Ugly Dress

I referenced my last sewing project, but though that the hideousness should be shared with the world. First, I want to make clear that despite this totally, utter failure, I learned a lot from the project. Such as...

• How to make gathers.
• And thus, ruffles.
• That if the directions call for a step, you shouldn't skip it even if you don't understand it and don't want to drive to the fabric store again to get the right kind of interfacing. If you think something isn't going to fit. Fix it as soon as possible. You won't want to take the whole dress apart to fix it later.
• I like purple.
• Sizing is different if you use stretchy fabric.

Well, the thing is far, far too big on me. To make matters worse, I'm not convinced the style would be flattering if it were even the right size. Perhaps if I were trying to hide a pregnancy, which I am not (either pregnant or hiding it).

I plan on making a tank top out of the material from the skirt. Currently, I have 2 skirts started and fabric for another dress. The skirts are fabulous and the dress will make me SO ready for spring weather!

Oh yes, and I had help with the dress. Perhaps he was trying to warn me. Or at least stop me...

The joys of marriage

I thought getting married was supposed to help me get a higher tax refund. It didn't. We actually increase our refund (by a lot) by filing separately. Weird right?
The biggest tax break couldn't replace this anyway...

He's baaaa-aaaack

The cat came home from the vet hospital today*. First order of business was a bath. The Elizabethan collar has been on since Thursday. I swear he groomed for 3 hours! Then, there was a lot of sniffing and exploring of places he peed last week before curling up on his favorite perch (the back bedroom overlooking our little courtyard).
Surprisingly, the smaller cat didn't seem phased by his going away and if anything, is perturbed by his return. She enjoyed getting all of the attention. The dog (who the sickly cat smacks whenever he gets the chance) is the MOST excited about his return. Wagging the tail, bouncing around, he is happy to have the whole pack back together!

I am just relieved that this adventure in pet health emergencies is over. Also, that they didn't shave his butt. They do for the surgery we avoided so I wasn't sure if they would for his procedures. They shaved his arms and neck, for IVs and blood drawing, but no rear end. As funny as it would have been, it would have been too sad and pathetic to even be cute.




* No pics, camera battery failed.

Cat hospitalization

This end of the cat causes problems.

Thursday night we had an emergency trip to the vet hospital and our cat will be there through the weekend. During the third round of antibiotics for some sort of urinary problem, he got much worse. He was blocked and unable to pass urine. This leads to a back up in the bladder the kidneys will basically stop functioning because they have nowhere to send all the toxins from the blood. All the toxins will add up in the blood and kill the cat.

Treatment includes sedation (risky in cats that are already having issues with blood concentrations), catheters* and possible surgery to widen the urethra. The worst part of all of this is that it is an emergency! They need a decision RIGHTNOW! Sign this paper and they whisk the poor cat away.

So far, they say he is doing well. He pulled the catheter out yesterday despite the lampshade collar he was wearing. The vet had to re-sedate him to put it back in. He was blocked for a while so his original unblocking was difficult but he is expected to fully recover and come home from the hospital early next week. A closely controlled diet should help manage the problem in the future. Hopefully we won't have to think about surgery (or think about the alternatives to the cat having surgery) until at least one of us makes more than our measly grad student salaries.

"Having a urinary catheter is even worse than having to wear a sweater."

* If I spell 'catheter' wrong, the first suggested spelling is 'cat hater.' Have cats taken over Blogger spellcheck??

A letter to my cat vet

Dear Dr. Cat Vet,

I know that my little guy is a handful. I don't complain when you get out the big gloves and call the assistant to hold him down. He has given me a few scars, one time he gave me a black eye even so I totally get that. Plus, cat scratch fever is real. No need to take a risk.
However, next time you feel like you have to put the little full face kitty muzzle on him, perhaps you could clean it first. Because now, after seeing you for the bladder infection, he has kitty pink eye. So, not only did we* have a week of stuffing giant pills down his throat (with NO big gloves, mind you), now we* get to rub gunk on his eyes for a week (again, with no big gloves). Can't wait.

Kittens and rainbows,
DancingFish


*by 'we' I mean V. I'm no good a pilling.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Despite being very far from our families, we spent the day celebrating with the little family we have built for ourselves. Of course, this included fulfilling a long standing dream (re-inspired by Crazy Aunt Purl's recent contest) of knitting a sweater for the cats. The little one just tries to get out of it and our eldest seems to have lost all all control of his back half when it is on. He rolls around and army crawls instead of walking. Hi-larious!

I hope you all had a great holiday!

Brand New Hairstyle

I did it. I totally got bangs.

I love them.

The cats love them.

The husband (who's comment when I mentioned the idea of bangs was- what it this 1983?) loves them.

Yay bangs!

Old Project, New Project, Sock Project, Blue Project!

I realize I never showed you the completed first ever sock. It's a beauty! Well, It's a sock at least. I am not a huge fan of the yarn or pattern so I am not planning on making the second one anytime soon.

For my next sock-related trick.....

This is going to be a Jaywalker!

I avoided even casting on for the second of my silk armwarmers but did begin a pair of Fetching. I couldn't resist any longer. They will go to Artgirl who once upon a time, I made a bright red alpaca hat.
I am totally making them for myself too- So. Cute. Plus a fun, quick knit. I must say though- the cabling in the round? Not as easy as it seems- especially on a turbulent airplane. I am glad I had cable experience before these otherwise I would have given up and never cable knit again.


I also finally finished my Branching Out. It only took me a year and a half. While I was messing with my computer to go through airport security, the yarn got stuck in the zipper of my backpack. It broke when I pulled it out. Now my beautiful, years-in-the-making lace scarf has a big ol' hole in it. The horror...

(I actually don't have any decent pictures of the hole...here is my moms' cat instead)

Blogging about cats to avoid major bitching about work

I give the proposal first run to my lab at 9 am tomorrow. I think I will be ok (I LOVE that you can put notes in powerpoint). It won't be polished but I think it will be coherent. Hopefully. Maybe. Unfortunately, our cats are insane. Totally crazy. Some evidence from my 'work at home' day...

Seymour has knocked EVERYTHING off the table I am working at. For no apparent reason.

He spent 10 minutes sitting in the window sill. This window is a first floor bathroom and therefore is blocked- no real window to be had.

He also knocked everything off the dresser.

He gallops around the house in front of me everywhere I go. It is like he *wants* to be stepped on.

He is currently trying to climb behind our indoor shudders to get to the window instead of going to the bright open window 20 feet away.

Turtle stares at the fish tanks for hours on end.

She meows incessantly for no reason.

I think she is the reason my chap stick is in the middle of the floor (nowhere near where Seymour might have knocked it off the table).

Taking notes is impossible as pens are her new object of obsession.

If I get comfy with a book- she attacks my hair.

I can't even let the dog out- I'd get even less work done....if that is possible.

All these annoyances and home is STILL better than the chain coffee shop/cafe where apparently all children under the age or 4 convene to scream as loud as possible about getting to sit near the window (maybe they and Seymour have more in common than I know...). Or my office- complete with not enough room for me and the guy who sits behind me to both sit comfortably at our desks at the same time and the presence of dreaded advisor 2 doors down.