PRAYER TO BAST FOR A SICK CAT

IMAGE SOURCE~©MELANIE NEER~MY OWN STATUE OF BAST

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Ever since childhood, I've had a great love for the Ancient Egyptian culture, quite literally grew up with it. I've also have had cats since I was five years old. I've always loved the idea of their being a feline goddess dedicated to cats. So when I came across this "prayer" I knew I had to share it. Found this particular "prayer" here:

Prayer To Bast For A Sick Cat

PRAYER TO BAST FOR A SICK CAT



“Great Lady of the Cats,

I call upon your sleek form to aid me.

Your child is ill here in my arms.

Come to us and bathe your child

with your tongue and heal her wounds,

Heal her nose and mouth,

so she may breathe and taste.

Heal her teeth and claws,

so she may hunt and eat.

Heal her eyes and ears,
so she may know the world.

Heal all those things that let her digest,

So she can grown healthy.

Heal her heart, lungs and legs,

so that she may travel on.

Heal her skin and fur,

so she may show beauty.

Heal her bones and joints,

so she can play again.

Heal her tongue,

so she can heal her sisters.”

The Disposable Mind-Set Too Often Includes Pets

The Disposable Mind-Set Too Often Includes Pets

Originally published on May 5, 2013 for Yahoo.Voices, a website that no longer exists.

IMAGE SOURCE~PERSONAL PHOTO~Me as a baby with the family dog Candy, a Beagle

We seem to be living in an age where everything seems disposable, to be gotten rid of if it doesn't serve our purpose or is useful to us anymore. Perhaps only fifteen or twenty years ago, if one's TV went on the blink for whatever reason, instead of throwing it out, one would've called a TV repairman to fix it; the same could also be said for stereo systems and appliances. Decades ago if one bought furniture, it was often considered an investment of sorts and one kept it for nearly one's lifetime; one may even have handed some of the furniture down to relatives. Now however, instead of getting an item repaired or handing it down, we dispose of it to get a new and improved version of it.

Sadly and tragically, no longer are only inanimate items tossed away like so much garbage, but pets are as well; they have become disposable. I do a lot of crossposting of urgent pets needing to be rescued over at Facebook and I'm aware of the alarmingly high rate of pets being surrendered. Each and every single day, nationwide, pets are surrendered into shelters, particularly high kill municipal shelters. High kill shelters have an open admission surrender policy; these high kill shelters are obligated to take in any and all pets for whatever reason the owner gives. Quite frankly, some of the reasons an owner gives are poor excuses and to my mind a betrayal of trust that the pet may have had with the owner particularly if that owner had the pet for many years.

Here are some of the reasons, which I find rather lame, for why people get rid of their pets:

1). "New Baby": 
I really have no idea why people think they need to "dispose" of their pet due to a new baby coming into the family. While I've had cats nearly all my life ever since I was five years old, prior to that, my folks were dog people, and consequently there was a dog, named Candy. When I came into the world, it never crossed their minds to get rid of the dog. In fact I have a rare photo of myself as a baby; I'm not even a year old, and there I am sitting on the living room floor and right next to me was Candy who was a beagle. I in fact include a photo of me as a baby with Candy here in this article.

2). "Allergies": 
Yes, people can be allergic to pets, but what I can't understand is why people surrender pets into shelters due to allergies after having the pet for eight or more years. And guess what folks? Yes I have allergies. Also, when my grandmother was still alive and living with my mother and myself, she developed asthma. Her doctor recommended getting rid of the four cats we had at the time, and what was her response? She got rid of the doctor instead. So yes, she had asthma however she was able to control it via medications.

3). "Moving": 
People move for a variety of reasons: perhaps to upgrade to a better living space, foreclosure, or even eviction, yet why does one feel it necessary to surrender a pet or leave it behind due to "moving"? Often I hear that the excuse is that the new place a person is moving to won't allow pets. Well, like duh? If a person truly views their pet as a family member, shouldn't they go out of their way to find a place that does accept pets?

In most cases with moving there is a known time factor involved, and yes even in cases of foreclosure or eviction, it's usually not like one has to move pronto overnight. Some of the saddest cases are the "foreclosure" pets…pets abandoned and left behind. I came across one such case while crossposting urgent cats on Facebook. The former owners left their orange tabby cat behind, the cat mind you was 18 years old! The new tenants upon moving in found the cat and took it to a shelter, a high kill shelter I might add. Diligent crossposting between us all over at Facebook began for "Ginger". In Ginger's case she was lucky as someone was willing to adopt her for the remainder of her "senior" years. But not all stories end happily ever after and in many cases the cat (or dog) will be "euthanized". Would people "abandon" their human children for the moving excuse if children weren't allowed in a new place? I don't think so, they would go out of their way to find a place that did accept children, so why do people feel it's all right to abandon their pet(s)?

4). No Pets Allowed: 
Yes many landlords will have a no pet clause in their lease or he/she may all of a sudden decide no pets allowed even if previously pets were allowed, however there are some loopholes people need to know about. In many cases, despite a no pet clause, if the pet owner has had the pet for at least three months, the landlord can't take legal action or demand the pet owner to give up their pet, so it's wise for people to know the specific pet laws that are in a pet owner's favor and not the landlords.

5). "No Time": 
Are people so busy in their lives that they don't have time for their pet? If they can make time for their human children, and other family obligations, then in my opinion so should they for their pets.

6). "Too Old": 
I can't think of a bigger sense of betrayal to a pet than when a pet owner surrenders their pet to a shelter due to the pet being old, and especially if that pet owner then wants to get a new puppy or kitten since the "old" pet is no longer cute and cuddly. I came across one such a case only the other night while doing my crossposting over at Facebook. The cat's name was Lola and was two years old, but the owner had only adopted the cat five months ago. Now the owner was surrendering Lola to a high kill shelter. In the "evaluation/questionnaire" asked of the owner why he was surrendering Lola, the person stated, "too big getting a kitten". The cat was only two years old and the person thought it too big and old? Two years old is still practically a kitten in itself! Thankfully since I was tracking to see the fate of Lola, I found out that she was rescued. Of course, there's the other extreme where the pet is say ten, fifteen, or more years old and the owner wants a "new and improved" version. It's when I come across cases like this, I'm sorry, but I hope karma bites the person in the butt and when that person is old gets "dumped" somewhere and abandoned.

