Do Smiley Faces have Noses?

December 16, 2009

One day after the mandatory “Winter Snow Tire” law in Quebec.

9 days before Christmas.

66 days after my birthday.

And well honestly over a year since my last post.

Its not that I haven’t thought about it.  Or wanted to.  Simply put, life got in the way of blogging.  Which in the grand ‘ol scheme of things isn’t quite such a bad thing.

I started blogging because frankly my life was pretty darn boring.  Same ‘ol job, with no prospect of changing.  Same ‘ol schedule, same ‘ol plans, same ‘ol meals. . . . same ‘ol everything.

Blogging was a positive and fun outlet for me, gave me something to look forward to.  I spent a whole year blogging at least one post every day.  It was quite an under taking and I was proud of myself for finishing that.

Last night I was speaking to my hometown bestie, Christine – and she was telling me a story about cousin and the hilarious happenings of her customer service job.  Christine has been trying to get her cousin to write a book about the people she crosses paths with for about a year.  Christine tells me cousin is a no-holds-barred George Carlin-esque kind of personality, of course she is a little more woman, a little less grey, and of course a lot less dead then then late Mr. Carlin.  Cousin has been mulling over the idea, and finally though, “I could put my hand at blogging”.  Christine told her about my blog, and how I could help her get it up and going.  This of course got me thinking – its kinda bad to suggest to someone to check out a dead blog.  And her I am, resurrecting the dead.   This was the push I needed to get back on the horse.

So today I was posed a question, though through a status update on Facebook.  Do Smiley Faces have Noses?

I suggested to Aaron, who posted the above picture, that perhaps this smiley face (who doesn’t actually appear to be smiling at all) that he may have a birth or beauty mark, like Cindy Crawford.

————

Since my last hoorah of constant posting, a few things have changed in my life. Without going mass amounts of details – the most significate.

1.  The court case at Job1.  I was advised to lay low in my online postings.  People on the other side were reading my (personal) blog, and the Job1 legal team thought it best I didn’t give them ammo.  (I’m still not sure how posting about celebrities, sewing, cats and dance shows would really have helped/hindered a court case).  Who won that anyways?

2.  My S.I.Ls car accident.  It changed alot.

3.  Job1 became old job.  I am no longer then, and considerably more healthy now for it.

My life has come almost full circle, and though I won’t admit to being back to a boring life – I’m certainly more calm, rested with more time to allow for *some* often blogging.

Thank you to all the readers who have emailed me, sent me messages and posted comments to during my hiatus.

I hope you will all welcome me back.

It feels nice to put pen to paper, or keys to screen. . . . . . .

Joey

ps.  and to everyone looking for SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE music.  give me a week or so, I’ve been keeping track, I have obviously just not updated in a while.

So You Think You Can Dance – Season 4 (Week 1-5)

I have received over 500 emails asking when I was going to post the music for season 4 of So You Think You Can Dance.

Well, here I am, and Here is the music.

Enjoy,

xoxox Joey

Thank you for stopping by JoeyMoggie for your SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE music!

All PERFORMANCE show music from ALL SEASONS is listed below. They are in order from MOST CURRENT show to oldest show. (ie. Season Three, Season Two then Season One). I did not keep track of audition music, or musical guests, so I may not know the name of the song you are looking for.

Please first try the SEARCH function on your computer CTRL + F – this will allow you to search this page. . . if you don’t find what you are looking for by using search, Please read thoroughly before asking questions.

If you do have a music related question that you can’t find the answer to please include as much of the following information:

1. Season

2. Who was dancing.

3. What the costumes looked like.

4. Any lyrics you remember about the piece of music.

5. Dance style.

6. Original air date.

7. Choreographer, or the judges during that performance show.

Anything else that might help me help you!

