Hello, Blog World. Sorry for the long silence.
First of all, let me thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for all of your notes of sympathy about my mom. I really appreciated it, and it definitely helped me through this difficult time.
During the last couple of weeks I have been lost in the Facebook world playing interminable games of Bouncing Balls and my latest addiction, Pool Practice. Yes, pool, as in billiards. It's a great FB game that actually allows you to practice all your best shots. And it must work well, because I am lousy at the exact same shots online as I am in the real world. Those corner pockets get me every time; but I'm a whiz on the side ones!
I guess playing these online games is a way to procrastinate and avoid cleaning out my mother's apartment. I have done very little so far, and as a result had to pay the rent for the month of July, since June is now over without progress being made. I really must get it cleaned out this month. I did manage to wash some laundry and throw out some food and other stuff but there is still a lot to do.
I seem to be lost in the doldrums. I'm not sure if it's the heat that is now upon us, or the aftermath of my mother's death, but I am lacking in motivation these days.
Then today I learned some more sad news: Marie from The Attentive Aphorist passed away over the weekend. She was a wonderful person and her voice will be sorely missed. Marie had been having health issues since last year but she had been doing better so I was shocked to hear the news. My deepest sympathies go out to her family and friends.
We're up at our cabin for a whole week, which is heaven compared to the 100 degree heat back home in New Jersey. Our place is at 1000 feet of elevation and there is a nice breeze here at the top of the hill, wafting through the quaking Aspens, Hemlocks, and oak trees that tower above the cabin. Before leaving New Jersey, we did go to the annual fireworks at our local county park on Friday night, so we got our dose of 4th of July before coming up here. We heard the fireworks going off last night in Ticonderoga but were too lazy to drive up and see them there. We did have a hot dog for lunch on the 4th, so that counts for something.
When I logged on today I realized that this is my 500th post since I started blogging in late 2006. I realize some people manage 500 posts in their first year, so I take no great pride in this achievement, but thought it was worth noting. I am sorry I am not coming up with something more brilliant for such a milestone, but it is what it is.
Now that we're up here, I'm hoping to take more time to visit everyone else's blogs, as the 3G MiFi connection here is not ideal for playing online games, which will leave me much more free time to actually read blogs, which is a much more constructive pursuit.
In my recent obsession with Facebook games, I haven't been paying that much attention to the news. Of course, Robert Byrd passed away at 92, the BP oil spill continues, and Congress grilled Kagan. But it all seems to be happening at a distance. I'm hoping when we get home Baxter will be able to catch me up with what's been going on as I'm sure he's been keeping track.
Speaking of Baxter, he is not very happy with the new addition to the family: my mother's cat, Zoe. We brought her over to our house a couple of weeks ago and settled her into the spare bedroom. Baxter is very jealous and anytime the door to that room is open he comes in and tries to eat her food and poke around. They have met up with each other a few times, which resulted in loud hissing on both sides. Also, she eats wet food and until now, Baxter had no interest in it. But all of a sudden he wants wet food too, since Zoe gets it!
So when we came up to the cabin on Saturday we decided to bring Zoe with us and leave Baxter home. He will be happier at home anyway, and we didn't want to leave her home locked up in the spare room. Please don't feel sorry for him. If he were here he'd be spending the whole week hiding under a bed anyway, as he did when we first brought him home.
As it turned out, bringing Zoe up here was the best decision we could have made. She was the perfect traveler and it turns out she loves it up here at the cabin. She has no fear whatsoever, and wanders at will throughout the place, jumping up on windowsills and looking outside. We brought a cage with us that used to belong to our previous dog, Alice, and Zoe is happily sitting out on the deck in the cage surveying the landscape as I write this. I wouldn't dare let her loose on the deck as she could easily jump over the edge and be lost in the woods instantly.
Unlike Baxter, Zoe was able to put the dog in her place immediately. Diva came over to sniff at her while she was in my lap and Zoe immediately let rip a mighty hiss, and smacked her on the left eyebrow. Diva now is afraid to walk anywhere near her, and the cat is now in charge. The ironic thing is that she weighs about 5 lbs. - about a quarter the size of Baxter - but she isn't afraid of anything. Baxter runs out of the room if the dog looks at him.
I'll try to post some pictures of her soon. In the meantime, I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend.
19 comments:
I know whereof you speak--getting cats to cooperate. Only if they so choose, and sometimes they just don't.
Our recent trip to Park City, UT, demonstrated the cooling effects of elevation. Park City is about 20 degrees cooler than Salt Lake City. So SLC can be 90 and Park City, at 7,000 ft., is a cool 70.
Enjoy your cabin weekend.
Cats always rule!
It takes a long time to get over a loss so don't be hard on yourself. And enjoy yourself. your cabin sounds wonderful.
I was shocked to learn of Marie's death as well. Everyone has to go through the grieving process in their own way so don't be too hard on yourself. In our experience it takes about a week for strange animals to get to know one another and get comfortable. Sometimes, however, some animals won't hit it off no matter how much time they spend together.
OMG, I had no idea about Maries death, I'm shocked and saddened! We are like a family in blogland and it feels so wrong that one of us is gone!
Take care and take the time to savor the memories as you clean out your Moms belongings.
Yay! Maui is back!
I was thinking about ya.
