tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82245620534864692952024-03-19T13:38:34.909-07:00my cats and mebrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518100759341153137noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224562053486469295.post-75262016445806756772016-06-23T22:11:00.001-07:002016-06-23T22:11:18.348-07:00Crusty Loaf<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I walked into the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A young woman lay in a bed recovering from a caesarean section.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two infant cots were parked beside the
bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Healthy twin baby boys had been
delivered the day before. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They both had a poor suck from the start so the little ones
had small tubes inserted in their stomachs to help with feeding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is what I was doing in the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a midwife I was there to help with the
feeds.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I could sense the new mother was nervous and unsure of
herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started some small talk in an
attempt to help her feel more comfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We honestly didn't have much in common with each other and I was
struggling for something to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
seemingly out of nowhere she piped up with a conversation starter - the litmus
test question for midwives, "So have ya got little ones at home?"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My heart sank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite
being asked the same question many times before I still had not come up with a
short enough or 'right' enough answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So I replied honestly, "No, not yet unfortunately".</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The young mum proceeded to offer commiserations and even
some suggestions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Ya just have to
not worry about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I stopped
thinking about wanting to get pregnant, it just happened ya know..."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
So much wisdom from a 19 year old I thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>great man once
called irony 'that hard crust on the bread of adversity'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If only I had a brumby's hard crusty loaf on
hand to throw at my wise friend.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Infertility can feel so personal and so, so unfair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a midwife the pain sometimes feels so much
more acute and the challenge so ironic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>'Her body works like it should, why doesn't mine?'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, in the end we all have holes and gaps in our lives we
wish were full.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ALL experience
crusty irony but some of us (read: me) are so much more brittle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tests and challenges by their very nature are
unfair - but in the words of my 2nd choice husband Mike Rosenberg, "... WE
CARRY ON".</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Enjoy the music...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OW7WH2j4Y3o/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OW7WH2j4Y3o?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
brohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518100759341153137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224562053486469295.post-85454226577200283502014-03-01T03:30:00.001-08:002014-03-01T03:36:06.790-08:00Student Midwife Thoughts<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/0E1bNmyPWww?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend a ‘women’s circle’
as part of an indigenous awareness program.
Our circle of women included an aboriginal elder, midwives, academics
and my group of student midwives. As we
brushed ourselves with eucalyptus leaves, removed our shoes and stood in a
circle clasping hands, I felt an overwhelming surge of emotion - of sisterhood,
of motherhood and of womanhood. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once I started crying, it became difficult to choke the
emotion that had been released as a flood of tears. So instead of fighting it, I allowed myself
to ‘feel’ my experiences of the last 8 months and to remember them. To be honest, it was a healing experience for
me. So, in the spirit of a new beginning I thought
I’d share a few things I have learnt as a student midwife:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“There is
secret in our culture, and it’s not that childbirth is painful, it’s that women
are strong”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t think I will ever forget the experience of my first
birth. Everything was so new - it was
hard to process it all. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I remember there was a woman on the bed, giving birth. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It must have been sensory overload because I didn’t feel a
thing, no emotions. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My background in surgical nursing had exposed me to many
things, but not THIS. Namely, a baby’s
head was coming out of THIS woman’s vagina!!! As the head crowned, the baby did a little head turn (restitution) and
then all of a sudden a child was born.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Starting out, I believed that women can give birth - that
our bodies are designed for it. In my naivety
I assumed that all women felt the same. It was eye opening for me to come to
understand the anxiety and sometimes fear that many women carry. However, the real education has come in
being with these same women in labour and coming to know that they are, in fact
– strong. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->One woman worked so hard to push her baby out
after experiencing the loss of her first child at 6 weeks<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->One woman decided to carry her baby to term and
birth him, despite knowing that the likelihood of his survival outside her womb
was very slim<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->One woman birthed her baby alone on the couch in
her home as her husband packed the car, ready to drive her to hospital<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->One woman waited days in hospital for an
induction – and then gave birth within 50 mins<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->One woman, after enduring IVF treatment for
years – had a failed induction and an emergency caesarean section<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And the list goes on…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What is clear from this list is another truth that I have
learnt along the way: the most predictable thing about childbirth is its unpredictability. Although childbirth is a universal
experience, it is also one of the most unique.
