Solo Ensemble, Softpaws and Poor Sick Bibs!

Well, we had quite a busy weekend. Carolyn had her solo ensemble judging bright and early Saturday morning. Her voice coach graciously agreed to let her come and warm up at 7:30 on Saturday morning. I think that was a huge help for Carolyn. Carolyn sang a level 2 song, which at this grade/age level, most students are expected to only sing a level 3. She sang a French song, in French. She sang a level 2 song, in French and made a 1 rating!!! (which is the best you can do). The judge told her that she had very good posture and that her French was excellent. She said that Carolyn did an outstanding job. I am so very proud of her.

Bibianna is in the final rehearsals for Honk, Jr. and her director changed her part last week. Added more lines and made her part a little bit more dynamic. While the part/character really lets Bibianna shine, I would have been overwhelmed if I had been in her shoes and had to “relearn” my part in the ninth hour. However, since Bibianna isn’t me, she rose to the challenge. I am very proud and astounded that in about 3 days she picked up the new lines and committed (almost) to memory. In the meantime, my poor baby started throwing up last night about 8:00 and hasn’t stopped yet. She has a fever over 101 and is just sick, sick, sick. Here’s keeping our fingers crossed that she will be back on her feet tomorrow for the final dress rehearsal. That poor girl has had a tough time of it this winter. I think her immune system must be shot.

As for the kitty, we bought softpaws for him yesterday, and Joey, Bibianna and I put them on Morocco kitty. We used softpaws since Carolyn is adamant that we cannot have him declawed because it is torture for the cats. Well, if you could have seen the show yesterday afternoon, I may have to agree that it is more humane for the cat (although I am not sure Cat would agree) but definitely less humane for the humans! Oh well, we will survive. And, now sweet little kitty can’t destroy my furniture. Honey likes the soft paws when she plays with Morocco also. Puts little dog and kitty more on a level playing field.

A rose by any other name

What to name the little no-name kitty. We have struggled all week with names, made lists, voted, recounted, voted again. All under the direction of Carolyn's constant prodding that the cat must have a name. I think that we have decided on Morocco. (Actually, I think that Carolyn has decided on Morocco and she is just the loudest and meanest of us all, hence the winner of the naming contest.) Joey and I both liked "Satchmo," Louis Armstrong's nickname. Carolyn has vehemently forbidden us from calling him that, which of course makes us call him that even more. I do have to say though that the first day that I called him Morocco, he came to me and from the other room. I think that might just be his name. It is a weird one but starting to grow on me. Anyway, our goal for this weekend is to find our old Aristocats video (yes, video....I said....OLD) and see if any of the cat names in that movie seem to suit little Morocco any better.

Here are a couple of pictures of the new little sweet kitty.

Recovery and new kittie

Well, this past week has been one of the longest blurs of my life. Toward the end of last week, Bibianna came down with the flu on top of the bronchitis bug that she had. By Friday night, I had spiked a fever and I was so sick by Monday that Joey had to take me to the doctor, who informed me that I had the flu also. Bibianna, on the other hand was well enough to go to school on Monday, despite a hacking cough. The next few days for me were a feverish and achy nightmare except that I never actually went to sleep. I listened 24/7 to CNN and during feverish half-awake/half-asleep delusions I actually thought that I was running for president. Anyway, I couldn't breathe, and when I can't breathe I can't sleep. Although I knew that I wasn't actually going to die, it was awful. This morning I woke up. I woke up! And then I realized that if I was waking up, then that meant I had slept. I had SLEPT!!! Which meant that I could breathe. And, not only could I breathe, but I could talk again. Now, it isn't the carefree breathing that most of us take for granted, or the gentle lilting voice so pleasant to the ears, but it was breathing and talking, neither of which I have done in several days. I have only two words to say for next year: FLU SHOT.

After Scooter's passing last week, the four of us all realized that we could not live without a kitty in the house. So,the girls and I scoured the adoption sites and found a kitten only 5 months old that looked almost like Scooter. He was DSH (for domestic short hair) 11112640. I called the Animal Shelter, gave them the number and then listened dejectedly as they told me that little DSH 11112640 was already gone. Not easily discouraged, Bibianna and I dropped Carolyn at ballet and then stopped in PetCo to take a gander at any kittens that they had for adoption. (They always have a ton and I always have to force the girls past them for fear that we will end up with several at our house.) Bibianna and I ran into PetCo, and straight to the cages. Big sign: "We are sorry, but kitten season is over for this year." Kitten season? Is there such a thing as kitten season? Really? Well, disappointed, and a little confused, Bibianna and I headed on to PetSmart. We ran into the store and having never been there before had to search for the adoption center looking something like a cross between the Scooby Doo Gang and the Bowry Boys. Then we saw HIM! The same sweet cute Scooter like kitten that we had called the Animal Shelter about. Little DSH11112640. We ran to the front of the store like we had just discovered oil and after they let us hold the little kitty and discover that he was just too sweet, we snapped him up along with some kitten food and new kittie litter. Then off to ballet to get Carolyn we sped. The three of us brought new little no-name kittie home to meet Joey. The picture was complete.

So, this week, while I was moaning and crying about being sick, and Carolyn and Bibianna were fighting at their most feroricious level because I had no voice to tell them to stop, the new little no-name kitty and Honey laid with me to make me feel better. It took about one day for no-name to figure out that Honey wasn't going to hurt him, another day for Honey to realize that no-name has claws and isn't afraid to use them, and one more day for no-name to figure out the Honey likes to be chased. Now the two of them are the best of friends and the greatest company a grumpy old sick woman could ask for. It is fun having a "baby" in the house again, although we have had several items broken already. It is good therapy for all of us.