The Kat House

BlogsWeLuv is back! Other commitments had kept Mike and I from updating the site in recent months. Mike is still busy with other projects and will not be available to work with BlogsWeLuv, but I will attempt to carry the torch singlehandedly!

There are several new posts on the site, and I’m sure you’ll find at least one blog you love there. Check it out, and be sure to read about how you can have your blog featured as well.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I will be blogging from 9 AM July 25th until 9 AM July 26th to benefit the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. A $25 Books-A-Million gift card will be given away during the final hour of the event.

Thanks to some wonderful friends, you will now have the opportunity to win even more great prizes.

Mark Sierra from Darn Good Reviews has donated a free blog review. The winner will receive lots of free publicity for their site, as well as some great tips for improvement. There’s also a nifty little badge you can post on your site to show off your review!

J. Paul Mashburn of Mushy’s Moochings was kind enough to donate a copy of his book, The Laugh & Times of Mushy. The book is a compilation of posts from his blog. “It covers his life from birth forward, and takes us through the building of his life values. His hope is that what he ‘borrowed from life’ will help others. The short chapters cover childhood in rural Tennessee, his ‘nine first days of school’, during his first twelve years of education, to his four years in the Air Force, including a year in Vietnam during the early years of the war. The author also allows us inside his mind as he experiences the ups and downs of everyday life – marriage, divorce, the loss of pets, friends, and family. Mushy was and is a ‘Boomer’ who loves life, and lived it large, and he has given us the documented proof of what it was like to be a child of the sixties!”

Please consider making a pledge to support the lifesaving work of the UT College of Veterinary Medicine. Everyone making a pledge will be entered into the prize drawings! Thanks for your support! I hope you will all keep me company during the Blogathon!

You may recall that I participated in Blogathon 2007, blogging for 24 straight hours to benefit The Glaucoma Foundation. I am excited to say that I will be participating in Blogathon 2009 as well, and I’ll be posting right here on The Kat House! The big event will begin at 9 AM EDT on Saturday, July 25 and will continue through 9 AM EDT on Sunday, July 26. I have chosen a charity very near and dear to my heart – The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.

The UT College of Veterinary Medicine was established in 1974 and is one of only 28 veterinary colleges in the nation. In addition to educating tomorrow’s veterinarians, the college also provides specialized medical services to the public, conducts research to help pets live longer and healthier lives, protects public health, and performs a number of services to the community. For more information on the specific services offered by the college, be sure to check out their website.

My dogs have both been patients at UT, so I can testify to the outstanding level of care the college provides. They cured Molly of her recurring ear infections and developed a treatment plan to effectively manage her Cushing’s Disease. Cruella was diagnosed with cancer more than two years ago. She is now cancer free and visits UT’s oncology department every few months to ensure that she stays that way. UT also saved Cruella from near fatal bouts with peritonitis and Addison’s Disease. I can say without a doubt that my dogs wouldn’t be with me right now if it weren’t for the amazing doctors and students at the UT College of Veterinary Medicine.

I do hope that you all will choose to hang out with me during Blogathon 2009. I will be posting at least once every 30 minutes for the full 24 hours. I urge you to support my efforts by making a pledge to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. In appreciation for your donation, you will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card from Books-A-Million. The drawing will be held during the final hour of Blogathon. Thanks for your support!

When I heard that Andy Andrews would be participating in a “Tweet the Author” session today on Twitter, I immediately made plans to attend. After reading The Noticer, I was full of questions for the author. Not to mention, good reasons to leave work early are few and far between!

The chat was very insightful, and I learned lots of interesting facts about The Noticer and its author! Andy’s first book, The Traveler’s Gift, spent 17 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List. I had no idea that it had been rejected by 51 publishers before it was finally accepted by Thomas Nelson after more than three years! What a testament to the power of persistence!

I am happy to say that Andy answered my own questions during the one hour chat. Behold – the conversation between ChattieKat and AndyAndrews!

ChattieKat @AndyAndrews I was inspired by Jones’ words about choosing a life mate and how to pick up on the “leaves” that others drop. #thenoticer

AndyAndrews @ChattieKat The leaves illustration came to me directly from Jones. It has served me incredibly well through the years. #thenoticer

ChattieKat @AndyAndrews I loved Jones’ definition of wisdom. What tips can you offer to help us become wise? #thenoticer

AndyAndrews @ChattieKat #thenoticer read purposefully, ask good questions, pray w/ passion & expectation

ChattieKat @AndyAndrews Do you think Jones is still around? How do you think he’d feel about inspiring such a life-changing book? #thenoticer

AndyAndrews @ChattieKat #thenoticer he would think it was cool. Jones is still a “presence” in my life the same way my parents are

ChattieKat @AndyAndrews Any upcoming TV appearances? #thenoticer

AndyAndrews @ChattieKat #thenoticer probly. I’m sry I dont know wht’s going on in my own life professionally, but we R having chicken on the grill 2nite

ChattieKat @AndyAndrews We’re all invited over for chicken, right? #thenoticer

AndyAndrews @ChattieKat #absolutely it’s BYOB (Bring Your Own Bird)!

