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© 2006-2014 Covered in Cat Hair, Robin A.F. Olson. All Rights Reserved
Before I could do a thing I got a call from my friends over at Animals in Distress about a kitten with a serious birth defect and could I just foster her for a weekend?
Continued from Part 1
That was the day I met Freya and you know what happened after that. Freya required round-the-clock care, specialized surgery and lots and lots of vet visits. Freya is still here 8 months later and is now part of the Kitten Associates family. Sadly, once again, Mia would have to wait to be socialized and I felt terrible about that.
©2015 Robin AF Olson. Freya.
Mia's offspring began to find their forever homes and so did a few of Celeste's. Whichever cats were still waiting were moved over to the big foster room. Mia was nonplussed with newcomers. In fact I began to wonder if she had a vision problem because she didn't react to anything. Her eyes were often dilated when I thought they shouldn't be. She didn't seem to look at toys if they weren't making sounds, as if she was blind. I did a few tests but I'm not sure if she saw me or only has shadow vision. She's too fractious to take to the vet and our vet said unless it's pretty obvious (like cataracts) it's tough to tell the degree of vision loss a cat has.
©2015 Robin AF Olson. The first group of Laney's kittens arrive. Jules, Jasper, Jasmine and Junipurr (are all adopted now!).
We began transporting Laney's family north from Georgia earlier this year. The oldest four came up first and were quickly adopted because they were outstanding cats. One of them, Jules, was adopted along with Wallace, the once tiny kitten we'd taken from the Danbury Fire Department after they'd pulled him out of a concrete wall. Fernando and Astro were adopted together and so were Jasper and Jasmine.
©2015 Robin AF Olson. Woody with his mama-Mia.
With Woody vying for my attention, I could only do a little bit with Mia. I'd tempt her with treats and lightly brush her paw with my finger. I was careful to be at ease with her and not tense. I wanted her to be used to me being around but she always hid in a corner if she heard me coming. She never climbed on the cat tree, which added to my suspicion about her vision. It might also make socializing her much harder if she couldn't see me very well, if at all.
Laney and the gang have been here for about 2 months and I hopefully have a lead on ONE home for two of the kitties, but that's it. Poor Woody, Mia's remaining son, who has been with us over a YEAR, has never had even one application. I don't know why we can't find him a home because he's amazing, but sadly he's also keeping me from working with his mom.
During these past few months one of our adopters, who has become a good friend, came to visit the kitties. Her name is Kendra and she teaches art to children. She's a wonderful artist in her own right and has volunteered to create torn paper portraits for many of our donors (she even did a big one for us of our dearly departed kitten, Fred that you can see on her ETSY page). Kendra is adorable and when she's with our cats she her voice takes on a magical quality. It sounds a bit like a cross between a little girl and an elf. The cats love it. Even my shy boy Cricket will sit in her lap while she tells him how handsome he is.
©2015 KendyBo. One of Kendra's many awesome portraits. This is of Jayne Dog, who I wrote about HERE.
I spoke with Kendra about my frustrations with Mia while we were in the blue bathroom with her. Without hesitation, Kendra reached out and started petting Mia while we were talking! WHAT????!!!!
Did Mia like it? Meh; not so much.
Did Mia bite her or swat at her or growl? No.
It was shortly after that when Kendra contacted me and offered to foster Mia, hopefully unlocking the key to help socialize her. I had my hands more than full and she wanted to help. Kendra's boyfriend, Brian, had been around feral cats all his life. She referred to him as the "feral cat whisperer." Once we worked out the details we set a date to begin.
Saturday, Kendra came over to pick up Mia, but first I had to get Mia into a cat carrier.
I was lucky that Mia was in the bathroom because removing hiding places is the key to getting a cat into a carrier when you can't pick them up. The first thing I did was move Woody out of the room, then move the cat tree, litter pan and anything else giving me full access to Mia. I also knew that because fearful cats feel safer in a small dark space that if I controlled where the small dark space was, then she'd go to it sooner or later.
I knew, too, that Mia had already had this happen to her before so even with a plan of action it might prove difficult.
As I moved things out of the way, Mia dashed across the floor and hid behind the toilet, which was the only thing I couldn't move. I put the open cat carrier to her right. It was covered with a big towel so it was nice and dark inside. Mia wouldn't budge.
I had to get the broom. I didn't want to do it, but I couldn't risk being bitten. I tried to keep Mia calm, but she shot between a small space between the toilet and the cat carrier and jumped into the bathtub. She was very scared but didn't growl or try to attack me. I kept at it, coming towards her, slowly herding her back to the cat carrier.
©2015 Robin AF Olson. Freya peeks in on Mia.
She was so afraid her bladder let go. I felt so badly when I saw the pale yellow fluid run out from under her tail. I wanted to rinse her off, but it was make or break and she needed to get into the carrier. I used the broom to carefully push her towards the open cat carrier. She wouldn't move at first, but then suddenly made a run for it, this time into the cat carrier. I closed the door behind her and made sure it was closed properly.
Kendra had a room ready for Mia, with no places to hide. I waited for her to get home and update me on how things were going. Within a few minutes of her arriving, she sent me this video.
©2015 KendyBo.
Later that night I got more images and videos. Brian was working on becoming Mia's BFF. He "forgot" she was feral and picked her up. She just hissed, confused by the sudden contact. Brian and Kendra are both able to pet Mia, not just on her face, but on her back and even on her paws. Even Kendra's 8-year old son could pet her! Mia is stressed, but has moments where she closes her eyes and relaxes. It seems that it's just a matter of time before we see even bigger changes. Maybe by tomorrow she'll be ready to go?
The kittens were born under the hot southern sun to two mothers who were barely out of kittenhood themselves. The mamas had a human family who fed them, but that's about all they did. They never bothered to spay their cats or neuter the males for whatever excuse made it seem as though it's all right to not provide care because that's what people do…or rather don't do in this part of the country.
©2014 Foster Mom, Moe. I can't believe this kitten was so depressed he was lying on the thorns of a rose bush!
We've seen this story played out so many times, in so many places. Intact cats left to breed out-of-control, leaving their offspring to meet a terrible fate. These cats are often reduced to being part of the food chain, instead of becoming beloved family members, which is a terrible truth that most rescuers fight with all they've got.
©2014 Foster Mom, Moe. You can see it in the photo but this kitten, like all the others, is very thin.
One white kitten doesn't make it past a few days, while the others are mercilessly spared, or is it a good thing they survived? Their fate was to immediately become tempting morsels for anything that could catch them, bite them, slowly drain the life out of them. While somehow the roaming foxes didn't get to them, the parasites had a field day.
It's likely their mama passed roundworms and probably tapeworms into them during nursing. Being outdoors, of course the fleas were next to enjoy their bounty. Add to that the only food the kittens had after they were done nursing was cheap greasy kibble that was rotting under the blazing sun, covered with hungry flies.
©2014 Foster Mom, Moe. A mama already. We need to help her stop having more kittens.
Slowly but surely whatever vitality they might have had was slowly being eroded away. In time, if no one intervened, Mother Nature's clean up crew would take care of them (but I don't dare describe this any further as any kind-hearted cat lover would be devastated by reading about it).
I'm so angry and sick and tired of this story. It's unfair, "fixable" (pardon the pun), but for some reason the people who mindlessly leave their animals intact have no concern about what happens after their cats have kittens. What drives me INSANE is not only do these people IGNORE their cats basic needs, but when it's CLEAR that the littlest kittens are COVERED in FLEAS. Don't they notice? Don't they see their eyes running? Don't they feel that they're basically skin and bones when they reach down to pet them?
©2014 Foster Mom, Moe. How do you NOT notice this kitten is sick?
Of the eight kittens in this person's yard, two already "ran away." The six that were left didn't have much time left before it was their turn to magically disappear into a horrific ending.
©2014 Foster Mom, Moe. Worst shape of all the kittens. If he went much longer with the amount of fleas he had on him he'd be dead.
When our foster mom, Moe was driving home from work and she saw kittens running around in this person's yard. She stopped and quickly realized these kittens needed help ASAP.
Moe had just finished fostering Mia and her kittens and was taking a much needed break. I had taken Mia and family, plus I have Celeste and her 4 kittens plus Wallace, our Fire Dept rescue kitten AND Junebug and MaggieMae. To say that I'm overwhelmed is an understatement. I did not want to take on any more cats for the next few months, but when I heard about what was going on, then saw the photos, I couldn't turn my back on this situation.
©2014 Foster Mom, Moe. Can I give you my fleas?
Moe reported that there are 6 kittens and 5 adults (very young) who need at least vetting if not more. I have a great fear that as a small rescue this puts us over our limit for what we can care for, but I don't know what else I can do other than take it one day at a time and hope this all works out. I'm glad she wants to take on this responsibility and I've assured her that anything she needs-I've got her back.
©2014 Foster Mom, Moe. Lovely lady. We hope she's not pregnant. Can any rescues in GA lend a hand?
But now I need someone to have my back, too. Taking on six more mouths to feed, plus vetting the adults is going to be expensive. We've already done the initial vetting and all the kittens have very bad flea infestation, worms, ear mites and more. Thankfully they tested negative for FIV and Feline Leukemia, but they have a long road ahead. I can't even use the word: recovery because they have never known good health. Perhaps this long journey will lead to a rebirth of sorts into the beautiful animals they were meant to be from the day they were born.
