We're okay

[lunabee34]

1. We were so lucky; we got through Helene with pretty much zero impact--a power outage of ten minutes and some sticks and branches down in the yard that we have yet to pick up because we are Those Neighbors.

Meanwhile, my colleague's neighborhood had a lot of downed trees, one of which fell on her house and trashed it, and another of which fell on her neighbor's house and killed him. Another colleague who lives less than a mile from us is still without power and likely to remain so through this week. Josh's sister works in Erwin, TN, and one of her friends was among the 50 people trapped on the roof of a hospital who had to be evacuated via helicopter.

I cannot express how grateful I am that we are okay and that none of my colleagues, friends, or family lost their lives.

2. I had to miss my aunt's memorial because I would have had to drive through the storm to get there, but everyone understood and told me to stay home; I was worried about hurt feelings, but it was just too dangerous to attempt.

3. Sammy takes an antiviral pill twice a day followed by a supplement paste that also inhibits the viral load. He has always been extremely easy to pill, but ever since he adopted a tiny plastic tub as his favorite place to sit, all I have to do is shake the bottle and he hops in his little tub. Then I just pop the pill in his mouth without even having to pick him up.

The weirdest thing happened with his paste, though. We opened a new tube, and he just wouldn't eat it, turned his nose up at it even though it was the exact same everything. So after the pill, I just squirted it directly in his mouth, again without even having to pick him up. Once we opened the next tube, he was back to eating it on his own again. So weird. Something was different about that tube, but IDK what. It wasn't spoiled; it didn't make him sick. Cats.

4. I was so sad to learn of zulu's passing. We were not super close, but we've been friends for years now, and her optimism and infectious enthusiasm brought me a lot of joy. daemonluna has written a beautiful eulogy from the perspective of someone who knew her better than I did. Even though zulu is gone, her light continues to shine through her words and her friendship. She will be deeply missed.

Comments

[amejisuto]

I'm glad you were safe through the hurricane, and that your family understood not driving through it. That would have been not good.

I'm glad Sammy is taking his meds so easily! I can't imagine giving a cat a pill so easily.

[lunabee34]

I'm astonished, too. If Tweek had needed a pill twice a day, she'd be dead. Or we'd be. LOL

He is a very agreeable cat. I wish he was more of a lap cat, but maybe he'll mellow into one as he ages.

[aurumcalendula]

I'm glad you got through the hurricane safely!

[lunabee34]

Thank you!

*hugs*

[kass]

Oh man I am so glad y'all are ok.

[lunabee34]

Thank you. Me, too. *hugs*

[spikedluv]

I'm glad you guys stayed safe and didn't suffer much damage. It's amazing how far-reaching this storm was; so much damage and loss of life.

It's great that Sammy takes his meds so well!

*hugs*

[lunabee34]

It caught me off guard. I didn't expect the storm to be so catastrophic.

We're so lucky.

*hugs*

[sheafrotherdon]

I am so glad you are okay! I have a friend in Asheville who just bought a house there a month ago. I know she is safe - she managed to get to Charlotte yesterday - but I don't know how her house is. Utterly terrifying storm.

[lunabee34]

Oh, no. I hope she didn't lose her house.

So much devastation. :(

*hugs*

[lyr]

I'm so glad to hear you're okay. *hugs*

[lunabee34]

*hugs*

Thank you, friend.

[troisoiseaux]

*hugs*

[lunabee34]

*hugs*

Excellent icon.

[princessofgeeks]

Thank you so much for the update.

I too was sad to learn about zulu.

[lunabee34]

She was really special.

*hugs*

[trobadora]

I'm so glad you're okay!

[lunabee34]

Thank you!

*hugs*

[gloss]

So relieved you and yours are safe, and I'm so sorry to hear about your colleagues.

I trust cats when they do that kind of thing -- their noses are way better than ours.

I love what you've written about zulu here. Just beautiful.

[lunabee34]

Thank you, my friend.

*hugs*

zulu was a really special person.

[author_by_night]

I'm so sorry you lost your friend. *Hugs*

[lunabee34]

Thank you so much. She was really special, and she'll be missed.

[annofowlshire]

Thanks for the update on your situation, and I'm sorry to hear about your friend passing.

[lunabee34]

Thank you so much, friend.

*hugs*

[minoanmiss]

hugs you very very much

[lunabee34]

*clings and clings*

[sweettartheart]

Cat food and treats are very strongly scented because cats don't have a lot of taste receptors; it's their sense of smell that cues them to eat. It's one of the reasons most dogs can't leave cat food alone -- it's VERY scented. It's possible that lot of medicine didn't seem appealing to Sammy because it fell down in the aroma department.

So sorry to hear about your colleagues. We got off very, very lucky.

[lunabee34]

Oh, interesting. I didn't know that about the taste vs. smell receptors.

Sammy is the least food motivated animal I have ever encountered. He basically just wants to eat his dry cat food. LOL

I'm so glad y'all are okay, too. Minor damage is not nothing, but I'm glad no one was hurt.

[musesfool]

*hugs*

So glad to hear you made it through the storm okay!

[lunabee34]

*hugs*

Thank you, friend.

[tamsin]

I'm glad you're okay!

[lunabee34]

Thank you!

*hugs*

[china_shop]

So glad you're okay!!!!!

Awwww, Sammy! *skritches*

[lunabee34]

Thank you, friend.

*hugs*

Sammy is such a good kitty; I find myself imagining trying to pill our previous cats, and it would have been such an ordeal. He literally just lays there and lets me drop it in his mouth. It's wild.

[hermionesviolin]

Wow. I'd heard so much about Asheville that it hadn't occurred to me that of course other areas were also impacted. I'm glad you and yours are okay, but big yikes.

And *hugs* to you about zulu. She sounds wonderful.

[lunabee34]

Oh, Georgia is fucked. We're hosting a bunch of students at my university because university in Valdosta is so trashed that campus is closed because it's too dangerous to let faculty/staff and students back on campus. Augusta is really damaged, too.

A chemical plant near Atlanta was damaged, so there's a chlorine cloud wafting over the city. Dylan said it smells like a pool outside. I told them to stay inside because OMG scary.

zulu was really special. I miss her.

*hugs and hugs*

[timespirt]

"HUGS"

[lunabee34]

*hugs*

[umadoshi]

I'm so glad to hear you're safe.

*hugs tight*

[lunabee34]

Thank you so much!!!!!

*hugs*

[scintilla10]

I'm glad to hear you and yours are all right. It's sounding so rough in the storm's aftermath for so many. <3333

[lunabee34]

Thank you.

*hugs*

We are so lucky; I am so grateful.

[archersangel]

glad you made it through the storm and the cat is doing OK with the medications.

[lunabee34]

Thank you so much. *hugs*

I love your icon!

[jackandahat]

I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. And I'm glad to hear you made it through the storms OK. <3

[lunabee34]

Thank you, Jack. *hugs* We were really lucky.