Day 99: Hip Surgery Recovery Tips

Between You, Me and the Lamp Post

 

Day 99: Hip Surgery Recovery Tips

When having hip surgery, be prepared for a long recovery period. To think that you will be back to your old self with a week or so, is completely unrealistic. A full recovery from hip surgery can take months, if not a whole year, depending on your age. To speed up the recovery a physiotherapist will work with you, but it will be up to you to keep up those exercises on your own. Don’t overdo it though, listen to your therapist as to what you can and cannot do. When you feel you are ready you might try the following exercise tips.

Continue reading at: https://medium.com/@conny.manero/hip-surgery-recovery-tips-cec6b0b72468 

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Day 98: What's for Dinner

Between You, Me and the Lamp Post

Day 98: What's for Dinner

If ever there was a cat who loves to eat, it’s Greyson. Even though he, along with Charlotte, Holly, and Halley has a supply of dry nibbles to snack on during the day, come 6:00 p.m. Greyson feels it’s time for dinner. Dinner being wet food.

He usually sleeps the whole afternoon but around 5:00 or 5:30 he wakes up and after a quick grooming session he starts to talk. Actually, I should say, he starts to moan, because that’s what it sounds like.

He walks around the place meowing his head off. Some might think this nice, a cat that ‘talks’ but believe me, it can get a bit much. First, it’s a little meow, then a stretched moan, and eventually he turns it into an opera. 

That's when I usually ask him “Greyson, what? What is it? What do you want?” 

Then he gives me a look that says… Can’t you understand a word I’m saying?

If talking doesn’t get the desired result, Greyson switches to plan B… following me wherever I go and walking in front of my feet. I pay attention of course, but every now and then he gets in my way. When I tell him “Greyson, I nearly tripped over you. Can you move please?” I get another look, a look that says… feed me and you won’t have that problem.

Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn’t. Charlotte, Holly, Halley, and Greyson gets their food around 6:30 p.m. and not before. Greyson is resourceful though and now puts plan C into action … he jumps on the countertop and looks at me. That will do it.

Once I go to the cabinet where the cat food is kept, he comes with me. He’s in business now and he doesn’t want to miss any of it. I retrieve two cans and three plates. One plate is for Halley and Greyson, one plate for Charlotte and one plate for Holly. Holly never eats with the others, don’t ask me why she’s been like that ever since she was a kitten.

As for Charlotte… she is a very nervous cat. The slightest sound or movement and she abandons her food and goes running. So, I feed her on a separate plate in a separate room where she has peace and quiet.

As for Halley and Greyson, they don’t care what goes on around them. The world can fall apart around their ears, it’s foodie time and any tragedy will have to wait until their belly is full.

While Halley is a very quiet eater, the same cannot be said from Greyson… he smacks. Seriously, when he eats, it sounds like he’s drinking. Smack, smack, smack. When he’s finished, he makes some more funny noises by licking his lips over and over again.

Cats and their food… it's unlikely I'll ever forget to feed them.

Day 97: Only one survived

Between You, Me and the Lamp Post

Day 97: Only one survived

A few days ago, I wrote a blog about one of our goldfish that was near death. For three days he lay at the bottom of the tank not moving. Dieter wanted to end his suffering by flushing him, but I said no, let’s wait until he’s dead.

https://underthetorontosun.blogspot.com/2019/11/day-91-dont-be-too-quick-to-flush.html

Then on the morning of the fourth day, that fish started moving and that same afternoon he started swimming and made a full recovery. We were so happy that he was well again. Then just when we thought we were in the clear, tragedy struck.

Yesterday, the fish suddenly died. A second one followed, and a third and a fourth. All within the span of one hour. We have no idea what happened. So far one fish survived.

Now I’m wondering if I’m to blame.

A few days ago, I read on article online that fish, goldfish and tropical fish, can be fed human foods. That they like fruits such as bananas, grapes, strawberries, and veggies such as cooked broccoli and lettuce.

Since I wanted to give my fish a treat, I dropped a small piece of banana in the tank. One by one they pecked at it and before long the banana piece was gone. I gave them another piece of banana the next day and the next day. Then suddenly the fish were dying.

So, by giving the fish banana, did I poison them? Part of me thinks yes, another part thinks no. I also gave small pieces of banana to the goldfish in another tank and all those fish are fine. If the banana was toxic to fish, those fish would have died too.

