Friday, March 24, 2006

Apparently we're adopting!

My daughter-in-law called me Wednesday morning. Unusual, so I know something's wrong:

"What would you do if you had a cat?"

In my teens I used to take care of a neighbor's Persian while they vacationed; my great-grandmother had a tabby I grew up around. In about the 5th grade I developed grass, pollen and mold allergies, but was fine around pets. Until I was about 20...

I was partying at a friends who had a long haired white cat I had played with on other occasions. This time my eyes swelled shut! I thought I must be reacting to something else, grass, something. I few days later I was fine; the next time I visited them the same thing happened.

Then it got to the point where most any cat would set me off.

As I entered my 40's my grass allergies seemed to get a bit better. My sister's orange tabby would get to me sometimes but not everytime. Now Chip doesn't bother me at all. My other daughter-in-law has two orange tabby siblings (Willow and Alley); no reactions in 3 years. The daughter-in-law who called me has 2, one very old calico who bothered me a bit 6 or 7 years ago, and a kitten who doesn't at all.

So more than once I've thought I wouldn't mind; I've cruised PetFinder and looked and even bookmarked a few, but my wife steadfastly has said no, if for no other reason than our dog is almost 10 and it wouldn't be fair to her.

My daughter-in-law was crying hard by the time she finished asking me her question. She was leaving our vets after finding out that it was time to put her old cat to sleep (Missy is 18, not eating and when she does she can't hold it, she can't walk the last few weeks, etc.) and that the stray she had been feeding and had moved onto the porch and then into their entryway over the last month and half had just tested positive for feline leukemia, which meant she couldn't keep him around her year old adoptee.

But she really wanted to find him a good home; one where she could visit him if she was lucky...

So I'm in the middle of vacuuming and moving cords and trying to kitten proof the living room before Frankie comes to live with us tomorrow night, while someone is home over the weekend to make sure Frankie and Angel (our dog) don't become like Frankie and Johnny (in the old song). My wife is off this weekend, I work Saturday but I'm off Sunday.

So apologies in advance if I don't get a recipe up this Saturday or if I miss Photo Sunday. I usually draft those in advance of her off weekends on Thursday night, and instead I'm cleaning, lol!

I should be careful what I wish for, I know!

alan

On a sidenote: State Farm's claims adjuster saw our car and wrote us a check today for $1847 for the hail damage on the Malibu and said if I take it to an approved body shop and they find more damage or if it's more than that then they will pay whatever additional amount is needed!

15 comments:

Nancy said...

Hey Alan! You and your wife are so sweet to take in Frankie! You will fall in love all over again. Sorry about your dil's cat. That is very sad.

Very cool of the insurance company to pay off the damage from the hail. I suspect you can fix the car yourself too and buy some new toys for Frankie huh???

Have a great weekend Alan!

nancy

sttropezbutler said...

Fantastic news about the car.....and I haven't a clue what to say about the kitty except good luck!

STB

Jon-Marc McDonald said...

Congrats on the car!

As far as the cat, I have never owned one but my best friend has one and when I am visiting him in Philly I sleep on the couch and every morning when I wake up the cat is right in my face, no more than three inches away. It always scares the crap out of me!

alan said...

I woke up that way on a couch in San Diego once; scared me the same way. For a while I wondered if the allergies were psychosomatic!

Nancy, this ones beyond me...they're talking about "Paintless Dent Removal"; suction cups, ice, "spoons" slipped under the metal where you can. I can Bomdo and paint, but as long as they're buying I'll try it!

Thanks STB, my wife wishes I hadn't known what to say I think...

alan

Dr. Deb said...

How great that you are getting a new addition!

And to have the insurance co say that about the car give me hope that there are good people in the world!

~Deb

CrackerLilo said...

Good news about the car, and good luck with the cat! :-)

nancy =) said...

yay for the cool state farm guy...and yay for the new kitty...but i worry about you with those allergies =[

happy weekend!!

puhpaul said...

Congrats on the car and cat.

Jon-marc wrote about waking up with a cat in your face sometimes my fifty pound border collie thinks she can do the same thing. It's amazing how quickly you wake up when a dog decides to stand on your chest.

Heidi said...

Wow congrats on the insurance for the car..And a ^5 ( high 5) on the new addition to your family. Have a great weekened Alan.

Kranki said...

I wouldn't know what to do with myself without my kitty and I suspect Frankie will worm his way into your heart pretty soon. They are sneaky that way.

And that is good news about your car.

mckait said...

kitties! what a gift... i love mine to bits.. and i know you will too!

i have never had cat / dog issues and have had both for a long, long time..
all will be well...


glad your car will be able to recover from it wounds... !

Lois Lane said...

So much for being able to see. LOL! I hope your body can take the new addition to your home and your eyes do not get stuck shut again. So hard to put a pet down. My cat was 17. I also have a cat named Chip. He's the bad one who dips his paws in my glass if I leave it unattended. Bad kitty!
Have a great weekend!
Lois Lane

Taradharma said...

good news on the car -- a good "first time" experience for you in filing a claim!

Good for you guys taking in the kitty...what a sad story. Alan and Mrs. to the rescue!

sjobs said...

Hey Alan, congrats on the new addition to the family.

Congrats on the car!!

Mary

robin andrea said...

So, how's it going over there with the new kitty? Everyone okay? Hope all is going well.

Congrats on the insurance settlement.