No one birth is the same. Coming
from a nursing background where everything is black and white – this required a
change in my thinking. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Ursula K LeGuin’s science ficton novel <i>The Left Hand of Darkness</i>, Genry comes
to a world in which some can tell the future.
He asks Faxe, one of those who can, why he does not use this gift more
often:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“The
unknown,” said Faxe’s soft voice in the forest, “the unforetold, the unproven, that
is what life is based on. Ignorance is
the ground of thought. Unproof is the ground
of action. Tell me, Genry, what is
known? What is sure, predictable,
inevitable, the one certain thing you know concerning your future and mine?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That we shall die.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes. There’s really only one question that can be
answered, Genry, and we already know the answer...<b>The only thing that makes
life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertainty: not knowing what comes
next</b>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another thing I have learnt is that the birth experience is
special and watching it unfold is an experience like no other. After my first experience of birth, I
gradually started to see things as a whole.
I cried and I hugged the women’s
husbands <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span> I
felt angry when some women suffered. I took
photos and then left the couple to experience their first moments as parents
together. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whenever I watch shows like ‘One born every minute’ (the American version) - I cringe. The women sit there in bed strapped
to a machine, while their husbands eat chips and play on their iphones. The nurse enters the room chewing some gum
and checks the clock. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where is the
celebration of birth as a rite of passage?
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are so very few things in life that remain unknown –
for example: we don’t actually know how
labour starts. I like that. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bridgitte Jordan said:<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
“…if we consider the sparse ethnographic record, we find
that there is no known society where birth is treated, by the people involved,
as a merely physiological function. On the
contrary, it is everywhere socially marked and shaped”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hwqlJfWyyvJPU-87czr-KqkESNdtyjMLOWMIFmb-m5O5oAkRbR4kZY0aH5wFw-Zc7LYfQ3nJRBbBSPPv6l9fVCABbSamGL3duqJ3JRtmAYl_W7FwyYDoeqJFDt8TEwhpzYm90_IUeNlS/s1600/audrey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hwqlJfWyyvJPU-87czr-KqkESNdtyjMLOWMIFmb-m5O5oAkRbR4kZY0aH5wFw-Zc7LYfQ3nJRBbBSPPv6l9fVCABbSamGL3duqJ3JRtmAYl_W7FwyYDoeqJFDt8TEwhpzYm90_IUeNlS/s1600/audrey.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Five years ago... when I became an Aunty for the second time :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
brohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518100759341153137noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224562053486469295.post-32174297199575459572013-07-05T08:07:00.001-07:002013-07-05T08:07:54.680-07:00On being socially awkward: #forever alone<div class="MsoNormal">
I can’t do a cartwheel.
Try as I might – I will one day go peacefully to my grave without ever
achieving a single cartwheel. If you
must know, there are many fine motor skills that I never picked up on as a
child. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Handstand = impossible. Hand/eye coordination = minimal. Ball skills = pathetic. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The list could go on. Needless to say I have failed to thrive at
every, and all of the random sports I’ve attempted to play both at school and
as an adult beginner. Recently I tried
my hand at squash. I had a few lessons,
then started attending a Tuesday night tournament. I was not only beaten by a 12 year old girl,
but also a significantly overweight gentleman and an asthmatic. True story.
