It’s been a while.
I’ve been taking time off from the blog for as I try to deal with an assortment of health issues that have been hitting me especially hard in recent weeks. This year has been a tough one for me, health-wise, as I’ve continued to deal with seemingly unending chronic migraines as well as worsening sleep problems that have seriously derailed my life and my work.
Progress in dealing with these issues — and several others I’d rather not go into right now — has been frustratingly slow, in part because my particular problems have proven rather resistant to treatment and in part because, well, let’s just say our healthcare system here in the US isn’t what you’d call perfect.
But things have been getting a little better in recent days and I’m hoping I can get back to regular posting shortly.
Thanks for your patience. I very much appreciate your support.
— David
@mildlymagnificent
My sister is in San Juan so I for one am not taking it well. My family just spent about 500 to get her and her family out of there but the first available flight is in Mid October. Not the first time Trump has tried to indirectly kill a family member of mine but it’s not even been a year yet.
Dormousing: it took one of my cats a month and a half to get used to our temporary place we lived in this summer, the poor girl. Then we moved again a week later. The second move was much easier on her, because at least all the furniture was our normal furniture, even if the apartment was weird.
Their cat cages are where both our cats find comfort. Just leave it in a dark and cluttered place.
All the best wishes to you, David!
I hope you get better soon.
@WWTH, IgnoreSandra, A. Noyd, PoM, Numerobis
Thanks for all your advice.
In retrospect, I wish I had put her in the bathroom. I have two of them, and could do without the use of one for awhile.
She does have her carrier in the room she’s in now.
Oddly enough, the best look at her I’ve been able to get, is when she’s using her litterbox. I sometimes use the room she’s in as a home office, and I spent last Thursday working in there, for a good 8 hours.
I heard her scraping around in her litterbox, turned around in my chair, and there she was. She gave me such a reproachful look, as if to say, “What are you, some kind of pervert who gets off on watching kittens doing their business?”
She’s got a veterinary appointment next week. I hope it goes OK.
Oh, and Victorious Parasol, thank you too.
https://discord.gg/Z3nurD
For anyone interested in the Discord server; this links to it. You can use discird as a standalone app on phones, tablets and PC, or the app using their website.
Yesterday I had my second appointment with the lgbt therapist. Being able to talk to someone about my issues in to someone in person is so cathartic.
Take your time and get well. Stupidity and bigotry will be here when you get back. Unfortunately.
Dormousing: I’m going to bet she’s stalking you. It is instinct after all, for kittens to try to see but not be seen by dormice.
Yay, Oogly! I’m glad you’re getting the support you need. 🙂
I hope you can get some rest soon, David. Best wishes for your recovery. (((Mental hugs)))
Way back on January 18, 2017, even before Donald J. Trump was inaugurated president, WHTM had this headline:
#ResistTrump today by calling your senators about ethics-challenged ACA foe Tom Price
Accompanying this headline was an altered photo of Tom Price. (Sorry that I can’t post this photo — the WHTM monster won’t even let me post the link.)
This photo was artsy, not scary, unlike David Futrelle’s latest fancy-schmancy magic illustrations.
I suggest that we now have a data point about David’s stunning power over the Trump administration.
Artsy photo: 9 months before the subject “quits”
Scary photo: a lot less time before this occurs
Just sayin’.
Also, way to go, David! Your special powers are kickass.
In addition, it’s nice to hear from you. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
The current cat talk reminded me of James Nicoll’s now deceased cat Nameless, who was basically an indoor feral cat.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=james+nicoll+nameless+site:james-nicoll.livejournal.com&ei=CHXQWeuiOqGN0gKexrPYDA&start=0&sa=N&biw=1920&bih=888
Miranda’s theology seems sound
Lin-Manuel Miranda to Donald Trump: ‘You’re Going Straight to Hell’
“[San Juan mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz] has been working 24/7. You have been GOLFING,” ‘Hamilton’ star tweets
http://img.wennermedia.com/article-leads-horizontal-800/gettyimages-847616492-5f0151dc-dc05-4ac4-9bd9-d6679d7c8d77.jpg
Lin-Manuel Miranda slammed Donald Trump in a series of tweets Saturday morning after the president attacked the mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Santiago Felipe/Getty Images Entertainment
http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/lin-manuel-miranda-to-trump-youre-going-straight-to-hell-w506403
Be safe. David, and take it easy if you have to. Stress can do a number on ya.