7). "Personal Problems" 
While there can be many types of personal problems involved, one of the biggest personal problems excuse cited is this scenario. A person has a pet, and may have had the pet for many years, but then a new "love" interest comes into their life. This new love interest pulls a either it's me or the pet threat. Since the idiot, and yes, I'm thinking the person is an idiot to be so blinded by love for the person, that person will stupidly give up the pet, and yes, it is stupid. Sorry, but if a new love interest came into my life, I would practically do a police interrogation and one of the first questions I would ask, "Do you like animals/pets?" If that person said no, well, let's put it this way, I would show the person to the door and say au revoir. (Update from original article: There actually was one case that still comes to mind to this day. I was busy coming across the urgent cats needing to be rescued from a high kill shelter. One such cat was listed that the reason for the surrender of his girlfriend's cat was due to the fact that he didn't like the color of the cat...a black cat. SAY WHAT? Is love so "blind"? I sure wouldn't put up with that crap.)

8). "Owner Sick, Hospitalized, or Death" 
Here is were careful planning needs to be done in the event a pet owner becomes sick, hospitalized or passes away and needs to make some kind of arrangements before something happens. Many of the pets that are dumped into shelters due to the pet owner getting sick, needing extended hospitalization or perhaps even placed in a hospice or nursing home, and/or possible death, and the main problem may lie when the pet owner's relatives, friends or other family members don't want to be burdened with the pet(s), so they dump it in a shelter. Pet owners should find a person willing to take care of their pet in the event of their getting sick and/or hospitalized, and in the case of the owner's death have very clear instructions about the fate of their pet(s).

To help with making such arrangements, there are two forms one can download. One is a Pet Guardian Form where it can be filled out and one can clearly state who is to take charge of their pet upon their demise. The other form is a Pet Profile, this is a form where one can fill out all the particulars of the pet involved, such as stating whether the pet is spayed/neutered, microchipped, age, breed, etc.

I have links to these forms below:

Pet Guardian Form

http://www.gotcats.org/guardian.html

Pet Profile Form

http://www.gotcats.org/PetProfile.html

What I have personally done is I have several copies of each form and was able to print photos of each cat directly on each form…one copy I have right in full view on my computer desk, while another is on my hallway bookcase shelf, also in plain view. With each set of forms I also have contact info of people to contact/call in case something happens to me. I also carry around on my person when I go out that contact listing.

There are several other "excuses" people will often give for surrendering or abandoning their pets, but the above that I mention are the seemingly more common reasons.

Day in and day out as I spend hour upon hour crossposting the urgent pets that need to be saved and rescued over at Facebook, especially from high kill shelters, I have to admit to being puzzled as to why people have gotten the mind set that pets are disposable, to be gotten rid of as if they were so much garbage. Animals do have feelings just as we humans do, they are living, breathing souls just as we are. They can and do demonstrate many of the emotions we humans feel. They can feel pain, can demonstrate sadness or grief (as in cases where their owner or fellow companion animal dies), they can also demonstrate joy as well.

If a person does decide to adopt a pet, that person needs to realize that they are obligated and responsible to take care of that pet for its entire life. People must wake up to the fact that pets are not disposable commodities. What's really pathetic is that many pet owners probably don't even realize what fate may be in store for that pet they now no longer want and dumped off at a shelter; if people think that their former pet is going to have a happily ever after story, and their pet will be adopted again, they must realize that isn't always the case.

Yes, while many of these surrendered pets particularly in high kill shelters are saved and rescued, the vast majority aren't and are euthanized, a nice way of saying killed, worse yet, not all shelter pets in high kill shelters are killed off by lethal injection, but by shoving these unwanted pets into a gas chamber where they die a slow and agonizing death. Everyday thousands, yes thousands of shelter pets are killed nationwide. In order to stop the needless killing of healthy pets that wind up in shelters, pet owners must view their pet as a family member and take care of that pet forever.

ARTICLE: I Really Need To Get Back In Exercising

Originally published on May 4, 2013 for Bubblews, a website that no longer exists

For awhile now I've been realizing the need to get back into some form of exercise. Now in years past I was never a fanatical exerciser, that is I never jogged, never did calisthenics, nor weight lifting, I certainly didn't do any of those grueling DVD exercise programs like Tae Bo, yet I had kept myself trim by doing yoga.

Up until maybe four years ago, I was extremely flexible and limber, and I guess due to my childhood years where I studied ballet. I also was introduced to the world of yoga way back in the middle 1960s via my mother who used to watch the Richard Hittleman yoga show on PBS. I would watch her attempts to do the various yoga postures and copied what she was doing. It wasn't until say maybe my high school years that I did a regular regiment of exercise doing a combo of both yoga and various ballet barre exercises, and I kept up this routine almost religiously all through my college years and beyond. Somewhere along the line though I stopped, yet was still in a sense active as I would take long, long walks. That changed however, some four years ago when I started getting severe symptoms of RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) and ironically it was triggered off by the antibiotic "Cipro" (Ciprofloxacin), which when I took it had no dire warnings about. Not long after I took it, I began noticing arthritic type symptoms, joint pain, swelling of my joints, I also lost my flexible and limber qualities. I didn't connect the dots until sometime later I was doing research about something else, and came across "Cipro" again. Now that medication had dire warnings about it and was one of the medications with class action law suits against it. Gee, thanks pharmaceutical and FDA land.

My RA issues have gotten progressively worse, but if you think I'm going to take a medication again, forget it. Do you think I would trust a medication again? Instead, I have been trying to find more natural alternative means to help my symptoms. But yes, I'm also realizing I do need to exercise again. I've read tons of material suggesting anyone with RA or even Fibromyalgia needs to do some form of exercise, to get moving again, the irony is how can one with RA or Fibromyalgia even think of exercise when it can be so painful to do.

Some months ago I did actually go back into trying my attempts with yoga, but got frustrated. The same yoga postures I did years ago without a thought and could manage easily proved difficult, or and yes, that yoga posture in the photo was one of many postures I could do with ease. If I tried that now, heck, I'd probably fall over.

Still, I do need to get back into yoga/exercise again, not so much for weight loss as thankfully that has never been a problem for me, I've always been rail thin all my life, if anything I wouldn't mind gaining some weight! (Dons helmet to ward off wet noodles being flung at me…with take those noodles with Alfredo Sauce please).

I do have the realization of needing to do exercise to keep my joints flexible and to build up muscle tone. Anyway, if any of you also experience RA or Fibromyalgia, and if you do some form of exercise I would gladly welcome suggestions how you manage and cope.

