Following My Bliss (or something like it)

Long time no...

2009-07-10T16:11:00.002-04:00

Well, I did warn you about the ADD issue. But then I found Facebook. I think I am only able to do one web based thing at a time. I have only had one adoption since last we shared crazy cat lady stories :) My five kittens are going in to be altered next Friday, one girl is in today so hopefully things will start moving here in the next few weeks.

On a different issue...does anyone get a constant error message about IE not being able to open the link to your blog? I get it constantly from my home computer. I don't understand...there is no help code or message about the error. Just says it can't open it. Now what??

Great news!

2009-06-06T21:03:00.001-04:00

Both of my adult cats that I recently took in have found their forever homes. That sure didn't take long. They were great girls, so it is always great news.

Lots of good news

2009-06-04T20:29:00.005-04:00

I have adult ADD so when I start something (like this blog) the enthusiasm quickly subsides. However, since I was last engaged, I have taken in two adult cats and five kittens...and one was already adopted!

My sister-in-law found a stray in her neighborhood. Meet Pocahontas (aka Tess)...sweet as can be. She was declawed and hungry. Had to be someones pet. Well, we got her ready for adoption and tonight she went to her new home with a woman we think is very, very great.

Then I decided I had to take in another adult that had been taken care of by a wonderful woman who's husband was about to have to undergo medical stuff because of his severe allergies to cats.

Meet Dusty: a real character

This woman who called PAWS totally vetted the cat, so she had received all of her vaccinations, had been tested and spayed. She is now at a local PetSmart waiting for someone to catch her eye.

And not to be outdone, I picked up five kittens the other night. I need my head examined. What can I say, our waiting list was getting out of control and there were so many that needed so much help.

And the last update, is that I started Twittering for PAWS! I don't know much about it so don't get too excited for me. But if you'd like to follow it is twitter.com/pawsohio.

The best medicine

2009-05-29T20:31:00.000-04:00

Sad, sadder, saddest

2009-05-02T09:03:00.002-04:00

Well, I suppose these things happen, but it doesn't make it any easier. Yesterday, we had to put down one of the kittens. It was the little tabby and white girl, Discovery. What makes it worse is that because she had FIP, an infectious viral disease, more than likely her litter mates have FIP, too, it is just not presenting yet.

She had stopped gaining weight and yesterday became very ill. It was tough to see that tiny little thing in that condition and there was nothing to do about it. There is no cure for FIP.

What makes this the almost unbearable is that I have exposed Rocky's healthy kitten to this virus and more than likely she will die as well. I can't believe it. Rocky will probably be okay because her immune system is good. Apparently, older healthy cats to not get the virus or if they do, they will shed it after some time. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that somehow the other two kittens and especially Rocky's little girl come through this without contracting the virus.

I just couldn't take it any longer

2009-04-29T22:20:00.005-04:00

For anyone who knows anything about stray cats, spring is kitten season. So if you do any kind of animal rescue, you know about this time of year is when all of the calls start coming in for help with a mother and her kittens.

We were getting inundated with calls and I just couldn't take it any longer. The guilt that is. Enter Rocky and her kittens. Well, it just started with Rocky and her kitten - singular. But once the word was out that I had a nursing mother with just one kitten, that easy task would be no longer. It turns out that one of our volunteers works part time at an animal clinic on the east side of Cleveland. Someone came in with a box of newborn kittens and no mother. So Rocky now has four! They actually go perfectly with her and she is a good little mommy.

Rocky is named after the woman who called in about her. She was found with her one kitten (the one on the far right side) at the construction site of the new juvenile justice center in Cuyahoga county. So, her kitten is named Justice. The other three weren't from that site, but we're going with the theme so they are (from left to right) Judge, Habeas and Discovery.

I wasn't so sure about Rocky at first. She hid and hissed (not the combo you're hoping for in order to find her a new home). But after just a couple of days, she is a very affectionate sweet little girl. I am just hoping that the bulge in her tummy is a whole bunch of worms and not another litter. I don't think it is possible for her to be pregnant again when her kitten can't be more than a month old but you never know. Let's just all keep our fingers crossed!

