The funny thing about life is that it can abruptly turn around and either go really well or go really of the charts. Over the last few days, a friend of mine has seen her father well on the road to recovery and then lose him suddenly.
It all started a couple of months ago, when her dad had to go through angioplasty - i understand this procedure is to clear the bloodclots in the heart. He had three and during the procedure, he stroked out. This caused complications and his left brain swelled so the doctors had to remove part of his skull so that the pressure in the cranium did not build to a level where it would harm the right side of the brain. The family and all those around it were stunned that before he went in he was happy and living well. And in a couple of days he had lost the use of the right side of his body. When all this was happening and i heard about it - i was looking for someone to blame - mostly i looked to the doctors. After a while i calmed down enough to realise that these things do happen. And although there is a possibility that the doctors screwed up - we can't determine this for sure. It was such a sad day when life went terribly wrong for her dad and herself and her family. Still they were a strong family and together they pulled through.
In the few months following - her dad seemed to be recovering well. My friend seemed also to be coping well. And then we were all informed that her dad was to go through another procedure to replace the skull piece. It seemed the procedure went well but then he stroked out again - this time in the right brain. At this point when i received this information - it all seemed so unfair. He had overcome great odds through his first bad surgical experience and now this has to happen. Again i speculate if the doctors were at fault...? But stress can induce a stroke.
anyway counter measures to keep infection at bay and to prolong his life were again put in place. The doctors advised the family to let him go as he was unlikely to recover from this and would likely remain in a vegetative state. The family together decided that they did not want their beloved father who loved life with a passion to live in this manner. They decided to take him off the counter measures and he passed away yesterday morning at 840am. He was cremated today. It is a great loss to lose one's father and husband. I can only try to imagine the grief. I try to put myself in my friend's position and i feel intense grief. I know it will take time to come to terms with a death within the family. And while i expect to die sometime in the future - i guess everyone would have thought this way at sometime in their life - i know it can come unexpectedly. I guess i have to come to terms with unexpected expectation with life, death and all that comes in between.
My friend - Asther, i'm sorry that you have had to go through this earlier than expected. I know you are strong for yourself and your family. You have always been a good person with a big heart and strong faith and i truly believe that you have always made your father proud and will continue to do so. I will pray for you and your family and i hope you find peace soon and can bring yourself to look forward to seeing him when you do - as we all must travel that road. Love life like he has and he will be best remembered that way.
Sunday 29 July 2007
Tuesday 24 July 2007
Introvert or Extrovert?
I like
1) Reading (lotsa lotsa - but i tend to lose interest if the description goes into too much details)
2) Knitting (though i cannot find in KL a shop that instructs on this skill)
3) Cross - stitching (it just damn addictive and i do like the colours of the thread - soo yummy!!)
4) Sleeping - one of the best past times with no buts
5) Hugging my doggies - most therapeutic method of destressing
6) Talking to my doggies - second most therapeutic method of destressing
7) Swimming - peace and quiet...no conversations with people
8) Scuba diving - peace and quiet...no conversations with people
9) Yoga - breathing, focusing and calm...back to basics of life
10) Shopping Alone - best done on weekdays (no crowds)
11) Travelling Alone - less hassle as no one to drive the itinerary but ME!
12) Playing and singing along to my fav tunes while driving ALONE
I Don't like
1) unnecessary interactions with people as they do a lot of the following:
3) society norms/stereotypes
4) crowds (masses of point 1)
Definitely Introvert! What do you think?!
1) Reading (lotsa lotsa - but i tend to lose interest if the description goes into too much details)
2) Knitting (though i cannot find in KL a shop that instructs on this skill)
3) Cross - stitching (it just damn addictive and i do like the colours of the thread - soo yummy!!)
4) Sleeping - one of the best past times with no buts
5) Hugging my doggies - most therapeutic method of destressing
6) Talking to my doggies - second most therapeutic method of destressing
7) Swimming - peace and quiet...no conversations with people
8) Scuba diving - peace and quiet...no conversations with people
9) Yoga - breathing, focusing and calm...back to basics of life
10) Shopping Alone - best done on weekdays (no crowds)
11) Travelling Alone - less hassle as no one to drive the itinerary but ME!
12) Playing and singing along to my fav tunes while driving ALONE
I Don't like
1) unnecessary interactions with people as they do a lot of the following:
- Whine/moan
- Lie
- Manipulate
- Create problems for themselves and then blame others
- turn into anally retentive characters
- smallminded
- like minded - like sheep (why couldn't they be goats - i hear goat were a lot smarter)
3) society norms/stereotypes
4) crowds (masses of point 1)
Definitely Introvert! What do you think?!
Tuesday 17 July 2007
The Kingdom of Damned if you do, Damned if you don't
This Kingdom really sucks! It sort of blows into town (MY TOWN!!) and we dun likes it much!!
The sucky thing about this is like it's name - damned if you do and damned if you don't. Either way - when this kingdom and it's monarch rolls into town - it's hell on earth with eggshells all over the place and bulls (actually only one - ME!) running around like ants on a hot roof.
The Kingdom of damned if you do and damned if you don't doesn't care what you do, don't do, say and don't say - it will all be wrong! nothing will be right! No matter which way you look at it...you will still pay for everything that goes wrong or right in this monarch's life!
A couple of "cheerful" examples
FLIGHT OR FIGHT
When there are arguments/diagreements/misunderstanding that ended up fairly heated - one can either fly or fight. It's a 50/50 rule isn't it? A chance that if you picked the right strategy you may avoid a complete nuclear meltdown - Let me say this - IT IS COMPLETE AND UTTER BOLLOCKS?!?!
In the Kingdom of Damned if you do and Damned if you don't - either flying or fighting will end one in hot soup. It's a no win. The monarch is extremely strict about no fly or fight laws and the usual sentencing is into the hot soup the perpetuator goes until he/she admits mistake - whether the mistake is factual reality or or the best fictional story that was ever created in the mind of the monarch.
NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED
usually when one is asked an opinion on a subject - Most Regular people will take this invitation to present their opinions as an honor. This is because the person asking for your opinion values it enough to want to hear it to see if it can solve the problem at hand. So in an obscure way the person asking for your opinion is seeking "help" - YOUR HELP.
So you provide this help (doing a good deed) and i guess you can tell from which kingdom did the phrase "no good deed goes unpunished" originate from - that's right folks...the Kingdom of Damned if you do and Damned if you Don't. If you provide this opinion (help) - you are going to be a great deal of trouble with the Monarch if the result of your opinion and eventually his decsion leads to problems of any kind. Even if your opinion does not result in tremendous loss (the Monarch is a great spinner - one that can make even a mouse think its a goat!) you will be blamed for not considering all the facts (not all available to you at the moment of opinion giving).
If you think not providing an opinion will definitely ensure safety in the Kingdom of Damned if you do and Damned if you don't - you have another thing coming!! NO CHANCE! If you fail to provide the royally requested opinion you are seen as a traitor in the eyes of the Monarch as you fail to show your support for his "conquering plans for the universe!"
PROVIDING SOLACE TO THE MONARCH
this Kingdom seethes with danger with every corner you turn, every side street you take and every building you enter....so on and so forth. It is covered in egg shells that scream for punishment when you step on them accidentally - enraging the Monarch.
In your defence - you would advise the Monarch to not place so many egg shells around as the population is finding it difficult to get by without getting sentenced to soup. It might be better to keep his eggshells somewhere safe. There are times when the Monarch will step on eggshells deployed under his rule and when that happens - you see the Monarch all depressed and sad and pissed off at the same time. You try to comfort the sole Monarch of the Kingdom that it's only an eggshell that's been crushed and that there's many more eggshells around...no point crying over cracked eggshells...there are other eggshells to look after. In this situation - you will hear the MONARCH SCREAM - I WANNA WEAR MY PINK DRESS!!!! (Private Joke..... :P)
For now the Kingdom of Damned if you do and Damned if you don't has moved on. Phew! It will come round again but at least bubble-dom will have some time to recover its bouncy-ness and elasticity to take the constant screaming and stretching that comes from the reigning Monarch of that terrible kingdom.
The sucky thing about this is like it's name - damned if you do and damned if you don't. Either way - when this kingdom and it's monarch rolls into town - it's hell on earth with eggshells all over the place and bulls (actually only one - ME!) running around like ants on a hot roof.
The Kingdom of damned if you do and damned if you don't doesn't care what you do, don't do, say and don't say - it will all be wrong! nothing will be right! No matter which way you look at it...you will still pay for everything that goes wrong or right in this monarch's life!
A couple of "cheerful" examples
FLIGHT OR FIGHT
When there are arguments/diagreements/misunderstanding that ended up fairly heated - one can either fly or fight. It's a 50/50 rule isn't it? A chance that if you picked the right strategy you may avoid a complete nuclear meltdown - Let me say this - IT IS COMPLETE AND UTTER BOLLOCKS?!?!
In the Kingdom of Damned if you do and Damned if you don't - either flying or fighting will end one in hot soup. It's a no win. The monarch is extremely strict about no fly or fight laws and the usual sentencing is into the hot soup the perpetuator goes until he/she admits mistake - whether the mistake is factual reality or or the best fictional story that was ever created in the mind of the monarch.
NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED
usually when one is asked an opinion on a subject - Most Regular people will take this invitation to present their opinions as an honor. This is because the person asking for your opinion values it enough to want to hear it to see if it can solve the problem at hand. So in an obscure way the person asking for your opinion is seeking "help" - YOUR HELP.
So you provide this help (doing a good deed) and i guess you can tell from which kingdom did the phrase "no good deed goes unpunished" originate from - that's right folks...the Kingdom of Damned if you do and Damned if you Don't. If you provide this opinion (help) - you are going to be a great deal of trouble with the Monarch if the result of your opinion and eventually his decsion leads to problems of any kind. Even if your opinion does not result in tremendous loss (the Monarch is a great spinner - one that can make even a mouse think its a goat!) you will be blamed for not considering all the facts (not all available to you at the moment of opinion giving).
If you think not providing an opinion will definitely ensure safety in the Kingdom of Damned if you do and Damned if you don't - you have another thing coming!! NO CHANCE! If you fail to provide the royally requested opinion you are seen as a traitor in the eyes of the Monarch as you fail to show your support for his "conquering plans for the universe!"
PROVIDING SOLACE TO THE MONARCH
this Kingdom seethes with danger with every corner you turn, every side street you take and every building you enter....so on and so forth. It is covered in egg shells that scream for punishment when you step on them accidentally - enraging the Monarch.
In your defence - you would advise the Monarch to not place so many egg shells around as the population is finding it difficult to get by without getting sentenced to soup. It might be better to keep his eggshells somewhere safe. There are times when the Monarch will step on eggshells deployed under his rule and when that happens - you see the Monarch all depressed and sad and pissed off at the same time. You try to comfort the sole Monarch of the Kingdom that it's only an eggshell that's been crushed and that there's many more eggshells around...no point crying over cracked eggshells...there are other eggshells to look after. In this situation - you will hear the MONARCH SCREAM - I WANNA WEAR MY PINK DRESS!!!! (Private Joke..... :P)
For now the Kingdom of Damned if you do and Damned if you don't has moved on. Phew! It will come round again but at least bubble-dom will have some time to recover its bouncy-ness and elasticity to take the constant screaming and stretching that comes from the reigning Monarch of that terrible kingdom.
