PLEASE keep celebrating! Don't stop!

For those of you that haven't yet read Finney's diary, mom's uncle passed away tonight. He was a frail man who was paralyzed most of his adult life with MS and recently had a heart attack and was diagnosed with lung cancer. He was in the hospital and for some reason was released and passed away tonight at home. Mom is very, very sad. And that's why we DON'T want you to stop helping me celebrate my wonderful week! Please Don't stop! We need this so bad. This is the 3rd close relative mom has lost in less than 5 months.

She's supposed to go tomorrow morning for her steroid shot, they had a cancellation. Now she doesn't know what is happening. Grammy and grampy are supposed to give her a ride home. I'm sure they still can. But anyways, the point is, she's very sad right now but does NOT want to stop celebrating my wonderful, wonderful and special week with all of you! That's the last thing she needs right now. Tomorrow is only Thursday, we still have a few days left of pawtying and having fun. So let's do that okay?

If there's anything mom has learned in this year especially, it's don't waste any time! Be with the ones you love and enjoy each other! Comfort her, love her and let her know you're there. Because we know you are all so terrific at doing that. You are a spectacular support system. But also don't stop coming here with me and laughing and having fun because that would be a dishonor to mom's uncle who never got the chance to do so many of the things we all do everyday.

But he is right now. He's flying and soaring and screeching across the sky like a shooting star! We know it! Mom would go nuts if she didn't have her friends here to turn to. She would literally be in a ball depressed. It's because of you all that she isn't. So thank you! I'm gonna go and find him now if I can. Maybe he can come and visit mom with me. She'd like that.

Luv you all
Alex and her family
XXOO

I must confess

I must confess something. Deep in my heart I always wanted to be COTW. Usually I don't care about accolades, my rewards are always seeing the smiles of my friends and knowing that kitties I help are healthy and happy. But I know that angels don't usually get COTW here. And maybe it's because Finney and Lacey are alive and with my momma, able to always show new pictures, new videos, new fun things about them. I cannot. I'm technically stuck in a time warp there on earth, even though here at the bridge, my afterlife experience has exceeded everything beyond my expectations.

The friends I've made here at the bridge and here on Catster have made all the difference in my short life there on earth and in my mommies heart it's helped to keep me alive. When I was alive we weren't here, we didn't have all these furriends, we knew very little people. I hope it does not make me a bad kitty for secretly wanting this honor. I think everyone wants to feel like a king or queen for a short time. And I know that I am very much loved and my friends are the most generous and appreciative with their kindness and support.

But I will say that I love making new friends this week, I like having everyone on my page enjoying themselves. I like for once being the PAWTY on Catster. Cause we know that Finney and Lacey sure know how to pawty, there's no question. But did you know that us angels can really ROCK THE BRIDGE? That's what my friend Hooch just said! He said "the bridge must be rockin' with joy!" And for sure it is. The number of angels here with me celebrating is amazing! If I named them all I wouldn't have any room left in my diary.

So I hope you forgive me for my confession, I think it's actually more important even to my mom but for the same reasons. And maybe, just maybe, there will be a kitty or two that needs our help and now knows where to go to find it because of this. That's truly the ultimate reward. OH!!!!!! And thank you to all the kitties making these pawsome pictures for me! FURRY FURRY KEWL!!!!

Thank you again! I love you all with every single tiny piece of my heart. PAWWWWWTYYYYY ON!!!! MOL!

CAT OF THE WEEK! I'm honored and blessed.

I better write a diary quick while mom has a free finger! MOL! The emails and pawmails are coming in fast and furious and what can we say!!! I am one lucky and happy angel and I'm thrilled to have so many of my friends to help me celebrate because it would not mean anything to me without all of you! We have had too much dismal stuff around here lately and not enough pawtying!

So here's my idea! The kitties here at the bridge can meet me for catnip champagne cocktails and the kitties here on Catster can help me by coming here to my diary and letting your fur down. Let's give thanks before Thanksgiving for each other and for still having this place to be together! My heart is aflutter with pretty butterflies that Queen Tallulah gave me and I'm feeling a little tipsy on all that champagne rolling in, whooey! MOL. But it's a great tipsy and I promise I can handle my catnip. MOL.