Here's the plan:
Our goal is to get everyone healthy. If we can find a local rescue to take them after they're vetted, great. If we are fortunate to get a new foster home here in Newtown OR if we start doing some adoptions (very slow this time of year), then I'll bring the kittens here (which I would prefer doing).
We're also going to work with the family to get their adult cats vetted as soon as possible. There are low cost clinics we can work with. We know if we ask these folks to pay for this service they will find a reason to say no, so we want to get the cats taken care of on our dime. Moe has a tough task balancing her own desire to rip these folks a "new one," with the need to focus on caring for the cats. She can't upset these people so she'll be respectful and get the cats vetted as soon as she can using funds my rescue, Kitten Associates will provide for her.
©2014 Foster Mom, Moe. No more fleas on meet! By the way, this is a VERY SWEET kitten.
I estimate it will cost at least $140/cat to be vetted (if they have bartonella). This doesn't include food, litter and toys, which adds a lot since they eat 8, 5 oz cans of food every day. We're at roughly 1600.00 for all the kittens AND the adults to get vetted. I just spent $400.00 on food, toys and initial vetting.
©2014 Foster Mom, Moe. This is no existence for a kitten.
smile.amazon.com – use it to shop and we'll get a small donation that's banked to our account every time you shop for anyone or any thing on amazon.com
KA amazon wishlist: our wishlist shipping address helps our Connecticut based fosters, but we can't add our Georgia location to our list. The BEST way you can help is by purchasing a Gift Card for amazon.com so we can buy what the kittens need and ship it directly to foster mom, Moe. If you'd like to direct how the gift card is used, just leave a note when you purchase the gift card in the gift note area and we'll take care of it. WE REALLY NEED GIFT CARDS TO BUY FOOD!!!
Donate through our Facebook App that's on the left side our KA Facebook page
Visit our PetCaring Fundraiser Page where we'll share photos and updates
If you'd like to mail us a check, checks can be made out to: Kitten Associates and mailed to: P.O. Box 354, Newtown, CT 06470-0354. Please add a note on your check: "Neglected Kittens".
We realize there are zillions of cats whose stories are online who need help and we'd all be broke if we made a donation to each one of them. The other way you can make a difference that doesn't cost a dime is to simply SHARE this post socially with your cat-loving friends on Facebook and Twitter.
Your donation is tax deductible in the U.S.A., but see your tax advisor for how to claim a deduction and how it applies to your tax situation. Our Tax ID EIN is 27-3597692.
©2014 Foster Mom, Moe. First car ride, of course, is to the Vet.
Next is to get the buff kitty's blood work done and test them for bartonella and get their first vaccinations done. We need to do this ASAP! Stay tuned to Covered in Cat Hair on Facebook for updates.
Thank you for being part of our life saving efforts!
©2014 Foster Mom, Moe. It's going to get better from this moment forward. Welcome to our rescue little ones. We've got your back.
Northern Georgia's had a rough winter. With snow, ice and freezing cold temperatures that vastly skew from what's considered normal, the feral cat population has had an even tougher time surviving.
These cats are not accustomed to the colder temps and may not be as successful as their northern counterparts in finding adequate shelter. Their coats may not be as thick and their struggle to have a full belly leaves them even more vulnerable.
For a lucky few cats there's Warren and his wife, Terri, who I've written about in the past. They get out there and trap, neuter, and some times return the feral cats they trap. They help the pregnant cats and the kittens find homes. They are very passionate about their rescues and have even hoped to open their own sanctuary one day.
©2014 Warren Royal. Used with permission. Big Daddy the day after being trapped.
It's not unusual for Warren to stay up late at night, watching a trap, hoping the cat will enter it so he can get it properly taken care of. Most of the time the process is straightforward. The cats are vetted, spayed or neutered, given some time to recover, then he brings them back to their colony where he and his wife will make sure they get fed.
That's why when Warren noticed a big tabby, limping, clearly injured, who also looked a heck of a lot like one of the kittens Warren rescued (read about Dexter's amazing and scary journey HERE), he knew he had to trap him and get him to a vet. The problem was, what could he do for this kitty, AFTER getting vetted? Surely it would be difficult to treat a fractious cat, which could mean Warren could get hurt or the cat might not recover from his injury if he couldn't get him medicated or change bandages.
First things first…get the cat trapped.
Warren got his supplies ready and opened up the trap. He saw the cat who he called, Big Daddy, not far away, watching him. As soon as Warren opened a can of food, in a flash, there was Big Daddy by his side, pushing Warren away so he could get at the tempting morsels. Shocked, Warren carefully, lured the cat into the trap, fearful he could be harmed at any moment if the cat was separated from his food for too long. Clearly the cat was starving and didn't care if he was in a cage or not.
©2014 Warren Royal. Used with permission. Getting fueled up (again!).
Warren quietly closed the trap door and rushed Big Daddy to the Vet. Big Daddy wasn't thrilled to be in the car but there was something odd about him. For a feral cat, he wasn't crouched into a tight ball. He wasn't hissing. He wasn't struggling to break free from the trap. He was just eating.
The plan was to leave Big Daddy with the Vet for a few days while Warren was here in New York City at a trade show. I was with Warren when the call came in on the cat. He had an abscess from a bite wound, but they felt it would heal. Against Warren's orders they gave him Convenia, assuming that since the cat was feral it was the best they could do, [even though Convenia is NOT for bite wounds but because it's injectable and there are no pills, people tend to use it so they don't have to pill their cat. The problem is-once injected it stays in the body for MONTHS. If there's an allergic reaction you can't get it out of the body. It's really only good for certain bacterial issues regarding the SKIN. Using it after a dental or for some other reason is not safe and contra-indicated.]
They went ahead an ear-tipped him even though Warren said not to because he wasn't sure the cat might not be feral. When we found that out we were both very angry. If Big Daddy ended up being a cat we could socialize, then ear-tipping him could further reduce his chances for adoption.
©2014 Warren Royal. Used with permission. What a face!
They neutered him and vaccinated him. They snap tested him and discovered he was positive for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus or FIV. We weren't surprised, but it meant that letting him back outside was not an option, but now what would we do with him? Warren feared he might have to euthanize the cat if he couldn't go back to the colony or if he was too fractious to find a forever home.
Warren came home and discovered his hunch was right. Big Daddy wasn't feral, but how friendly was he? Did he have behavior problems? If so, how severe were they? When Warren approached Big D's crate, Big Daddy stepped forward and seemed interested in sniffing Warren's hand. Worried he would get bitten, Warren cautiously offered the back of his hand. Big Daddy head-butted it.
©2014 Warren Royal. Used with permission. Waiting for the next part of his journey to begin.
©2014 Warren Royal. Used with permission.
Over the past few weeks, Warren and Terri have been working with Big Daddy, assessing his behavior to see if he'd qualify to be adopted. Big D nipped at Warren a few times, but Terri said he never nipped her. Why? Turns out Warren needed to learn that Big Daddy didn't care for being petted like he was a dog—oops! (Warren admitted to not realizing that right away since he'd known dogs most of his life). Once Warren made a slight change in how he petted Big D the nipping stopped.
©2014 Warren Royal. Used with permission. Loves that brush.
Big Daddy's met a few other cats. He's interested, but neutral. A further test revealed another surprise-Big Daddy LOVES to be brushed!
©2014 Warren Royal. Used with permission.
Big D's leg is healing nicely and he's relatively content in his big crate in the garage, but yearns to be out of it and in Warren's house. Sadly, Warren's other cats won't welcome a newcomer and ultimately Big Daddy needs a home of his own.
This very sweet, affectionate, gentle giant weighs 15 pounds and is about 4 years old. He's physically he's a large kitty. Aside from having FIV, his health is good. He does not have issues with his gums, teeth or digestion, which can happen to FIV cats. With a GOOD DIET and I mean NO DRY FOOD, low carb, grain-free canned food or better yet, dehydrated raw or really any raw diet, he will do well.
There are Vets who vilify cats with FIV and say they can't be with non-FIV cats, but in my own experience with my cat, Bob, he was with not only my 7 cats, but countless kittens and none of them ever got sick. Bob would have had to BITE them so seriously his teeth would have had to sink into flesh to transmit the disease. Yet, there is a vet who just said she felt it was passed through a litter pan, which defies logic.
©2014 Warren Royal. Used with permission. Meeting Murphy.
©2014 Warren Royal. Used with permission. What a cutie pie!
Warren definitely has Big Daddy's back. Because he cares for him so much Warren will cover transportation costs to an approved home or non-profit, no-kill rescue group or shelter. He will also TAKE BIG DADDY BACK, should the adoption or rescue placement not work out. Ideally this home will be in northern Georgia, but if it's anywhere along the east coast of the USA, we can get Big Daddy to your door. If you live outside the east coast, let's talk.
©2014 Warren Royal. Used with permission. Big Daddy with our Rescuer-Daddy, Warren.
If you'd like to adopt Big Daddy, go to our rescue group, Kitten Associates, and fill out a Pre Adoption Application and I will forward them to Warren.
If you have any questions or are with a rescue and can help Big Daddy find his home, just email me at firstname.lastname@example.com.
There are times I don't realize something profound just occurred. Looking back on the situation I see what I missed was truly amazing. A milestone was reached, a torch passed, leaving me feeling sad that I didn't honor that moment the way it deserved, so perhaps these words will serve as a testament.
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. Gracey (left) with brother, Joey (right) watching the squirrels.
