Proud Mama

I'm such a proud mommy right now! Over the weekend, the annual Mid-Michigan Cat Fancier's Association cat show was held at the Lucas Co. Rec Center. I go every year as a spectator, or booth volunteer, but this year I went as an exhibitor! Last March, they held at show in BG for the first time, so I entered Kia in it. She was extremely nervous, as she'd never done anything like that before, and didn't make the finals in any of the show rings. Not that I wasn't proud of her. After all, she did get her picture on the front page of the Sentinel!
But, anyway, I decided to enter her in the Lucas Co. show this year, since that's the one I go to every year. She wasn't as nervous this time, but still pretty wide-eyed. I took her to the photographer's booth a couple times for a "dose of playtime" because it always seems to calm them down a little when they get to play with the photographer's toys. I also walked around with her in between show rings to get her more acclimated to the environment. Our cage area was next to a couple who were entering their kitty, Emily, for the very first time. Emily was a pretty little Siamese mix, and she ended up getting 7th best household pet in, like, the second ring. Kia, however, didn't make the finals at all on Friday. So, I was worried it would be just like last time, when I would watch the people next to me clean house while we walked away empty-handed. So, on Saturday, Mom told me she was really praying hard for Kia to win something--anything! Well, guess what: On the very first ring on Saturday, they called her number for the finals! I was so ecstatic! The judge gave her 8th best household pet and she got a beautiful red rosette out of it. As if that weren't enough, she made the finals in the very next ring, too! Again, she placed 8th. I was especially happy about that ring because the rosettes were purple (my favorite color!). I called mom and dad right away to tell them the news. They were so proud of their grandkitty!
When we got home, I displayed her robbons next to my Cinderella Pageant trophies and sashes. It's turning into quite a shrine in that corner of my room. I would've been happy with just one 10th place finish, so two 8th place finishes just knocked it all out of the ballpark! Perhaps we'll keep competing and take home even more ribbons in future shows. I guess it will all depend on where we'll be living this time next year. No matter what the ribbons say, though, she'll always be #1 with me! :)

Diva Alert!

Hello all! Long time, no write, huh? Well, I have some news I thought I'd share: I auditioned for the Toledo Opera yesterday and got in!! I had auditioned a few years ago and got "wait listed" but this time, I was accepted outright. The artistic director, Renay, told me she'd love for me to be a part of their spring season because: 1. she liked my voice and 2. she said I'd look good on stage. LOL! She also said she taught private lessons for a few select people. She's very busy with all the opera productions so she only takes on a few students at a time, but she said she'd be willing to take me if I was interested in lessons. I definitely need lessons again because it's been so long since I had them or sang with any major choral groups. (You know how singing is like exercizing: You gotta do it regularly or you'll get out of shape. And, boy am I in need of a workout!) Well, anyway, rehearsals for the opera gala begin this Sunday at 6 pm, so I'll just be jumping right in. The performance will take place at the Toledo Museum of Art on Feb. 11 in the Peristyle. It'll be an all-Wagner concert featuring the chorus and Toledo Symphony. The next prodcution will be the opera "I Pagliacci" which will be performed in early April at the Valentine theatre. So, everyone mark your calendars and reserve your seats at the box office! In other news, my Broey has been quite ill lately. The last week of December, he was so bad we didn't think he'd live to see New Year's. He stopped eating and drinking and looked so frail and weak he could barely walk. When we took him the to vet, Dr. Martin said his appetite loss is all due to his kidney failure. He gave us some mushy nutrient-rich food that we have to force-feed to him with syringes. That helped perk him up a bit. He finally started eating again on his own, but we still have to give him the special food because it will keep his kidneys from having to work so hard. Basically, it's all comfort measures from here on out. Eventually, it will be fatal to him, but I'll be doing everything I can to prolong that as long as possible. He's my Bubby and my best friend of 17 years now! Kirby has decided she likes his special food, so now she scratches and claws at my legs whenever I prepare the syringe. Then, she'll all but force her face into Broey's mouth trying to get to it! I'll let her lick the spoon and maybe a little morsel or two, but it's too expensive to let her eat much more than that. I spent New Year's Eve in south Florida with Alvy this year. I flew from Detroit to Lauderdale at 7 am Dec. 29th, and came back at 8 am on the 1st. It was a bitch of a flight to catch! But, it was the cheapest fare I could find....undoubtedly for a good reason! I've already posted some pictures on my yahoo photo album along with several new pet pics. While in Florida, I checked out several different apartment complexes. Most of them that say they allow pets actually only allow up to 2 per apartment. So much for these "pet friendly" communities. A couple said they would work with me and my 3 little darlings, but most were adamant about not having more than 2. Well, if I can't move all 3 of my girls with me, then I'll just have to stay here. It's all or nothing, people! April, Kia, Kirby, and Aria are a package deal!:) Of course, none of that is even relevant until I can get a job down there. There's several area Starbucks I could work at, and I'm also looking into grad school at FAU. All in all, I could definitely see myself living there within a year or so. But, we'll see. Upcoming events: January 14 & 15- the Mid-Michigan Cat Fanciers' Assoc. cat show at the Lucas Co. Rec Center. Go check out all the kitties and kitty toys, and look for Kia in the household pets division! This will be her second show, and I hope she has a little more fun than at the last one. (It was her first time, so she was very nervous.) Also, I'm doing another Cinderella prelim on Jan. 22 at the Toledo Hilton. If I win my division, I'll be eligible for states again in May! (And, God-willing, go to nationals again this summer in Vegas!) Well, it's quittin' time, so off I sign. Drop a comment, drop a line! (There! Like my little mini-poem?)