Warning–this is kinda gross!!

Was awakened last night/early this morning at about 12:30 am with Puto puking on the floor in my bedroom. I got up and cleaned it up so that I wouldn’t step in it upon getting up. Seems he did more puking later in the main bathroom as well as taking a bloody shit in the tub! Made an appointment at the vet and took him in this afternoon. They think he has some kind of bacteria in his system called giardia. It is typically picked up from a dirty environment. Now I know my house isn’t the cleanest in the world, but I couldn’t imagine he got it from our house. Then it hit me–when the chimney leaked last week from all the rain, I put some plastic containers on the hearth to catch the drips…and I caught Puto twice drinking that water! The vet thinks that’s what did it since there could have been all kinds of nastiness up in the fireplace–dead bugs, bird droppings and who knows what else. Yuk!

While this crud is treatable ($212 worth of treatment!), the vet says that some animals keep the bug in their systems forever and have to continue having tests and treatments. What with his radiation treatment a few years ago, Puto has turned into one expensive cat. Not one of my better garage sale bargains!

Patrick had to go for jury duty in downtown LA today…in the pouring rain and with a fever of about 100 degrees. He tried to get excused and, of course, they refused and instead postponed everything until April. He got through the entire week calling in and being told not to report until the very last day. Now he has to go through it all over again in April. I have to start my jury service on Monday but, fortunately, I’m scheduled for the Pasadena court which is right across the street from work. Just called in and I do have to report at 8 am. Shit!!! Was hoping I’d get off the hook. Oh well, I’ve got a number of new books from Christmas that I haven’t yet read.