Almost 426 cat testicles...give or take.

On Sunday I was part of a very long, very special day.

It was neuter-a-thon day again!

My day started very very early, and for the first part of the day, I was the person responsible for taking the kitties off the operating tables, and taking them to their recovery rooms. This meant that I was one of the few people wwho actually had a hands on role where I touched every single one of the 213 cats that came through the clinic on Sunday. It also meant that I got to hold them and hug them, and they didn't fight to get away, like my cat does. I can thusly conclude that sedated cats are the best cats.

The next part of the day was spent checking out kitties and giving them back to their owners. That was also sort of rewarding- after explaining to them what they needed to do post surgery while they listened carefully (I just love an audience), several told me that they would not have been able to afford the vaccinations or neutering without the low cost clinic on account of layoffs, the economy, and all that jazz that we hear so much these days. That made me feel so good!

Here's an especially special fact: According to the man from the National ASPCA Office, we shattered the previous record for Southern Neuter A Thons- it was 153 in one day. We had 213! Hooray!

Did you know that a single male cat can father THOUSANDS of offspring? Well, did you? I didn't, but that's what makes this type of work so very very important- that's thousands of cats who won't be contributing to the head count of a feral cat colony, or won't wind up in shelters. Such a wonderful program. I really can't say enough about it.

I also can't tell you how sore I was yesterday. My wrists and shoulders ached, my legs feel like I climbed a mountain, and wow is my back stiff. But I would absolutely do it again in a heartbeat!

Oof.

Well, here it is almost a week since I posted. And lord knows I have not been good about showing what I am up to.

But I have an excuse.

My power supply fan is about to shit the bed completely. You should hear this thing wheezing, groaning, and huffing and puffing along while I am on the computer. It's dreadful and there are times where I think that the computer may just completely lift off- not kidding. So yes, I know that it is a terrible reason, but I have been delaying the inevitable by simply not even turning it on. This is just to buy me some time till my Personal Computer Geek (BF luckily) orders me a new fan, tells me how to install it, and so on. Oddly enough, a by product of this unfortunate computer situation is that suddenly my free time to actually make things seems to have tripled.

A sad by-product of this is that I forget to tell you awesome things as they happen. Like the other day, i think it was yesterday but it could have been the day before, Maya wagged her tail at me for the first time inside the house. There were no other dogs around, and we weren't playing, but I asked her if she wanted to go potty and she smiled and wagged her tail at me a few times. It was cute- I have had her almost a year and now she is finally starting to come around enough emotionally to communicate with me. Oh and in case you were wondering, Operation Anxiety is going very very well. We haven't had a bad crate report in weeks, I think. She still randomly does naughty things, but overall she is a much happier dog, and I am a much happier person. Thank you, Modern Medicine. And thank all of you for all the comments and advice and support.

So anyway, i am still here, all is well, the Use Me Up Challenge is going fantastically, and I am making things. I have lots of posts that I hope to work on in draft over the next week or so, and I hope to post them here and there so that this place isn't so...quiet. It's just not in my nature.

Oh and the final count for the neuter-a-thon: 165 cats! One hundred sixty three boys, one girl, and one boy-girl. All sterilized in roughly 5 hours by two vets, with no known complications at this time- everyone woke up, no one has come back for infections or problems with their incisions, etc. So I guess you could call it an overwhelming success. I can't wait till the next one.

That's really all the news that's fit to print, at least until I make the Mother of All Confessions this week. I fell off the wagon, and hard.

Hundreds of Cat Testicles!

Today was spent at The Shelter doing their neuter-a-thon.

I busted my ass, and several hundred cats were neutered. The first hit the table at about 8, and by 1:15 or so, the last one came off. Hundreds and hundreds of cats.

I worked the Recovery, and that actually morphed into several chaotic jobs. I'd scoop up an unconscious kitty and whisk them off to their recovery room, where I'd lay them on top of their carriers with a microwaved rice pack to keep them warm. This went on for hours, while my partner and I switched off running cats, moving crates, and watching our own little group of recovering kitties. In each room it looked like the Heaven's Gate compound- you know, the people all lined up on bunks in their black Nikes, just waiting for the Mothership to beam them up or something. Terrible, but true.

I would check their breathing, make sure they stayed warm, pick them up and change their newspaper when they pissed on it (which many did), and rub them and flick their little noses to test for ones that were coming around. Then hurriedly shove a disoriented and usually aggravated kitty into a crate. And stack them back up again. Hours and hours this went on!

The assembly line was a model of very chaotic efficiency, and those little buggers would get lined up, drugged up, shaved up, neutered up, and shipped out to recovery in no time flat. It really was a sight to behold- tufts of fur flying everywhere, the occasional scuffle with someone who didn't want to be sedated or taken out of their carrier, people bustling around with limp cats in their arms, and then those little nutless wonders, all lined up like they drank the same Kool-Aid.