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Season 4 Performances

Season 4, Week 6 (16 July 2008)

Couple	Style	Music	Choreographer
Courtney Galinano & Joshua Allen	Popping	“Skippin’”- Mario	David Scott
Kherington Payne & Mark Kanemura	Two-Step	“Kick Back” – Ty England	Ronnie & Brandy
Comfort Fedoke & Stephen “ Twitch” Boss		“Open Arms” Journey	Hunter
Katee Shaen & William Wingfield	Broadway	“Sit Down Your Rocking the Boat” – Sam Harris (Guys & Dolls)	Tyce Diorio
Chelsie Hightower & Gev Manoukian	Contemporary	“These Arms of Mine” Otis Redding	Sonia Tayeh
Courtney Galinano & Joshua Allen	Rumba	“Hero” Enrique Iglesias	Jean-Marc Genereaux & France
Kherington Payne & Mark Kanemura	Jazz	“Canned Heat” Jamiroquoai	Tyce Diorio
Comfort Fedoke & Stephen “ Twitch” Boss	Hip-Hop	“Forever” Chris Brown	Dave Scott
Katee Shaen & William Wingfield	Pas de Deux	“Imagine” David Archuleta	Desmond Richardson & Dwight Rogen
Chelsie Hightower & Gev Manoukian	Jive	“The Bouse is Rockin’” Brian Setzer	Jean-Marc Genereaux

Solos

• Chelsie Hightower – “Pon De Replay” – Rhinana
• Gev Manoukian – “Hello/Goodbye” – Lupe Fiasco
• Courtney Galinano – “I Want You to Need Me” – Celine Dion
• Mark Kanemura – “Boheimian Rapsody” – Queen
• Comfort Fedoke – “Need A Boss “ Shareffa Featuring
• Stephen “Twitch” Boss – “I Question Mark” – Wade Robson
• Katee Shean – “This Woman’s Work” – Maxwell
• William Wingfield – “Dance With My Father” Luthur Vandros
• Kherington Payne – “Breakin’ Dishes” – Rihanna
• Joshua Allen – “Jam” Michael Jackson

Season 4, Week 5 (10 July 2008)

• Group dance: “Closer“—Ne-Yo (Choreographer: Napoleon D’umo and Tabitha D’umo )
• Guest dancer(s): Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater “Revelations” (“Sinner Man“—Billy Porter)
• Solos:

· Comfort Fedoke: “Oh Timbaland”—Timbaland

· Thayne Jasperson: “Come Home”—OneRepublic

· Jessica King: “Best For Last”—Adele

· William Wingfield: “Daraijan”—Kodo

· Kherington Payne: “All We Are”—OneRepublic

· Stephen “Twitch” Boss: “We Gonna Win”—Miri Ben-Ari

• Eliminated:

· Comfort Fedoke

· Thayne Jasperson

• Elimination songs:

· Comfort Fedoke: “The Greatest”—Michelle Williams

· Thayne Jasperson: “Believe”—Staind

Season 4, Week 5 (9 July 2008)

Couple	Style	Music	Choreographer
Chelsie Hightower Mark Kanemura	Salsa	“Fuego”—Joe Bataan	Alex Da Silva
	Broadway	“I’m a Woman” from Smokey Joe’s Cafe	Tyce Diorio
Comfort Fedoke Thayne Jasperson	Hip-hop	“Can We Chill“—Ne-Yo	Napoleon D’umo Tabitha D’umo
	Contemporary	“A Different Corner“—George Michael	Mandy Moore
Jessica King William Wingfield	Contemporary	“Silence” from Unfaithful	Tyce Diorio
	Quickstep	“Bandstand Boogie”—Barry Manilow	Tony Meredith Melanie LaPatin
Courtney Galiano Gev Manoukian	Cha-cha-cha	“Don’t Stop the Music” (The Wideboys Club Mix)—Rihanna	Anya Garnis Pasha Kovalev
	Jazz	“Standing There”—The Creatures	Mandy Moore
Kherington Payne Stephen “Twitch” Boss	Krump	“2 Buck 4 TV”—Tha J-Squad	Lil’ C
	Tango	“Assassin’s Tango” from Mr. and Mrs. Smith	Jean-Marc Genereux
Katee Shean Joshua Allen	Viennese Waltz	“Iris“—Goo Goo Dolls	Jean-Marc Genereux
	Bollywood	“Dhoom Taana” from Om Shanti Om	Nakul Dev Mahajan

Season 4, Week 4 (3 July 2008)

• Group dance: “Money Money” from Cabaret (Choreographer: Tyce DiOrio )
• Guest dancer(s): Robert Muraine (“Gonna Make You Sweat“—C&C Music Factory)
• Solos:

