It’s the first Friday of the month, and that means I’m linking up with Coco and Deborah for their Ultimate Coffee Date! I’m still drinking my Earl Grey (of course) but now it’s Christmas mugs and gingerbread oatmeal season- bring it on!
If we were having coffee together, I would tell you that our Christmas tree is still standing. Barely. Just about the only thing Foxy HASN’T done is knock it over. He’s batted ornaments off, strewn strands of lights across the floor, and the tree skirt is in a constant state of disarray.
But you know what? The tree doesn’t have to look perfect. He won’t always be a kitten- next year will be easier. Muffin was very rambunctious when she was a kitten, and now she leaves the tree alone.
Then there’s Charlotte. If we were having coffee together, I would tell you we’re still worried about her. She’s been taking her thyroid meds for over two weeks now. but she doesn’t seem any better. She definitely hasn’t gained weight. How long is it supposed to take? Well, she goes back to the vet for more bloodwork in two weeks, so we’ll see what they say.
In non-cat news, with all the festivities last week I forgot to mention that we had a football playoff game on Black Friday! A lot of people were out of town, so the band was smaller and they did their halftime show on the track.
We won! Tonight is the semi-final game of the playoffs. Unfortunately it’s an away game, too far for the band to go. But if we win this one, next week is the State Championship, and the band will go (as they did last year). We’ll be eagerly awaiting the results of tonight’s game!
But there’s even more excitement. My son comes home again on Sunday, just in time for his birthday on Monday! Technically he would have one more week of school, but because of the way his program works he doesn’t have any finals. This will be the first time he’s spent his birthday at home in four years.
AND THEN… Tuesday I have a blogger meetup!!! Oooh, I wonder who it could be? Here’s a hint: she’ll be getting off a cruise ship in Ft. Lauderdale. Details coming next week!
What would you tell me over coffee? If you have pets, how is your holiday decor holding up?
42 Responses
If we were having coffee/Earl Grey tea together, Jenny, it means that we are seeing each other in person just like the blogger meetup that you’re going to have on Tuesday. And I doubt that you and I will see each other in person anytime soon. But I would like you to know that I’m living in Calgary, Canada right now. Now, the first thing that I’ll tell you would definitely be the similarities and the differences between how you and I run. The 2 main differences that I find are: A). I run indoors more often than I run outdoors, and B). When I run indoors, I’m almost always running up and down the stairs. Once again, since we’re not actually meeting in person, we can discuss the similarities between how you and I run in the future.
And I don’t have any pets as of now.
I’ll also respond to the other things that you’ve told me. If the vets don’t have ways to treat your cat as of now, I’d hope that they at least have some methods to stabilize her conditions in the time period in between Dec 24 and Jan 1 – or else you as the vets will need to keep going to work on Dec 25 and Jan 1. I assume, Jenny, that when there’s a football playoff game, you’ll always make time for that game if no other things are occupying your time when the game is going on. My understanding of your son’s schedule is that he’ll come home on Sunday, then leave the next week, then come home again around Dec 20. You can tell me if that is the plan.
Alright, I’m looking forward to hearing about the similarities in our running at some point. We definitely don’t have similarities in our weather!
Yes, let’s hope Charlotte’s condition can at least be stabilized through the holidays.
It’s kind of complicated, but my son will be home on Sunday, and stay home until December 29th, at which point he’ll go to visit his girlfriend. Then he goes back to school early in January.
Um, interesting comment above ….
I think it’s unfair to expect Foxy — or any other cat – to leave a Christmas tree alone — I mean, it looks like a giant cat toy and even hung with pretty things to bat at! My kids don’t even try to put up trees with their cats. OTOH, Scooby doesn’t bother our tree.
Yay for having your son home early!
Yes, it’s true- the tree is like a big cat toy. That’s why we can’t get too mad at him.
Lots of good stuff here! I can make an educated guess about the blogger coming in on the cruise ship, and I can’t wait to hear about the meetup! And Paul is home!!!
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Ms Charlotte.
Thanks Birchie. And I think your guess about the blogger is probably correct.
