How to give a cat a shot

So, November has been an interesting month.

After having some "issues" with the litter box. We come to find out that my sweet lovable Rover has diabetes. Yes, for those of you that don't know, cats, and dogs, can get diabetes.

How could I have diabetes?

Now, I know some of you are thinking, duh Zilla, you have a 22lb cat, of course he can get diabetes! While this is true, he is now under 20 lbs (19.8 lbs thank you very much!). We still have to deal with the fact that he has diabetes.

So, how do you deal with a diabetic cat?
1) monitor his food intake. For us this means trying to determine what Rover eats vs what Fido eats. Ummm...that's not going to happen, so we are monitoring what both cats are eating. We split 2/3 of a cup of food between them morning and night.

2) watch his behavior. Watch for more litter "issues"

3) give him shots! Now, if I wanted to pick which of my "kids" I'd want to give a shot to, it would be Rover, he is the easiest going of the bunch. But, it doesn't really mean that I want to have to give him shots.

the necessary equipment

So, for all those who have ever wondered "How do you give a cat a shot?" Here is your tutorial:
(And it is easier then you think)

1) distract the dog, food usually works. you can skip this step if you don't have a dog

and he looks so innocent here

2) get the insulin out of the fridge and roll it gently on the counter to mix.

3) measure out 2 units. This is accomplished by sticking the needle into the top of the vial of insulin. Turning the whole contraption upside down. Pulling the plunger past 2 units and the moving the plunger up to 2 units and forcing out all of the air. uff-da, say that all in one breath

2 units

4) Give the shot to the cat. We do this by putting the cat and his food on the counter, food is a good distraction for cats too. And then while he is distracted, slide the needle under his skin on the outside of his hip. Here is the demo:

Putting the cat on the counter also prevents the dog from nosing you in the eye, because by now he has finished his food and really thinks he want a shot too!

5) reward the cat for behaving well by giving him a pinch of fish flakes. yummy!

And that is all there is to it! Any questions?

EGGS BENNIE!!!

My Budder, his buddy M, and girlfriend C are working their way through all of the eggs benedict breakfasts in SLC. This is a very scientific process, including a rubric. While I was visiting I got to join in the fun...

The Restaurant: The Blue Plate
(you may remember it from Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives if you are a Food Network junkie like I am)

The Mission: Find the best Eggs Benedict in Salt Lake City

So we began by perusing the menu. They had 5 types of eggs benedict, plus a benedict omelet (yay for me!) and a special. They also were really good about sustitutions and add-ins, making the possibilities endless.


Bud chose the traditional - poached egg, canadian bacon, and a grilled tomato slice on an english muffin smothered in hollandaise sauce. Home fries served on the side.


M chose the greek and modified it a little - poached egg, spinach, tomatoes, avocado* and feta on an english muffin smothered in hollandaise sauce, again with home fries on the side.
*On the menu it was mushrooms instead of the avocado


I went with the benedict omelet - a bacon and cheese omelet, smothered again in hollandaise sauce. I did add some broccoli, to make sure my arteries didn't close on the spot.


The service was good, although a little slow. The atmosphere was excellent, great pop art on the walls, a jukebox in the corner playing great tunes. The coffee, not bad, but not Ria's either.

The verdict:

hmm... M's not too sure, although his plate is clean

And Bud gives The Blue Pate a 40/50...not too shabby!

After that Bud and I went back to his place, watched a little football (or napped), and then went on a hike to enjoy the beginning of the color change.

It was a great way to spend a Saturday!

Mom coming through for me!

So, with all the craziness in my life lately. I have yet to touch the rhubarb in my freezer, but luckily for me. My mom decided to enter my Sugar High Friday month with the recipe below:

Oatmeal fruit bars

bake at 400 for 25 min 7 X11 pan

The crust and topping:
mix together:

3/4 c butter (softened)

1 c brown sugar

stir in:

1 3/4 c wheat less flour *any flour with xanthan gum will work Mom used Nearly Normal flour
1/2teas soda

stir in:

1 1/2 c oatmeal

Filling:
3c rhubarb cooked with 1/2 cup sugar
at the end of the cooking add 1 1/2 tbls corn starch to thicken

if you don't have rhubarb, you poor soul, 3 cups any jam or fruit filling will work

Pam or grease the 11 by 7 pan

Add half the oatmeal mixture and pat firmly into bottom of pan

spread the fruit over the oatmeal mixture

Add the remaining oatmeal mixture on fruit spread to cover lightly pat into the pan

Bake at 400 for 25 minutes cool ENJOY

I promise I will get to the rhubarb in my freezer soon and I will share with you the tasty results!
Thanks again Mom!

Day off!

Well, I had a great day. I lazed around in the morning doing my favorite "sick day" things. Sleeping in, lounging in my pajamas with the kitties on the couch, watching the today show...

It was fabulous!

I then got my act together and went down to city hall to pick up our approved plot!! When I got home M was there, he had taken the afternoon off. We ran over to Decatur and had a nice lunch at Taqueria Del Sol and were able to walk our approved plot through Dekalb county. I have to say that the county is so much easier than the city. We walked to the courthouse and got the plot recorded in the plat book and then over to the GSI department and were done in 1 hour! That is so amazing when it has taken the city a full month to get our plot approved.

We then got the copies made and brought them back to the city to be distributed. Spoke with the zoning lady and set up an appointment with her for next week. This forward progress means we might actually be able to break ground in the next few weeks!

How much do you want to be that it will happen when I am in San Antonio??

Lastly, my favorite sister (okay, my only sister) has started a blog http://life-in-lala.blogspot.com/ check it out!