To make matters worse, all this happened while a Facebook friend was being featured on Twitter. I was looking forward to that session, thinking that I could learn something from it, but with one fish after another dying, I just wasn’t in the mood.

Some might say … it’s only fish, and in a way it’s true, a fish dying is not the same as a cat or dog dying, but still … it’s a life lost, or in this case, four lives lost. It's kind of sad because doesn’t everyone like to live?

Day 96: In Search of Balls

Between You, Me and the Lamp Post

Day 96: In Search of Balls

Christmas is coming and we’re ready for it. The tree is up, and the house is decorated. But oh, what a struggle it has been.

Every year I like to give the Christmas tree a certain theme. Last year it was red and gold balls, the year before blue and silver. For this year I wanted lilac or pink and silver balls but try as I might, nowhere could I find lilac or pink balls.

I tried Walmart, Canadian Tire, Home Depot, even the local Dollar store, but while they had all kinds of beautiful balls, nobody had lilac or pink. I even tried Costco, but they didn’t have any either.

“Try Amazon,” someone suggested. “They have lots of balls.” So I did and I indeed found a variety of lilac and pink balls, but I could only expect delivery in January 2020. Well, that was no good. So the theme of the tree would have to be red and gold again.

We got started by getting the Christmas tree out of the storage unit. Not an easy task as the storage cabinet holds a variety of other stuff: Easter decorations, Halloween decorations, toolboxes, two fans, cat carriers, etc.

When the tree was out and the branches unfolded the decorating could begin: first the lights, then the balls, then the tinsel. All the while, Charlotte, Holly, Halley, and Greyson were keeping an eye on the proceedings. 

 

 

I knew what they were up to, they wanted to touch one of the balls, but that was of course not allowed.

Not that cats care about what is allowed and what is not, they pretty much do what they want. And they did. No sooner was the decoration of the tree completed or Holly (ever the leader of the pack) was going to try something.

Tap, tap, her paw went against a little golden ball. “Eh eh,” I wagged a finger, “mag da?” (translation … is that allowed? Yes, my cats are bilingual). Holly hesitated and put her paw down. No sooner was my back turned or … pong, pong-pong-pong-pong-pong … I heard a ball drop and bounce across the floor.

When I went to check my suspicion was confirmed. Holly had knocked a ball off the tree and was now expertly batting it. I briefly considered taking it away from her, but what would be the point, she would just knock another off the tree. So I let her keep it.

Of course, Holly is not my only cat, I have three others. I had nothing to fear from Charlotte, she’s 15 or 16 years old and is as good as gold, but the same cannot be said from Halley and Greyson. Both of them are under two years old and get up to all sorts of mischief.

Halley was surprisingly well behaved, but Greyson … OMG. Give that him half a chance and he’s up to something. His favorite is biting the branches of the tree and no matter how many times we say “Greyson, no, it’s fake” he doesn’t care.

Oh well, I’m not going to stress over it, after all, it’s only Christmas once a year.

Day 95: Cats and Christmas trees

Between You, Me and the Lamp Post

Day 95: Cats and Christmas trees

I can imagine that many of you will want to put up a Christmas tree but do so with a heavy heart. What will the resident cat(s) do to the tree? Will they leave it alone, will those fuzzy little paws play with the balls, or worse, throw the whole tree down?

I’ve seen so many videos of cats climbing in Christmas trees and tipping them over. Most of the times these were small trees, standing on a side table or cabinet. Solution … get a large tree that stands on the floor.

I have four cats and none of them take a particular interest in our Christmas tree. When Holly was a kitten she loved hiding between the branches …

but now as a six-year-old she’s content just to look at the tree. As are the other three.

That’s not to say that they don’t get up to mischief. While the tree is being set up, they’re happy to watch, but after completion, they come into action. They’re attracted to the balls on the lower level of the tree like flies to a pot of jam.

First, they look and then they whack at them like a boxer hits a punch ball. Before long one or several balls hit the floor and then the game is on as they swat the ball across the floor. Fortunately, I’ve got their number and I only put unbreakable balls on the lower level. Let them have their fun. It’s Christmas for everyone.

As for the other Christmas decorations … it can go either way. Some years they pay no attention to the nativity scene and the angels, other years they’re all over them.

