Feel Like Complaining

This boy may have moved on from the plants a little; only because he's more interested in the kitchen counter. We've always chased him off but that is becoming a full time job. Steve's cats always get on the counter and I thought it would be so easy to keep them off if you kept at it long enough. Hahahahahahahaha, I was so wrong. Abe isn't after the food but will be opportunistic if any is left out. He's just being snoopy and wants to get to the window. Rather than fight it, I cleaned the sill and took down all my painted rocks. He's not allowed up when I'm actively cooking and we put food away right away. His first introduction to a toaster left him reeling backwards into the sink. Faith said I was mean but I'll get my laughs any way I can. We will get a cat tree when the bathroom is done and the last of the male dogs that would probably pee on it are gone. My Mom is probably doing a little spin in her urn about now.... I watched a great movie last week...

My trip is only 3 weeks away; I'm excited and nervous. But why am I going alone? I did ask Tony to go with me. Just as I was getting ready to book the hotel, he backed out; same with the next two trips I planned for us. He didn't want to slow me down because of his walker and he knew I wanted to see so many places. One reason to go alone and enjoy myself might sound selfish and I am fighting that feeling; but I deserve it. When you devote almost 40 years to taking care of a home and the people that live in it, it can be tiring and you forget the fun person you used to be (yes I was fun once). Another reason is I feel I have to prove something to myself. Sometimes I get overwhelmed by the decisions I have to make for other people and the house, that my brain goes on overload and starts to shut down. I need to be left to my own devices for awhile and navigate a strange place. Faith helps us a lot when we're on vacation or out and about and it just makes me feel old, so maybe ...

This week I'm staying at Steve's house in Airway Heights with Oli and Max. I just feed them twice a day and clean the box morning and night. He still tries to tell me he cleans the box 6-8 times a day.....yea I'm not doing that. If anything, I'm bored. I did make some cat toys out of old corks but I didn't give them any because Steve would find some reason not to like them. Abe liked the noisy ones with buttons (of course he did). Abe has turned into a bratty teenager really pushing limits (and my buttons). One day he was laying on Tony's lap and he spotted something on the TV and jumped up on the stand. As long as he doesn't touch the TV itself, it's no big deal. But from there he realized he could get to the plants. He doesn't do it during the day, only at night when he has a full audience. He starts batting plants while looking directly at us! We yell, we talk sweet, we use an obnoxious noise, he doesn't care. The only thing that diverts him i...

I've been having so many meet and greets. The ones I had over a week ago didn't pan out. I kind of feel like a salesman when I visit a home; more so than if they come to our house. I  met a woman with two dogs, the visit went well. She told me that she had another interview the next day but said she was pretty sure she would pick me because I had more experience. The next day she messaged to say she had gone with the other girl. Wow, just punch me in the gut will ya. Another lady that wanted the same days eventually had to go with someone else because I had to wait for the first one's decision. Another girl decided to go with a 'friend' after my visit. Her dog is very reactive so it was probably a good thing, but she didn't even bother telling me, making me contact her instead. One rare instance of my turning down a stay was a couple (also Rover sitters) with 2 older dogs. The problem wasn't with them but with me almost dying on their steps from the street. ...