How exciting that your son is coming home early and will get to spend his birthday with you! I miss having a month off for the winter break like in college, though I consider myself lucky that I get two weeks off and don’t have to use any of my PTO. But I still have 11 work days to go until break!
I guess dogs are less likely than cats to mess with Christmas decorations, but my dog doesn’t even go near the trees at my parents’ house! We always try to get some cute photos of her by the smaller tree in their family room and she refuses to sit near it.
Yes, that’s a big difference between cats and dogs! When he’s not playing with the tree, Foxy loves to curl up underneath it.
I’m definitely envious of people who work at schools- my husband also has two weeks off for Christmas.
FWIW, I blocked that first blogger when he commented on my blog a couple times. Spam.
Oh I hope Charlotte is ok and they can figure out her meds. Enjoy every minute with your son. So nice! Hope the football game was a WIN!
Still waiting to hear the results of the game! And- I have some intel that the first commenter is indeed a person commenting with sincere intentions. Not sure if that’s correct, but I’m going with that.
Many years ago I had cats that would love to eat the tinsel from the tree. In retrospect I should not have used tinsel but I was very young. I remember once my little cat strolling by with 3 or 4 inches of tinsel coming from her butt. She survived lol. This past week we had our 18 month & 3 1/2 year old grandsons here. The baby was very interested in the tree so we closed the doors to the living room. Later I was making dinner to the sounds of them playing. It suddenly got very quiet – sure enough the 3 years old had opened the LR doors and they were “enjoying” the decorations. Funny how they know to be very quiet at these times and my subconscious still kicks in.
Ha ha… cats and toddlers. So far we’re okay with the tinsel- I wouldn’t put on the kind that’s long individual strings- I think both cats would try to eat that. But I will keep an eye on it!
Having the kids home for winter break is the best! Enjoy all of your family time! I would guess Darlene but hmm maybe someone else this time?
Not Darlene!!!
I hope they can figure out what’s going on with Charlotte.
I’m bracing myself for how our puppy will react to the tree – at least yours is still standing 😉
Enjoy having your son home!!
You’ll have to let us know- but most people are saying dogs are not as hard on the Christmas trees as cats are.
Ah, Deborah may have hit the nail on the head! Is it Darlene???
Nope!
Foxy. He’s 100% innocent. I will defend him in court pro bono. Muffin will be his witness!
Ha ha, I’ll tell him you said so!
I KNOW WHO IT IS AND I’VE ACTUALLY MET HER AND I AM SO JEALOUS!
Moving on.
I’m so sorry Charlotte isn’t improving. Did the vets suggest a timeline and what to expect in terms of positive response to the medication?
We are beyond the stage of worrying about kids and the tree. Phew. Though my son has taken to doing handstands in the living room and that can be a bit dicey sometimes!
Yes, you know who it is, and that should narrow it down for anyone paying close attention!
All we know from the vet is that we’re going back in a couple weeks for more bloodwork. I would imagine there should be a change by then? Sigh.
Handstands in the living room do sound… risky. But your living room is pretty big, so hopefully the tree is safe.
Poor Charlotte. Hopefully it’s just a matter of the meds taking a little time to get going.
If we were having coffee, I’d tell you about my crazy giant rooster who has decided the cold makes him spicy. He actually kicked at me and managed to draw a little blood! Thankfully he’s not in full-blown rooster attack mode, and didn’t even kick the way they “fight” so I think it was more “I am not happy right now momma” than anything truly aggressive. Hopefully. He’s in rooster teenage hormonal stage, so … wish me luck, LOL!
I’d also tell you that I’ve ratted around in the closet and dug out my bag of teeny tiny glass balls, to start sprinkling a little cozy Christmas cheer with vintage vibes.
AND that after making 3 loaves of bread yesterday, my house smelled so lovely and yeasty and yummy. The benefit of cooler (cold) weather is that I can run my oven without dying, and bread making gives such joy.
The bread sounds amazing- an angry, cold, kicking rooster does not! I never thought of roosters having hormones, but I guess they do. Good luck with him.
Yay for the still-standing tree! And Happy Birthday to your son…it’s great you can celebrate with him in person! I hope you get some good news for Charlotte.
Thank you Kim! Fingers crossed on Charlotte, and the tree.
