So the reasons for my lack of writing include:
General busy-ness
Heat knocking me out and forcing me to nap
Trying to get life stuff done while getting work stuff done
Heat causing lazy afternoons

I am trying to get back into this as I have alot to say, I just don't always have the time to say it. 
A few weeks ago I could be considered the subcutaneous fluid queen!  There were 2 separate instances where I was needed for renal cats.  One was a family who was going on vacation.  They have an elderly cat who needs fluids every other day and their original sitter was not returning their calls.  I got a frantic call from someone stating that they only needed someone to give fluids.  The feeding/litter/cleaning was taken care of.  I felt so horrible that I agreed.  Turned out to be the sweetest old lady cat who was squirmy, but overall very good!!

Another client called me frantic because her cat was just diagnosed with renal failure (plus a host of other problems) and she had to give fluids at home.  She nearly passed out, was having panic attacks, and couldn't handle sticking the needle in.  After the first fluid visit, I went to teach her how to do it and hope that she stayed conscious.  She got a little woozy the first time watching me, but she is getting the hang of it now! Yay!

About a week later I had to watch her cats.  The sick one is on a special food, while the other cat is on her regular food.  They must be fed in separate rooms and kept away from eachother during meal times.  She had been leaving the special food out all day in efforts to get the sickie kid to eat more.  When I got there, the food was on the window sill in the bedroom and I saw something moving.  The cat jumped up and I said, "Aw, is there a little buggie in your food?" Turned out it was a swarm of ants that came in through the air conditioner unit and they were having a smorgasbord!  I hate swarms of insects, so I grabbed the bowl and ran to the bathroom, turned on the water, and tried to drown them all.  In the midst of this the cat is following me as if to say, "Hey! Where are you taking my food??"  We found a safe, bug-free spot to put the bowl and all was well.  The ants in this city are so demanding!!

Ants, bowl, whiskers

Ants: post food removal

Saturday was an interesting day in that it was kind of nice out, but all the crazies were out!  I bought a transpass this week for my many bus needs in this heat.  I would take the bus 3 blocks if it was coming, just because I could.  I was at 9th and Christian and saw the bus coming so I decided to take it to south.  While waiting, this guy who literally looks like a leprechaun asks if you were allowed to eat on the bus.  As I am answering him, I am staring at thick, curly, bush of hair coming out of each ear and can't help but wonder what his deal is.  He is maybe 5ft tall, small build, reddish curly hair, in his 50's, highish voice, and walked like Igor.  I told him that technically you are not supposed to eat on the bus, but that they really don't care.   He gets all excited and says, "You think I can get a lemonade??!!" I told him, "Sure."  He comes out of the corner store with a water ice.  He throws the spoon on a table as the bus approaches and tells me he is going to hide it! I told him he didn't need to, but he shoved the water ice in his grocery bag.  I see him on the bus sneaking licks all hunched over, not facing the driver.  Sigh...

One this particular bus are 2 VERY large black women from out of town completely done up and ready to go out.  They seem to be in their 30's with tons of makeup and jewelry.  They have skintight outfits on, no bra, mini skirt, and they are taking pictures of themselves and eachother while on the bus.  The driver is giving them a guided tour of 9th st.  Then one of them goes, "So what exactly IS a hoagie?" Sigh again.... we just passed Sarcones.  This trip is taking so much longer because the driver has to explain the origin of a hoagie, a cheesesteak, and every restaurant.  Now granted, they seemed like really fun ladies, but I had a date to pill a cat and was kind of in a rush.  Septa is always an adventure.

I made a trash mistake yesterday.  While doing an evening visit with a sick cat (diabetes, hyperthyroid, constipation, fluid buildup in the chest), I was to take the trash out.  The problem was that I wasn't told exactly where the trash went.  There are 2 different entrances to this house, so I picked the front entrance.  I was wrong.  I received a call from the owner today informing me of this and asking me when my trash day was.  I told her it was tonight, and she offered to drive me home if I would take the "bag of shit" and put it out in front of my house.  I had to medicate a cat a block away, how could I refuse? 

I get to her place, let myself in and I actually get to say, "I am here for the bag of shit." We laugh, we put it in her trunk, and she takes me home.  I am lucky enough to have my own cats shit in front of my house as well as 2 other cats that do not live with me.  Score! :)

I am trying to catch up, but I believe it was a week ago or so with that really odd storm that passed very quickly and was designated under this ONE big cloud.  I was walking a dog at the time. It was raining to my left, but not my right....  These are 3 pics that I look standing in one spot.  One pic towards the north, then east, then south.  It was mind boggling.

