I’m allergic to cats.
Hahahahahahah. Oh, man. That’s pretty precious, right? More on that later.
I’ve had a lot on my mind lately, stuff I can’t really talk about here because I’ve still got some sorting out to do. No, I’m not pregnant and seriously, if one more person suggests it, whether online or in person (I’ve put on some weight, yes. But it’s cheese and beer not a goddamned baby, okay?) I’m going to completely lose my composure and do something… well, very un-composed. TAKE THAT.
Because I’ve been so distracted, I’ve been a little more tweety lately, so if you want to read me wax brilliant on the company potty, toothpaste and diamonds, that’s where you can go to get your fix.
Otherwise, I’ve been spending my internet time planning home improvements I can’t afford and stalking a Kate Spade handbag, waiting for it to go on sale for many, many fewer dollars. The home improvements thing is kind of lather rinse repeat, but the bag thing is new. I’m not usually one to lust after labeled luxury goods (I happily wear Target shoes and spend more money getting them resoled than I actually spent on them in first place) but that’s how you know it’s love, right? I saw this bag and then the heavens opened and fat little angels sang me a song about how if I owned it, all my troubles would cease. And I believe them. However, having spent upwards of a thousand dollars in the last month or two on cats who do not even live with us I’m fairly certain that if I buy that bag and it’s not at a screaming deal, I’m going to have a screaming husband. Or a sulking one. You know. He’s been so patient with the cat lady thing, I can’t even tell you. Probably because I warned him that for every time he watched his recordings of the NBA finals I would rescue another kitten. And he’s WAY up on that count.
And, we’re back to the part where I realize I’m allergic to cats but it never came up because Hal (Sir Halitosis Maximus, the Grand Duke of Bad Breath) has some protein in his saliva that makes it stink like death and goat cheese and sweaty teenage boys which also counteracts the dander and blah blah, he’s essentially hypoallergenic. Midge is not. And she’s going to learn to love baths.
Good to hear from you. Unscented baby butt wipes — the ones in the diaper section of store — are excellent for cat bathing. Buy yourself one of those dust/surgical masks they sell at hardware & drug stores when you bathe her or engage in any other activities which may make fur fly. I suspect I’m mildly cat allergic as well, but I also have mold and grass allergies, so I pop a Zyrtec daily, thereby covering all bases.
I just clicked on the twitter birdy; I will follow you to the ends of the internet. Not in a stalkery way.
Huh. That’s really interesting about Hal. When my boyfriend moved in with me and my “original” cat, he didn’t really have a problem with her. Some mild sniffling, but no full on allergies. However, he can’t even pet the cat we adopted a few years ago without his eyes watering and running to get the allergy meds. I wonder if Gabby (cat 1.0) has this mysterious protein as well.
Is there something you can bathe Midge in that will help the allergies? Also – LOVE the shot of her in the dryer. That’s my adorable for the day!
I hear you on the pregnancy thing. Just after our marriage, I put on about ten pounds and my boss asked me if I was pregnant. She claimed it was because I had a “healthy glow” but I know it was my expanding waistline. People just assume that as soon as you’re married you”ll have kids. It annoys me to no end. Even nine years later, I swear my boss still sneaks covert glances at my stomach when we are talking.
I’m allergic to dogs. I have two. This is my second set of two since I discovered I’m allergic. Baths, shots and minimal carpeting will help. Good luck!
Hee hee, pretty funny (and oddly prophetic) that the label on the dryer in which Midge is resting says “Clean After Each Use”. I think the baby wipes idea is great, though you will have to go to Target incognito with a hat and large sunglasses so nobody will see you in the baby aisle!
My fiancée is allergic to cats and we found something called Allerpet that is great. Its specially made to get the dander and saliva off of their fur. Just wipe your cat down and you’re good to go. It’s safe for kittens too. Good luck.
Which Kate Spade bag? My friend’s mom accidentally bought two Tarrytown Quinn bags in Porcelain and was looking to sell the second one at a reduced price. Really. Let me know if you’re interested.
That’s an expensive accidental purchase! Nah, it’s like the vanston butterfly something. It has this happy, so happy yellow interior. Precious.
I just looked up the bag – wow, that would definitely lift my spirits! I love when purses have that surprise pop of color.
Right?? Totes adorbs, as my friend Jen would say. But lordy, who pays that much for a bag? Okay, people do. But not this people.
Well, it is on sale:)
http://www.katespade.com//designer-handbags/fabric-purses/vanston-butterfly-jacon/PXRU2602,default,pd.html?dwvar_PXRU2602_color=017&start=25&cgid=handbags&q=catalog&navid=search
Uh, yeah, but not enough for this girl! That’s our electric bill in July. heh.