Aww kittehs!!!!!!!!!
My kitty Athena used to LOVE sleeping under the Christmas tree.
What would I tell you over coffee?..
That I am stretched thin, and I need rest, and time – for hobbies, for reading, for cleaning, for napping. I also need adventure. But ultimately I may need HRT to help with perimenopause symptoms.
Oh, perimenopause, ugh. I’ve heard lots of good things about HRT. And- you probably have a nice vacation coming up, if you can just make it through the next couple weeks! Good luck.
I used to put up a big tree and my cats would cause havoc.
Since the kids are grown, just a small one or none at all.
That’s great that your son is coming home for his birthday.
There will be another blogger meetup in Feb. Hint Hint.
I’m sure Cari will be down your way visiting her mom.
I like how lots of people guessed you were the one getting off a cruise ship next week! Nope! Are you coming down in February for sure? We have to talk!
It’s so funny to me how cats always take a liking to the Christmas tree… but like you said, they’ll lose interest with time. I remember when my sister’s kitten was always IN THE TREE… LOL
Well, Foxy hasn’t tried to climb the tree… yet. That could be the next thing!
Annabel is acting like a cat around our trees– she keeps taking the skirtoff and playing in the water, and she bats the low-hanging ornaments–it’s pretty funny.
Gingerbread oatmeal?? I gotta try it.
Foxy gets a pass for being so cute, Muffin gets a star for being so good, and I hope Charlotte feels better soon.
No clue as to your blogger meetup… but I hope you have a lovely time, Jenny!!
Well, I know who that blogger is! I only know one person who is on a cruise ship from Europe and landing in Florida! Have fun with Kyria!
YAY! A blogger meetup! Hope you two have so much fun together. Cannot wait to read your recaps. 🙂
My cat thinks that the Christmas tree skirt is his special new lounging location. Disarray is a great word for the tree skirt, and our house overall.
Yay for your son coming home!!!!!
I got an earl grey tea at lunch on Thursday and thought of you! They tempered the cup so it was warm and it was so so cozy! I was so happy to have a warm beverage on a super cold day.
Yay for Paul being home!! Does this week mean he is home through Christmas?? If so that is extra amazing! But it will be so great to be with him on his birthday!!
So jealous of your blogger meetup! How fun!
I will have to check in on the results of the game! It’s so weird for marching season to be over for us. Probably for good. Sigh.
I love your kitties. I had to snag a photo of the cats in my mom’s tree for a post for my pet sitting social media. They crack me up.
I’m so sorry to hear about Charlotte and hope you get some positive answers at your vet appointment tomorrow.
Pablo loves to sniff the presents under the tree, but doesn’t bother the tree itself.
I’m curious to see who your blogger meetup will be with… I think Darlene is headed to Florida soon, but I don’t know if she’ll be on a cruise ship (I don’t think she usually cruises). I’m curious!
Oh goodness, I hope Charlotte is going to be OK. Even if she isn’t gaining any weight yet, is she eating any better? Sometimes the body metabolism shifts (especially with thyroid issues) and it can be more difficult at first.
I’m glad your tree is still standing! All of those dangling ornaments must look like toys to young cats, right? I saw your reply to my concern about tinsel, and you are right, I was thinking about the icicle kind that we had when I was a kid. 🙂
Oh, enjoy your blogger meetup! Is it Kyria, making her way home for the holidays? I’m going to see her in January when she’s in California!
So much FOMO on the blogger meetup, but I just couldn’t swing the travel this time of year. Wah!
I am grateful my cats leave the tree alone. They bat at some of the lower ornaments, but I just make sure those are the unbreakable ornaments. Did you know that there are special hooks now for those naughty little cats? https://www.amazon.com/ORNAMENT-ANCHOR-Christmas-Ornament-Ornaments/dp/B08D32R85W?th=1
Poor Charlotte. I hope it’s just taking a bit of time for the medication to work.
hahah, I’m glad Foxy hasn’t knocked over the tree yet! I’m not sure how different it is in cats, but for people, it takes ~6-8 weeks on the thyroid medications for the levels to typically normalize. I hope Charlotte will be okay! <3
I hope you had fun at the blogger meetup too!