Paperback Swap

2009-04-19T19:10:00.007-04:00

So I was looking online for a book about this animal hoarder that was found with 552 dogs (okay so why would I be looking for a book like that - who knows but I'm seeking treatment) and came across this website for swapping books with others that have registered on the site. Pretty cool, don't you think?!?

The only money you really spend is sending off the books, which in comparison, is definitely less expensive than buying the new ones. I just posted about 30 or so books today and already have four going out in the mail. When you post ten books, you receive two credits or something. Then for every book you send you get a credit. One credit = one book.

Hopefully this will let me avoid the overdue fees at the library :)

I'm in disbelief

2009-04-14T11:20:00.007-04:00

Our Director of Homeland Security no longer refers to terrorist attacks or a war waged against those who want to inflict harm on our country or its citizens but would rather call them "man-made disasters." But she does want to brand citizens who stand up for the Constitution as outlaws or individuals for law enforcement for target. Read this report and be very afraid.

Wonder if my Don't Tread On Me car sticker will get me a ticket :)

Who's going to their tea party?

2009-04-12T09:07:00.003-04:00

You can always check to see where your local gathering is being held. Don't let Washington destroy the future for generations to come. Did you know that the CBO estimates that by 2019 the interest paid on the ever increasing national debt will be larger than defense spending? How can anyone prosper in that environment?

And don't forget what has spurred on this exercise in free speech:

Please sign this petition!

2009-04-08T14:27:00.005-04:00

I know I'm a glutten for punishment. Maybe sometimes I need to remind myself how absolutely rotten human beings can be. I'm just one of those people who doesn't naturally distrust people. Some time ago, I heard about a documentary called Dealing Dogs. For some unknown reason, I had to see it. It was one of the worst things I've ever seen.

Basically, it has to do with what are called "Class B Dealers" that lawfully operate with a license from the government (Wow, the government doing something hideous?). Anyway, the state of Michigan lawfully allows dogs and cats from shelters to be sold to these so called dealers to then end up as scientific experiments. These are our companions!

Please take action and sign this petition to support Michigan H.B. 4663 to eliminate pound seizures in Michigan's animal shelters!!

Here is the link: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/649021463?z00m=19754642

Foster Free!

2009-03-28T05:59:00.008-04:00

Little Nick went to his forever home last night. He's not in a mansion by any stretch of the imagination, but home is now with a young couple who obviously love their animals. They had two cats, brothers just like mine, and one of their boys died due to kidney failure.

They were looking for a new friend for their guy and spied Nick on the PAWS website. He's a rough and tumble guy who now has a safe home and won't be resigned to a life on the streets...not a very good life at that. I think he's going to do great!

So eighteen cats have come and gone (well, okay seventeen since I kept one) since August! Sounds a little nutty, but they have all found great homes. If you think about it, that is a lot of cats and a lot of great people who have opened up their hearts to help these little souls. Okay so I use the term "Little Nick" lightly obviously, but he was such a love bug! I'm just glad he is going to be in a place where he will get all the love an attention he desires! Here's to Nick!

I am going to be taking a little bit of a break from fostering. Now, don't get me wrong, I do other volunteer stuff with PAWS: adoption screenings, helpline calls and most recently pr and marketing for an upcoming event.

April is also Prevent Cruelty to Animals Month so I'm trying to get our executive director featured in some newspaper articles to further our cause. I'm sure the spare bedroom will have a new inhabitant sometime soon...they know I'm a sucker :)

2009-03-28T03:21:00.002-04:00

Find one in your town

Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act aka G.I.V.E. Act

2009-03-26T20:11:00.004-04:00

Be afraid...be very afraid. I'm sure the Germans didn't think anything of the Hitler Jugend Bund der deutschen Arbeiterjugend, either.

Wow, now that makes sense

2009-03-26T10:14:00.001-04:00

Fish fans anyone?

2009-03-25T08:30:00.003-04:00

A few years ago, I was in Fort Lauderdale for one of our national sales meetings. For some reason, everywhere I went, Grouper was on the menu. It has swiftly become one of my all time favorite fishes! Although I have not made this yet, it sounds outstanding and I think it will be on the menu very soon (from Cooking Light):

Margarita Grouper Fillets

6 (6-ounce) grouper fillets
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon finely chopped seeded serrano chile
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon tequila
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 garlic clove, chopped
Cooking spray
Chopped fresh chives (optional)
Lime wedges (optional)

Place the fillets in a single layer in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish, and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Combine 1/2 teaspoon salt, cilantro, and the next 7 ingredients (cilantro through garlic clove) in a blender or food processor, and process until smooth. Pour cilantro mixture over the fillets, and turn to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator 30 minutes, turning once.

