It was so hard to give away the last two kittens. Kittens? Oh yeah, my cat had 6 kittens, and I wrote a post about it, but never finished it so it never got posted. I'll have to throw some pictures up here so you can see their absolute cuteness for yourself.
These last two were the only girls of the litter and I didn't want to give them away but had no choice. I live in a no-pets-allowed apartment, and my neighbors have been so great. I'm pretty sure they knew about the cats all along and never told anyone, but next month I'm getting a whole new set of neighbors and can't risk being kicked out of my apartment if one of them squeals on me.
So I put an ad in the paper on Saturday, including the address of the website with more details about them . I secretly hoped that no one would call so I would just have to keep them. Unfortunately several people called that very same day, and people are still calling so I added the info of the vet I go to on the website, because they have some cats looking for new homes. Both of my babies found new homes within 24 hours. Today I delivered them to their new owners.
I'm so worried for them. They cried the whole way to the meeting place, and Ruby (the black one) in particular is so afraid of everything that I hope moving to a new environment isn't too traumatic for her.
Both families seem so nice and I'm sure the kittens will like their new homes once they get used to their new surroundings. After living with them for 6 months and completely falling in love with them, I can't help but wish they were still mine. When the new owners came to get their new kittens and had gone, I sat in the car and cried for a half hour before driving home.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
My birthday
It was my birthday last month which wasn't a very big deal. Usually everyone's busy entertaining family because my birthday happens to fall during the Obon holidays, which is when the souls of your dead ancestors cross over into this world to be with you. Most people spend the whole time at home, but Hanae and Yoko fulfilled their family obligations on the first day and had the whole rest of the vacation free.The original plan was to go camping, but it was so rainy the whole time that we ended up staying at my place where we watched 12 hours of "So You Think You Can Dance." What a fantastic show. Thank you so much Speck for sending those tapes. We LOVED them. Not only were the dances great, we got totally into certain contestants and were crushed when Dimitri got cut. And I couldn't believe how professional they looked week after week from only practicing for 2-3 days. I wonder if they happen to have a compilation of the season's dances on a single DVD.
After being trapped indoors for a couple days we felt the need to do something outside. The only place we could think of that would be fun in rainy weather was the aquarium, which is usually $20 a person but half-price during the week of someone's birthday!
I hadn't been there since it opened and was a little disappointed to find some things gone. I was looking forward to seeing the Clione again and the dozen sea otters have somehow dwindled down to only one. Did they die? Those were actually my two favorite things about Umitamago. I found a picture of Clione in case you've never seen them before. They flap their wings back and forth, hovering vertically like sea angels.
There were a few new things that were nice, like the mother and baby sloth in the birdhouse. And like the walrus that swam up to the glass and sucked himself while visitors gasped.
I also liked the new snake-like fish that bobbed up and down from their holes in the sand. When something scared them they pulled back into their holes at lightening speed, then slowly peeped out again after a while. Hanae spent her time pounding on the glass to make them zoom into their holes, and I'm sure we would have been booted out of the place if anyone had seen her thumping her fist against the glass. She continued to do this for roughly ten minutes.Then we went to see the poisonous frogs, and she did the same thing except the frog cases were made of a much weaker plastic. There was an enormous booming sound throughout the hall when her fist hit the case and the whole thing shuddered. I'm so relieved the case didn't shatter. She stopped pounding things after that.
In the area with the pool of sea cucumbers and starfish, Hanae was the only one of us brave enough to reach in and pick one up. Apparently they're slippery and soft when you squeeze them.
I never realized how beautiful pelicans were. At least I think these are pelicans.
The clownfish are always a hit. Everyone stands around the tank calling them "Nemo" as if that's what they're really called. Retards.
I love how the lights in the jellyfish tank change and make them glow.