The chat was so much fun! The only challenge was limiting your messages to 140 characters! As you can clearly see from this brief exchange, this bestselling author is extremely down to earth. He enjoys interacting with his fans on both Twitter and Facebook. If you’re interested in reading the chat in its entirety, you can do so by searching #thenoticer on Twitter.

And now, I bid you a fond farewell. Gotta drive to Nashville for dinner at Andy’s house!

After hearing all the buzz about The Noticer by Andy Andrews, I couldn’t resist stopping by Books-A-Million last weekend to pick up a copy. I was blown away. I’ve read many books over the years, but this is one of the best – perhaps the best.

A blend of autobiography, fiction, and inspiration, The Noticer is the story of a mysterious old man named Jones with the extraordinary ability to “notice” things that others overlook. He enters the lives of numerous people in seemingly hopeless situations, and he gives them a new outlook. Their desperation gives way to opportunity, and their lives are forever changed.

I found this book to be particularly engaging, as it deals with a variety of life situations that we can all relate to. From choosing a life mate to struggling with divorce, from facing bankruptcy to contemplating suicide, there is no situation that is too big for Jones – or for us. All it takes is a little perspective.

After reading the book, I was curious as to just how much of it was based on actual events. I watched several interviews with the author and was surprised to discover that he had once been homeless, and his life had indeed been changed by a noticer named Jones. Have a listen for yourself.

Fans of The Noticer will be happy to know that the book has its own Facebook group. Andy Andrews also has a Facebook page where he regularly dispenses bits of wisdom and inspiration.

Andy, I’d like to thank you for using your God-given talents to give me and so many others a little perspective!

My buddy Rick threatened to start an intervention if I didn’t create a new post.  The thought of this man organizing a group of Kat House readers to convince me that I can no longer allow my blog to wither into nothingness is not a pleasant one.  So after a bittersweet blogging absence, I have returned to the keyboard!

I now face the task of deciding on a topic for this post.  I could talk about the dogs and how great they are both doing.  I could tell you about the latest book I’ve read, or the new recipes I’ve tried.  I could tell you about the upcoming retirement of my pastor, or the fact that I’ve recently become addicted to Facebook.  I could write about the guy I recently met and his vow to make sure I’m wearing underwear if I ever need to be rushed to the hospital.

In fact, I believe I’ll write about all those things – in due time.  But for now, I’ll just pick on Rick.

I’ve known Rick for a few years now.  He has been a loyal Kat House reader for quite some time.  He also reads the many random posts I make on Facebook.  And he peeks in on my MySpace page from time to time too – though there’s never anything new to see there.  Rick is one of those friends who mysteriously showed up one day, and I just can’t imagine what life would be like if he hadn’t.

I can’t mention Rick without telling you how great of an artist he is.  His company, Imagination Atmospheres, creates amazing airbrush murals and themed environments.  And take a look at this amazing portrait of Jesus that Rick painted just yesterday!

All that, and the man even has his own blog!  Of course, it hasn’t been updated since April 25th!

I think it’s time for an intervention.

After spending nearly two years engrossed in books dealing with human resources, it has been nice to get back to reading for the pure enjoyment of it. So far this year I’ve read three books, and I’m working on a fourth.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, “The Shack” by William P. Young was fantastic. It involves one man’s encounter with God after experiencing the loss of his young daughter. I would recommend it to anyone who has ever questioned just why God allows such horrible things to happen. Though a work of fiction, this book does an outstanding job of explaining the true nature of God.

You’ve probably heard of “The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch. Randy was a Carnegie Mellon professor who was asked to deliver a “last lecture”, passing on the wisdom he had acquired in life as if it would be his last opportunity to do so. Shortly before giving his lecture, Randy was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given only months to live. He gave his lecture, and it became his legacy. You can watch the lecture in its entirety on YouTube. The book is an excellent companion to the video.

“The Christmas Sweater” by Glenn Beck is a wonderfully written story of a young boy who prays for a new bike for Christmas. Instead, his mother gives him a handmade sweater that resembles one she couldn’t afford to buy at Sears. Eddie tosses his “stupid, handmade, ugly sweater” on the floor and insults his mother. Shortly thereafter, she is killed in a tragic accident. Eddie is left with pain and regret, but eventually discovers faith, forgiveness, and the importance of family. This book is based on Beck’s own childhood experience that took him more than 30 years to feel comfortable sharing.