Lil' Gracey and Confetti Joe have been with us since they were 4 days old. Their brothers, Yukon Stan, Jellybean Mel and Precious Pete have long since found their forever homes and as of last week, the final papers were signed as their mom, Minnie, found her place, too (with a couple I truly LOVE..and where Minnie is blossoming by leaps and bounds every day).
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. Joey (inset) just 11 days old and again recently.
The remaining two kittens had been living in my home up until 3 weeks ago when I was fortunate enough to meet with Jame, who offered to foster kittens for our group. Jame and her family don't currently have any pets which greatly simplifies whether or not I can have them foster. They impressed me by bending over backwards to clean and prepare their entire basement for us to use for our kittens. It's a large, bright, sunny space with windows along one side of the room. Jame's daughters, Grace and Frances were sweet-natured and had a very calm energy. When they came over to meet our cats and fosters, they were affectionate and gentle, clearly enamored with all the cats they met. I had no concerns that any cat we placed with them wouldn't be completely happy in their care.
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. Sleepy time boy.
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. Gracey chill in' with the DOOD.
As much as I loved every second with the kittens, they were big enough to be part of the general population, instead of housed in a separate room. With full run of our home it opened up new adventures for them, but our cats were not too thrilled. We had some issues, like inappropriate urinating and a brief spat or two. I knew Joey and Gracey would be better off with Jame's family, not to mention reducing the stress on my own cats, but I was very sad to see them go.
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. Time to wrestle in 3…2…
Because we had an unpleasant situation with Minnie's last foster home, I was more careful about who fosters for us going forward. I wrote up an agreement for fostering and had Jame sign it. The time with the kittens would be limited and monitored. I'd let it go too long with Minnie, only to find out she was getting injured by the other cats in the home and exposed to food that ended up giving her a bad allergic reaction. I was determined to check in on the cats more often to make sure they would continue to be well cared for, but Mother Nature had a different plan.
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. In their new foster home, Gracey makes sure the other cat she sees really IS her brother.
The one-week agreement was extended another week and another. The weather was so poor and we got so much snow that I could not get out of my driveway. When I could escape, it was to get cat food or do a vet run. I just didn't have time to visit the kittens, though I did communicate with Jame often.
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. Joey's always had the goofiest tail. He walks around with it over his back like a carrying handle of some sort.
Jame did a great job reporting every little thing, sending photos, updating me on progress. Her daughters were having a great time getting to know the kittens and they were thrilled with each success ("Joey sat on my lap! I made Gracey jump after the toy!"). I realized with a sinking feeling that what happens to all fosters was happening to them. They were getting attached. Too much time had passed. Now I was worried that I would hurt them because I'd found an adopter named Dana and it was very likely that Joey and Gracey would be leaving them soon.
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. Joey with heart on his rump.
When I told Jame the news, she emailed me asking me if we could talk. I had a feeling she was going to tell me she wanted to adopt the kittens. I had mixed feelings about it because if they did, I might lose a great foster home. I knew they'd be a great home for the kittens, so I was curious to know what she wanted to talk about. Since she needed more cat food I asked her to meet me at the pet food store so I could get her more, then we ended up walking over to the little café inside our local grocery store to talk.
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. With foster mom, Grace.
As Jame spoke, tears welled up in her eyes. It was hard not to cry along with her. She told me that she and her family had fallen in love with the kittens and were miserable at the idea of them leaving and wanted to adopt them, but…there was a problem. She didn't feel they could afford to provide for them if something happened to them and she knew that wasn't right. Jame continued to tell me that things would be changing later in the year when she expected to be able to find work, but for now they lived on her husband's salary. The problem was how could I have her wait months to make Joey and Gracey's adoption formal when the situation was in such flux? Jame was being very responsible by not letting her emotions cause her to make a choice that could end badly. I knew how she felt. I probably shouldn't have half the cats I have, but we find a way (but I don't have two children to provide for, either). I didn't want her to be miserable about letting the kittens go. She was doing the right thing. I had to find a way to make this better.
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. With foster mom, Frances.
I gave her as many options as I could, but in the end, this is not the time for them to adopt. In a flash of clarity, I blurted out that she hadn't even had the joy of fostering little kittens yet and to focus on knowing that by letting Joey and Gracey go, she was making space to take more kittens on. I talked to her about the pain of letting go and...
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. Checking out the view from their new foster room.
I hoped she realized that the sharpness of letting go would soften into sweet memories. She barely knew me and I was asking her to trust me; that all she had to do was let us bring her more cats to foster and the love and happiness that gave them so much joy, would return. She had to have faith, too.
Of course, getting her children to understand and prepare for this was going to be the tricky part and I offered to do whatever I could to help them transition.
©2014 Frances R. Frances is quite the artist and drew his adorable scene featuring her foster kittens.
When the day came for Dana and her young sons to meet Joey & Gracey, I took one look at the girls and at Jame and knew they had all been crying. They were being brave, but their struggle to remain cheerful was percolating just beneath the surface. They were doing what needed to be done. They watched the young boys learn how to play with the kittens, how to pick them up. They gave them pointers on what the kittens liked and which toys were their favorites. We talked with Dana about how beautiful and sweet the kittens were. At one point I asked her if these were her cats. I wasn't feeling "it" from her—that glimmer I often see of love's seed taking root in an adopter's heart. I told her about our other kittens, just in case she would prefer them. They had better energy to match that of her little boys. I could see Jame and her daughters holding their breath, hoping the woman would not want Joey and Gracey.
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. A hug from Frances.
Her boys looked at photos of the other kittens we have, but they only had eyes for Joey and Gracey. Dana added that Joey and Gracey were even more beautiful than she imagined from their photos and said she would love to give them a good home. I knew Jame and the girls were disappointed but the choice was made. This would be a good home. The kittens would have the boys to play with and a mom and dad to snuggle with inside a lovely home that overlooks a lake.
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. Lil' Gracey at 11 days old and again recently.
I gave the kittens a kiss goodbye. I thought about how they used to fit in my hand. They didn't even look like cats, more like hamsters. I'd worried, fussed, and after they were weaned, took great joy in watching them grow and thrive. The familiar pang of heartbreak and reluctance to let go returned. My eyes burned as I held back my tears. Joey and Gracey were two of our brightest stars. They'd grown into magnificent cats. It was a privilege to be part of their journey. Their little family, who so easily could have drowned in a window well during the torrential rains last June, have only happy days ahead thanks to our generous donors and skilled Vets. Now they had their forever homes. My job was done.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. Gracey with her mom, Minnie, who is very happy in her new home.
As Dana and her sons placed Joey and Gracey into their car and drove away, I stood in the kitchen with Jame and her daughters. I started to cry, but managed to not burst into tears. They offered me a tissue. Their eyes got watery and their faces pinked up. I gave them each a hug. I was SO PROUD of them-especially Frances and Grace. These girls did something tough for an adult to do and they handled themselves VERY WELL. In that moment something happened between the four of us. I'd passed the baton of fostering over to them. They had survived the first heartbreak and were ready to do it again. They were part of a sisterhood of cat rescuers now and between the tears my heart swelled with joy.
If you'd like to see lots more photos of Gracey, Joey and their family from the first days in foster care, you can read these posts:
The Squee Diaries
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Eleven part 2
Chapter Eleven part 3
P.S. If you've gotten this far, Jame and her family are getting 3 kittens on Saturday that were part of a bigger rescue in Georgia. Their story begins next...
There are few things in the world that make me feel happy the way cats do, but one of them is so be around art. As a Graphic Designer I get caught up in beautiful typography, bright colors and clever ideas visualized, so when I had the opportunity to attend the 111th American International Toy Fair 2014 in New York City, I was beyond delighted.
Okay, I LOVE toys, too.
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. Like a moth to a flame, one of the first things I see, before I even enter the show floor is a very GOOD (Bub) sign.
Imagine you're 7 years old and you get to go to the biggest toy store in the world that carries every kind of toy imaginable, from a mind-blowing array of plush toys (way beyond a bear, we're talking plush MRSA virus and plush Pancreas), kid-sized fantasy outfits, handmade musical instruments to out-of-this-world models of monsters causing mayhem, bobbleheads and more. Now imagine being middle-aged and feeling the same way. That's what Toy Fair does to you from the moment you set foot in the Javits Center.
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. Sugar LuLu. Even dogs are welcome here.
So what about cats? This IS a cat blog after all.
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. Oh yeah, baby.
That's where I had a few surprises-seeing some very cute cat-centric items for humans that will be hitting the consumer market in the next few months.
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. I loved this banner art from Innovative Kids.
The first thing that got me excited was Chet the Cat & Friends.™ Think, funky 1960's illustration style combined with a juicy color palette that makes up the world of Chet the cat. Chet has a line of child-sized appliances and other cooking related items emblazoned with delicious artwork that any child would be attracted to. Their line of 3+ up toys inspire creativity and imagination while helping tune fine motor skills. In my book, I'd buy it just because I love the artwork and hey, don't judge me if I have a tea party with my Chet teapot while I'm at it.
©2014 Robin A.F Olson. Lusting after these gorgeous goodies.
Educational Insights also created a game I'd love to see go into every school. It's called Kitten Caboodle™ and in their own words:"The Big Idea: Find your purr…fect match in this game of furry, feline fun! Draw from the stack or "go fish" from another player's hand to collect cards that match the all of the pet necessities and accessories of the cat you want to adopt. Collect everything that cat needs and adopt it! Adopt the most cats and you win this preschool matching game."
