stripethree

It’s been a while, almost a year if not more, since Monkey and Llama saw a vet and they both needed vaccinations and could use a check up, so today was the today. I expected this to be pretty smooth sailing since they are pretty cool around people, are ok with being handled, and have been fine at all their previous vet visits. I was half right.

Monkey was fine in the car and fine in the carrier at the new vet, until we took him out to get examined. Then it was time to make life hell. He hissed and hissed even at me just sitting on the exam table. The vet and vet tech, thank god for their patience, were able to examine him while I distracted him (oh, but he was still hissing and fighting) and get him weighed. He was 13lbs, which is less than I expected since he’s a little chubby. Anyway, I held him for a few minutes while the vet and I talked about diet and stuff and how to get his weigh down a little, and he seemed to calm down. As soon as he set foot back on the table, it was on again, he jumped out of the techs arms as they tried to wrap him in a towel and on the floor. I lured him out and he did the same thing again. I tried to lure him out again and he bit me, hard enough to break skin, something he hasn’t done since he was about 9 weeks old. We got his carrier, he willingly crawled into it, and he had to get his vaccine with towels stuffed around him in his carrier so he couldn’t move or fight back, still hissing and spitting. It was kind of upsetting because I’d never seen him behave this way, even more so since there wasn’t much even I could do to calm him down. Once he was done and back in the carrier he was quiet again, and he’s back at home now like nothing ever happened. I feel bad that he was so agitated and uncomfortable, but at the same time I was kind of pissed at how badly he behaved, i expected better from him. The vet said they’ve dealt with much much worse, cats that they can’t touch without fully sedating, so I felt a little better. He’ll have to go back because I want to get him chipped but we decided this was not the right time given his behavior.

Llama, on the other hand, who I was afraid was going to be the squirmy one trying to run away and hide, was a doll. The tech let him walk around the table and sniff, and he sat quiet with me petting him on the head while the vet examined him. He let the tech pick him up to put him on the scale (11lbs), flip him over to check him over, and didn’t even make a sound or move when he got his shot. The vet and I were talking about some things with his health (which is basically perfect) while he walked around on the table and he was purring and nuzzling up to the vet and the vet tech. He’s such a little attention whore, but I’m glad that his exam and stuff went smoothly. I’d have felt awful if both of my cats, who this vet has never seen before, were basket cases.

Monkey’s fine now, and next time he goes he’s going to get some sedative beforehand. It’s weird since he’s the one that is always calm and cool in the car rides, with Llama crying and scratching at the carrier to get out. Oh well, hopefully next time will be a bit better.

Saturday made a trip to Reid Park Zoo. I did not have my Llama or Monkey with me, however…

Courtship, Discovery channel style.

And some hungry giraffes.

Good times. Sunday was back to autox with SSCC after not running in the April and May events. Sierra Vista airport was the site, the course was fast, it was hot, and some cones met their maker.

Did pretty well, though results are not up yet. Beat my best competition run in my first time only run, again, and obliterated some cones in the trailing slalom on my final time only run, destroying what probably would have been by best time all day. The new suspension was great; I hadn’t even competed on the Euro springs with the added ride height much less the new shocks and struts. I was very pleased. Now if I could just straighten out the driver… Brake pads should be arriving today. I really, really have to make a strong effort to not do anything else with the car, just drive it and replace the stuff that wears out (read: tires). Nothing else. Period. End of discussion. Do not pass go, do not buy parts, go directly to Phoenix next weekend to compete again. There’s an Evolution driving school coming to the area later this year, but it’s $255 per day. Ouch. Doubtful I will go this time around since that’s the cost of a typical weekend track event and there’s a few of those I have my eye on late in the year. Can’t do it all.

Yeah, Halloween was a few days ago, but the title is appropriate.

So we have these ‘Pounce’ treats for the kitties and they love them. Shake the little tube of goodness and they come bounding and meowing from wherever they happen to be in search of a piece of kitty chocolate.

