Tori’s Writing Hole

We had to return Ridley to his previous home today. For a little over a month, I got to enjoy my little kitty, but I also suffered increasing allergies. I’ve been to an allergist - had a scratch test - and cats are #3 on my list of super-duper-bad allergens. But still, I thought I could make it. I was wrong - started having asthma attacks, tight chests, swelling lips.

We couldn’t chance I’d stop breathing so Ridley had to go home. I want to cry so bad, ’cause I love kitties, but I know this is for the best. I feel like a bad kitty mommy.

Technorati Tags: cat, allergies, good bye

or - Scaling the Human Scratching Pole

For those of you who don’t know, I am slightly allergic to cats. But I LOVES them. I mean, since I was little, I loved kitties, even more than dogs. Something about their aloof, give a f*ck attitude and their beautiful way of doing everything from prancing on the kitchen counter to attacking a pole with a fake furry mouse made me love kitties. So even though I knew that my eyes might water, nose might run and that I’d DEFINITELY get some serious puffy scratch marks, we got a kitten.

Ridley is great. Rambunctious, full of energy, but great. And everywhere. Including under the covers at night, attacking my toes like a tiger stalking gazelles on the plains. Because of this, my nose has gotten somewhat worse. So I decided to look into ways to cut down on his little kitty dander.

One solution (aside from HEPA filters, which we already have) is to use Allerpet, which you are supposed to stroke on your kitty once a week to remove dander. But it’s not available in stores, and some sites (including those by vets) doubt its efficacy. They state that a bath in baby shampoo once a week works just as well. Our cat likes the water (he’s weird) so I thought, why not?

I put him in about an inch of warm water in the tub, and no problems. Dumped some warm water on his head, again, not really an issue. Started to lather him with shampoo - ok, here’s an issue. He turned into a a wolverine, and not the comic book kind. Clawing his way up my bare arm (who knew he could dig in that easily?) I could barely keep him in the tub long enough to finish the wash and rinse. I scooped him out of the tub into a towel, where he made noises that make a death rattle sound downright friendly.

Right now, my arm looks like I have such bad hives - swollen and red. Oh, and itchy. Did I mention my bad nose? BAD.

This bath thing is supposed to happen once a week. I’ll let Stephen do it next time, if it works. See below for a picture of a soggy, indignant kitten.

Technorati Tags: cat, bath, allergies

Tomorrow is the Susan G Komen Race for a Cure in Albany. I can’t race (well, duh!) but I can volunteer. Every year except for the last three (due to baby stuff) my mom and I volunteer to help out with set up, etc for the race. My mom is a survivor - even more than in the usual way. Her breast cancer was found as small calcifications on a routine mammogram when she was 46, nine years ago. After a lumpectomy and radiation treatments, Mom was considered cancer-free, and went on a five year course of tamoxifen to stop cancer from recurring. This treatment left her in premature menopause, complete with horrid hot flashes and mood swings, but we all thought it was worth it.

Five years later, a mammogram again shows suspicious activity - this time in the other breast. A biopsy confirms that a separate occurrence of cancer has happened. Mom had a double mastectomy this time - no chances. But, when it came time for breast reconstruction, the reconstruction failed - leaving her feeling more scarred and unhappy than if she’d just had the breasts removed. Today, she’s left with one reconstructed breast, one that is nothing more than skin, a slight (1% chance) of cancer recurring in that little bit of tissue, and an almost five year remission rate (the most important part!!!). Sometimes, I don’t know how she makes it through the worry and fear. But Mom does, and I’m proud of her.

Having had my own lump and scare (mammogram at age 21, fibrocystic breasts, A-OK) I am acutely aware of breast cancer in everyday life. I hope everyone takes the time to do self-checks (easy and fun, playing with yourself!) and takes time this October to just donate something to breast cancer research. A few clicks of your mouse, a few dollars at the store or a few hours of volunteer work is all it takes.

Oh yeah - I turned my blog pink - in case you didn’t notice. I was let in on this idea by my friend Virginia. Here’s the site if you too feel like making a pink difference! http://pinkforoctober.org/

Technorati Tags: breast cancer, cure, race, volunteer

I’m so tired. Bone tired, sleepy, dog tired, exhausted - yep, all of them. Of course, there’s really no surprise there - I can’t remember a day I’ve been awake and completely alert, not at least for the last ten years. But this is worse. So I went to the doctor yesterday - and what a treat! I get to try new meds. While the prospect of new meds is scary, it’s also a hopeful process. Maybe, just maybe, this will even me out, make me ME and get rid of the tired angry Tori who’s been visiting for the last six months. I am assured, however, some new side effects and withdrawal from my old med. Whee.

I have joined NaNoWriMo, and I hope to still be able to complete this. It’s next month, November, so I have time to get out of the funk and GET OUT THE FUNK! Ok, well, at least, the writing.

Technorati Tags: medication, tired, writing