>Obstruction

Posted on July 15, 2008 by Katie

>This is Buster Bluth…

He’s our baby…I know that sounds stupid to a lot of you, but it’s true. He has been the best cat: playful AND snuggly, and sometimes downright human. We love him so much…

He’s not feeling well right now. He had a urinary tract infection a couple weeks ago, and we spent hours in the pet emergency room (and about $150) making him feel better. Since we returned from our Kings Island trip on Sunday, he’s been acting funny. He’s been peeing outside of his litter box (not normal at all…he never does that) and crying a lot more than usual. He’s also gained some weight, and has not been wanting to play very much.

We took him to the vet this morning for observation, and the vet just called to let us know that Buster has a Urethral Obstruction. The doctor is sedating him, and will be putting in a catheter to clear the blockage. I called my mom with the news, and she let me know that she had a cat with that problem many years ago. She ended up having to put her cat down. I. AM. FREAKING. OUT.

First: we don’t have the money for this procedure. It will probably cost almost $1000. I know we should have that much (and way more) saved for emergencies, but we don’t.

Second: How many more times will this happen? Will we just have to plan for $1000 vet bills every year or more from now on? How much is too much to spend on your pet’s life?

Third: We might be getting a dog soon. Will this stress out Buster even more? Yes. Will it be dangerous for Buster to have that stress? Possibly. Will it be good for Buster to have someone to play with? Most definitely. Ugh…the choices. If we had a child, and we’re wanting another, we wouldn’t NOT have another baby just because our first would be stressed out about it. People grow and learn and deal. Pets are not people…

So there it is – my drama for the day. I had intended to go to Bed Bath and Beyond today and spend lots of money on wedding gifts for the umpteen brides I know this summer. I’m not going to do that now though. They’ll just have to wait! (Sorry girls…)

Pray for my Buster. Pray for my vet. Pray for my wallet.

>Rhapsody in Silver and Blue

Posted on July 14, 2008 by Katie

>I am getting ready to have my 10 year high school reunion. Yes. TEN. YEARS. Ugh…

Some days it seems like it was just yesterday that I was a high school student. Oh my goodness, I was caught up in drama and boys and girlfriends and BAND…oh how I loved band…and school newspaper and ball games and boys and spring break and the fight song (“Home of the Silver and the Blue! P-M-H-S….THE BEST!”), prom and did I mention boys? I was ALWAYS with my friends, NEVER worried about much and OFTEN thought I was ready to grow up. I walked those blue halls with blue lockers, and dreamed of the day I would be older and carefree.

Other days that life I used to lead seems like it belonged to someone else. Like it’s the plot of a book I read and loved years ago. The older I get, the less it feels like ME. Because really, there’s no way I was a size twelve or a decent flute player or one of those mouthy girls who walks the mall giggling with her gaggle of girlfriends. That’s not who I was, right? I’ve always been overweight and responsible and tired and out of touch, haven’t I? Geez…

Did I mention that I’m planning my reunion? (Yes, I am a glutton for punishment. Why do you ask?) People keep asking me how I got the job of planning this shindig, and I’m honestly not quite sure. I thought I could help plan the event, since we finally lived in the area again. I got in touch with the Alumni Association at my high school, and was told that no one was working on the reunion. WHAT? No one is planning the reunion? We can’t NOT have a reunion! “I’ll get some people together,” I said, and here I am. I’m not the class president (who should be planning this thing). I wasn’t even one of the cool kids. I’m just some washed up band geek trying to get a party started.

I hope lots of people show up. We have a minimum food and beverage total we have to reach ($2000 – shouldn’t be hard with the cash bar, right?). I hope that I look good. I was too busy planning this thing to get in shape for it. (Okay fine, I haven’t been in shape for anything since I graduated…) I know people have Romy and Michelle delusions about what this reunion might look like, and I hope they’re not pissed when I disappoint them. Do you know how expensive reunions like that are? Maybe in another decade folks…

So in honor of my impending reunion, I wanted to share something with you. This is the poem my Mom and Dad (probably just Mom with Dad’s encouragement) wrote to place in the last issue of the school paper when I graduated. I loved it then, and I still love it today. I think it will be fairly easy to see that we love music in my family…

Princess Katie Diane

From House at Pooh Corner to
Opposites Attract
From Friends in Low Places to
A Boy Like That
From Rockin’ in the Free World to
Rhapsody in Blue
From Love Song for a Savior to
OU812

You’re our perfect Grievous Angel,
you’re our Devil in Disguise
You’re either Manic Monday or you’re
Almost Paradise
You’re such a Groovy Kind of Love, it’s true
Do You Want To Know a Secret?
We’re so proud of you!

Love, Mom & Dad

>I Love the Eighties…

Posted on July 4, 2008 by Katie

>Why would anyone in their right mind leave the house wearing an outfit like this?

Or wearing makeup like this?

Well, for an EIGHTIES NIGHT of course!

As of 5:00 last night, I had no idea what I was going to wear to my friend Lisa’s Eighties Night Bachelorette Party. I popped in my “Katie’s 80’s” mix on the stereo, went to work on my hideous eighties makeup, and the inspiration just flowed.

Matt helped me cut up an old orange shirt I had. The skirt has been in my closet begging to come out for quite some time. I didn’t have bike shorts, but my bermudas worked just fine. And the “Like a Virgin” cross necklace? I picked that up in Houston a few years ago, and finally had the occasion to wear it! What you can’t see in the picture is that I had two pairs of socks scrunched above my pink and yellow Chuck Taylor All-Stars. Top off this stellar outfit with bright turquoise eyeshadow, pink frosty lip gloss and the thickest black eyeliner this side of a trailer park, and you’ve got yourself an eighties princess! 🙂

We went bowling dressed like this. We went out to dinner dressed like this. We went to a bar dressed like this. AND yes, everywhere we went people stared, laughed and pointed, but WHO CARES? We had a great time. We all looked equally stupid, and we loved every minute of it. Who doesn’t love a theme party?

I’m thinking of wearing this outfit to Lisa’s wedding on Saturday. What do you think?