We have seen them get a hold of the closed container before and were quite surprised at how they attacked the lid in an intelligent manner in attempts to open the treat jar. Despite their best efforts (even working together), they could not pry the lid from its place. It was entertaining to watch them tug and fight as the carton rolled around, tightly closed. I however, now believe this to be a game of possum so as we did not worry about where to keep the treats.

The first time it might have been a fluke, but again today it happened again. I came home to find the jar of kitty goodness on the floor, lip nowhere to be found, treats no where to be found. Our little fiends gobbled every crumb of Pounce deliciousness up. I picked up the empty carton and turned to see them sitting there, looking at me, holding the carton, trying to look as innocent as possible and avoid scolding through their cute kitten faces. The mischievous little mongrels are even watching me type; from on top of the ironing board they aren’t supposed to be on, no less.

Cumberland Airport, July 29 and July 30. It was hot. Too hot. At the same time, it had been too long since an autocross. Nearly two months. Way too long. Things did not start off in the best manner, as I discovered a broken bypass valve and an unusable intake when I thankfully popped the hood to check fluids. After some engineering (I use the term lightly) a short ram intake was born. Saturday runs I simply could not get things clicking right and finished nearly two full seconds and three slots behind the STX class leader. Saturday times:

1. 62.897
2. 62.126
3. 62.844
4. 61.955 2
5. 62.936 1

On run three or four, I cannot recall which, I pulled into the grid and was greeted by a scraping noise, which I discovered to be the driver side HID ballast dragging on the ground. Both sides came loose, probably due to the heat and harsh conditions. and the driver side fell through and was dragging on the asphalt. Luckily the damage was not bad and the ballast is still functional. Furthermore, the same torx screw on the inner fender liner of the driver side has popped out so right turns of more than a full lock are once again met with a rubber on plastic rubbing. Yum! I suppose it could be worse given the beating this car takes.

Sunday was better. Shaved time on almost every run, hit fewer cones, and cut two and three quarter seconds off from run one to five:

1. 55.943
2. 54.271 1
3. 53.978
4. 54.170
5. 53.261

Much better, well, the car that is. I could be better. I do not know how one catches such a nasty cold when it feels like 115 outside, but I got it. No, I have not been smoking even though I am hacking up a lung like I have been sucking down Marlboros for 20 years. It really needs to go away, as in, five days ago. I have too much shit to do to be sick.

The kittens, or should I say, the kitten and the cat, are doing well. After some initial friction, they have grown to like one another. Llama is a brave little pound of a kitten and Monkey has realized he is not being replaced and takes good care of his little brother. Monkey though, he is no kitten anymore. Hes still only four pounds, but he looks like an adult cat now, and he acts like one too. Both are mischievous little fur balls and its fun to watch them chase one another.

Yesterday marked something else very cool and notable. Yes, thats right, the start of some livin in sin. The apartment is pretty empty right now, since between work and other things, the move in will take place over a few weeks, but still, in principle, it has begun. As Ted proclaimed, “It’s all over for you now”. Hahaha. Im excited and happy, and so is Kharissa.

Ok, thats enough out of me, Im going to try and not cough up my lungs.

We adopted this little guy from Howard Country animal control, so now he and Monkey can do battle, I mean, play nicely all the live long day.

And yes, we named him Llama.

Hello kitty!

This little guy is awesome. We took him along on a trip to Giant and an impromtu trip to Petsmart and he was loved by all who saw him wrapped in his little towel. He’s going to be a lady killer with those eyes, as long as he doesn’t let any of those smelly farts go. Yikes.

Say hello to Maya, my parents puppy -

More pics here. She’s a purebred golden retriever and she’s a pistol, attempting to swim in her water bowl, chasing everyone’s shoe laces, and napping in the smallest corners possible.

I now return to my week-long battle against the respiratory sickness of doom. Not so groovy.