And we now have our last doors up. What we have to go is the backsplash and kitchen venting—Scott was so sick we’re a little worried about him trying the vent work on the roof. Wait for warmer weather on that. And he likely has other clients he has to catch up on, too, but we’re fine. Our kitchen is totally functional and we’re getting to work on the other massive project, the garage sale—ie, cleaning out the basement.
Our hinges are on….Scott has recovered from the plague…
by CJ | Feb 2, 2018 | Journal | 17 comments
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Big thumbs up to Scott. Hope he gets better quickly, and can finish up the kitchen.
The flu has been going around over here like the plague; it seems that the prevalent strains in HI are not the same as what’s on the mainland, so the vaccine works an even lower percentage of the time. One wishes good health to all the household!
RE: your yard sale, I bet a lot of salads wish they were close enough to participate!
Tell him we know what it’s like.
He is still feeling it, alas.
I’m still getting an occasional cough from it, and I had it over Christmas.
I heard from a friend of mine this morning that his neighbor’s significant other caught this latest round of the flu, was shipped to a major hospital in Dayton, and found to have had double pneumonia, put on a ventilator, but unfortunately, did not survive. This is nothing to take lightly.
Great news about the kitchen update. Sorry to hear people are so under the weather. I’m doing fine, though that’s mostly from too little contact with others. I hope folks feel better soon.
The fluorescent fixture over my kitchen sink is acting up. For about a week, I’v thought the bulb died, but after I checked it yesterday, to order new light bulbs, today, I’ve discovered it delivering a very weak light again. Odd; from just removing and reinserting it after checking for the kind of bulb. Odd enough I think asking someone (an electrician for the apartments) is a good idea, given that there had been water damage, now over a month ago.
One of my cats, the non-assertive one, seems to have decided enough is too much, from the assertive cat, or possibly from something I’ve done or not done. But he’s reacted in a bad way: He’s keeping to himself, withdrawn, jumpy if the assertive one’s too near, and seems depressed. I was worried he might have gotten hurt or was sick, but now I think it’s solely hurt feelings and depression. He does not like sitting in my lap, for unknown reasons I think had to do with the people who had him before he left his mom and littermates. Extra attention is not working as well as I’d like, and I’m hoping it will sort itself out soon. It’s not always possible to get through to them, or easy if so. The assertive cat wants to monopolize my attention, his rights to anywhere in the place, the food bowls — and has apparently bothered the non-assertive one so much he’s had too much and withdrawn (given up) rather than giving the assertive one what-for, swatting him down or at least a loud, strong, consistent, insistent objection, like most would do. — And I can sympathize, but I’m at a loss to know what else to do to curb the bratty, bossy, bullying behavior from the assertive one, and to reassure the non-assertive one enough to help, or to get him motivated to stick up for himself. He _could_ smack down the over-assertive cat if he wanted to. He has fussed, argued, fought back at times when he’s had too much, on rare occasions. But I’ve never seen him get quite like this before. — He’s retreated to sleeping on top of the wifi router and cable box, and two evenings ago, I found him sleeping / hiding behind a door. I am not too happy with the over-assertive cat, and wish the non-assertive guy would react more proactively.
There are times when aggression is a useful and necessary survival trait. I say this as someone who dislikes fighting, violence. I say this as someone who also deals with depression. But there are times when resisting, when sticking up for oneself, one’s friends, one’s beliefs, is the right thing to do, and necessary to get and keep one’s rights, one’s property and space, one’s self intact.
I have never seen a cat as non-assertive as this one. I love him very much, he’s a great cat, but darn, kitty, don’t let the pushy one get away with that. He’ll only push more. That’s how bullies are.
Once before, he was introduced to another cat, and he wanted to be friendly, to make friends. It was plain he was completely dismayed that the other cat did not want to be friendly, and hissed and growled and swiped at him. His reaction was, “What? How rude! Why wouldn’t you want to be friends? See, I’m friendly. No? Wow!” — He was baffled that the other cat would not be friendly, since he had no wish but to be friends. That’s the sort of cat he is.
Poor guy. I’m going to try again to get him to stay on the bed again and give him some more attention, and see if I can get through to him eventually.