Monday 9 July 2007
Mags and his homecoming
I am excited to announce the homecoming of Mags. As you know Mags got his name from Maggots which aptly suits him as that was the way i found him (with maggots). he is maggot free and doing very well. I will be fetching him to come back and continue his recovery journey at our home (of course away from poppet and wolfie)
His previous owner has not called back to ask for his return even though she has my number. So i will keep him in my custody till he is better to be rehomed. There are people who are interested in taking him in even though he will probably have only one good eye to see through. This touches my heart and makes my sad days seem dimmer and further away.
Having said that - i am still concerned that they might use him for breeding or other evil purposes (EVIL EXISTS IN GREAT QUANTITIES IN THIS WORLD). SO to decrease the possbility of using him as a stud (i know...i know...it's a tiring job but someone's got to do the studding work...BUT it ain't gonna be Magsy Boy!) i have decided to cut his nuts off.
His case is slightly different from that of Poppet's and Wolfie. Why have i not castrated them and will castrate Mags. Well...first off...nobody wants Poppets' or Wolfies' puppies but they will want a purebred like Mags'. So to avoid abuse better to cut nuts off.
Secondly, both Poppets' and Wolfies' testes have descended properly (i.e. they hangin loose as they should) whereas Mags' testes have not descended at all. And in my research - doggies with undescended testes have a higher chance of getting testicular cancer so in this case we will have to remove them to safeguard his health. This does mean that he is probably gonna be in a high risk group for prostate cancer. A animal activist friend of mine is checking out the stats for this likelihood and we have time to decide later on the fate of Magsy's balls. If at all, he will only be sent for this surgery after he recovers from his existing ailments.
Mags will be returning to a hyperactive wolfie (dunno what's up with that dog these days?!?!) and a head shaking poppet (no...he has not taken up head banging as a preference!!! nor is he on E!) Poppet's got this headshaking thang going on. We went to see MrVet who promptly checked him for ear mites (thankfully he had none!!), cleaned out the poor dog's ears with such vigour that reminded me of when i was a toddler and my grandpa used to scrub behind my ears!! In order to do all this - we had to sedate Poppet and he took the longest time comng out of this sedation and when he did manage to groggily walk to the car and afterwards into the house he was like a drunk...Swaying when he was standng still...getting all his four legs tangled and his style of walking was sooooo terbantuk leh!!! (a.k.a. spastic)
Way....going back now to check on my babies and prepare for the arrival of another in a couple of days time. I will be bringing Mags to Port Dickson with me and hubby on Saturday so that we can go visit a possible home for Mags in Malacca later that day. Ciao! See you soon.
His previous owner has not called back to ask for his return even though she has my number. So i will keep him in my custody till he is better to be rehomed. There are people who are interested in taking him in even though he will probably have only one good eye to see through. This touches my heart and makes my sad days seem dimmer and further away.
Having said that - i am still concerned that they might use him for breeding or other evil purposes (EVIL EXISTS IN GREAT QUANTITIES IN THIS WORLD). SO to decrease the possbility of using him as a stud (i know...i know...it's a tiring job but someone's got to do the studding work...BUT it ain't gonna be Magsy Boy!) i have decided to cut his nuts off.
His case is slightly different from that of Poppet's and Wolfie. Why have i not castrated them and will castrate Mags. Well...first off...nobody wants Poppets' or Wolfies' puppies but they will want a purebred like Mags'. So to avoid abuse better to cut nuts off.
Secondly, both Poppets' and Wolfies' testes have descended properly (i.e. they hangin loose as they should) whereas Mags' testes have not descended at all. And in my research - doggies with undescended testes have a higher chance of getting testicular cancer so in this case we will have to remove them to safeguard his health. This does mean that he is probably gonna be in a high risk group for prostate cancer. A animal activist friend of mine is checking out the stats for this likelihood and we have time to decide later on the fate of Magsy's balls. If at all, he will only be sent for this surgery after he recovers from his existing ailments.
Mags will be returning to a hyperactive wolfie (dunno what's up with that dog these days?!?!) and a head shaking poppet (no...he has not taken up head banging as a preference!!! nor is he on E!) Poppet's got this headshaking thang going on. We went to see MrVet who promptly checked him for ear mites (thankfully he had none!!), cleaned out the poor dog's ears with such vigour that reminded me of when i was a toddler and my grandpa used to scrub behind my ears!! In order to do all this - we had to sedate Poppet and he took the longest time comng out of this sedation and when he did manage to groggily walk to the car and afterwards into the house he was like a drunk...Swaying when he was standng still...getting all his four legs tangled and his style of walking was sooooo terbantuk leh!!! (a.k.a. spastic)
Way....going back now to check on my babies and prepare for the arrival of another in a couple of days time. I will be bringing Mags to Port Dickson with me and hubby on Saturday so that we can go visit a possible home for Mags in Malacca later that day. Ciao! See you soon.
Sunday 8 July 2007
Good News, Good News, Good News, Bad News
And in that order we will begin this post.
Good News
Mags is recovering well. The hole in his head is healing properly. We will know about the eye in a week's time. He is more playful now and barks a lot.
Good News
I have a couple of people that are interested in taking him in - will need to check their backgrounds etc before i pass him over.
Good News
I found a microchip on him and managed to trace the owner through the breeder.
Bad News
The owner is some chinese educated low life that bought the dog and left it with her mother. This lady sounds like she is in her late 30s and when i did speak with her - sounded very drunk and hung over. She claims that she lost the dog a couple of months ago but doesn't know exactly when as she does not live with her mother. Her mother leaves the gate open for the dog to "run in and out". And one day it just disappeared - little wonder!
I dun really want to return Mags to her seeing as it will happen all over again. I told her to call me back when she's awake. She hasn't to date.
I think it is such a waste when you spend time and money to get the dog back to health only to have its irresponsible owner let the same horrible thing happen again. So i have decided the following:
1) If the owner wants Mags back then she will have to pay for his medical bills in full.
2) if the owner does not call back in a week's time - i will bring Mags back for a couple of days and then rehome him for free.