It's also clear that celebu-cats are having their day in the sun with the appearance of a line of Grumpy Cat merchandising by the famous manufacturer of plush, Gund. Grumpy Cat, herself, was even at the show, but sadly, due to traffic heading into NYC we missed her by a few minutes.
©2014 Robin A.F Olson. I missed seeing Grumpy Cat again. I hated it.
©2014 Robin A.F Olson. I'm waiting for info from Gund on when the GC merch will be in stores or through the Gund website. Stay tuned.
Gund also has a line based on Venus, the famous Chimera cat.
Here's Venus and her Gund® imitation. Image: Gund.com To learn more about Venus, pop over to her Facebook page.
I saved the best for last. Our dear, Lil' Bub also has a brand new plush version of herself so everyone can have a Bub of their own. I spoke with Emily from Cuddle Barn who manufactured the Lil' Bub plush. Cuddle Barn's focus is generally in creating scarily-accurate animated plush, but this first series of Lil' Bub plush won't be animated just yet (though stay tuned their may be one in the future).
Holding the Lil' Bub in my arms, though bigger than the real Bub, captured her Bub-liness perfectly, featuring her bright green owl-like eyes, her white paws and that show stopping bubble gum pink tongue hanging out.
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. Now that's a BIG Bub.
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. I LUB my Bub plush! (They made me stick out my tongue. Honest.)
…like Mid-Hudson Animal Aid, who had a terrible fire last September and got a HUGE donation from Mike to help them recover from their loss. Mike has the sort of compassionate heart I wish all people who find themselves at the helm of a lucrative business would have as well. It's clearly not about greed, it's about being grateful and about being an inspiration to others, not about making a buck when he's just meeting a demand from his doting public.
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. Me with BIG Bub.
Cuddle Barn created a one-of-a-kind BIG Bub I immediately lusted after, but they said it was not for sale. I'm guessing we'll see it with the real Bub some time soon.
Lil' Bub's lil' plush will be available in smaller outlets and Urban Outfitters starting in April. If you want to pre-order one for $24.00, the only way to get it is through Lil' Bub's store and be warned..the pre-sales are almost filled!
Lil' Bub and Plush Bub thanks to LilBub.com
Good Job, Bub.
Good Job, Dude.
Good Job, Toy Fair.
I was sure Nanaimo and Linzer were going to be adopted first out of Mocha's family because they were almost identical twin tuxedo kittens. They often had a surprised expression, which made them appear to be caught just before they got into mischief. They could be considered "double trouble" just by the way they looked, but after spending a few minutes with them, it was clear they were love bugs, too.
©2013 Maria S. Nanny (left) and Linzy (right) just after rescue.
I admit that their name choice was probably the two worst cat names I've ever come up with, but in my defense, naniamo is a chocolate and vanilla baked treat. If my readers were all from Canada, they'd understand that and might even agree it wasn't such a bad choice.
Okay, it was a bad choice.
Moving on…
Dr. Larry hooked me up with adopters who came to visit Nanny and Linzy, but it didn't work out. They ended up taking home Marigold, who is now living in the lap of a very loving home.
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. Flyin' Linzy.
In no time, I got another great application from a family in Wilton, about 30 minutes drive from here. They'd lost their senior kitty after a long illness and were looking forward to adding two kittens into their home. Everything checked out, except for one little detail. I called the vet for a reference and they told me there was a second cat named Hudson listed on their records, but the last they'd seen him was August of 2013.
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. Tiger Teaser moustache.
Normally I'd jump all over that lack of detail on their application, but instead I decided to talk to the family when I saw them. There are plenty of times when a family takes on a pet when another family member is in trouble or they help out a neighbor and they don't consider the pet to be part of the application. I made a mental note to ask about this cat once we did the home visit.
The home was lovely. We only met the mom and younger son. The husband was in the house, but was "busy" with something. Too busy to come out and say hello? That seemed odd. The daughter was away in college.
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. The Goof Troop.
We talked about where the cats would live. We talked about their cat who passed away. The son, who is 14, talked about the cat and how much he loved her. We talked for about 30 minutes and not ONE WORD about this other cat, Hudson. I finally asked about him and the woman teared up.
I was told that Hudson was a cat they adopted in 2013 who got outside and ran away. They supposedly did everything they could to get him back but he just wanted to get outside from the first day and they had a really hard time keeping him indoors. He'd been gone for 5 months, but the vet was never informed. The kid jumped in to agree with everything his mother was saying. My cat-rescue-senses went on alert. Was this simply crocodile tears or was she sincere? Was the kid told not to talk about the cat? Was that why he, too, acted as if Hudson had never existed until I pressed them about him?
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. Linzy?
I asked her for a photo of Hudson since my buddies at Animals in Distress (A.I.D.) are right down the street and I'd planned to go there to visit anyway. Maybe they could help. The woman changed the subject. Before she did that she'd described where she got the cat and I was pretty sure she was describing A.I.D. but I didn't challenge her on it. I had some detective work to do.
We concluded the visit and left feeling like something was wrong, nice home, nice people, but something was off. My fears were confirmed a few minutes later at A.I.D. I asked the folks if they knew about a cat I'd just heard of. All I said was the name, Hudson, and they all stopped in their tracks and looked at me. Hudson was THEIR cat. He had lived in a basement his whole life until they rescued him and he'd NEVER been outside. There was no way that cat would want to get out. The Vet told ME that the family had vaccinated the cat for Feline Leukemia months after adopting him, which also gave me another clue that they were letting the cat outside on purpose because usually when there are NO OTHER CATS in the home, the vets don't vaccinate for FeLV.
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. Biscotti showin' off the belly.
After conversations with many of the volunteers, it was clear to me that something was up with this family. First, they lied a lot on their application, and then they lied about letting their cat outside. I'd heard that the husband did not like the litter pan smell and relegated the cat outside. I can't confirm that, but what I could prove to be true made me very angry. Most rescues won't adopt to homes where the cats are let outside. Here in Connecticut, it is JUST TOO DANGEROUS. They may have known to lie on their application to get the kittens. I knew for certain there was NO WAY they were going to get our cats. There were known coyotes in the part of Wilton where this person lived and A.I.D said 5 cats in the area had gone missing in the past few months. I didn't need any more reasons to say no.
I expected to get a reply to my email turning down the application, but I never heard another word. I'm worried these folks will lie to get a cat who will just end up like all the others because they won't keep the cat inside. I hate to vilify ANYONE. I really do, but I also will not tolerate being lied to to get a kitten.
Mocha and Pizzelle got adopted next and, again, I got another promising application for the twins. This one was from a Police Officer in a nearby town. He had a dog, two teenage sons and a wife. Very stable home life. Very nice family. Great vet reference. They came to visit the kittens and I have to say, for such BIG (I mean TALL) people, they were ALL VERY MELLOW. The kittens had fun with them and vice versa. It was one of the easiest adoptions I've ever done, though looking back it took a long time to find the right fit.
©2014 Robin A.F. Olson. Happy family with happy kittens.
Their dog is a golden retriever who is elderly. I'm guessing the kittens are sleeping on him by now. The last update I got mentioned they were all doing great.
©2013 Maria S. Mocha's kittens, Nanny, Linzy and Pizzelle the day of rescue. And to think these kittens would have perished if we didn't have Maria to foster them and all of you to help fund their rescue. Thank you for helping us do our life-saving work. Want to read this family's backstory? Just go HERE and HERE.
The discarded cats family was mostly spoken for now, with the exception of Biscotti. He remained on his own in the big foster room for the first few days after the adoptions. Being alone pushed Biscotti out of his shy zone and he became a lot friendlier without the other kittens around. Sam and I took turns sleeping with him so he wouldn't cry from loneliness. I knew he needed friends and that the Clementine's desperately needed the space, but I wasn't sure how Biscotti would survive against 5 VERY outgoing, rambunctious kittens.
I also feared that although the Clementine's had been getting antibiotics and treatments for their upper respiratory tract infection that Biscotti could get sick. I asked myself what made the most sense: put Biscotti with other kittens to soothe his loneliness, but risk getting him sick? Or, keep him on his own and let him cry throughout the day?
I couldn't stand to see Biscotti be so sad, so I took a chance and put him with the Clementines.
Boy was that ever a stupid idea.
…to be continued.
On December 14, 2012 my neighbor was murdered in her bed. Her son took off, armed to the hilt and for reasons we may never know, headed for our local elementary school and murdered some of the staff and 20 children.
From the moment I heard the news, I knew I had to do something to help my community. I didn't have much to offer, other than a house full of foster kittens, but what I take for granted, I knew other people might find unique. What I also knew is the healing power that resulted in spending time with kittens. Pet a kitten. Watch them play. You can't be sad when you're in a room full of kittens. The day after the tragedy, my program Kitties for Kids was born. A year later I can say that it was possibly the best thing I've ever done in my entire life.
I had no idea we'd get accolades from the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association or that I'd meet someone I look up to-U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, who also awarded our program with a Special Certificate of Recognition. I just wanted to help my broken-hearted community and had no idea or expectation that anything would happen to me as a result of giving back.
Our program was extended into the spring of this year, then it faded away when our dear kitten Fred, grew ill and later died from the dry form of FIP. I didn't give Kitties for Kids much thought. I was too busy grieving. We didn't get requests for visits and I thought it was time to close the program.
