On the mend
My blood pressure has now left the triple figures.
Ellie was discharged late this afternoon. They have no idea what caused her problems, although an upper respiratoty tract infection seems to be setting in now. Her belly is better though.
She still has a high temperature and and increased respiratory rate, so she is on medication for those as well as antibiotics, just in case.
However, she has chased the laser pen, eaten and beaten up her brothers after some intimate and clearly unwelcome sniffing. So hopefully that is a good sign she is on the mend.
So my breathing rate can decrease as well. I need a stiff drink.
Bastardos
The hospital are refusing to give me an update on Miss Ellie.
I've just called, and all they will say is that it would be better for me to speak to the admitting clinician. Who won't be in until twelve.
When I pressed them on whether she had had a good or bad night, they simply repeated the above. And then again, for good measure. Just in case I am stupid and didn't understand the first two times they told me.
I don't think this bodes well.
Until noon.
Looks like it will be a long night
Ellie has been taken ill. She is vomiting (well, there was vomit on the floor and given the rest of the list below I'd say she is the prime suspect), listless, has a high temperature and her nictating membrane is showing. Most worryingly, she is growling if I try to pick her up or touch her belly.
And as luck would have it, it is the Bank Holiday. Bloody typical.
I've called my vet. Answerphone. They have an emergency session tomorrow morning. If we can wait until 10AM tomorrow, we will be first in line.
I don't think we can wait. I suspect a trip to the emergency room of the animal hospital may be in order - something is very wrong.
Bollocks.
A lead
Looks like they have a lead of some sort.........fucking little shit.
The memorial service is a week tomorrow. The choir of the school he (and I, as well as most of his close friends) used to attend will be performing.
It is now officially Bank Holiday weekend. Three days off!
Summary
It's Thursday. One more day, then it is Bank Holiday weekend!! No work for three days.
And my client next week told me to bugger off as everyone was on leave, so I have a light week next week. Great, since I have loads to catch up on.
This of course means more time at home packing and mooching around with the cats. In the name of working from home. Work will be done (I have enough that needs doing) but cutting out the travel leaves me with pottering time rarely seen.
However, the cats are driving me bonkers.
1. Harvey keeps miaowing to go out. Every live long second he is in the house. Then he wants to come back in.
2. Frankie keeps tormenting Ellie.
3. Ellie keeps knocking things off shelves. And laying on the keyboard when I am typing. She wants fuss and attention, and usually she would climb on the bed. That isn't possible (see below) so she tries in lots of other ways to get it.
4. Charlie has rectal bleeding again and needs to go back to the vet tomorrow. I hate taking him as he gets so stressed. Other than the bleeding he is doing great - I can pick him up for a proper cuddle now!
5. Willow won't let any cats on the bed. And she bit the vet yesterday. She is lovely, but she is terrorising all the other cats and I think we are all a little frazzled. She also attacked my foot in the night, which wouldn't be such a big deal except that I have somehow manage to get an infected scrape on my foot which hurts to buggery even without cat claws sinking in.
So work seems somewhat blissful. It isn't, but compared to packing and vet visits, I'll take work.
R just popped round for a visit. I sent him a text asking how he was doing, and he walked over to reassure me in person since he had no credit left on his phone. He has been asked to do a eulogy at the memorial next weekend.
The Baron is still smoking. He gave up for nearly three weeks, but started again on holiday. I think he is going to try to give up again soon.
The Boy is in EuroDisney. Peace and quiet. Until tomorrow.
That will do. It is gone nine and I haven't had dinner yet.
Oh dear!
I washed the Baron's mobile phone.
I put it through the economy cycle. Forty degree's.
It is very clean.
Drained
I've just returned from the pub, where I dropped off my sister's boyfriend. They are holding the party they planned weeks ago for the birthday of their murdered friend, in his memory.
We talked on the drive down. Whilst I didn't know him well in person, I knew him through the stories that good friends tell about each other. And so I listened to those stories again. Laughed. Tried not to cry.
I've never seen R look so broken. He is mourning his best friend of 18 years. Taken in a completely senseless attack. Left to die on a cold and dirty pavement, lying in his own blood.
And so tonight, they celebrate his life, and his lost birthday.
Sad and senseless
We had some sad news this morning.
A good friend of my sister and her partner was found murdered yesterday morning. He would have been 28 years old today.
I personally didn't know him very well. He did attend the school I went to, but was several years ahead. However, he came along to several of the Boy's birthday parties and in fact bought him his treasured set of goal posts as his second birthday present.
Sad news.
Strike that
Charlie the Drowned Rat Cat has come home.
He has promptly climbed under my quilt to warm up and get dry, but he is home. I will be sleeping on the dry sofa tonight.
(That is the true test of a mad cat woman. I am so pleased he came in, I don't care about the bed, extra washing or sleeping on the sofa!)
Rain, rain go away
The remnants of Hurricane Charley are apparently battering us as I type. We have had non stop rain since late afternoon. Thunder and lightning too.
As if I haven't seen enough of that damn storm. Bad enough to sit tight as it passes overhead. Then to fly over it in one of the most turbulent flights I have ever experienced. Then it have it visit home. Our gutter is not coping well with the onslaught of water.
The storm's namesake - my evil orange cat, has taken off in fright at the thunder and is refusing to come in. It is ten at night. I don't think I shall see him again until morning.
Piss on a stick.
Note to self
After three weeks with no playing, it is unreasonable to expect to play your guitar without developing a ginormous blister.
Lesson learned.
Home!
At long bloody last.
Highlights:
- Meeting Katie and Evil One;
- Celebrating the Boy's sixth birthday (and yes, I can attest that he is a handful!);
- Not working;
- Feeling some heat;
- Watching the Boy on the rollercoasters
- Watching the Boy punch Dopey on the nose;
- Watching the Boy improve his swimming; and
- Coming home to not just my four monsters, but my newest addition - my sweet one eyed girl;
Lowlights:
- Having my flight cancelled by BA due to the hurricane, and then being told to effectively bugger off by BA when trying to ascertain arrangements for getting home;
- Sitting in Polk County with the eye of the storm passing overhead;
- Watching a tornado pass by;
- Seeing the house opposite get struck by lightening and realise there is a fire;
- Being told that I have to wait until the 23rd for a flight home. And no, BA will not pay for accomodation and meals in the meantime. Tough luck that their rivals chartered a plane to get their stranded passengers home. Policy decision, you know.....;
- Driving two days to Atlanta, at our own expense to catch a flight home. Nothing like a bored and tired six year old to make a journey speed by;
- 90 other people on the flight who have made the same journey to Atlanta at their own cost. 90 other people who have been told to bugger off by BA; and
- The extra cost of boarding four cats past their departure date.
I haven't slept since Sunday morning. It is now late Monday afternoon and I have been working all afternoon since I hadn't taken today as holiday. So I feel postively murderous towards BA.
So what does BA stand for?
British Arsewipes?
Barely Adequate?
Bozo Airways?
Bollocks Airways?
If I've missed any, let me know.
Rod Eddington..........your company is shite. I won't be flying with you again. Ever. And I will make sure as many people as possible know why.
