What's your guilty television pleasure?
I've spent a lot of time on my blog and other places online talking about Ed and Fru. I was thinking about it a while ago and I realized that I rarely ever come out and talk about just Isis, even though she's a huge part of my life. In the last year or so, she's played an even bigger role in my happiness.
When I first got Ed and Isis, I remember being disappointed about how unattached I felt with them. I wrote a blog post about it here and I got a lot of great feedback about how loving pets can take time sometimes; it's not always instantaneous. Everyone who said that was right and I'm really thankful for their help. Isis is one of those kitties that took a while to warm up to me-- much longer than Ed. And in all honesty, the wait was completely worth it.
Shawn, Beth, and I noticed that there was something a little "off" about Isis when she first came to live with us. She was terrified of everything. Even for a kitty, the horror in her eyes every time someone walked past her seemed excessive. We all watched her carefully and then came to the conclusion that she was most likely abused by one of her previous owners. As far as we knew, she had at least two previous owners, but there could have been more. The way she ran away from people and ducked her head whenever anyone would make any quick movements made me feel like she had once been struck by someone-- most likely a male since she's always had a greater fear with them. I know that not all kitties are warm and cuddly (I've been around a lot of cats in my life), but the feeling I got when I saw the fear in Isis' eyes told me something extremely bad happened to her in her past. Knowing this made me determined to help her feel comfortable in her new life.
I first started noticing a change in Isis when I took her (and Ed) to the vet for a checkup about two years ago. Ed was pretty calm, but as usual, Isis was terrified. I gently picked her up and held her the entire time she was there. It was the first memory I have of her clinging to me because she felt protected and safe in my arms. I remember how I couldn't stop smiling. Shawn even mentioned that Isis and I were having a "bonding experience." Ever since that day, I've felt a deep connection with Isis.
Since then, she's been slowly becoming more loving. I took advantage of that change and started to "work" with her more often. When she was really young, she wouldn't let anyone hold her and would claw her way out of a person's arms. (I have a scar to prove it.) I decided to take baby steps with Isis to help her understand that being held was a good thing. Every day, I would slowly pick her up and take her over to a window where we could watch the streets outside. I would talk to her in a very soft, soothing voice (very non-threatening) so she knew that I was still there with her. I figured that the movements on the steets would distract her enough so she wouldn't concentrate on the fact that I was holding her. Sure enough, Isis became used to being held by me. After a while, I was able to hold her for an infinite amount of time. In fact, I'd have to say that she now gets sad when I have to put her back on the floor after holding her.
These days, Isis is very relaxed. She's still afraid of almost all strangers (like a lot of kitties are), and most men. However, her attitude and mannerisms have changed to an enourmous extent with the people she's familiar and comfortable with. Isis no longer runs away when people are walking towards her. She doesn't duck her head quickly if people around her are moving their arms or moving objects around her. When Shawn and I walk in the door after being out for a few hours, she stays asleep in her kitty bed in the main room. If anything, she might look up at us to acknowledge our presence... but she doesn't run to a hiding place.
Whenever I'm asleep and Isis sees me curled up under my comforter and another very soft blanket I always use, she hops up on top of my stomach and falls asleep there. A few days ago, I woke up and was able to get off the couch without waking her up-- she stayed in the same spot, sleeping, for over ten hours! Most of the time, she's purring happily whever she's sleeping. And if I don't cuddle with her in the morning, which has become a routine for the two of us, she comes up to me later in the day and gives me sad mews to let me know she wants some cuddles.
Having two kitties who are so different from each other is amazing. Ed is friendly with everyone and is very sociable. Isis has grown into a kitty who chooses who to love, and if you're chosen, you feel like you are the most important person in the world. That's exactly how I feel whenever I'm with her. It was difficult for a long time for me to grasp the idea of Isis being calm and loving, but seeing her so happy every day has made her overall happiness a normality. I couldn't be more grateful for her and the fact that she's overcome whatever pain she experienced in the past. Her ability to move on and be happy has made me happy.
It's been almost 5 years since we moved out of San Mateo. Wow.
Originally published at sixhours.net. You can comment here or there.
I then counted back through the entries and matched them to the 5 winners.
The winner of the poster is... JenniferB who said: "I like the numbers print from your Calobee site." Thanks, Jennifer!
The four runners up and gift certificate recipients are:
- Lisa R
- Kiddlebug
- Shannon
- Elsie
I've contacted all the winners! Thanks to everyone who entered and spread the word. :)
But it's a close game. Unfortunately. We should be killing them by now.
Originally published at sixhours.net. You can comment here or there.
Phew, what a weekend. Miss Elspeth is fighting an ear infection which has made her pretty uncomfortable, and in turn most of our time has been spent doting on her and trying to distract her from the earache. She's also teething--those first-year molars are mean--so it's double trouble around here. I don't think the antibiotics are doing much for her, so I have a sneaking suspicion we'll be seeing the doctor again soon.
Despite all this, I managed to get a bit accomplished. On Saturday we went out with friends to do some quick family pictures and have lunch. We'd planned to go to the holiday parade downtown, but El's schedule has been out of whack (see the part about ears and teething) and she napped longer than usual, so we didn't leave the house until the parade was almost over. I did get a few pictures of the short time we were there, which I put on Flickr.
On Sunday we woke up to SNOW! The weather went from mild and almost green to winter wonderland in the span of a few hours. The change of scenery got me in the mood to decorate, so I put up some Christmas things. We won't be getting our tree until later this month, but the lights in the windows will do until then. I also did some cleaning, processed photos and listed some new postcards in the Calobee Doodles shop.
All things considered, a very productive weekend. Now I need to go snuggle with a sicky baby.
Go Niners!
...we could be off oil immediately.
Originally published at sixhours.net. You can comment here or there.
It's that time again. Let's scrap the small talk and get down to business: I think I've been a pretty good girl this year, all things considered. That's not to say there haven't been challenges, hardships, and the occasional swear word or two, but everyone around me is still alive and I'm not in jail or anything. I have to call that a win, wouldn't you agree?
So when you're loading up the sleigh and my name comes across your list, please forgive that one incident with the mixing spoon and the cat, and make sure you're packing the following...
- Carlino Cashmere Argyle Socks - I already have three pairs of these cozy socks I bought at an L.L. Bean outlet in October, but I should have bought more. Before you say anything (Mom), yes, they're expensive for socks, but entirely worth the cashola. My feet will thank you.
- iPhone Magnets by Bear Duck Designs - I pointed these out in a previous edition of Friday Favorites, but I have to mention them again. As a Mac geek who does not (and will probably never) own an iPhone, these will console me.
- Garden Bead Lover Necklace by Atlantic Art Glass - I met Linda at an Ellsworth craft show a few weeks ago, and I immediately fell in love with her intricate glass bead necklaces. I don't wear jewelry very often (it becomes a super-magnet for grabby baby fingers) but the detail in her work took my breath away.
- Owl ornaments from Pink Perch - So cute! I want a whole set of them to hang on our Christmas tree.
- A Sunspot Granny Square Afghan from Judy and Cheryl's Craft Boutique - I'm dreaming of a big cozy afghan to snuggle up under when it gets cold (if it ever gets cold... this "winter" has been deceptively mild for Maine so far).
- Fabric wall decals by Mae - I've been eying these since I first saw them months ago. They're really more for the baby than me, but I think it would make decorating Ellie's room so much easier!
There you go, Santa. Open that Etsy account and get cracking!
Much love,
Caro
