1800PETMEDS - $5 Off Coupon & Free Shipping

Need some medicine for that aging dog or cat of yours? Think the cost to keep him or her alive is becoming a burden? Well, twisted reader-who-has-no-heart how about saving some money while you can keep your pet alive? I am sure it will help out, if for no other reason than to let you sleep at night. You sick, deranged, want to be animal killer!People like you make me sick.

All kidding aside, you can save $5 off your order and get free shipping on orders over $39 using coupon code CAT9 at 1-800-PetMeds (Exp 9/13/10) - this deal is about to expire so you better hop on it fast - that medicine will not sell itself, you know! This site is also a great resource for information regarding your beloved family pet - you can learn about all kinds of stuff to keep your pet (and yourself) healthy. Some of the most frequent topics you can learn about (and buy products for) are allergies, anxiety, joint health, bites, diabetes, ear infections, ear mites, fleas, hair loss, heartworms, hot spots, itching, lyme disease, manging pain, shedding skin, infections, thyroid, urinary tract, vomiting, and weight loss - but they do have a large database full of information regarding other topics as well.

This is a great way to do business and it is what I call the "educate and accommodate" approach - where they can give you both the information and the product in the same place! Its great for consumers and the business! So if you have a sick pet and need some medication anyway - pop over to 1800PETMEDS and use coupon code CAT9 for $5 off your order - so it fast, though - this offer expires soon!

Ikea Cats!

This "behind the scenes" video of a hundred cats being released in Ikea is all the rage on the internet today.  It's pretty adorable stuff!  But for me, it raises more questions than it answers.

A hundred cats?  Is that literal?  Because I see maybe two dozen cats at most.  

As I watched the video, I silently asked each kitty, "Are you the one who will pee somewhere inappropriate?"  Because you know one of those cats peed in the ball pit, or behind a dresser or something.  At LEAST one cat.

What happens to the customer who buys the thing that got peed on?  Will they take it home and question their own sanity?  Because presumably the store's customers don't realize that a large number of cats (if not a hundred) were recently wandering around the store.  If you bought something from Ikea and it smelled like cat pee, would you wonder what happened?  Or would you just blame it on the weird laminate off-gassing chemicals?

Did you notice that one cat is naked, while another cat is wearing two cats' worth of fur?  VERY SUSPICIOUS.

Where do you get big white fluffy cats like that?  Because I want one.  I have two older orange models that should be worth something for trade-in.  They're like the size of two cats each, so that's a four cat value!  (They're not fat - just really big.  Like Maine Coon Cat big.)

What about customers with cat allergies?  Not just being in the store - but imagine being the allergic person who buys that coverlet.  Adorable as it was to see a cat snoozing happily atop it, I know a lot of people's noses are probably itching just at the thought of it.

Some of the cats were apparently professional cat actors.  (That's a real thing, I promise.)  The others were just very pretty kitties.  Show kitties, I suspect, given their easy demeanor in public, and the way their owners held them for display.  

Which makes me wonder, where did the cat owners hear about this?  Are there newspaper ads asking for cat tryouts?  How do I get in on that action?  I have one cat who would sit around looking bored and cynical.  That's a skill.  I could market that.

How many cats escaped into the rest of the store?  Those stand-up barricades were clearly no match for the sassy cats' ability to trot blithely along the overhead girders.  Are any cats still missing?  Is that Ikea now home to a roving band of fluffy white cats?  

How many generations of fluffy white cats have to be raised in an Ikea before they get their own fake Swedish name?  (Disappointingly, the Swedish word for cat is just "katt."  I was hoping for at least an umlaut.)

How mad would you be to get one of those long silky white hairs in your next order of Swedish meatballs?  Pretty mad, I'm betting.  And yet, no matter how violently they went over the store with sticky tape rollers, I can guarantee you that the escape velocity of a cat hair is truly an impressive thing.

2 Personalized Pet ID Tags for $4.95 with Free Shipping

Looking for some new dog / cat / pet tags? Terrificpets.com is offering a two for the price of one sale - with free shipping at a cost of only $4.95! If you already have a pet tag it is great to have spares - especially considering it is so easy for your pet to lose or damage the one they currently have - and at this price it is a no-brainer! It is only $2.47 for each of them - with no cost for shipping.  There are many different styles and colors to choose from and you can also add up to 5 lines, with 22 characters per line, at no additional charge - so these can make a really great personal gift - for pets or otherwise. I bet you could even find a way to use these for humans - such as jewelry, gifts, cute little notes - you can get creative I'm sure!

