Obsess Much?

As you all know, I am utterly and completely obsessed with animals. All animals. I love every living creature. Almost every one of them, even snakes. The only creatures I don't care for? Spiders, mosquitoes, and ticks.

My obsession extends far beyond 'normal' when it comes to my dogs and cats. We (both Aaron and I are crazy about our animals) spend inordinate amounts of time with them; walking, grooming, having conversations with, and giving lovies to them. We also spend inordinate amounts of money on them. Even my family understands my obsession because they buy them gifts at Christmas and call on their birthdays. It's nuts. My brother probably spent more on my dogs this year than he did on me- he bought a bag of $13 treats for them a couple of months ago, among many other things!

I think about them all day, can't wait to get home to see them, and have been considering training them as therapy dogs so they can come to work with me. They have clothes for every season and life jackets for when they go kayaking with me. They love the outdoors and aren't typical chihuahuas- they would never sit in a doggy purse (I've tried.) They think they are big dogs and love to hike, but when it's time to snuggle, I have two very needy mama's boys.

The boys (and the sexy cat) sleep with us every night. They have free access to the bed, via the doggy stairs we bought for them. They have two sets of stairs; one in the bedroom and one in the living room. I don't want to put them out by making them jump up and down from the couch/bed.

The other night the following conversation took place.

A: OMG, I am so tired of sleeping like a pretzel.

J: Why are you?

A: Because Manny sleeps horizontally and I try to hold him while still spooning you and Rocko is between my legs. (Bing ALWAYS sleeps with Mama.)

J: Well move them!

A: I can't. (said shyly)

J: Why not?

A: Because Manny cuddles up to me and looks into my eyes. I can't stand it, he is too cute to move. I feel too bad.

J: So pretzel it is?

A: (sigh) Yeah.

Last weekend Aaron and I were laying around the house, playing on the computer, just vegging out when we decided it was time to give the boys a bath. They get one every month, but they were especially stinky because as the weather is improving they have been going on longer walks, splashing around in the mud!

As you can see, it was about noon- I hadn't even showered yet! (BTW- this is usually what happens if I try to blog anywhere but at the kitchen table.)

Manny's face when Daddy said he was getting a bath! Pure terror!

Manny is really good about taking a bath. He is reluctant at first, but likes being scrubbed and cuddled. He loves when I use the sprayer with warm water to rinse him.

Shredda had to climb up on the counter to witness the whole thing. She was gloating!

Mama washes the boys and then Daddy gets to be the hero, comforting and warming them.

Rocko spying on everything. He went through this at the salon a few days earlier.

There is a Vet Tech at the hospital I bring B&M to. We actually bring all our animals there, (except my bird who I bring to a specialist) and they love every one of our pets. We never leave there empty handed, as they special order things for the boys (at no cost to me- they bought us the robes!) They call themselves "Auntie" and spoil the pups rotten! One of the vets there gave me his home phone number because I have such OCD when it comes to my guys... I will call for the most ridiculous reasons (Bing blinked twice in a row, does he have something in his eye? I need to bring him down!) I even went so far as to bring Bing down and sat with him for a good part of the day while they gave him fluids via I.V (but he was in fact dehydrated.) And shamelessly, I took part of Tuesday off to spend the morning with them because it was so beautiful out. I know, it's nuts!

Bing, on the other hand, HATES to get a bath. He will literally run and hide. Here, Aaron is trying to calm him down, because he has worked himself into a tither, whining and dry heaving all over the house. This is the only picture we took of Bing, because it took both of us to bathe him.

Rocko- AKA The Sexy Cat's new haircut. He loves to sleep on the TV in our bedroom. Most nights we are forced to watch TV with his tail dangling over the screen.

Seriously people. We need to back away from our pets. We are crazy. I rue the day we have children!

The Sexy Cat

I know I have mentioned Rocko Santa Fe in several postings, most notably here. Well, he's done it now. He's over the top. He's just so hot, literally.

The other night I was in the kitchen talking to my mother on the phone as Aaron and I were baking a cake. Per usual the animals were scattered throughout the house with Rocko laying on the table (again, per usual). It's normal practice to burn candles in my house. Well, at same exact time Aaron and I noticed that Rocko has rested his tail on the candle and set himself of fire. He was completely oblivious that his little puff of hair on the tip of his tail was burning.

