thoughts2

October 29, 2001

                                    .......... IDIOSYNCRASIES..........
                                                and obsessions
        Lately, I have been thinking a lot of my own and other's peculiar ~idiosyncrasies~.
                              I thought you may want to hear some of mine.
             >If you have some strange and peculiar habits or obsessions, please write to me!<

Here are some strange "idio-ump"s:

* I love magazines, but I absolutely detest having them half full of advertising...complete pages that seem to overwhelm the book. The first thing I do when I receive my magazines is to settle down with the book And a small trash can or plastic bag. I remove all of the CARDS that are stuck within the pages throughout and trash them, not giving them a second glance. Before I so much as read the index content or even scan through for articles, I proceed to start from page one, seeking out ONLY the full page ads. If they have another full page ad on the reverse side, OUT it comes and into the trash! If the reverse side is a short one-page article or something of little interest to me, I may read it, may not, but out it comes. I go through the entire magazine, removing all of the advertising that I possibly can and THEN I proceed to enjoy the magazine that I have purchased. Call me obsessive. ( this chore is usually done in the bathroom in my house, by the way...)

* hmmm....loading the dishwasher. First of all, of course, I must hand wash all of the dishes and pots and pans. Then the placement has to be perfect. Each plate and pot has it's own spot, even the smallest bowl and cup know where they belong by now and are practically
"trained" to leap into it's proper place! All spoons (of one size, of course), go into one section, knives in another, etc.,etc., while all wooden handled knives are hand washed and laid out on the counter to dry, (each side-by-side,with the blade facing the same direction). Call me crazy.

* laundry....oh, I am REALLY obsessed here...all clothes have to be carefully and neatly folded one by one as they are removed from the dryer. Much care and detail goes into this! Then they are piled up on a chair in my room, or a table top, or the wicker basket, where they remain until worn. Of course, I must at times search through the pile, so that most neatly folded items are equally as carefully thrown around, unfolded, and soon become a mountain of mixed colors and lovely looking rags by the end of the week. (I haven't been in my closet for months!) This NEW method came into affect after I became disabled.

* CATS ...am I obsessed, you say? Let's just say I have them EVERYWHERE...usually following me around the house or playfully entertaining themselves in the dining room in front of the french paned doors where they enjoy the sunlight.
At this moment I have three adult cats and three kittens, two monthes old.
I have become very attached to the two little males, a siamese and a bluepoint gray.
I simple CANNOT let these two go ! A few weeks ago, the house was FILLED with two litters of active kittens. We started out with five, and two weeks later had another litter of seven.

THIS obsession with finding good homes caused me to look like a real nutcase, but I assure you, I, nor the kittens, had problems locating just the right family and placements..
I INTERVIEWED the potential "new parents" for just the right homes, and actually turned down at least six people . After making a HUGE mistake of the "outside-of Wally-World-Get-your-free-kitten-here", and giving away two this way; I realized the error of that method and started getting REALLY picky with the rest of the adoptions .
(I am STILL having post-traumatic-stress flash-backs of "Rat-Boy's" face, meows, and beggings as I offered him out to passer-by's.) I CRY thinking of this little guy. The little walmart-girl went to a family that had a young woman wanting a new cat, and I felt it was a good home.
It was getting dark and late and I started to hold little Rat-Boy up in the air as each person or vehicle passed by. Each time that I did this, the little two month old little guy would look at me with fear in his eyes and cry out to me . I could feel his "NO, please, I will be good, please take me home...don't do this!" Then I would hold him close and tell him how sorry I felt but that there was no way I could keep 15 cats. It was an anxiety filled experience.
Rat Boy had been the most advanced, was definitely the "leader" , the most energetic, and obviously the most happy and content kitten of the bunch. It was not unusual to find him sleeping in with the younger litter (by two weeks) and playing "big brother" to them. He was the most friendly with people as well, leading me to feel that he was ready to go to his new home. The kittens that I have here at home are about ten weeks old, and at eight weeks, Rat was larger and more advanced.
I know he went with the right home, it was just the way I handled it. The guilt, the worry that he felt I didn't want him, the seperation from a home and family he so openly loved. I cannot rid my mind of his little frightened face.
As he was passed from the daddy into the back seat into the loving arms of a boy of about 7 or 8 yrs and hugged gently and quietly, I knew it was the right family. But I also knew HE didn't think so. I prayed for his adjustment and emotional well-being after the trauma I put him through. Poor little Rat-boy, he was so scared and so confused and upset. WAH!!

So , I am the cat-lady , and my cats are my greatest obsession. (even over my P-C!)
They are fed every three to four hours (small amounts of canned foods, egg yolks, or lunhmeats, and dry food left out always.) and are allowed free roam of most of the house.
I practically sit and wait while they use the litter box ( I have four of them) and scoop out the waste as soon as I can to avoid room odors, placing it in a zip-lock bag or diaper disposal bag. (these are great! ...they are scented and made for disposable diapers , but work very well, and can be purchased for a buck at the dollar store. *boxes of 50-100) I LOVE plastic bags ! they really work!