Its funny...but mean?

The picture will make sense in a few paragraphs.

I had a wicked migraine yesterday - almost totally incapcitated at a friend's church, full blown in a very short time.

So when I got home to my own bed and bathroom I was so relieved. And I saw the flashing light on the phone saying there was a message and I saw that it was my mother-in-law.

I wanted to ignore it. But I also know that in this state I often start to obsess about words and images and things (I can't explain it really). I knew through the fitful beginning of sleep I would wonder and dream about that unknown message. So I checked it.

"Clifford is there an accident?" Long pause. I'm thinking context would be helpful right about now. "Your sister was supposed to be here at 11:00 and she is still not here". She left the message at 2:30 and it is already almost 3:00. No point in phoning back because I can't answer the question and figure she will sit tight or call Clifford at work.

Expecting hubby home at 4:00 I was surprised to wake up at 6:00 p.m. with him coming in the door. "Where where you". "Well....I got a call from 13 Division". I said "let me guess, your mom wanted to know if your sister was in an accident." He was amazed at my psychic ability during a migraine until I explained there was a message.

Sadly, I didn't return the call and my mother-in-law managed to walk a number of city blocks to 13 Division. Who called my husband at work indicating that they had left a message for his sister and could he pick up his mom. They really wanted to get a police car to drive her home but they were all tied up. They thought she was "cute".

Upon arriving home, the sister called. She never said she was coming for sure. There was no plan for 11:00 a.m. She didn't pick up the phone because she had a migraine. My mother-in-law insisted that someone called and said "they were coming up". After doing last number called it was determined that someone downstairs at the apartment board accidentally called the wrong apartment number and it was answered with the assumption that is must be her daughter calling.

She also insisted that C didn't pick up the messages she left on his cell phone. He patiently showed her the display to show that he had not received any calls from her number.

On the one hand I feel somewhat badly that she had this scare. On the other hand this is a typical story involving my in-laws. There is always drama, death, destruction which is cleared up with a few phone calls and common-sense. We once got a call late at night that C's brother had taken off from his sister's place threatening suicide. We were first married and I was appalled at the lack of concern from my husband. I later learned, after driving half of Toronto and visiting the scuzziest bars that this is just another day in the life of his family. The more you react to the drama they more they reoccur. We didn't find him. But he is still alive.

And again I wonder how the woman who can barely make it across the church hall to pour her own coffee can make it to the police station which is quite a healthy walk.

Cat Scan

I realise in talking to a friend that I am a horrible person. Well by using her as a guideline.

See, if my cat gets sick, I have a mental number in my head as to how much I will spend before I choose to let the cat "go". I'm thinking 500 bucks. After that the cat is on her own. She balked at paying 3000 because she didn't have the money. I think if she had it she would have done it - and that was with no guarantee that cat would survive.

Now this is really shocking to a lot of people. But I can't see spending anymore then that on a cat that is already old and when they can rarely guarantee that the cat will survive the treatment. Once they require investigative medicine you have hit the 500 mark.

Vets don't like this much either. They want to cure the cat not kill it. If you don't own an animal you may not realise how far vet medicine has gone - there are not cat scans, x rays, teeth cleaning, IV's, and exploratory surgery. An overnight stay costs quite a bit too. I'm not sure that we have gone the route of life support - yet. I can just imagine the court battles over Boots and his right to die/live.

I worked with a lady that had to take her cat in once every 6 months for kidney dialysis. I thought she was joking. I can't imagine the cost and I wonder how the cat felt?

We had one cat that we put on an IV - it was awful - he was so upset having his foot bandaged up with a splint and of course you can't explain it to the cat.

Now before you send me angry responses, realise that all of the cats that I have owned in Toronto came from the shelter or from someone who didn't want them - and they have all been adults that are difficult to get someone to adopt. So I did save one of their lives!