One thing I'm pretty sure you won't hear if you visit an aquarium back in the States is a bunch of people admiring the fish while shouting, "Oh! Delicious! I wanna eat that one!" It kind of grossed me out. I was having a nice enough time watching the beautiful fish glide through the water and skillfully avoid one another while swimming in such a small space, only to have my thoughts interrupted by someone behind me talking about which restaurants cook them up best. Cultural differences, I guess.We stayed until closing time and went back to the big tank after everyone had left. It was nice having the whole place to ourselves and being able to enjoy the silence. It felt like we were underwater with the enormous manta rays and long-nosed sharks. And since we had the enormous room to ourselves, we pretended that we were on "So You Think You Can Dance" and leaped around, twirling in circles. There were even cushioned chairs that were great for jumping off of and using as dancing props.
I don't know what this creature is called. I'm pretty sure it's one of a kind.
It was a really nice, relaxing 4-day birthday. We also drove over the mountain behind Beppu to Yufuin, but that's a story for another day.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Blackberries
Earlier I'd mentioned that the blackberry twig I planted last year bore fruit, but I never posted any photos. Don't they just look delicious? Every couple weeks I pick all the ripe ones and I've discovered a few things:1) If you have to pull on the blackberry to pick it, it's gonna be sour. The ones that fall off when you touch them are really sweet.
2) Ants know which ones are sweet and usually get to them first, so you hardly ever get to eat the really sweet ones.
3) If you invite your friend named Yoko to come and visit, you will open the door to find her picking and eating all your blackberries.
Now you know about me and my blackberries. That is all.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Louis Vuitton wallet
Japan is totally materialistic. I was shocked when a friend told me his Louis Vuitton sandals cost $700 and his bag was a couple thousand bucks. How could anyone spend so much on an accessory? Simply ridiculous! Then I started looking around and noticed that pretty much everyone has brand name bags, watches, clothes, jewelry and shoes. Even high school students.
In my mind, quality is more important than the name. I used to hate labels. I even blacked out the white logo of my North Face jacket so it would be less visible and only bought stuff if there weren't any visible brand markings. I hated being associated with the image that came with a brand.
Somewhere along the line that changed. Maybe because brand name labels are so prevalent in Japan that having a Gucci belt or Ferragamo keychain isn't anything special. Everyone has something brand name. I guess if everyone has it then there isn't much of an image associated with the name (or is the image normalcy?). So when a friend gave me his Louis Vuitton and Gucci hand-me-downs, I started using them without a second thought. One of the things he gave me was his old Louis Vuitton wallet (photo from website).
I loved it. It's hard to find men's wallets that hold coins. It was sturdy, a nice size, held a lot of cards and retained its shape well. But after a couple years he wanted it back because it was in a lot better shape than the wallet he was using, so we traded. I didn't like the "new" one as much because the part that holds coins is on the outside of the wallet, and I had to open and close the button several times if I'm using/receiving bills and coins at the same time. Even though the "new" one had cost more (from the Louis Vuitton black Vernis line), it was just less convenient than the first one.
Then I found out that last month Louis Vuitton presented a new line called "Damier Graphite" that uses a black checkerboard pattern instead of the traditional brown one. So sleek! It looks so much better than the brown, and I instantly decided to get the Damier Graphite version of the wallet that I liked so much. Never having bought anything from the Louis Vuitton store before, I was surprised to see that the wallet came in a little drawer-type box and was carefully wrapped in its own pouch. The receipt even came in a little envelope with a formal printout of the transaction - my name along with what I bought, where I bought it, and the name of the woman who sold it to me. The saleswoman carried my bag for me and accompanied me to the door, then bowed very low as I walked out. What service!
And how much did it cost? More than I paid for my car, which either says something about the cost of the wallet, or the price of my car. It has a nice texture, feels sturdy, is a perfect size, and I love it. So now that I've bought something from Louis Vuitton, does that make me materialistic? There was also a bag that I thought was pretty cool but the price is way more than I'm willing to pay ($1600). But who knows, perhaps I'm becoming more materialistic by the day and you'll see my new bag pictured here in the future, like this guy.
On a sidenote, I started thinking about the most expensive things I've ever bought. Here's my ranking of most expensive things:
1) Bright Red Toyota Corolla with 10-carat gold lettering and wood interior (I loved that car and had to sell it when I came to Japan)
2) Dell Computer with scanner/printer
3) Plane tickets (Thailand, China, Cambodia, Taiwan, Hawaii, Spain, etc.)