ARTICLE: I Have To Confess I'm A Loner Who Feels Comfortable With My Aloneness

Originally published May 12, 2013 for Bubblews, a website that no longer exists

IMAGE SOURCE~©MELANIE NEER~A Graphics design I did and have used on products I made over at the Zazzle website.

I came across a great article by my fellow bubbler, &Denmarkguy where he discusses about the concepts of the Highly Sensitive Person and Loneliness. I thought I would write up my own experiences of "loneliness" and "aloneness".

My parents got divorced when I was only 18 months old, therefore I was an only child and my mother never remarried. I'm guessing that in many ways one of the reasons she adopted our first cat "Babette" when I was five years old, so that I would in a sense have company, since I lacked siblings. By the time I was about seven or eight, I was a latch-key kid. By that age both my grandmother and mother had to work, so yes, I would be alone until they came home from work. Funny how things have changed when you think of it, since if I were a kid in today's society and a latch-key kid at such an early age, my mother probably would have been charged with child negligence or something.

There were actually pluses though when I think of it. Yes, it was a kind of "lonely" childhood for me, however, I developed skills in being responsible at an early age that would remain for my life, and thus developed "coping" skills whenever some problem came up. Also, since I was alone so much, it sparked my creativity and at a much earlier age than most kids, and was considered one of those "gifted" children. With all this "bubbling" creativity I never felt lonely though as I always would have some creative project to do to fill my time with. Now that my mother has passed away nearly seven years ago (my grandmother passed away in 1986), I truly am alone save for my two cats for "company". But so I feel lonely? Nope. I still have tons of creative things and projects to do to fill my time with, so time actually seems to whiz by each day.

To date I still consider myself a "loner" and am actually very comfortable with being alone. I mention this, since I know a person down the block who also lives alone. One thing I would notice though when I would visit her, I got the sense that she really didn't like living alone and perhaps needed to fill the void somehow. Upon entering her apartment, one enters her kitchen area and she would have a small little TV blasting away…go into her living room and that TV would be turned onto full volume…go into her bedroom and the radio would be on. My sense of it she had TVs and radio on all at the same time to give her a sense of "connection" to the outside world, to hear human voices.

I'm almost the opposite and no haven't taken a vow of silence and live in a cloister, yet I'm very comfortable with quiet, though I might have some music going on but at a very low volume while I'm puttering around in front of my computer. When I do my cleaning chores yes, I blast out music at high volume, but otherwise I enjoy quiet.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm also a people person however. When I'm out and about on my errands, I'm one of those people that will strike a conversation with someone while I'm waiting on a long line at the Post Office, then I'll also chat with the postal worker as she or he is taking care of my postal needs. When I do my grocery shopping and am having my items checked out, I'll yak and chat with the cashier. And having always been an "observer" of sorts, one of the things I observe is how glad in a sense the postal worker or cashier are to have someone to talk to. Have you ever noticed that most people when they are being taken care of by that postal worker or casher, don't interact at all with the person, not even to say hello to the person? They just expect their business to be taken care of and out they go.

Do I feel lonely? No, not in the least. Do I appreciate my aloneness? Yes, and perhaps due to having learned just how to deal with aloneness from an early age. Ironically, I can often feel MORE lonely in a crowd than by being alone.

How about you? Do you feel lonely? Alone?

UPDATE: As of this reposting it's now nearly eleven years since my mother passed on as she passed on August 27, 2006. Also sadly my other cat Kissy who was fifteen years old passed on September 1, 2015. I picked that graphics image that I had done, since, yes, I do often talk a lot to my current cat Ouija, and I swear, sometimes talking to one's pet is more worthwhile than talking to most "humans" LOL

ARTICLE: I Do So Hope Rainbow Bridge Really Exists

IMAGE SOURCE~lovecats.com

Originally published May 10, 2013 Bubblews, a website that no longer exists

For those of you who are pet lovers, and who have had pets and perhaps still do, there probably is nothing more gut-wrenching than when one of our pets passes on. To we pet owners, they aren't "just" pets, they are part of our family, our "children", and it doesn't matter what kind of pet you have, be it cat, dog, bird, mice, gerbil, hamster, we still feel grief, perhaps in some cases one may experience more grief over a pet's loss than family or relatives. I only say that latter part, since in most cases, with the passing of a family member or relative, we might be prepared for it.

Our pets on the other hand don't live as long as we do, perhaps only a fraction of our own lives and years. Also is the case where a pet might be diagnosed with some illness we may feel completely helpless…are we doing enough for them, did we do enough for them, and then of course there is that agonizing decision we may face to put our pet down to end their suffering. Then there maybe the complete shock of a pet dying suddenly and out of the blue that had no health problems, as what happened to my black cat Pyewacket.

I've had cats since I was five years old, I've also have had pet mice and birds... I'm now 57. As you can imagine I've had a lot of "deaths" in the family. Many of us who are pet owners hope that when it comes time for our own passing that we will be re-united with our animal "children" again.

Some years ago, I came across the now very famous Rainbow Bridge poem which many are familiar with which speaks of a special place where all pets go to, sort of an animal heaven. All the pets are happy there, they have no more pain from illness, and play with one another. But all the pets anxiously wait and wait, and wait. They wait for the time that their beloved owner comes and join them there at the Bridge.

I do so hope when my time comes and I pass on that I will meet up with all my pets, and I can assure you, I'll be mobbed!

If you've never read the poem, I share it here. Have tissues handy, it's a tearjerker.

The Rainbow Bridge Poem:

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.

There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor.

Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance.

His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers.

Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.

The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet,

so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... 

Author unknown...

https://rainbowsbridge.com/poem.htm

Article: Happy Mother's Day To All You Who Are "Moms" Of Furkids

IMAGE SOURCE~©MELANIE NEER~PERSONAL PHOTO

Sachiko at 17 days old

I realize it's a little "early" to be posting this now, but thought I'd get a head start before Mother's Day

Originally published May 12, 2013 Bubblews, a webs tie that no longer exists

Okay people looking at the title of this might scratch their heads and go. HUH? In my opinion though, one doesn't necessarily need to be a mother to a human child, but yes indeed, we can be "moms" of the furry or even winged "child".