I am going to brag now. those of you that know me know that I am rather squeamish and will gag over just about anything. Well! I also had the dubious distinction of scrubbing instruments in addition to flinging around lifeless cats. Hmm. Well they weren't too terribly nasty, and I held it together when I would clean a gross instrument and drop it in the ultrasonic cleaner. Until I saw it- a Rogue Testicle. Somehow, a cat ball made it into the bin of used instruments, and then came to me. To wash. Oh. My. God. A Cat Ball. I didn't scream and cry and pick up an unconscious kitten to hide my face in like I would have liked. Nope, I just waited till no one was looking, and flicked that hemostat hard, and flung the nut into the trash. So of course I am not only proud that I was not bested by a cat testicle, but the doctors complimented me on my ability to drop off clean instruments on the table, whisk away the most recent victim, and return with clean instruments in no time flat. I was born to assist in the mass removal of testicles. I can tell; it's just a gift I have.

There were a few interesting kitties there. I was in charge of Satan Himself. That was the meanest little cat I have ever seen in my life! If other perfectly sweet but groggy kitties weren't stacked up around him, I would have kicked his carrier so hard his teeth would have rattled. He was horrible. there was also a hermaphrodite kitty! This one had one ball and part of a uterus. So if the final tally of balls removed is an odd number, that's why. And also, there were a few of the Hemingway cats, the ones that have like 7 toes per front paw. They were cute, but is sure was strange (and time consuming) to clip their claws.

Sorry I'm not funnier today. I have been flinging testicles and monitoring vitals and swinging cats around since about 7:30. I'm tired and going to take a long long nap.

Never Let It Be Said That I Was Bested By A Hat.

Hello!

I hope you're all having a wonderful week. I know I sure am! A new President, a mind-blowing premiere of LOST, and some finished projects. I'm also throwing caution to the wind and eating some Peanut Butter Cup ice cream. I like to live dangerously, and I figure that if it's my time then there is no better way to go than in the arms of my lovers, Ben & Jerry.

Moving right along.

I re-covered my mouse pad this week, but figured that what with the dawning of new eras and Destiny Calling, it couldn't really carry a post of its own. So, here you have it, my mousepad. It coordinates with my wall tile pocket thing, and has cheered up my desk a good bit. All you need to do is use just a good spray adhesive and smack the fabric right on top. Mine is one of those soft topped mouse pads, and it was filthy, had been drawn on, and was provided by the Real Yellow Pages. Glad to say I spiffed it up. I also put a bit of Fray Check on the ends of the fabric after cutting the extra away. Not a bad way to use up some scraps. I plan to a few more desk spiffying things here soon- I'm loving the green and orange. I realize that the easiest thing to do would be to just clean it up, but what fun is that?

Now, I finished this hat last night while watching Lost. I was so enthralled in the whole crazyness of it all that I felt like I could have snapped those DPNs right in half at times. You may recall a few days ago that this hat didn't look so hot. Well, I guess I showed you, Hat! You're going on my head and you can't come down to my chin! So there! And just so you know I am serious, I am sewing a big green button to the side of you. Take THAT! The pic is pretty blurry because I was trying to take it of myself in the last few seconds of daylight. I also did not put on shoes or socks for this event, and was not pleased with the lack of preparation that went into this little photo shoot. But here you have it.

And I finished this purse FINALLY. I swear, this stupid little bag was all knit up in about one movie and two episodes of Deadliest Catch. But damn if the finishing didn't take forever. This is the Christine Bag and I used Lion Ease Thick n Quick that I already had on hand. Go me, using what I got! So, I did buy the handles, but whatever. I sewed a liner, and once again used what I had on hand. Then I stitched the liner to the bag body, sewed up the sides, stitched the handles to the bag, added the ribbon, some Fray Check, and it was done. Just like that. Only the finishing took about as long as the bag itself did. I'm still very glad that I took the time to line it though.
I think it's so cute. It really makes me miss my black wool peacoat that lost last year. Damn, I miss that coat. It would be so cute with this bag. This bag is almost gag inducing, it's so cute. So not like me at all, but in the unlikely event that I want to go out, it will be nice to have this. It's also the project that made me realise that I really enjoy hand sewing. I stitched the lining to the bag and it was really relaxing (when I wasn't furiously impatient). It's got me thinking that I would like to do some stitching some time. I can't even decide where to start, so that idea will just have to go into the One Day I'll Do That file. Right next to laundry.