4) Louis Vuitton Damier Graphite wallet
5) Mitsubishi Toppo (my current car). I love how the back has a door, I can fit my folding bike in it, the side mirrors are huge like bus mirrors, and it has a high ceiling with a compartment to store stuff.
In my mind, quality is more important than the name. I used to hate labels. I even blacked out the white logo of my North Face jacket so it would be less visible and only bought stuff if there weren't any visible brand markings. I hated being associated with the image that came with a brand.
Somewhere along the line that changed. Maybe because brand name labels are so prevalent in Japan that having a Gucci belt or Ferragamo keychain isn't anything special. Everyone has something brand name. I guess if everyone has it then there isn't much of an image associated with the name (or is the image normalcy?). So when a friend gave me his Louis Vuitton and Gucci hand-me-downs, I started using them without a second thought. One of the things he gave me was his old Louis Vuitton wallet (photo from website).
I loved it. It's hard to find men's wallets that hold coins. It was sturdy, a nice size, held a lot of cards and retained its shape well. But after a couple years he wanted it back because it was in a lot better shape than the wallet he was using, so we traded. I didn't like the "new" one as much because the part that holds coins is on the outside of the wallet, and I had to open and close the button several times if I'm using/receiving bills and coins at the same time. Even though the "new" one had cost more (from the Louis Vuitton black Vernis line), it was just less convenient than the first one.
Then I found out that last month Louis Vuitton presented a new line called "Damier Graphite" that uses a black checkerboard pattern instead of the traditional brown one. So sleek! It looks so much better than the brown, and I instantly decided to get the Damier Graphite version of the wallet that I liked so much. Never having bought anything from the Louis Vuitton store before, I was surprised to see that the wallet came in a little drawer-type box and was carefully wrapped in its own pouch. The receipt even came in a little envelope with a formal printout of the transaction - my name along with what I bought, where I bought it, and the name of the woman who sold it to me. The saleswoman carried my bag for me and accompanied me to the door, then bowed very low as I walked out. What service!
And how much did it cost? More than I paid for my car, which either says something about the cost of the wallet, or the price of my car. It has a nice texture, feels sturdy, is a perfect size, and I love it. So now that I've bought something from Louis Vuitton, does that make me materialistic? There was also a bag that I thought was pretty cool but the price is way more than I'm willing to pay ($1600). But who knows, perhaps I'm becoming more materialistic by the day and you'll see my new bag pictured here in the future, like this guy.
On a sidenote, I started thinking about the most expensive things I've ever bought. Here's my ranking of most expensive things:1) Bright Red Toyota Corolla with 10-carat gold lettering and wood interior (I loved that car and had to sell it when I came to Japan)
2) Dell Computer with scanner/printer
3) Plane tickets (Thailand, China, Cambodia, Taiwan, Hawaii, Spain, etc.)
4) Louis Vuitton Damier Graphite wallet
5) Mitsubishi Toppo (my current car). I love how the back has a door, I can fit my folding bike in it, the side mirrors are huge like bus mirrors, and it has a high ceiling with a compartment to store stuff.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Cute Snake
I just looked outside to see if the cat was by the window waiting to come in. I saw her tentatively creeping towards the corner of the garden so I went outside to see what she was curious about. It was a snake!
I pulled her back just in time. She had her nose forward, ready to sniff at it but the snake looked ready to strike. I carried her into the house and ran back outside with my camera but I couldn't find it in the dark. Too bad.
I don't think it was poisonous because mamushi are brown with triangular heads and this one was striped. It was pretty small, only about a foot long and as thin around as a finger. I wonder if there are other poisonous snakes in this area besides mamushi. I guess I should find out before digging in the leaves looking for it.
I pulled her back just in time. She had her nose forward, ready to sniff at it but the snake looked ready to strike. I carried her into the house and ran back outside with my camera but I couldn't find it in the dark. Too bad.