Those of us who have pets often think of them as our children, and believe me I'm no exception. We have to nurture them, take care of them, provide for them, from the moment we get our furry child every much as one would for a human child. In my case, I've had a few "bottle babies" that I've taken care of in the past. The first bottle baby was a newborn kitten that the neighborhood kids found in the garbage, yes, the garbage back in 1987. I'm guessing that this newborn kitten was born that very day as she still had her umbilical cord attached. The kids knew I had cats already and couldn't think of anyone else who could take care of this innocent life that had been tossed away in the garbage save for me of course.

Raising such a young infant animal takes every bit of effort and patience as raising a human child. One has to bottle fed the young newborn animal every two hours with a special formula. Also, one has to encourage the young newborn animal to "do it's business" by rubbing it's bottom to make it "go"…I used to use a warm moistened paper towel to accomplish this; normally it's the mother animal that licks the newborn baby's bottom.

I decided to name the kitten Sachiko. Such a young animal, like a newborn kitten is born with their eyes shut, thus can't see, nor can they hear until about two weeks later. But they can sure smell and sense their presence of their "mom". I used to keep Sachiko in a box with a towel, and kept the box in a large pet traveling case in the bedroom to keep her safe from the older cats I had at the time. While Sachiko would be sleeping I would sneak in the bedroom where I kept the case to get something. Well like I said, she couldn't see nor hear, but she could smell my scent and the moment I was in the bedroom started meowing like crazy….eats time! Yes she would wake up then wanting to be "fed" her bottle again. Yup folks, I was definitely "mom".

Sachiko became one of my velcro cats, being completely attached to me in a way that my other cats didn't, not of course that they didn't attach themselves to me, but it was different with Sachiko…The bond was much stronger since in a sense I really had been her "mom" since only hours after her birth.

So if any of you are "moms" to your furkids….I'm wishing you a Happy Mother's Day as we deserve recognition as being "moms" also.

I include a watermarked photo of Sachiko when she was only 17 days old. By then she could hear and see.

ARTICLE: DO We Rely Too Much On Medications? Do They REALLY Help?

Originally published May 9, 2013 at Bubblews, a website that no longer exists

First of the bat, let me give you a little background info about me, or actually my great grandmother, and in a sense it's due to her that I'm pretty much anti-medication. My great-grandmother was a nurse who basically thought all doctors were basically idiots. She was into herbal and natural remedies for healing, never took anything stronger than aspirin, and maybe a few shots of whiskey, and had no major health problems. Back in her time, she would eat what we would consider high cholesterol heaven heart attack style breakfast, consisting of eggs, bacon, sausage, and pancakes. And that was just breakfast. She would also have some kind of meat for lunch and dinner, used butter, heavy cream and milk. How old was she when she passed away? Ninety-eight.

I guess I inherited her disdain for pharmaceutical medications and I too have refrained from taking medications in general and try to go a more natural form of healing any problems. But yes, on occasion, perhaps I might take a penicillin type antibiotic if I had some kind of infection. However, usually for some pain issues I'll take, yes aspirin, but only sparingly and not all the time, which is probably why it still works for me.

Years and years back I had blood tests done with a new doctor, and it was discovered I had high cholesterol; folks when I say high, I mean I was in that range that was considered dangerous. He wanted to prescribe right off the bat Lipitor. Instead I bargained with him…I said give me a month for me to change my diet, if my cholesterol is still high then I'll take the medication. Well I did just that, I radically changed my diet, and I was by no means overweight either, instead, I've been rail thin all my life. But I did a conscientious change to reduce fat intake, thus no heavily fried foods, lessened my meat eating habits, etc. When the next month came and had new blood tests done, my cholesterol was in the borderline zone….with another month I was in the safe zone. All done by just changing my eating habits.

Yes I do realize that in many cases medications might be the way to go to control some serious health issues, but once again I can't help thinking in many cases a radical form in a change of eating habits could be beneficial. I actually know an on-line friend who was diagnosed with diabetes and had it for years. Eventually she radically changed her diet habits and at last health report she is diabetes free. Also , I can't help wonder if medications can actually trigger more health issues.

Say a person has a certain health issue, and the doctor prescribes some medication for that issue. As you know, many medications can have serious side effects and could be responsible in creating yet another health issue that didn't exist before. So wham, the doctor now prescribes another medication to combat the "new" health issue that was triggered by the first medication. Then maybe that second medication with its side effects, creates yet another health issue…more medication prescribed. Is it any wonder people then start becoming walking medicine cabinets and their whole day and night revolves around taking medications?

Then too it can be the simple issue that a medication just doesn't work anymore and a stronger type needs to be taken. As I mentioned, I ONLY take aspirin for any pain issues. I've never even graduated to Tylenol, Aleve, or Advil. But say for years you've taken some OTC pain reliever. You use it constantly, and after awhile it just doesn't work anymore, so now you ask for prescription pain killer from your doctor, yet somewhere along the line even that won't work, so a stronger pain killer is prescribed and on and on it goes. Then comes probably an almost addiction to the medication. One may realize it's not working anymore, yet one will still take it out of downright fear perhaps of stop taking it.

The bottom line is in my opinion we've gotten to be a pill popping society. We want a pill for everything and anything..have a pimple? Take a pill. Have a hang nail? Take a pill. Have dandruff? Take a pill. Okay maybe I'm making "light" of the issue, but I think you get my meaning. And is the risk worth it with taking all of these super duper medications that have detrimental side effects that could trigger even more health issues?

I can give a personal example. My grandmother had asthma and was on several asthma type medications, including Theophylline. The very last time she was raced to the ER with a bad asthma attack she died. Why? Not due to her asthma, but she died of cardiac arrest as a result of being given too much Theophylline and ironically it was known that Theophylline could indeed cause cardiac problems.

UPDATE: Well as cautious as I've been all my life about medications, some years back I was given the antibiotic "Cipro". I did look the medication up and noticed the "usual" side effects with an antibiotic. I did, however, have a "symptom" right away. Let's put it this way, I could have read Tolstoy's War And Peace ten time while sitting on the "royal throne". I did complain about it to the doctor and he said, "Oh, that means it's working." So like an idiot I continued to take it. Well...I paid the price. It triggered off my now debilitating pain issues along with CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). One can do a general search and one finds out that I'm not the ONLY one that has been severely affected by using "Cipro".

Article: Buying Things On The Cheap Or How To Be Frugal

IMAGE SOURCE~©MELANIE NEER~PERSONAL PHOTOS~Versace jeans I "won" at eBay

Originally published October 7, 2013 for Bubblews, a website that no longer exists

After witnessing how my mother was and her association with money, taught me how to be "frugal". My mother was one of those people who lived well beyond her means despite getting a good salary and she worked in a bank to boot. She never learned to save money but what was her fall from grace and mishandling money? Credit cards.