BTW, Lacey just barfed up all of her supper and a giant loogey hairball all over mom's freshly washed floor (just today she cleaned it). Doesn't mom know that's asking for this to happen? MOL! Poor Lacey. Full moon madness is setting in. She's a pain in the neck sometimes and doesn't ever shut up. Mom says she'll have to let Lacey sleep on her bed tonight or she'll knock the door down.

Here's to a great week for everyone! Thank you all for the love and support you always give to me and my family.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
-- Maya Angelou

The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.
-- Thich Nhat Hanh

A special and heartfelt thanks

Thank you to everyone who helped me celebrate my gotcha day yesterday. Don't worry about mommy, it was sad for a very brief moment when she was helping me write my diary. But she was okay after that. Still can't believe it was so long ago. Anyways, we want to say our thank yous to everyone and I hope we don't miss anybody!

Sweet angel Sally Maria for the crown (Sally, I didn't do much to help you become a good angel. You were already such a sweet and loving soul when you got here. I'm so honored you're here with me and I'm honored to have shared my gotcha day with your birthday).

Biggles & family - angel star
Kitty P., Harrison & angel Indy - angel star (I have so many angel furriends here).
My good friends Tink & Snow - rainbow star
Angels Misha & Marrakech & family for the rainbow
Norman & family for the adopt a kitty ribbon
Lovely Tabatha for the heart
Murray, Cindy Lou & family - heart
Lady, Baby & family for the blue ribbon
Bugsy, Annie Angelpants & family - red adoption ribbon
Luv bug Tigger for the heart
Skylar & family for the red ribbon
Casey & family for the rainbow
Nadia & Gump for the heart
Beepers & family for the red ribbon
Doggy Diamond (one of my souls I guard), Zach & family for the heart
Big Harry & family for the red ribbon
angel Skids kitty & family for the rainbow
Teebo, Callie & Rose for the rainbow
Angel Feisal for the rainbow
Macy & family - red ribbon
Luke & family for the heart
Artie & family for the rainbow
Sweet Bella & family for the heart
Athena & family for the trophy
Monster for the YUMMY CAKE!!!
The cornish crew for the lovely candle
and last but not least...Linus who is still missing for the fishbowl.

Look at all the wonderful friends we have. We're so so so lucky and we know it!!! We know it and we feel it with all of our hearts. We love that adopt a kitty red ribbon because everyone here on Catster is all about rescues and opening their hearts. That's what this community represents.

You know what would be the best present I could ever get? If Linus would go home to his family. That would make my gotcha day and every day the best ever. Linus, we haven't given up on you! I wish I could take all of these prezzies and make one big giant star to shine in the sky to light the way home for Linus and all the others who need one. That's what I'll do tonight! Linus! Look in the sky tonight, I'm lighting a giant candle star for YOU to find your way home!

Thank you all for loving us so much. We NEED YOU in our lives yesterday, today and everyday.

Luv with all of my angel heart
Alex

Gotcha day, update on my mommy, and my wonderful PURRFECT- friends

Hi everyone! Mommy is just getting a chance to sit down and write me a diary for my gotcha day. She said sometimes it feels like a dream with me. Like everything we went through together from the minute she called me her own, to the minute I left her. It was 8 years ago today that she took me in her arms and let herself be my mommy. Time has no boundaries and makes no sense. Sometimes it feels like it was yesterday and other times like it was a million years ago. Just writing this is hard, in the past she didn't like to acknowledge my gotcha day because it was just a reminder that I left her too soon. But it was the happiest day of both of our lives. And the second happiest will be someday when we can be together again and I can purr softly on her cheek, kiss her and nuzzle her. I want to thank all my wonderful friends for all the prezzies (which I will do personally by the weekend), but mostly for the lovely and sweet messages that go with them. It means the world to us and we don't know what we'd do without all of you to help make this day easier for us.

On another note, mommy went for her MRI last week. She went to the doctor this morning for a follow up and he said she's got disc ostephyte complex (bone spurs), but very mild. Hey Newman! Mommy has spurs if you need to borrow them for your cowboy outfit. MOL. He showed her the results and said they weren't too bad but you could see how one disc was much more inflamed than the others. They are going to do an epidural injection (steroid) but the soonest they can do it is not until the 14th of this month! JEEEEEZZ! She's been suffering long enough already! But he's a busy guy and doesn't do this stuff every day so she has to wait. They did put her on a cancellation list though. But he said that it should really take care of it and help alot because she responded to oral prednisone. So once this is all over he encouraged her to get some exercise and strengthen her back.