This summer, I was surprised when Susan Logan, the Editor of Cat Fancy contacted me and asked me if I'd be interested in having them do a story about our program for their December 2013 issue. I didn't hesitate to offer to write the article myself, but in all fairness she said it would be better reporting if she sent someone to me to do the story. I agreed, though as a cat writer, I admit to being a bit frustrated to being so close to writing for a national publication I'd admired since I was a kid.
I met with Kellie Gormly, a cheerful, chatty, cat-lover early in April. We talked at great length about not only doing rescue work, but how the residents of Newtown were coping. I took her on a tour, showing her the Newtown Healing Arts Center where the arts were used to help the children express their feelings and where many donations of artwork were displayed from around the world. I showed her other areas that were about being positive and hopeful, instead of focusing on a tour of where grisly events unfolded. We paid respect to the little fire station near where Sandy Hook Elementary once stood. On its roof are 26 bronze stars, one for each of the victims in the school. It was a cold, bright day, not unlike the day of the shooting. I didn't want to be anywhere near this place and was glad to leave it behind.
Kellie got to work on the article while the design staff at Cat Fancy reviewed the photos I sent them and made their selections for what would make the issue. At the time I had no idea which photos were going to be used where, nor how long the piece was going to be. I hoped for at least a 2-page spread, but had no idea what they'd end up doing.
The article about Kitties for Kids starts on page 16!
My dear friend Ingrid King sent me an email with the subject saying something to the effect of: "OMG DID YOU SEE THIS??!" Ingrid had attached a scan of the article. Unbeknownst to me, Cat Fancy came out early to subscribers and Ingrid hadn't known Kitten Associates was going to be featured. I imagined her turning page after page, then seeing someone she recognized…there's ROBIN and Spencer!
To quote my mother, I think I "plotzed" when I saw the scan. There, on the very first page of the article was a photo of me with Spencer. It took up more than half the space. When I envisioned the photo being used, I assumed it might be a thumbnail-size near the end of the article. Oh no…it was me in all my glory. Holy moley. I wondered if this is what it's like to be a celebrity? I admit to feeling a mix of delight and horror. Yes, I need to be out there in the public so my rescue can get more help, but wowie it is a strange feeling to see yourself in a magazine you often read.
Here's a sneak peek of the December 2013 Issue of Cat Fancy. To get your own copy, visit Cat Fancy online.
The next day I had to bring some kittens to Dr. Larry's and the second I walked in the door, I ran over and grabbed their copy of Cat Fancy. I asked if I could do "show and tell" during my appointment and they looked at me like I was crazy (which they are also used to by now). I went into the exam room and looked at the article. It blew me away. Kellie did a great job and I loved the layout. It is 4 pages long and full of photos from our program. They even honored Fred's passing, which meant the world to me.
My parents died many years ago and this is one thing I wish they had lived to see. All the hard work, the tears, resulted in something wonderful for Kitten Associates. When Dr. Larry looked at the spread, his face lit up. He smiled. He was really impressed and proud of me. In that moment I realized how meaningful it is to get a reminder that you're doing the right thing. It gives me fuel to keep going when times get tough.
Kitties for Kids hasn't come to an end. After careful consideration, we have decided to do a special 2-week run of our program. It will start on December 14th, the first anniversary of the tragedy and will run until December 28th. Though we hope no one will feel the need for kitty play-therapy because their hearts are healing, we'll be ready in case we're needed. If you live in Newtown, CT and would like to book a play therapy session, just email us at info@kittenassociates. org and we'll fill you in on how to sign up.
Twenty-four cats were seized as part of an animal cruelty case in North Carolina. Due to the Court System and the former owner, who would not stop fighting the case, the animals were left to suffer at Animal Control for TWO YEARS. Many got upper respiratory infections, almost half ended up losing their lives. Of the thirteen cats who survived, one came to my home (a cat I named Mabel, who had been one of our former fosters) and the most of the rest went to Wake County SPCA (who I'd been working with behind-the-scenes to help these cats). If you'd like to read more about this story, you can visit this LINK.
Today I'm thrilled to share with you an email I got yesterday from Elinor. She adopted one of the other cats named Jethro and she wanted to give me an update. Her story and photos are used with permission.
©2013 Iredelle County Animal Services. Our first look at Jethro.
"I recently found your blog about 12 kitties caged for 2 years.
I wanted to send you a big thank you for finding shelters to take these cats. My husband and I adopted Jethro from the Wake County SPCA in June. He is such a smart, playful, friendly cat.
©2013 Elinor Angel.
I saw him at the SPCA, a little cat sitting on a chair watching over the lobby. I petted him briefly, he was sweet. When I moved on to some other cats, he got out of the chair and came up to me for more petting. When I left the room, he followed me to the door and looked through adorably. He was just begging me to take him home. I took a picture with my phone and looked at it a lot. We came back the next day and adopted him.
When we first got him, he was temperamental from switching environments. He had some of that pet me/don't pet me attitude, but he really wanted love. Slowly he started to trust us more, let us pet him and request attention. As I'm writing this, he's in my husband's lap purring loudly. He is one of the smartest cats I've met and eager to please. He follows me around the house, sits for treats and plays fetch with a ball. He loves climbing on things and running up and down the hallway. I've learned that exercising him is important or he runs around all night.
Thank you,
Once in awhile we get to take a moment to look back and realize that all our efforts, our tears, were so worth it. This one cat has the chance to live the life he's deserved since the day he was born. It's clear that thanks to Wake County SPCA, this cat and most of the remaining twelve cats have the same chance at a happy life and for that I will always be grateful.
What didn't pass unnoticed was something magical. It's Elinor's last name. Angel.
Read Part One HERE
I hoped that I could move Willow into the main foster room, once she was clear of any health issues, so she could be with Barney again. You see, last October Willow had had made fast friends with Barney. She'd become like a surrogate mother to some of the other foster cats, particularly Barney, who often went to her for a comforting lick on the head or to just rub up against her. Barney dwarfed Willow even in those early days, but clearly she hadn't been intimidated by him at all. When Willow was adopted, I was sad that Barney hadn't gone with her, but my hands were tied. I thought she would have a great home partly do to an odd coincidence that because she was found in a tree and her new dad was an arborist that this was a match (along with a good vet reference and good home visit).
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. Barney with Confetti Joe, Precious Pete and Lil' Gracey.
Willow's introduction to Lolly and Clark wasn't done correctly, I admit, but they managed to work it out without anything serious happening. I began to treat Willow's upper respiratory infection and the flea treatments quickly helped resolve the crusty scabs that covered her head and base of her tail. Willow's coat began to improve within the a few days and her breathing was easier, allowing her to smell her food and regain her appetite. Willow hadn't even been here for a week when I got an application for her. It was from a cop who'd just been divorced and who loved animals. He shared custody of his two dogs with his ex-wife (who also had their two cats). His vet reference was impeccable. He is the kind of person who loves his pets as much as he could love a human family member.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. Lolly gets in her licks.
I asked him why adopt cats and he told me that he felt it would be unfair to his dogs to get more dogs. He said that they would come visit from time to time and he didn't want them to feel like they weren't important or that they'd been replaced. He was on very good terms with his ex so the dogs would still see him, but he couldn't live without any animals and he loved cats, too.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. Clark loves his toys.
I really liked this guy. He didn't balk when I talked about raw diet. He jumped at the chance to set up cat trees and scratchers and told me they had to be by the window-he even knew that. He told me he just saw Willow's photo and it called to him. She'd been on his list of favorites on Petfinder and he told me how he goes by his gut instincts when he looks for a new cat. I asked him if he would consider two cats since Willow needs to be with other cats and he quickly agreed telling me that was his goal to get two but he wasn't even sure he'd be approved to adopt one cat! How could I NOT approve him?
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. Typical Barney expression.
I told him about Barney, about his sad life, about his deep friendship with Willow. I hadn't put them together since Willow had returned, but I told him if they had been friends, it was possible they could be again. He saw Barney's photo and agreed he'd love to meet them both.
So last night David and his girlfriend, Michelle came to meet the cats. Before they arrived I took all the kittens out of the main foster room so they wouldn't be a distraction and also because I feared they would ruin the adult cats chance to be adopted. I also worked it out so that Willow would be in the small space where I do my laundry so Lolly and Clark wouldn't interfere, too.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. Willow being camera shy.
The first meeting was with Willow. I opened the door and both David and Michelle began to ooh and aah over the cat. Willow came right over to them, tail up. They petted her, held her, talked about how pretty she was. Michelle talked about her two cats, maine coons, and how much she loved cats. I'd asked David privately if they were going to combine households and he remarked jokingly "not until I retire." Even if that happened sooner, I think they'd be able to handle it because clearly these folks were passionate about animals and would always do the right thing for them.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. Barney and Joey were particularly close. They look like father and son.
It was time to bring Barney out. I warned the couple that there might be hissing, which would be expected, since the two cats hadn't seen each other for six months. I opened the door to the main foster room and Barney stuck his head out of the opening. The couple started cooing over Barney, which scared him at first, but then he saw Willow and he came out to investigate.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. Getting ready for the adopters to arrive.
I stood ready to break up a fight, hoping no one would be hurt.
Their ears stayed up and their tails were held high. They continued some very "heavy duty" butt-sniffing which we all giggled about. The cats took turns coming over to David and Michelle where they eagerly held them and talked to them, saying what nice kitties they were.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. Don't miss an inch!