Just goes to show, you don’t have to be an athlete to play squash, just
better than me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’d never really thought too much about my lack of sporting
prowess until a recent conversation I had with my mum when she casually
mentioned her parental fail of leaving me as a wee toddler unattended near a flight of concrete stairs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That would explain my weird shaped cranium.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then it all came together… <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 108.0pt; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
… and I
thought it was just in the genes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 108.0pt; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve long believed that something is wrong upstairs. It’s mainly the social awkwardness that
stands out like neon lights. Just to
illustrate: Recently I found myself in a
group situation filling an awkward silence with the sweet sound of my personal
rendition of ‘kumbayah’. Not only did my
new friends not join in – but my beautiful singing had the effect of killing
softy any further conversation. Maybe
they never went to scout camps. Their
loss.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The good thing about having cats as friends is that they
never care. About ANYTHING. Richard wouldn’t bat a single eyelid if I sung
‘kumbayah’, if I laughed too loud or if I sung ‘sound of silence’ off key. In fact – he probably wouldn't care AT ALL
enough to even be in the room.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So if lately you have been feeling like even the asthmatics
are beating you at squash and you fear your socially awkward charm will leave
you hopelessly forever alone. I have two
suggestions:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -18pt;">1.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Make some cat friends and</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
2.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Embrace your inner ‘kumbayah’ - (Just like Judith) </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<br /></div>
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brohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518100759341153137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224562053486469295.post-90635733060270281742013-04-17T00:34:00.000-07:002013-04-17T00:34:12.226-07:00Ding Dong the CAT is... dead?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have some bad news to share. But don’t worry or think the worst. Richard is not Dead (You can all breathe a
sigh of relief now…)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwMYDj_rG6vfSDWFZ5Za_kpYH2t8OhgutADRNih8CDHnnQEtpv3uj894K7QkhHm2AEelOznjPRUMSoCbR7LsPf0anj_e-OMn5SjZTho45qFYDVB8PmcO7Ij4Aw5_fCbimhcfNpkv7ZLRD/s1600/grumpy+cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwMYDj_rG6vfSDWFZ5Za_kpYH2t8OhgutADRNih8CDHnnQEtpv3uj894K7QkhHm2AEelOznjPRUMSoCbR7LsPf0anj_e-OMn5SjZTho45qFYDVB8PmcO7Ij4Aw5_fCbimhcfNpkv7ZLRD/s320/grumpy+cat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you remember in the early years of high school when your
friends were your World. When if one of
your best friends crossed you, you would say “You’re soooo dead to me right
now!” And you’d put your hand up like
you were directing traffic. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, neither can
I. It must have been one of those
catchy phrases of the 90s. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe the
Spice Girls said it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway, I digress.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The point is that I don’t think I LIKE Richard anymore. The CAT-CAT LADY relationship might
be over. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It all started when I got a job. Suddenly I didn’t have time to devote to Him
and to write about Him on this very blog.
I must admit the honeymoon was over very quickly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvnZHYIpeW8DWWlWpHKEX2WtTYRqpR-wM5bk89kx9apSYVTaRKP1H439xAPh-LQendU8BIuSd2AwSf6A553btWyWtOJZlwQYQp7LR5Fgqhyphenhyphen_dUBxlXftAY0GPBETfLJ_zC-tSfDwoNFMr/s1600/vacation-cat.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvnZHYIpeW8DWWlWpHKEX2WtTYRqpR-wM5bk89kx9apSYVTaRKP1H439xAPh-LQendU8BIuSd2AwSf6A553btWyWtOJZlwQYQp7LR5Fgqhyphenhyphen_dUBxlXftAY0GPBETfLJ_zC-tSfDwoNFMr/s320/vacation-cat.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I don’t think I’m ALL to blame for this. About one month after moving in here, Richard
started bringing ‘presents’ into the house.
Small birds, field mice, lizards. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some of them came in the dead variety, some in the almost dead variety,
and some still hanging on. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I must
admit when it comes to little creatures, I can be a bit of a girl about it
all. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Screaming and dancing on the spot
is usually how I cope with a creature in the house. So, needless to say I didn’t really
appreciate Richard’s ‘presents’. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So we talked about it.