Even cheaper….
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Kate-Spade-Black-Cream-Handbag-Purse-Tote-Bag-Jackson-Vanston-Butterfly-/290607675610?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item43a99138da#ht_4351wt_974
…and no sales tax!
(my frugal self does not condone the purchase of this bag, but if you’ve gotta have it, that’s a damn good deal on kate spade!)
ooh! i vote etsy-alchemy! maybe you could get some crafty person to create you a similar bag at a better price – yellow interior and all
Children are the small miracles we celebrate. Once they stop pooping and puking on the floor and bringing home all kinds of infectious diseases we thought we’d never get again from those filthy little beggars in the fourth grade and once they stop slouching on the sofa while they roll their 13-year-old eyes and exclaim “God, Dad, whatever!” And once they graduate from some expensive college you never heard of with a degree in cross-cultural bioareonomics (“Because I want the Earth to be a better place.”)and once they stop bringing little Otto and Madison over for a week while they snorkel off Aruba and you have two pooping, puking babies again. So, yeah, go get pregnant. Enjoy!
I love both my children to death! Truly.
Have you tried any allergy medicine? I know it is a silly question, but I just thought I would throw it out there.
And, it is reassuring that it is *just* cat allergies and not something more serious. (I do realize this is pretty serious for you.)
Ha ha….Sir Halitosis Maximus, the Grand Duke of Bad Breath, love that! Things will get better and soon, I am sure of it.
Speaking of home improvements – check out this blog. Younghouselove.com. Crafty DIY home improvement for those of us on a budget.
I am allergic to both of my dogs. I seem to have developed a bit of an immunity but cats are a whole different story. However this may explain why certain cats don’t bother me!
Zyrtec baby. Best. Invention. EVAH. I have two cats as well, Brennan, who I was only very mildly allergic to when I brought him home as a kitten and Lillie, who I am VERY allergic to all the time. She came to live with me for a summer break while her mother went home to Indiana. Well mom came back and Lillie is still here
So yeah..I own stock in zyrtec. My students know that if I am sniffly and sneezy and my eyes are puffed up, it’s her fault and I’m out of drugs.
I’m allergic to cats as well, and I have four. I’m a glutton for punishment, I guess, but I wouldn’t trade them for the world, so I guess that makes me a super duper crazy cat lady. Anyway, I’ve read somewhere that it’s the cat’s pH that determines whether a particular person will be allergic to a particular cat. I’ve no clue if it’s true, but it explains why so many of us seem to have such varied reactions to different kitties.
I am allergic to my cat as well. Her thoughts? ‘That’s a human problem, not a cat problem.’ Meow.
Good luck with the kitty baths. Take video. =D
that’s wild about Sir Hal being hypo allergenic. the world is very strange
good luck with Midge’s baths!
So I was going through the blogs in my google reader the other day, trying to pare them down to the ones I actually read, when I came across This Fish. Suddenly realizing I hadn’t read one in a while, I did a quick google search where I realized that I’d neglected to update the reader. But worry not – I’m all caught up and enjoying the blog as much as I ever did!
Midge is a complete doll. Strangely enough I have basically the same story to tell. Feeding the mother on the back porch… hits the kitten any time she tries to eat the food I’ve put out… rescue the kitten… get the mom spayed and adpoted. Almost verbatim. I named mine Peur (french for afraid) cause she’s a scardy cat. Also similar… they look almost exactly alike… Took my older cat a while to warm up but now they sit on the same seat licking the spots the other one can’t reach.
Anywho… sorry for the long comment but congrats on the wedding and the house. I’m looking forward to being better about keeping up on the blog!
Bathing, huh?
I know there is extensive information on kitty bathing all over the internet. But most of it is illustrated or cartooned. I suspect it’s because kitties being bathed generally dislike the concept and express that in ways that leave the one doing the bathing with a few less body parts.
This comment has nothing to do with kitties. But I saw this video and thought “It must be shown to ThisFish….she’s probably seen it already. But what if she hasn’t! The internets would never forgive me.” So: http://youtu.be/BxhqVrbixZc
Pure. Awesome.
Waaah. You are hardly ever ‘here.’ Dooce is boring. Stephanie K. is what–racist? judgmental? boring? perpetually dissatisfied and judgmental? boring? You, Fish, who introduced me to these women and yourself as FUN reading on the interwebs and my children were in awe that their Mommy read Blogs! What am I left with? Pioneer Woman? I miss you.
Amen – Lena…I was thinking the exact same thing! We miss you Fish!