Ranticle

Dec. 27th, 2013 10:30 pm
wookiemonster: (Default)
I haven't really posted much on Facebook today. People have been pissing me off.

Item I: Furkids.
There seem to be a growing number of people who take exception to people like me calling their pets "kids" or "furkids" or whatever. Or especially, referring to themselves as a "pet parent." Because I like Jackson Galaxy, and because the term "cat daddy" has been working its way into the lexicon, perhaps to refer to the male counterpart of "cat lady," I'm okay with being a "cat daddy." Rocky, you'll note, refers to me on his page as "hoomin." I don't think of him as my "son." But he is like a kid for me. I'm not likely to have kids of my own at this point (hell, I'm not likely to ever get married, and I'll be lucky if I ever even get another date, so, yeah), and so, yeah, Rocky (and Minerva and Yoda and Riffy) gives me someone to dote on, be proud of, look forward to seeing, play kiddie games with, and so on.

Some people say that the purpose of a parent is to guide their offspring into a self-sufficient adulthood. Since we're getting pissy about nomenclature, then are parents who have children with disabilities such as severe down syndrome or a handicap that prevents them from self-sufficiency then not really parents? Normally, I'd agree with the general definition of parenthood, but, again, people are taking offense to people not being happy with referring to their pets as mere property.

Aside: People who say, "I love my pets, but I'd get rid of them in a heartbeat, they're not my kids," and so on... Once the qualifier "but" is in there, then I mentally read/hear, "I love my car, but I'd get rid of it in a heartbeat if I had financial difficulties and couldn't support it" and so on. Here's the thing: the car doesn't feel pain, can't suffer, doesn't feel abandoned, and so on. Trust me: I've had Cammie for awhile now, with a cracked windshield for a little over a year now and a rusted out hole on the passenger side for a few years now. Considering the BMWs I dust routinely, Cammie's not suffering.

But the difficulties we had with Rocky initially were because he did feel abandoned. Minerva's shyness issues are because she did feel abandoned. Yoda's couple of years of terror were because he did suffer loss. Pets are not just idle curiosities to be acquired and then discarded when they get old or fail to entertain or become an actual responsibility. I can't adopt every single homeless cat, dog, bird, or whatever out there and clean up the mess that this mindset has created.

I also know several people who have service animals, be they seeing eye dogs or for people who are paraplegics and so on. These are trained, intelligent animals who have more compassion and sense of purpose than the average person I trip over when I leave the house anymore. The only reason they haven't taken over the world and treated us as shitty as we've treated them is because (1) they're too nice and (2) opposable thumbs.

Now, I'll do one better than these people so upset at us "pet parents." Let's come to a compromise, which has been unheard of in these circles: pet guardian. It doesn't have that ownership concept some of us object to, since we know were owned, or even pwned, by our pets, and it's not a perceived belittling of human parents.

Yes, I know I don't have to send Rocky to college or prepare him to survive in the world on his own. I also can't put him on my insurance or deduct him on my taxes. Hell, I can't even get paperwork designating him as a service animal, though his diligence on getting me up in time for work has saved my job and thus allowed me a degree of self-sufficiency and "normalcy." In addition, I have to put up with people who can't or refuse to acknowledge that there just might be an ineffable bond between me and him.

Item II: Military people overseas not able to be home with their families.
I had someone actually state that they didn't feel any sympathy for servicemen and servicewomen overseas unable to be with their families for the holidays because they signed up for that job. And a lot of people commented in support of them with obvious disdain for the military. Now, leaving aside political slants that America has become an invading country and such, fact is, yeah, these people volunteered for the job. But it's a job that needs doing. Leaving out Afghanistan and other hot spots, we still have bases and embassies around the world. Why? Because a successful military needs military readiness. And not just readiness for war. One of the main reasons our military is spread so thin is because, like an idiot, America engages in humanitarian aid throughout the world, no matter how much other people hate us. We're dropping food and medicines all over the place because it's the right thing to do. We're usually the first on scene to help out after a major earthquake, tsunami, hurricane, and so on. And think before you say something stupid like, "We shouldn't be throwing our resources to help other countries" or some variant thereof. This is about helping people in need.

Now, leaving aside all that... I wonder if this person, these people, also have no sympathy for fire fighters on call, EMS personnel, emergency room doctors and nurses, power plant operators and engineers, and so on, who can't be home with their families for the holidays. I mean, they also signed up for those jobs. Fact is, we don't live in a bubble where everything is magically taken care of. We live on a planet and because we want to light up our Christmas trees and watch the new years ball on TV and want our beverages chilled and our food cooked and not have someone loot our house, then people have to work on holidays. Military and civilian. Doesn't mean they don't miss their family and loved ones, as is human nature most of the time. Get over yourself and have a heart and be damn thankful there are people willing to make that sacrifice to make sure the world doesn't just...collapse.

