cats

[CATS]

Hi this is my first Blog ever! I hope I am doing this correctly. Thankyou for welcoming me to the group; I am looking forward to sharing my experiences with all of you and learning about each of you,through your writing. I think it was sailor who asked about my alias, as much as the Cats are true champions on the footy field, the real champions are all 4 legged felines - cats small, like my adorable but totally crazy little tabby, to the big cats in the wild. I love them all - cats are my favourite creatures. Don't think I am just a crazy cat woman (which to my delight, I am) I adore all animals - I even have a gorgeous little dog!! Thankyou again for allowing me to be part of your group, I will talk again soon - byee.

[Jules2]

hey cats ... welcome and congrats on your first blog!

[#3]

Welcome Cats. I also have a feline friend, his name is Ricci, he is a pretty tabby cat with white paws. My little Ricci is adorable, he has helped me thru some challenging times, just by being so affectionate and loving. My niece has supplied with 2 cats so far. She finds “the poor little things - homeless of course” and rings me and says “I found a little kitten, so cute, you would really love it” and “yes” they do find a home, with me :) Reindeer

[Sailor]

G'day Cats Our household is ruled by a very large, over 8 kg, black and white gentle giant of a cat. He was given to my son when he was just a tiny bright eyed bundle of fur. When my son took on his partner, she had two large dogs, so we sort of rescued the, by then, eighteen month old cat and he has ruled here ever since. He is actually a very handsome animal - very symmetric in his markings and with the longest whiskers I have ever seen in a cat. Actually we have always had cats, but I don't think we have had one who is quite so adept at training humans! So welcome again to the group. Cheers Sailor There's no thrill in easy sailing when the skies are clear and blue, there's no joy in merely doing things which any one can do. But there is some satisfaction that is mighty sweet to take, when you reach a destination that you never thought you'd make. Anonymous

[Jules2]

sailor and reindeer ... you have both made me smile this evening with your posts. So, thank you very much. :) Julie

[#6]

Hiya Jules, Your most welcome... glad to bring a smile to you face. Reindeer xo

[#7]

Love your comment, Sailor. I have completed my little Ricci’s gruelling training schedule and am pleased to say.... passed with honours :) But I have also been repaid with affection many times over. Reindeer

[CATS]

Hi everyone. I just realised that I didn't need to start a blog- seriously, whatever it is - extremely computer challenged. I could have used this "post new comment" page. Der- if I had another brain it would sure be lonely! Thanks Jules,sailor and reindeer for welcoming me. It is strange, I am quite an outgoing person but for some reason, writing - which is one of my favourite activities, in this situation I seem to fumble. Quite odd! Still doesn't stop me from waffling though!To all you cat lovers, I collect little sayings about cats - the latest being - 'a cat's purr has been shown in several studies to have effects on healing rates and in relieving stress in people'. I totally agree with this, when I go to bed my darling little tortoishell tabby purrs me to sleep and when I wake up 10 times during the night to wee, she follows me to the toilet then back to bed, as though she is looking after me - she is adorable. Well I hope some of this was amusing and until next time -not blog- take care- meeeow.(I love doing that!)

[Sailor]

G'day Cats I had not heard about the healing power of a cat's purr, but I do know about studies that show stroking cats reduces blood pressure. I remind my gentle giant that this is his true purpose in life, to reduce my blood pressure, but he remains unimpressed. Just enjoys the stroking. He is always waiting for me when I get up in the night, but fortunately not ten times. The worst I got was six times, then I got prescribed medication. Gives you a bit of a dry mputh, but now it is usually only two times a night, sometimes three, but sometimes only once. Cheers Sailor Prevention is, as in other aspects of seamanship, better than cure. Sir Robin Knox-Johnston


[Jules2]

Hiya cats I think i have blogged when i shouldnt have ... but does it really matter? nope! Good on you for putting some thoughts on our screens. Julie

[CATS]

Hi everyone - I have been doing lots of Christmas shopping with my partner(no we are not lawyers)and I am absolutely exhausted. I am trying to keep things as normal as possible:shopping,visiting friends, shopping,shopping aaaagh, going out for lunches and dinners - not too sure if I can keep up the pace for much longer! It is quite annoying that because I don't look ill, people expect me to be able to do all the things I used to do - I suppose it's my own fault that I don't say no - I want everything to be normal, maybe I'm trying too hard. Sometimes I think I'm in denial until the pain starts, then I know this is how it is and I hate it. In the back of my mind I am thinking this may be my last Christmas and I want to savor every moment - anyway I'm sure I am not the only one who feels this way.I am normally very positive. Sorry for sounding like misery but if I attempt to explain my feelings, it is always "you'll be ok, you'll be around for heaps more Christmases etc etc" - that is why I know you all understand.

[Jules2]

hey cats interesting how others perceptions of how we should be, are! I am just sitting here reeling a little after someone who has never had cancer has just told me how it should be for me and others that go through this and now my son keeps talking to me as i am typing lol so i have completely lost the plot with what i was going to say. You are not on your own as there are many of us that "look" ok and yet we feel so tired from the treatment. I am having that problem myself at the moment. hugss Julie

[CATS]

Thanks Julie I feel better now - don't feel miserable anymore just totally p'd off with all the know alls - hope you regain the plot x

[Jules2]

lol cats ... i dunno about the plot am soooooooo tired i cant really think. Am sure i will feel better soon. I mentally blow a raspberry at all the "know alls".. All together now 1, 2, 3?? haha Julie

[Sailor]

