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Tag Archives: Blogging A to Z

#AtoZChallenge – M is for Marmalade

13 Saturday May 2017

Posted by MonicawithRA in Animal Sciences

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

blogging, Blogging A to Z, pets

Here is the next installment of the Furry Friends tag! Today, I answer the questions for Marmalade who is my oldest and first pet! She holds a special place in my heart and I in hers. After all, she does think she’s my mother!

Enjoy!

 

IMG_4040What is your pet’s name?

Marmalade. Her “birth” name was Samantha. She is sooo not a Samantha!

 

What kind of pet is she and what breed?

She is a feline tabby. A tabby is basically the mutt of the feline world.

 

SleepingHow long have you had your pet friend?

Almost 15 years.

 

How did you get your pet friend?

We adopted Marmalade one week after my mother passed away in August 2002. She was one year old. She was a “hospital cat” at the clinic I work at. Her owner could not take Marmalade to her new apartment and asked the vet to find her a new home. The first time we met she just rolled over onto her back and showed us her belly. We knew she was ours.

She must have picked up on something because she immediately took on the role of “mom”. She protected and took care of me.

She is a very maternal and loving cat!

MarmaladeandMEHow old is your pet?

She will be 16 in July.

 

What are some quirky things about your pet?

She loves the color red.

She looks and acts like a 5-7 year old. Nobody believes she is actually 16 because she has boundless energy and is still as limber as a kitten.

She is the alpha of the house and she knows it. She controls everyone, gets first dibs at the litter box and gets the most attention. This being said, she is surprisingly benign to Sunsilk. Marmalade lets her eat first and does not crowd her.

As she has gotten older, though, Marmalade has become more jealous. She needs more attention and sometimes does not let Sunsilk near me! I guess this is a consequence of aging.

 

Marmalade Face

What does your relationship to your pet mean to you?

She takes care of and protects me (in her own way). She sticks to me like glue whenever I am sick. She will wait until I fall asleep to eat, drink and use the litter box and she will beat up anyone who comes near me. I can’t ask for a better protector than her!

She is the best first cat I could have asked for. She is patient and loving and lets me get away with a whole lot like pinching her ears and pulling her whiskers.

Without her, I would not have gotten through half the “downs” in my life.

IMG_3895What are some of your favorite past times with your pet?

Honestly, just being together. Whenever she is with me I feel safe.

 

Nicknames?

Parmpi, Parmpi-Marmpi, Gorg (short for gorgeous), Bestest Friend in the Whole Wide World (magic words for her to stop grumbling…seriously!)

 

DSCN0018-001Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

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#AtoZChallenge – L is for Lines | Nail Art

15 Saturday Apr 2017

Posted by MonicawithRA in Nail Art

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Blogging A to Z, Nail Art, waterfall

Playing a bit of catch up because of a nasty flare up but I did a quick and simple (and yes, arthritis-friendly) waterfall look for today’s prompt.

I hope you like it!

 

lines.jpgBase: Milani Vivid Violet (old formula)

Details: Zoya Payton, Sephora by OPI Domestic Goddess, Nfu-Oh 51, OPI I Drive a Supernova

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

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K is for the time Affie turned into Kibble

13 Thursday Apr 2017

Posted by MonicawithRA in Animal Sciences

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Tags

Blogging A to Z, dog, jaw, pets, surgery

I don’t think I ever really went into detail about Affie’s attack four years ago. Saachi tore Affie’s lower mandible off her face. It was possibly the most dramatic event to ever happen to me.

 

IMAG0682.jpg

It was Saturday morning. I was warming up the dogs’ AM meal in the microwave (they eat home cooked food). My aunt was at the sink washing dishes. Suddenly, we heard Affie cry and we turned to see Saachi shaking her like a rag doll.

My aunt shrieked bloody murder and grabbed Saachi by her neck. I grabbed whatever part of Affie I could and pulled in the other direction.

IMG-20130224-00205

Our yelling woke the entire household and they came running from every direction. I was still in complete shock. There were pools of blood all over the floor.

We rushed her to our clinic. My dad drove while I kept Affie conscious. We were almost at the hospital when she went into shock. The light left her eyes…I tried to stay calm and said “Come on Affie, wake up…wake up”. Dad freaked and almost crashed into the car ahead of us. I didn’t know what to do except grab Affie’s tongue and yank and pull almost hard enough to pull it off. She woke up (thankfully, because that would have been the end) just as we pulled into the parking lot.

Our vets called the closest emergency clinic and made calls to friends (dental surgeons) to get her into surgery as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the earliest appointment was Monday so we took her to emergency. I don’t know why we didn’t initially go there first. We probably should have but we were on autopilot and went to my work instead.

Photo on 3-2-13 at 9.20 PMThe veterinarian-on-call told me Affie’s lower mandible was separated from the top. I did not understand her words. I couldn’t fathom that my dog’s head was in two pieces and she was still alive.