In the meantime she's been working hard on the website, helping other kitties, playing with Finney and Lacey more to make up for all that time she couldn't and trying to at least get outside while it's been nice out. It's super nice today! What a crazy snowstorm they had on earth over the whole northeast last weekend. That was nuts! Way too early. I tried to get old man winter to knock it off, I even went and pinched his bum with my fingernail. MOL. He didn't like that too much, no sense of humor. But he was out of line! All these nature gods and goddesses that head up the storms, the nice weather and everything, they all have their schedules mixed up. They need to stop this crazy weather stuff.

Anyways, that's it for now I think, nothing else much happening to talk about. Too many fleas here still lately so mom's just been getting other things done. But we wanted to thank everybody for helping us get through this day.

And Linus, please go home honey! PLEASE. (a note to Linus' mommy: he's NOT here at the bridge with us so don't stop looking!) I know it's greedy to want another miracle after we had so many lately. Specially with Ingen being found and going home. But we love Linus and his family just as much, we can't stand to see his family missing him. Miranda I hope you're eating more lately. I know you miss your brofur. I'm still looking for him honey, I'm not giving up!

Big whisker kisses to everyone!
Luv and smooches
Alex

Worth mentioning

I think I can do this here, I checked the guidelines and I think I'm okay. I know that so many of you are not on our newsletter for our website so you don't know that you can save money by going through our site to buy certain products. For instance, when purchasing food, treats, supplements, toys, etc., if you go through my website by clicking on any of the links OR the advertisements on the sides, you can still use the coupon codes in addition to any sales the website may be having. I’m sure with the holidays coming we’ll be able to offer some good deals and new coupons.

Even if you don’t buy anything that’s listed on my site, if you click on the ad and go through my site, we still get a commission for anything you’ve bought and you can still use the coupon. Still a win-win for all of us and you get some cool new kitty stuff! Right now Only Natural Pets is having a Halloween special on treats so you can go on our site, click on one of the treat products, links OR the advertisement with the coupon code and shop for anything you want, use the coupon code plus get the sale price as well. It's the same though for any of the other brands there.

Just something we thought we'd let you know about. Everyone is strapped big time for funds and yes, my mommy gets a VERY small commission (trust me it's not much at all) but these are ONLY products she's recommended as safe before and will continue to hold to that standard no matter what. Plus she's been doing this now for 3 years and has just now started this to help pay herself for expenses and all of that.

Also, if anyone would like to sign up for our newsletter we send out all kinds of feline health info, research links, recall notices, new products we like, etc. Your email address and info are blocked so no one but my mom sees them. Mom does not sell anyone's info to anybody EVER so no spam. You can go to the site and click on the Paws on the News button.

That's it but if you haven't seen Artie's diary about his story on my site, be sure and stop by to read it! Gosh we love that little guy. He's so cute it's nuts! MOL.
Life as an amputee. He really puts a smile on our faces and is such a positive story.

Did you know that Newman's Poopology! book is coming out Nov. 2nd? We cannot wait! I think we're going to be in it too! We all sure need to laugh these days so we're really looking forward to this. I KNOWWWWWWW there's a lot of juicy stories in there, EWWWWW. Did I just say JUICY?

Yes folks, even a dainty little angel like myself can get down in the muck with the best of 'em. MOL!!! And NO I don't need another DDP just cause I said POOPY! 3 is enough now. MOL. Give it to Newmie or better yet, to Inky for his diary on Manboobs!

Angel Alex over and out
www.ibdkitties.net

Thank you for 2 days of DDPs and please read important info!

Please go to Colette'sdiary and read this very important information. I had a feeling Catster was being hacked instead of the normal fleas. If anyone gets anymore nasty comments or anything weird or suspicious, please do not delete it! Follow Colette's instructions and send it to HQ. Crazy person out there has to mess with the one place we all feel safe, it's just not right.

On that note, THANK YOU FOR 2 DAYS IN A ROW OF BEING A DDP! MOL! I'll send out thank you's personally as soon as I get a chance. Mom is still having a hard time getting around and getting anything done due to severe pain so if we don't get to it immediately please know we will, I promise!

Thanks everyone! It was only a couple of days but WOW did we miss the diaries! We are SOOOOO addicted. MOL.

