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the1who feedsus said:

last week my son started a job which takes him out of town to montreal 3 days a week. its actually a summer job but this was training. its the longest hes  ever been away from Dave. Now the whole time he was gone, Dave was fine. once in a while he'd go sniff around Nicks stuff meow a little and come back near me. so Nick gets home last night, puts his stuff away, calling Dave the whole time, no Dave.  Nick goes looking for him and suddenly i hear him laughing. Dave was in the hallway sitting on Nicks shoes! guess thats one way to keep him from leaving lol.

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:lol3::lol3::lol3: That's funny!

I'm heading over to the in-laws' as soon as the dishwasher finishes the last cycle. Mogli probably won't mind being left. We played hard for most of the morning, and right now he's curled up on the sofa for his afternoon snooze.

MServant said:

 
Jtbo, this lifestyle of yours sounds healthy and hard work but much healthier then life in the city.  I often say to friends of mine who live in the country here in the UK that I am a 'Townie' - that I am lazy and like everything at my front door, but I don't think being a 'Townie' is good for people.  

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So I guess that being a "city gal" is even worse in the health department than being a "townie".  Atleast you @MServant  , sound like you are closer in locale to the "country".  I wanted a "hobby farm" when I was younger, because I thought it would be great to live up north in the fresh air and quiet.  Then my friends told me if I wanted to live on a farm I would have to wake up at the crack of dawn, feed all the animals, work on the garden crops and basically never sleep in.. ..Yeah, I guess its.."sleep in" and "city"....all the way...lol.

@JTbo....I used to watch MacGyver too, and if something broke, we would have a saying: "you have to MacGyver that now, until you can get the right parts"....sometimes you would not need the proper parts and save money.  Atleast that show taught some pretty inventive things and was also entertaining.

the1who feedsus said:

 
....Dave was in the hallway sitting on Nicks shoes! guess thats one way to keep him from leaving lol.

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Cats are just adorable.  If Dave could use the phone, he would probably jack up your long distance bill, in calling him everyday...lol.   And who said that cats are not "pack" animals, or atleast they need their own "colony" around them.

jcat said:

 

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I have always wondered what my cats do when I am away from home.  So If I can find a cheap motion activated indoor web cam or "nanny cam", I think I will install it.   I just want to know if they eat at regular times or just sleep.  

MServant said:

Jtbo, this lifestyle of yours sounds healthy and hard work but much healthier then life in the city.  I often say to friends of mine who live in the country here in the UK that I am a 'Townie' - that I am lazy and like everything at my front door, but I don't think being a 'Townie' is good for people.  

Hee hee, I am glad that I am not the only person to take hours to cool down after a sauna.  Other people always seem to look so cool afterwards and I am the only one with a 'tomato face' but maybe they have covered themselves in make-up. :lol3:

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I'm not sure if it is healthy, but body likes from beating, that is what I have found out when doing longer bicycling trips.

Today I visited in a shop, there are few different roads I can use, there is main road which I used when I did go to shop, then there is one road that starts mid way of main road and then there is smaller road that is not usually used at winter time, they don't even plow snow from one section of that road during the winter, but someone had plowed bit of snow from there during last snow storm.
There was about 5cm of untouched snow on that road, temperature was +2C so snow was wet and melting and distance was 6km, took me over an hour to get trough that route, heavy sweating and breathing, but it was quite fun, that route goes inside a forest, it has lot of tight corners and hills.

It is now almost 1 year since doctor did say that I should not be driving a car as I often loose my eyesight because of migraine, but using bicycle instead of car has been quite nice, now I tend to think that if something is only 10km distance away, why on earth to use car for such short trip, with bicycle breathing wakes up and at least I get much more awake than before when using a car.

It might take quite a while until I'm even at average shape, but this long distance cycling works for me quite well, during this cold season car is colder for short trips, so it has been quite eye opener in many ways, especially in what one thinks about time.

I tend to think now that why spend so much time attempting to save time, when one can use time for activities that make one feel better, like choosing slower way of doing thing that requires more labor. There still is same amount of time as doing things that improve one's health probably increase time one has on this planet.

Well, I'm still fat, but I have lost already 30% of weight, still more than 10% to go, but I think losing weight is just side effect.

I guess one difficult thing was to make my brain see how pleasant and comfortable don't need to happen exactly right now, but one can feel very uncomfortable in making one feel much more comfortable at later time, but also it was first and important bits when choosing to go living at remote rural area.

There is still long way to go, but I think that one day I can live almost without money, I think that is much healthier way than working silly fast in front of computer, but maybe I'm bit of oddball in that too, but I consider this working for myself being much more real and typical way being somehow artifical or maybe fake

You are quite an inspiration, and while English is not your first language you have a great way of expressing things.