We'll see and keep this situation updated and posted.
Good News
Mags is recovering well. The hole in his head is healing properly. We will know about the eye in a week's time. He is more playful now and barks a lot.
Good News
I have a couple of people that are interested in taking him in - will need to check their backgrounds etc before i pass him over.
Good News
I found a microchip on him and managed to trace the owner through the breeder.
Bad News
The owner is some chinese educated low life that bought the dog and left it with her mother. This lady sounds like she is in her late 30s and when i did speak with her - sounded very drunk and hung over. She claims that she lost the dog a couple of months ago but doesn't know exactly when as she does not live with her mother. Her mother leaves the gate open for the dog to "run in and out". And one day it just disappeared - little wonder!
I dun really want to return Mags to her seeing as it will happen all over again. I told her to call me back when she's awake. She hasn't to date.
I think it is such a waste when you spend time and money to get the dog back to health only to have its irresponsible owner let the same horrible thing happen again. So i have decided the following:
1) If the owner wants Mags back then she will have to pay for his medical bills in full.
2) if the owner does not call back in a week's time - i will bring Mags back for a couple of days and then rehome him for free.
We'll see and keep this situation updated and posted.
Friday 6 July 2007
A tear in the corner of my eye
There are good days and then there are bad days and there are also days when it is neither. There are a couple of days in a year that i have sad days. Sad days are when i feel that all things are not right in the world especially in mine.
Sad days for me come about when i see bad things happening to people/animals (like whenever i visit Mags - it makes me sad that things like that can happen). This makes me feel like there is no hope for human kind. That they are vicious and terribly self centered beyond belief that that really believe the world revolves around them and that they are owed a living and anything they get in life.
I see this everyday in life and the thing that makes these sad days sad is that no matter how hard you try - it's not going to change. People will still be mean to people. People will still put their self interest and needs first. If you sacrificed something for someone else...dun expect to get thank yous. Expect that the person you helped out will feel that it is their right to be treated nicely regardless of cost to anyone else.
So when I'm having these sad days - i prefer to keep quiet, be by myself - to find my balance again. I have considered that my sad days come about because i'm so angry but cannot do anything about it - cannot change the situation and cannot express frustration to the level that it is felt. On these days - i have a constant tear in the corner of my eye that will not go away till my balance is found (read as when i can filter out the mean-ness of this life and make a concentrated effort to find only the good)
I find that i can see and feel but not articulate accurately these things that make my days sad. I was angry and now just sad (similar to a feeling of hopelessness). And that leaves a constant tear in the corner of my eye.
Sad days for me come about when i see bad things happening to people/animals (like whenever i visit Mags - it makes me sad that things like that can happen). This makes me feel like there is no hope for human kind. That they are vicious and terribly self centered beyond belief that that really believe the world revolves around them and that they are owed a living and anything they get in life.
I see this everyday in life and the thing that makes these sad days sad is that no matter how hard you try - it's not going to change. People will still be mean to people. People will still put their self interest and needs first. If you sacrificed something for someone else...dun expect to get thank yous. Expect that the person you helped out will feel that it is their right to be treated nicely regardless of cost to anyone else.
So when I'm having these sad days - i prefer to keep quiet, be by myself - to find my balance again. I have considered that my sad days come about because i'm so angry but cannot do anything about it - cannot change the situation and cannot express frustration to the level that it is felt. On these days - i have a constant tear in the corner of my eye that will not go away till my balance is found (read as when i can filter out the mean-ness of this life and make a concentrated effort to find only the good)
I find that i can see and feel but not articulate accurately these things that make my days sad. I was angry and now just sad (similar to a feeling of hopelessness). And that leaves a constant tear in the corner of my eye.
Tuesday 3 July 2007
Betsy
Betsy. She's my cow. My sistah gave her to me (actually she's the second betsy as i had to give up my first to Isaac - my nephew). She travels with me everywhere and i mean everywhere, sleeps with me every night and watches TV with me every evening. She's the most huggable cow i have and the reason why i treasure her the most is because my sistah gave her to me.
Betsy is like an extension of my sistah (i know my cheh cheh is probably grossing out right this moment as she reads this as Betsy is in a right state) I can't bear to wash her in case she falls to pieces. And i dun trust those dry cleaners with her. So i'm sticking with her the way she is. Just like i love my sistah forever. Even though we have our fights, disagreements, sibling rivalry (Betsy has an edge over my sistah in this respect - WE NEVER FIGHT!)
I talk to Betsy when i'm happy, sad, depressed and angry. She comforts me by just listening, hugging and absorbing my tears (and fears) till i sleep. She dreams with me (let's me drool happiness and contentment all over her), has nightmares with me (I have flung her from the bed - without knowing). She exacts revenge for me (smacks hubby on his bald head for being mean to me), protects me (people dun try to approach you when they think you're mad for traveling with a stuff cow named betsy whom you giggle to each and every night that you have to share accommodation with...) and lurves me right back with the blank cow stare that she has.
She has her own particular smell (ME! ME! ME!) and i lurve my Betsy to bits (still together or fallen off) Her snout is tilted in a particular direction (probably due to me sniffing her in only one direction); her tail is a furry mess of furry stuff; she's got holes in her back; her horns are falling off and her ears are worn thin (from my constant nervous habit of pushing the cotton into the corners of her stitching). She's also a lot thinner now then when i first got her. I sometimes think about the future and what it holds. And sometimes i imagine Betsy no more with me and i stop right there! I don't like the thought - so i fiddle with her soft terry cloth (used to be) belly a little gentler when we sleep at night; i swaddle her with soft pashmina when i pack her to go abroad with me. All in the effort to keep her with me till i die.