Still, they never break anything. Which is what my dad told me a long time ago … never chase a cat. If you don’t chase, she won’t break anything. If you chase, she’ll get stressed, get clumsy and … well, there will be damage. I found this to be true.

Either way, the Christmas season has started.

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Day 94: Oh Christmas tree

Between You, Me and the Lamp Post

Day 94: Oh Christmas tree

Although over the years artificial Christmas trees may have come close to resembling the real thing and have a few advantages, nothing can take the place of a real Christmas tree.  The sight and aroma of a real tree creates an atmosphere that is impossible for a fake tree to copy, no matter how lifelike it is.

Perhaps the most popular Christmas tree is the Fraser fir. With its lush dark green needles and strong branches, this tree is ideal for all kinds of decorations and a favorite of families and businesses alike. 

The Colorado Blue Spruce has, as its name implies, bluish-green needles with a slightly powdery appearance.  The needles are about one to three inches long and have been known for exceptional retention.  The Colorado Blue Spruce was once chosen to grace the lawn of the White House.

The Balson fir is loved because of its short, flat, long-lasting needles. However, even though its needles are perfect for decorating, it’s the scent and aroma of the tree that makes it, unlike any other fir. 

Not a real fir but still highly suitable as a Christmas tree is the Douglas fir.  Its branches are not quite as strong as those of the Fraser fir, but are still highly suitable to carry decorative balls and other ornaments. 

The Eastern White Pine is ideal for people allergic to fragrant Christmas trees.  On the upside, the Eastern White Pine gives off no scent at all and retains its needles for weeks.  On the downside, its branches are not as strong as other fir trees.

The White Spruce, although beautiful, is not quite as popular as a Christmas tree because crushed needles can produce a very unpleasant odor. Even though the tree has strong branches, ideal for heavy ornaments, its needle retention is poor.

No matter which tree you prefer, to keep a Christmas tree fresh, take an inch off the butt of the tree and place in a stand that holds at least a gallon of water. Regularly top up the container so that there is always water available.

If the tree still has its roots, he can be planted in the yard. Chose a space with plenty of room for growth as fir trees can grow very tall and very wide.

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Day 93: A fishy story

Between You, Me and the Lamp Post

Day 93: A fishy story

A few days ago, I posted that one of our goldfish was near death. For 72 hours he lay on the bottom of the tank, ready to go to the big ocean in the sky. Then suddenly, he started eating, moving and attempted swimming. Today that fish is as good as new.

I never actually considered myself a fish person. Whenever I visited someone who had an aquarium, I thought it pretty and calming, but never thought of getting an aquarium myself. And then one day, things changed.

It started so innocently. We were in a pet store shopping for cat food, I happen to wander into the fish section and came across a giant tank full of tiny goldfish.

While the other fish tanks had between two to fifty fish in them and were beautifully decorated with gravel and plants, this tank held hundreds of fishes and had no decorations at all. 

When I asked the salesman about this, he said “These are feeding fish.”

Feeding fish? He explained that these fish were primarily used to feed the other fish. I wash shocked. Their only purpose was to die! Well, I couldn’t save them all, but I could save one. So I left the pet store with ten cans of cat food, one plastic fish tank, and one goldfish.

Back home the fish went into the tank and we named him Blub. People told me that Blub wouldn’t live long. Goldfish, by nature, don’t have a long life and since Blub was a feeding fish and very small he most probably wouldn’t last more than a few days.

Well, they were wrong. Not only did Blub live longer than a few days, over the next few months he outgrew his tank. So, we got a bigger tank, and when that one became too small, we got an even bigger one. We also got Blub a friend, a beautiful white and orange goldfish and named her Cinderella.

Blub and Cinderella lived happily for four years and then one day, Cinderella died. Two days later Blub died too. So now we had two big glass tanks, but no fish.

In the years that followed a variety of fish housed in those tanks. Goldfish, tropical fish, we even had a couple of mini lobsters. 

None of them lived very long. When we were tired of spending money on tropical fish, I went back to basics and got twelve feeding fish, six for each tank.

That was four years ago, and all the fish are doing fine, including the one who was near death for three days. My guess is, he wasn’t sick at all, those who attacked him injured him and he just needed time to heal.

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