· Kourtni Lind: “No Man”—Nina Storey

· Matt Dorame: “Sweet Contentment”—Bradley James and the Roadies

· Courtney Galiano: “What’s Another Day”—Maria Mena

· Gev Manoukian: “Everybody Loves A Carnival“—Fatboy Slim

· Comfort Fedoke: “Hit the Floor”—Twista feat. Pitbull

· Thayne Jasperson: “I Want To Break Free“—Queen

• Eliminated:

· Kourtni Lind

· Matt Dorame

• Elimination songs:

· Kourtni Lind: “Incredible”—Clique Girlz

· Matt Dorame: “Might As Well Have a Good Time”—Crosby, Stills, & Nash

Season 4, Week 4 (2 July 2008)

Couple	Style	Music	Choreographer
Jessica King William Wingfield	Jive	“Choo Choo Ch’ Boogie” from Five Guys Named Moe	Tony Meredith Melanie LaPatin
	Lyrical Jazz	“Alone“—Heart	Mandy Moore
Comfort Fedoke Thayne Jasperson	Broadway	“Cool” from West Side Story	Andy Blankenbuehler
	Smooth Waltz	“Hov Arek Sarer Jan”—New Age Armenia	Edward Simon
Kourtni Lind Matt Dorame	Hip-hop	“How Do I Breathe“—Mario	Olisa Thompson Cicely Bradley
	Mambo	“Ban Con Tin”—Super All-Star	Alex Da Silva
Chelsie Hightower Mark Kanemura	Jazz	“Kiss Kiss“—Holly Valance (incorrectly listed as “Holly Vance”)	Mandy Moore
	Foxtrot	“It’s My Life“—Paul Anka	Edward Simon
Kherington Payne Stephen “Twitch” Boss	Paso Doble	“Malaguena”—Brian Setzer ’68 Comeback Special	Tony Meredith Melanie LaPatin
	Contemporary	“Dreaming With a Broken Heart“—John Mayer	Mia Michaels
Katee Shean Joshua Allen	Contemporary	“Hometown Glory“—Adele	Mia Michaels
	West Coast Swing	“Shake It”—Brother Yusef	Benji Schwimmer Lacey Schwimmer assisting
Courtney Galiano Gev Manoukian	Hip-hop	“Lights, Camera, Action!“—Mr. Cheeks	Olisa Thompson Cicely Bradley
	Broadway	“New York, New York” from On the Town	Andy Blankenbuehler

Season 4, Week 3 (26 June 2008)

• Group dance: “The Dance”—Charlotte Martin (Choreographer: Mia Michaels )
• Guest dancer(s): Qwest to “Chemical Calisthenics”—Blackalicious ft. Cut Chemist
• Musical guest: “One Step at a Time“—Jordin Sparks
• Solos:
  • Chelsea Traille: “A Song For You“—Donny Hathaway
  • Thayne Jasperson: “Always“—Bon Jovi
  • Comfort Fedoke: “Just Fine“—Mary J. Blige
  • Chris Jarosz: “After Tonight”—Justin Nozuka
  • Kourtni Lind: “Fire Door (Live)”—Ani DiFranco
  • Matt Dorame: “I’m Yours“—Jason Mraz
• Eliminated:
  • Chelsea Traille
  • Chris Jarosz
• Elimination songs:
  • Chelsea Traille: “When You’re Gone“—Avril Lavigne
  • Chris Jarosz: “All We Are”—OneRepublic
• New partners:
  • Comfort Fedoke and Thayne Jasperson

Season 4, Week 3 (25 June 2008)

Couple	Style	Music	Choreographer
Kherington Payne Stephen “Twitch” Boss	Hip-hop	“Don’t Touch Me (Throw Da Water On ‘Em)“—Busta Rhymes	Napoleon D’umo Tabitha D’umo
Courtney Galiano Gev Manoukian	Rumba	“Wishing on a Star“—Rose Royce	Tony Meredith Melanie LaPatin
Comfort Fedoke Chris Jarosz	Jazz	“The Beautiful People“—Marilyn Manson	Tyce Diorio
Jessica King William Wingfield	Disco	“Heaven Must Have Sent You”—Bonnie Pointer	Doriana Sanchez
Kourtni Lind Matt Dorame	Contemporary	“Wrestlers (Sticky, Dirty Pop Mix)”—Hot Chip	Sonya Tayeh
Chelsea Traille Thayne Jasperson	Quickstep	“You Can’t Hurry Love“—Phil Collins	Heather Smith
Chelsie Hightower Mark Kanemura	Hip-hop	“Bleeding Love“—Leona Lewis	Napoleon D’umo Tabitha D’umo
Katee Shean Joshua Allen	Samba	“Baila, Baila”—Angela Via	Tony Meredith Melanie LaPatin