A little about the personalization: you can choose from bone, circle, or hydrant shapes in blue, gold, pink, purple, red color. There are other extra options to choose from (such as a silver color) but these will cost a little more. Again, you can have a total of 110 characters on your item(s) - which can give all of the important information strangers will need to know about your pet - including his/her name, address, owners phone numbers - and really any important stuff that people need to be aware.

These little tags are a must have for any pet owner - not only will having a tag help your pet in the event that he or she is lost - but you can add medical information to the tag in case your pet friend has any allergies or other serious medical conditions that people need to know about.

These dog tags are strong and extremely durable anodized aluminum and stainless steel! These personalized dog tags can be exclusively engraved on both sides to ensure positive ID for your pet. Each pet id tag provides separate lines for your pet's name; owner's name; address, city, state, and zip code; and phone numbers. There's even an extra line available for REWARD, medical, or Vet information! Information is what will get your lost pet home, and no one puts as much information on a tag as TerrificPets.com does. USA orders only please! Please note... Stainless Steel tags are laser marked for better visibility. So what are you waiting for? Get yours today!

Shit Happens

Shit happens. And, as a fair warning: this post isn't a bunch of bullshit- it's horse shit, which is worse.

I was walking in a pasture the other day for reasons I am not yet about to disclose. As I was walking, I avoided a cow pie only to step in a big pile of horse shit. Ordinarily, this wouldn't be a problem, but I had on my newest, trendiest, and most expensive cowboy boots. (I guess that's why they call them shit kickers.)

I tried to clean the boots up as best as I could, but since they weren't canvas tennis shoes (which in all honesty I should have been wearing), I couldn't quite get the shit out of them. The heel of my left boot is shit-stained and the smell hasn't quite left the boot yet, creating a stench that is causing me to leave my formerly-favorite boots outside instead of in the house.

So, now I have to spend time and energy doing my specialty- Internet sleuthing- for the shitty job of cleaning up my shitty shoes. If you ask me, the whole thing is plenty crappy.

I know it pales in comparison to many things and I do feel lucky that this is my worst problem (of the day- not the week, month, year, or life), but dealing with shit is not enjoyable.

I mean, it could be worse. I could be like this woman who was on permanent horse shit-detail. The apparent highlight of her day was cleaning up horse shit out of the water bucket, which she explains in great detail in her post.

This writer expressed concern that horse riders should clean up their horse shit on public roads and trails. I am all for it. While I was in a pasture in my new boots and should have been paying better attention to what I was doing, horse shit on the road can pose a bigger problem than dog shit on the road. Wouldn't it be nice to see a mounted police officer cleaning up after his horse's shit for a change?

As for cleaning up the boots themselves, I think I'll try a pet odor spray. I'll make sure to get the extra-strong variety to use.

Stalking Kitten

This home video of a very curious kitten in Japan shows two prominent characteristics of the domesticated cat that it shares with its large jungle and grassy plains relatives; tremendous curiousity, and stalking behavior.

Grilled Cantaloupe Dessert

I was at my local Safeway store today and noticed they have Cantaloupe on sale for only $ 0.99 each! Whatta deal! I was at the store because I had the urge to grill on what is likely one of the last beautiful Seattle Summer days before the "long grey" approaches. Naturally, I was hoping that I could include this miracle melon in my plans - and I did. I have got to tell you Grilled Cantelope may just be my new favorite thing.

Cantaloupe is a pretty juicy fruit and as such it grills beautifully, and the grilling really brings out the flavor. After grilling the slices for about 5 minutes on each side they were perfect, juicy, and above all - healthy! While plating I drizzled the slices with a little honey and topped them off with my favorite non-dairy frozen dessert - vanilla Tofutti!

The warm slices of Cantaloupe gave enough heat to the honey and Tofutti that they both became slightly more fluid and swirled around the melon to create this really beautiful combination. It was one of the best summer desserts I have had in my life - and again really good, healthy, nutritious stuff!

So if you happen to find yourself in a situation where there is a fruity deal you can't resist - try grilling it, and get creative. You, your guests, and your waistline will all be glad you did.