And lastly, here's some yarn that I photographed to stash on Ravelry. It's going to be bunny slippers. I have been trying to be more monogamous with my projects, and finish what I already have going on, but it will not be long (like about 10 seconds after I hit Publish Post) before I start these slippers. I am dying to wear them, especially since they will be made out of Malabrigo, the Crack Cocaine of the Yarn World. It's so flipping soft and wonderful.

Anyway, I hope to be back soon with more finished things, dubiously photographed. Or more Shelter News. Oh! I checked the website yesterday and Schroder has been adopted! I'm so happy. I am so glad he has a home now, and really glad that he has a home for some reason other than I couldn't bear it anymore and adopted him. But lo and behold, there are two new little hounds, just dying to come home with me. Geez.

This Just In: Unwashed Masses Actually Wash

Footage at eleven.

Well, today I went to the Congressional Advocate Training. I gotta say, it made me feel good. There was a diverse group- retirees, college kids, a young married couple with their well behaved children, and anyone and everyone else you can think of. It was just what I hoped; people from every background and demographic wanting change badly enough to go and work for it.

I realize that we may never get to meet with our Representative. I doubt he will vote yes on the Recovery Package, and I may never get to tell him what sort of Royal Douche I think he is. But that's okay. Just trying is exciting!

So, we talked about his record, the Very Narrow Victory he eeked out over his opponent, and how he most likely is running scared from the new shape his constituency is taking. Good Ole Boys are going by way of the polar bear here, and I think that's great. He is a Good Ole Boy, so sooner rather than later, this Rep is going to have to face the people he serves. We talked about how we can appeal to him, and relate it to all politicians' favorite flavor: What will ensure support in an election year. And we talked about personal stories, and what led us there in the first place.
That was hard.

The meeting was held at the pool in his neighborhood. His neighborhood was very cute, and new, and affluent, and color coordinated. But it wasn't a Vinyl Village. It looked like a place where you could let your kids play in the street and if you forgot to lock your door before going to the grocery store your TV would still be there when you got home. It seemed like at the pool there was at least one Ice Cream Social per year, because the neighbors wanted to know eachother.

So.

Our leader is a young personal injury attorney who opened his own practice last year. This year, he's losing his home and renting from the next door neighbors. He's just basically running out the clock and using the time to pack up before they come take the house away. He just wanted his own practice.

I can't imagine.

So yeah, I feel good about deciding to do all this. I hope some good comes from it. The goal is to have this package pushed through quickly enough that it's on Obama's desk soon after he takes office. I don't know how realistic it is. But, even if we miss the mark on that, it's still important to get everyone together and working toward fixing things.

There was only one person I wanted to choke. I only wanted to choke her for a minute, so if you know me and how well I tend to deal with strangers, then that's really a fantastic outcome.

And there was peppermint bark. I just love that stuff.

and while I'm here, let's talk about my morning at the shelter yesterday!

It was splendid. I loved it, even though my knees are still angry with me. I didn't have to clean anything really. I walked dogs ALL MORNING LONG. I took Schroeder first, of course. He's so sweet. After that he was outside in his morning Play Group (I squealed when I saw they pay that much attention to socializing), he'd smile and wag his tail and run up to the fence. Later on I sat in his enclosure with him and petted him for a while, and chatted with him. When I left my hands were covered in the dirt from the yards, just like Maya was. I thought of that right away and my heart aches for him. I wish I could take him home with me.

I also participated in doggie therapy and helped work with Travis, a very sweet dog who has barrier agression. He's got a scar on his neck from an imbedded collar. He's spent his whole life wanting stuff that's out of his reach, and has a chip on his little doggie shoulder because of it. He'll be a good dog someday. It makes me so sad that someone was able to hurt an animal like that, and make it so that he's such a mess. I also took Thurston for a walk. He's got some issues, but he let me walk him and scratch behind his ears. Everyone marvelled at that, and I really felt good. I seem to have the opposite effect on animals that I have on children. That's fine because the reverse is true, and I like animals a hell of a lot better than children anyway. So there! Oh, and you better believe that with there being about 30 puppies there right now, when no one was looking I would grap a handful of them and squeeze them. Their little pot bellies are my weakness. There was a little guy named Dickie that I wanted to grab and run with. We could have gone and changed our names and no one would have known that I stole him because I could not resist his pudgy little gut. But I didn't.

What I did do was some more subversive snuggling. Hairy Gary is still there. He came down from his perch and let me squeeze him for a while before getting bored with me the way cats do. I just love that little guy. I hate how when I see a face i know, I feel so Happy-Sad. All in one flash it's "Oh HI Hairy Gary!/ Sorry you still don't have a home, kitty." It's tough. But luckily I can come home to my own ungrateful turd of a cat and remember that I don't like cleaning his poop box and he sleeps on my head if I let him.