Barney got a little cranky and I suggested we let him go back into "his room" where he might feel more comfortable. Sure enough, once inside the room, with Willow joining him, they both relaxed. Barney stretched out on the bed and Willow ran around the room, reacquainting herself with her old home. Bunny stayed in the shadows, which made me feel sad but I know we'll help her gain more confidence and find her home one day, too.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. Bunny makes a brief appearance before dashing behind the cat tree.
The couple remarked at how handsome Barney was, how charming. He laid down and allowed them to pet his belly. He rubbed up against them. I did not push the subject, but it was obvious they were in love with both cats.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. David & Michelle with their new kitties.
They'd brought a woefully tiny cat carrier so I let them borrow one of mine. I used it as an excuse to go visit in a few days to get the carrier back and to see how everyone was doing. Though I'd said my goodbyes to both cats before the adopters arrived, seeing Barney leave was both miraculous and bittersweet.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. Meanwhile Mellie is hoping his adoption day will be coming soon, too.
Last night after Barney and Willow had left I sat with Bunny and the kittens. They seemed to be wondering why there was so much extra space on the heated blanket.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. This was the only shot I could get of Barney & Willow's reunion. I just wish Willow didn't look so suspicious!
As this story comes to a close I will continue my search to make sense of all of this and to find a reason why all these things lined up so perfectly for these two cats. It never ceases to amaze me how things work out. I should trust in that more often.
I've been writing for hours. I'm tired enough to head back upstairs to my bed. I'll try to go back to sleep as memories of Barney fade into my dreams.
Happy life, my dear Barney and sweet Willow. Happy life.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson.
For many people their day-to-day life may not hold many challenges. There's a routine of waking up, feeding kids, pets, yourself, of washing a few dishes (or ignoring the mess), of getting dressed, working, playing, resting. Perhaps the challenges are in the in-between moments, how we get to work, if we can fit into our clothes, if we've run out of cereal and have to start the day with an empty belly; but more often than not, we can manage those little bumps in the road. But there are also some of us who have suffered a great loss; a loved one dies, a flood sweeps our home off its foundation and crushes it into bits, our town is ravaged by a hurricane and the power goes out for weeks. For those people, even the simple tasks require herculean efforts to accomplish. For those people it is our duty to stop worrying about our own challenges and help them.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. Kitty in quarantine.
©2012 Robin A.F. Olson (inset). ©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. The Infirmary with large airy cages. Inset: Doorway to surgery suite. The doorway was reduced in size and moved to the right where you now see a yellow door.
On May 1st 2012 in Hudson, New York, a small fire broke out in the top floor of a 3-story Victorian building. It was put out fairly quickly, but not fast enough before it set off the building-wide sprinkler system. The water, which should have saved the building from the flames, destroyed it from top to bottom, leaving many inches of water covering the floors. The building was mostly empty of people, but it was filled with terrified and wet cats. The building was the home to Animalkind, a cat-centric shelter.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. Sick kitty in the Infirmary.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. One of the lovely new cat lounges.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. Artwork plays a strong role in creating an inviting space for humans and cats alike.
©2012 Robin A.F. Olson (inset). ©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. Dreary ruined space turned into a catio/cat lounge.
Some people might curl up on their bed and just not get up for a few months after such a tragic loss. Running a cat rescue is difficult enough, but to lose a life's work overnight is unthinkable.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. Senior kitty enjoying sunshine and some love.
Animalkind could have shut their doors and moved all their cats to other rescues, but they didn't. They're the only cat rescue in the area and Katrin Hecker, the Founder and Director of Animalkind couldn't close the doors, knowing what a negative impact it would have on the community. The community of Hudson, knew what they'd lost, too and many pitched in right away to help Animalkind rebuild.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. One of the cats available for adoption completely oblivious to the crowds surrounding his space because folks were not allowed in the lounges during the open house (good call if you ask me).
I covered the story of those early days in a few blog posts (listed at the end of this post), as well as doing my bit to help the rebuilding process by procuring large donations of food and litter and encouraging monetary donations from all of you. Even though my own cat rescue group was suffering at the time, I knew I needed to help them. It was too big of a loss to turn away.
©2012 AnimalKind (inset). ©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. The adoption room after the sprinkler system ruined the floors and sheet rock. This was taken just before the cats were removed from the room.
©2012 Robin A.F. Olson (inset). ©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. Part of the Surgery Suite showing the HVAC system back in place, cleaned up and ready to go.
I was delighted to make the two hour drive north to attend Animalkind's Open House. The last time I'd seen the facility, everything was removed, down to the studs. The spaces were dark and scary and empty of life. In my mind's eye I could imagine what it might look like with new sheet rock in place and new furnishings and painted walls, but what I imagined was nothing in comparison to what greeted me as I arrived at 721 Warren Street.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. Panorama showing the main floor cat adoption suites.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. Happy cats.
I loved what Katrin, her Board, her volunteers and donors were able to create. Here was a place that also included art, along with rescuing cats. Animalkind appears to be like a hybrid between an art gallery and cat shelter. There are paintings embellishing large areas on each floor. The walls are painted a patchwork of cheerful colors. There are photos of cats, sculptures of cats, everything cats, everywhere you look. This was a place where you couldn't be sad, even in the Senior Cat room, where many cats were blissfully resting on soft beds kissed by the sun.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. The Senior Room.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. One of the youngest cats looking for a forever home.
We visited the Infirmary where volunteers made certain that each and every cat had cuddle time to help encourage them to overcome what ailed them. They understood that pills or procedures only go so far and that love helps the cats make it back to health.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. Lovely senior calico.
We didn't get to see the Quarantine room, but with a house full of cats, I wasn't too eager to risk bringing something home. The new surgical suite was also closed off but I got to see a bit of it through the window in the doorway. The room had new equipment and cabinets and with their Vet they would be able to do spays/neuters which would not only save the shelter money, but they also extend services to the public. They provide low cost Spay/Neuter services for socialized cats as well as FREE Spay/Neuter for feral cats! What a dream come true for the people who live in the area. I'm sure that now that they're back on their feet, Animalkind can seriously impact cat overpopulation with their programs.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. The Senior room gets strong sunlight, perfect for those achey joints. Here two kitties enjoy an afternoon respite.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. Art and AnimalKind go hand in hand. This lovely kitty adorns the front desk.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. A sweet senior kitty playing with a visitors loose shoelace.
The Open House was crowded, full of cheerful people buzzing about what they were seeing. From across the room, I saw Katrin. I didn't even think she'd remember me, but she shouted my name and came over to me. We embraced—a big bear hug. I almost burst into tears when I told her how happy I was for her. There were too many people around for us to have a conversation so I excused myself so she could greet other visitors, but my heart was light as a feather as I looked on with admiration for what she was able to accomplish.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. Outside on the street level looking down into what was once a flooded mess and is now a multi-suite cat adoption facility.
©2013 Robin A.F. Olson. This is what all the hard work is for-to know each cat is safe, relaxed and content in their temporary home until their forever homes are found.
Animalkind is a 501c3 non-profit so your donation is tax deductible.
If you'd like to read more about the fire at AnimalKind and their rebuilding you can visit these links:
The Best Worst Thing Ever. The Fire at AnimalKind. (part one)
The Heart of a Lioness: The Fire at AnimalKind (part two)
From the Ashes: The Fire at AnimalKind (part three)
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Luca: JetlagMature
She's crazy. She has to be. That's the only way you can explain it. Why else would anyone think it was a good idea to pretend to kill their dad and lie and let my temper get out of control?
Maybe I'm just in shock, or jet lagged or something, but everything feels so ridiculously unreal that I keep expecting to wake up any minute now. I mean c'mon, I'm sitting in a puddle in England, outside of a burning mansion trying to work out what's going on, let alone how I feel about it.
So far, my brain's managed to process the fact that she lied and that it's making me angry again.
And when my temper sparks, I stop trying to work things out.
She kisses me, but I pull away from her sharply and close my eyes, trying to stop my temper getting the better of me again. I've already hurt her enough this evening.
"Hmm, I've screwed up again. Whatever." She growls, jabbing the buttons on my phone irritably.
"Yeah, well you're not the only one, eh? I shouldn't have reacted the way I did," I somehow force the words out and though they sound strained, I still mean them.
"Yeah." She shrugs, waving me away dismissively. I grit my teeth and resist the urge to jump up and punch her. Instead, I get up and pick up my bag, walking away. Last thing I hear while I'm still in earshot is Gemme talking to Benny.
I don't know where I'm going. I don't even care. I'm soaked, cold and in a country I've never been to before.
But how hard can it be to find someone that sells drugs? An English drug dealer can't look too different to an American one.
That said, we are in the middle of nowhere.
I glance back at Gemme, still on the phone and sigh. To be honest, I don't really want to get lost in the freezing, rainy countryside of Britain, but I don't think Gemme particularly wants me around right now. Either way, it's probably not a good idea to stick around when I'm in this mood.
Turning back, I keep walking.
I have no recollection of how I got here. Wherever 'here' is. I just walked until I saw buildings. Some village near to Gemme's place, I guess. It's a small place, but there's a B&B just down the road and though I might not exactly find a drug dealer here, I can go to sleep somewhere. Jetlag is killer.
I pay for a room and practically crawl up to it, asleep the moment my head hits the pillow.
When I wake up, I'll look for Gemme and try to make up with her. Again.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hi guys,
1st post on the forum but have had a good look through at all the similar threads, but thought i should start my own rather than use advice given to others.
I recently bought a 2004 e60 BMW 520i Auto 2.2 petrol from a local second hand car dealer.
