Gloom, French, Gatorade and a Winner!

I am so sick of the gloom! And the cold! It's snowing out. April 6 -- it is snowing. It's getting old -- photographing flowers inside instead of out.

This week's featured selection -- snapdragons!

I wonder how "snapdragons" is pronounced in French? I'm taking French -- an Evening College class once a week! I have to confess, I am loving the class.

This week is my presentation -- we all do a short presentation on something related to France/French/places that speak French. It can be food, wine, books, places, sites. Mine is on shopping in Paris on a budget.

So, part of today is pulling together the last of my presentation.

I'm not loving this past week. Been sick -- nothing wretched, tie-you-to-the-bed sick, but enough that there is no energy or motivation. Three people I know died, another is in ICU in a coma from an asthma/heart attack (you have no idea how freaked I get when I hear of asthma-related issues); a good friend is preparing for significant surgery in the coming weeks and I worry about that, and my boy Gyp is having some medical challenges, too.

Remember when Dr. Anne, the Visiting Vet came? She recommended a blood test, so not long after her visit, we trundled off to a vet clinic that did that work (she doesn't).

On the way, Gypsy was howling -- I'm sure because it was the first trip in the car since last October and also because I couldn't find his "Anxiety" flower essence which was the magic charm. (Longtime "Gypsy" readers might remember that Dr. Anne is a holistic vet, and really -- she has been amazing, her recommendations spot-on.)

On the way, I'm zipping along a little quickly and I'm stopped by the police. (I knew as soon as I saw him turn around in my rearview mirror who he was following... the flashing lights sealed the deal.)

I explained I was on the way to the vet with my very sick cat. OK, I shouldn't lie to the police. But he was sick. Just not very.

Meanwhile Gypsy, who had been acting as though he was in great pain (he wasn't) became quiet once the car stopped. From the caged box, he looked pleadingly as though to say, "Please, Mr. Officer. I am being kidnapped. Soon you'll see me on a milk carton. Amber alert! (And I am amber, by the way.)

The nice guy gave me a pass this time and off we went.

Long story short, Gypsy has kidney disease. For those who know cats, 1.8 is the high end of normal and he is a 3. Which is better than a 4, 5, 6, or 10. But not good.

So, another element of my Sunday afternoon will be giving him an IV of electrolytes, which I call his Gatorade.

This juicing takes about 20 minutes or so. Or it did when Dr. Anne was helping me. On my own -- my very first time on my own -- we'll see. (And, presumably this doesn't hurt the cat at all, except for the moment when the fluid begins.)

The hardest part will be this -- turning on the fluid while I hold the needle in Gypsy, who will be on the bathroom counter (door closed, to prevent an easy exit).

Well, no -- that's the second hardest part. The hardest part is actually sticking a needle into the cat.

Now, I should say so far, Gypsy doesn't seem to mind. But on my own... we'll see.

The bad news is that you can't cure feline renal issues. But the good news, I guess, is that between this and his meds and his juicing, just maybe we can reverse things a little bit and prolong a life with good quality.

Meanwhile, as cats live moment to moment, I'm doing my best to do that with Gypsy, and so is Rick.

More than once over the past two weeks, I break down into tears, thinking what my world will be like with my own special chat orange. But that's not living now.

So, I go pick up the Gyp, give him a cuddle, toss a toy and practice my French on him.

It's working for us.

And now -- the winner! It's Bella Rum of Cul-de-Sac Chronicles! The winner was picked randomly from all the entries -- Bella defined "therstes" as "Members of a group who suffer from dehydration."

I had tons of fun with that contest! A package of notecards of photos from Paris is coming your way!

And, for you readers out there, a very good book recommendation at Chopsticks and String, if Brit mysteries are your thing!