IS Two Really Company?

 

Wouldn’t it be really great if we could just bring home a new pet and they would instantly love each other and get along? Sometimes that isn’t the case, especially with cats. The new cat introduction process doesn’t have to be as much of a nightmare as some believe. Below are a few tips in helping the newcomer feel more at home with your existing resident cat.

Slow and steady wins the race. Forcing both cats on each other from the “get go” isn’t a wise decision. To avoid excessive aggression, experts advise to introduce the two cats gradually. Have a separate area for each cat to eat and sleep in with a closed door. Be sure to spend quiet time alone with your new cat while she is confined to her new space. Of course, pay extra attention to your resident cat during this time of transition as well.
Curiosity doesn’t always have to kill the cat. Both cats will realize there is a possible new friend on the other side of the door and will become accustomed to their sounds and smell.

Not all cats are the same. Just like humans, they each have a very different personality and some are more quiet and alone, while others are social butterflies. Do not expect your resident quiet cat to immediately start playing with the newcomer. A resident quiet cat who has never shared space with another animal may be a less inclined to share her space with a new cat.
Swap smells. Cats have a very keen sense of smell and associate it with people as well as other animals. After a few days, switch blankets, toys etc of each cat with the other. They will begin to associate a particular smell with the other animal. The face to face meeting will go more smoothly if each cat has a scent they are already familiar with.

After a few days of isolation, the new cat should be ready for a face to face meeting with the resident cat. With the resident cat in isolation in another part of the home, casually open the door. Let the newcomer cat walk around the house, browsing and smelling, stopping where she may want to.
This is all part of the process of her getting used to her new home and its smells.
When she has had ample time to walk around her surroundings, open the door to the resident cats room. Be sure to be present when the initial introduction takes place as either cat may become aggressive.
Either cat may just look at the other, sniff a bit, and walk away. Do not be alarmed if when both cats first meet, you hear hissing and yowling. Both reactions are normal.

If either cat should become aggressive during the meeting, DO NOT place your hands in between them, or try to grab one to cease the fighting. This is very dangerous and you could become hurt. Clap your heads, yell, hit a spoon to a pot, but do not ever break up a cat fight. 
If the meeting doesn’t go as well as you had planned, try again another day with the basic steps outlined above. It can be a slow process, but when done right, eventually, your two cats can become best buddies and  live together in peace and harmony for years to come.

 

Fleas! Treat Your Pet to a Flea Vacation - on the cheap

Fleas... again! I just got rid of them... and the cost to to treat fleas is astronomical - or so I thought.

Its really aweful when our little buddies pick up fleas (and it happens alllll the time). They scratch and itch and I cringe - fleas are really gross and they can carry some nasty little diseases with them (hello, Plague?). When our little babies get the bugs we spring into action, wash everything, and really just want to get the whole ordeal over. Recently, my own little girl ("smiling" in the picture) had a nasty flea attack and it seemed like nothing would work - the fleas have become immune to our spray stuff. Nooooooooooooo!

After speaking with a friend I was informed about Frontline - which is the only thing that will work on her cats. The description of the effectiveness she provided was enough for me to want to sign up for this miracle elixer so off I went to read about and price it. "Oh my gosh" I though, "This stuff is sooo expensive", and it was. The retail price for a 3 month supply was a bit more than I had anticipated (to say the least) and deal hunting I went! 

There are a lot of scary companies on the internet that offer the "too good to be true" deals - especially for pet stuff. The prices seemed better but when I would check up on these companies the reviews were horrible. So then I stumbed upon a blog that talked about buying the stuff for larger dogs... and just splitting the the doses up yourself - saving yourself a ton of money! Eureka (lightbulb)! The blog even recommended reputable places to buy Frontline and then just split it up - all you needed to do was get a sealed small vial, and a syringe without the needle, and ... "What? Where am I going to get all this stuff?"... oh Ebay!

To make a long story short I ended up buying from a reputable person, 100% positive feedback, who does nothing but sell these little Frontline kits that include everything you need - at a price anyone can absolutely afford - less than $16 for a 6 month supply! She even had it delivered in 2 days - ay papi! I was hesitant at first from reading all kinds of other information (don't trust Ebay, Frontline will kill your dog, pay more for less from the store) - but it was a great decision that I am glad I made.