I told Him how I was feeling. He
said nothing and stared out the window.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15BIRS4A0kVO362jmVdDrq9LKfJVF4Z09U4srp-lkZ8DTx-LCktKvpAFRkHLMtBN3jKxewxP1bqkzvJ3PqzxynRfkItXBWEiIAGHwt8H1NPX9U-WJgjup2euzOjrdb0uL8ZShbGbwlEGH/s1600/Sigmund-Freud-9302400-1-402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15BIRS4A0kVO362jmVdDrq9LKfJVF4Z09U4srp-lkZ8DTx-LCktKvpAFRkHLMtBN3jKxewxP1bqkzvJ3PqzxynRfkItXBWEiIAGHwt8H1NPX9U-WJgjup2euzOjrdb0uL8ZShbGbwlEGH/s320/Sigmund-Freud-9302400-1-402.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sigmund Freud once said:
“Time spent with cats is never wasted” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Breakups are hard. But I'm sure Richard will get over it soon enough. After all, cat's have an amazing ability to not care what anyone else thinks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
More importantly, what about me? How does this affect my status as “Cat
Lady”. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can’t be a cat lady without at
least one cat that loves me…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Spinster. That’s what
I’ll be. I can knit you know!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZqfcPzTeyUGNAZHbeu4sbNz18NJfVdijcEohwcnUwAsbqdwOhAJwOMRAmH96F-HnQpuXRJ3WlSwNWTDMjh-6YW24OWG2QUwgu-gHdF-8RJqIhh67VmtpOwCDljNZhpflwPkZ1C2Xn754/s1600/alternatemary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZqfcPzTeyUGNAZHbeu4sbNz18NJfVdijcEohwcnUwAsbqdwOhAJwOMRAmH96F-HnQpuXRJ3WlSwNWTDMjh-6YW24OWG2QUwgu-gHdF-8RJqIhh67VmtpOwCDljNZhpflwPkZ1C2Xn754/s320/alternatemary.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Dead to me’ <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-The expression of such utter distaste for a person or
object that it calls for the personal denial of its worldly existance. Can be
used to express disintrest, hatred, or something/someone that has gone out of
style.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Torn jeans are so last season. They're dead to me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
brohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518100759341153137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224562053486469295.post-69157286459304555972013-03-03T01:45:00.001-08:002013-03-03T14:31:34.887-08:00A Short History of CATS (and a guinea pig)<span style="font-size: large;">It turns out that I was already into cat attire by the mid 80's...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtAFv2Joq_BE8_RFfWEkQr6NpSks_iiWeAR-OB0YoH-FOscDBQF7fylAvKd71yi9jXc0CT0jUzlASriTidoujQto_Or52e7agNG4zTEiSjKuLR1wdrKMcrCo1UVfIrXsluYTbf4Mu_mIs/s1600/me+as+cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtAFv2Joq_BE8_RFfWEkQr6NpSks_iiWeAR-OB0YoH-FOscDBQF7fylAvKd71yi9jXc0CT0jUzlASriTidoujQto_Or52e7agNG4zTEiSjKuLR1wdrKMcrCo1UVfIrXsluYTbf4Mu_mIs/s640/me+as+cat.jpg" width="436" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Note, I was also into cutting my own hair)</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFQP4JiyGMqggY-Bw6RFfK4QLRtRVw0GkKuenV-cpsGbMZrgdkohHdQ3cCzvB43KJbRFJH5UK4yOJzSogX80L8THDVJnOP-dzv0gIRRsbX9PAzbPSyqAKjGLNu2jqSCX4pUCxmdcPO6x1/s1600/helen+dallas+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFQP4JiyGMqggY-Bw6RFfK4QLRtRVw0GkKuenV-cpsGbMZrgdkohHdQ3cCzvB43KJbRFJH5UK4yOJzSogX80L8THDVJnOP-dzv0gIRRsbX9PAzbPSyqAKjGLNu2jqSCX4pUCxmdcPO6x1/s640/helen+dallas+me.jpg" width="440" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Here my older sister seems perfectly happy with the idea of my brother stabbing her with a knife. <br />Me: I'm a little nervous about it all)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Even though I could dress like a cat by the time I was 3, I don't recall ever OWNING a cat back then. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We had a goat and a dog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The biggest hurdle to becoming a cat family was my dad. He hated, hates and will forever hate cats.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">One time we actually convinced the parents to take in a stray, but a few months later she mysteriously 'disappeared', never to be seen again. I'm sure dad will confess one day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Around that time we owned a dog and some guinea pigs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Which brings me to this next photo that I've entitled: </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"RIGOR MORTIS"</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jdlvAUvhtU9jr3zhG6C9JluzOO0TzjSN0XCJsZswsud0zn9NSjP4Mqlg3uAQ1ZIH1K4hwGkzTCSueFNvJJ0vGDKWmT2teb_fIlYwDyUjmp8sz6cX5bNHTIx2-Y2HjmIvYNUA3l1j1bbQ/s1600/rigor+mortis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jdlvAUvhtU9jr3zhG6C9JluzOO0TzjSN0XCJsZswsud0zn9NSjP4Mqlg3uAQ1ZIH1K4hwGkzTCSueFNvJJ0vGDKWmT2teb_fIlYwDyUjmp8sz6cX5bNHTIx2-Y2HjmIvYNUA3l1j1bbQ/s640/rigor+mortis.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm probably 10 years old in this photo. Note the red puffy eyes and tears on my cheeks. Yes, the guinea pig is dead. It was just a baby. We thought that 'Nike' and 'Reebok' were both girls, but it turned out that they could produce some babies. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had gone to the hutch to check on the pups before heading off to school when I made the grim discovery. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Then the emotional breakdown happened.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was like a family member had died. I didn't feel like I could go to school. I begged mum to take a photo of the little thing so we could remember. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When mum looks at this photo she remembers trying not to laugh at me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Such are the feelings of a future cat lady.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The closest I got to lots of cats during my teenage years was at my cousin's house. </span><span style="font-size: large;">They had Doozer, Louie, Beverley, Felix and Squishy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's Felix hanging out in the cupboard:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCXgeZ_emE0EwzKUavQc387pfo46gmGa5wBTBkjZFuXlsk8Ru1Y6MGmyYXcvIi9E6PzdJqJlWQI5-lpNdsQCQSMqgT3ZR82ZsNyOjnWAKpdx32mm962GhsGRyF_p_rVth5EMX1fsHO8Vn/s1600/Felix+cupboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCXgeZ_emE0EwzKUavQc387pfo46gmGa5wBTBkjZFuXlsk8Ru1Y6MGmyYXcvIi9E6PzdJqJlWQI5-lpNdsQCQSMqgT3ZR82ZsNyOjnWAKpdx32mm962GhsGRyF_p_rVth5EMX1fsHO8Vn/s640/Felix+cupboard.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After years and years of share-housing with no pets, I moved again and now have Richard.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">One of the best things about being a cat lady is that I'm never alone. Which is why the cat lady criteria exists. People who are in any kind of relationship just don't qualify.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When I'm at home studying I don't feel lonely and it's always nice to have the cat to talk to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I teach her Spanish words. Which is nice... </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> ... because we all know that talking to oneself is just a LITTLE bit weird.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>brohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518100759341153137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224562053486469295.post-61639937928869055872013-02-26T14:02:00.001-08:002013-02-26T14:27:14.227-08:00CAT attire<span style="font-family: inherit;">Unpacking a few things this week I discovered some treasures. Namely - these amazing cat earrings:</span><br />
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That same day I decided to wear one of my favourite t-shirts with said earrings...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBXP4CaCY0owBpipU91BeX1uuV43bNDqpDnZ3Crnm14GDKbH0G2iTXZlmShljrB_yc4eZqb1tBWVqVcU-QkIzNdOGaDlIpTzhNPumzY-Oz37U8Ev7f7drY3ZWhyx1ME6vCR3mtq8HxSVd/s1600/IMG_0403%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBXP4CaCY0owBpipU91BeX1uuV43bNDqpDnZ3Crnm14GDKbH0G2iTXZlmShljrB_yc4eZqb1tBWVqVcU-QkIzNdOGaDlIpTzhNPumzY-Oz37U8Ev7f7drY3ZWhyx1ME6vCR3mtq8HxSVd/s640/IMG_0403%5B1%5D.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Not so classy, but the common theme pulled the outfit together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;">So then I started to think about how a REAL Cat Lady should dress. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;">Is it appropriate, as Dal and Lissy suggest, to don a cat unitard?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;">As a new Cat Lady, am I staring down the barrel of a lifetime of bathrobes and pantyhose?</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Like with all other questions of import, I went to the internet for answers and this time was sorely disappointed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I searched for:</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"What would a cat lady wear?"</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"Cat attire for people"</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"Cat apparel"</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The best I got were websites trying to sell t-shirts with cats on them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Etsy and Frankie had some cute cat accessories and clothes.</span></span></div>
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But let's be honest. Do you think a REAL Cat Lady would ever wear this dress?<br />
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I didn't think so. (Not at least without some pantyhose).<br />
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I didn't have any hopes of getting to the bottom of my cat attire question until I discovered this video:</div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Question answered! Real cat ladies wear RED LIPSTICK!</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Did you notice how clean her bathrobe was? and that headpiece... very classy.</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">What a relief. Thank you Youtube.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">It seems that REAL Cat Ladies dress for comfort AND style...</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"> ...unitard NOT excluded.</span></span></div>