I suppose my mother was like most people who got caught up with the enticement of having credit cards. Let's face it, there is an attraction to them. Don't have the money to purchase something at full price right then and there, why charge it and pay in installments. But it's like an addiction and one can run into serious trouble over time, and that's exactly what happened with my mother. Eventually her credit card debts got so bad she had to declare bankruptcy to the tune of having a debt of $60,000. When her credit report no longer showed up the bankruptcy after seven years, what did she do? Yup, she got credit cards AGAIN! When she passed back in 2006 she owed over $25,000; thankfully I didn't and wasn't responsible to pay her credit card debts back. In fact, when a person dies, no family relation is responsible to pay such debts back unless of course it's some kind of joint account, this is a little known fact most people don't know about.

So from having watched how my money handled money, I learned to be frugal at an early age. And no, I'm by no means a cheapskate either, but I am a bargain hunter and if I can find a quality product of any kind, will hunt around for the best deal going. Ever since having a computer, hunting for bargains and buying on-line is so much easier, and ironically, often one can find something cheaper than if physically going to a store. I found this to be true in stocking up on cases of my cat's favorite cat food which is Fancy Feast To go to any of my local stores one can will cost me about $1.19 a can, while if I order a case of the cat food, will run about $0.59 a can and yes, even with the shipping charges.

For the past few months I've been saving money like crazy and I thought it was high time I did a tad of splurging on myself. I've never been a clothes fanatic, I never buy clothes that are the latest mode and in fashion, and thankfully, my clothes have held up and still look like new, despite that many of my tops and shirts are at least 30 years old…that's right, 30 years old. But here I was thinking to myself, girl, it's high time to do some clothes shopping.

Now one of my favorite styles of shirts are the "western" look and in years past (many years past I might add) I used to buy shirts over at the famous Western Wear place Shelper's. So I decided to go to their website and hunt around. My jaw dropped as I couldn't believe some of the prices and I swear I never paid that much for a shirt (on average now $79.99) in my life. I then went to other western wear websites and the same thing, the prices were way out of line. So what did I do? Went to eBay.

If EVER you're a die-hard bargain hunter and fugal, I highly recommend eBay for just about any of one's needs, and in auction items one can quite literally get things for a song and dance, meaning CHEAP. If it doesn't bother you to buy EUC clothes, (Excellent Used Condition) then go for it. Well I didn't come across any Western style shirts for auction/sale at eBay, at least not in my size, but I did come across gently used designer shirts and in boys sizes. I'm fortunate that being thin and petite I can get away with buying a Large-sized boys shirt (14-16) and fits me great. I even resorted to do some comparison and looked up several designer shirts and in boys's sizes and they were on average about $39.99…still too pricey for me. But then I came across several designer shirts for auction at eBay.

Now here's a trick for anyone hoping to get an auction item of any kind. Hit the "watch" button to put it on your watch list and be aware of when the auction of the item ends..DO NOT BID AT THAT TIME!! It never fails but often if one bids on an item even when there are no bids yet, somehow people come out of the woodwork and all of a sudden people are bidding on the item like crazy and often will go over one's planned limit of what one wants to pay for the item. When the auction is about to close, say the last five to ten minutes…THEN bid. It will often guarantee you that you will win the item and at a low, low price.

Well folks that's exactly what I did. I found three gently used Ralph Lauren boys' Large-sized shirts and there were no bids on any of them…yet. I carefully watched and waited until the last five minutes or so when the auction would end then placed a bid on each shirt. Bottom line? I won each one and each shirt cost me no more than $8.00 with shipping costs! Is that a bargain or what? I even managed to find a pair of gently used Calvin Klein women's jeans (size 4 which is my size) for auction and again won them and paid no more than $10.00.

So next time you need an item, from clothes, DVDs, electronics, do some on-line hunting around, and don't pass up eBay by any means. Even brand new items both for auction or buy it now can often be found on the cheap over at eBay and much cheaper than going to the store to buy the same exact thing. And don't be hesitant about buying used items especially clothing over there, as I have no complaint to the condition of the gently clothes I bought…they could pass for new.

Image source: A pair of Versace jeans I had won over at eBay

Article: Be Kind to Yourself

IMAGE SOURCE~©MELANIE NEER~GRAPHICS DONE VIA PHOTOSHOP

So often we think about doing some act of kindness or to show some form of affection for others, yet neglect being kind to oneself and express some form of "affection" for ourselves. Why? Don't we deserve it too.

Many many years ago I came across a book entitled "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. I suppose I was drawn to the book since yes, nearly all my life I've been involved with creative endeavors: from oil, acrylic and watercolor painting, playing music (had studied violin and played recorder and guitar-both classical and electric), been involved with dance (studied ballet), studied drama and actually did perform on stage and was involved with scenic design, and I also expressed myself as a photographer and of course as a writer. When I think of it, I think I ran the gamut of expressing myself in all areas of creativity. However, I need to point out that one really doesn't have to be a quote-unquote ARTIST to love and appreciate this book. It has timely messages that can apply to anyone from all stages and walks of life.

One of the things that came across loud and clear to me in Cameron's book,is how there are various factors that in effect sabotage our lives and how we view our worth: from how our own parents may have discouraged us and in effect sabotaging us and our efforts which then leads to low self-esteem. This really hit home for me, since it opened my eyes really WIDE. As I began doing a soul-searching type thing and was reflecting back on my life, I realized my own mother did indeed sabotage my efforts in so many ways. My mother never exactly discouraged any of my creative endeavors, but neither did she leap for joy over them. Every time I would proudly show another painting I did, or play a new song on my guitar, etc., I would sort of get a pat on the head with a oh that's nice, but be practical, you don't think you can make a living doing that can you type attitude from her. The book also made me realize what a manipulating, controlling person my mother was in my life. Also, I began psycho-analyzing my mother's attitude about my creativity and believe there was downright jealousy on her part.

My mother had been a very creative person in her own right. She did breathtaking oil paintings and even had had her own work exhibited in a small gallery. She had gone to Fashion Institute of Technology with dreams of becoming a fashion designer. Why she never pursued her dream I have no idea. Was it due to maybe her family telling her such a dream was impractical? Who knows, but could explain why she in effect poo-pooed my artist efforts as well.