Betsy also has a special relationship with hubby. He always remembers to bring her to bed if she's been watching TV with him. He talks to her and almost always gives her a good night kiss. And i know it's strange but he arranges her in a sleeping position in the mornings after we have all gotten up.
there was only one other fellow that "communicated" with Betsy as hubby does. And he was affectionately known as "my holiday hubby". Long story how this boyo got this title but nothing raunchy - just had to share accommodation. Anyway, this dude was putting granola bars in Betsy's lap, flowers in her ear...man i thought Betsy was going to get a proposal.
Betsy has shared a large part of my life for over 8 years. I hope she will stay around (especially with me taking sepcial care to be gentler with her) for at least another 10 years! I cannot imagine a day without Betsy to go home to or snuggle up to or to talk to. I will always remember Betsy my cow! Betsy my best friend! Betsy - my sistah's gift to me that is more than a soft toy!
Betsy is like an extension of my sistah (i know my cheh cheh is probably grossing out right this moment as she reads this as Betsy is in a right state) I can't bear to wash her in case she falls to pieces. And i dun trust those dry cleaners with her. So i'm sticking with her the way she is. Just like i love my sistah forever. Even though we have our fights, disagreements, sibling rivalry (Betsy has an edge over my sistah in this respect - WE NEVER FIGHT!)
I talk to Betsy when i'm happy, sad, depressed and angry. She comforts me by just listening, hugging and absorbing my tears (and fears) till i sleep. She dreams with me (let's me drool happiness and contentment all over her), has nightmares with me (I have flung her from the bed - without knowing). She exacts revenge for me (smacks hubby on his bald head for being mean to me), protects me (people dun try to approach you when they think you're mad for traveling with a stuff cow named betsy whom you giggle to each and every night that you have to share accommodation with...) and lurves me right back with the blank cow stare that she has.
She has her own particular smell (ME! ME! ME!) and i lurve my Betsy to bits (still together or fallen off) Her snout is tilted in a particular direction (probably due to me sniffing her in only one direction); her tail is a furry mess of furry stuff; she's got holes in her back; her horns are falling off and her ears are worn thin (from my constant nervous habit of pushing the cotton into the corners of her stitching). She's also a lot thinner now then when i first got her. I sometimes think about the future and what it holds. And sometimes i imagine Betsy no more with me and i stop right there! I don't like the thought - so i fiddle with her soft terry cloth (used to be) belly a little gentler when we sleep at night; i swaddle her with soft pashmina when i pack her to go abroad with me. All in the effort to keep her with me till i die.
Betsy also has a special relationship with hubby. He always remembers to bring her to bed if she's been watching TV with him. He talks to her and almost always gives her a good night kiss. And i know it's strange but he arranges her in a sleeping position in the mornings after we have all gotten up.
there was only one other fellow that "communicated" with Betsy as hubby does. And he was affectionately known as "my holiday hubby". Long story how this boyo got this title but nothing raunchy - just had to share accommodation. Anyway, this dude was putting granola bars in Betsy's lap, flowers in her ear...man i thought Betsy was going to get a proposal.
Betsy has shared a large part of my life for over 8 years. I hope she will stay around (especially with me taking sepcial care to be gentler with her) for at least another 10 years! I cannot imagine a day without Betsy to go home to or snuggle up to or to talk to. I will always remember Betsy my cow! Betsy my best friend! Betsy - my sistah's gift to me that is more than a soft toy!
Monday 2 July 2007
My Bit(e) - Against Cruelty to Animals
I want to help my furry pet friends out as much as i can. And as the saying goes - you can only save (help) so many. But i dun plan to save the world of furry pet friends- i believe that each and everyone plays a part.
About a week ago - my parents came to visit me for a couple of days. At the end of their trip I was supposed to send them to the bus stop to catch their bus home. Just leaving my house - I spotted a shihtzu sat quietly by the roadside. I stopped the car and went to take a look. He had a hole in its head, and his right eye was sealed shut with infection and for a while i thought that he had been involved in an accident and was waiting to die. I had to decide what to do as i was cutting it waaayyyy too close for my parents to catch their bus. So i found a towel in the boot, caught the little fellow and put him in the back seat of the car. I thought if he was going to die - i would like him to have a shorter and painless death where i could being him to a vet and have him put to sleep.
I managed to make it to the bus stop with minutes to spare and said my goodbyes in the car. The little pooch was quiet all this time just licking his paws. I moved off and due to traffic was off to a slow start. Eventually i got to the vets - carried the little pooch in and informed the front desk that the doggy was involved in some kind of accident. Mr Vet took a look and told me something that shook me to my roots with anger, indignation and fear. It was a MAGGOT wound - apparrently the dog had an ulcer in his right eye and it started tearing terribly and his then owner obviously did not take care of him. With so much tearing - the flies were attracted to lay their eggs which hatched into maggots that eventually ate the doggy's face away (big hole in the head).
How can anyone treat their pet this way? What was going through the imbecile's mind? this was a shihtzu - you would have to buy this dog at more than RM$1,000.00. It makes me mad to think that people can be so careless with life and money. If one dog died we would just have to go get another from the shop. Not that this lack of attention to a dog's need would have been justified if it was a local pariah dog. My GOSH!! when i heard what the vet had to tell me - i was literally shaking mostly with anger.
the vet gave me a choice - put him to sleep or help him heal? Will i be able to afford his medical costs? I said yes...heal the little bugger up and i will find him a home. I will bear the cost of this journey of healing. So i left the doggy in their capable hands.
Over the next week and a half i would go visit the doggy to see how he was doing. I was asked to name him and chose the name Mags (short for Maggots - i know...GROSS). I'm glad to report that Mags is doing well. The hole in his head is healing well. his right eye is still in the process of healing but no one can be sure if he will ever be able to see through it. At least he has got one good eye. He is barking and although shaven (they had to shave him coz he had matted hair which would have caused more skin problems later - it'll grow back - in about 2 months) is eating well and putting back on the weight he has lost since being abandoned.