I don't think it was poisonous because mamushi are brown with triangular heads and this one was striped. It was pretty small, only about a foot long and as thin around as a finger. I wonder if there are other poisonous snakes in this area besides mamushi. I guess I should find out before digging in the leaves looking for it.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Oita Scandal
I haven't had free time to do anything since my workload increased, and haven't even turned on the TV since March 14 - there's an old TV Guide sitting in the living room and it's opened to that page, so that's probably the last day I watched TV. But I turned on the TV this week. Why? Because I wanted to watch the news to find out more about what everyone's been talking about: how Oita is on the national news every day for having a corrupt government/education system. My little section of Japanese countryside has become famous throughout all of Japan!
In Japan teachers are respected and their salaries are quite good, so it's natural for people to want to become teachers. Unfortunately, only a handful of people are allowed to pass the certification exams because of the few positions available, and the hundreds that don't pass continue taking the exam year after year hoping to one day pass. I've known so many people who knew what they were up against but kept trying anyway. It's especially difficult to become a high school teacher; a friend told me that only one person can be certified as a history teacher when a hundred people take the history certification test. The competition is compounded by the fact that there is an age limit to be certified as a teacher. I can't remember the exact age, but I think it was around 30, meaning that you have to be certified before then or give up (although you can still be a part-time teacher without passing the certification exam).
In the time that I've lived here, I've come to accept that having connections is more important than having qualifications. I've talked with so many people who have their jobs because their parents were friends with so-and-so or because a current employee recommended them for the job. Of course everyone goes through the application process, but the ones who have connections are chosen for the position. I've come to accept this as a normal part of Japanese culture. I could tell you dozens of examples... friends who knew they wouldn't get the job before going to the interview because someone at the company already recommended their friend, or companies that place ads for job openings with the implicit understanding that priority is given to those with connections to someone already working there. Many places don't even bother advertising, but simply ask the current employees if they know someone. Of course giving priority to people you know is natural and happens all over the world, but to a far greater extent here.
And I always thought that using these kinds of connections were simply a part of Japanese culture. But it seems that I may have been wrong. Is this only a part of Oita culture?
The scandal that has been plaguing Oita for these past couple weeks is in regard to teacher certification. A woman was arrested for giving out gift certificates in exchange for her children receiving priority in becoming certified as teachers. Then investigators discovered that the officials in charge of certifying new teachers routinely gave priority to friends and acquaintances, which I thought was a completely normal thing to do and something that everyone already knew about. Apparently this isn't normal throughout the rest of Japan, because several of Oita's BOE officials were arrested and the rest of Japan appears shocked by this "scandal". The BOE officials from other parts of Japan have been saying things like, "The situation in Oita is simply unbelievable" and "That would never happen here."
Really? Is it only Oita that's like that? Could my view of Japan be totally skewed?
Since the "scandal" has come to light, investigators have discovered that about half of the teachers in Oita were certified because they had connections or gave gifts to officials. I don't want to use the word "bribe" because giving gifts in return for favor is a part of Japanese culture, and it's hard to distinguish when the line is crossed into "bribery". Perhaps it's just Oita where gift-giving is so freely done, but I do know that gift-giving is practiced all over Japan.
If you want something, it's quite normal to use your connections and say "yoroshiku onegaishimasu". There really isn't an English equivalent but in this case it could be translated to mean something like, "I trust that you'll treat me well" or "Please give me priority". And when you tack on Japan's gift-giving culture, it becomes really difficult to know what is "bribery" and what is an interaction between friends.
The investigators have stated that they're going to revoke the teaching licenses of those who are found to have used connections or "bribes" to pass the certification exam, but this is proving to be a difficult task because test results in Oita were deleted (apparently other places save them for 10 years). There is also a movement to have the certification of teachers be done in a way that isn't connected to the current Board of Education and can't be influenced by government officials.
It just so happens that the teacher certification exams were held this weekend. I guess this year everyone is on equal ground and no one can use their connections. Good for those with ability, not so good for those who were expecting to pass.
Having only ever lived in Oita, I've begun to wonder if what I think of as "Japanese culture" is really only the culture of my small section of Japanese countryside.
Here's one article about the scandal but it's only the bare-bones facts about what's happening. The news clips and long-discussions on TV are much more interesting.