FROM THE LISTING:

How The Kit Works:

Your Frontline Plus flea kit will include One (1) 4.02 ml tube of 100% Genuine Frontline Plus flea and tick treatment for Extra Large Dogs. You will divide this tube into smaller doses for your smaller dog. The kit includes a glass vial with an airtight cap which will hold the excess Frontline Plus for future doses. You will receive a syringe (no needle) that is clearly marked to easily measure and administer the monthly doses of Frontline Plus. Detailed instructions are included to make the treatment process simple and easy to understand.

The above is all true! If you're in need - check the listing (and others like it) out - help your pup and your wallet!

Steven Slater, American Instant Folk Hero

Pulling A Steven-Slater: It's In The Way You Quit Your Job

Sometimes the job gets to the best of workers, especially when the job requires dealing with the public, and among the public are more than a few very difficult customers. I've been there.

Yesterday morning, Steven Slater, a flight attendant at Jet Blue Airline, came to the point when he said enough is enough and became an instant Internet folk hero.

Who hasn't had days like Steven Slater and who, working in the service field, haven't had to deal with a difficult customer or two and wanted to pull a Steven-Slater?

The Associated Press reported that a difficult passenger defied requests to stay seated, then accidentally hit Mr. Slater in the head with her luggage. "When the flight was still waiting to take off from Pittsburgh, two female passengers got into an argument over space in the overhead bins. That's when Slater was struck in the head. The dispute flared up again after the plane landed in New York when one of the women, who had been asked to gate-check her bag, was enraged that it wasn't immediately available.The woman was outraged and cursed him out a great deal. Slater addressed the passengers on the intercom. "Those of you who have shown dignity and respect these last 20 years, thanks for a great ride." Mr. Slater had a few choice words for the passenger who cursed him, then he took two beers from the galley and exited the plane using the emergency slide. This was a no-no. He was arrested;(since released), and has been arraigned on charges that seem bogus.' But might not be, depending the spin the Port Authority puts on the manner of his exit. The charges are criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and trespassing

The authorities have put the word out overnight that Mr. Slater is facing serious charges.They emphasize that pulling exit (a plane's) chute is serious The authorities certainly don't want workers pulling a Steven-Slaters.

Anyway, Mister Slater seemed relieved to having quit his job, and he has gathered many thousands of fans on Facebook from folks who understand what drove him to the point of quitting his job in such a dramatic fashion.

Man Pees in Cups, Then Leaves Cups on Bar- Classy!

We have all heard the questionable statistic about how many different types of urine can be found in bar nuts, but THIS STORY from America’s strangest state in the nation fricking takes the absolute cake. A Brazilian student, Adolofo Mosmann, in Florida allegedly peed into two cups and put the urine on a bar counter.

MMMMMMM? I don’t think so. Gross.

 What could he possibly have been thinking? The bar had restrooms and I’m sure that if the bar was occupied, there must have been a street or vacant lot in the vicinity where he could have urinated in a little more socially more acceptable place, but he chose to instead to pee right there and leave the urine on the bar counter as a generous tip for the bartender. Lucky.

I understand from the report that he was intoxicated and probably drunk as shit (or pee), but I’m not sure that this is normal. Is it really a good idea to jeopardize your student visa for the questionable joys of public urination by grossing out an entire drinking establishment?

Doubtful.

Was he confused? Was he under the delusion that he was giving a urine sample at the bar for medical purposes? Perchance some hot chick demanded a urine sample for medical testing for STDs? Or maybe he was angry about the service that he received from the staff, didn’t like Florida, or possibly just wanted a reason to escape the US?

Whatever his rationale was, Adolofo Mosmann attempted to re-enter the bar after being kicked out of the bar.  Although he was wearing a different shirt, the bar staff was still able to identify him and called the police on the 22-year-old student for trespassing the premises of the House of Blues Club, which is located near Disneyworld.

The story about the urine from Orlando has spread quickly across the Internet and discussion boards- the best comments I’ve seen relating to the story were actually on a Conservative Political Forum- one man told the story of an old high school friend accidentally drinking urine and another forum member had a great line about the strange story:
“It seems like someone got pissy about his urinating in cups......”

And, as a word of caution to any college students out there who may be reading this story, don’t get any bright ideas.

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