Angela Mason's Blog

Well, THAT was fun! My favorite time of year flew by as expected, bringing some fun, some frustration, and with more to come, some more surprises! Halloween 2009 surely didn’t disappoint with a trip to the Philadelphia Zoo, for “Boo @ the Zoo”! Cadillac Jack and I had a huge time with the gazillion kids and parents giving out fun toys and of course, donning great costumes. Jack made an exquisite elephant, and I will take credit for being a fun kangaroo! A hopping good time for one and all. Mind you, the kids were a bit confused as to what animal I was supposed to be; I heard everything from “big rabbit” to “spider”, but had a blast nonetheless. The actual holiday for me was spent with my best buddy on his birthday (yep, a Halloween baby!), at the final weekend of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Festival. This is an annual trek for me. I simply cannot resist the men in kilts, the mud show and smoked turkey legs! But this was a first for my buddy, and he had an excellent birthday simply sucking in all the festivities and food the faire has to offer. We’ve already got a date for next year! The frustration of October fell under the category of parent, or in my case, parent/pet owner. My poor little man, otherwise known as “Zak” (15-year old tuxedo tabby cat) ended up being diagnosed with stage 2 kidney disease. What started out as a stress-free, problem free, regular vet visit, later turned into a nightmare when his blood work came back. I was frantic for days, practically pacing the ceiling with worry for my little man. However, after more blood work, more than 24 hours of IV hydration, and huge diet change, Zak is home. He quickly returned to his usual self, assuming his rightful place on my couch, guarding his castle from possible invasion, in anticipation of catnip. Granted, this is not a permanent fix, but early detection, proper care and upkeep of the disease can hopefully prolong his life for quite some time. If you’d like to learn more about kitty kidney disease, I’d suggest www.vetreinarypartner.com. It’s a great site my Vet recommended to me and taught me a great deal about Zak’s health and future care. My motorcycle, “Charlie” has been put away for his winter slumber, so now I can concentrate on preparing a fabulous turkey feast and soon enough creating the holiday shopping list. Enjoy the remainder of the autumn leaves...and get ready for the white stuff! Until next time, keep your helmet on...--Ang