Cuteness Abounds!

Well, it must be something in the water today, because all the kitties are being adorable. Of course, a trip to Costco yesterday increased the box-level of the house, so that might be a contributing factor as well. I didn't get pictures of everyone's cuteness but what I did get is post-worthy, I think.

First on our list, Gidgie. She's not a big box sitter, but it is so cute when she does because her fluff sticks out.

The Elusive Gidgie-in-a-Box

I think she looks a little ashamed for being caught box-sitting. It's a guilty pleasure, you know.

Next up is Cocoa, who doesn't look guilty for box-sitting, but almost resentful, daring is to make an issue of her greed.

Cocoa Two-Boxin' It

Yes, that is Cocoa sitting in not one but two boxes. Quite a talented little girl, isn't she?

Okay, this last one isn't Sammy in a box, but more of a kitty fort. We switched coffee tables with my parents and the kitties, especially Sammy and Chloe, are enjoying the higher shelf under the table.

A Big Kitty Fort for a Big Kitty

Doesn't Sammy just look so cute?

And speaking of a cute Sammy, I have to share this picture. I think he looks quite handsome.

Handsome Big Boy

Chloe was also remarkably cute today as she hung out in the double box-ness and a paper bag in the living room, but the pictures didn't turn out share-worthy. *pout* Oh well, at least I was able to get evidence of the cuteness some of the others today!

Bath Time at the Zimmermann Home (Post-Dated)

Guess what Dan and I got to do?

Bathe our kitties! Yes, all seven!

The good news is I only had blood drawn four times and Dan got away bloodletting-free (thought not unscratched).

What possessed us to do such an insane thing? What else? The vet. Apparently Happy and Ashes have ring worm. Yay. *sigh* So we got a topical spray and pills for the two of them, but were also told that we should be "aggressive" in our treatment to make sure the others didn't get it. Which includes twice weekly preventative baths.

Yeah, that's not happening. Happy and Ashes will get their two-times-a-week baths, but I think we did pretty good with everyone else just to get one bath each.

I bathed Ashes, Happy, Gidget and Cocoa while Dan got Sammy, Chloe and Bitty. There were no pictures of me bathing the kitties (1) because I'm the camera person in our family and 2) because I was not wearing protective gear like Dan was) but I did snap a couple of shots while Dan was bathing them.

An Unhappy Sammy Getting His Bath

Cocoa Wondering Why the Hidden Chloe is Screaming So

I also got video of a yowling Chloe which I'm going to have to edit and post because it's funny in a poor-pathetic-kitty way.

And while the bathing was not fun, the aftermath was sort of entertaining. All the kitties looked disgusted with the whole situation and proceeded to turn sulking while re-bathing themselves an Olympic sport.

Ashes: Must Get the Wet Off!

Chloe: I'm Not Talking To You

Chloe refused to look at me and kept her back to me the entire time I tried to take her post-bath pictures.

And Unladylike Happy

A Delicate but Disgruntled Gidgie

Bitty was especially cute and pathetic (though more annoyed than sulky - and more hiding that bathing).

Rat Bitty

I've also got a great video of her post-bath that I need to edit then will post later.

A Hedgehog-esque Cocoa

Spikey Post-Bath Sammy

Yep, so as you can imagine, everyone had so much fun.

And in theory, we need to do it again.

In theory. But in practice? Not so much.

Summer Haircut

This whole thing started because of Gidget. Last night, I found a bad mat on her back (her hair type makes her very prone to them). I cut it out and had to get pretty close to the skin to get it all. This left Gidget with a little bald spot on her back that looked, well, less than lovely. So I decided to shave her back (we do this every so often to deal with the mat issue, especially when the weather initially heats up making her shed more). Her tummy rarely gets bad mats, just her back, so that's all we ever shave with her - we give her kind of a Schnauzer cut.

I must say, Gidget did wonderful while I was shaving her. She sat down and didn't squirm or anything. Let me get a really good and clean trim on her back with no problems. Good Gidgie.

I haven't been able to get a good picture of Gidget's new haircut, but if you look closely enough in this one, you can tell that her back isn't too fluffy.

Bad picture of a shaved Gidgie

I'll see about getting a better picture later. But I do have some good pictures of something else: Ashes's haircut.

Dan and I have been talking about needing to shave the Big Girl recently since the weather is getting warmer. And since I had the clippers out for Gidgie's trim, I went ahead and did it!

The clipping begins

And the pile of fluff begins to grow

This is where she starts getting grumpy

And this is where she starts getting mad

She does not like her tail getting shaved

Daddy comes to help with the clean-up...

