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This living the bachelor's life sucks, not to put too fine a point on it.
The Missus Herself is still down in Maryland helping out with the grandkids. I had planned to head down that way for a short week (long weekend?) but events have conspired to prevent that.
So she's flying back on the 19th. We'll head down later, depending on many things.
I have a bunch of annual medical type stuff which is all happening in the last two weeks of February so that's one thing that put the kibosh on me driving down to Maryland. The other is that our cat Anya isn't so young anymore, I fear that being away from her humans for more than a few hours might not be good for her.
She's old, 19 and a half years more or less, which puts her in her 90s in human terms. She's kinda deaf, kinda frail, and has separation issues. She will wake up in the middle of the night and come poke me to get attention.
I really don't mind, she's been a faithful companion for a very long time. But when mama is home, at least she splits her time between waking me up and waking up mama. Right now it's just me. Needless to say, I don't get a whole lot of sleep these days.
The three day weekends help, I recover then. I still don't sleep more than two hours at a time but there is no "have to get up by X o'clock" factor, so I can sleep longer. Well, stay in bed longer.
Essentially I eat, work, sleep, and provide companionship to an old cat. I don't mind, not really, but it tends to wear a fellow out. I also worry about said cat. I can't imagine life without her, but that day is not that far off I fear.
I also haven't worked on the book at all, just don't have the energy. There's a need to get it finished but I haven't moved any closer to that goal.
Something's gotta give.
Time will tell.
You have your priorities right. Family before your readers and that includes your furry family. I have a 15-year-old kitty cat who looks a lot like Anya laying against my arm right now. Unfortunately two of her litter mates have already left us, so we do not expect the length of time that you have had but we are praying for the best outcome. Stay safe and well. Things will work out.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mark.
DeleteThe things you do for those two legged and four legged that you love. Sounds like you're providing hospice care for Anya, well done Sarge.
ReplyDeleteI am, it hurts.
DeleteSit in the sun with Anya, you'll both remember it - not to mention the enjoyment...
ReplyDelete"Lazy bones, sleepin' in the sun,
How you 'spect to get your day's work done?
Lazy bones, sleepin' in the shade,
You'll never get your cornmeal made sleepin' in the evening shade."
Leon Redbone- Lazy Bones (3:19)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWutowfCx9Q
We do, just being together, it's nice.
DeleteCan't go wrong with some Leon Redbone.
My long term cat, who just wandered in one day, disappeared a while back. We have coyotes around here and I suppose they were responsible. As I live alone, I hesitate to get another pet as I would almost certainly outlive them and would be no one else to care for them.
ReplyDeleteI am a bit older than you and the no sleep longer than 2 hours has been a part of my life for a while so I sympathize and understand. Days of low energy I also understand, projects seem to take forever to start and maintaining focus on them takes more effort than it used to.
Ah, you know the song of my people.
DeleteThe Missus Herself is reluctant to get another cat. Anya might be our last. So I get what you're feeling.
It sounds like a case of Vita accidit and that you are doing as best you can for your family. Sometimes this is necessary. Maybe not pleasant, but necessary.
ReplyDeleteFrom your description of Anya, very soon you will be posting that you had to perform one of the ultimate acts of love for a pet, as painful as it always is. Consider my arm around your shoulder when you have to face that.
Thanks Joe, appreciate that.
DeleteA Badger is standing by you, as well. I held Lazarus, when the time came, so I understand.
Delete👍
DeleteIs it purely the cat, or do you think you have sleeping problems outside of that? I semi recently got a CPAP machine and the better rest is very noticeable. You say something's got to give. Try to ensure that isn't your health.
ReplyDeleteHaving to get up and pee at least every three hours is the main reason for the sleepliessness.
DeleteAhh, of course. You gotta stop boozing it up after dinner! haha. If I'm even semi-hydrated, I'm barely good for an hour.
DeleteI have a bladder the size of a thimble.
DeleteCrusty Old TV Tech here. All batteries must be recharged periodically. Sounds like it's time for a deep charge cycle!
ReplyDeleteI have the impression the blogging load will be picked up by your excellent squadron-mates in the meantime.
I resemble that remark too. Seems the battery loses capacity after so many charge-discharge cycles, it gets harder to charge to 100% as time goes on. I sit there and look at the EMAIL longer before deciding what must be done. The baseboards that need installation stay on the lumber yard shelves another week. And so on.
Yup, the older the battery, the longer it takes to charge. (And the quicker it discharges!)
DeleteI have no doubt that if I decide to go offline for a bit, my teammates will pick up the slack. (Note to juvat, I didn't refer to you all as "minions," a promotion of sorts ...)
Your efforts are appreciated, and well worth the cost of admission here. You got your priorities right, so no need to apologize to us visitors. We have nothing but gratitude for your hospitality, and literary dispensations. And, we do not feel entitled to anything at all, just happiness when more free stuff arrives.
ReplyDeleteHugs for the furry family, they give us so much for just a bit of food and attention, and their limited life span is a reality we all must face, regretfully.
John Blackshoe
Thanks John.
