Welcome to our world

Hi there, you coming in to our room?

You look like you could pat a cute little kitten...

I lika d' guy thing..

see.. I told you DH had a way with the ladies

PSA - Kiva.com

Have you ever heard of Kiva? 

We are a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world. 

I've been a member for a while.  I started out loaning $25, and I figured I'd loan that out until someone didn't pay it back.  Well it's been a few years and when I saw a groupon sale for Kiva I invested again, and now I have two loans out at any one time.  It is not much.  (although in this day and age of recession and goverments that are about to go poof, sometimes it is a little bit more then people can afford) but it can do a lot of good.

Well Kiva has decided to try to expand to new people by giving them $25 to loan out.  You get to pick who you loan money to, and get the whole Kiva experience, but instead of getting repaid to yourself, the money goes back to Kiva.   That way you can get your feet wet trying out Kiva with out risking your own money.  They are gambling that you'll like the idea and want to invest in people yourself in the future.  Although with their great repayment rates, it really isn't that much of a gamble.

Kiva does ask you to support them with additional donations each time you make a loan, but you do not have to.
http://kiva.org/invitedby/connie7021

Full disclosure, if enough people click and loan, I get a free t-shirt.  But I'm not really a t-shirt girl so I hope there is a way to tell them not to bother..  I'm not sure there is any other way to get the free first loan with out the link..

GFS

Bug

So I went to the shelter this evening to pick up some more Albon for Kate and Pippa, and while I was there I was told that Bug was still at the shelter.  Apparently she was never adopted and she was put in the sick room for explosive diarrhea.

I was told she was really loving and loved attention, so the warm reception I got was probably more because she was getting attention and not because it was me.. (but I'm still going to go with she likes me, she really likes me :D)

She looks absolutely horrible.  Her fur is all scraggly and her back end looks like she's suffering from diarrhea.  I felt horrible.  As I was snuggling her, I noticed a flea walk across her belly... sigh.

She doesn't look much like this any more

I feel so bad.  I wish there was something I could do.

Complement therapy

So yesterday I went in to see Kate and Pippa, and Kate hissed at me yet again.  I decided to work on some complement therapy.  It feels so silly doing it, coming up with five to ten minutes of complements for a kitten who wants to be no where near you (there is only so many times you can say "Kate is such a pretty kitty" but I got through it, and so did Kate.  She wasn't happy about it and ran right back into the carrier.  But when I went back in later she was out.  hiding behind the toilet, but still "out" considering Kate.

If you can see me, then I'm being social ~Kate

Pippa likes to play

I did get Kate to run after the toy, but she was still very hesitant.  She's run out and then realize she was in the 'great wide open' and became visibly uncomfortable and would turn and go back behind the toilet.  But then she'd turn right back around and stalk the toy again.  She has some self confidence issues so if Pippa is playing she won't try.

A few minutes later my husband came in.  Well wasn't I shocked to the point of having to pick my chin up off my chest when Kate ran right over to check him out!!!

Well OK she waited until he sat down... but it was still pretty amazing and a real wow moment.  Apparently DH has a way with the ladies..   Kate circled him several times.. sniffing him then leaving and standing behind the storage bag of cat food (not far) then going back and walking behind him and around him and sniffing him.  After about the fifth go round I gave him the toy to try to encourage them.  Pippa needed no encouragement...

Weee!!  ~Pippa

As I got up to feed them, Kate put a paw on my husband's leg.  Even he was amazed.