I admire the lifestyle changes you have described, and have made some similar though far less extensive choices and changes in my own over the past year.  My weight still needs to be tackled as it has crept up over the last 2 years but I feel that once I get other things settled that will happen; I now have around 20lb to loose and feel I will get to a place where that will strart to happen in the near future as a natural process because of the other changes.  

I chose to leave good pay and comfortable lifestyle for a less stressful but more physically active minim wage job, slower pace to my days and weeks and walking most days rather than using my car.  Once I feel closure from my previous work experiences I hope I will feel relaxed and more full of energy so my whole life will feel more natural and paced, and healthier eating and cooking will resume. Then my weight can fall naturally because of the active working days and regular walking.  I already feel a huge relief.  I have friends who live out of town and grow their own vegetables and fruit, and raise chickens and pigs  (with neighbours who have lambs), go shooting for rabbit and other natural wildlife, and share resources with neighbours: while I do not think I will ever get that far I can see how much more naturally fulfilling it seems.  I do not think it is oddball at all to live without that constant use of money, working for yourself - it does as you say seem less artificial opr fake.  Most people seem to spend their lives running on a hampster wheel trying to escape from themselves and reality and what is the point in that? 

Just back in from my volunteering Sunday stint and had a slight migraine since last night - run out of medication so might have to go out for some.  Really can't be bothered as very tired after the noise of last night. 

Did you know that the Obama administration was planning on implanting all U.S. military personnel with microchips? My b-i-l and his wife are really into conspiracy theories and were very disappointed when I told them that story was from two years ago and had had lots of G.I.s in stitches. They drive me nuts with their gullibility, especially since both are educated (he's even got a PhD). My husband's parents wonder why I don't like family get-togethers - that's why!

I have seen no reason to trust this administration, but I wouldn't have fallen for that (and have active military reserve in the family as well as a husband was active military for years).

Hello! I have a question, are cats normally afraid of everything, or is it just mine?     

He will bush up whenever somebody comes into the room and run the other direction as fast as his fat body can go.... straight to the food bowl to eat some comfort food. Seriously, I once dropped a pencil, and he made a bee line straight for underneath the bed...? 

Pixiecat98 said:

 
Hello! I have a question, are cats normally afraid of everything, or is it just mine? 

   

He will bush up whenever somebody comes into the room and run the other direction as fast as his fat body can go.... straight to the food bowl to eat some comfort food. Seriously, I once dropped a pencil, and he made a bee line straight for underneath the bed...? 

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Aww, little guy sounds cute but if he goes for the comfort-food bowl he won't be little for long.    Maybe he didn't have many different experiences to get him used to things when he was younger, or is a bit stressed at the moment?  He sounds like me when I' stressed, I jump at the slightest noise!  Some relaxation and gentle introduction to different things - including pencils might be useful for your cat.  As long as you offer the cat the non-sharp end pencils can make quite good little toys for holding and playing with a bit like a wand, or for ruffling up fur and stroking gently.    

Anyone else think we've been babbling very slowly recently?  I'm starting to get worried about us meeting our target again, and yet earlier on in the month I was so impressed at how fast this thread was growing.  Then I wonder, maybe everyone else is off looking in to how they can build their own sauna, or flood defences for when all their snow melts? 

MServant said:

 
Aww, little guy sounds cute but if he goes for the comfort-food bowl he won't be little for long. 

  Maybe he didn't have many different experiences to get him used to things when he was younger, or is a bit stressed at the moment?  He sounds like me when I' stressed, I jump at the slightest noise!  Some relaxation and gentle introduction to different things - including pencils might be useful for your cat.  As long as you offer the cat the non-sharp end pencils can make quite good little toys for holding and playing with a bit like a wand, or for ruffling up fur and stroking gently. 

  

Anyone else think we've been babbling very slowly recently?  I'm starting to get worried about us meeting our target again, and yet earlier on in the month I was so impressed at how fast this thread was growing.  Then I wonder, maybe everyone else is off looking in to how they can build their own sauna, or flood defenses for when all their snow melts? 

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Yeah, he's 25-26 pounds, we've started putting him on a diet though, it seems to not be working. :-( His name is Parker by the way, he's tan and white with golden-yellow eyes. 

Poor little guy sounds like he's heading for a nervous breakdown.  I would talk to the vet about it.  If he is chubby now, he is on his way to obesity if he eats every time he is nervous or scared.  Be sure he gets plenty of cuddling when he is stressed to take his mind off of food.  

Pixiecat98 said:

 
Hello! I have a question, are cats normally afraid of everything, or is it just mine? 