Prepare grill.

Remove fish from dish; discard marinade. Place fish on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 5 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Garnish fish with chopped chives and lime wedges, if desired.
Note: Store cooked fillets in refrigerator for up to 1 day.

I think this would be absolutely awesome with one of my favorite rice dishes:

4 cups plus 2 tablespoons water, divided
1 cup basmati rice
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 poblano chiles, seeded and coarsely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preparation

Combine 2 cups water and rice; let stand 30 minutes. Drain well.

Place 2 tablespoons of water, fresh cilantro, and poblanos in a blender or food processor; process until smooth. Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper, green onions, and garlic; sauté 3 minutes. Add poblano mixture; sauté 2 minutes. Stir in rice, 2 cups water, and salt; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.

Anyone who knows me, knows I'll find just about any reason for rice :) But seriously, this rice is phenominal! If you make it before I do, let me know what you think!!

Common Sense

2009-03-21T14:35:00.003-04:00

At long last, little Tim gets his forever home!

2009-02-23T18:52:00.005-05:00

Little Tim was a tough one. He was really cute (as you can see), but just a scared little boy. I had him by himself for the last couple of weeks here in my office and that seemed to help him quite a bit. His new mom, I think is perfect for him. She understands his skittish behavior and knows how to work with him.

For the first time since August, I would have been foster-less, but alas, our big orange boy entered the domain. We're happy to have him!

On another note, time to really get serious about this diet thing. I don't know what in the world I've been doing but things have definitely gotten out of hand! I'll keep you posted.

Who doesn't love a big orange boy?

2009-02-22T09:23:00.003-05:00

Yes, I'm talking cats here. I mean can we get real? There is something very special about big orange tabby boys. They always seem to be the nicest. Meet Nick:

Poor Nick just doesn't seem to know what to make of the home environment. He has a big gash on his front leg and, as you can see slightly in his picture, is sporting a pretty good cold (upper respiratory infection in the cat world but basically the same thing). He received some antibiotics for his wound but no doubt will have to have oral antibiotics for his URI.

He's definitely afraid (under the bed as you might not be able to tell). But he loves affection and will eventually come out and start to purr, which then gets him a little congested. I'm sure this poor boy has had little or no inside experience but he's surprisingly good tempered. He let me clean up the goo-goo on his face and clean out his wound a little as well. All in a day's work. I know when he's healthy he'll be adopted. Everyone loves a big orange boy, right?

It's a great day for Natalie!

2009-02-21T05:52:00.005-05:00

At long last, Natalie is going to her forever home! A good friend of mine has finally succumbed to the pressure of a young girl she has been tutoring for a couple of years now. Natalie couldn't be going to a better home. She'll be the only pet in the home and in a perfect position to be the queen of the castle. I mean, come on, you expect that face to share attention with anyone?

I think the two independent girls will make a perfect pair. So, sixteen down, one to go. Poor little Tim is the sole remaining foster yet to find a home. He is going out to PetsMart today so hopefully someone will see him and just have to take him home!

I also happened to pick up another - I've told you haven't I? They know I'm a sucker. Apparently, our director saw this orange tabby in her neighborhood (notorious for an overpopulation of stray cats) and started feeding him. He turned up a couple of days ago with a bad wound on his leg. He went to the vet to tend to his wound (bad bite) and now he's in my house. I can't figure out if he is just really, really scared (he's full grown so this could be interesting) or feral. He seems to like being petted on his head, but there are some signs that he might be feral.

Feral cats tend not to make a sound if trapped. If he is feral, we have a plan for that but I'm hoping that after ten days of recuperation and being fed that he'll come around...only time will tell!

But back to the most important part of the post...Natalie is going home!

Yea for Emily!