...and the belly trimming

And we're done!

Ta-da! The end result
(The pink spot on her side is a scar from a burn she got years ago while sitting in a window).

The resulting fluff pile - my vacuum hates me

All in all, it took only about a half hour. But then, we've had a lot of practice over the years. It used to take much, much longer. And those were the times that Big Girl would get pissy and end up pooping on us.

Really.

As a defensive mechanism, it really is quite effective. Gross, but effective.

I'm so happy we've gotten quicker. She doesn't get worked up enough to bring out the "big guns".

Ew.

Two Weeks

Amazingly, it is coming up on two weeks since we lost Nibby. Some days it feels like he's been gone for months. Other times, it feels like we just lost him yesterday.

Thankfully, the other kitties seem to be doing fine. Dan and I were worried about Chloe and Gidget as they both were very close to Nibby. Chloe spent a couple of days sleeping on the towel that was in the carrier with Nibby on his first vet trip (I'm sure it smelled like him) and Gidgie lost a little weight, but now seems to be back on track.

He was a sweet kitty, loved by everyone. Even Happy (but maybe just because she thought he'd taste good for dinner).

Gidgie Loves the Manatee, Too

Okay, say it with me:

AWWWWW!

Because I Have Too Much Time On My Hands...

I've made some videos. Nothing long, just from some footage I took this week of the cuteness that is our kitties. They are both pretty short but, I think, cute.

The Amazing Balancing Nibby

Also, on a slightly less random note (though still not "educational" or anything) we had quite the weather happening yesterday. Lots of rain. And of course, Dan and I were out in it (without an umbrella), but it was worth the dampness and squishy socks because on the way home we got to see a HUGE full rainbow.

By the time we got home and I got the camera, the sun was setting and the rainbow was fading, but I managed to snap a shot of it.

Fading Rainbow

Pretty, isn't it?

The Puke Index

I can tell the overall quality of my day by the number of spots of kitty puke I have to clean up. The higher the puke spots, the worse the day ends up being.

Today was a bad day.

Nine. Nine puke spots. Most of which were thanks to a Gidgie. Of course, lucky her, I was finally able to find mineral oil at the grocery store today (never thought to look in the laxatives section before, but there it was!) so now Gidgie is hairball free but she has a very oily bottom. And she kind of stinks a little.

Anyway, be thankful that I'm not subjecting you to pictures of puke.

And that smells cannot be transferred via the internet.

*Drool*

(Okay, this was unintentional, but this post will be all about drool. Don't worry, though - it's not a long post, so not too much drool going on. You won't need a raincoat or anything. Though you might need a bib.)

Gidgie drool! Last night, I got another dance from the Gidgie and got a picture of the happy dripping!

Happy and Drippy Gidget

Okay, yes, it is weird but I think it is cute because drool equals happy Gidgie.

Now comes the part where you might need a bib. I have discovered chocolate covered honeycombs. Sprouts had them and it sounded interesting, so I got some. SO good. The center is kind of a combo of a sugar cube and the crunchy bit of a Butterfinger. (Actually, I think it might be a meringue, now that I think of it). And then it is smothered in chocolate. I had like five of them yesterday and my mouth still waters when I think about them.

*drools*

So what do I do when I get distracted/obsessed with something? I Google it! And lookie what I found - a recipe!

Chocolate Covered Honeycomb

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup dark corn syrup
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon baking soda
2 cups (12-ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon vegetable shortening

1. Line bottom and sides a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan with lightly buttered aluminum foil. Set aside.
2. Combine combine the brown sugar, sugar, corn syrup, vinegar and butter in a large, heavy cooking pot. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves. Continue cooking syrup, without stirring, to 300*F (150*C) on a candy thermometer, about 15 minutes. (A small amount of syrup will separate into brittle threads when dropped into cold water.)
3. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda, mixing well. Mixture will foam up. Quickly pour into prepared pan. Allow to set at room temperature until firm. Invert pan and peel off foil. Break into pieces.
4. Melt chocolate and shortening in double boiler over simmering water; dip candy pieces in chocolate. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets and allow to dry at room temperature. Store tightly covered at room temperature.

Makes about 2 1/2 pounds candy.

Seriously, I am going to have to make these. I will end up being the size of a house, but I am making these. I just need a candy thermometer and dark corn syrup. Oh, and the chocolate.

The Specialness that is the Gidgie

This is love:

(Lord help us all - I've learned how to use my video editor).

