Sunday, January 19, 2014

Sunday Stealing

The Last Night Meme

From By The Way Sunday, a now defunct meme blog.  

Did anyone call you last night?  No. First my cousin Ryan, then my friend Tom IM'd me during SNL, but neither gentleman was lucky enough to actually hear my dulcet tones.

How late were you on the computer last night?  I never logged off. Every so often I come over and check it.


What did you have to eat last night?  I had a massively large brunch -- steak, eggs and hash browns -- so I had a very light, very late dinner of Rice Krispies and a granola bar.

Did you watch any good TV shows or movies last night? I watched The Departed again. DiCaprio, Damon, Martin Sheen and Mark Wahlberg are all so good in it.


Did any news items stand out to you last night? There's an app to let Chicago drivers know about the worst potholes, a student on the South Side was murdered even after he handed the thugs his cellphone, and Matthew McConaughey's acceptance speech at the SAGs was exponentially weirder than the one at the Globes. (At this rate, by the time he wins his Oscar he will be speaking in tongues.

Did you go out last night?  No. I spent a lot of money Wednesday night when we went to dinner and then saw the touring company in Ghost (music by Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics) at the Oriental theater. It's still January and too early for me to abandon my resolution to be more fiscally responsible.

What was the weather like last night?  Cold. Though not polar vortex/Chiberia cold.

What was the last thing you said last night? "You made my weekend." I unexpectedly ran into my across-the-hall neighbor for the first time since he was raced to the hospital last October. He had bypass surgery weeks later and has been slow to mend. But he's up and (literally) walking the halls as part of his physical therapy. He's 30 lbs. thinner, which was striking, but very happy. And I was very happy to see him.

What time did you go to bed last night? I went to bed a little after midnight, woke up at 3:30, came out and did this meme. I'm gonna go back to bed for a while when I'm done.


Trying not to worry too much

My cat Charlotte has been losing weight for about six months now. At first it didn't bother me because she was rather plump. I attributed the change in her feline figure to the improved diet she was enjoying -- when my wildman Reynaldo was put on a premium diet, all three of my cats benefited. But her weight loss continued and she's gone from svelte to scrawny.

The vet suspects it's hypothyroidism, a not uncommon affliction among older cats, and Charlotte is probably 17 years old. While her appetite and enthusiasm for food is unabated, he did notice some redness on her gums and plaque on her teeth. Problems with her mouth could be a gateway to infection, so he recommends a thorough examination and teeth cleaning.

On Monday, at 7:00 AM, Charlotte is going to vet for diagnostic bloodwork. I'm worried. She's an old cat and anesthetic is dangerous. I realize that the procedure is in her best interest -- she's frail and an infection could kill her, and it's important that we discover the reason behind her weight loss. But I don't want it to be happening.

It doesn't help that Annie Wilkes, the cantankerous old cat who lived with my friends in the Keys, died on Wednesday of an age-related illness.

I hate this. It contributed to my inability to do much of anything today.