Season 4, Week 2 (19 June 2008)

• Group dance: “Elevator“—Flo Rida ft. Timbaland (Choreographer: Shane Sparks)
• Guest dancer(s): Tino Nuñez (auditioned for season 1 and season 2, making it to Las Vegas week both times)
• Solos:
  • Chelsea Traille: “Time Is Now”—Moloko
  • Thayne Jasperson: “Belief”—Gavin Degraw
  • Susie Garcia: “The Anthem“—Pitbull feat. Lil Jon
  • Marquis Cunningham: “Stop and Stare“—OneRepublic
  • Comfort Fedoke: “Planet Rock“—Afrika Bambaataa
  • Chris Jarosz: “Again”—John Legend
• Eliminated:
  • Susie Garcia
  • Marquis Cunningham
• Elimination songs:
  • Susie Garcia: “Brave“—Idina Menzel
  • Marquis Cunningham: “Wonderful World“—James Morrison

Season 4, Week 2 (18 June 2008)

Couple	Style	Music	Choreographer
Chelsea Traille Thayne Jasperson	Jazz	“Untouched“—The Veronicas	Mandy Moore
Chelsie Hightower Mark Kanemura	Argentine tango	“Mi Confesión”— Gotan Project	Alex Da Silva
Jessica King William Wingfield	Hip-hop	“Whatever U Like“—Nicole Scherzinger	Olisa Thompson Cicely Bradley
Kourtni Lind Matt Dorame	Foxtrot	“A Foggy Day (In London Town)” —Michael Bublé	Jean-Marc Genereux
Courtney Galiano Gev Manoukian	Contemporary	“Lost”—Anouk	Mandy Moore
Katee Shean Joshua Allen	Broadway	“All for the Best” from Godspell	Tyce DiOrio
Susie Garcia Marquis Cunningham	Salsa	“Aguanilé” —Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe	Alex Da Silva
Kherington Payne Stephen “Twitch” Boss	Viennese waltz	“A New Day Has Come“—Celine Dion	Jean-Marc Genereux
Comfort Fedoke Chris Jarosz	Krump	“Come and Get Me” —Timbaland feat. 50 Cent & Tony Yayo	Lil’ C

Season 4, Week 1 (12 June 2008)

• Group dance: “Cobrastyle“—Robyn (Choreographer: Wade Robson)
• Guest dancer(s): Poppin’ Pete & Shonn Boog
• Solos:
  • Kourtni Lind: “I Wanna Dance With Somebody“—The Side Project
  • Matt Dorame: “Baby’s Romance”—Chris Garneau
  • Rayven Armijo: “As I Am (Intro)”—Alicia Keys
  • Jamie Bayard: “Mas Que Nada“—Sérgio Mendes feat. Black Eyed Peas
  • Jessica King: “Misery Business (Acoustic)”—Paramore
  • William Wingfield: “More Than Anyone”—Gavin DeGraw
• Eliminated
  • Rayven Armijo
  • Jamie Bayard
• Elimination songs:
  • Rayven Armijo: “It’s Only Life“—Kate Voegele
  • Jamie Bayard: “Best Days (Here Comes the Rest of Our Lives)“—Graham Colton

Season 4, Week 1 (11 June 2008)