It makes me wonder how humans do the same sorts of things without realizing it. But more importantly, it makes me wish I knew how to get through to him, or to deal with someone human who’s so withdrawn and needs attention / affection, a hand up from such a low emotional place.
Bless his furry little heart, he doesn’t seem to have an intentionally hurtful bone in his body, but he sure could use an ounce of assertiveness. Maybe a few ounces. There must be some way to help such a pet, or a person, find it within themselves.
The fluorescent light bulbs arrived early. Today, Sunday. None appear to be broken, and the light now works. There is ~slightly~ more light in the kitchen for that work area.
Goober the Non-Assertive might be doing.a bit better after a comedy of errors in the middle of the night. I was awake, writing/reading and listening to music. I’d just checked on the cats and was ready to settle in, to distract myself so I could get back to sleep. Ah, but this was not to be.
“Meow, meow, meow?” The quick, short calls of a cat looking for someone, usually another cat. But it was coming from outside, and therefore not my cats. I’d heard this a day or two before, late evening before bed, or after sunset. So, either someone else’s cat, or very likely a stray. Plenty of apartments, occasional (or regular?) strays.
This time, I was going to look again. So out I go, with flashlight and keys. But (of course) no sign of a cat. Why would they? Too many people are ambivalent or hostile, while others are friendly; and there’s a major road between the two halves of the complex, so a cat is wise to be extra cautious. And most cats are experts at cautious. No kitty showed up to my calls. I waited a little.
I think that was a younger, female cat; which probably means she’s lookin’ for love in all the wrong places. Or the right ones. How should I know? Or looking for a cozy apartment and food bowl out of the cold and damp. (Chilly, not truly freezing cold, last night, even for here, not so cold. Spring-like. In February.)
I opened the door to go back in. ~Of course~, Goober the Non-Assertive has a brave streak and wants to explore. (At my old house, he was the one who’d dart out and try to stay out, day or night, to explore the yard, or the neighbor’s yard.) So, out he goes, and luckily, I’d thought I saw him streak past before I got the door closed. So I opened the door and stepped back out.
ACK! Cat right there! He darts to get back in while I’m stepping out, and before I saw where he was. I am not sure, but I think I stepped on his tail before he got in, in a mad scramble, and I recovered my wits and balance and got back in too, very relieved my cat had not gone roaming, never to be seen again, beginning some storied hobo life worthy of a blues song.
Well, so he got back in, and then I went looking for him to see how badly I might have gotten his tail, and to apologize in general to a cat who’s already been depressed, and might now think I was being abusive. (He should know after 11 years that I’m a clumsy biped.)
He was OK, didn’t hide, and was the usual level of shook-up after a near miss like that. — And more OK with me. He seemed to get it that I had not meant to step on him.
His scramble for the door would have done any action hero business proud, in some desperate scramble for the ship’s airlock, or securing the stronghold against invaders. Like a good little hero character or loyal sidekick or perhaps the sneaky thief, he made it in, just in the nick of time, avoiding getting smushed by the door.
And he’d managed to show a glimmer of that braver self that’s only hidden nearly always, in that urge to explore, and in how he took the results of getting back home safe and sound. (He can ~be~ a little brave about some new situations. He is such an odd mix that way.)
So, all is well. He has still not parked himself back on the bed or desk or in a window. He is still sticking by the (warm) router, probably making it warmer by sitting / sleeping on the dang thing.
But I’m a little less worried that there might be a truly serious depression issue going on there.
So, I’m hoping he’ll sort out whatever’s bothering him and get back to his usual habits. it might take a while. Or maybe I can somehow convince him everything’s OK on my end.
If I could get across to these two fuzz-brains that ~I~ am my own person and do ~not~ want to stand for being used as a prize / pawn in their relationship struggles (as rivals for my affection, to have all of me; or to be top cat) then that would be a much better deal. If I could also get across that, yes, really, I love them both in their own ways, equally, and neither is ever in much real danger, even when they manage to annoy the heck out of me at times, well, I’d prefer they understood this. I think if they’d ever get the idea that they could be true friends and not rivals and jealous, that they’d be better off. — Yeah, keep dreaming. In the 8+ years the junior one, Smokey, as been here, neither of the two has quite figured that out. (Goober is non-assertive, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t passive-aggressive, or brave in other ways. He can rarely be assertive. But only rarely.)