I was laughing as Aaron frantically extinguished the fire. Rocko, still had no clue, he purred as Aaron smoldered the flames.

All looks. No brains.

He needs a haircut so badly!

Wednesday, Oui?

I have never really been a cat person.

When I was little our family cat had a litter of kittens underneath my parents bed. The last cat to come out was this FUGLY yellowish-grayish-sticky-peanut. Everyone in the family thought it was the most awful thing ever seen. I, of course, saw her potential immediately.

This cat turned out to be the most spectacular Siamese ever! I adored her and she was "my cat." She passed away several years ago and I never, ever, considered getting another cat because nothing would compare to her and, as I grew older, I developed an allergy to cats.

However, when I fell for Aaron, I inherited two pesky cats. Shredda Las Vegas and Rocko Santa Fe (I gave them their middle names.) These cats have weaseled their way into my heart and without them our family would be incomplete. Surprisingly, I don't suffer too much with my allergies. Aside from the occasional hive episode my daily medication holds me over well ;)

Today I am dedicating my post, my "Wednesday, Oui?", to our Rocko Santa Fe Molloy.

When I first met Rocko he was but a kitten. Aaron found him as a stray, just weeks old, and covered head to paw in fleas and mites. I must say, like my childhood cat, Rocko was rough looking. He had long bushy hair and his head was all greasy from his ear-mite medicine. The first time I laid eyes on him I thought, "Dear God what is that thing?" Over the next few months Rocko grew into a man. If I had to guess I would say he is a Persian/Hymilayan/Tabby mix- even the Vet is unsure. In our opinion, Rocko is quite exquisite.

He went through phases where, if he was touched, he would look at you as if to scream "RAPE" and skulk off. We also suspected that he may have an eating disorder, or Pica, because he would eat everything, even if it wasn't food, so we nicknamed him ED (for Eating Disorder.) He has many passions in life. He is obsessed with water, and computers (he likes to follow the cursor around and swat at it), and he finds shadows to be fascinating.

Recently, he has been having a HUGE problem with hairballs. Because he has such long hair the stuff he would cough up was mighty disgusting. A couple of weeks ago while I was in the shower, I saw him lurking around through the glass doors. I thought nothing of it because he often sits outside the shower door waiting for me to finish so he can have his "turn." This time, I noticed him coughing. He was actually trying to vomit up a hairball but it was too large and lodged in his throat. I whipped open the door to find him on the verge of collapse. I reached in and pulled out a long hairball too nasty to even discuss here. When Aaron got home, I informed him that we were shaving the cat (he was fine with it as the hairballs had become a problem and Rocko wouldn't eat his food if we put things in it to help his digestion- plus a friend of ours recently shaved her cat, Frankay, and he looked fabulous!)

So off to the salon Rocko went. We have an animal spa right next to our house (lucky for me because I believe in spoiling my animals- too bad for Aaron's checkbook.) I ordered the works for Rocko. He got a haircut, his nails done, a bath, and a massage. Now that he is back, it's almost like he's a new person/cat. He has confidence and he is now eager to jump up on my lap and let me pat him for hours. I firmly believe had I not been home when he was struggling with his hairball, we would have come back from work to find him dead. I think Rocko knows this and is grateful.

Interestingly, he meows now too. Between he and his sister Shredda, he was the submissive one; always taking what ever she threw at him. Since his make-over, he is vocal and more assertive. We are, however, a little concerned about his meow. It's quite high pitched, almost sing-song. It sounds feminine. Perhaps his visit to the salon made him question his gender. Should he decided he feels more like a female trapped in a male's body we support that. You hear that Rocko? Daddy and I love you, no matter what.

This picture best sums up Rocko's personality. He is curious, but suspicious.

My closet. Both cats love to hang out in here.

Obviously prior to his haircut... he loves water. Isn't that strange? He will sit in the shower for hours... literally hours.

The kitty's sleeping in Bing & Manny's bed.

Ta-da! Post haircut.

Has anyone seen Rocko? Where ever could he be?

Do you think I'm sexy?

Oui, Rocko, Oui.