My cactus bloomed!

My cactus bloomed! 💛💛💛

Took this handsome boy out for a treat...

Took this handsome boy out for a treat at Piñion Coffee this morning, and then for a ride with us to The Paleta Bar. It was my and Shaun's first Paleta ever, which is ridiculous since we've been here almost 2 years. We'll definitely go back, though.

Shaun had a coffee and dark chocolate milkshake, and I had a Tres Leches paleta with white chocolate dip, graham cracker topping, and strawberries. It was so good! I ate it too fast to get a picture. 😂😂😂

Look at this cat!

Look at this cat! She says "Why are you standing in your chair?"

"BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING A FULL DANGLE, ADRIAN!!!" I love it when she hangs all her legs down like this. 😂😂😂

(I'll reply to the comments on my last post soon. I'm still in my feelings and just need a minute. But I needed this laugh and needed to share it. Adrian hasn't done this in ages. My day is made.)

Today was hard.

Today was hard. We lost Ember (the cat with the gremlin voice).

She was fine last week - even playing. But on Friday I noticed that her stomach was super noisy, and later the poor thing had diarrhea and tried throwing up at the same time. We thought maybe something had upset her stomach and the plan was to take her to the vet today if she wasn't feeling any better.

She ran to the litter box several times over the weekend, trying to use it (but unsuccessfully). Her appetite was low and we still believed she had an upset tummy. This morning, though, she wouldn't even try to eat her stinky treats that she loves.

We got her in at the vet and decided to leave her so they could run some tests. Well, the news was not good. The doctor found a giant tumor in her lung. Shaun is 100% against letting them suffer, as am I, and the vet said that anything we did would be a very short-term solution that may not actually help her feel better. So the hard decision was made, and we let our sweet girl go.

My Alabama rescue peeps will remember her as Boo, the scaredy-cat from the shelter. But she'll always be our sweet, gnarly-voiced Ember who loved punching you in the chin with her head and getting super-squeezy hugs. This was one of her last hugs from her favorite person. She was actually purring (she REALLY loved to be squished). ❤️❤️❤️

Yesterday I woke up and hit the ground running.

Yesterday I woke up and hit the ground running.  There was a bunch of stuff I wanted to accomplish and I did pretty much all of it.  Today has been the opposite.  I slept until 10-something, did Shaun's nails, and just finished stuffing myself on Pizza Hut - which really hit the spot.  I can't believe it's already so late in the day, though.

Shaun told me that this morning he looked out of the window and saw Harley walking along our privacy wall.  Thankfully, Harley saw Shaun come outside and ran back in, then met him inside like "I was here all along."  That is the second or third time we've found Harley outside (where none of the cats are supposed to be).  He's getting out of the dog door.  We've been leaving it unlocked since Cubba's key batteries died, but we have more batteries coming today so this shouldn't be an issue for much longer.  But this totally makes sense for Harley; after all, he was found in the motor of a car from Douglasville in the Oxford PetSmart parking lot.  He clearly has an adventurous streak.

Twice in the last few days, Shaun has pointed out lint on Cubba's belly button.  I legit didn't know that could be a thing for dogs, but I guess it makes sense since the hair swirls all towards one place.  Now I'm going to be looking at his belly button all the time.  😂

I sent Shaun to his game room (or rather, just away from me) because I need some quiet.  I feel sensory-overloaded at the moment and need to be by myself.  I thought I might catch up with some family and friends over the phone today, but I don't think that is going to happen.  I would like to talk more during the week... except that I don't want to.  I've found that I spend a lot of time in meetings for my job and it's oddly social despite being remote work, so I feel like I get a lot of socializing in during work and kind of the last thing I want to do is spend more time talking or messaging back and forth when I'm off.  I'm sorry if anyone feels neglected.  I'm taking care of myself right now.

I don't know what else this days holds for me, but it's gorgeous out.  Maybe I'll at least pot some plants and take a walk.  I don't know.  Gotta let my brain and ears settle first.  😂

I hope you're all having a lovely day.  I see a lot of happy pictures.  I'm glad y'all are enjoying time with your families, but to be honest I'm so relieved that I'm past having to put effort into holidays.  I've openly been an atheist for a long time, and this is the year I stop going through the motions of holidays I don't celebrate or care about for the sake of other people.  The kids are 23 and I'm 40.  I'm just done, and I'd rather be done than be a Grinch.  So Happy Easter or whatever else you might be celebrating.  I will always wish my friends and family the best, no matter our differences.  Love to you all.  ❤

Shadow just came downstairs...

Shadow just came downstairs and said that Kira got in a fight with Leon. 😂😂😂 That child and her child crack me up. How do you get in a fight with a cat!?

Look at this gentleman.

Look at this gentleman. Balthazar is so sweet. But he's got a foot fetish. Always tryna roll and rub and chew on ya toes. 😂😂😂