What a slacker! Thoughts of a slacker.

The Terrible Things That People Do

Nov 112010

Yesterday when I went out to get my lunch I glanced at the newsstand where I saw an adorable kitty face looking back at me. Then I read the headline and I was simply heart broken.

The kitty had been shot by some unknown assailant with a small caliber weapon or pellet gun. Shatter 11 bones in its upper leg. The kitty’s name is Peanut and as I read her ordeal I immediately wanted to do something for her and her owner, Mrs. Hanick of West Chester.

Then I had a chance to speak to Mrs. Hanick and it simply reconfirmed my resolution to do something, anything, to help her out with this big vet bill.

The surgery has cost upwards of $2400 with more to come and more doctors visits and that’s if the kitty stays healthy and strong. I am not even going to think about what would happen if the cat gets an infection. One day at a time (and this isn’t even one of my cats). 86 year old Mrs. Hanick, who only wants the best for her feline companion, had to use her home equity loan to pay the vet bill. We cannot allow them to risk their home, can we?

Boris and I work hard every day to raise money and awareness for charities, why we couldn’t we do the same thing here? We went about setting up a Chip-In page where people can donate (big or small it all adds up) and we would make sure that Mrs. Hanick gets the money after our fund raising drive, which we set to end 11/26/2010. We wanted this is be a very thankful Thanksgiving.

After only one day we have already raised over $225 thanks to all Boris’ online friends, known as anipals, and CatToys.com for a very sizable donation of $125! I hope that we will be able to really help out this nice lady and her hurt kitty cat.

Boris is actively blogging and tweeting to get the word out. Here are his posts (WARNING: these are written by Boris, who speaks kitteh).

The majority of the updates will be over on his blog and website, BorisKitty.com. Please consider donating something, anything. Thank you.

Worlds Best Cat Litter

Pets, Raves No Responses »

Nov 072010

It really isn’t just a self-aggrandizing name, it really is the World’s Best Cat Litter.

I won a bag in a contest on Twitter and tried it out on our cats and I just loved it and so did the cats.

It is almost dustless, which was so nice when filling the box. No cloud of perfumed yuck flew up in my face.

Even without all the perfumes of other clumping litters it still kept the smell down too. Cat urine was almost undetectable when cleaning out the cat box.

The worst part was that it was only available at Petco or Petsmart which are not on my regular shopping routes.

It is now at Target and for a limited time there is a $3 off coupon on the 8 lb bags. Sweet! Now I can pick it up when I stop for a regular shopping trip instead of making a special trip to a specialty store.

Head on over to the World’s Best Cat Litter’s website for more information and to enter their contest to win a year’s supply of litter & a $200 Target gift card. Good Luck!

Snickers Peanut Butter YUM

Free Stuff, Raves No Responses »

Nov 042010

I had an opportunity to sample the new Snickers Peanut Butter candy bars, at least I would have if I wasn’t allergic to peanuts! So I did a private sampling with all my co-workers and friends.

The overall opinion was that is was a very tasty candy bar. This only made me want to try it even more!

As you can see by the picture it has all the YUMMY goodness of a regular Snickers but the peanuts are surround by very tasty peanut butter.

I had a blast handing the new treats out on Halloween, but I really, really wanted to nom some for myself. Just look at all the fun everyone working with Snickers & SheSpeaks.com had…

So go ahead and taste them (they should be in stores now) and then stop by here and rub it in how yummy they are and how I don’t get to eat any. Go ahead. I dare you.

Halloween With Snickers

Free Stuff, Odd Stuff, Pets No Responses »

Nov 022010

A little before Halloween I heard about a great promotion that SheSpeaks.com was having for Snickers. So I quickly applied to be a part of it, telling them how much I love Halloween (it is my Christmas).

I little while later I was told I had been chosen to be one of the Snickers “Coolest House on the Block” participants.

So cool! The package of goodies arrived about a week before Halloween. Boris helped me inventory everything we got (especially the candy — probably because it sounded a little like his treat bags as I was pulling them out of the box).

