Grooming the Cat

Date: 10/26/02
      I caught the dog easy enough - wave the leash - she practically puts it on and leaps into the car (although today she actually rode in the middle seat of the van - sitting in the seat! Where did that come from???)
      Ranger I grabbed when I got off the phone and put into my sleeping son's room.
      I began hunting Little Bit.
      Well, she was not to be caught. She wasn't to be caught for Advantage earlier in the week - which was upsetting me. I want no fleas!
      In a fit of temper - I left the back door open - and out she went!
      So be it,
      I then dipped my head in water and pined slicked hair with scrunchy clips.
      I put on enough makeup that I wouldn't scare myself or others and stepped into jeans and a pullover cotton sweater.
      Slip-ons on my feet, I went for Ranger's cage.
      This reminds me that I need to remove the 100's of dead yellow jacket bodies from the floor of the garage where they fell when I bug-bombed the garage. The kids had sworn that they would not die - they did - serves them right since they have no business living in my garage wall in the first place.
      Meanwhile, I went into my son' room, and closed the door.
      The elephant (my son) was sleeping and the cat was not in sight.
      Under the bed, of course.Pressed against the wall. He thinks he should be invisible.
      And not budging even when whacked (gently) with the curtain rod.
      Wedged far back, I have to get the kid off the bed, since I tried moving it with him on it, but that won't work.
      Once my son got up (stumbled) into his computer chair (where he has remained for the past few hours), I pulled the bed off the wall enough the reach for the recalcitrant cat.
      I had to crawl into the space between angled bed and wall and disengage the cat's claws from the rug (which, while brand new when my kid went into the hospital - is a lost cause by now).
      I tried to put the cat into the cage - no joy.
      He meowed and yeowled. He is not a small cat.
      I took him and the cage into the boy's bathroom, got the cat into the cage.
      I also ran for my asthma medication after lifting the bed back. I hadn't used it yet.
      I was gasping - and my son said, "Stop it! You're scaring the dog!"
      Well, I am scaring myself too. I breath until I can count 7 in and out. 10 is better. 4 is too little. I need to call the doctor a this is not getting better.
      I load the van.
      I am off to Petco.
      The groomer that had been there a few months ago, is back. And Ranger gets to be bathed.
      Finally.
      While there (in the mall), I pulled into Barnes and Noble (a few stores up).
      I am after my Christmas Regency novels, delayed to the shelves because of the port closure and now slowdown by these unpatriotic union members who do not wish for automation of shipping. It will happen. Like everything else that gets automated, it is a rough patch.
      I don't like it spilling into my life, however.
      I want my books.
      I get some of them (I have a list) and as I am in line, I realize I am due in Santa Clara at my writing group.
      Well, that's not going to happen now!
      I ask for the missing books - they are in the back and not shelved. (Signet.)
      They fetch.
      I ask what other Regency Christmas ones they have.
      They print out a list (about 3 more) and off I go.
      Back in line again, and one more book I couldn't find
      They fetched that one too.
      I have a stack.
      I am happy now. $50 (discounted) books in tow. And a can of Cocoa. Giraldelli chocolate. Something about books and chocolate.
      Once I pull the yard back together - the dog is relandscaping the lawn again (I pulled logs over it - enough already)
      and once I plant the three new trees (an barricade them with logs) and once I finish five loads of laundry, the dishes and shopping, pant gasp, and fetch the dog and cat home, I will read.
      Oh yes - I will do the bill-sort tomorrow.
      Not today.

      Well, the yellow jackets are still in the wall - prob dormant for the winter - they think - there is a furnace in the garage - and all furnaces are now on and running.
      These on the floor were hatched from somewhere but died - in fact, new arrivals keep dying. They had buzzed me and were buzzing the lights when I did the laundry - Oh I don't think so!!! I just swept a whole bunch out the garage door.
      I have to goop the entrance to the wall - and later on - pull the wall open and clean up the nest.
      I was happy to get the one cat and the dog groomed - Little Bit is still roaming. Althought due to unforseen events, the dog and cat did not come home until 5PM.
      And I made it to storage locker - first time in two years - and retrieved my dolly - and I do have room for the spa over there. Now to find some men to move it----.
      The dog doesn't believe in going out in cold weather.
      And she believes she can sleep on my son's bed.
      When mother is not looking-------
      Border Collies are very smart - and know when they are deliberately disobeying you.
      She has a "look" - everywhere but in your eyes - we call her snake head when she does it.
      She is now a "senior citizen" in dog years.
which upsets me - she has a grey muzzle - middle age.     
      I was nice enough to look for Little Bit later in the evening - who came to the window, looked at Ranger - dancing through the house with a giant orange and black bow - and then promptly ran off when I went to catch her and bring her in. (She must be Advantaged. For fleas. And hosed down. And caught again to have her claws trimmed.)
      Hope she enjoyed the cold last night.

      I promise I will catch her if I can before Halloween. Although she is not black, cats are never safe outside on Halloween;