   

He will bush up whenever somebody comes into the room and run the other direction as fast as his fat body can go.... straight to the food bowl to eat some comfort food. Seriously, I once dropped a pencil, and he made a bee line straight for underneath the bed...? 

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This kind of sounds like me in that I "run to the comfort food when feeling stress" eating, but now I have changed it to rice cakes, and popcorn.  I am not sure what you can change your guy's food to....to be honest....it would be better to ask in the behaviour forum.  Not to make light of your cat's situation, did you ever think about it from his point of view?  A pencil comes flying from out of the air, out of the middle of a clear blue day,....I would run and hide too.

     Cats are extremely smart, so your guy is just being smart and cautious.  Now, if he ran`at just seeing you, then I would say he was jumpy.( I am only joshing with you...I really have no idea)   

He's snuggling with my other cat, a sweet and social (as well as healthy weight) calico named Pixie. And I make sure he gets lots of pets and cuddles. I talk to him in a low voice whenever he gets like that. Sometimes when I say, "Parker say meow?" He'll meow back. :3

Pixiecat98 said:

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Yeah, he's 25-26 pounds, we've started putting him on a diet though, it seems to not be working. :-( His name is Parker by the way, he's tan and white with golden-yellow eyes. 

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I apologize @Pixiecat98  ....I "babbled" before I read your second post.  Yes in this situation, you really have to get advice from a vet or the advice from the Behaviour Forum and maybe Nutrition Forum, because he seems to be very big.  Parker may need special cat food and monitoring to make sure he loses the weight in a healthy manner to not get that fatty liver disease.

Maybe like people some cats just like to eat, but I am having the same problem with my dog who is about 20lbs overweight.  I have to be the one to get him to slim down, so that he will not have any knee or health issues in the future.

Pixiecat98 said:

He's snuggling with my other cat, a sweet and social (as well as healthy weight) calico named Pixie. And I make sure he gets lots of pets and cuddles. I talk to him in a low voice whenever he gets like that. Sometimes when I say, "Parker say meow?" He'll meow back. :3

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I am definitely identifying with Parker here, jumpy, like my comfort food, and in need of a serious diet.  And now you go and tell me he meows when you ask him to.  I am in love with your cat.  You are going to have to be one strict cat parent not to help him change his old habits. :-(    Definitely losts of help here on TCS in the Health and the Nutrition forums, and even the behaviour one if you want some more serious advice.  Sounds sweet that he cuddles in with Pixie, I hope they get on well most of the time and don't play tricks on each other like some other people's cats around here.... 

cat nap said:

 
I apologize @Pixiecat98  ....I "babbled" before I read your second post.  Yes in this situation, you really have to get advice from a vet or the advice from the Behaviour Forum and maybe Nutrition Forum, because he seems to be very big.  Parker may need special cat food and monitoring to make sure he loses the weight in a healthy manner to not get that fatty liver disease.

Maybe like people some cats just like to eat, but I am having the same problem with my dog who is about 20lbs overweight.  I have to be the one to get him to slim down, so that he will not have any knee or health issues in the future.

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 I need to loose about as much weight as your dog, it is SO hard.      I think I need to join in the kitty-gym I'm threatening Mouse with.       If only my apartment was big enough to set up something like one of those dog-agility tracks you see in parks or on TV sometimes. 

MServant said:

 Anyone else think we've been babbling very slowly recently?  I'm starting to get worried about us meeting our target again, and yet earlier on in the month I was so impressed at how fast this thread was growing.  Then I wonder, maybe everyone else is off looking in to how they can build their own sauna, or flood defences for when all their snow melts? 

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LOL...It is such a sunny Sunday over here, that I just think people are enjoying the daylight rays, getting extra vitamin D from the sun. As for the sauna...yes I want to build one.....in the summer.....and for the FLOOD defences.. ....I gotta run now....lol.

I am glad you mentioned that the babbling is slowing down, because I was thinking that maybe as soon as I am online, everyone goes invisible.  

MServant said:

 

 I need to loose about as much weight as your dog, it is SO hard. 

    I think I need to join in the kitty-gym I'm threatening Mouse with.  

    If only my apartment was big enough to set up something like one of those dog-agility tracks you see in parks or on TV sometimes. 

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Ahh....is that agility tracks for Mouse or yourself?.....Wait....I have to go invisible now....lol.   Actually, I too want to lose another 20lbs, and I want to do it by July, so that is 4lbs per month.  I saw a dietician last year and was shocked to find out that to lose my weight it had more to do with the TYPE of food I ate and not so much the activity level.  I thought she was on crack.  But with her help, and a daily food diary, I was able to substitute many high sugary foods for better alternatives.  I just had to substitute, but now If I want to lose another 20lbs, I am sure I will have to work out,  which I dread.....so perhaps your suggestion of a dog agility course for myself and my dog is not so crazy.

