There is so much depressing news right now... the war, global warming, Darfur. Tell me, how the hell did those morons manage to botch the execution of Sadam Hussein?  Can President Bush's voice get any more irritating? For crying out loud...just when I thought things couldn't get any worse I saw the movie Children of Men. It depicts an extremely bleak vision of the planet's future. Fantastic movie, but utterly disturbing.

 

Let's put all that upsetting stuff aside for a moment. How about another... umm....cat story? Shall we?

 

My sister was kind enough to come over at the last minute to help me coerce/stuff/jam the cats in their crates for their trip to the vet. She stood ready to grab the cat as I pushed it out from under the bed, or wherever it chose to hide. She'd pin it to the ground and then I'd come help her scoop it into the crate. It wasn't that bad, really. We were a good cat trapping team.

 

The real fun started when we got the rascals in the car. Both cats started meowing like torture victims- long, sad, yowls. Thank goodness, my sister saw the panicked look on my face and volunteered to come along for the ride. She talked and petted them through the "trauma". At one point I got distracted by all the racket and almost rear-ended someone. I had to slam on the brakes hard, causing one of the crates to fly off the back seat and onto the floor. Oops. After recovering that cat to her seat, she suddenly got very quiet. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

 

Luckily the cats are healthy so I only have to do this  trip to the vet once every year or so. I did get news that both kitties are a bit overweight. Now they're both on strict diets. The fatsos act like their starving, while their bellies flop from side to side.  Every time I go to the kitchen they run after me in hopes that I'll throw them an extra scoop of chow. Instead of giving extra food, I toss em a ball of string. Cats aren't as dumb as some people (dog owners) think. I can almost hear them (the cats) saying...c'mon don't try to distract us with the dumb string trick again! We. Want. Food.

 

My best friend is in town again this weekend. It's time for some fun. See ya.

 

I am savoring my cup of morning coffee. Today is the day of my winter vacation I've been dreading. The task I have to do today is far overdue. It requires a half a day free and lots of patience. It's take-the-cats-to-the vet day.

 

The first time I took my two new cats to the vet was not problematic. I scooped them into the travel crate quickly. They didn't know what hit them. The second time was another story. My docile, sweet kitties turned into hissing, scratching lunatics. After an hour of chasing them around the apartment and suffering scratches all over my arms, I gave up and called my mom for assistance. She arrived with another crate. The two of us, with our arms wrapped in towels, managed to corner the cats one at a time and jam them in the crates. It was exhausting. That was about three years ago. The cats have been healthy since then so I have avoided taking them to the vet. 

 

In addition to having self-imposed guilt for ignoring the "it's time for a checkup" postcards in the mail, my vetrinarian also happens to be one of my best friends. When we go out together she scolds me for being "a bad cat mother". I assure her that the next time I have a day off I'll make the appointment. But many days off have come and gone. Finally it's time.

 

There are a couple more barriers to getting to the vet. In order to visit my friend's clinic I have to drive out to the 'burs. This means I have to borrow a car. Then there's the traffic. Driving west on 290 during certain hours is like a lesson in torture. The damn traffic doesn't move. So the appointment must be between the hours of 11-1 pm. If traffic's good it will take me about 25 minutes to drive there. Mind you, the cats meow as if being tortured the whole time. I fear being caught in a a traffic jam with two yowling cats. I would lose it.

 

I have to start getting ready to go now. Wish me luck. Here kitty, kitty, kitty...