Also, it does not preclude them being buddies and grooming each other or hanging out or sleeping together, when they want. It sure doesn’t preclude them tag-teaming the human to get something they want. They are cats. They are smarter than most humans give them credit for.
This kind of thing always makes me reflect on human behavior (and misbehavior or bullying) and makes me think of how complicated it would be, dealing with real aliens or a mixed crew, aliens, humans, Earth animals, alien critters, and so on. There would be times when things go off-kilter in weird ways, and where getting back on track would be also complicated (and funny, weird, or other things) in the process.
No knowing about that other kitty out there. I figure she’s a she, from the way her voice sounded. There’s more than one around here, but so far, I’ve only seen one and heard two or more, and heard of a pair, one black, one orange. — If any neighbor has recently gotten a cat, I don’t yet know, but I think this was outside, and I think I’d hear the difference, if a cat was inside another apartment and making kitty-type noises.
So, well, with cats, it is never dull for long!
Glad to hear you are no longer “unhinged” and that Scott is on the mend. Since the flu vaccine let this one fall through the cracks, all you can do is wash your hands often, especially right before you eat, keep your hands away from your face and eyes, and wear a mask.
Usually, the flu hits the most vulnerable members of the population hardest, the elderly and children, but evidently, this strain of flu is a real booger and is side-swiping everybody. We have had standing room only in all three of our hospitals here due to flu, as well as several deaths. The one place I really wanted to stay away from is that great supermarket of super-germs, a hospital, but wouldn’t you know, I get to go to the big one Wednesday to have a port placed so I can start chemo. Nothing for it, though, but to hitch up my big girl britches, take what precautions I can, and get on with it.
The port installation shouldn’t take too long – once they start. It was same-day surgery for me, back in November. I have to say that having the port is never really comfortable, because the skin is stretched over it – though it beats having needles in my arm all to heck. (And if you take a couple of Tylenol beforehand, it will be closer to painless when they use it.)
One more chemo session for me, then follow-up mammo in March, probably surgery in May, maybe radiation, and a year of follow-up drug treatment, also using the port. (That’s what I got from the woman in the next chair Friday during her follow-up treatment; her cancer is like mine.) Chemo is working for me, though: the tumor is much, much smaller, and my hair is coming back already.
Best fishes to both of you on coming through chemo in (relatively) one piece!
This past week I have indulged in some home improvement and maintenance equipment. I am now the proud owner of a set of rechargeable electric grass clippers and a Hitachi chop saw. I have a lot of obstacles in my yard and the couch grass loves to grow in areas that are relatively inaccessible, so I’m hoping the trimmer will make quick work of the uninvited stuff around the aloes and rocks. The saw means I don’t have to bug our neighbor for the loan of his saw when I begin laying the new flooring and cutting lumber to build a new sectional.
Also, you probably won’t want to have any straps crossing the port – they’d be uncomfortable at best, and Really A Bad Idea at worst. (I wear my purse cross-body – I was, even before, because it’s heavy – and a bra would have to be strapless. I’m giving serious thought to a nice Victorian-style corset.)
Good luck, WOL!
Good Luck, WOL. One hopes for the very best.
One of my friends told me this past weekend that his neighbor’s girlfriend, who works at a pharmacy, contracted a sore throat and cough on the previous Thursday, went home after work, and ended up being taken to a major hospital and put on a ventilator due to double pneumonia. Unfortunately, by that Sunday, she was beyond hope, and did not survive. She was 60. I am being very careful about where I go, with whom I have contact, and especially with my father being just over a bout with bacterial pneumonia, not bringing it near him again. My sister-in-law said her father has pneumonia, as well, and they’ve let him go home, but he’s getting IVs full of antibiotics.
Good!
So, the hinge job hinged on something else (his health)? 🙂
Good luck, WOL.
A Catholic elementary school in Milwaukee has shut down for an entire week because over 60 students (and no few instructors) caught the flu. The building is being disinfected during the downtime.