As for your indoor track....I am sure you can do yoga, pilates, stretching, and not need all that much room. Do you have the discipline for it?

I am very jealous @cat nap, it was grey skies and heavy rain all day around here.     Yesterday was the first day in months we had more than a couple of hours of blue sky.  Not much risk of flooding for me thankfully tho' as I live on a nice hill.  Sometimes the road looks a bit like river and the speed bumps in the road make it look like rapids but that's better than being in the middle of a lake like a lot of people in the UK are!  

I don't go off line when I see you posting.    Now you've got me worried, maybe it's me.... 

I'm going to have a busy day tomorrow, meeting with someone about why I left my last job first thing in the morning, then got my mom coming for lunch before we head off to view an appartment I think she'd like to buy (if affordable)  and then doing an extra shift at work. What am I going to do?  It's one of my rare days when I can post on TCS all day and lounge on the sofa with Mouse! This week I'll only have Tuesday to loaf around and stay in my PJs.   

As for discipline, I only have it when I feel like it, which isn't often but it's going to have to happen or I'll end up with diabetes as well as 20 lb to lose....

So @MServant  you have business, in the morning, business and family, then business again...That sounds like a pretty full day.  I think you should "hit the hay" early tonight. (It means go to sleep) so you will be well rested for those meetings and work.

Why, I cannot keep to rules, I do not know.....I think I am a "rebel" but with a fun "cause".  I never saw that movie with James Dean....It just sounds cool.

What is Mouse up to, before you sign off?

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the1who feedsus said:

 
last week my son started a job which takes him out of town to montreal 3 days a week. its actually a summer job but this was training. its the longest hes  ever been away from Dave. Now the whole time he was gone, Dave was fine. once in a while he'd go sniff around Nicks stuff meow a little and come back near me. so Nick gets home last night, puts his stuff away, calling Dave the whole time, no Dave.  Nick goes looking for him and suddenly i hear him laughing. Dave was in the hallway sitting on Nicks shoes! guess thats one way to keep him from leaving lol.

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That is toooo funny!!  Smart cat!

Pixiecat98 said:

 
Hello! I have a question, are cats normally afraid of everything, or is it just mine? 

   

He will bush up whenever somebody comes into the room and run the other direction as fast as his fat body can go.... straight to the food bowl to eat some comfort food. Seriously, I once dropped a pencil, and he made a bee line straight for underneath the bed...? 

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My RB kitty was super skittish like that!  She earned the nickname "Beanse" because if you startled her (which was often and very very easy) she would jump up straight in the air and get all poofy.  She didn't always run for a hiding spot; but she had her safe spots and things too.  We never free fed so I guess comfort eating wasn't an option.  You should definitely post over in the behavior forum (if you haven't already) to see if we can come up with some ideas for your little scardy cat!

We had some AMAZING weather today!  We had a high of 68 and blue skies!  After church and lunch the kids, DH and I all got to spend a few hours playing in the backyard.  The kids friends from next door came over and DH chatted with their dad.  I even postponed DS's nap so he could enjoy the sandbox when the other kids did.  The fun ended about 30 minutes later for him when he decided to eat a handful of sand.    Why!!!!   Needless to say; he got his 2nd bath of the day and a good drink of water.  He bite my finger a bit when I tried to scoop it out.    I hope everyone sleeps really really good tonight!

MoochNNoodles said:

 
.....

We had some AMAZING weather today!   We had a high of 68 and blue skies!  After church and lunch the kids, DH and I all got to spend a few hours playing in the backyard.  The kids friends from next door came over and DH chatted with their dad.  I even postponed DS's nap so he could enjoy the sandbox when the other kids did.  The fun ended about 30 minutes later for him when he decided to eat a handful of sand. 

  Why!!!!    Needless to say; he got his 2nd bath of the day and a good drink of water.  He bite my finger a bit when I tried to scoop it out. 

  I hope everyone sleeps really really good tonight!

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@MoochNNoodles....can I ask you where you where you are from?  You can say a general area like south, east northwest.  Only because I wonder where You are located "in your PJ's"....lol.

How old is your son?   I guess when we were small we would try and taste things too.  I just wonder how is it that dads never seem to notice things, while moms always do?  Why is it that when dads watch sports, they see all the penalties, but not so with kids?  Maybe just genetics.  And you did say your hubby was talking, so there is the distraction factor there....Oh, I'm just babbling.