One other thing I find interesting: my recent conversations with teachers almost always include some anecdote or information that would let me know that they got their certification without anyone's help. Yesterday a woman told me that she got her certification during Japan's "bubble period"; a time when there were so many well-paying jobs that few people aspired to be teachers and it was easy to pass the certification exams, suggesting that there wasn't a need for her to use connections. Another person mentioned how poor her family was growing up, suggesting that it would have been impossible to bribe anyone. I've been hearing lots of these stories lately.
Students have also been gossipping like crazy about which teachers probably used connections to get their jobs... "so-and-so isn't a very good teacher so probably passed the exam because of connections". Considering that half of them got their jobs through connections, I know a lot of people who are in danger of losing their teaching licenses. When school starts again in September, I'm curious to see who suddenly isn't there.
In Japan teachers are respected and their salaries are quite good, so it's natural for people to want to become teachers. Unfortunately, only a handful of people are allowed to pass the certification exams because of the few positions available, and the hundreds that don't pass continue taking the exam year after year hoping to one day pass. I've known so many people who knew what they were up against but kept trying anyway. It's especially difficult to become a high school teacher; a friend told me that only one person can be certified as a history teacher when a hundred people take the history certification test. The competition is compounded by the fact that there is an age limit to be certified as a teacher. I can't remember the exact age, but I think it was around 30, meaning that you have to be certified before then or give up (although you can still be a part-time teacher without passing the certification exam).
In the time that I've lived here, I've come to accept that having connections is more important than having qualifications. I've talked with so many people who have their jobs because their parents were friends with so-and-so or because a current employee recommended them for the job. Of course everyone goes through the application process, but the ones who have connections are chosen for the position. I've come to accept this as a normal part of Japanese culture. I could tell you dozens of examples... friends who knew they wouldn't get the job before going to the interview because someone at the company already recommended their friend, or companies that place ads for job openings with the implicit understanding that priority is given to those with connections to someone already working there. Many places don't even bother advertising, but simply ask the current employees if they know someone. Of course giving priority to people you know is natural and happens all over the world, but to a far greater extent here.
And I always thought that using these kinds of connections were simply a part of Japanese culture. But it seems that I may have been wrong. Is this only a part of Oita culture?
The scandal that has been plaguing Oita for these past couple weeks is in regard to teacher certification. A woman was arrested for giving out gift certificates in exchange for her children receiving priority in becoming certified as teachers. Then investigators discovered that the officials in charge of certifying new teachers routinely gave priority to friends and acquaintances, which I thought was a completely normal thing to do and something that everyone already knew about. Apparently this isn't normal throughout the rest of Japan, because several of Oita's BOE officials were arrested and the rest of Japan appears shocked by this "scandal". The BOE officials from other parts of Japan have been saying things like, "The situation in Oita is simply unbelievable" and "That would never happen here."
Really? Is it only Oita that's like that? Could my view of Japan be totally skewed?
Since the "scandal" has come to light, investigators have discovered that about half of the teachers in Oita were certified because they had connections or gave gifts to officials. I don't want to use the word "bribe" because giving gifts in return for favor is a part of Japanese culture, and it's hard to distinguish when the line is crossed into "bribery". Perhaps it's just Oita where gift-giving is so freely done, but I do know that gift-giving is practiced all over Japan.
If you want something, it's quite normal to use your connections and say "yoroshiku onegaishimasu". There really isn't an English equivalent but in this case it could be translated to mean something like, "I trust that you'll treat me well" or "Please give me priority". And when you tack on Japan's gift-giving culture, it becomes really difficult to know what is "bribery" and what is an interaction between friends.
The investigators have stated that they're going to revoke the teaching licenses of those who are found to have used connections or "bribes" to pass the certification exam, but this is proving to be a difficult task because test results in Oita were deleted (apparently other places save them for 10 years). There is also a movement to have the certification of teachers be done in a way that isn't connected to the current Board of Education and can't be influenced by government officials.
It just so happens that the teacher certification exams were held this weekend. I guess this year everyone is on equal ground and no one can use their connections. Good for those with ability, not so good for those who were expecting to pass.