Anyway, as a young child I would watch fascinated as she embarked on yet another oil painting. One day I asked if I could do an oil painting. So she set up a still life type setting for me to try and paint, handed me some extra oil paints she wasn't using at the time and a canvas board. Viola…I did my very first oil painting, and have to admit it wasn't bad considering I was only six years old…yes folks I was six. It wouldn't be until many years passed when I talked about this that someone told me that I must have been one of those "gifted" children.

IMAGE SOURCE~©MELANIE NEER~PERSONAL PHOTO~Me in 1962

Well, here is where the jealously part probably came into play with my mother, since for years she had been in the limelight with people oohing and ahhing her oil paintings…now here I come along and kind of snatched that spotlight off of her. Shame when you think of it that she took that kind of attitude. But yes, she kept down playing any and all of my creative pursuits which lead to very low self-esteem. I often felt worthless, yet ironically I never gave up…must have had a stubborn streak in me!

But whether one is an artist or not, we can all have low opinions of ourselves and often thanks and due how our parents may treat our dreams, goals and aspirations in life and this is what the book brings out.

But here is the other important aspect that is brought forth in Ms. Cameron's book…to nurture the inner child within. Many of us may have fragile egos, low self esteem, feel worthless, and we all need a boost of some kind. How does one do that? Ms. Cameron suggests to nurture the child within to be kind to oneself and buy some little thing at least once a week that may have a special meaning to you. It doesn't have to be expensive either, one can probably find something even in one of those dollar stores. It could be a cute figurine, a package of incense of a favorite scent, a scented candle, a favorite scented type soap, a bunch of flowers or a plant; if your birthday is coming up, why not get yourself a Happy Birthday balloon and a card? The point is, be a little selfish for a change and treat yourself, nurture yourself on a regular basis. It will do wonders to life you up and make you feel good inside.

One of my favorite "treats" I got for myself not long ago, and yes, it was in a dollar store was a coffee mug that had this saying on it:

Follow your dream wherever it leads,

Don't be distracted by less worthy needs

Shelter it, nourish it, help it to grow -

Let your heart hold it down deep where dreams go.

Follow your dream pursue it with haste;

Life is too precious, too fleeting to waste ...

Be faithful, be loyal, then all your life through

the dream that you follow will keep coming true.

Like wow talk about being spot and and perfect! As I sip my morning coffee everyday I reread that poem and you might say it's my positive affirmation everyday.

If you haven't read The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, PLEASE do, and remember you don't have to be an artist to appreciate it and it's meanings presented in the book.

Image source: ©Melanie Neer via good ole photoshop graphics

Article: How Can A Person Not Do Something To Help?

IMAGE SOURCE~©MELANIE NEER~PERSONAL PHOTO OF WHOOPI

(Originally published on Bubblews~Oct. 23, 2013, a website that no longer exists)

There's been a photo over at Facebook that has gone wildly viral. It's of a very skinny, small bedraggled kitten hugging a man's boot. The photo usually has a quote on it: "You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you."~~John Bunyan. A beautiful quote to be sure, but too bad the photographer who took the photo didn't do something for the kitten as an act of kindness

For a long time, no one knew who the photographer was and the question in most people's minds was, did the photographer save the kitten after photographing it? Well, I began a search and for awhile there I didn't come up with anything, that is until just today. The photographer's name was Graham Lavery and he took the photo while in Hoi An, Vietnam during one of the worse floods. Not only did I track who the photographer was, but found a website in which he gives a rather lengthy explanation about the photo, and consequently the fate of the kitten. The kitten's fate is not positive. Did the photographer, Mr. Lavery take the kitten, did he help it in anyway, did he at least give food to it? No, he didn't. He walked away from the kitten to leave it to it's "fate."

Here's a short quote of his explanation:

"After a brief discussion, it was decided to let nature take its course and leave the kitten to its own devices, whatever the outcome. Some will agree, some will not, but that was our decision based on our collective experiences of this planet over the years. What became of it ultimately? I can’t answer that with certainty, but I can guess." (1)

Well I'm sorry, his explanation doesn't wash with me. To my mind this was a photographer merely interested in photographing something for personal gain and turned away from possibly helping an innocent animal. I say this as I'm a photographer as well, and yes, while many of my photos have been published in the past and I did earn money from them, if I came across such a scene I couldn't simply walk away from such a similar situation, and in the past, I did indeed come across a situation, and no I didn't simply walk away.

It was very late at night back in June of 1992 and there was a torrential downpour. All through that night, I was aware of the pitiful sounds of some young kitten crying somewhere outside and it was heart-braking to listen to. Since it was so late, there was nothing I could really do, since at that hour it wouldn't have been safe for me to go out and try and find the kitten. Very, very early the next morning, it was still raining quite hard and I made the decision to try to find the kitten to at least, if anything, give the kitten some food. I went up and down my block searching and I did indeed find the kitten. She was bedraggled, rain-soaked, thin to the bones and a very young tiger-striped with white kitten, perhaps not even a month old; how she came to her homeless fate, I'll never know. My original intention was to leave some cat food for her, however one look at her changed my mind. I gently scooped her up, reassuring her that everything was all right now, and that she would be safe from life on the streets and have a home, my home. I named her Whoopi after Whoopi Goldberg and over the years, I did indeed photograph her, but in the safety and warmth of my home.

The point however, I wish to make, was that I in many ways I came across a fairly similar situation as that photographer, that is coming across an innocent creature just as bedraggled and needing some love and kindness, instead, he walked away, leaving the kitten to it's fate. How could he? How could anyone with any decency or a heart?

Image Source: ©Melanie Neer~~Photo of Whoopi, who is now in "Rainbow Bridge" UPDATE: I did a search of the website address I give below...it seems the original article has vanished as I suspect the person involved was getting a LOT of messages to him. I did manage to find this over at Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/PN.DBN.SA/posts/692623074086653

Website about the Fate Of The Kitten Begging To Be Saved In Vietnam (Includes photos of the kitten in question)

http://www.kittyarmy.com/the-fate-of-the-kitten-begging-to-be-saved-in-vietnam/ (1)

Article: Books, On-Line, Or Kindle Reading: Which Do You Prefer?