Couple	Style	Music	Choreographer
Rayven Armijo Jamie Bayard	Hip-hop	“American Boy“—Estelle feat. Kanye West	Napoleon D’Umo Tabitha D’Umo
Susie Garcia Marquis Cunningham	Waltz	“Dark Waltz“—Hayley Westenra	Hunter Johnson
Kourtni Lind Matt Dorame	Jazz	“Tainted Love“—Soft Cell	Mandy Moore
Chelsea Traille Thayne Jasperson	Cha-cha-cha	“Oye Como Va (Latin/Trance Mix)”—Celia Cruz	Tony Meredith Melanie LaPatin
Chelsie Hightower Mark Kanemura	Contemporary	“Beautiful”— Meshell Ndegeocello	Mia Michaels
Kherington Payne Stephen “Twitch” Boss	Broadway	“Too Darn Hot” from Kiss Me, Kate	Tyce DiOrio
Comfort Fedoke Chris Jarosz	Jive	“Boom Boom Boom“—Big Head Todd and the Monsters	Tony Meredith Melanie LaPatin
Katee Shean Joshua Allen	Hip-hop	“No Air“—Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown	Napoleon D’Umo Tabitha D’Umo
Jessica King William Wingfield	Tango	“Tango” —Cirque du Soleil	Hunter Johnson
Courtney Galiano Gev Manoukian	Disco	“Boogie Wonderland“—Earth, Wind & Fire	Doriana Sanchez

Tell Them That You Love Them.

2008 has already proved to be a trying year. . . .
At Christmas my paternal grandmother was diagnosed with Terminal Cancer, and is expected to pass away before may.  At almost 30 I’ve never suffered the loss of a family member.  I wonder how I will deal. . . .

And as many of you know, this past week my sister in law Kate was in a horrible car accident, caused by the carelessness of a drunk driver.  She is currently in the ICU.  Updates about Kate’s condition can be read on Paul’s website at www.paulgraham.ca, I have some updates on my FaceBook page as well.

Finding out about Kate’s accident was gut wrenching – simply put it made me realise just how important Kate is to me, and how much I love her.  The sad thing is, I don’t think I’ve ever told Kate that.

We only got a few brief minutes to see Kate, and I had a minute on my own with her.  I held her hand and told her I loved her.  I really do hope she heard me.

Get better soon sister, I have so much I want to tell you. . . .

Look at What the Cat Dragged In

Hello everyone.

Its been a really long time. I’m sorry. I’ve missed my blogging.

I won’t go into a lot of details right now about my long long absence, I’ll simply sum it up by saying. . .

Life got in the way of blogging.

Glad to be back to blogging, I need this outlet right now. I don’t think I will be here in the full force I was before, but I’ll be here.

Love,

Joey

image source : www.moggies.co.uk

Forgot the Potato Chips!

Colin just got home, he went to the store to get the rest of the supplies needed for tonight’s television extravaganza. . . and he forgot the chips.

I wonder if we could send one of the moggies out to the depaneur like this chap . . . .

Wishful thinking. . . .

Cats on Sunday

With the soon to be historic playing of the Family Guy Star Wars episode just mere hours away, I wanted to get a post in before the festivities began.

Meow Meow Meow! (That’s Thank You in Moggie)

 

Marty and I wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who sent well wishes for recovery.  Although we aren’t out of the woods (we are still waiting for additional test results and we still have to do the FIV and FeLV tests too) he is feeling much better.

He is up and about, playing and he is has his appetite back.  All very good signs.  We have our fingers and paws crossed that he has a severe kidney infection and nothing else. . .  . .

I appreicate that everyone was so understanding with me.  Marty, Minou and Manny are more than just cats.  They really are family.  I don’t have children of my own, I don’t live close to any of my family or life-long friends. . . . they make the pain of living so far away from people I love and care for most much easier to handle.

This was the first time any of my cats have been sick.  Those that know me know how anally retentive I am about pets and cats, and know the great lengths I go to keep them safe and healthy.

Part of me felt a failure with Marty falling ill, like I wasn’t holding up my part of the bargain of keeping my moggies safe and healthy. . . .

I think with the amount of purring, headbuts and kisses Marty has bestowed on me the past couple of days, its fair to say he has forgiven me.

I will update everyone on Marty’s progress.

Thanks again for thinking about my moggie!

Family Guy Hour Long STAR WARS Episode to air SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 23 2007

Tomorrow is the long anticipated one hour season premiere of The Family Guy. At least Colin has been long anticipating it. . . . .

(This poster is not accurate the the episode that will be playing tomorrow – I couldn’t find a Family Guy Star Wars poster besides this one)

This kick off to the fifth season of Fox’s animated hit “the Family Guy” will see the Family Guy characters morphed into Star wars characters, who will recount Star Wars : Episode IV A New Hope.

The Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane is a huge Star Wars fan, and worked tirelessly to get George Lucas’ blessing to do the episode.

Stewie as Darth Vader. . . . does it get better than that????

Here is a sneak preview!

The snacks are ready, the chicken wings are in the freezer, the beer is cooling. . . . . . . At this historic moment, will you be able to say “I know where I was”???

Death by Caffeine

Check out this website, it will tell you based on your weight the appromiate number of units of your favourite poison it would take to kill you.

I haven’t decided if this website is a deterant or not. . . . you decide.

Loonie for the Loonie!

Wednesday saw the Canadian Loonie briefly reach the 99-cent US mark in the overseas trading markets – inching closer to parity with the US dollar.
The Loonie drifted down 0.14 cent to close at 98.5 cents US on Wednesday making the 99-cent rise short-lived. But SWEET none the less! The release of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Canada Wednesday morning slowed the dollar’s ascent, forcing the minor drop before close of market.

This is the first time in almost 30 years that the Canadian dollar has been on-par with the US dollar. That means the first time in MY LIFETIME that the Canadian dollar has been so strong.

This rise may be not be totally attributed to a strong Canadian economy, The U.S. currency also plummeted to a new low Thursday against the 13-nation Euro, which traded above $1.40 for the first time since it was introduced in 1999.This is a great time for Canadians to spend their money in the US, with internet shopping sites like Ebay very affordable on the very best deals around. There has also been a sharp increase in Canadian holidaymakers booking trips because of how much you can get with the Canadian dollar.

After reading several American based websites, there are a lot of Americans (espeically those so close to the border) who are disappointed their money will not get them the deals they are more accustomed to receiving driving north. This decline in the US greenback, will also affect the number of American holidaymakers. With their currency not providing them with the big-bang-for-the-buck, as well as concerns for value will drive people to stay home.

The biggest economic concern is in the manufacturing sector, which may see loss in jobs when companies will have to outsource to keep costs low and keep competitive in markets.

Canada (specifically Montreal) was again seeing a rise of Hollywood movies looking to shoot in the historic Quebec city, with the rise of the Canadian dollar many of these movies may look elsewhere to shoot to conserve their movie budgets.

Even with the scary economic concerns, I’m proud of the Loonie – the little dollar that could. . .

Sources:

Fox News

CityNews

SeattlePi.com

CTV.ca

X-Rates.com

Emo Image Thursday

Emo Image Thursday is a weekly feature at joeymoggie.

Click the Emo Image Thursday button on the sidebar for more Emo Images. Click the image directly to go to the source.

Others are welcome to participate in Emo Image Thursday, simply link back to JoeyMoggie and let me know you have participated. If there is some general interest in broadening Emo Image Thursday into a full meme, I’ll start a list of participating sites, and link back.

emo image thursdayTechnorati Page

Please check out Brahanmin’s contribution to Emo Image Thursday this week.

Emo – International Man of Misery

The man is brilliant.

Trying to Smile

With Marty so sick, I needed something to make me smile. This did a little.

Marty is Sick

My Marty cat is very sick.

He has been sick since this morning, and I’ve taken him to the vet already.

I’ve been so upset and in tears all day and I’ve missed most of work today. I’m so worried about him.

He has been sick to his stomach, his urine isn’t right and he is very very lethargic.

I have to take him back tomorrow for more tests.

The worry and pain I’m feeling is I’m sure how a parent feels about their sick child!

Please have Marty in your thoughts today. . . .

I’ll update his status tomorrow when I hear his test results. . ..

Please Marty, get better buddy!!!! I love you!!!

————————————————————————————-

Update : 7:15pm / September 19. . . . Marty is getting worse than when I brought him home this afternoon. I’ve isolated Marty, he is very grumpy and extremely lethargic, and howls when you touch his sides. His eyes are tired and not bright like usual. 8am tomorrow can’t come fast enough. I hope he is ok. I’m crying again. My baby is so ill, and there is nothing I can do for him right now. . . .

Update : 9:38pm / September 19. . . . I just went to check on Marty. He is in my bathtub with his favorite blanket, a disposable kitty litter tray, some water and the ‘laxative’ food he is suppose to eat before he goes back to the vet tomorrow. He is so sad and tired looking, he looks years older than he is. I know he is in pain, he looks up at me and its all I see. The pain in his eyes. I’m crying (again). I never prepared myself for this. I love him too much, I can’t bear to think about the worst. Please keep thinking about Marty. I know he is “just a cat” but he is my buddy, my baby and my family.

