Yes, I AM still alive. Thank you to those who haven't given up on me and still check! *smiles and huggers* Thank you, as usual, to those who visit my page and find something worthwhile to fav or watch!

It has been so long since my last journal, where to start?? OK - I'll start with Lyra!!
Lyra is now 8 months old and is currently running all over the house and dragging her toys or anything she sees as a toy (tissues, paper towels, plastic rings from bottles, bottle caps) all over the house. She has a very loud meow but when she is playing she tends to quietly mrrrp and mrr to herself. I have no idea what she is saying and I don't really want to know, especially when she is playing rough with Harry the Hippo (the little green toy in some of the pictures). Every once in a while she will dump her current toy in a water bowl and just leave it. Poor Harry the Hippo has been the victim of this many times. I have to rinse and hang him up to dry. Perhaps it is Lyra's way of making sure that her hippo friend gets his chance to wallow in some water like his wild relatives??

Lyra is definitely more my cat than anyone elses, which always fills my heart with love and puts a smile on my face. When I head into the shower or bath, she hears the water and is there. She has a water fascination and while I'm bathing she tries to use parts of my body as an island. I can't say she likes to get wet but she is VERY good at it!

OK - here is the not so good news. Our little Lyra is definitely Feline Leukemia positive. What does this mean for our sweet girl? Well, most likely she caught the virus in-utero since we found her when she was almost a week old. There are a few things that can happen or might have already happened. The best scenario is that Lyra has already fought off the virus and, while she will always test positive, will be asymptomatic for the rest of her life. The second best is that she will fight off the virus and may just be a bit more frail than other cats we have had. The worst scenario is the virus becomes full-blown and we have to take the necessary steps that have her best interests in mind. We are taking this one day at a time. to look at her now it is so difficult to think that one day she will be very ill. I guess this just makes her more special. I don't know how she can be any more special, but it just does.

Now, for you that know our zoo - we had three cats, three dogs and three birds (parrots). Our roomie of many years moved out a few weeks ago and took one of our cats with him. Lucy bonded to him and not to us, so it was only right that she went with him. Also, Lucy had a hate on for Lyra from day one and it didn't go away. Yes I cried - missing both of them, I still tear up but I know that the best has happened. I made sure he went with a full bag of food, a litter box, litter, enough Advantage Multi for 9 weeks (she needs drops every 3 weeks), her medical records and her bed and favourite toy. Of course we stay in communication with him and have been told that Lucy is settling in very well. He moved into a bigger house than we have and she is happy exploring and finding new hiding spots. She is an inside only cat and still stays very close to him. I still laugh because when he moved in he told me in a VERY certain voice that he was NOT a cat person. Well, let us just say that a few of our cats that have passed won over his heart and Lucy picked him as her human and VOILA - the non-cat person has a cat. They love each other very much.

We were hit by Hurricane Ike, living in Houston, TX. We lost power for 16 days but were very blessed to not have trees on our house and garage. The chain-link fence (we call it a "city fence") is doing the wave as a HUGE tree fell from a house behind us and three lots over. The fence is no big thing and we are not in a rush to fix it. The dogs still can't get out of our backyard, so they are safe and this is what matters.

OK, so that leaves us with two cats (Zipper is 16 and seems to be hanging in there). Lyra chases her and keeps her spry! *laughs a little* OK - three dogs. Our rottie needs a $1,300 biopsy for a lump on one of her hind legs. She is around 10 years old we think. I rescued her when I saw her licking the pavement by a dumpster in a restaurant parking lot. She was close to death. We fixed her heartworm situation, had her fixed, fed her a lot to gain weight and she has been the BEST dog ever. We are saving our pennies for her operation. The lump is on her ankle. She has hip dysplasia due to poor care and early breeding (plus big dogs tend to have this even with the best of care) so she limps. She is a trouper and she knows we will get her fixed up as soon as we can. I tell her every day. In the meantime she is on pain pills and anti-inflammatories for the pain and inflammation. OH MY, I forgot to mention our two weenie dogs which are just living life and doing well. Romy is still neurotic and always will be and Holly will always be high-strung - but we love them a whole bunch!!

We are looking at putting our 25 year old Moluccan cockatoo in a breeding program and finding our 15 year old Sun Conure a good home. We have to simplify our lives as I just can't keep up with the maintenance of the three parrots. We will keep the African Grey as he is the hubby's bird through and through. We have NEVER EVER had any of our animals relocated in new homes and knowing that we must do this breaks my heart. But I have to look to the future, changes and all.

As for the rest of life - the last year has been riddled with personal problems and health concerns. The personal problems are being worked on and so are the health problems. I'm not going to go into detail. Just know that all relationships that are worth something need to be worked on every day and not let to slide until the bottom drops out and the realization that the things that you had in common earlier on are low priority or not there anymore. I learn all lessons the hard way, that's just the way my stubborn ass is - but this one was a shock, hurt like hell and blindsided me.

Ok - I covered Lyra, Hurricane Ike, the pet situation, personal stuffs so all I have left to say is................................THANK GOD for my friends and loved ones. Without you all, and you KNOW who you are (I hope) I would not exist. I truly thank each and every one of you and have no idea how I can repay you for all that you have done for me and all that you mean to me. Gami, Glenn, Yobi, Neon, Blue (in no particular order) and so many others.........blessings to you all with all my love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers,
Holly