I have moved from worry and panic to boredom and worry. It is money worries that I am dealing with, although I am not broke. But I am not sure if my savings will get me through. I have three more months of unemployment, and if I don't find anything by then (which looks unlikely with my age), I still have nearly a year before I could take early SS...so that is time when there will be nothing coming into the house. IF I can't find anything, although I feel that I can find a little temp work or something at least.

Getting this Persian lady with urinary problems isn't helping.....she needs to go to a groomer because of all the matting from being outside and unbrushed for three weeks but I am working on it instead, she may need surgery to fix her bladder and if so, it is a priority with all the problems with odor and cleaning up where I find it. I had to go out and buy some odor control spray and pee pads to put wherever she lays down to sleep, twice the food and litter. Ugh. But you and I both know that there is no way to ignore a critter who is in need. And I know just what you mean about not looking for strays in need of help---in fact, I ignore most of the cats that wander through our neighborhood because they seem to do just fine. It is only the sick or helpless (like a declawed Persian cat with branches all stuck in her fur).

My Sammy is a zero maintenance kitty (well, almost), so I got lazy. He was not happy about the new addition to the household the first day, but he is no longer hissing and they both will lay down in the same room now---something that would not happen because they didn't trust each other enough.

Hope you find a good home for the kitty, and have a Merry Christmas/Happy Holiday/Seasons Greetings.

I can't understand that -- if for some reason you can't or don't want your pet anymore, find them a good home! Poor girl with all that matting... glad to hear she and Sammy are approaching detente.

I hope you find something, even if just part time, to alleviate stress. Would you consider somewhere like Costco? (is there one near you?) Supposed to be a great company to work for; I've thought of applying there should the need arise. Also, places like eLance and oDesk, while frustrating at first (bc of low rates and building a rep) can bring in some extra cash. Do you have any desire to blog?

I have made a deal with myself: if the animal (cat, dog, tortoise, whatever) is uninjured and appears to be relatively well-fed, I leave them alone. I keep cat and dog food in the car, though, and sometimes the only thing that keeps me from running after a creature with a can of food is the knowledge that they might spook and run into the road.

I'm sitting here bawling - my mother loved Joe Cocker and I heard one of his songs on the radio... I'm crying like she just died yesterday. I have a call in 5 minutes and I need to pull myself together but sometimes it's so hard...

I have named her Leila. Her name was Mrs. Giggles, but that wasn't going to continue. I found the owner on FB by posting photos on all the animal rescue sites. She was on vacation and her niece was taking care of the cat, but it escaped on Thanksgiving, 3 weeks before she showed up at my neighbor's house. She was shot when she was a kitten, and it might have affected her bladder, which she is not able to control when she is sleeping---and that is why the owner doesn't want her back. She said that she was going to put her to sleep because she couldn't deal with the peeing all over the place. I understand what she is saying too, since I am having the same problem. I am not sure how to find a good home for her either....but I just hope the vet can help with this.

Thanks for the suggestions about finding something to do. No Costco around though. I will find some way to make ends meet.

I did hear about Joe Cocker earlier today. I am sorry that it reminds you of your mom who is no longer here. It amazes me how some little thing that you are not ready for can bring so many memories rushing at you. I have that happen with me, less often as time passes though.

I'm in the Lehigh Valley.

I already have 4 cats in the house. I don't think I have room for a 5th, especially since it took 3 years for my cats to get along with my roomie's kitties.

a stone's throw from West Virginia ... along I-81 so we go through Pennsylvania whenever we go to NY...