In the interim i have been searching for a new home for Mags. And i'm appalled by some of the questions that i have been asked - is he cute? Does he have any scars? Will he look normal?
Does it matter? I mean really - does it matter? By adopting Mags - you would have gained a friend for life. Always there for you. And all it asks is for that bit of TLC, food and attention.
And i had one case of this girlie feeling really sad that she had lost her dog to the ultimate end. She said - i would never take another dog again. It hurts too much. I feel sad for her for the loss of her best friend. I feel even more sad for her as i know she is missing out on something (big in her life enough to cause her so much grief) in life that would make her happy. We all know we lose big time at the end when we have lived big time when we are alive. And what matters most - the end or the journey? Our greatest memories are sometimes also our saddest. I digress.
Your pet is not your accessory. He/She is your friend, family, confidante, cheerleader, causer of muntah darah scenarios (i.e. peeing in the house). Please treat all animals with the care and respect you would give to a fellow human being. You should NOT get a pet for fun, for the kids, for whatever insane reason society has deemed as normal for a person to walk into a pet shop, flash the plastic and bring a pet home.
Your PET is LIKE your CHILD (for people with children), your BMW/MERC (for yuppies without children), your aging parents (for people who do not have a BMW or children). No one would like to have a festering wound in the eye that cost you your sight when it could all have been avoided. Dumping the pet indicates the owners are complete and utter morons than probably will not have any respect for any living thing even though related i.e. family
whilst i cannot do anything against the consumerism of today's sociey i can help by lobbying against the government appointed animal catchers that do not treat the strays they catch with any humanity. I am involved in getting signatures to lobby for a ban on the shooting of dogs and the implementation of other humane practices. I can only hope that the individuals that read this do their bit against the cruelty to animals
About a week ago - my parents came to visit me for a couple of days. At the end of their trip I was supposed to send them to the bus stop to catch their bus home. Just leaving my house - I spotted a shihtzu sat quietly by the roadside. I stopped the car and went to take a look. He had a hole in its head, and his right eye was sealed shut with infection and for a while i thought that he had been involved in an accident and was waiting to die. I had to decide what to do as i was cutting it waaayyyy too close for my parents to catch their bus. So i found a towel in the boot, caught the little fellow and put him in the back seat of the car. I thought if he was going to die - i would like him to have a shorter and painless death where i could being him to a vet and have him put to sleep.
I managed to make it to the bus stop with minutes to spare and said my goodbyes in the car. The little pooch was quiet all this time just licking his paws. I moved off and due to traffic was off to a slow start. Eventually i got to the vets - carried the little pooch in and informed the front desk that the doggy was involved in some kind of accident. Mr Vet took a look and told me something that shook me to my roots with anger, indignation and fear. It was a MAGGOT wound - apparrently the dog had an ulcer in his right eye and it started tearing terribly and his then owner obviously did not take care of him. With so much tearing - the flies were attracted to lay their eggs which hatched into maggots that eventually ate the doggy's face away (big hole in the head).
How can anyone treat their pet this way? What was going through the imbecile's mind? this was a shihtzu - you would have to buy this dog at more than RM$1,000.00. It makes me mad to think that people can be so careless with life and money. If one dog died we would just have to go get another from the shop. Not that this lack of attention to a dog's need would have been justified if it was a local pariah dog. My GOSH!! when i heard what the vet had to tell me - i was literally shaking mostly with anger.
the vet gave me a choice - put him to sleep or help him heal? Will i be able to afford his medical costs? I said yes...heal the little bugger up and i will find him a home. I will bear the cost of this journey of healing. So i left the doggy in their capable hands.
Over the next week and a half i would go visit the doggy to see how he was doing. I was asked to name him and chose the name Mags (short for Maggots - i know...GROSS). I'm glad to report that Mags is doing well. The hole in his head is healing well. his right eye is still in the process of healing but no one can be sure if he will ever be able to see through it. At least he has got one good eye. He is barking and although shaven (they had to shave him coz he had matted hair which would have caused more skin problems later - it'll grow back - in about 2 months) is eating well and putting back on the weight he has lost since being abandoned.
In the interim i have been searching for a new home for Mags. And i'm appalled by some of the questions that i have been asked - is he cute? Does he have any scars? Will he look normal?
Does it matter? I mean really - does it matter? By adopting Mags - you would have gained a friend for life. Always there for you. And all it asks is for that bit of TLC, food and attention.
And i had one case of this girlie feeling really sad that she had lost her dog to the ultimate end. She said - i would never take another dog again. It hurts too much. I feel sad for her for the loss of her best friend. I feel even more sad for her as i know she is missing out on something (big in her life enough to cause her so much grief) in life that would make her happy. We all know we lose big time at the end when we have lived big time when we are alive. And what matters most - the end or the journey? Our greatest memories are sometimes also our saddest. I digress.
Your pet is not your accessory. He/She is your friend, family, confidante, cheerleader, causer of muntah darah scenarios (i.e. peeing in the house). Please treat all animals with the care and respect you would give to a fellow human being. You should NOT get a pet for fun, for the kids, for whatever insane reason society has deemed as normal for a person to walk into a pet shop, flash the plastic and bring a pet home.
Your PET is LIKE your CHILD (for people with children), your BMW/MERC (for yuppies without children), your aging parents (for people who do not have a BMW or children). No one would like to have a festering wound in the eye that cost you your sight when it could all have been avoided. Dumping the pet indicates the owners are complete and utter morons than probably will not have any respect for any living thing even though related i.e. family
whilst i cannot do anything against the consumerism of today's sociey i can help by lobbying against the government appointed animal catchers that do not treat the strays they catch with any humanity. I am involved in getting signatures to lobby for a ban on the shooting of dogs and the implementation of other humane practices. I can only hope that the individuals that read this do their bit against the cruelty to animals
Boils....Pus...Pain and Pain in the Butt and Cringes in Unmentionable Places
Been a long time...so i would like to commence by giving my much missed blog a big fat wet kiss to say hello!!