U didn't miss much politically.... The kagan hearings were exactly as predicted. BP settled with Obama.... A partial settlement but a settlement nonetheless. Folks called it a shake down. I called it another handshake between the rich and the powerful.
Also: my cat is interested in some point/counter-point action with your cat across our blogs... Would be fun. Tell Baxter.
Glad to hear u r getting through your tough time.
Http://arealgoodblog.blogspot.com
So Baxter is home alone and plotting his revenge. Beware!
How sad about Marie. She will be missed.
I think you deserve some down time and time without the constant drip, drip, drip or deluge of bad news is good for us, I think.
Zoe sounds like a card. Having introduced new cats into the fold, I can relate. This too shall pass. More or less. The hissing may never stop. We still have two who insist on slapping the hell out of the other everytime we get ready to feed them.
Finally, you might let Baxter have wet food. We'd been feeding our guys dry and the vet said that was what contributed to the UTI our one guy gets over and over.
Welcome back, M.
It's so weird how some cats can't get along. Our female tolerates one male and hates the other two. The boys all get along. Who can figure it out?
Glad you are back to blogging. I surely know that I play games when I have not the emotional energy for reality. LOL...Have fun at the cabin. Sounds like bliss.
Enjoy your mountain get away. We all need a break from reality.
By the way, we had to dismantle my Mom's house - 47 years of stuff. She has dementia & we had to let the house go, after waiting 2 years to make sure she would live in the care facility & it was clear she would not be able to return.
In any case, we asked Mom if there was anything special she wanted to keep, kept a few precious things, and then called Goodwill.
They will send a truck & haul things away if you have them packed in boxes or bags.
Much of the stuff was useable, we just did not want or need it & it would have been wasteful to send it to the landfill.
You can use the donation as a tax writeoff as well.
Anyway, they sure made our lives a whole lot easier, as one can accumulate a lot of stuff in that many decades!
There is some comfort in knowing someone else may put things to good use.
Some of the funkier stuff we did discard.
You will be able to get your Mom's place cleared. It's OK to just have a good cry & then get on with it. You are freeing up the space for someone who needs it.
You can take solace in knowing you were really there for her in her time of need.
I'm so sorry. I just started reading blogs again after a lengthy absence, and I didn't know of your mother's passing. Please accept my sympathy and condolences.
hi mimi,
just caught up with reading blogs and i'm so very sorry to hear about your mom's passing. i can only imagine how hard this must be for you. take heart, my friend. and know that your mom is in a place where there is lots of joy and peace.
*hugs*
After we lost Mom, her insurer informed me that if the house was left unoccupied, the policy would be canceled. So there I sat, for an additional 3 months, while we arranged to put it on the market, and then sell it.
I so did not want to disturb Mom's house that I left it almost intact until about a week before I left it for good-and then I felt painfully awful about doing it. Take the time you need to take with this.
You keep thinking of your mom and take your time, it takes time! Glad you are relaxing at FB and especially at the cabin. Be cool!
Mauigirl,
Never rule out some depression after what you've faced.
Loss is one of the most powerful emotions humans experience and when you think about, you gave up your job, and then you lost your mom.
These two events are just bound to have a very powerful impact on your psyche. I know it sounds trite but at a time like this, "time" really is your BFF.
Be patient and in time, you will find your bearings again.
Wonderful that you enjoying some time at the cabin. Just the cooler air is good.
Thanks for sharing so miuch about your life with us. I can relate to some of this. I haven't finished with everything from my Mom's place either. I figure, "What's the hurry?" She took her time in leaving, and I am grateful for that. I'll get to it when iot happens.
Take care and be well. Enjoy the cabin, sounds wonderful.
Peace.
Mimi, you have been very missed. Thanks for popping up and stopping by.
I'm so sad to learn that Marie passed. We visited each other's blogs regularly until recently. She had a wonderful sense of humor.
I've seen too many fine bloggers lured away by FB, and especially those games. I think my choice to pull out was a wise one. Farmville had become an an addiction.
I have to speak up for my feline buddy, Baxter. Take Baxter and Zoe to the cabin, and leave that damn dawg at home. ;-)
maui, let me just throw out an idea that worked for me when introducing a new cat to an entrenched (and proud of it) older cat. we installed a screen door on spare bdrm door for the new cat. it worked to give her a place she could call her own until the other cat got used to her. we knew it was time to let them mingle when the old cat was able to walk by the screen door without arching and hissing. the dogs were never any problem. our cats always ruled our dogs.
ok I'll read Baxter's post now and see what HE has to say about it.
Thanks everyone for all your comments.
J.R. and Spadoman, glad to know I'm not the only one who finds this difficult. I will probably get it done at the last minute before next month's rent is due.
I'll certainly take all the cat-related advice to heart. T.C., Baxter says he doesn't want to go to that Stupid Cabin anyway!
Christopher, you're right, I may be underestimating the effect so much change is having on me.
Thanks everyone for all your comments.
J.R. and Spadoman, glad to know I'm not the only one who finds this difficult. I will probably get it done at the last minute before next month's rent is due.
I'll certainly take all the cat-related advice to heart. T.C., Baxter says he doesn't want to go to that Stupid Cabin anyway!
Christopher, you're right, I may be underestimating the effect so much change is having on me.
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