Puppy/Slurpee in like 5 minutes without getting brain-freeze.

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103. I will try any food, provided I don’t know what it is first.

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104. I’ve travelled all over Europe and the USA, but I’ve only ever been to two provinces (Ontario and Quebec) in my home country.

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105. One of my paternal grandfathers is in the Football Hall of fame.\’c2\~ He was on the first Toronto Argonauts team.

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106. I love to get letters in the mail.

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107. I can tell my cats apart by smell alone.

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108. I know what Orks, Space Marines and The Imperial Guard is - and I blame Colin.

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In my exhaustive efforts to be a “good wife” I made Colin a lunch for work today, I made it last night. Little snacks in ziplock baggies, veggie juice. Fresh bread and deli cut meat. . . . . the works.

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I told him when he got in last night there was a lunch for him for today. . .it promptly goes to the fridge, opens up the bag and starts snacking. He even ate the sandwiches.

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I yelled at him, telling him about how I slaved over a luke-warm cutting board to prepare this culinary delight

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He proceeded to give me the “you know when you yell you look like your mother” look, and he said, I don’t need a lunch, I’m going out tomorrow.

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Geeeeeeshhhhhhh!

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Wikipedia says that THANKSGIVING is:\par

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Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is an annual one-day holiday to give thanks (traditionally to a God), for the things one has at the close of the harvest season.

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Wikipedia saya that BLACK FRIDAY is:\par

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Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, is historically one of the busiest retail shopping days of the year. Many consider it the “official” beginning to the Christmas season. Most retailers will open very early and usually provide massive discounts on their products, and offer doorbuster deals to draw people to their stores.

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Let me start off by saying Happy Thanksgiving to everyone, and Happy Black Friday shopping.\par
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Ok. . . .\par
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I find Thanksgiving a hipocracy in the USA. It is nothing more that a day you get off work, and I’m embarrased for all Americans. All Americans.\par
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Thanksgiving in its most tradtional sense doesn’t really apply to the average American anymore, unless you are a farmer, but the underlying theme of the original Thanksgiving meals was to give. . . . .*gasp*. . . . thanks. Heck, they built the darn work into the name of the holiday - this isn’t a hard one folks.\par
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I watch the antics of shoppers on Black Friday on CNN and other news channels on and off every year. The profanities being shouted, the little old ladies who drop their shoulders and line drive into crowds like a defensive lineman in football scrimage, the herds of people willing to trample over their own if they lag behind. Only the strong survive!!!\par
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Its a very very sad state of affairs. And why?\par
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So this is what I propose. Switching the days of these two ‘holidays’. Americans would now adopt “Black Thursday” and have turkey on Friday, this would mean no break in the work week and truly a ‘long weekend’.\par
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This would also mean that when you are sitting around your table, now nursing your ‘battle war wounds’ from a day of shopping, you can truly be THANKFUL for something. . . . . .\par
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. . . . . Thankful you didn’t get runover, punched, kicked, knifed, shot, or simply verbally abused. Or perhaps you are thankful that you survived any/some/all of the before mentioned.\par
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This would litterally mean putting the “THANK” back into Thanksgiving.\par
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Its my opinion that the only people this would really throw off is Macy’s, who will now have to put their parade on one day later. . . . .\par
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Sources:\par
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving\par
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http://www.cnn.com\par
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_%28shopping%29