Extra Second...

What will you do with your extra second this year?? Yep, a whole extra second. To get the atomic clocks in synch with the earth's rotation there is a second being added to 2008. According to the news for those of us in the central time zone that extra second will occur at 5:59:59p. Make the most of your second cause you'll never get it back!!

Small steps...

Slow start this morning...being somewhat lazy but I did manage to get the following pages framed and hung....

What a difference a year makes....

Just for grins I decided to check the number of posts for 2007 versus 2008. I found in 2007 I posted 154 times, the number rose significantly in 2008 to 427 (prior to this post). Not sure if I had more to say or was just more diligent! 427! That's at least a post a day and obviously sometimes more than one. Now I know I did not post daily so there must have been some days when I thought I really had something to say! To those of you who read this discourse (big word learned in high school--wow guess the public school system and the ghetto school did teach me something); thank you.

One Little Word....

My word for 2008 was balance and it really took on a different meaning after the events of April and May and the MS diagnosis. It's something I'm still striving for and something I kept in mind when choosing a word for 2009. I made a decision weeks ago but am just now getting around to blogging about it.

I believe my 2009 word compliments and corresponds well with my 2008 word. The word I have chosen for 2009 is structure. I feel I could use more structure in my life in various ways and will strive for that in the new year. I believe it also fits well with the goals I strive to achieve in '09.

So there you have it!

'08 Goal Review

Below are the goals I outlined for 2008 and here on the cusp of 2009 I thought it was a good time to go over them...see if any were met or need revision.....

Goal: go through boxes in dining room and disburse items to permanent place or purge them. (Done!)
....this one I actually did accomplish

Goal: continue to go through items in apartment to find them a permanent home or purge them
...this is ongoing.....

Goal: go through items in storage unit and find them a permanent home among my things or purge them.
...okay, not even touched...the MS thing kinda threw a wrench in this plan....something renewed for '09

Goal: go through my closets and purge clothing I do not or cannot wear (send items in good condition to charity---Tim, you may be getting a call for a pick up!)
....I desparately need to do this....I had hoped to get to this during break but obviously that did not happen....spring break maybe???

Goal: go through and sort scrap supplies so I know what I have so I can use them. Purge any that I feel are no longer my style or that I will not use (any suggestions are greatly appreciated on what to do with them because I know I have stuff in good, useable condition).
....something I've just recently started....well, I have at least started working toward organizing my scraproom...this will certainly be an ongoing item...

Goal: Cook more meals and eat at home. Also, eat healthier.
...probably could have done better with this and definitely a renewed goal for '09...I've already signed up for a couple of the classes at Williams-Sonoma to help with this....

Goal: Either go to the gym and workout or at the very least walk on a regular basis.
...another goal the MS thing kinda screwed up...but that should be an excuse to actually do this so yes...another renewed goal for '09...

Goal: save some money instead of spending every nickel I get!
....hahahahahahahahahahahahaha.......most definitely a goal to be renewed for '09!...I believe it's time to add the word budget to my vocabulary......

Life goes on...

Willy is gone but life certainly goes on. Perhaps I should be more distraught. Maybe it hasn't fully hit me. It will be tomorrow before I can take him for burial.

For now, I've been to the store and am starting to pick up around here. There's laundry to be done and heaven knows I need to vaccuum (something I've not done the past few days as I did not want to disturb or upset Willy too badly--Sissy is on her own).

Call me cold-hearted but I think of things like not having litter slung everywhere (Sissy seems to be more diligent and neat in that department). I can have rugs on the floor without having to wash them daily because Willy decided he liked that better than his litter box. No more 1a to 3a wakeups for feeding because he wants fresh food. Cheaper catfood bills because Sissy does not eat can food. No more papers or magazines shredded because it's fun.

But also, no more fighting at the front door because Willy is trying to sneak out. No more kitty curled up sleeping on the back of the couch. No more kitty snuggling (Sissy does not like being held and I don't feel like being clawed to death).

RIP

1999-2008

I was awake off and on during the night and would always check Willy and stroke his fur doing what I could to settle him. Around 5am this morning I held him for a while and even in his weak state he would try to nuzzle my neck. After a bit I could tell he was growing more tired so I returned him to the box on the floor and I went back to sleep as well. When I woke around 8:30a there was no stirring....I couldn't see any movement....I placed my hand on him and he was cold.....Willy left us sometime this morning. I just hope he knows how much he was loved.

Hanging in....

I have to admit that I'm a bit surprised that Willy is still hanging in there. He is very weak and will not eat or drink. He will lay in one position for quite a while then somehow muster up the strength to move ever so slighly. It's obvious the slightest little effort tires him out.

When I returned home yesterday he had somehow managed to make it from under the bed on one side of the room to under a chair on the other. Quite a feat given his condition. After some time he dragged himself from under the chair into the open.

I scooped him up and sat out on the patio for a bit holding him. He would lift his head every once in a while but it was obvious it was quite an effort for him. After a bit I lay him on the couch--I sat on the floor. I finally decided to go to the bed. I held him for a bit then I put him beside me on a pallet.

An hour or so later I awoke to find he had moved toward the foot of the bed. I moved him back beside me. A bit later I heard a thud and awoke to find him on the floor beside the bed. I gingerly put him back in the box beside my bed which is where he is resting at the moment.

Even in his weakness he is struggling to be independent and yet he allows me to hold him--even snuggling up to me.

In Hiding...

Despite being nearly 1am before heading to bed it was well after 2am before I fell asleep--so much for getting up fairly early. I finally rolled out around 9ish and could have stayed longer if I'd let myself.

