Daily Photo – Oscar

Here’s Oscar getting ready to step outside of his own volition just two short months ago. This week he has been outside a lot — going back and forth to the Cat Hospital for daily treatments.

Crazy Humans -- He seemed to say

Last year Oscar was diagnosed with Chronic Renal Failure. Despite the diagnosis, he was active, vocal and purring non-stop. Last week he suddenly went into decline. Now his kidneys are not working properly and the prognosis is not so good. We are picking him up later today hoping that he will have enough kidney function to be comfortable and enjoy his favorite activities for a while longer: chasing twisty ties, sitting snuggled up between me and Michael, getting brushed and petted and generally ruling his kingdom.

Regardless of how much longer he has with us, I am really grateful that Oscar has been so healthy and happy for the past year and that Michael and I have been working from home so that we have been able to spend lots of time with him.

Update: November 16, 2008
Oscar has made a marvelous recovery this weekend. He started to eat on Friday and pretty much pigged out yesterday! He is back to being his whiny, demanding self! YEAH! The only effect of his near death experience that is still in evidence is a decline in his agility. This morning he followed me upstairs, looked up at the bed, made like he was going to jump up and then said to himself, “No way I’m gonna make it.”

We are going to build him a kitty ramp so he can get up. The joy of living with a suddenly geriatric cat!

Almost Daily Photo – Leaves, Lots of Leaves

Autumn Leaves & The Sweet Prius

I took this photo right before Michael and I raked, blew and bagged leaves for a couple of hours. That was Tuesday. Now it’s Saturday and we already have twice as many leaves on the ground. Unfortunately, I can’t bend over or move my right arm. I have also lost the use of my legs.

Here’s me going up the stairs yesterday: “Ouch, ouch, ouch, owowowowow.”

Here’s Michael after listening to me go up the stairs: “What the hell’s wrong with you?” I know, very compassionate.

You might think that these indications of infirmity would motivate me to get back on some sort of exercise regimen?

No, not so much.

The leaves look lovely. We can just let them be. If I don’t do anything too strenuous, I can keep believing that REALLY, I’M IN AWESOME SHAPE!

Denial is the best.

Daily Photo – Puppy Relaxation

No Worries!

If only we could relax the way that puppies do. Two canine rules to live by:

1. There’s nothing to worry about.
2. Live in the present moment.

Daily Photo – Halloween

Dead People are Fun

We took Bridgette to the Mt Auburn Cemetery. This may seem like a strange destination for a walk, but it is a beautifully landscaped and historic destination. Bridgette just thought it was a large playground and that headstones are a different form of jungle gym.

Daily Photo – More Flowers & Bees

Lunch Break

As long as flowers are blooming and bees are buzzing, I don’t think that summer’s really over. It doesn’t matter that it is getting dark before six and that there was FROST on the car window this morning. Denial is a beautiful thing!

Daily Photo – Fall Cleanup

Cap Says: Little Miss Trouble

My 7-year-old niece, Bella, stopped by with her Dad and sister. She decided to help rake some leaves, then figured out that it was more fun to run around with the rake and swing it at her younger sister.
We quickly put a stop to the rake as weapon direction.

Bella: “I’m just keeping her away from me.”

Daily Photo – Puppy Love

Doggy Love

We are puppy-sitting again this weekend — good thing because she get’s me off my ass and out roller blading. If not for Sunny, I’d probably be sitting in front of my computer all day. I’ve been asking Michael every half-hour, “When are we getting the puppy?” It must be love.

Daily Photo – Chocolate

The best chocolate bars ever!

Ed Fox makes the best chocolate bars I’ve ever tasted — and I’ve tasted quite a few. I spent the afternoon yesterday shooting pictures for his company, Zorro Chocolates. The whole time I was salivating like one of those big slobbery dogs.

Daily Photo – Puppy

Ya gotta love me!

The other dogs make fun of my ears. I don’t get it. What are they barking about?

Daily Photo – Fall Foliage

Picture perfect day in New England

We took a drive out to Ware yesterday to catch the last of the fall foliage. It was so quiet and peaceful and the the colors were still vivid. It was nice to take a break and to breathe in the cool fall air — good for the soul.