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<br />brohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518100759341153137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224562053486469295.post-9447811709416467812013-02-21T14:58:00.001-08:002013-02-21T17:17:56.068-08:00CATATATI remember the first time I heard the song 'Seventeen Years' by RATATAT. It was while I was living with Renee and Nathan. Nathan had a record player and the new vinyl album.<br />
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The song begins with "I've been rapping for about seventeen years ok..." Back then, the song just made me want to DANCE!!!<br />
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Have you ever put a song on when no one is at home, cranked it up loud and just danced? <br />
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Inspired by Lissy's comments from last weeks blog and Hannah's favourite book 'Dancing with Cats' (see below), this week I felt I could step up my 'home-alone-dancing' and INCLUDE Richard.<br />
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I wanted to become a 'home-alone-rocking-out-with-a-cat-dancer'. But.... did Richard share my dream?<br />
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The short answer is: NO. I discovered that this cat doesn't have a dancing bone in her body.<br />
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Despite Richard's lack of enthusiasm for the project, I managed to get a few shots of me living the 'home-alone-rocking-out-with-a-cat' dream (artistic licence may have been used).<br />
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"Crouching cat hidden something"<br />
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"Cat surprise!!"</div>
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"Crazy cat lady"<br />
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More awkward dance moves to be found here...<br />
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<br />brohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518100759341153137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224562053486469295.post-16877477089266438042013-02-12T03:06:00.001-08:002013-02-12T03:06:22.673-08:00Due to popular demand...<div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was all a bit of a joke really.</span></div>
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<img alt=" " height="224" src="http://media-cache-ec7.pinterest.com/550x/ba/a6/86/baa6867baad9e02442f6e37422b4d0fc.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have a new housemate. Her name is Richard and she's a cat. Well, her name is really Charlie, but the first few days I couldn't remember her name so Charlie became Richard. I haven't really had a lot to do with cats before, but being here in this new house with Richard has got me thinking...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have I become a CAT LADY???</span><br />
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<img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3ZwpeX0v4JBjpgBtmM4JOQjnRXGUwFM-ckRZ2r1o7ofZp2q99bjzn4sMXUnop9uzbR0Tk-b29YtHYEa3yFHLuZo7vocZtlR3gwSSqtkFvaXY4wUTB9VGq-WP2XOSpVxZLuYvzZEO9Nc/s320/simpsons_crazycatlady.gif" width="279" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let's go through the criteria:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. Must be single (possibly not ready to mingle)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">CHECK</span></div>
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<img height="240" src="http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/29830_10150182445075386_4500728_n.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. Must live with a cat (not mandatory to own it)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">CHECK</span></div>
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<img height="240" src="http://www.petfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/99059361-choose-cat-litter-632x475.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. Generally must never have plans for Friday night</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">CHECK</span></div>
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<img height="170" src="http://fistfuloftalent.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/alone-600x320.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4. Must be a little crazy/random/socially awkward</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">CHECK CHECK CHECK</span></div>
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<img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxpDdtg4H7aQ_LEAYadVm4KUQalJLno_0A4Lugx2rIxN2qJc4fPFV8o767-weJNtmskfpjP69AmyhuXK9F1xXO9OUh5ygfp_RgfkxAcAT9mQa34Qy6M5gFu4tuWvbKaZt53O9XvRnIAut/s320/crazy+lady.jpg" style="text-align: left;" width="297" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So looks like I score highly on the lady cat-o-meter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Obviously the facts don't lie. But is it all bad? Being a cat lady?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> You decide...</span></div>
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<br />brohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518100759341153137noreply@blogger.com8