Hi Cats Responding to your post of last night. An older friend of mine once told me the story of a person he met who had been through the war in Europe. Twice he had been on a train to a death camp and twice something happened to the train and it hadn't got there. As a soldier he had been in a burial squad and buried thousands of people. He had been through other nameless horrors. The advice he had given to my friend was to live each day as if it was a new day, a special day, one that you didn't expect to have. Not bad advice! Another friend who is a specialist cancer nurse once commented to me that 'we are very good at making people look well' - and they are. We can feel terrible, yet all these people tell us how well we look. Occasionally we feel well and that can last for a while - make the most of it. One of the things with a cancer diagnosis, or other major illness, is that it destroy our illusions of immortality. No longer can we behave as if we are going to be around for ever. For some of us the time we think we will be around contracts to a fairly short horizon. In my case I generally have a two year horizon and don't take on projects that are much longer and I have lived with that for a few years now. Recently, I have been feeling well enough to expand that out a bit, and besides with two 8 month old grandsons I want them to be able to remember what a grandad is. Another friend of mine was given a few weeks to live and managed a few months - she did say she felt a fraud at times - but she used the time to go through and write down for her family the history of the things she had kept and were important to her across a couple of marriages and a lots of moves. So shop a lot, if you get tired take time out. Enjoy Christmas as if there will be no more and have a great party, whilst hoping that there will be a few more. Look after yourself and take care Cheers Sailor The steeple clock, perched up above the houses, emerging from beneath another of the countless ripples in the tide of time that regularly roll and break on the eternal shore, is greyly visible, like a stone beacon, recording how the sea flows on; Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son

[CATS]

Sailor you are very wise.Thankyou for the advice,I will live each day as a special day and a day I did not expect to have. I had a great day today-lunch with friends, then to my dear's family party - which I had to leave early due to tiredness, pain, too much talking- I just had to get home and be with my darling pets - they don't expect me to entertain them and laugh at their stories!! Sorry-they do expect entertainment, silly me, they are both high maintenance on the having fun scale, which is so cute, nothing is too much for me to do for them. You mentioned your 8 month old grandsons - how wonderful and how fortunate you are. I saw a 3 month old baby today - she was beautiful - that made me feel happy.My niece and nephew, my cat and dog and little babies - very special.

[Sailor]

Hi Cats Wisdom is not an attribute that I ascribe to myself. I have some information and experience and I am happy to share those. I would quote my favourite poet T S Eliot: Where is the Life we have lost in living? Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information? That is from his 'Choruses from "The Rock" - I would commend it to anyone. If you do want a description of me, then I would use one from TSE again, this time from Prufrock: No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be; Am an attendant lord, one that will do To swell a progress, start a scene or two, Advise the prince; no doubt, an easy tool, Deferential, glad to be of use, Politic, cautious, and meticulous; Full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse; At times, indeed, almost ridiculous — Almost, at times, the Fool. Cheers Sailor Any fool can carry on, but a wise man knows how to shorten sail in time. Joseph Conrad

[CATS]

Sailor - your knowledge, information sharing and sayings are a pleasure to read - I thank you. My little bit of excitement to share with all - today I have attained something that 4 months ago I thought, from my diagnosis, was impossible - I have reached the glorious age of 55 and I am so happy, thankful, grateful,excited and glad to be alive. I am going to make sure I do something today that is a bit weird or nutty so I can say "I've still got it". I have sat my cat and dog down and explained to them (individually - they don't get on) that it is my Birthday - I have sung Happy Birthday to myself and given them a kiss - yep, bit weird but hey - that's the real me - much to my family and friend's horror!!! I hope that brought a smile to some faces - have a good day - I know I will- and it's back to the coctail lounge tomorrow for another episode of 'the unexpected'.

[Jules2]

Hey Cats Happy Birthday and i hope you have a fantastic day. One thing i want to know did the dog and cat take notice of what you said? I used to speak to my animals too. :) Julie

[#20]

Hi Cats, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Dear Cats, Happy Birthday to you. If you could hear my singing, you would be grateful that I typed my birthday wishes to you :) Hope you have a lovely birthday and that your day includes some pampering, just for you. And Yes, you definitely brought a smile to my face. As far as “nutty” is concerned…. Can I join your club? … I often talk to my cat .. funny thing is, he always responds with a meow 🙂 very sociable he is. Reindeer xx P.S. I bet your family secretly love your “nutty behaviour” 🙂

[Sailor]

Hi Cats Have a great party for the double five. Party as if there will be tomorrow, but start planning for the 60th. I hope you are fully terpsichorean - that is delight in dancing. I am not sure what a jellicle moon is, I assume a full moon, unfortunately it is not one tonight, will a waxing moon do? Cheers Sailor Jellicle Cats come out tonight, Jellicle Cats come one come all: The Jellicle Moon is shining bright-- Jellicles come to the Jellicle Ball. Jellicle Cats are white and black, Jellicle Cats are of moderate size; Jellicles jump like a jumping-jack, Jellicle Cats have moonlit eyes. They're quiet enough in the morning hours, They're quiet enough in the afternoon, Reserving their terpsichorean powers To dance by the light of the Jellicle Moon.

[samex]

I have just read this series of comments and a smile did I have!! Happy birthday Cats! I may be a little late but as my brother says with my birthdays - milk it! I hope that you did somehting nutty and wonderful. When on treatment, my best friend was my jack russel x something - aka Spud the Wonder Dog. She listened to my complaints and tears without judgement and was always there to snore with me on the lounge at nanna nap time. Ahh SAilor, methinks you are too harsh on yourself in quoting Prufrock - never a fool. I would love to go to a jellicle ball. Enjoy the lead up to Chrissy one and all, Samex

[Mrs_Elton]

Hey Cats, Not sure where you are, but here in WA, it is still your birthday, so I hope that you are still celebrating!!! So glad to hear that you have enjoyed your day! Happy Birthday! Best wishes, Jill.