R.I.P Rascal

One of my adopted sons passed away yesterday evening.

Rascal was 16 years old, and (up until recently) the most vibrant of the three cats I adopted when I married DH. From the very beginning, Rascal became "my" cat - and I'm not a cat person. He loved me so much, I couldn't help but love him back. About two months ago, he took sick, and the vet recommended at that time that we put him down - he had a tumor in his stomach, and lesions on his liver. DH wasn't ready to put him down yet, and he wasn't in pain, so we essentially brought him home to die. For a while, he pepped up, and he was like his old self. But in the last three weeks or so, we knew the end was near. He went into hiding - finally deciding that his favorite place was inside my closet. His appetite disappeared - I spent lots of time sitting on the kitchen floor, spoon-feeding him tuna, cottage cheese...whatever he would eat. He dropped so much weight that he was skin and bones. Last night, I heard him crying - he'd fallen, and couldn't get up again. DH brought him into the kitchen, and we tried to offer him water. He died twenty minutes later in DH's arms. I'm glad he died at home, and I'm glad DH was with him -- I'd been scared that he'd die and I'd have to call DH at work and give him the news that his cat was dead.

So, a moment of silence please for Rascal - I'll miss you, little buddy.

In reality TV news - "Top Chef" - Leanne got sent home, and Tiffani the meanie-weanie gets to go to Vegas, along with Harold (no surprise) and Dave, the weepy girly-man. Can't wait for the reunion show, I hope Stephen gets his ASS kicked.

And in yet other TV news. I'm officially tired of Rachel Ray. Don't get me wrong - as a person, she seems like a real sweetheart. She seems cool as all hell, and based on certain references she's made, I believe that she and I are close in age. I'd love to sit her down with a big bottle of wine, and just get drunk off our asses and have a giggle. But I really think she's "jumped the shark", so to speak. I mean, Food Network is really just working the Rachel gravy train until it gives out. She has - what - THREE shows on Food Network? Not to mention the cookbooks, the MAGAZINE, the new deal with Taste of Home Entertaining and now, the TALK SHOW?? Come on, people. Enough is enough.

Finally, it took me days to get over the nasty stomach virus. Days later, I still literally could not eat. My head would say, "God I really want a slice of pizza", and my stomach would say, "Nope. We ain't gonna eat that". Sunday night, the babies started puking. Luckily, they got over it pretty quickly, and by Monday night, DH had it. My mission now is to keep it from coming around again.

Here's this week's Friday Feast:


Appetizer
From which country(s) are some (or all) of your ancestors? - Italy and Ireland

Soup
How would you describe your sneeze? - Loud, and many - I generally sneeze four or five times in a row.

Salad
What is the last thing you cleaned? - The dishes

Main Course
Who made the strongest first impression on you? - Ever? Hmmmm....maybe DH.

Dessert
Name one thing you want to accomplish in your lifetime.- To set a good example for my kids, and set them free into the world as prepared as possible.