Next up was to decorate the house. Being city folk we don’t like to have the house decorated too early, just to cut down on the possibility of vandals. However, SheSpeaks.com needed photos posted by a certain time showing the decorations in place.

So I went about building a cemetery out front and hung the HUGE Snickers banner behind it. This was placed right where all the Trick-or-Treaters would see it as they came up our front steps.) The banner reads, “It’s No Trick. Here’s the only house where you can get this new treat.”

Glad I did not completely decorate as we had some really windy days leading up to Sunday’s Halloween night. So I added the finishing touches to the decorations Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately the mini fog machine Snickers sent did not work out as it was still too windy. All the fog blew away in seconds. But the strobe light really made the cemetery creepy.

I heard quite a few parents reading the banner aloud as I handed out the candy to their kids and even a few came over and asked for some for themselves as well.

Boris was getting rather upset about being left inside the house when all the excitement was outside.

Here’s a gallery of Trick-or-Treaters from the evening. This is only a small sampling as I gave out all of the candy and it was quite busy at times. I also had some smaller ghosts & goblins that I chose not to post because of their tender young age. But boy were some of them adorable.

At the end of the evening there were two little furry Trick-or-Treaters. They unfortunately did not get any of the Snickers, but I still was able to give them some Halloween toys (I should have had some Greenies on hand for them).

Boris also told all of his friends about how Halloween was on Snickers this year and what he was up to on Halloween night. (Warning: Boris’ blog is written in kitteh speek.)

I Want it Wednesday: Wampa Rug

Collectibles, I Want It Wednesdays, Online Shoping No Responses »

Oct 202010

Call me crazy (hahaha very funny), but I love this Wampa Rug. It is an officially licensed Star Wars product made by ThinkGeek.com (gotta love those geeks).

I already have the TaunTaun sleeping bag (and I have to make a lightsaber noise every time I open it too). It keeps me toasty warm on those cold Hoth winter nights.

Apparently the slave girl is not included with the Wampa Rug, sorry fan boys.

Iams Kicks Off Adoptions in National Adopt a Pet Month

Pets No Responses »

Oct 152010

Iams Home 4 the Holidays officially opened its “doors” October 1st, the start of national Adopt a Pet Month and runs through the Holidays (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Years) ending January 4, 2011.

Their goal this year is to find homes for 1.5 million animals. If that wasn’t a lofty enough idea they are also striving to donate 5 million meals to shelter animals! They are doing this because they understand not everyone can adopt and for those of us that still wish to participate we can do so by helping them reach that goal if not the adoption goal.

To date the Iams Home 4 the Holidays program has found homes for 4.6 million animals and enriching the lives of just as many people in the process!

“We’re very proud of the fact that we’ve helped more than 4.6 million animals find homes over the last 11 years,” said Maria Beatriz Rodriguez, Iams general manager. “Our core mission has been and remains to reduce pet homelessness through adoption.

So you want to do something to help? Head over to facebook and “like” the Iams page, which by the way also has great tips and information on how to help. For now though simply clicking “like” will donate a meal. Doing that will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside and all you had to do was something you do daily anyways. Can’t get any easier than that. Take it a step further and invite your friends to do the same, each new like means another meal.

Grass is Always Greener

Online Shoping, Pets, Toys No Responses »

Oct 142010

I bought the Dog’s Delight Sprout & Grow Garden for my cats (because I think cats like to eat grass as much if not more than dogs – just sayin’). It is made by Dunecraft the makers of fun, educational products for kids. You can find the items any where online or in Toys R Us stores.

I was actually a little shock when I opened up the kit to find a very small package of wheat grass seeds inside. I think it was less than a gram and turned out to be only 8 seeds. I have grown wheat grass numerous times before and I knew there was no way in heck eight blades of grass would satisfy three kitties. So I called the company.