IMAGE SOURCE~©MELANIE NEER~PERSONAL PHOTOS OF JUST A "FEW" OF MY BOOKS

Originally written on October 2, 2013 for Bubblews, a website which no longer exists

I've been a bibliophile ever since I can remember, which when I think of it is a remarkable characteristic of my personality, considering my mother never cared for books. As a child she never read bedtime stories, usually my great-grandmother did that. Even in her later years, my mother wasn't too keen on reading, not even a newspaper, so yes it is remarkable that I developed a rather fanaticism when it came to books. Also as a child, my mother often bought the usual type gifts for me that were popular at the time for girls, and whether for my birthday or Christmas, she would buy me things like Barbie dolls…boring. Like how many Barbie dolls could one have? Then one year, she totally surprised me, and instead of more dolls, she gave me my very first book, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I got hooked with books. My mother perhaps didn't realize what she had started by getting that very first book, as many others were to follow including the Nancy Drew series, a copy of Island of The Blue Dolphins (by Scott O'Dell) and on and on it went. Yes, I turned into a bookworm. My idea of having a good time as a child wasn't playing with other children, but instead going to a library and taking books out, and settling comfortably at home reading, reading, reading.

My love for books continues to this day, and I have quite a collection, not only fiction, but being a science and history geek I have a rather staggeringly large collection of science books (geology, astronomy, archeology) and as for history, Ancient Egyptian, Greek, Babylonian, Medieval, Renaissance and American History, especially the Civil War period. Let's put it this way, I have books literally all over the place; even all the shelves, save one, in my linen closet has a storage of books in it since I ran out of room on my bookcases, and being rather OCD about things, all my books are stored according to subject and/or genre.

But here's the thing, to this day I prefer a book in my hand. I really am not a great on-line reader, in fact, if I can avoid reading too much on-line, I do. I could never, ever see myself downloading books and read from a Kindle either as it would remind me a bit too much of on-line reading Yes, I realize with a Kindle, one can snuggle in bed on a rainy day and read, but to my mind it's just not the same as having the feel of a book in hand, the real physical turning of the pages, the smell of a book. Yes, maybe I'm old fashioned, but give me a book any day and I'm a real happy camper.

So what is your preference? Books, on-line reading from a computer or a Kindle? And if you have books, do you have a large collection yourself?

Article: Are We Attracting More Negativity To The World?

IMAGE SOURCE~ https://pixabay.com/en/positive-negative-contrast-455579/

Okay you might be wondering just what the heck I mean when I ask if we're attracting more negativity to the world. I think there's hardly a person who hasn't heard of "Law of Attraction", a concept that was the topic of the DVD "The Secret" some years ago. In a nutshell, Law of Attraction means exactly that; whatever we constantly think about and dwell on, whether positive or negative, manifests in our life, we "attract" it. Most times our thoughts are actually very negative, then we wonder why that negative situation persists. Are you constantly dwelling and thinking about your ill health, bad finances, bad relationships, if so without realizing it you're only attracting it more to you. Now I'm not saying we have to walk around in a perpetual "Pollyanna" mode and I'm OK you're OK since that isn't always realistic or possible either, but I think our lives would be much better off if we did think in more positive terms.

The Law of Attraction concept isn't by any chance a new one, in other words the DVD and the book "The Secret" didn't "invent" it; it's been around for ages. I myself actually got introduced to it however, via my way ahead "with it" great grandmother. Believe it or not, I still have her very worn out copy of the book Secret of the Ages by Robert Collier (first published in 1926) yet Law of Attraction concepts go back even further.

The Secret did however introduce Law of Attraction to many people who may not have heard of it before and on an individual level people have benefited by changing their thoughts to more positive ones, or as Mike Dooley who was in The Secret DVD would say "Thoughts Become Things".

But does Law of Attraction work on a deeper level, a worldwide level and affect the "vibes" or consciousness of the world? I'm beginning to think so and no doubt could be due to the information overload we have now via the news media which is downright negative. Lets face it, the media spews out a lot of negative news, and not just TV or radio, but news one can get via the internet, the latter quite often being more detailed and graphic in nature.

We're now more aware of what is going on in the world and almost instantaneously: we're aware of all the wars, conflicts and terrorism and on a daily basis; we're more aware of child, spousal, animal abuse issues. It may seem to us that there is more negativity going on in general even though all these negative situations have been around since mankind began. With all this negativity that we are bombarded with everyday is it in a sense affecting the consciousness of the world in general, the "vibes", is it any wonder why depression is a common "ailment"? Also, by being exposed and aware of such negativity in the world is it attracting more of it?

What's your take? Do you think that by being bombarded with such negative news daily is attracting only more of the negative situations that are going on in the world?

UPDATE: I had written this article back in 2013, and it seems there's even MORE negativity in the world

Image Source:

https://pixabay.com/en/positive-negative-contrast-455579/

ARTICLE: ANIMALS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE

IMAGE SOURCE~©MELANIE NEER~PERSONAL PHOTOS

First photo=Me and Candy~September 1956

Second photo=Me and Babette~My first cat

I think the title of this article is self-explanatory, as yes indeed, animals have always been a part of my life in one way or another. I often tell people that I've had cats ever since I was five, when back then my mother adopted a "tuxedo cat" from a shelter and it was a Christmas present to me. But in actuality, it goes further back than that, and was I quite literally surrounded by pets ever since I was in my mother's womb.

My father's side of the family were dog people, so consequently my parents therefore had a dog, in fact, there is a rare photo of me where I'm not even a year old, and there I am sitting on the floor and right next to me is a beagle dog, who was named Candy. You can see from the photo I include here that the date of the photo is Sep. '56. Obviously, my mother nor my father even dreamed of getting rid of Candy due to my arrival in the world. I say that, since I'm a crossposter over at Facebook in which I share posts of urgent pets needing to be rescued, especially from kill shelters, and one of the "excuses" people now make to get rid of a pet is due to "new baby". Why one even thinks to get rid of a pet due to this excuse I'll never know, and it's just one of many "lame" excuses people make to surrender their pets in shelters.

I also have a rare photo of me when I was about eight years old (also included here) with that tuxedo cat my mother adopted for me of whom we named Babette. (OMG--that goofy grin/smile of mine…ekk). She lived all through my elementary, junior high, high school and even my college years. When she eventually did pass on it was like a major part of my life had died.