I am currently reading “Lost and Found” by Jacqueline Sheehan. I’ll give a full report when I’m finished, but for now I’ll just say that it’s everything I was hoping it would be – except for the one typo I found.

So what have you read recently that you’d recommend?

I consider myself to be a pretty open person. In most situations, I’ll say exactly what is on my mind. But when it comes to men, I just can’t bring myself to say three very important words – “I’m not interested”.

Context is key. I am more than willing to say I’m not interested in watching the football game. But being asked for a date by a guy I’m not attracted to poses a serious problem. How can I say “I’m not interested” without coming across as a jerk?

Let’s face it. Saying “I’m not interested” just isn’t polite. In fact, I believe it to be synonymous with several other not so polite phrases.

“You’re not my type.”

“I’m not attracted to you.”

“You’re ugly.”

Despite all efforts to provide an honest reply to a date request, I often hear myself making an excuse – usually the boyfriend excuse. Sometimes I really do have a significant other – or at least an insignificant other. Other times it’s just a flat out lie.

So if honesty really is the best policy, why does it feel so wrong in situations such as this? And what’s a woman like myself to do when asked out by an uninteresting man?

I’ve been seeing commercials for online pet pharmacies for several years now, and I wish I had taken them seriously a long time ago. I never realized until recently just how much you money could save by using them.

I transferred a few prescriptions to Doctors Foster and Smith late last year, and I saved a bundle when I did. I later transferred the others.

You may recall that Cruella requires an injection of Percorten every 25 days. I was paying $133 per injection at the vet’s office. By ordering the medication from Doctors Foster and Smith, I was able to save $18 per injection. Now I’m saving even more.

I belong to a Yahoo Group for owners of dogs with Addison’s Disease. The other members informed me that they are paying even less for their injections by ordering from 1-800-PetMeds. I checked into it, and sure enough. The cost of Cruella’s injection has now gone from $115 to $89!

My online pharmacy experience is limited to Doctors Foster and Smith and 1-800-PetMeds. The service has been great with both, but there are some pretty big differences between the pharmacies.

Doctors Foster and Smith has free shipping on all prescription items, no matter how small the order. My orders usually arrive within 3-4 days. Every order includes a fact sheet about each medication. Doctors Foster and Smith will not price match another pharmacy.

1-800-PetMeds offers free shipping for all orders over $39. I’ve ordered from them three times already, and each order arrived in only 2 days. They do not send a fact sheet with each medication, but they do include some sort of freebie with every order. Two of my orders included a huge dog biscuit, and the other included a sample of Greenies Pill Pockets. 1-800-PetMeds will price match any other online pharmacy. They offer automatic discounts upon checkout, and they send very generous coupon codes to you by email.

As I mentioned, my experience with both companies has been fantastic, but I’ve been relying more on 1-800-PetMeds lately due to the price match feature. I am saving $616 per year on just the Percorten! When you add the other medications, it’s probably $1,000 or more!

If you have pets and are purchasing their meds through a local veterinarian, you owe it to yourself and your pocketbook to look at the alternatives.

My posting has been sporadic at best for the past few months, and for that I apologize. My life has been full, with lots to report, but I just haven’t had much time to put it into words. May this post be the first of many to come!

Having spent the past two years focusing on my career, my goal for 2009 is to focus on the personal aspects of my life – in particularly, achieving true happiness with where and what I am. I’ve made a lot of changes, and though I’ve certainly had my share of setbacks, I must say that life is good.

After a long break from church, I am attending on a regular basis again. I never lost my faith, but I guess I chose to ignore it for a while. It’s great to be back in the company of God and other Christians.

I’ve done a lot of reading lately. I recently finished The Shack by William P. Young. It’s the story of a man whose young daughter is murdered. Several years later, Mack is still living in a great state of depression, wondering how God could allow such a thing to happen. Imagine his surprise when he gets a letter from God – an invitation to spend the weekend with Him. And what a weekend it is! Mack gets to experience the true nature of God and discovers that He has always been there – even during those moments of unspeakable pain. The Shack is an incredible book that I will certainly read again one day.

I’m currently reading The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. Next will be Amish Grace by Donald Kraybill, Steven Nolt, and David Weaver-Zercher.

I’ve been working out with a personal trainer for the past three months, and I’m seeing great results. My lean muscle mass has increased, my body fat has decreased, and my strength, balance, and flexibility have greatly improved. On top of that, I’m having a blast!

In other news, somebody decided to have a little fun by sending me to the pokey! Yes, yours truly will be going to jail to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. I have until March 26th to raise my bail, which is set at $1,275. Counting both online and offline donations, I have collected $235. I still have a long way to go! If you’d like to make a donation to the MDA, you may do so by clicking here. Any help would be greatly appreciated!