2009-02-13T09:34:00.011-05:00

Same song, different words. Little Emily went to the same home with Max. I think they're going to have a great time. Okay, Emily will probably stay a little crabby, but Max has a playmate in the new owners other cat :)

I have been thinking that since August, I have taken in seventeen cats and fifteen of them have found new homes. That is a pretty great number if you think of it. We're left with just Tim and Natalie to find their forever family. Hopefully an adoption event tomorrow will help us do just that.

Strangely enough, Tim and Natalie are married in real life so isn't it a funny coincidence? Natalie's maternal instinct never really kicked in. We think that she is probably Tim's mom (they have the exact same markings), but she didn't really like him all that much (eek). Anyway, Tim loved Abe, as you can see by the snuggle session.

Yea for Max!

2009-02-09T15:57:00.009-05:00

Nothing makes a day better than when one of your favorite foster cats is going to what you know is going to be a great home. In addition to answering messages on the organization's helpline and fostering cats, I am also an adoption screener.

To follow in the footsteps of Associate Justice Potter Stewart, although I can't tell you exactly what makes a potential adopter not the right fit even though all of their answers are correct, I know it when I talk to them. Max's soon to be new mom, was not at all like that...she was great!

He was the sweetest boy from day one and I couldn't be happier that he's going home tonight. Here's to Max!

And a good recipe for when it gets colder, or not if you're a soup fan like I am. I have made this and it is surprisingly easy and really good!

Golden Potato-Leek Soup
From Cooking Light
Yield 8 servings (serving size: about 1 cup soup and 1 toast)

Soup:
1 tablespoon butter
3 cups thinly sliced leek (about 3 medium)
6 cups cubed peeled Yukon gold potato (about 2 1/4 pounds)
2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 (14-ounce) cans organic vegetable broth (such as Swanson Certified Organic)
2 thyme sprigs

Cheddar Toasts:
8 (1/4-inch-thick) slices diagonally cut sourdough French bread baguette
Cooking spray
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper

Remaining Ingredients:
1/3 cup fat free whipping cream
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Thyme sprigs (optional)

Preparation
Preheat oven to 375°. To prepare soup, melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add leek; cook 10 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally (do not brown). Add potatoes, water, salt, broth, and 2 thyme sprigs. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes or until potatoes are very tender.

To prepare cheddar toasts, place baguette slices in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 375° for 7 minutes or until toasted. Turn slices over; coat with cooking spray, and sprinkle 1 tablespoon cheese over each slice. Bake 5 minutes or until cheese melts. Sprinkle evenly with red pepper.

Remove pan from heat; discard thyme sprigs. Partially mash potatoes with a potato masher; stir in cream. Sprinkle with black pepper. Serve with cheddar toasts. Garnish with thyme sprigs, if desired.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 299 (25% from fat)
Fat: 8.6g (sat 4.7g,mono 2.7g,poly 0.6g)
Protein: 7.5g
Carbohydrate: 48.4g
Fiber: 3.9g
Cholesterol: 25mg
Iron: 2mg
Sodium: 660mg
Calcium: 113mg

These are the people running our country

2009-02-04T17:14:00.002-05:00

Please help Snoopy and vote!

2009-02-03T20:16:00.003-05:00

I swear our Executive Director is always all over. I don't know how she does it. Anyway, this is a local story, but please pass this story along and vote so Snoopy can stay with Ansje!

They're joking, right?

2009-02-02T12:13:00.005-05:00

“Make no mistake, tax cheaters cheat us all, and the IRS should enforce our laws to the letter.”

Sen. Tom Daschle, Congressional Record, May 7, 1998, p. S4507.

I wonder what would happen to me if I didn't pay over $120,000 in taxes. Okay so that would take me a while, it's true, but seriously. What is going on? Doesn't something seem a little out of whack? You can't make this stuff up. So one of my elected officials is George Voinovich. Get this quote from one of the pages on his website:

"Gone are the days when public officials are measured by how much they spend on a problem…public officials are now judged on whether they can work harder and smarter, and do more with less." – George V. Voinovich

I mean is he kidding? I gave his office a quick jingle and suggested that they might tweak that a bit...all things considered :)

Checking out my other Senator's website, I was noting that Sherrod Brown was supporting the "Buy American" clause of the Stimulus package. If Senator Brown (and I use that term loosely) had ever taken an econ class in college or perhaps read Applied Economics as suggested below, he might understand that the impact of that type of legislation is negative. Now, don't get me wrong. I am totally for supporting American industry. I've never owned a car made by a foreign manufacturer and never will, but having a government policy to that effect just doesn't work. History shows us that.