It wasn't only cats though for the vast majority of my life that I've had. I've also had pet birds and a mouse…uh, yes folks a mouse. I'm obviously not squeamish or phobic about them. Around the 1980s I took a home study course from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. For a "lark" (no pun intended), I placed the decal of Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology on my mail box. I thought the average person would't even know what ornithology meant. I was wrong! For some reason people then viewed me as a bird "expert" so during those years past I rehabilitated baby sparrows that neighborhood kids would find and bring to me. Once they were old enough I was able to release back into the wild again. Due to my experience with those baby birds I then later got a pet bird, a grey-cheeked parakeet, whom I named "Cheeky". And yes, at the time, I had cats, but I'll tell you, that bird was THE boss; if the cats annoyed her, she'd let out a raucous squawk.

I think one of the beauties my folks instilled into me throughout my life was to have a great love for animals, all animals I might add. To this day I'm still of course an animal lover. I'm currently "owned" by two cats, Kissy and Ouija. My love for animals does however make me scratch my head in wonder how anyone could harm animals, as on a nearly daily basis, I hear of horrific animal abuse. I ask myself what brings people to harm an innocent animal life in such a manner? And that my folks is probably why as an animal lover, activist and advocate, why I'm the voice for the voiceless.

UPDATE: My 15 year old cat Kissy sadly passed on September 1,2015

Article: And We Wonder Why The Rise In Obesity In Children

Originally published on June 18, 2013 for Bubblews, a website that no longer exists

This is just one of those observations I've been making. We often hear how there has been a rise in obesity in children which can offer trigger off diabetes. Yes maybe diet is one of the culprits since instead having a good nutritious breakfast to start the day, parents might give high sugary cereals or even Pop Tarts. But is a poor diet the only factor? I don't think so. I can't help think that lack of exercise is a major factor; in fact, with today's children, I'm observing how kids have quite frankly have forgotten to do two things in today's society: walk and play.

When I was a kid, if I wanted to go to school I had to walk to it, a concept kind of foreign nowadays to today's kids. My elementary school was about 15 blocks away from my home and I had to walk to school no matter what the weather was. I did have a school bus to travel on once I got into Junior High School, but even then I had to walk at least six blocks to the school bus stop. When I entered High School, once again I had to walk a fair distance.

Well all that seems to have changed. Instead of kids walking any far distance, a school bus will quite literally stop in front of their apartment building or house. My block seems to be a major school bus route and everyday like clockwork, buses will go down my block and pick kids up to go to their schools in the early morning hours, then once again in the later afternoon hours buses drop them off right in front off their homes.

Another thing seems to be lacking in children nowadays: playing! Don't' kids ever play anymore? I don't know how it is where any of you live, but on my block I never see any kids playing on the streets like they used to some years ago, and certainly not like when I was growing up. Maybe in today's society the idea of simple playing seems passé; kids would rather be parked in front of a computer, TV or "playing" videos games. What ever happened to going to a local park like I used to as a kid and play on swings, monkey bars, or zoom down on a slide? Or how about playing hopscotch, playing with a hula hoop (do kids even know what one is?), jumping rope or maybe even riding a bicycle.

Who is to blame though? Are kids lacking in any motivation to play? Is it the parents fault for not encouraging kids to play? Whoever is to blame, I think it's high time however, for kids to get off their duffs and get active again and once more do something that should be a part of one's childhood: walk and play!

Article: Ah…The Life Of The Pampered Pet

IMAGE SOURCE~©MELANIE NEER~PERSONAL PHOTOS

Kissy is the first photo and the second photo is of Ouija

Article was originally published June 22, 2013 for Bubblews, a website that no longer exists

If there's any true validity of the concept of reincarnation, then I definitely want to come back as a pet in my next lifetime and have the lifestyle similar to my two pampered cats Kissy and Ouija.

To many pet owners, a dog or cat is not "just" a dog or cat, but a member of the family, their child, and as such quite often the pet will enjoy a life of luxury; we humans should have it so good. The good vast majority of pet owners will put their pets needs ahead of their own, making sure their pet is comfortable and taken care of. In today's economy, money might be tight, but pet owners will go out of their way to make sure their pet has enough to eat, their medical needs taken care of and so forth. This is so true as in the case of my two cats.

I'm not one of those people who upon awakening, leaps out of bed with a song in my heart and raring to go. Yes, I'm a grump and that morning cup of coffee is calling me. But do I indulge and think of my own needs first? Of course not! I stumble out of bed and head straight to the kitchen, closely followed by my two cats behind me. I don't fix that desperately needed coffee, but instead I open cans of cat food and "serve" breakfast to my two cats first…then I also rinse out their water bowl and give them fresh cold water to drink.

My next task is to clean up the litter pan which I do even before I tend to my own bathroom needs. Okay so now the kitties are fed, given fresh water and their litter pan clean…NOW I tend to my own needs and make that coffee and fix up a breakfast for myself. After their morning "repast" Kissy and Ouija will often go back and take a snooze. Now I have one cozy cat bed, and a makeshift bed I made out of a cardboard box with one of my old pillows in it…do they snooze in them? Of course not! Ouija will often sprawl himself full length on the sofa which inhibits me from sitting on the sofa and heaven forbid I disturb him, and Kissy will often cuddle up on my bed. Oh and of course I don't dare straighten up my bed, not unless I want to receive "the look"--only a pet owner will understand what I mean by that.

After my breakfast I start either doing chores or park myself in front to get some work done. Somewhere along the line, one of my cats thinks I've spent enough time in front of the computer, will hop up on the computer desk and "demand" attention, usually by sitting right in front of the computer monitor so I can't see a blasted thing, or by head-bonking my hand which makes me nearly drop my mouse. So what do I do? Stop everything and pay attention of course!

Ah, the pets toys! I think my cats have more "toys" to play with than I ever had as a kid, the toys are all over the place, and yes, I frequently trip over them. I also have the daily duty of retrieving toys that have been batted under the sofa, the bureau, the entertainment center..lets put it this way, I get part of my daily exercise workout just by doing this.

Before you know it, time has quickly passed and it's feeding time again and my two cats will give me a "look" signifying that they are about to pass out with hunger at any minute. And of course I feed them even before I might have my own dinner.

Now lets zoom up for when it's finally time for me to go to bed. Both cats like to keep me company while I sleep and each has their own designated spot they like to go to. They get themselves all nice and cozy while struggle try to find a spot on my bed to sleep, bottom line,I often sleep like a pretzel, and yes, of course, I don't dare disturb them…not if I want to get "the look" again.

So are my cats pampered brats? Of course they are, and you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way!

Photo Source:

1). My own photos composite of Kissy and Ouija ©Melanie Neer

UPDATE: Sadly my cat Kissy who was 15 years old passed on September 1, 2015