Update : 1:27am / September 20 . . . . I went to use the bathroom and to check up on Marty. He is still and very weak. He got up several times to go pee, which is a good sign. He didn’t drink any water, or finish his special food.

Update : 7:13 am / September 20. . . I got up to have my shower and get ready for work. Marty looks tired, but more alert and awake than yesterday evening. He knows he is headed back to the vet. Perhaps he is relieved. Marty’s fur looks limp and lack lustre, normally his coat is very shinny. He is shedding too, Marty normally doesn’t shed that much. Minou knows something is up, she spent the notice purrring and headbutting me – she slept on my pillow and nuzzled my face, normally actions reserved for her favorite human Colin. What a sweet girl, she knew I needed that affection, that made sleeping easier.

Update : 9:23 / September 20 . . .I just got into work after dropping Marty off. He kept looking up at me from the Rubbermaid container I put him to travel with (he hates the carrier). I think he kept trying to say “Don’t leave me here, I want to go with you, don’t leave me”. I started to cry in the vet office. They keep saying to me “it will most likely be ok, but it might be. . . . . .”. Its not making me feel better, and its not making Marty better right now either. He thinks I’ve deserted him. He is frightened and scared. I send along with him every known contact phone number for Colin and I, as well as his little blanket and bunny toy. I hope those make him feel more at ease. I should have a better idea around lunch what is up with him. One of my bosses said I could leave if I need to. I’m so pleased she understands that Marty is my family – I don’t have skin babies, I have fur babies.

Please continue to think about him please. . . .

Update : 11:41am / September 20 . . . .No word from the vet yet. Is no news good news?

Update : 12:08pm / September 20. . . Just got off the phone with the vet. His fever is very high, and he is not even fighting the vet and the techs when they do invasive poking and prodding. Marty is normally a fighter, he is normally very very strong. He is so weak. He doesn’t have blood in his urine today which is positive, but his white blood cell count is elevated- which could simply be a sign of stress. Some of the blood tests were sent to be performed at on off site lab, we should find out those results tomorrow. He has several culture tests today, and we are waiting on the urology test results. If all this is is a ‘simple’ infection of the bladder or kidneys, he should be able to be treated by antibiotics (for 6-8 weeks). The new tests being done today will rule out (fingers crossed) anything worse than infection.

Update : 6:22pm / September 20. . .I’ve just picked up Marty. He looks a thousand times better than when I dropped him off, the vet says he perked right up when they told him I was coming to get him. That makes me happy. We are waiting on the results of the extended blood tests, and part of the culture tests done. Right now, he has an elevated fever, his white blood cells are high, his ph is high and another something or other I can’t remember is too low. The vet does not believe that he has a urine infection, as his urine is clear from blood today – however she does feel that he may have a kidney infection. I have been given special food and antibotics to treat his kidneys. If thats all he has, he will get better. The scary news out of this is that she wants to test both Marty and Minou for Feline leukemia and Feline AIDS. If they both score positive for the two tests, the vet figures they will have one to two years to live max, and they will get sicker and sicker. If they score positive she suggests I put them to sleep. I can’t even wrap my head around this idea. And on top of that she said I will have to rehome Manny, because with Feline AIDS is can be contracted by fighting/scratching. Marty is home and resting right now on my lap, purrrring. Releaved he doesn’t have to go to the vet again (for 5 days), I’m happy to have him home and what looks like to be on the mend. I’m scared to death to do the cancer/aids test. . . .I don’t want to think about it today. I want to enjoy my purrrrrrry little buddy.

Update : 7:41pm / September 20. . .Marty is sitting with me still.  I got a moist papertowel, and gave him a ‘sponge bath’ to get rid of all the ‘vet smell’.  I could tell he appreicated it, even though he doesn’t like baths.  I got him some food, and he is eating.  Not very much, but I didn’t have to force feed him which is a blessing.

Hummingbird Who Forgot to Pray

Came across these pictures online today and I thought they were crazy!

I bet this hummingbird was thinking he should have said his prayers last night!