Having only ever lived in Oita, I've begun to wonder if what I think of as "Japanese culture" is really only the culture of my small section of Japanese countryside.
Here's one article about the scandal but it's only the bare-bones facts about what's happening. The news clips and long-discussions on TV are much more interesting.
One other thing I find interesting: my recent conversations with teachers almost always include some anecdote or information that would let me know that they got their certification without anyone's help. Yesterday a woman told me that she got her certification during Japan's "bubble period"; a time when there were so many well-paying jobs that few people aspired to be teachers and it was easy to pass the certification exams, suggesting that there wasn't a need for her to use connections. Another person mentioned how poor her family was growing up, suggesting that it would have been impossible to bribe anyone. I've been hearing lots of these stories lately.
Students have also been gossipping like crazy about which teachers probably used connections to get their jobs... "so-and-so isn't a very good teacher so probably passed the exam because of connections". Considering that half of them got their jobs through connections, I know a lot of people who are in danger of losing their teaching licenses. When school starts again in September, I'm curious to see who suddenly isn't there.
Friday, July 11, 2008
St. Louis News
Before I came to Japan I lived in St. Louis, Missouri. I often think back on those times and wish I could relive them.
This week there was an article on a St. Louis news website that cracked me up. I'm not sure if the editor was ignorant or just plain mean, but here is the headline and photo beneath it:
Big chunk of history goes east
This deserves some kind of prize! If you feel like checking out the actual article it's about the baseball history archives being moved out of St. Louis to North Carolina. So if the article is about history archives, why does the photo focus on the woman in the background?
What a gem. I love news bloopers.
This week there was an article on a St. Louis news website that cracked me up. I'm not sure if the editor was ignorant or just plain mean, but here is the headline and photo beneath it:
Big chunk of history goes east
This deserves some kind of prize! If you feel like checking out the actual article it's about the baseball history archives being moved out of St. Louis to North Carolina. So if the article is about history archives, why does the photo focus on the woman in the background?
What a gem. I love news bloopers.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
The hole has healed
At first the hole in her chest was so deep that I thought it went into her lungs or something. Ever see those videos of when they put cameras down people's stomachs to look for polyps and stuff? The walls of the stomach look kinda moist and pinkish? That's what it looked like in her chest hole. But then the hole got shallower and shallower until there wasn't a hole there at all, and was just a bald spot covered with a scab. Then the scab fell off and the fur is slowly growing back. It looks like this now:
It doesn't hurt her when I touch it, and it's pretty cool because you can feel the heat emanating from her skin. She must be burning up in all that fur. No wonder she sleeps all the time. I would, too, if I had to wear a coat around in this summer heat.
Lately she likes sleeping belly-up, probably because it's so hot lately. I've been taking photos of her crazy sleeping positions... here it looks like she's stretching, but she was passed out.
Not very lady-like at all.
She especially likes sleeping with her head resting on a bump in the blanket or on some clothes, and one day I found her sleeping with her arms pushed into the folds of the blanket.
Sometimes when I look out into the garden she's waiting there for me, and gets up when she notices me peeking out the window. Sometimes she's sitting there with a friend.
It doesn't hurt her when I touch it, and it's pretty cool because you can feel the heat emanating from her skin. She must be burning up in all that fur. No wonder she sleeps all the time. I would, too, if I had to wear a coat around in this summer heat.Lately she likes sleeping belly-up, probably because it's so hot lately. I've been taking photos of her crazy sleeping positions... here it looks like she's stretching, but she was passed out.
Not very lady-like at all.
She especially likes sleeping with her head resting on a bump in the blanket or on some clothes, and one day I found her sleeping with her arms pushed into the folds of the blanket.
Sometimes when I look out into the garden she's waiting there for me, and gets up when she notices me peeking out the window. Sometimes she's sitting there with a friend.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
The cat has a hole in her chest!
Last week she was acting kind of weird but I couldn't figure out why. She wasn't coming to bed at night and I'd find her sleeping in places where she'd never slept before, like behind a pile of boxes or under the bed. She wouldn't let me pick her up and screamed at me if I tried.