DeleteYou are now at the point the wife and I were at last year. 2022 was a crappy year for our animal companions. Put down Max at age 15 because of cancer. Put down Jazz at 19 1/2 as she was just worn out blind, deaf, barely able to move. It hurt but we were there with both of them at the end. Lots of good memories with those darn cats...we got Jazz when this tiny British grey-and-white bi-color walked up to me in a parking lot in 2003 and insisted on sticking by my side. Her nickname was "Six Pounds Of Fury". We got Max in 2007 when my wife came home and found this orange and white tabby cat sleeping on our bed; seems I had left an upstairs window open and he found it. Max had the most wonderful purr that would reverberate in the room...
ReplyDeleteI can personally understand your priority caring for the cat as the wife and I effectively stopped traveling for a year to care for the cats; I like to think they would do the same for us.
Best wishes to you and Anya.
-Barry
Thanks Barry.
DeleteMy first cat, Monty, and my last cat, Mac Cavitty both just decided one day that they were Olson Cats, and just moved in.
Delete👍
DeleteSarge, I may in a minority of one (I am usual am), but I find your "regular" writing just as engaging as your fiction. The reality is that - contrary to what the media and entertainment often tries to sell us - life is often very mundane and "boring". If nothing else, it is a good reinforcement and reminder that most of life is "common", in that sense of the word. And as Tolkien said, it is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life.
ReplyDeleteI often find my "schedule" is off when The Ravishing Mrs. TB is gone - and yes, partially because I become our entire pet colony's "new best friend".
Bless you for caring for Anya. A great many people these days do not such things, even with animals that are young and in good health. For some it may be truly an inability, but more and more I get the sense that it is either boredom or a simple lack of commitment. I cannot, for the life of me, understand the abandonment of a companion you have had for their entire lives simple because they are old, expensive, and inconvenient.
Come to think of it, that is how our society seems to see the elderly as well. Might be a connection there...
I think there is. Sad state of affairs.
DeleteMy kids don’t find this old man expensive, in fact, it’s still the other way around often times! The first sentence says it all Sarge. D4
DeleteThanks D4.
DeleteWe don't have pets, but I did growing up and my side of the family still has them. I have seen the cycle of love and loss repeated through the years.
ReplyDeleteThe pets give so much and ask so little in return.
A while back I looked at things and thought much the same as what you said, "somethings got to give" and I thought it would be best if it wasn't me.
I withdrew, dealt with a lot of stressors, and have been warily poking my head out of the burrow.
You and yours are in our thoughts.
I'm giving some consideration to going sinker for a while. Every now and then you just have to lay low.
DeleteThanks John.
Dive deep, and let the reactor charge the batteries. We can wait.
DeleteI'm still chugging along.
DeleteSarge,
ReplyDeleteEase off the "G" and accelerate back up to corner velocity, then re-enter the fight guns blazing. We'll be here.
I'm getting close to that.
DeleteI like that way of looking at things. Just takes longer for me to spool up now. D4
DeleteYup, I'm kinda like a 1940s jet engine, takes a while to accelerate!
DeleteOne of the things about this particular condo lifestyle is “No Pets”. It suits most of us here actually, until I read this kind of post. I begin (and so does Miss Jeanie) to miss the small furry ones. We’ve certainly had our share, the “main dog” and the “best cat” living with us almost as long as the kids. We were thinking about a brownish cat that Jeanie could wear around her neck to and from. But fur wraps are out of vogue here in Ormond-by-the-Sea. D4
ReplyDeleteWhen you get to a certain age, having furry companions can be a challenge. My Mom (92) has a cat, who is her boon companion. But there are times she can't keep up with him.
DeleteTalk to the doc about the 3x a night routine--cause it isn't, or shouldn't be!!. And watch your sodium intake. I say that cause you are batching it currently, and taking a wild guess, my guess is you aren't eating quite as healthy as if the Missus was there watching you with her eagle eye...
ReplyDeleteFluid retention is a thing, especially if you like chips, pickles, bacon, ham, canned soups, hungry man TV dinners, etc, etc, especially if you spend most of the day with your feet down while working on a computer--sound familiar?? Then you go to bed at night, putting your feet up so the heart is better able to pump ALL the fluid around, especially to the kidneys. Gravity is a law, not a guideline--feet down, gravity works against you, feet up, gravity is working for you.
Having said all that--Tuna is right--there are a lot of folks out there who have sleep apnea issues, and find a cpap is a magic invention that helps HUGELY with sleep quality. So, put it on your MD check list to discuss.
Sending hugs to you, and Anya...it is so very difficult when the critters get older...but you are giving her what she needs most--lots of love, and pats, and attention, and love. Don't ya wish they could talk for even just a few minutes so you could find out what hurts if anything, and what they want you to do for them?? I miss my guy. Had him for 17 and a half years. Damn dusty in here suddenly...
suz
Thanks Suz.
DeleteStumbled across something you might be at least mildly interested in, Sarge:
ReplyDeleteThe Navy’s most successful World War II sub also killed an enemy train
https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/submarine-vs-train/
Familiar I am with that boat, have a post on that somewhere in the archives.
DeleteFamily First includes the fur and feathered people. (I never did figure out how to hold a fish.) Seems to me you've got your priorities straight. I've got the getting up every four or five hours thing, and it's more frequent with a lot of liquids after sundown. Your presence is as, or even more, valued than your stories. Thank you, for both.
ReplyDeleteThanks htom.
Delete