North

East

south

July has proven to be the hottest month yet that I have had to be outside working.  It really tests your stability, both mentally and physically.  At least I can take drink breaks and sit in the air.  These poor mailmen, trashmen, & construction workers are stuck outside!  I truly feel for them.

Most dogs didn't want anything to do with the outside today.  I don't blame them.  I had to basically bribe and drag Stanley out of the house this afternoon.  We peed and went right back

This weekend I am overnighting with Rufus again.  The last time was the weekend of July 4th.  It was so hot that I had the air on full blast while sleeping.  Poor kid must have been cold because he was being such a cuddlebug.

It's been too hot to write :(  Can't breathe out there!  I can't wait for fall, I can bet the dogs feel the same way.  Every time I come in to walk Shane, I find him hot and sprawled out on the cool tile.  Takes a bit to coerce him to go for a walk...

A funny thing though... While at a certain high rise building a week ago, I heard the phone ringing in the elevator.  I thought it was just the front desk guys screwing with me, but when I asked about it they said they have been having phone issues.  I assume it was happening alot, and given the amount of elderly people in that building, this is now posted in the elevator:

I can't even go into the ridiculousness that was this past holiday week.  Not only was it sweltering outside, but i was swamped EVERY DAY!  There were 4 days of overnights along with 20+ visits a day.  I am so wiped out I can barely function.  I need a vacation after everyone else took their vacations. Luckily I had the help of Terry, Mike, and my dad to get me through these visits. 

Where to begin... let's start with July 4th.  The day of fireworks, both amateur and professional.  For some dogs, this day is their worst nightmare.  Molly is one of these dogs.  This poor girl refused to go outside and was panting with her tail between her legs looking panicked.  I called her mom to try to find her sedatives.  What sucks is that they take a while to kick in, so she was in a variety of positions trying to calm herself down.  Nothing I did worked.  No petting, hugging, or talking, so I put on Beauty and the Beast on Netflix hoping that Walt Disney could soothe the savage beast. 

Panting in the kitchen post pill

Still panting....

Finding a hiding spot

REALLY hiding

Squishing into a ball

Attempting comfort

 

 

 

I hated leaving her like that!! Broke my heart, there was no consoling her though.  The next day she was completely back to normal.

Hot hot hot

Not enough hours in the day. Spending the night with my buddy Bella. Over 20 visits in this heat today, I nearly most my mind. Best thing I can do is find people watering plants with a hose and get them to spritz my legs.

It was too hot to watch fireworks outside last night - slept on a couch with a dog.  I woke up at 6:30, took this dog out, went to 2 cat houses and then headed home.  Sweating profusely already and it is only 8:20am.  Oh! and it's also going to get worse in the next 2 days.  Awesome!!

Here is my dilemma.  I am wearing the loosest outfit I can think of.  I do not want to take a bag, however I have 5 lbs of keys to take with me.  So I have to take a bag.  I need frozen water, non-frozen water, wallet, poop bags, sunblock, food... need a backpack and no bag! This is seriously the conversation that I have in my head in the mornings.  The answer is always the same.

Ugh, 97 degrees and over 20 visits today.  Can I hire myself a personal driver?

I love the quirky pets who have strange habits.  I spent the night with Bella, who is a pleasure, but very OCD.  She loves shoes!  I share in her love, however she loves to find them, make a pile, and then guard them.  She sleeps with them, she rests with them, she takes them to her bed.

 The first time I ever sat for her, she got through the gate to the second floor and took all of the shoes (from 3 people) downstairs and put them in a pile.  This is why she cannot be upstairs unattended.  Also, later in the day she locked herself in the bedroom and I had to get help un-doing the door to get her out.  She is such a love though, nudges with her nose me when she needs something

Near 100 degrees, whole weekend, 15 visits each day.  The sweat was pouring down my face, my frozen water bottles were melting almost instantly, and I had to change my clothes due to sweaty-ness countless times.  I guess I have to get used to this. 

Kittens make it better.  Kittens who scream for food and try to dart out the door and who have crusty noses... ahem, :)

Mr. Attitude waiting for his breakfast

3 little piggies who need a home!!!