Willy is even more lathargic and won't even drink now. I dressed and went to the chiropractor and he was missing when I got home....because he is curled up under my bed sleeping. He is still breathing so I've decided to leave him be for now. He obviously doesn't want to be disturbed. I may try to get him out after I get back from running errands. Who knows, he may surprise me and come out on his own. So far every time he's left the box beside my bed he has returned.

Is it really nearly 1a.m.???

Amazing how when you get engrossed in something you lose track of time. I've been creating and had no idea how late it has become. Although I don't have to worry about getting up for work I do need to get some sleep so I'm not sleeping all day. And now is not the time to get into the bad habit of staying up late and sleeping in. But I've really been enjoying being able to sit down and create.

From the WTF? file...

Saw this tonight in Walmart on the clearance aisle....



....wasn't Easter like---MARCH???

Where the hell have they been hiding this and why did they decide to drag it out during the after Christmas clearance??? At this point why not just hold it till Easter. That can only mean another month or two before they start stocking Easter stuff (since Valentine is going up now...)

....s-l-o-w-l-y...

Small progress but progress....Willy just ate a little baby food. The vet had suggested it among other things. I tried the various kidney diet food he sent home with me....actual turkey....tuna...nothing, only water. After a trip to Walmart and a jar of turkey baby food I found something he will at least try. He only ate a few bites but it was with gusto. I think he was just too tired and weak to eat anymore. I've been giving him water about every hour all day so I'm doing what I can to keep him hydrated. And now he is eating.

I still find him in the litter box every once in a while but I leave him...and eventually he makes his way back to the cardboard box in my bedroom. In fact, when I left for Walmart he was in the litter box....when I returned he was curled up back in my bedroom. Maybe now that I found something he'll actually eat he'll get some energy back and get back to annoying me! Keep your fingers crossed....

Willy Update...

If you're following the saga of Willy you'll be sad to hear that he is not doing well at all. He saw another vet on Friday who had a prognosis that was a little better. Despite the glimmer of hope Willy doesn't seem to be buying it. I haven't gotten him to eat anything since Friday night though he will at least still drink.

He disappeared Friday night and was MIA most of Saturday but decided he liked the litter box as a bed. I managed to get him settled in a box with a towel that is currently beside my bed. All he does is sleep (which is okay) and sadly appears to be growing weaker almost by the minute. At the moment I'm doing what I can to keep him comfortable.

On another note, I had a fabulous time hanging and scrapping with Joey last night. I showed up empty handed but no worries as she had plenty of supplies to keep me entertained! I proceeded to see what I could produce from one CTMH paper pack. I made several New Year's card fronts, a few pages and 20 pages for a 6x6 album that I decided will be a reflection of Willy. Now to print pictures and do journaling.

Wow....two days in a row!

Yep...I've scrapped two days in a row! I knew when I saw this paper today it was perfect for this particular picture.

Scrappy Christmas...

The bird is almost done and I've decided to sit down to scrap a bit. Working on old pictures and whatever else appeals to me. These are from my Christmas trip to Ohio back in 2003.

Sneaky Little Critter....

Willy really wanted to go outside so I let him out on the patio yesterday afternoon....and I could hear his crying (meowing).....then it stopped. I figured he had finally settled down. I looked on the patio but no Willy. I shut the door and looked for him inside. I called his name. No Willy. I decided to check my mail and as I walked down the sidewalk there sits Willy in the grass looking at me.

Two options...he jumped off the balcony or he ran out earlier when I shut the door after UPS left. Thinking about it, it was after the UPS delivery that I last heard him on the patio. The little stink had to have jumped!

Currently he is walking from door to door crying. I told him I didn't think I could trust him unsupervised on the patio but I let him out. I watched him. Next thing I know he is slipping his body under the rail getting ready to jump! I grab him and pull him back, pitch him inside and shut the door. He has now lost his patio priviledges.

Can't believe it's taken two and a half years for him to decide to jump.

Winter Wonderland....

Five Years Ago...

Lazy Day...

Thus far it's been a lazy day. I've not really done much of anything to speak of other than trying to keep a dying cat calm and comfortable--he just wants to walk around and cry-LOUD. I did think of getting out this morning but the weather is rather nasty and in reality there is nothing I'm looking for or need.

I may possibly do something later if the package I'm expecting by UPS arrives at a decent time. I've even thought of going to candlelight services at one of the area churches. It's been years since I've been to candlelight and never in this town. And I do know the minister of one of the local churches.

I've also thought of all the things I could do tonight to make it a cozy Christmas eve. Things like sipping wine or hot chocolate....baking cookies...watching some of my favorite shows (like Gilmore Girls or House since I have a few seasons of each on DVD)...then there's always watching A Christmas Story on TBS--for 24 hours!.....listening to Christmas music (which I've not really done this year) and reading (heaven knows I have plenty to read)....scrapping favorite things or just catching up on all the things I want to scrap.....so many things I can do....

It just doesn't feel like Christmas....

Not sure why but it doesn't feel all that much like Christmas to me...at least not this year. I don't think it's the weather. Heaven knows we've had plenty of Christmases that involved running the air conditioner and wearing shorts. Maybe it's because I never did get that tree up...or any other decorations--although there are several cards from various friends displayed throughout my living room.

Maybe it's because I've not done any real Christmas shopping...I have no last minute things to get done...Willy being ill...no real holiday trips this year (the tree at the state capitol was rather disappointing to me)...

...and heaven help me, I am contemplating going out tomorrow to see if there are any bargains to be had.....or maybe I just feel the need to get caught up in the frenzy? I should really just stay home and do things around here....there's plenty and I'll still have nearly a week to get out and play before I have to return to work....