The guy I spoke with obviously has never grown wheat grass in any form let alone their actual product. He told me that multiple shoots would come off each seed (I know this not to be true, but did not feel like arguing at that point). So I planted the seeds. I had sprouts in a week. I trim them every day so I can see if they will spread. It has been almost three weeks now and no sign of additional shoots on any of the seeds.

What was advertised vs what actually grew.

You tell me does my wheat grass look anything like what the product packaging and website promised me it would?

Do I Hold Grudges? Nah! LOL

Junk, Rants 1 Response »

Aug 102010

Okay so if you are a person and want to express your displeasure with a company how do you complain? I voice my opinion to my friends and family and that circle has grown to include my online friends and family too. I also avoid using those products and services ever again, if I can help it.

Some examples of this are Comcast….hate them, their customer service, their product — everything but I still use them because cable companies are a monopoly and I have no other choice (don’t get me started on satellite TV). Thanks to my complaints here on my blog they did finally take notice and come out to fix both the DVR issues & the cable leading to my house.

Another example is the SCI FI Channel (now SyFy) for personal reasons I can not really spell out here, they did a great disservice to me back in 2000 & I have never gone back (only a few exceptions have occurred.

Then there is The Outback Restaurant. I some of the worst service by any waitress ever there, which was then followed up by the manager who only defended the waitress. I could not eat the food and was still charged. I actually had to take my complaint to RipOffReport.com to get the corporate office to notice my complaint and/or do anything about it. All they did was send me a gift card for a restaurant that I was never going to ever again (I have not been back in one in over 5 years). I gave the gift card to friend.

Latest example is BP. With this BIG problem in the Gulf I refuse to buy their gas (thank goodness there aren’t many around so I do not have to actively avoid them but I will drive by if there is one even if the gas is cheaper). Will I ever go back to BP? No. I haven’t gone back to using Exxon gas for anything so why would I forgive BP?

That being said…I think you now know the answer to the question…do i hold grudges? YES.

Seems like companies these days are more about PR then they are about actual customer service. Shame, because those companies will never see my business again.

My Review of Spaceship and Meteor Madness Plush Cat Toys

Online Shoping, Pets No Responses »

Aug 092010

Originally submitted at Nip and Bones

Our Spaceship and Meteor Madness plush cat toys are sure to drive any cat wild. These Meteor and Spaceship designs and beeping sounds entice play. You will receive either a Spaceship or Meteor, if you would like to choose please let us know in the comments are of our checkout and we will do our be…

Squeaky Fun from Outer Space

By whataslacker from PA on 8/9/2010

Pros: Cat Likes It, Colorful, Geeky, Fun

Cons: Not enough nip

Best Uses: Leave Around The House, Active Cats, Kittens

Describe Yourself: Long-time Pet Owner

These spaceships and meteors are loads of fun for my geeky feline! The round shapes have them rolling in erratic patterns making him think twice when he pounces. He loves the beeping sound when he plays. Only problem we can think of is, it needs more nip inside to get him to really go after it.

(legalese)

I Don’t Like This Feeling

Depression, Health, Rants No Responses »

May 282010

I don’t like this feeling.

I don’t like feeling.

I feel strange. I can feel everything happening in my body.

I feel weak. Nauseous.

I can fell my heart beating in my chest.

I can feel every breath I take. Especially the ones I don’t take. My chest feels heavy. It is hard to breath. I feel out of breath when all I am doing is lying here.

I can feel my throat. I can feel the breath as it moves down my throat. How can air get caught in your throat? My tongue feels like it is pushing on the back of my throat. Pushing it closed.

I feel my head, the weight of my head. Yet I am light headed?

I feel my arms and legs. Feel them feel as if they are useless or not even there. Tingly but not tingly. Weak.

Remember to breath.

My stomach is empty yet I feel it working. Digesting. Gurgling. Pushing nothingness into my bowels, bowels that bubble and twist.

Headache.

I can feel my eyes moving about in their sockets. I feel every blink.

I feel like a stranger in my own body.

I want to go back to not feeling any of this as it happens, to blissfully feel nothing as my body works.

I don’t like this feeling.

I don’t like feeling.