The battery was flat at purchase and the dealer informed me this is as it had been standing for a while. We jumped the car, i took it for a test drive, all was fine.
I purchased the car and drove it home, approx 50 miles.
The car is fitted with a parrot mk9200 hands free bluetooth system which i'm reasonbly sure at first was saying 'goodbye' and turning off when i turned off the ignition. However it no longer shuts off and i have to remove the screen manually to disable the power to it.
The following days i had all the signs of a low battery (all sorts of error messages, idrive flickering, the lot) I took it to a local garage and it was diagnosed as requiring a new battery. This was replaced and the problems ceased.
A couple of days later i get the High Battery Discharge Whilst Stationary Error message, i have a look online and put this down to the fact that i have done some relatively short trips- as the car is going into sleep mode fine (red light next to transmission is going off after a time)
I am still getting the message but not 100% of time.
Could this be an IBS sensor issue?
Could the parrot mk9200 still be drawing power despite me removing the screen from the device? (mechanic seems to think that it doesnt draw power when screen is removed but he was also unable to fix the issue with it not turning off so i dont know how much i trust him)
Apart from these issues the car starts fine and drives fine.
Any input would be appreciated.


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(1) In this Convention:
(a) The term ''resident of Cyprus" means:
(i) A Cypriot corporation; and
(ii) Any person (except a corporation) resident in Cyprus for the purposes of its tax, but in the case of income derived or paid by a partnership, estate, or trust this term applies only to the extent that the income derived by such person is subject to Cypriot tax as the income of a resident either in its hands or in the hands of its partners or beneficiaries.
An entity that is claiming a reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding under an income tax treaty must enter the country where the entity identified on line 1 is a resident for income tax treaty purposes and check the box to certify that it is a resident of that country. For treaty purposes, a person is a resident of a treaty country if the person is a resident of that country under the terms of the treaty.
According to Cyprus tax law, a Cyprus company must be managed and controlled from Cyprus in order to be considered as tax resident in Cyprus and enjoy the advantages of the tax system (12,5% corporation tax). Thus it is necessary that the majority of the Board of Directors to stay and work in Cyprus. For foreign clients this is achieved by appointing 2 nominee directors in the Board of Directors.
Line 9b. If your country of residence for tax purposes has issued you a tax identifying number (TIN), enter it here. If you are providing this Form W-8BEN-E to document yourself with respect to a financial account that you hold at a U.S. office of a financial institution, you must provide the taxpayer identifying number (TIN) issued to you by the jurisdiction in which you are a tax resident unless: You have not been issued a TIN, or The jurisdiction does not issue TINs
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Whether you've just finished culinary school,worked in food for years, or just love to cook, Homemade provides all of the tools you need to start an independent food business.
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We use software to tell you what's working and what's not, from your marketing to what your most profitable dishes are.
Our team will help make collateral to professionalize your business: fliers, posters, logos, and packaging.


text:
- 1more common and most common are more frequent happening often; existing in large numbers or in many places Jackson is a common American name. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women in this country. Some birds which were once a common sight are now becoming rare. a common spelling mistake Allergies to milk are quite common in childhood. opposite uncommon
- 2[usually before noun] common (to somebody/something) shared by or belonging to two or more people or by the people in a group They share a common interest in photography. basic features which are common to all human languages We are working together for a common purpose. common ownership of the land This decision was made for the common good (= the advantage of everyone). It is,by common consent, Oregon's prettiest bay (= everyone agrees that it is).
- 3[only before noun] ordinary; not unusual or special the common garden frog Shakespeare's work was popular among the common people in his day. In most people's eyes she was nothing more than a common criminal. You'd think he'd have the common courtesy to apologize (= this would be the polite behavior that people would expect). It's only common decency to let her know what's happening (= people would expect it). Idioms
adjectivejump to other results
NAmE//ˈkɑmən//(commoner, commonest)
to be something that everyone knows, especially in a particular community or group Their relationship is common knowledge.
be common/public knowledgejump to other results
the ability of a powerful or famous person to talk to and understand ordinary people
the common touchjump to other results
to be united with someone about something that you both agree on, believe in, or wish to achieve
make common cause with somebody (formal)jump to other results
Check pronunciation: common


text:
The Guys Who Did the Killer Clown Prank Just Released Part Two
Last month, a video of a guy pranking people while dressed as an evil clown has gotten about 15 million hits on YouTube. Now, part two is out.
In the first one, he hid behind corners and started chasing people. That happens a lot in this one too, but there's one part where he waits for someone to walk part while he's digging a grave in the middle of the night in full clown regalia. As if being dressed as a clown isn't creepy enough by itself.


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Mom puts a diaper on Sam to avoid anymore accidents
Just in case your lovely mother also gets out out for your younger sister Sam, that's a fairly quick change not counting the whining and suddenly you and Chloe both know that all the children of the family are now wearing some nice diapers.
What exactly she's going to do with that information is a mystery to you but the smell is becoming harder to hind and must be becoming uncomfortable by now. You near another gas station on the way and your mother pulls over as that's normally how these things go down. What does your sister do?


text:
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watch only time woman Breil Classic Elegance Extension
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From Time Only Woman Breil Tribe Collection Of Classic Elegance Extension. This clock has Quartz Movement Miyota 2015 E Case Steel Size Of 32 Mm. The dial is Black With Black Stones At Indexes And Has Balls With Luminous. This Model Is Equipped With Daters And He Mineral Glass. The Resistance is All'Acqua Of 5 Atm. The strap is in black leather with buckle. The reference is Ew0237
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Movement: Quartz
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Water Resistance: 50m - 5ATM - 5bar
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Guy picks up spear so fast!!!
is there a way to pick up spear faster. Just played a guy who destroyed my teamates in the last two matches becasue he would always grab the spear so quick. I tap the button as fast as I can but I could never pick it up as quick as him. Anyone know? am I missing a relic that allwos people to grab spear faster?
Re: Guy picks up spear so fast!!!
Maybe he just have a turbo controller or something like that, so he can pick it up by been able to rapidly tap the button faster than what a human can do.
Re: Guy picks up spear so fast!!!
Re: Guy picks up spear so fast!!![ Edited ]
They should just make it a [Hold Circle] method that takes the same amount of time for anyone. The point is for your teammates to cover you while you're pulling it.
I believe Just-Tank mentioned this for CTF (since mashing doesn't accelerate the process), but I'd like it to be the same for the Spear.
It would be nice if the game didn't zoom in during these event as well.
Button mashing sequences are possibly my least favorite thing about the series. It's annoying and the animations for it have always looked stupid because they're so choppy.
Reminds me of the skulls in GOW1. The look on Kratos' face as you mash the button is pretty funny, but they really overdid it in that game particularly — mash button to pull the skull off a pathetic skeleton? Is Kratos suddenly that weak?
Re: Guy picks up spear so fast!!!
Even if you've played the game 10000000 times it always has to swoop the camera around and show you where to go even if you already know where to go. Or, it'll tell you something really obvious like in GoW 3 where when you put the blocks under the wheel and it's like "oh hey the door is now open" then later you have to use said blocks in a puzzle so the wheel is no longer stuck and it's like "oh hey look this door you won't ever use again ever in the whole entire game is closing! We don't need to show you this but here's the goddamn thing anyway! You probably already know the door is closing because if you didn't guess it right the first time we showed the same cutscene over and over and over and over again until you got it right! But we're going to show you anyway!"
The part I hate the most...
skip to 4:40...OMFG.
Re: Guy picks up spear so fast!!![ Edited ]
Mmm.. yeah. That fight took me a while. I saved the fist for last because the game makes you do so little damage at that point. Very annoying.
Actually, while we're at it, another thing I hate is how late in the game you get some weapons. I want to play with them for more than 5 minutes please.
GOW3 one-upped this by not letting you start with them in replays. They just had to tie them to the story.


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Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier lieu dit Malakoff Shiraz 2010
Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2010 Syrah de Malakoff gives notes of bacon fat, aged meat and prunes with a background of figs, warm blackberries and vanilla, plus forest floor and anise hints. Medium to full-bodied, it offers great structure in the mouth going firm and herbal in the long finish.
This fresh and vibrant red is focused and distinctive, offering black olive and mineral overtones around a vivid core of plum and blackberry fruit. Persists easily against polished tannins.
This is as piny and resinous as this bottling has ever been, imparting a slightly medicinal cast to the black cherry and plum aromas. The flavors pick up more traditional hints of ash, espresso and black olive. This medium-bodied wine's slightly dusty tannins turn silky on the finish.


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- Explore community
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Star-shaped flower
Observed: 29th July 2011 By: mplawlor
Added: 26th February 2012
Found along a wooded, roadside stream on the south coast of Guernsey. Couldn't find it in the ID book - perhaps it is a garden escape.
Other observations of Campanula
Species with which Campanula interacts
Difficult to see the depth of
27 February 2012 - 9:42am geff.2007
Difficult to see the depth of flower but looks very like Spreading Bellflower with 5 petals
3 March 2012 - 7:36pm mplawlor
Thanks for the Bellflower ID. Looking at the local database, it seems that it is most likely to be Trailing Bellflower (poscharskyana) which grows in the area, whilst Spreading Bellflower (afaik) doesn't grow on the island.


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Stone pathways and white buildings gave way to lesser buildings of wattle and daub and dirt tracks. This gave way to large enclosed fields that once brimmed with crops, but recently harvested, now with herds of animals roaming around in them. Beyond even this lay long fields filled with roses, white roses.