Purrs needed for our friend Hunter

We need some big time purrs for Hunter. He ate some Lucky Bamboo and his mom is on the way to the ER with him. Lucky Bamboo is NOT a true bamboo but a member of the lily family called (Dracaena) which is extremely toxic. It can cause salivation, kidney failure, dilated pupils, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.

Our moms live about 25-30 minutes away from each other. They were supposed to go to lunch and meet soon but mom hurt her back and all of that. My mom left Hunter's mom our phone # but she might have left before seeing it. Please purr he's okay and if anyone is ever unsure about plants just don't have them in your house!!! Please!! It's not worth it!

Update: since I can't even comment in my own diary and no one else can either, I'll let you all know that Hunter is home and the ER wasn't much help to his mom. They basically said because he's not showing any symptoms to watch him closely and if he starts to throw up or have diarrhea bring him in ASAP. They did try to make him vomit and he wouldn't. I was going to delete this diary but I think the subject matter is too important so I'm leaving it up in hopes it helps someone avoid anything like this.

Emergency purrs for a peaceful crossing

Mom and I were shocked this morning to receive an email from our good friend Purrcy's momma. We've become friends over this last year because of Purrcy's health conditions. We've shared the emotional roller coaster ride of it all. The relief when things were looking up, the tears when things were looking grim. Now we are about to share something I wish we never would.

Purrcy has developed lymphoma and will be crossing over to join me here at the bridge today. He's been through ENORMOUS amounts of problems with his health. He had been doing well for awhile though. As a matter of fact he went camping with his family this summer. They were supposed to stop to see my mom on their way up north to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Things were busy and for whatever reason it didn't happen. Mom wishes now it had so she could have given Purrcy a hug and some kisses. Now it's up to me to do that.

There's always some painful times here on Catster and this summer certainly has seen it's share. I have to say that if it hadn't worked out so well with Ingen I think we'd all have gone nuts with grief. Thank goodness for that because without that balance of at least having some hope and happiness, it would just be too much.

Momma doesn't know the exact details yet as Purrcy's momma is just too distraught to talk about it. But we do know that she and Purrcy have gone above and beyond to fight his illnesses so this must be pretty bad for her to say it's time. She has always said that if he was suffering too much, she would let put her own feelings aside and let him go. That's what we do as parents, we put our feelings of heartbreak aside.

I love that boy. When we first joined here he was one of my first friends. He wrote such funny diaries, we laughed so hard all the time, it was a joy to read them. That hasn't happened in a long time now.

Please purr for my handsome, polydactyl, Maine Coon friend. Purr he has a peaceful journey here and purr his mom is surrounded by warmth, comfort and peace. If you'd like to read Purrcy's story on my website, here's his page: Purrcy.

I'll be waiting for you Purrcy, the angels are getting ready for you. Luv you
Alex
XXOO

Hello and goodbye

Don't worry, it's not us! MOL. Ingen is home as most of you know! Thank catness that turned out so well because there is always so much sadness and so many passings. Which unfortunately brings me to this. Norman's sisfur Fay, passed away. She was in respiratory distress and her loving meowmy couldn't stand to let her suffer anymore. Please go and give them support as I know only a true Catster can. She's heartbroken.

My mommy went to physical therapy today and is hurtin' pretty bad tonight. She'll live but she's feeling tired and her stupid doctor called in some dumb pills that were SUPPOSED to be her pain meds and they weren't. So tonight she had to call the on call doc to get the regular ones. Then tomorrow she gets to call her doctor and do this all over again. She says she feels like she's living at the drug store!

Full moon tonight and it's been messing with the computer all day too. Although right now Finney is back in his warm bed that he hasn't been in all summer. And he's doing that super duper cute kneading stuff. He's so funny, he gets into it big time! His back legs stick up while he's doing it and he's all purring loud and stuff, MOL. Mom's getting a kick out of watching him, makes her smile! She thanks me every day for sending Finney and Lacey to her to help with all these day to day things that can be trying.

It's cold and raw at mom's corner of the earth today so she's gonna take a hot shower and cuddle with her babes in the warm bed and watch tv. Cannot say enough how happy we are that Ingen is home! We love you guys! Poor little Novi wants to play with her and she's so confused right now. Don't worry sweetie, she's had a rough couple of weeks. She'll be okay, I promise.

I need some rest too now. Even angels get pooped with all this work! MOL. Night night little furballs!