I don't want to get into the nitty gritty here (mainly because it is probably boring and kind of a downer in general), but it is really shocking to me that these idiots don't understand the first thing about business. And I can't even balance a checkbook :)

History has shown us so much that is wrong with what our government is about to do here. It is really hard to believe that they think we are that dumb. Maybe you should tell them we're not!

Have you contacted your Senators?

Turning 40

2009-01-31T07:25:00.003-05:00

Okay, so I'm older than 40...sue me. Part of marking that milestone was a celebration of sorts...a trip with old college friends. The celebration took a back seat when we learned that our dear friend, Natalie, was diagnosed with Stage III ovarian cancer.

I'm sorry but what the &%^#??? We're 40 years old! I wanted to vomit. Actually, thought I would vomit. It is a good thing that Nat has a long history of thinking "outside the box." So to speak :) And it seems as though she brought that thinking to her fight.

Anyway, she is taking steps not only to stop her own cancer but to help who knows how many others. I can't explain the extent of my admiration for her.

For anyone reading this blog (and I know there aren't many but hey, forward this post on to all of your friends), I hope you might join in the fight and support the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

My Own Flock

2009-01-30T11:14:00.022-05:00

All of these "visitors" to my home, how come I haven't said anything about the permanent residents? Who knows, we all take the ones we love the most for granted it seems sometimes. My permanent flock has grown by one just since yesterday. I made up my mind that one of my fosters is going to stay.

But let's put the spotlight on the best of the best. I started volunteering for PAWS after adopting my two boys, Abe and Ron. There could be no two cats more perfectly suited for someone like they are for me. After fifteen years of two cats that only tolerated each other, it is so awesome to have two that love each other. They are brothers. Also rescued by PAWS, apparently they were bottle-fed since they were about two days old. Aren't they awesome?!?

It is almost two years since they entered my life and have made it all the better. I picked them up from their foster home in the middle of a February blizzard.

About six months later (Memorial Day 2007), I made what was probably the biggest commitment of my life: I got a dog. Now, I don't have any kids and cats are independent so this was a big change in lifestyle, believe me! After I made up my mind that I was definitely ready for a dog, I contacted the PAWS dog coordinators. We discussed my lifestyle, my preferences, likes/dislikes, you get the idea. I was both surprised and disappointed when they told me they didn't think we had a dog that was right for me. I wanted to adopt from PAWS but I felt that their honesty and commitment to doing the best thing for the animals in our care was admirable.

Enter: Petfinder.com

So, I searched and searched. Breed, size, color wasn't all that important to me. I wanted the right girl. Save Ohio Strays, another great rescue that fosters pets in private homes, had my girl: Liddy. Her foster mom told me that she was rescued from the Medina County Dog Pound on what would have been her last day. I can't imagine anyone not scouring the earth trying to find her. There is no way she would run away (from me at least). My feeling is that she may have been somewhat mistreated. But she is definitely a sweetheart.

After a DNA test, I found out that she is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever/Beagle mix. How cool is it that? I had a bunch of people tell me they thought Liddy was a Hungarian Viszla...never heard of that before. I have a neighbor who knew she had some Beagle in her!

Liddy and I have gone to school. We enrolled in a couple different training classes with the hopes of her receiving her Canine Good Citizen certification...then on to certified Therapy Dog! She has a wonderful disposition and thought she would really thrive in that environment. Well, Liddy has some separation anxiety "issues," so I don't know if that will ever pan out. Who cares! All I know is that she's her mommy's girl! And that's just the way I like her.

Two cats and a dog: perfect! Enter four strays in my backyard this summer. I have lived in my house for about ten years. I have never seen a stray cat in my neighborhood so when all of a sudden this mother and her three kittens were there, I couldn't stand myself! They were borderline feral (unsocialized, unused to human contact). I went out and got a couple humane animal traps, received permission to bring them in the PAWS system and the rest is history. The three kittens have found homes and I decided yesterday that Sarah is home...in my home.