It was dark as Dalaena had ridden out with Devlin on her old black mare, Veil , on the second morning since her arrival. The rush of wind filled her with such an avid excitement that it felt as if she just could not go fast enough. She loved the feel of wind. When she was very young, she remembered standing on the highest tower where the bright fire of the lighthouse shimmered against her skin, and she looked out to the rivers and the world beyond of wonderful green dunes and blue waters. The wind was strong there, but that was not enough.
Dalaena had always asked her father for wings, like the birds that would often land on the tower to greet her as she stroked their feathery bodies. Her father had laughed and told her if he could he would. She had cried for hours, so to appease her, he had brought Dalaena to her mother's horse which she could not ride, being pregnant with Edaran. And so her lessons began.
Immediately she took to riding as if she had been born with hooves herself. She rode every day, cared for her own horse. She even learned how to shoe a horse. When Dalaena became old enough and Edaran himself was too, it was her that had taught him to ride. Everyone who rode with her always told her she was such a natural that she should have been born a horse.
Even now, Devlin rode far behind her as she galloped across the rose fields, bent low, whispering, urging Veil onwards. She had passed to the right of the pathway which led to the Rocke River and there they followed the bay of the river until even the hills of Popping in the very distance became visible, and the sun peeked from behind the distant horizon behind her. They had made a good few miles.
In a sudden movement, as if Veil sensed it from her, she stopped.
It took Devlin several minutes to catch up, and he reined in beside her.
They looked out, the two of them. Far back, where the castle was less than the size of her hand, far far away where she could scarcely see, a bright golden coin rose up. Yet the light it cast rained upon the roses. The roses drank the light and opened up their petals, thirsty as suckling babes until their white petals burned like fires.
The field glistened brighter than water.
Dalaena reached out her hand and felt for Devlin's whilst still on the horse. Not even looking, she found it and held onto it.
They said nothing but watched.
Dawnrose was named after just this event. It had been over a year since she had glimpsed it, and oh how she missed it so.
When she finally looked away, it was to gaze at her brother's face looking on in wonder.
He seemed to sense her and blushed without turning.


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Pew Research Center survey reports, demographic studies and data-driven analysis
In a Down Economy, Fewer Births
A sharp decline in fertility rates in the United States that started in 2008 is closely linked to the souring of the economy that began about the same time.
War and Sacrifice in the Post-9/11 Era
As the United States marks the 10th anniversary of the longest period of sustained warfare in its history, the overwhelming majority of veterans of the post-9/11 era are proud of their military service. At the same time, many report that they have had difficulties readjusting to civilian life, and have suffered from post-traumatic stress. While veterans are more supportive of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq than the general public, just one-third say that both been worth fighting.
Fighting Poverty in a Tough Economy, Americans Move in With Their Relatives
The financial hardships caused by the Great Recession have helped fuel the largest increase in modern history in the number of Americans living in multi-generational households. From 2007 to 2009, this group spiked from 46.5 million people to 51.4 million.
No Consensus About Whether Nation Is Divided Into 'Haves' and 'Have-Nots'
The public is divided on the question of whether the U.S. has become a society of economic 'haves' and 'have-nots," with 52% saying it is incorrect to think of the country this way while 45% say such a division exists.
Childhood Poverty Among Hispanics Sets Record, Leads Nation
More Latino children are living in poverty—6.1 million in 2010—than children of any other racial or ethnic group.
Adding Context to the Census Bureau's Report on the Rise in Poverty Rate
Recent Pew Research Center reports provide extra context for Tuesday's announcement by the Census Bureau the nation's poverty rate grew to 15.1% in 2010.
The Digital Revolution and Higher Education
As online college courses are becoming more prevalent, the public is skeptical about their educational value. Only 29% of Americans say online classes are equal in value to classes taken in person. College presidents have a more positive view of online learning and they foresee dramatic growth in this area.
How Accurate Are Counts of Same-Sex Couples?
Two decades after the Census Bureau began offering people the option to describe themselves as a same-sex "unmarried partner," producing accurate numbers on same-sex couples remains a challenge.
Women See Value and Benefits of College; Men Lag on Both Fronts, Survey Finds
At a time when women surpass men by record numbers in college enrollment and completion, they also have a more positive view than men about the value higher education provides.
Wealth Gaps and Perception Gaps: A Paradox of the Great Recession
When the real estate market melted down, those hit hardest by the sharp drop in household wealth were blacks and Hispanics. But even while their wealth was being decimated, the political reaction among the nation's minorities has been surprisingly muted.


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A little-discussed ObamaCare provision offers states potentially large incentives to steer about 40% of exchange enrollees into a public health plan paid for with federal dollars.
The basic health plan option lets states set up a public program to serve those eligible for exchange subsidies who earn up to 200% of the poverty level.
Because this low-income group gets the most generous subsidies, more than half of exchange subsidies for state residents could instead shift to a public health plan.
Minnesota is farthest along in adopting such a program, paying for its own trial run in 2014. Federal dollars start flowing next year.
State enrollment data show how much the basic health plan option can shift the structure of ObamaCare. In Minnesota, exchange sign-ups — including those who haven't paid — make up just 22% of the total via the MNsure marketplace.
By contrast, in other ObamaCare-friendly states setting up their own exchanges, 39% of new sign-ups are in the exchange, with the rest joining Medicaid.
New York's new budget authorized a basic health plan with a net savings — not cost — of $300 million.
The basic health plan has largely dropped out of the national ObamaCare dialogue since it cleared committee by a 12-11 vote in October 2009. But the provision could have far-reaching effects.
The basic health plan option is intended to address what some on the left have called ObamaCare's bronze trap.
The law offers generous subsidies to low-income households, but only if they chip in enough to buy a silver-level plan — 4% to 6.3% of income for those earning 150% to 200% of poverty.
The alternative: A bronze plan with a low after-subsidy premium, but a deductible that can reach as high as $6,350.
That's where the basic plan comes in. The idea is that states use their bargaining power to contract with insurers to offer lower-cost plans than are available on the exchange, allowing minimal premiums and co-pays.
Reimbursing health care providers at Medicaid rates would exacerbate access-to-care issues. New York hopes to minimize problems by setting rates in between those of Medicaid and exchange plans. However, there have been numerous reports of doctors and hospitals who say they have been priced out of Obamacare plans.
In most cases, the basic plan would be available to households with incomes starting at 139% of poverty — just above the Medicaid threshold. But legal immigrants with lower income who are not yet eligible for Medicaid due to a waiting period would also qualify for a basic health plan.
That's one attraction of the basic health option in New York, where savings from a basic health option could reportedly approach $1 billion a year.
On paper, the basic health plan would let lower-income people get more affordable coverage at a lower federal cost.
Funding for states equals only 95% of the premium tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies (help with deductibles and co-pays) available to the people who enroll.
In reality, the basic health plan would likely cost the government more than the exchange subsidies. Analysts expect more people would sign up for basic health plans than exchange plans due to much lower out-of-pocket costs.
On top of that, 95% of available subsidies likely amounts to more than what many ObamaCare enrollees will actually get. Those who fall into the bronze trap leave up to one-third of their subsidy on the table.
Bottom line: The basic health plan option will tend to send extra money to states where political leaders are most comfortable with expanding government-run health care.
States do pay for administrative costs, which is among the factors they must consider.
Because the population earning up to 200% of the poverty level tends to be younger, it's possible that a basic health plan would lead to an older, less healthy exchange pool, pushing up premiums. But this analysis will differ from state to state.
Over the intermediate term, there's another reason that the basic health option is a big wild card for ObamaCare costs.
Starting in 2019, a cost curb would take effect, driving up premiums, if exchange subsidies exceed 0.5% of GDP. Yet it's not clear whether basic health plan payments would be counted.
If they're excluded from the calculations, which seems likely based on the law's text, pro-ObamaCare states might adopt basic health plans to help avert this cost curb. But if basic health plan funding is included, the extra enrollment driven by the low-cost plans would make it more likely that the cost curb is triggered.
The law has faced criticism because its subsidies, which dwindle as income rises, act as a disincentive to work more and earn more. The basic health plan is worrisome in that regard because it would mean those whose earnings rise just above 200% of the poverty level would face a dramatic increase in health costs — far greater than under the exchanges.
An ObamaCare navigator in Minnesota
warned in an op-ed that "a pay raise costs too much" under the law.
Because subsidies can plunge with a minor hike in pay, ObamaCare "forces some people to make hard choices about how much more money they can really afford to earn," she wrote.


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Driving to New York for a quick tour of the World Trade Center Museum and Freedom Tower. Next, it is on to Brooklyn, NY to board the Queen Mary II for an 8 day cruise to London where we will spend two days. We then take the Eurostar train to Paris for two days and then the TGV train to Milan and Rome ...
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Bring the Payne
... basin and Alachua Lake." We looked forward to a lengthy ride, but about three hours later, we both agreed that while the trail condition was great and smooth, the views were not what we expected. Either way, we did it! I was proud of myself as I've gotten pretty out of shape on this trip. The first few miles of the trail were very picturesque and wound through hammocks and beautiful old growth oaks with moss flowing all around ...
Gainesvilles Reverse Andes
... into the earth past water falls, trees and vines, Ferns and mosses and at the bottom a healthy colony of Liverworts clinging to the rocks by several small waterfalls. These primitive non vascular plants (no plumbing!) represent, along with the mosses, early plant evolution. You can go even ...