All of this is probably less eloquent and detailed than I would like. I'm just...disappointed in the people making these statements. And in other statements, but, I'm still under the weather, so, I'm trying to keep this all short. Too late, I know. As a lonely person, I know what it's like to not have anyone to spend the holidays with, other than my cat, and to hear people saying they don't have sympathy for those who might be lonely because they're in the military or to piss on me for valuing my cat so highly because he's one of the few things I have... Yeah, bite me.

Sunday

Jul. 15th, 2012 09:17 pm
wookiemonster: (Default)
HAPPY BIRFDAY [profile] jaddziadax AND [profile] lundarbluekandi!!



With the shit storm that is the Paterno/Sandusky/Penn State debacle, there was at least one person who stood up to Paterno and, by extension, the status quo of sports worship... To clarify... I'm not against the enjoyment of sports, the playing of sports, and so on. I'm against people getting a pass on being Decent Human Beings simply because they can throw a ball, run, or whatever, or because they are integrally associated with those people. I am against the idea that if you don't care for commercial sports, that there's something wring with you, especially if you're a male, and that bullying for this is a part of life. I'm against the hypocrisy of commercial sports fans who do all sorts of painting and fanatical behavior, then mock sci-fi, fantasy, anime, and Renaissance cosplayers. especially when those cosplayers often participate in charity work. I'm against the commercial forces of these sports that cover up and deny wrongdoing, let alone illegal and harmful activities and, when they get caught, try to sell a sob story of a hard childhood or portray the activity as an exception and not the norm that is usually covered up. And then those commercial forces saying someone is redeemed when they're not and having the power to alter history, make people forget, and make a problem go away. I'm against sheeple being so entrenched in the cultural norm of sports worship that they go along with it and throw their money at these people for jerseys, tickets, and so on, rather than to stand up and say, "Enough is enough! I have standards!"

*Ahem*

Moving along...

One of the things I watched this weekend was the first Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Holmes movie. Overall, it was well done. Cut for potential spoilerage. )

I think I'm coming down with some sort of summer cold. I'm feeling slightly congested, and right in my throat, too. It's making me snore, which I hardly ever do anymore since I had my tonsils out. Consequently, snoring is making my throat even more sore. Meh.

Rocky... Rocky is a bit stressed and is still pulling his fur out. He can handle one of the stepgogs at a time, but, when they gang up on him, as they've done twice this weekend, that's too much for him. When he has the high ground at the top of the steps, he can keep both of them at bay. But in the kitchen, say? One will circle behind him, and then it's all he can do to get away from the jumping, slobbering, barking monsters. Of course, Brandon and Bridgett are sent to their room when this happens, and I try to help Rocky escape as best I can. But ultimately? He needs a buddy. Riffy or Minerva. Or both. They can cover each other's backs. Must think on this some more.

Have to share this because waaaaay too many of my Discworld friends have left Facebook but, thankfully, are still here in blog land...



Comics )
Posted at LiveJournal and Dreamwidth

Friday!

May. 25th, 2012 03:38 pm
wookiemonster: (Default)
Yay! Friday! And a three-day weekend ahead!

And maybe a shortened day, if TomTom gets discharged from the vet today.

So... I visited him last night. I was hoping to sit with him for awhile, maybe read with him on my lap or next to me. Instead, it was a rather short visit. They brought us in to a room and put him up on the table, and he was hooked up to an IV machine. It looked pretty much like the ones for us humans, except it was a little smaller. I told TomTom that the machines for humans had a button we could press for pain meds. He asked me where the button was to make me shut up and get him out of there. I pet him a bit, trying to be careful of his still-sore tummy, but he kept pushing his head and bib against my hand. And he kept trying to pull out his IV (it was secured to him pretty well). Then all of a sudden, there was this...smell...and he'd had an accident. So, I then did my airplane impression by using one hand to keep him from jumping off the table and the other hand to wave out the door for help. Fortunately, the nurse/tech came back in and helped me clean him up. Okay, she actually did the cleaning while I held him. He stuck his head in the crook of my arm and, though he was alert, seemed a little groggy, and I think he thought I was there to take him home and was pissed he (1) still had an IV and (2) didn't see the carrier. The nurse/tech told me that yeah, he'd been rammy most of the afternoon, and since I didn't want TomTom to hurt himself trying to jump down from the table and walk out the room and the whole facility, I decided that it was time for him to go back to his kennel.

