Cats

Georgian (pronounced George-Anne) had that fun party the other night.  She was very conscientious about having cats, knowing how may people are allergic and had thoroughly cleaned her house and put her two cats into a spare room.

I always like visiting the owner's pets when I'm somewhere.  I went into the room to see what the cats were like.  One must have been cowering under the bed, but her big black and white cat, Buddy, was up on top of a cage.  As soon as I opened the door, he got up and stretched, and started talking to me very loudly, looking right into my eyes.  I gave him a welcome scritch around the ears and as cats do, he started reacting happily, still talking all the while.  (I have no idea what the cat was saying, but it was the most verbal cat I've ever heard, outside of meowing.)

I'm severely allergic to cats.  Immediately, I went to the washroom and washed up; I always use my left hand when I pet a cat.  But I like to make friends with cats.

When I was 12 and my body chemistry was in the throes of the great male change, I had a near anaphylactic seizure from being around a cat.  I must have petted it, then rubbed my eyes...both eyes burned and swoll up so badly, I could barely see, and my throat nearly closed up.    I had never been allergic to one until then (that I remember).  After that time, I became allergic to lots and lots of things in the air and suffered for many years with weepy, swollen eyes, sneezing and clogged or runny sinuses.

During two memorable calling trips (Detroit and Seattle), my hosts had one or more cats, and lived in horribly unsanitary conditions.  BOTH times, I got bronchitis and was ill for weeks.  Never again.

But still I'm sad that I have this particular allergy and generally won't go visit friends that have cats.  Now and again, I do like to play with fire and pet one.   But as in many things, I'm VERY VERY careful!

Many of my allergies seem to have gone away or tempered over the years.  I wish this one would.

Cats

Georgian (pronounced George-Anne) had that fun party the other night.  She was very conscientious about having cats, knowing how may people are allergic and had thoroughly cleaned her house and put her two cats into a spare room.

I always like visiting the owner's pets when I'm somewhere.  I went into the room to see what the cats were like.  One must have been cowering under the bed, but her big black and white cat, Buddy, was up on top of a cage.  As soon as I opened the door, he got up and stretched, and started talking to me very loudly, looking right into my eyes.  I gave him a welcome scritch around the ears and as cats do, he started reacting happily, still talking all the while.  (I have no idea what the cat was saying, but it was the most verbal cat I've ever heard, outside of meowing.)

I'm severely allergic to cats.  Immediately, I went to the washroom and washed up; I always use my left hand when I pet a cat.  But I like to make friends with cats.

When I was 12 and my body chemistry was in the throes of the great male change, I had a near anaphylactic seizure from being around a cat.  I must have petted it, then rubbed my eyes...both eyes burned and swoll up so badly, I could barely see, and my throat nearly closed up.    I had never been allergic to one until then (that I remember).  After that time, I became allergic to lots and lots of things in the air and suffered for many years with weepy, swollen eyes, sneezing and clogged or runny sinuses.

During two memorable calling trips (Detroit and Seattle), my hosts had one or more cats, and lived in horribly unsanitary conditions.  BOTH times, I got bronchitis and was ill for weeks.  Never again.

But still I'm sad that I have this particular allergy and generally won't go visit friends that have cats.  Now and again, I do like to play with fire and pet one.   But as in many things, I'm VERY VERY careful!

Many of my allergies seem to have gone away or tempered over the years.  I wish this one would.

I've deemed it's Springtime

Today it's mild enough to go out to do yard chores, so I set to it.   Unfortunately, this time of year, it's still bleakly brown, so it's mostly just tree/shrub/plant debris cleanup, and digging up some of that bizarre grass-like plant that thrives even under snow.  There's no threat of snow in the near future, but weather.com predicts some winterish cold days next week, so I won't be suckered into thinking it's safe to plant things.

A couple hours into my labors, I was rewarded by uncovering some beautiful orange crocuses that have ventured out.

Tra la, tra la!

I did succeed in finally cleaning up the very last of the arborvitae trimmings from last Fall.  After about 15+ trashcan-loads from back then until today, it feels like I've accomplished something.

I've deemed it's Springtime

Today it's mild enough to go out to do yard chores, so I set to it.   Unfortunately, this time of year, it's still bleakly brown, so it's mostly just tree/shrub/plant debris cleanup, and digging up some of that bizarre grass-like plant that thrives even under snow.  There's no threat of snow in the near future, but weather.com predicts some winterish cold days next week, so I won't be suckered into thinking it's safe to plant things.

A couple hours into my labors, I was rewarded by uncovering some beautiful orange crocuses that have ventured out.

Tra la, tra la!

I did succeed in finally cleaning up the very last of the arborvitae trimmings from last Fall.  After about 15+ trashcan-loads from back then until today, it feels like I've accomplished something.