You can't see it in the video, but Gidgie is drooling. (I have another video that you can see it a little in, but I turned the darn camera forgetting it was video (duh!) so the video is sideways as well as a little blurry, thus the lack of posting). When she gets really into her dancing (as you can see she is!), she starts drooling. First, it starts out as just extra moistness that you can only feel if she rubs her cheeks against your hand or something. But as her little dance continues, the drool gets to be more and more to the point where I drip will under her nose in that cute little split of a kitty's lip.

So you know you've got a happy Gidgie if she's cuddled next to you and your shirt is dotted with kitty drool. Like mine is now.

Aww.

Kill Me Now

Wow, almost 2 weeks since I have updated. Shame on me. Quite a change from updating a couple of times a week.

In my defense, I have felt like utter monkey pooh. But I figured it was time to post so people could be reassured that I have not, in fact, dropped off the face of the earth. So, without further ado, updates:

Hockey
Okay, it might say something about my priorities that are a bit off since I just got back from the cardiologist and yet the first topic on my blog update is hockey. But this is the playoffs, baby. All other things take a back seat.

So, the Ducks didn't sweep the Wild in the First Round like I thought they would - they let the Wild win 1 game. But I can totally deal with the series going to Game 5. It gave the Ducks a nice rest before Round 2, which started last night. They are playing Vancouver and, if last night's game was any indication, this will be a very one-sided series. Ducks won 5 to 1. Ouch. Poor Canucks, huh? But I don't feel bad enough for them to want any of the next games to be any different. I am interested to see what happens in the Red Wings/Sharks series since the Ducks will play the winners. Not sure if I am interested enough to watch it, though. That could cut into some serious nap time.

And speaking of nap time...

Cardiologist Stuff
Yeah, as expected, the results from my last heart monitor thing were normal. Woo freakin' hoo. So we still don't know what exactly is going on. But I maintain if it keeps getting worse, I will no longer be able to drive, much less hold down a job. Dan's even driven me to work a couple of times. It's nice because then I can nap on the way home.

Anyway, the cardiologist said that when people come in with the symptoms I am describing, they usually have coronary heart disease. But due to my age and lack of strong family history of early heart disease, he thinks not so much. But he wants me to take a stress test just to make sure.

That's right. A stress test. Yet again, woo freakin' hoo. So Monday, May 7th, I will be injected with radioactive material and made to run on a treadmill. I. Am. So. Not. Excited.

The cardiologist did say that he is more inclined to think it is asthma. So I guess if the freakin' stress test doesn't show anything, I'll have to go back that route. The pulmonary function test I took back when came out fine which would indicate it isn't asthma, but apparently it doesn't always show up on those. Back when, I was using Advair and that seemed to be helping, though after the PFT showed up okay, the doctor said it most likely helped just because it was clearing up some inflammation issues left over from my last bout of bronchitis.

Anyway, the cardiologist suggested that I get back on the Advair to see if it helps, so I picked some up today and took my first treatment this morning. It is hard to tell if it is helping. Pressure-wise I'm probably hanging out at a 7 now, with forays into 6-dom, but I had a lovely spike into the town of 9 that made me start yet again contemplating exactly when I needed to have someone take me to the emergency room (the only thing Dan and I can totally agree on is if I do manage to pass out, I'm going). And yes, I've been rating my "discomfort" the past 2 weeks. I'm trying to find a pattern - if the pressure relates to how much sleep I get, if I have sugar, caffeine, if I exercise. So far - no pattern.

Okay, where was I? I got sidetracked.... Oh yeah. Asthma. Basically, the cardiologist said we could play around with which medication I am on (breathing-related or heart-related) but it was "a crap shoot" so he decided to leave me on the heart stuff and add the Advair to see if it helped. Yeah.

Anyway, I guess we will know more after the freakin' stress test. Oh, and did I mention the true joy that will be for the freakin' stress test? I have to stop taking my heart medication for it. I take the test Monday and I can't take the meds Monday or Sunday. Yeah, no meds AND a treadmill. I'm so going to pass out.

Okay, enough of that junk. Fun stuff...

KITTIES!
The babies are doing wonderfully. Princess keeps trying to eat Chloe and has been thinking about making a Bitty-snack, but otherwise is good. Cocoa is doing great with no teeth. Ashes is sweet, as always and Nibby has been super-balancy. Gidget is one giant fluffer kitty and I'm thinking about shaving her for the summer (shh! don't tell her that!) and Happy is her insane but lovable self. Yay for healthy and happy kitties!

Smile for the Day
And now for something that makes me happy: Cuteness! On that site, you can find adorable little pictures and videos that will make you definitely go "aww".

And with that, I'll leave you some supercute for the day:

It'll fit - I swear!