The heading says it all for what my hubby had to go through this weekend jus past. Over the last week he had this swelling on the outer right thigh. We tot it's only a huge pimple (you know la - men can be soo dirty la ;)) Anyway - it grew and grew and grew. In my religion - God created the world in 7 days. My hubby created this monster of a boil in 7 days.
We decided when it turned ugly red with a yellowish center that it's a boil and that it needed to be lanced but not just yet as it wasn't "ripe"! Fancy using a term we use on fruits. eeeee....
Anyway - on the day we felt was the the day to get it lanced - we went down to this lady doctor just down the road from us. She appeared maternal but could talk an MRT to shame, she could also have represented Malaysia in the nagging olympics. anyway - she did not take much of a shine to my poor hubby - he had to put up with her going on and on about the importance of antibiotics (approx - 15 minutes) with me regularly interjecting that hubby feels very strongly AGAINST antibiotics .... chuckle with me for a moment please - it's not often i get to "get" him back for being "atrocious" to me.
So she told him after much verbal slapping that his boil is not "boiled" enough and that it's not pus-sy (no porn intended) enough - and that he had to return the next day to get it lanced. but in the meantime - he has to have an antibiotic jab on his bottom. Aiyoh to see the butt cheek flinch gave me a cringe in unmentionable places but also a feeling of sadistic satisfaction. I pitied the poor old boy and yet i didn't.....how evil am I? Muahahahaha
SO the poor boy slept on his left side all night or on his back - right butt cheek and thigh not the most comfortable. The next day we decided to go in early to lance the boil (see - the thing is we both thought that it was nothing serious and that it was all going to come oozing out from a small pinprick that she would be making into his "ripe fruit"). Little did we know what he was in for......
He lay on the table docilely after being sternly instructed by the doc. She got all the sterile equipment ready, sprayed him with some cold anastethic and cut straight into him. I can imagine the pain he must be experiencing (afterall i did have to endure extreme cringes in unmentionable places for a very long time when he was in the land of pain) In hindsight - it all appeared a bit farnee - with him on his left side and right arm in the air with the arrrrggggghhhhh sound effects coming from him. Aiyoh...what is happening la - isn't it supposed to be a small pinprick? Why is he in sooooo much pain? Is my hubby a big girls blouse?
Then bravery took a hold of my hands and legs and moved me forward to see the cause of such unimaginable pain. My eyes popped out...she had cut the diameter of the boil and was squeezing the icky stuff out....AND MAN WAS IT ICKY!!!!!!!! Yellow with blood and with soft cheese consistency....eeeeeeeeeeeeee....and it stank!!!!
SO she continued to push and probe at the "ripe fruit" with hubby in almost silent agony (the silence punctuated by small eerrggghhh and arrrgggghhhs). At one point i thought he was going to pass out as he screamed (jus a little scream) out. He was covered in cold sweat. The doctor came across as immune to his pain and i felt had no bedside manners at all.
I checked out the cut she had made with her scapel and it was pretty deep from where i was standing. Fortunately for hubby the icky stuff is out of his leg. Unfortunately for hubby - the ordeal is not over. Apparently the nurse is preparing a magnesium sulfate gauze strip to stuff into the gaping hole of my hubby's leg. So the torture goes on...she stuffs...he screams mutely....she stuff....he screams...and this goes on for quite a while. It was over...we had lost track of time between the screams and more screams...
We went home for the rest of the day and hubby was like..."get me this..." "get me that...." "my leg hurts...." "why do I have to do everything around here...?". So I pandered to this pain in the backside (pun intended) whilst my saturday slipped away...I napped to get away from the whining noise coming from hubby and whilst i napped a dream of torture came to me so that when i woke i made a call to my fabulous mum. She has been a nurse for the longest time and is now retired...well semi retired if you count the fact that she has still to look after my dad.....to ask about this painful procedure. She assures me that all men (well - mostly men) scream when this procedure takes place as it is a very painful experience (being dirty..leading to boils and their extraction...nah nah nah...that'll teach you to be clean - ya filthy animals!!! muahahahaha)
I assured my hubby that he was not being a big girl's blouse and that he will have to be brave the next day...(oooppss...did i not mention that my fab mum also told me whats in store for him at the doc's tomorrow) then i tell him all the little painful details and secrets that my fab mum has just told me....i finally understood what the books mean when they say "the colour fell from his cheeks" or "he turned a ghastly shade of ash" or "the blood drained from his face"
The sadist in me takes gleeful joy in creating distress and then the maternal part of me that loves him to bits suffers cringes in unmentionable places. We go to bed that night...possibly a frightful bug eye hubby lying awake in anticipation of tomorrow's visit to the docs while i lie asleep like a baby snoring in contentment with Betsy.
So yesterday was the first day after his "surgery". He went into the doctor's with a heavy heart...knowing what is to come but unable to escape...PAIN!! then he see's the cute receptionist and he thinks...hey..it won't be that bad if she's inflicting the pain...and once again i transform from the love of his life that will do anything to protect him to the evil mother of the mantra "Let pain be your middle name". This transition takes place quietly and smoothly so no one is the wiser.
We enter the room for the dressing change and guess the joys of joys....the person changing his dressing is the.....wait for it.....THE DOCTOR. muahahahaha! hubby looks like he wants to run out of the room....but he stands his ground bravely. The battle between my good and evil alterego was a mighty one, like the war of the titans - only bigger and better and definitely more entertaining....eventually good won out and i decided to be nice. So i hold his hand and tell him it's all going to be ok....and it was...the doc was actually nicer this time round, his wound needed only plain gauze stuffing without the magnesium sulfate and it was reported that he was healing nicely and he got another shot of antibiotics on the bum.
He seems to be recovering well. Today he is teaching all day so we hope he's not in too bad a mood by the day's end. Wish us luck!!
