Romero Returns Home

Well, today I took Romero back to BabyIrishCub in Nashville. The trip wasn't bad, although I got started a lot later than I had planned. I had stopped at the library to settle up some late fees and get new books for the trip. I found another copy of Anne Frank (I ended up going to a different library than before), and since disc 8 (the last disc) of the one I had before had been so badly scratched I couldn't listen to it, I re-rented that, and finished it up. I also listened to The Time Machine, and am now in the middle of The War of the Worlds. I'd seen both of the recent movies, and never read the books, and, while I expected that Hollywood had changed things a bit, I had no idea how WAAAAAY far off the books they were.

Anyway, I made it there in decent time, for the time of day and the traffic I hit, got there without even getting lost (a huge thing for me), and got to actually meet BabyIrishCub and (the potentially LJ-less) Ryan. We got Romero all set up, while he explored eagerly. Once he'd satisfied his initial curiousity, he was clearly happy to be back with BabyIrishCub, and rather quickly gave Ryan his seal of approval, as well. Thanks and stories were exchanged, and I spent less time there than I had originally planned, since I left so late. I was actually trying to make it back to David's on time. About halfway home I called and cancelled, and Kathleen said she'd been expecting that to happen, and didn't seem upset about it, although perhaps a bit resigned. I actually got in town such that I maybe could have gone, but Kathleen usually talks him into going to bed earlier than I do, so I figured I'd just head home.

Yeah, I cried when I left, and for the early part of the trip. It makes me happy that Romero is where he's supposed to be, and where he wants to be, and certainly my cats are going to be less stressed now that he's gone, but he was a little love, and so cute in his mannerisms and such. So, yeah, there's sadness, but I'm happy for him.

Anyway, that's about it. An interesting thing happened on the way home, but I'm going to post that in another entry, so I can use a different icon. :)

Animal Report

So, on the way home, my phone rings. I don't really have time to check the number, but it's my generic ring, so I could rule several people out. Turns out, it was one of the people in my animal communication class! We've exchanged phone numbers and schedules, and I'd said that I was available Friday/Saturday/Sunday, so she'd called me. We're supposed to practice with each other, and work with each others' animals, so we can get feedback. We've been working on body scans. Anyway, I was driving, so I wasn't in any position to try to do a reading on her animals (I said I'd call her back tomorrow), so she did one for me. Since it was a body scan, I recommended either Murke (see icon) or Loki, and we decided on Murke. Both of them, I think, have something going on physically. She mentioned a problem with one of his teeth, which I wasn't aware of (and haven't gotten around yet to checking his mouth), and then almost immediately picked up on his constipation, for which I'd recently had him to the vet. We talked about that a bit, and asked Murke what would be helpful to him for this (chicken, and liver, according to him, one of which I picked up on the way home). She got his personality right away when she connected, which I thought was cool.

She didn't initially pick up on something that concerned me, which is a small lump I found recently near his shoulder blades, so I asked her to ask him about it. She came back with an accurate description of it, and reported that he wasn't experiencing discomfort related to it, but he thought it should be looked at. This worries me a bit, but I'll make an appointment for him. Years ago, he had some mast cells on his head that had to be removed. You probably can't see it in the picture, unless you know what you're looking for, but there's a bit of a notch out of the bottom of his left ear, in the inside, from the surgery to remove them.

At any rate, it was very cool, and I was very pleased with it. I hope I have as much luck tomorrow with her animals.

Still interested in practicing with friends' animals, although Lupaloo and ErosIssa will tell you I take a fucking long time to get around to doing it, and thus far my results are spotty, but not horribly off. Anyone who wants to send me a picture to work on can send to bookofmirrors(at)livejournal(dot)com.

Two sad things related to animals:

David and Kathleen's dog Toby had to be put to sleep yesterday. He'd been declining for quite some time, and finally his quality of life just got too poor. For Kathleen, he was one of those rare animals that touch the soul profoundly, and of course, she was devastated. Of the 6 animals they had when I first started working with them, only one is left. All 3 cats died from complications of old age, as did Toby. Another dog went from apparent perfect health to riddled with inoperable cancer and had to be put down in a space of 3 days. The last dog is also old, and blind, and so far has a good quality of life still, but I don't expect him to be around much longer. They're already talking puppies. I don't think I could get another animal so soon after the death of one, but that's just me. And I'll never complain about having puppies underfoot. :)

Also, I called and spoke to my parents on the way up (and back), and turns out their dog, Katie (don't remember how old she is, but getting up there) ate a pill of my mother's (an anti-imflammatory) that had fallen, unnoticed, on the floor. They took her to the vet, and he got her to throw up, but afterwards she was whining, with audible stomach issues, and they took her back. They put her on IVs and such, and she now has canker sores all over her mouth. She's at the home of the vet's assistant (I think that's what she is, but she also grooms) right now, which is good, 'cause that's where she stays when my parents are out of town - much mutual love there. The vet was getting second opinions, and asking my parents if they gave consent for a consult from some of the university vet centers, which doesn't seem like a good sign. When I called back later, though, they were planning on sending her home, which surprised me, 'cause I doubt she'll eat or drink enough to sustain her with those sores in her mouth. Anyway, hope I'll be joined in my efforts to send healing energy.

That's about it for the animal report for tonight. Just so my other animals aren't left out, here's a quick update on them:

Loki - fine, very affectionate, almost needy lately... left eye running quite a bit, but doesn't appear infected... can't tell if she's limping or not - sometimes it seems it

Smithers - no change in him whatsoever... he's still an affectionate sweetheart who has an aversion to bare skin

Whimsy - will hopefully start coming out from under the bed now that Romero's gone... his living here affected her the most.... she's taken to eating stuffing out of the comforter, which I know from having read animal behavior books is a bit more destructive (to the cat and the cloth) version of the human equivalent of nervously and compulsively biting one's nails... I'll need to see if this continues... I'm hoping it will go away on its own now that the house is a bit more peaceful

Murke - as above, but his usually extremely affectionate self... he's sitting between my arms, sleeping and purring as I write this

Ashira - way more affectionate... lies down almost every night to get scratched for extended periods of time, but still a bit jumpy during that time, even though she's clearly enjoying herself

...and that's all, folks!