Unwinding before Lotusphere

I really didn't want to travel this month but Lotusphere is a double edged sword. I'm exposed to so much technical information - that you'd think I could find within my own company w/o having to travel. At the same time it's EXHAUSTING. There are so many customer meetings and other events I have to attend that I'm glad when it's over.
In the calm before the storm, late at night, I try and relax via the internet. One of my favorite things to do is enter contests like this one http://www.urbansherp.com/sweepstakes/crate-barrel-sweepstakes-2012-01-entry

Interviewing new sitters

I had hoped I had a long term sitter lined up, but alas health issues have sidled my regular person. I'm always concerned that I'll end up in a situation where, if something goes wrong, they'll rat me out to the city. It's also a balance between COST of the sitter (because my herd is so huge). I also have a friend who has been beyond incredible to/for me.If daughter(s) want the $$ then I'll choose them but I was impressed with my "more expensive" option.
I always wonder what a stranger feels when they enter the insanity that is the home of a person with a herd.I don't sugar coat it. Yes, I cleaned today. Yes I scooped the litters but that didn't stop someone from leaving a couple of turd nuggets out in the front room! At least the dogs (and Marco,the cat, who seems to love just about everyone) gave the unknown sitter paws up.

OK I've been remiss

So much has hapened with the herd. I took a big vacation this fall (to the Galapagos:) and the herd did well.... until I got home. Apparently they were stressed and whomever had the feline URI virus and those that didn't already have it, caught it. I ended up with 10 cats all sick at the same time.
I also noticed that Franklin had become very thin... o off to the vet we went. The long and short of it all is - he had lung cancer. Operable? Possible but the survival rate in his condition is 50-50 and it's not a cure. This past weekend, I saw that Texas A&M has a dog/cat cancer database so I'm registering him there. Maybe there's a trial out there for him.
Meanwhile, my oldest cat, Catrina has a thyroid condition. She's responding well to oral medication.
Then there's the NEW cat that showed up amd has moved in now. Clara Belle is quite the diva. It just seems that the holiday has been spent shuttling pets back and forth to the vet's. Tomorrow Cooper is going - he appears to have some sort of a skin condition.
Alas, I knew this was going to happen sooner or later. Not looking forward to what 20122 has in store for some of the herd members.

Where does the time go?

I suppose traveling the first two weeks both in March and April have something to do with it. Then there's always the clean-up when I get home from a trip. Add in Fritz having a scary, long seizure and rushing him to the animal hospital at 3 AM and ....
Drum roll please .... acquiring a new "part time" cat. I call Cooper my "part time" cat because while he seems to enjoy the indoor life, he hasn't quite broken himself from the freedom of being out doors. I will say, he is looking better for the part time care he allows me to give him. He's been neutered. The wounds from his last fight have healed (he still needs the broken tooth removed) and most recently, it looks like I'm winning the war with the ear mites. I actually see fur on the back of his ears even if there's still some crud in the ears. What a wonderful boy for letting me clean his ears.
So to unwind tonight I'm making it through my email and enter a few contests and well, dream of winning a new iPad from The Centsible Life & CheckNGo . I can't seem to bring myself to purchase one but wow how this would come in handy for my upcoming 50th birthday adventure. I have booked the tickets to Ecuador and put down a deposit on a Galapagos cruise. I'm also going to do two post cruise tours in order to see more birds (and hopefully more animals). I mean what else would the Pet Crazy Lady do on vacation?

Beautiful Weather

Makes walking the dogs such a pleasure. I think the boys are enjoying the nice weather as well - Zane has been especially playful for an old boy. It warms my heart that he wants to play wrestle and drink from the hose. I love my boys so much I wish they could stay young forever.
Speaking of nice weather, wouldn't it be nice to win a fully furnished home in California? I know I wouldn't mind winning a chance at this raffle from Flyinggigglesandlollipops.com

Cold and windy day

Makes me have no energy and the pets sleepy. I wish I had some energy because I need to put the rest of my kitchen away and focus on the last few steps. That's why I entered this http://www.homeconstructionimprovement.com/renew-redo-your-bath-home-depot-giveaway/ the extra $200 would help me buy the grout, sealer and some of the tile even - to do the back splash. Zane wants me to finish this so he won't have to run into the junk laying around here. He wants me to win!

Stainless Steel Feeding Dishes

Stainless dishes are supposed to help with cat "acne" but I still have a couple of pets still get this. Regardless, they are the easiest to keep clean. I either soak them in water or pop them into the dishwasher. I can always use another one so I entered this contest Cake Mom