Regarding the debacle in Puerto Rico, I have no words to encapsulate my feeling about the orange maggot that don’t violate terms of use on this site. The most repeatable phrase consists of wordless screams of rage. I’m holding every goddamn member of Congress that enables his behavior accountable. I’m praying that enough other people in the right areas see it too by 2018 if Mueller hasn’t dropped the hammer by then.
@Alan Robertshaw
I follow Tinykittens religiously. Grandpaw Mason is best adoptive grandpa cat. His condition has also stabilized, which I think is strong proof how much having affectionate company and a purpose will have a positive impact on health. He’s beyond adorable with his kittens.
I’ve learned a crazy amount on how feral cats and cats period socialize from TK, and not all of it adheres to ‘conventional wisdom’ on how cats are supposed to act.
So. Vox Day has a shitty artist for his shitty comic now.
I went to the cat cafe that doubles as a cat rescue near where I live today. Two of a trio of kitten siblings that had recently arrived (from their foster home, I think?) ended up having seizures while I was there. Even though I’m just a customer, I do a bit of cat handling for the cafe*, so I helped restrain the first kitten. The staff whisked her off to the vet after she stopped convulsing. Half an hour later, one of the remaining two had a seizure as well. The third was still acting healthy by the time I left, though. Poor things. I hope they’re all okay.
…………
*The cafe has several younger adult cats who flee or swat when anyone tries to touch them, even if they like being petted. (Foolish, contradictory fur-babies…) I work on getting them accustomed to touch so they’re more likely to find homes.
I hope things get better for you soon David.
@Oogly
I’m very glad for you!
@Bananananana
I quite like Kitten Academy
@David
I hope you feel better soon!
@dormousing_it
Keep in mind that eye contact between cats who don’t know one another is usually a sign of aggression, and if she’s not human socialized yet, she probably doesn’t realize that interaction with humans are different. So when she looks up and sees you watching her eat – she probably thinks she’s offended you and should get out of there before you chase her off yourself.
Like others have said, a lot of it is just time. One of the adult cats I adopted (now deceased for many years, RIP Isaboo) took over a month to stop hiding under the furniture, and she was entirely socialized – she’d been surrendered by an elderly woman going into a nursing home, and probably wasn’t used to the noise and bustle of our five-person family.
She’ll be fine. I’ve never seen anything to back up the myth of the unsocializable feral cat. Cats are domestic, the limited taming period is really more about wild animals kept as exotic pets, like parrot-family birds. (Fun fact: pigeons are domesticated about as long as cats historically, and feral/stray pigeons like the kind you see in cities can be adopted and socialized into pets! Although I’m not recommending anybody just go out there and do that without researching pigeon care first). Some prior strays will always be shy, but that’s just their personality.
We just had a decent storm go by. Iqaluit took just barely tropical storm force winds; communities across hudson strait took just barely hurricane force winds. (Obviously, this wasn’t a tropical storm, but “extra-tropical” doesn’t mean “weak”.)
Our building was shaking and it was hard to sleep through the noise. The city shut down: city services stopped and emergency services weren’t guaranteed anymore, taxis stopped, stores closed, bars closed, and concerts were cancelled.
I can’t imagine a major hurricane going by.
@ Oogly, Jesalin:
Good news, both of you, glad things are working.
My granddaughter entered high school (U.S.) this year, and chose to go to a school that focuses on music, rather than the science/math school she had talked about. I’m glad either way, tho I would’a rather she go into STEM, what with the dearth of music jobs, and all….
I asked her why she changed her mind, and she said (loosely quoting), “with ‘private school Barbie’ running the Education Dep’t, by the time I get to college, there might not be any safe places for women to study STEM.”
How prescient this is remains to be seen. What I’d like, tho, is some feedback on the metaphor she used for the Sick-retary of Edicashun…. as well as “propaganda Barbie” for Kellyann Conway, “caribou Barbie” for Palin, etc.
They’re demeaning, of course, but their targets are deserving of that at least.
@ Oogly
Glad it’s going well.
“Hamilton” Lin-Manuel Miranda off-loads on trump for… well, for being trump again vis-a-vis Puerto Rico situation…
trump twitter-tantrum at 11:00….
geez…
ninja’d by Kat 10 hours ago… god I’m slow, I read the whole thread and STILL missed it 🙁