Sigh. Crazy Cat Lady, party of One.

The Holiday Open House

Nope, not at my house. Why the hell would I have an open house? I don't really like people.

No, the first day I worked at the shelter we were preparing the animals for a holiday open house. I showed up right on time and was paired up with a staff member and we got right to work. I was on cat duty (and cat doody).

I gotta tell ya- I have a whole new appreciation for what it takes to run a shelter. This is a no-kill shelter- so any critter that becomes a resident there has the ability to live out their days at the shelter, regardless of how many days they may have. I think that's a wonderful commitment to make. This place is clean, the animals are loved on (even the grumpy ones) and people work all day and all night to provide those animals with a nice place to live.

There are several large Kitty Rooms with tons windows in each one. There is at least one plastic couch in every one, and some cubbies built in the walls that are just the right size for a kitty bed, and one kitty- but sometimes two can fit in a cubby, but only if the two kitties are the best of friends. They also have a cat walk (heehee) that goes around the room at the top, and a spiral staircase of ledges and perches where kitties can get up and down as they please. they are just fantastic rooms, and you can tell the cats are happy there. I like the rooms from an adoption standpoint because you can really see personalities in the cats from the minute you enter. Some run away from you, some glare at you from the cat walk, some are interested but shy, and some run right up to see you.

Well, let me tell ya- those rooms had a lot of work done to them before the open house. And this stuff is done every single morning- the floors are vacuumed and then mopped, linens and beds are changed out, food and water dishes are sanitized, and the litter boxes are cleaned out, bleached, washed, and then refilled again. all surfaces are wiped down, and while you are doing all this, you are having to unwind cats from around your ankles and collect yourself when the little ones dive bomb you from above. And don't get me started on the laundry there. It's never ending. Never ever ever ending.

My little buddies Schroeder and Hairy Gary were still there. I was happy and sad to see them again. Hairy Gary has no problems being held, and I had no problems scooping him up for a hug when I should have been making a salad for the rabbits. And and and!!! Schroeder came me! He let me pet him through the bars on his enclosure. He's in a huge thing, too big to be called a cage, and he's sharing it with a sweet girl named Holly. Love it. It took him about five tries, pacing from the back of his room to the bars, getting closer each time. But finally he did and he's a sweet boy.

I can't get that dog. I can't get that dog. I can't get that dog.

I think I might need to go there every other week. Every week is just too tempting. I need to stay away for longer till I figure out how to not get attached.

Sigh.

I am Oriented

Saturday I went to Orientation to work at the shelter!

I am really excited about getting started. they are very flexible about when you come and, I'd like to try to be there at least 2 hours a week. i would love to do more, but they close by the time I get off work and are not open on Sundays, so really Fridays and Saturdays are the only times I can go.

I have a list of animals I want.

First off, I want to take home a little hound mix named Schroeder. He looks sort of like Maya, but like he may have some other sort of hound mixed with foxhound, and he is more black and brown with white bits, and a pink tummy like Maya's. A staff member was in his enclosure with him, petting him and talking to him, and he was pressed against the wall, trembling. Now who does that sound like? I want to take him home, but I know I can't. I can't afford him, I don't have the room, and mostly I don't have the energy for another Maya. I can't carry two scared doggies around, and I am already pushing it bringing Maya to work every day- I think two is asking a lot. Way too much, in fact. I don't think I can spare the effort where Maya is concerned either. But I still want him.

Second, I want to take home a handsome older gentleman named Hairy Gary. I laughed so hard while typing that. I am picturing some icky perv at a strip club with gold chains and a pelt of back hair, aren't you? Nope, this guy was a brown striped guy in the Senior Citizen Kitty Room. He let me hold him, and purred a lot. He seemed grateful for the attention, which as a cat owner is a truly foreign concept to me. I thought cats prided themselves on their ability to ignore you unless you have yarn or seafood.

Thirdly, I want all the other puppies, kittens, and i think there was a bunny that caught my eye as well. I'm starting to think this may be a bad idea.

Other than the fact that I will probably look at this day the way that people think about their first time shooting up: the Day Things Changed Forever. Yeah, I'm on the hard stuff now- I'm mainlining homeless cats and kittens. God save me.

altogether i feel really good about this. I feel like this is some way for me to get over the holiday blahs, and make Not Being a Total Slug a year long thing. This is the only chance I've got: i can't stand children, I am scared of old people, and as a unit, I don't like people. Sorry, I just don't. I like individual people, and in some abstract way I feel compassion for the plights of all sorts of folks, but not in the way that I feel about animals who don't have someone to love them.

What do you mean, what's that kitten doing in my pocket? It's not mine, I swear. I'm just holding it for a friend.