If you could see the change in her since August you wouldn't believe it is the same cat (not only is she chubby, but her manner is so much better). However, the thought of her having to readjust to a new home after knowing how stressed she was under varying circumstances is something that I'm not comfortable with at all. So, she is formally adopted!

Strangely enough, all of the cats love the dog...even the new girl! And to be perfectly honest, I couldn't have a better dog for all of this insanity than the girl pictured here. So this has been my little tribute to the furry ones that improve my life and brighten each and every day!

The newest addition

2009-01-29T06:52:00.006-05:00

I never did post a photo of the newest member of the household. Here is Emily. She was taken in from that abuse situation I mentioned earlier. I was a little worried that she might be a very temperamental cat, but she's actually a sweetheart.

Still not fond of other cats (I need another one of those like I need a hole in the head), but very chatty and humorous. The picture really doesn't do her justice. She's very cute! "Look Mom, another post about cats!" Seriously, I need hobby :)

Are they seriously serious?

2009-01-28T15:11:00.019-05:00

Okay so maybe most people I know don't have to wonder where my politics take me. But, if you have no idea and I hope if you don't, you can just read objectively...are they seriously serious? Are they seriously going to spend a trillion that they don't even have on STD prevention, Pell grants and $650 million on the converter box program for digital TV? I'm sorry, did they say this was a stimulus? A way to create jobs? Somehow lost in this conversation, have we ever known government to positively impact the economy?

Are they serious? Before you think that your voice can't make a difference, I want you to view some of the spending coming our way.

And before you think that your voice can't make a difference, read this article in the Wall Street Journal about the feeding frenzy going on in Washington.

What should be required reading before being sworn in to the U.S. Congress:

My heart just sinks for the generations to come that will have to bear this burden...and hey, I don't even have any kids. I implore you to share your views with your elected officials. Only we can make a difference. And a little song to remember from whence we came.

And then the Brain Trust that is our local government apparently has $130 million on hand for a greening project (West-bound shoreway) and $45 million for a medical mart that will never be built but one of the biggest bridges (and most important) in the city is about to fall down and no one is doing anything about it. How many people have to die on that bridge?

I ask you again, are they seriously serious?

The same song keeps playing in my head.

What a great idea!

2009-01-26T11:05:00.008-05:00

Thanks to my friend, Katie, I might add a recipe here or there. Her suggestion: wings! And who doesn't like wings, frankly. Okay so I'm sure that there are many, but I'm not one of them. And I think this could definitely be part of the pursuit of bliss. I love to cook after all. Too many years of living alone, I don't do it much for myself. So here is my first go:

Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings

4 pounds chicken wings

3 tablespoons cooking oil

4 cloves garlic, chopped

1 ¾ teaspoon salt

1 ½ teaspoons cayenne

2/3 cup mayonnaise

1/3 cup sour cream

¼ pound blue cheese, crumbled (about 1 cup)

2 scallions, including green tops, chopped

5 teaspoons vinegar

¼ teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper

¼ cup ketchup

1 tablespoon Tabasco (or more depending on how hot you like it)

8 ribs celery, cut into sticks

1. Heat the oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the wings, oil, garlic, 1 ½ teaspoons of the salt, and the cayenne. Arrange the wings in a single layer on two large baking sheets. Bake until just done, about 25 minutes. I had the full wings and cooked these much, much longer.

2. Meanwhile, in a medium glass or stainless-steel bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, blue cheese, scallions, 1 teaspoon of the vinegar, the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt and the black pepper.

3. In a large bowl, combine the ketchup, the remaining 4 teaspoons vinegar, and the Tabasco sauce. Add the wings and toss to coat. Serve with the celery stick and blue-cheese dressing alongside.

This sounds very familiar to a wing recipe I used to use some time ago and at least it isn't deep fried. But of course the blue-cheese dip is always the best part.

Cooking...I really need to do more of it for my own benefit. And of course that is all about feeding the soul and enjoying life...bliss no less!

Good news on the cat front. The last two of the first three fosters I took in this year (Adam and Tony) have finally gone to their forever home! Now Max is in the spare bedroom and enjoying stretching his legs and looking out the window. I hope that he is adopted quickly. He is a very friendly and outgoing guy so hopefully it will not be long for him either!