Blood Test Back I Have a High SED Rate

Health No Responses »

May 272010

Of course when they called and told me my blood work was back and everything was okay except I had a high SED rate, I had no idea what that could mean and they did not explain it to me either. Thank goodness for WebMD.com (maybe), where I got an explanation even if it wasn’t exactly promising.

From WebMD.com…

Sedimentation Rate

The sedimentation rate (sed rate) blood test measures how quickly red blood cells (erythrocytes) settle in a test tube in one hour. The more red cells that fall to the bottom of the test tube in one hour, the higher the sed rate.

When inflammation is present in the body, certain proteins cause red blood cells to stick together and fall more quickly than normal to the bottom of the tube. These proteins are produced by the liver and the immune system under many abnormal conditions, such as an infection, an autoimmune disease, or cancer.

There are many possible causes of a high sedimentation rate. For this reason, a sed rate is done with other tests to confirm a diagnosis. After a diagnosis has been made, a sed rate can be done to help check on the disease or see how well treatment is working.
Why It Is Done

A sedimentation rate (sed rate) test is done to:

* Find out if inflammation is present.
* Check on the progress of a disease.
* See how well a treatment is working.

High sedimentation rates may be caused by:

Autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis.

Cancer, such as lymphoma or multiple myeloma.

Chronic kidney disease.

Infection, such as pneumonia, pelvic inflammatory disease, or appendicitis.

Inflammation of joints (such as polymyalgia rheumatica) and blood vessels (such as giant cell arteritis).

Inflammation of the thyroid gland (Graves’ disease).

Kidney, bone, joint, skin, or heart valve infections.

Pregnancy and preeclampsia (toxemia of pregnancy).

Viral infections.

And their definition of autoimmune wasn’t very promising either….

Autoimmune disease

The immune system is the body’s defense against foreign substances, such as bacteria or viruses, that may be harmful. An autoimmune disease is an abnormal condition that occurs when a person’s immune system attacks its own tissues as though they were foreign substances.

* Normally, when a foreign substance enters the body, the immune system creates special cells to attack and destroy the foreign substance. These cells include antibodies and white blood cells (lymphocytes).
* In a person with an autoimmune disease, the immune system recognizes some of the person’s own tissues as foreign substances. The body makes antibodies and other cells that attack and destroy these tissues. This process often leads to inflammation and eventually, if it continues, scarring and destruction of the organs that are made up of those tissues.

Why the body attacks its own cells is not known. Autoimmune diseases include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and Sjogren’s syndrome. Certain types of diabetes and thyroid disease are related to autoimmune reactions. People who have autoimmune diseases are at an increased risk for infections.

My Food Allergies Growing

Health No Responses »

May 272010

Foods I can never have ever again.

(Raw): cherry, nectarine, celery, carrots, banana, apple, tomato, potato, orange, grapefruit, pineapple

(Cooked): soybean (any Soy), apple, clam, oyster, lobster, shrimp, mixed fish, crab, peanuts, almonds (All nuts), mustard, carrot, potato.

Items in bold are new. Might even be more, these are just the touch them again and u could die list.

I Don’t Want to Feel This Way

Depression 3 Responses »

May 172010

I hate this feeling.

Hopeless.

Helpless.

I don’t want to feel this. Some think I like feeling like this. That I like the attention.

Not true.

There is no attention to be had. This is a very lonely process. I don’t share my feelings until it is nearly too late.

I have learned a long time ago to keep my mouth shut and just suck it all deep inside until I find myself crying alone in the dark.

Unable to sleep.

Unable to think.

Knot in my chest making it hard to breath. While the lump in my throat makes it hard to swallow.

Swallow what my pride? Self worth? Dignity? I don’t have any of those things.

I just want the blackness to take me but sleep eludes me even after taking something to help me.

Is there help for me?

Helpless.

Hopeless.

Worthless.

Soon the pain in my head starts to match the pain in my soul.

Physical pain to match the emotional pain.

I am broken beyond repair.

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What A Slacker!