The heading says it all for what my hubby had to go through this weekend jus past. Over the last week he had this swelling on the outer right thigh. We tot it's only a huge pimple (you know la - men can be soo dirty la ;)) Anyway - it grew and grew and grew. In my religion - God created the world in 7 days. My hubby created this monster of a boil in 7 days.
We decided when it turned ugly red with a yellowish center that it's a boil and that it needed to be lanced but not just yet as it wasn't "ripe"! Fancy using a term we use on fruits. eeeee....
Anyway - on the day we felt was the the day to get it lanced - we went down to this lady doctor just down the road from us. She appeared maternal but could talk an MRT to shame, she could also have represented Malaysia in the nagging olympics. anyway - she did not take much of a shine to my poor hubby - he had to put up with her going on and on about the importance of antibiotics (approx - 15 minutes) with me regularly interjecting that hubby feels very strongly AGAINST antibiotics .... chuckle with me for a moment please - it's not often i get to "get" him back for being "atrocious" to me.
So she told him after much verbal slapping that his boil is not "boiled" enough and that it's not pus-sy (no porn intended) enough - and that he had to return the next day to get it lanced. but in the meantime - he has to have an antibiotic jab on his bottom. Aiyoh to see the butt cheek flinch gave me a cringe in unmentionable places but also a feeling of sadistic satisfaction. I pitied the poor old boy and yet i didn't.....how evil am I? Muahahahaha
SO the poor boy slept on his left side all night or on his back - right butt cheek and thigh not the most comfortable. The next day we decided to go in early to lance the boil (see - the thing is we both thought that it was nothing serious and that it was all going to come oozing out from a small pinprick that she would be making into his "ripe fruit"). Little did we know what he was in for......
He lay on the table docilely after being sternly instructed by the doc. She got all the sterile equipment ready, sprayed him with some cold anastethic and cut straight into him. I can imagine the pain he must be experiencing (afterall i did have to endure extreme cringes in unmentionable places for a very long time when he was in the land of pain) In hindsight - it all appeared a bit farnee - with him on his left side and right arm in the air with the arrrrggggghhhhh sound effects coming from him. Aiyoh...what is happening la - isn't it supposed to be a small pinprick? Why is he in sooooo much pain? Is my hubby a big girls blouse?
Then bravery took a hold of my hands and legs and moved me forward to see the cause of such unimaginable pain. My eyes popped out...she had cut the diameter of the boil and was squeezing the icky stuff out....AND MAN WAS IT ICKY!!!!!!!! Yellow with blood and with soft cheese consistency....eeeeeeeeeeeeee....and it stank!!!!
SO she continued to push and probe at the "ripe fruit" with hubby in almost silent agony (the silence punctuated by small eerrggghhh and arrrgggghhhs). At one point i thought he was going to pass out as he screamed (jus a little scream) out. He was covered in cold sweat. The doctor came across as immune to his pain and i felt had no bedside manners at all.
I checked out the cut she had made with her scapel and it was pretty deep from where i was standing. Fortunately for hubby the icky stuff is out of his leg. Unfortunately for hubby - the ordeal is not over. Apparently the nurse is preparing a magnesium sulfate gauze strip to stuff into the gaping hole of my hubby's leg. So the torture goes on...she stuffs...he screams mutely....she stuff....he screams...and this goes on for quite a while. It was over...we had lost track of time between the screams and more screams...
We went home for the rest of the day and hubby was like..."get me this..." "get me that...." "my leg hurts...." "why do I have to do everything around here...?". So I pandered to this pain in the backside (pun intended) whilst my saturday slipped away...I napped to get away from the whining noise coming from hubby and whilst i napped a dream of torture came to me so that when i woke i made a call to my fabulous mum. She has been a nurse for the longest time and is now retired...well semi retired if you count the fact that she has still to look after my dad.....to ask about this painful procedure. She assures me that all men (well - mostly men) scream when this procedure takes place as it is a very painful experience (being dirty..leading to boils and their extraction...nah nah nah...that'll teach you to be clean - ya filthy animals!!! muahahahaha)
I assured my hubby that he was not being a big girl's blouse and that he will have to be brave the next day...(oooppss...did i not mention that my fab mum also told me whats in store for him at the doc's tomorrow) then i tell him all the little painful details and secrets that my fab mum has just told me....i finally understood what the books mean when they say "the colour fell from his cheeks" or "he turned a ghastly shade of ash" or "the blood drained from his face"
The sadist in me takes gleeful joy in creating distress and then the maternal part of me that loves him to bits suffers cringes in unmentionable places. We go to bed that night...possibly a frightful bug eye hubby lying awake in anticipation of tomorrow's visit to the docs while i lie asleep like a baby snoring in contentment with Betsy.
So yesterday was the first day after his "surgery". He went into the doctor's with a heavy heart...knowing what is to come but unable to escape...PAIN!! then he see's the cute receptionist and he thinks...hey..it won't be that bad if she's inflicting the pain...and once again i transform from the love of his life that will do anything to protect him to the evil mother of the mantra "Let pain be your middle name". This transition takes place quietly and smoothly so no one is the wiser.
We enter the room for the dressing change and guess the joys of joys....the person changing his dressing is the.....wait for it.....THE DOCTOR. muahahahaha! hubby looks like he wants to run out of the room....but he stands his ground bravely. The battle between my good and evil alterego was a mighty one, like the war of the titans - only bigger and better and definitely more entertaining....eventually good won out and i decided to be nice. So i hold his hand and tell him it's all going to be ok....and it was...the doc was actually nicer this time round, his wound needed only plain gauze stuffing without the magnesium sulfate and it was reported that he was healing nicely and he got another shot of antibiotics on the bum.
He seems to be recovering well. Today he is teaching all day so we hope he's not in too bad a mood by the day's end. Wish us luck!!
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