Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Another furry creature



I tried so hard to make the month of August my dedication to New Orleans. I find that I cant. It is infecting my dreams. Filling me up with sadness I cant shake. I am departing from that for now. We will see what happens.



This is my favorite human, my nephew Jakob. He objected to his picture being taken. At 14 he is afraid one of his friends might see. I assured him they didn't read my blog so we are good. He is the two-legged light of my life. His daddy was the most special person I have ever known. We lost my dear brother Forrest to a terrible cancer when he was only 43. He left behind a 6 year old little boy who didn't understand where his daddy was. I tell him to just look in the mirror.


Jakob comes to visit every other weekend and almost every holiday. I took him everywhere with me when he was a baby. He is my kid and I would go through fire for him. God, he is just like my brother. Teases like him, walks like him, same feet, same sense of humor and fairness. A terrific kid with an open mind and a good heart. A real smart ass and slow to anger. He grabs me and his Grandma and makes us dance around the room just like his daddy used to.


We almost lost him when he was 3 months old. He had surgery 3 times to fix his colon before he was a year old. His bowel rolled itself up like a sock and ruptured in the hospital when they tried to clear it. He was septic, had to have a colostomy bag for a couple of months, every complication you can think of. It damned near killed us all. He is well now, thank goodness.


We have a great time together. We share a love of rock and roll, we have taken a trip together every summer and he bugs me all the time to take him driving "out in the country". I am still trying to pry my butt off the car seat after the last go round. He is getting to be a full fledged teen now. One day he will have better things to do than visit his aunt. I dread it and look forward to it but I know its a natural progression. I took him to his first concert, shared his first trick or treat experience and infected him with my love of Halloween. I am trying to teach him to respect women and to go for the girls that make him laugh instead of the one that is "hot".
Jake, I wish you all the best in life. Go to college, travel the world, keep an open mind, be nice to people and gentle with animals. Laugh as much as you can. I know you will experiment with things I wont like but keep talking to me about it. I will always be here and yes kid, I am still looking for Metallica tickets.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Furry Butts Fursday









This one is for you Hans and your furry butts family. I bet there are other furry butts out there if you go on the hunt!

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Have we met?


Just go get my salad hoomin. I really dont need to see you.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

What is head tilt?

One of my blog visitors asked a very good question. "What is head tilt and what causes it"? So for those of you who dont know what it is I will try and give a quick explanation.

Head Tilt, Wry Neck or Torticollis: Is when a bunny's head is on sideways. This can also strike rodents and human babies. I dont know if other animals can be affected. If you do, please let me know. Head tilt can be slight or to the point where a bunny is rolling uncontrollably and not able to get to their feet. Left untreated a rolling bunny will die. They are unable to eat or drink. Most of the time quick treatment will stop the rolling. Some bunnies recover completely from head tilt, some always have a slight tilt, like my Nemo and some have a severe tilt but live happy lives and adjust to their sideways view, like my Haven.

Causes of Head Tilt:

Head Trauma
Ear Infections from various problems including but not limited to Pasturella or Staph
Encephalitozoon Cuniculi (fancy name for a parasite/protozoa)
Stroke
Cancer
Something toxic like lead paint.

My personal opinion is we have a long way to go in treating head tilt. My experience at home and at the rescue is that every bunny responds differently to treatment. I know that bunnies with head tilt, especially with severe tilt are so precious. They need a little special care but that's no big deal. My Haven cant get in and out of a litter box due to his balance. We just put down a couple of puppy pads and he knows where to go.

If you want more information on head tilt there is a ton of info on the net. The House Rabbit Society is a great place to start.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Nemo aka Neep Neep, Lilliput, Nemo Mcgruder




Where to begin with little Nemo................






Nemo is my very special little bunny. He is my bunny equivalent to a soul mate. I try never to patronize pet stores. I will only seldom go to the one that starts with a "P" and ends with an "art" and that is only if I cant get something online. Bunnies like Nemo are the reason.





November 07 I was out of bunny chow and went into my local pet store. The woman who runs the place swears up and down that she is a responsible breeder (oxymoron) of rabbits. As I was leaving and trying hard not to look around me, I spotted a bunny in what seemed to be a hamster cage. There was a sign that said "free to a good home". Said bunny had a pretty severe head tilt. The serpent, uh pet store woman I mean, said she couldn't possibly try and sell a head tilt bunny so anybody could have him for free. Here began my education about bunnies with wry neck.






I went home with a sick heart. Not prepared to take another bunny especially a sick bunny I fretted about him all night long. I was at the pet store when it opened. I talked to Nemo and we made eye contact. He look said "please take me home and love me". The spawn of Satan, uh I mean pet store lady said she usually sent her "abnormal" bunnies to the boa constrictor breeder for free food. I guess she is a responsible breeder. If its not a money maker she discards it. Huh.


Nemo went to the vet. He had antibiotics, lots of room to run around, fresh greens everyday and was introduced to hay. Yes, Cruella, uh I mean the pet store woman sells hay in her store but doesn't bother to give it to her bunnies. Its a good thing she is so knowledgeable about bunnies. After a couple of weeks Nemo all but recovered from his head tilt. It is only slight now. I wait with baited breath that my little silly will get sick again.


Nemo is the sweetest most loving little bunny I have ever been around. Every morning when I come home from work he runs up to me and circles my feet without fail. I think its his way of saying "Hi mom, I missed you and I am glad your home" He very much loves his bondmates Stewart and Haven but he is a straight Momma's boy. He will almost always leave their side to sit by Mom. He loves to get in my purse and has to have his nose in everything I do. He grooms my hair and always gets up close to stare into my face. I often wonder what he is thinking when he stares at me. It may be "you need your roots done Mom!"

If I sound bitter towards the demon, uh I mean pet store woman, its because I am.


Love you Neep Neep. Thanks for coming into my life.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

5 dead people!

Okay folks, this is my favorite question to ask people: If you could spend the evening with 5 people who are already passed who would they be? I dont list family members as that is who most would choose first. It can be anyone!

Mine are:

1. Geronimo

2. Lewis or Clark

3. Lee Harvey Oswald

4. Edgar Allen Poe

5. Jimmy Stewart when he was about 30

Tell you anything about me? I showed you mine now you show me yours.

My Pink Boots


These are my favorite foot decoration. My friends hate them. They have issues with the real cowboys and cowgirls trip they lay on me. My friend Rick loves them. Thank goodness his feet are too big to borrow them. I will most likely be seen wearing them on my way to a Rob Zombie concert with my ragged jeans with the knee out and a Rolling Stones t-shirt. I really dont fit a mold. I love my boots!!!!!! Wanna borrow em sometime?