Last post for the 2009 year!!!
It has been a great year in general. From new additions to the family, to major career changes for the better, overall its been an awesome year.
I started off the year with several goals, one of them to take the balance in our household to a new level. While things were much improved from where they had been several years back, I felt there were still some areas we could grow. This year has been the icing on the cake though! Things have far exceeded my expectations, especially in the last 6 months.
I will save the details of our past behavior and potty issues in the feline crew for another day, but suffice to say, I finally feel that we really do not have any problems to speak of anymore. Either changes or processes have been implemented that have corrected problem areas, or other issues have completely faded just as a downstream effect.
In early July I started this blog on the Epetmeadow domain. I had written a few pet posts on another blog, but felt that I needed something separate so I started Epetmeadow officially on July 8th. There are now 106 posts here, with about a dozen in the queue being worked on. I am really looking forward to what 2010 will bring for this site.
The feline family change came in mid July for us, when we added our newest addition Asia.
It took me a couple years of serious debating (and convincing), to decide to add a fourth cat. We had a tenuous balance at best between the three we had now, and adding another could either improve that, or cause it all to topple down on us.
I decided that with Bayou still being super active, Cosmo aging quickly, it was time to make a decision one way or another. The fact of the matter was, Bayou needed someone to play with to help burn his bengal energy, and Cosmo and Dexter were never going to fill that role.
I opted for a female kitten as I felt that had the best chance for success in our already two male cat household, and I chose a breeder well known for their socialized litters.
Asia arrived in mid-July, and we were smitten from day one.
The funny thing is, Asia has done far more then become a playmate for Bayou.
She has pretty much taken every cat in this house, and pushed them outside their comfort zones and made them accept a new level of socialization (for the better).
Cosmo and Dexter can grump at her all they want, she does not care, and just continues to push them. BUT, she is not aggressive about it. She doesn’t tackle them or get super excited with them, she is much more subtle in her tactics.
She will play with a toy next to Dexter, and if he grumps, she just keeps playing (where as Bayou was gun shy, and would walk away). Eventually when she doesn’t leave and he realizes he cannot push her around, Dexter will start watching her have fun, and might even stick a paw in there as well (gasp!).
Asia will walk right over, curl up with Cosmo, and even if Cosmo grumbles at her, Asia just cuddles right up and falls asleep. Eventually Cosmo realizes this is not that bad of a gig, heck, its even kind of cozy, and 10 minutes later you walk by and Cosmo is all cuddled up in there too and looks to be enjoying herself (egad!).
Overall, Asia has taken over rule of the roost, and no one is complaining. We will have to see how things go as she gets older and more mature, but at almost 9 months old, I do not see a ton of changes in the future.
In November I walked away from my career of 11 years surprising the heck out of my boss and quite a few other people. I did not have another job, I had some side projects, but no income, nada (although we had been saving and preparing for awhile just in case). I decided that life is far too short to live stressed and miserable trapped in something you do not enjoy. I still do not know where my future lies, but I can say that no matter what, our whole household is much happier with me home right now. I get to cook and do the things I enjoy, the felines get to have me home all day, and the husband has a relaxed and stress free wife. Who knows, maybe we can consider starting an even larger (not quite so furry) family now.
Overall, 2009 has been an incredible year, and from what I can see, 2010 looks to be even better!!
To everyone out there, I hope you had a great year as well, and we all wish you a wonderful New Year!
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Happy New Year to all of you!
Asia rules with a velvet paw! Happy New Year to you !
Happy New Year, furiends!
Sounds like great changes in 09. Asia is so cutie pie delish! Happiest of New Year wishes to you!!
Happy 2010 – it’s gonna’ be a great year!
All the best in 2010, cats and humans alike. By the way, I think what you have done with the new ledge is awesome. I wish my people would make me something like that.
Asia is a stunner,… and looks “helpful.” In true Bengal form Bayou in the box. and the entire family napping and enjoying the window. What a good looking family.
Happy Holidays from The Adventures of Tanjiro, Uschi-Swirl, & Vladimir