From Bird Watcher’s Digest

Picture 1.

The mantis captures the bird with a swift swipe of its forelegs.

Picture 2.

The mantis impales the hummingbird’s chest with its foreclaws.

From the website:

Though we tend to think of hummingbirds as cute, dainty little things, in reality they make bold and fierce competitors. They don’t let their guard down for a moment while defending their territories from other hummingbirds. They must also watch out for other animals that might prey on them, such as American kestrels in North America or tarantulas in South America. Praying mantises are also known to capture and kill hummingbirds, as a reader from West Chester, Pennsylvania, describes. – Bird Watcher Digest

What the Heck is Technorati?

WILL YOU HELP ME??

This coming week I will celebrate one year in blogging. Actually, one year of consistant blogging.

I don’t pay to blog, I don’t get paid to blog. I blog for amusement, and my own personal education about the Internet and all the weird, neat, cool things about it. (Although perhaps I might finally go to a ‘real’ blog in the next year, who knows. . . )

Anyways, I’ve spent most of the last year playing with Top Site lists trying to gain hits, and in my opinion, I’ve been pretty successful. I’ve received more than half a million hits in the past year. Not bad for the pretty random ramblings that I spew out ’round here.

This new coming blogging year I’d like to concentrate on figuring out Technorati, Feeds and Google Ratings.

Currently my Technorati Rating stands at 88, I have 4 RSS Feed Readers my Google page rank is at 5.

These numbers are nothing to snuff at, but considering how long my blog has been live and the sheer number of hits I receive (on average about 2500-3000 a day), shouldn’t my Technorati Rating and such be more in line with the volume of hits I receive?

I’m excited for the next year, and I’m looking forward to reading about all the suggestions and tips you all out there have for me!

Thanks,

Goals:

1. To have 300 or more Technorati Rating by my next Blogoversary.
2. To have 50 Technorati ‘Fans’ by my next Blogoversary
3. To have 30 RSS Readers by my next Blogoversary
4. To have a 6 or 7 Google Page Rank by my next Blogoversary

Solutions and Solves:

• Beg and pled to all my loyal readers to favorite me, subcribe to me, and visit every day (Nudge Nudge, Wink Wink!!)
• Write Better Content!!! (ding ding ding! I need to be more serious on content!)
• Start a weekly meme. Must be original and different (Think Fracas Monday Melee)
• Actually choose a niche, and stick to it.

Questions:

1. What the heck is Technorati, and why should I care?
2. How do you gain readers and fans?
3. How do you KEEP readers and fans?
4. How do you choose what sites you read and favorite?
5. What other tips can you offer me?

(I’m going to add to this list)

Things I’ve Learned in my First Year of Blogging :

(even though I don’t do some of the things I’ve learned!!)

• Have a niche
• Find other like-minded bloggers and create a mini-community (this is done by commenting on blogs and replying to comments on your own)
• Staying current in your niche
• Adapting to changes in your niche
• Link Love. Link everything and anything you put on your blog. (I’ve learned this one the hard way)
• Have a relevant and meaningful Blogroll. Only put sites on your blogroll that your really read and support. Delete and change things up as needed.
• Write only in your native tongue. No ebonics, shizzle speak, 1337 or text, no one knows what the frig you are saying.
• If you want to blog seriously, or for money, you need a domain almost right from the start.
• Get your name out there, top lists, memes, forums, social bookmarking.
• Use Technorati and all its features. You can save all your fave blogs for easy one place clicking – like bookmarking. It keeps all the blogs outside of your blogging software together as well (I have a bunch of friends who use Blogger, and I’m on wordpress – Technorati is where I save those blogs) Technorati also allows you to see who is linking to you, if someone is linking to you find out why (could be a niche topic) and thank them. . . . link love, link love.
• Use Feeds. Subscribe to all your favorite blogs, and you’ll have all the latest content from your favorite blogs all in one place.
• If you dig something DIGG it! If you stumbled across it, STUMBLE IT. If you think someone else would DIGG it, post it on DIGG. If you think someone else would Stumble on it, post it on STUMBLE IT.
• People love Flickr & YouTube
• Great headlines always bring people in.
• Naughty words and tags always bring people in.
• Be savvy enough to pre-empt news. . .if you think its going to be big news tommorrow, blog about it today.