 

IMG-20130430-00069Affie stayed in emergency, with her jaw taped closed, through the weekend. She, being the stubborn brat that she was, kept tearing off the tape. Her doctor worried she was very anxious to which I laughed and said she just didn’t like it and she wasn’t going to wear it!

Monday came and we took her to the surgeon. He took x-rays and showed us (read: me) the breaks (Dad can’t stomach this kind of thing). The right break was while the left was shattered pieces of jaw. He wired her mouth closed but left enough space for her tongue to grab food. He knew the right side would heal while it was a waiting game for the left. If the bone did not repair itself properly Affie faced paralysis for the rest of her life.

 

IMG-20130506-00086Affie wore the wires for six months and it took just as long for her broken leg to heal. Thankfully, given her diet, she had no trouble eating (the food is mostly ground). She was on house arrest and cranky but her bones healed perfectly.

 

IMG-20130411-00353Affie felt better within 10 days of the attack and immediately forgave Saachi. She wanted to run and play with her. She wanted to jump up on her face and lick her (which is how we ended up in this debacle). It was a full time job separating the dogs and keeping Affie from injuring herself more.

Affie was a stubborn dog. An obstinate and hard-headed dog. She was resilient and refused to die. I frequently called her my Nalgene bottle because no matter what happened she never broke.

 

IMG-20130522-00089

“Mom! Look! I got my wires out!

 

It’s weird to think Affie might not be here today. She should have died. It’s unnerving to think about that sometimes. What is even more amazing it’s like nothing happened! She is as strong as ever and has the exact same temperament (even around Saachi). She has frequently has nightmares but hey, if that’s the only trauma that came from this then I consider her extremely lucky!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

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Website | Social Media Tag: #atozchallenge

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#AtoZChallenge – J is for Just Barely

12 Wednesday Apr 2017

Posted by MonicawithRA in Nail Art

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Tags

Blogging A to Z, flare, rheumatoid arthritis

During a flare every sentence starts with “just barely”.

I just barely got out of bed.

I just barely washed my face, brushed my teeth and ate my breakfast.

I just barely made it to work.

I just barely kept my own head together playing emotional referee to second graders.

I just barely forced dinner down my throat due to nausea.

I just barely slept because every position was painful and I kept moving.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA. And, if you couldn’t tell, I’m all flared up!

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Website | Social Media Tag: #atozchallenge

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#AtoZChallenge – I is for Ice Cream Nails!

11 Tuesday Apr 2017

Posted by MonicawithRA in Nail Art

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Tags

Blogging A to Z, Nail Art, nails

Doing your nails once a day is hard…let alone every day for a full month. I considered a few different words starting with the letter I. Last night though, I was eating my favorite ice cream and it just came to me: why don’t I do a simple Neapolitan-inspired gradient?

Admittedly, Neapolitan is not my favorite flavor but I frequently buy it when my favorite brand is on sale. I mix all the flavors together until they are a yogurt consistency and chow down.

neo2

If you live on the East Coast you might be familiar with the Omish Country brand “Turkey Hill”. This brand makes the BEST ice cream. Ever. Seriously, nothing compares. It is super sweet but not sickly. The taste is rich and smooth and totally filling. You want for nothing when eating this ice cream.

My all time favorite flavor is Mint Chip but it is always sold out (especially when the tubs are on sale 2 for $6, which is all summer long). So, I settle, not really, for Chocolate, Vanilla or Neapolitan! Turkey Hill also makes a fantastic coffee flavor too!

So, I hope you like this gradient inspired by my favorite ice cream brand! I used acrylic paints for this look. Unfortunately, the tips of my nails started to wear the next morning (when I take my photos). Tends to be an occupational hazard when not using true polish!

 

neopolitan

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

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#AtoZChallenge – H is for Holiday Nails

10 Monday Apr 2017

Posted by MonicawithRA in Nail Art

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

blogging, Blogging A to Z, Easter, nails, spring

For today’s post, I went with a speckled eggs and spring flowers nail art! I unintentionally only used Zoya polishes and MoYou London stamping plates!

I have to say, I kind of dig it. Hope you do too!

 

easterBase: sponged acrylic paints

Speckles: Zoya Gwin (orange), Reece (pink), Saint (blue), Giovanna (green)

Stamping: MoYou London plate Suki-09, Zoya Louise (brown)

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

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G is for Green || Nail Art

08 Saturday Apr 2017

Posted by MonicawithRA in Nail Art

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Tags

blogging, Blogging A to Z, green, Nail Art, spring

G is for green! Of course, Spring could not pass without a mandatory leaves mani! Hope you like it 🙂

 green.jpgBase: Barry M Key Lime

Stamping: Born Pretty Store plate BPL-026, OPI Suzi-The First Lady of Nails, Zoya Giovanna

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

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