A couple nights ago I came home to find pus on her chest fur. I figured she had a cold which is why she was so tired and acting weird, and her nose must have gotten runny or something. But then last night when I moved the fur away from the place she kept licking on her chest, there was a hole there!!!
Of course I grabbed the phone book right away and looked up a list of vets. A freaking hole in her chest! Not a good sign. I planned on taking her to the vet first thing in the morning, but was feeling panicky and got on-line to see what I could find.
It turns out "abscesses" are quite normal for cats. Really? With all the cats I used to have growing up, I've never seen a hole in any of them. Apparently if another cat scratches them and bacteria gets under the skin, their immune system blocks off that area and white blood cells rush in, creating a pus-filled ball that eventually bursts, leaving a gaping hole. It seems that once the pus leaves the body, the body can heal itself.
The different sites I found recommend taking your cat to the vet but once the pus ball has burst, you just have to wait until it heals. I felt much calmer after that, knowing that having a hole in her chest isn't life-threatening and that actually it's a sign that she's already on her way to recovery. So I didn't rush to the vet and went to work as usual.
When I came home she was back to her normal self; running all over the place and full of energy again. And the hole seemed shallower already. What a fast recovery. I'm so glad to see I was worried for nothing!
A couple nights ago I came home to find pus on her chest fur. I figured she had a cold which is why she was so tired and acting weird, and her nose must have gotten runny or something. But then last night when I moved the fur away from the place she kept licking on her chest, there was a hole there!!!
Of course I grabbed the phone book right away and looked up a list of vets. A freaking hole in her chest! Not a good sign. I planned on taking her to the vet first thing in the morning, but was feeling panicky and got on-line to see what I could find.
It turns out "abscesses" are quite normal for cats. Really? With all the cats I used to have growing up, I've never seen a hole in any of them. Apparently if another cat scratches them and bacteria gets under the skin, their immune system blocks off that area and white blood cells rush in, creating a pus-filled ball that eventually bursts, leaving a gaping hole. It seems that once the pus leaves the body, the body can heal itself.
The different sites I found recommend taking your cat to the vet but once the pus ball has burst, you just have to wait until it heals. I felt much calmer after that, knowing that having a hole in her chest isn't life-threatening and that actually it's a sign that she's already on her way to recovery. So I didn't rush to the vet and went to work as usual.
When I came home she was back to her normal self; running all over the place and full of energy again. And the hole seemed shallower already. What a fast recovery. I'm so glad to see I was worried for nothing!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Polygamy
Yesterday the topic of Mormons and polygamy came up in a conversation. The two mormons living in Oita City are extremely visible because they always ride around the city wearing white dress shirts and don bicycle helmets (people here don't wear helmets so if you want to stick out, wear a helmet). Every couple years two new Mormons come to replace the old ones to fulfill their missionary duties, and they always wear the same style of helmets and ride around the city on their bicycles so people probably don't realize that they're actually two new guys.
It seems some people have negative impressions of Mormons, but I've never met a Mormon I didn't like. They've always been really nice and considerate, and being Mormon didn't affect anything one way or another. In university I used to live with a couple Mormons, and they were so down-to-earth and friendly.
Apparently over the last couple years CNN has had a bajillion articles about the arrest of a Mormon leader and the disbanding of everyone on the ranch, but I just heard about it recently. The article I came across the other day suggested that the children were much better off on the ranch than being split up and sent to foster homes. I don't know much about the situation, but I found a hilarious video with a catchy tune that keeps replaying itself in my head.
It seems some people have negative impressions of Mormons, but I've never met a Mormon I didn't like. They've always been really nice and considerate, and being Mormon didn't affect anything one way or another. In university I used to live with a couple Mormons, and they were so down-to-earth and friendly.
Apparently over the last couple years CNN has had a bajillion articles about the arrest of a Mormon leader and the disbanding of everyone on the ranch, but I just heard about it recently. The article I came across the other day suggested that the children were much better off on the ranch than being split up and sent to foster homes. I don't know much about the situation, but I found a hilarious video with a catchy tune that keeps replaying itself in my head.
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