The Best Laid Plans...

2009-01-18T13:00:00.006-05:00

don't always work out as we plan. It seems as though one of the kittens we were able to rescue the other day had a spinal cord injury that could not be repairable. The kitten had suffered for who knows how long and in the animal's best interest, was put to sleep.

The owner was angry that the cats were "going" all over the house. Well, had they sought any kind of medical attention (or even paid any attention), they would have known that something was wrong. The foster mom of the kitten saw immediately that there was a problem and it was taken to the vet immediately where we were able to end what was no doubt enormous pain for the poor little girl.

As I understand it, a cruelty investigation will be forthcoming. Thank goodness! Another bit of good news is that we were able to get the final kitten away from this family.

Today is a day where I need to get a ton of housework done. I think that I mentioned something about this previously but with procrastination in my blood, that fell by the wayside. I also need to get going on my physical improvement quest. It hasn't been good lately so it is time to stop making excuses and get busy.

I'm snowbound today so there is no excuse. Time to get motivated!

Saturday and another cat in the house - I see a pattern here

2009-01-17T09:40:00.012-05:00

Well, the cold weather had us all scrambling to make sure all of the cats that were out in the cold are in someplace warm. As much as I am constantly amazed by how hard the volunteers work, I am just as stunned at how dumb and heartless humans can be.

Case in point: I answer messages left on our help line one day every week. We received a call about three strays. Because of the weather we were following up on unclosed situations. This happened to be one of those unclosed situations. Long story short, the concerned caller turned out to be an awful owner and actually lied about her own pets! For pets they are in awful condition. I have the mother, another volunteer has one kitten and we're trying to wrestle away the other kitten from the awful owner.

So far, my newest addition, Emily, is less than pleased. She is a pretty cat, hungry, skinny and, well, hissing. Just what I need.

Fostering homeless animals has its rewards. But when one of the felines throws a wrench into your plans it can become challenging. Natalie (pictured here) is probably one of the funniest cats I have ever seen. She looks almost cartoon-like. Just a wee little cat with a menacing look about her. She is very nice, it's that first impression thing that causes her problems :) When I am typing away at the computer, that is where she usually sits.

The unfortunate thing about her is that she doesn't particularly care for other cats. Okay so that's a little mild, she looks at them as prey. In the animal adoption world, finding a no-pet home for an only-pet cat is a little on the tough side.

So now with the weather in sub-zero land and all of this cat stuff, my exercise regimen has taken a back seat. So it might just be a couple of days but the benefits to mental health are really what I need.

I have a ton of work to do today. So far, I seem to be focusing primarily on the cat part of my bliss. I hope that changes over the course of doing this blog and starting this written word therapy, but we shall see how it goes.

Thursday and another cat in the house

2009-01-15T07:00:00.007-05:00

So the button I selected said "New Post." I guess this is my first post. This is my mild attempt at finding out what I really should be doing and how I need to get there.

Animal Rescue

After having a house full of foster cats (15 at the most), I will be down to "technically" two. I know you're thinking that I am an episode of Animal Cops in the making, but it really was nothing like that. It was very organized...no cats in the rafters :) Anyway, with the Arctic air blowing in, the rescue group I volunteer with was making a push to clean up our waiting list and make sure no one was out in the cold. So, in comes Max (pictured here).

He seems like a very sweet guy so far. He didn't come from the worst of the worst circumstances, but I'm glad he's not where he was yesterday, that's for sure. After Friday, his accommodations with be a lot better at his new, but temporary, home. The last two of the first three cats I decided to foster this summer are getting adopted. I couldn't be happier that they are finally getting their forever home.

Part of my reason for starting this blog is to find harmony, get centered and of course focused. How do I go about figuring out what I'm really supposed to be doing. I'm not looking to change the world, just my world. The animal rescue stuff is a good start. I'm very passionate about it and it seems to bring much to my life in many ways. It provides a needed sense of accomplishment.

The next part of the whole bliss thing is the physical to go along with the mental/spiritual, if you will. So, it is Thursday morning and five frigid degrees outside. Time for an exercise video. It's now or never!