Still, I'm glad I went to go see him, even if it was a short trip. What sucks is knowing that if I'm in the hospital, he can't come see me. Which doubly sucks because I'm sure I'd recover faster if I had my little purring furmonster with me. Though, he'd probably swat away those nurses that come for blood at 3 or 4 in the morning...

Both the ramminess and the accident, though, kind of show that he's doing well. The accident in that food/nutrients are moving through his system. The ramminess in that he feels strong enough to put up a fight, or at least assert his orneriness.

Rocky and Yoda have both shown some...concern...over TomTom's absence. Yoda, I think, understands the concept of going away for a few days and the reassurance of, "He'll be home tomorrow." Rocky simply hugged my TomTom-orange-fur-covered-shirt when I took it off and tossed it on the bed last night. He's...been hyper. Not wandering the house crying for TomTom hyper, but still running through the house like he's got to secure all that territory. He purrs loudly at bedtime and is trying to fill in for TomTom. Though this morning, he woke me up and then promptly trapped my arm with his 25 or so pounds so that I could pet him but not get up.

Now, as for today... TomTom is doing well, except he's not eating, at least not voluntarily. It could be he doesn't have an appetite, what with everything going on in his guts, or he could just be pissed that he has to wear a collar/cone of shame. Other than the eating bit, though, he's doing well, no temperature, but a little vomiting. He's hesitant to give him anything for the intestinal swelling until the biopsy comes back, because with some forms of IBS, the cortisone could make things worse. However, they've had him on fluids, so, it's not like he's in anything critical. But they don't want to send him home until he eats, so, I have to call them later this afternoon to see how he's doing and if he gets to come home or if he has to wait another day. They're going to try taking off the cone and see if he'll eat then, except once the cone comes off, he gets really ornery and either tries to clean himself or run away, and he'll just sulk if the techs hold him or hover over him to keep him in front of the food bowl. They may try feeding him with a syringe, too. Again, not sure if he's avoiding food or just being a brat. In any event, the fact that he's being rammy is a good sign.

Also? I may follow Mom's suggestion and go up there and see if he'll eat for me. Stop at the house first and maybe get one of his bowls, and maybe grab one of his kooshes, a shirt from the hamper (has my scent on it) and maybe one of the toys around the house. Like one of the ones Mandie made for Christmas.

And in somewhat related news... If TomTom needs some significant care for a few weeks, I may skip out on Ryan's (cousin) wedding in two weeks. As is, with all of us going, my sister needs to get someone to feed her cats and we still don't know who we can ask to come feed our cats and birds. I'd be perfectly okay with staying home, since I don't like most of those people anyway...

Mom and I were talking last night... Even if the worst happens, the fact that TomTom lived an amazing 15 years with us, coming as a dumped kitten, getting cleaned up, cared for, loved... I can't have any regrets. But...in this day and age, we have better technology, better nutrition, and a much better understanding of our feline (and canine, avian, amphibian, etc) companions that we can extend their lives and their quality of life. More than that...TomTom, as evidenced by his orneriness, has a will to live. He's not just giving up, and so, I'm not giving up on him. He knows he's got a pretty sweet home with hoomin servants. He also has a sense of purpose. I mean, he has helped me with my sleep disorder to the point where I am functional with it. He helps keep the other cats in line. He's absolutely wonderful with helping keep the stepgoggies in line. He was really patient with Rocky, which I think helped Rocky settle down after we got him. He and YoYo broke into my room after I rescued Riffy to welcome Riffy while I was in class. He and the other furkids are not just ornamental; they all have a purpose, even if it's just to offer comfort and understanding.

The other thing that has floated through my mind is that, once again, I see a higher standard of care given to my pets than what was given to Dad. I mean, even when we lost Lucky, we were still better informed by Dr. Lon than we were from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Likewise with TomTom, there's been a higher level of communication and a higher professionalism and thoroughness in figuring out what's wrong with TomTom than there was in arresting the infection Dad had and eliminating it before it blew up into sepsis.

This is not to say that TomTom, Lucky, or any of my other pets are less deserving of the care they get. It's not even saying that it's "wrong" to have such a high value on our companionable critters. But, to me, it seems wrong that we value other humans so little. We shouldn't downgrade how we treat our pets; we should upgrade how we treat each other.

On a final (for now) note... Mom said something about renegotiating my monthly "rent" payment to help out with the vet bill and such. Might take her up on that, but, that's all secondary at the moment to getting TomTom healthy again first.

Tall Stack o' Comics )
Posted at LiveJournal and Dreamwidth.

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