Well, Thank God That's Over

Well, the emails and texts have started coming in asking where I am and what has happened to me.  I have had a whole lot of crapola going on - nothing that won't pass or that has already poassed as I write this part.  But, MAN, what a week it was!  Here is what I wrote this weekend.  I decided not to post it because it was so depressing and whiny.  But, keeping it real - so here you go.....

This week had been total crap.  The Breadman's check was super low - Oh we cut your pay and forgot to tell you.  There has been a problem with his pay being too "high" their words - not ours.  So, they pay him his hourly rate but then pay him for less hours that he actually worked to make it fit into payroll.  So, they adjusted his hourly and now they will pay him for the full 40  but they forgot to pay him for the 40 so it was SO LOW.  Oh, we'll make it up to you next week.  This has happened so often you wouldn't believe it.  I mean, do they think that we just works there for fun?  Don't they realize that he is supporting a home and a family?  It is just so frustrating.  I am trying to find him all the jobs I can to apply for right now.  Finding him a better job has become my new job.  *Since I wrote this, he was contacted by a company that is interested in him, so FINGERS CROSSED.

Took the new kitty girl into the vet to be spaded this week.  They did blood work and vaccinations and called to tell me that she has FIV which is an autoimmune deficiency in cats.  Within seconds of the phone call they were saying they were so sorry and would I need to make some decisions about having her euthanized.  Would I WHAT?  She was 100% normal acting when I took her in an hour ago.  After a bit of talking, they said that she could be fine as long as she stayed healthy - and she is healthy now.  It is sort of like AIDs, but no one likes to use that term and I certainly don't want to either.  If she were to get sick she would have a very delayed immune system that would not allow her to heal and she would die from it without immediate antibiotics.  Then they went on to say that some cats never even have any effects of it and live to be 14 years old or more.  There is no danger to the other two cats getting it unless there was ever a situation where one bit the other and blood was drawn.  Heck our old fat cats barely looked up when Dory came into the house and it's been calm sailing ever since.  Dory is laid back and a real sweetheart, so there is no issue there.  Of course, we will always watch them, but I see no issues.  If the cat had been brought in just to be fixed and released back out, they would recommend having her put down to stop her from spreading the virus. Talk about one horribly long phone call where I was up and down the emotional gauntlet.  I came home and did a world of googling and learned that cats can live long healthy lives, they cannot spread it via water or food or litter box, or grooming or any other way other than an exchange of blood. There is NO reason to put down a sweet loving cat.  Even though everyone at the Vet is extremely nice, I couldn't help feeling a bit PISSED OFF about that entire phone call.

They also said that if the cat had ever been to the vet and had vaccinations, it is possible that she is only a carrier and doesn't actually have the virus.  Since we don't know her history, there is no way to know.

Except - an hour later they called back.

Dory had been put under anethesia for surgery and just as the Vet started to make an incision he noticed that................Dory is a Neutered Male.

W.T.F?

We joke now that we took her to the progressive town that recently voted in an ordinance to offer equality to all  and they gave her a sex change.  So, Dory is a boy.  We still say Dory, why not.  Or Dorman.  That's my favorite.  He is healthy and active and appears to feel fine.  We feel like he was sent to us for a reason and now we know that it was so he could have a nice long safe life.  Another person could put him down.  And, that would have been a terrible, terrible shame.  

Thursday morning I put a load of laundry in the washer and the water came pouring back out of the drain hose.  Not fun.  I got that all mopped up and stopped doing laundry until we could get some crystal lye to put down the pipe.  Of course, the flood made even more laundry - wet stinky laundry.  

That night I turned on the oven to preheat it and POP there was a noise and a burst of sparks. The heating element had broken and burst into flames making the oven a firey useless mess.  I would like to tell you that I handled this with grace and dignity.  I did not.  I sobbed.  SOBBED, I tell you.  The straw that broke the camels back, I suppose.  Huge wailing cries.  Dinner was ready to go in the oven, it was late, I was tired and I had no other ideas to make.  So, I just sobbed and sobbed.  

A bit later I regained my composure, got on Amazon and ordered a heating element.  It will be here later this week.  We found Crystal lye at Lowe's and fixed the drain better than new.  I figured out meals to make every day that didn't require the oven (I use the oven every single meal) and it wasn't so hard to do,  But I am ready for my oven to be back in working order.  Especially with the forecast of 39 in the future. Mama needs to make some Pumpkin bread.  When I am stressed, I like to bake.  I have been totally stressed for a week!  With no baking!  

I did learn that I complain about cooking and laundry all the time.  But you know what is worse that cooking and laundry?  Not being able to cook and do laundry.  Especially when that is how you personally judge your worthiness around the house by feeding and clothing your family.  

What a week it was.  Now, aren't you sorry that you came over here to see what I've been up to?  

*Disclaimer - I know that in the grand scope of all the terrible things going on in this world of ours that these things are minor.  That is why I didn't want to whine about it.  I'll be back with some craftiness and the story of my next show - will it be a flop or a success - we shall see!