OSCAR THE CAT

Nursing home cat can sense death?
Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:02PM EDT
By Julie Steenhuysen

CHICAGO (Reuters) - When Oscar the Cat visits residents of the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, Rhode Island, the staff jumps into action -- Oscar can sense within hours when someone is about to die.

In his two years living in Steere's end-stage dementia unit, Oscar has been at the bedside of more than 25 residents shortly before they died, according to Dr. David Dosa of Brown University in Providence.

He wrote about Oscar in the New England Journal of Medicine.

"It's not that the cat is consistently there first," Dr. Joan Teno, a professor of community health at Brown University, who sees patients in the unit. "But the cat always does manage to make an appearance, and it always seems to be in the last two hours."

Raised at the nursing home since he was a kitten, Oscar often checks in on residents, but when he curls up for a visit, physicians and nursing home staff know it's time to call the family.

"I don't think this is a psychic cat," said Teno. "I think there's probably a biochemical explanation," she said in a telephone interview.

While pets are often used to bring comfort to the elderly in nursing home settings, Oscar's talent is special, though not unexpected.

"That is such a cat thing to do," said Thomas Graves, a feline expert and chief of small animal medicine at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine.

Graves said there is no evidence to suggest cats can sense death, but he doesn't discount it for a minute.

"Those things are hard to study. I think probably dogs and cats can sense things we can't," he said.

On a particular day detailed by Dr. Dosa, Oscar settled onto the bed of a patient in room 313.

His presence sent staff off to make calls and set up vigil.

When a grandson asked why the cat was there, his mother explained: "He is here to help Grandma get to heaven," according to Dosa's account.

She died a half an hour later.

(Additional reporting by Gene Emery in Boston)

WHY SHOULD I SAY I'M SORRY?

Why should I say I'm sorry?

I had a lunch date with "the 'interest' du jour" and because I only get a half hour, we went for a quick steak taco at the closest Mexican joint in the area. I usually don't eat American Tex/Mex stuff but it had to do. So when I ordered, I said to the guy at the counter, "steak taco with only lettuce, tomato and avocado. NO CHEESE AND NO SOUR CREAM." Well I guess this guy was one of my favorite people (a speed listener with AADD) because he had smothered the taco with cheese and sour cream. I took it back to the counter and said, "I'm allergic to cheese and sour cream", (actually I'm not allergic but I am lactose intolerant). So he said, "I'll make you another one". Mr "interest du jour" with a nervous laugh and giant smile apologizes to the guy. It made me feel like I was being such trouble. Not cool. After the guy gave me the new taco and said, "here you go no cheese and no sour cream". I just smiled and took it to our table. My date said, "gosh I felt bad for the guy. He had to throw that first taco out in front of his boss. And I find you intriguing. You didn't say sorry or thank you. You're a tough one aren't you? You don't take any slack from anyone."
My answer. "You have NO idea how thick skinned I am. Secondly, why should I APOLOGIZE? Do I look like some sap? He's the one who screwed up the order. So no, I don't believe in apologizing in this case. But I don't, so you do it for me. Why? And thirdly, I said thanks the first time and smiled the second. Dude you're the intriguing one for over analyzing this." Well this guy has a good nature. No griping. No bitching. All smiles and laughs. That's all I need right now. Lots of laughs. We do have a good rapport and laugh about anything. I'm on the right track this time. Who knew a cheap taco could turn into a brain teaser, because now I'm perplexed as to why I don't apologize when people screw up, like the so many overly polite persons you see out there.
People say sorry way way too often. Sorry when nudging and inching your way out off a crowded subway train. Or thank you after you paid a $500.00 medical bill somewhere. Hell that'll be the day I say thank you to a hospital when I'm writing out a check for that much. It's a little ridiculous sometimes, because it's just so out of habit. Most of our parents programmed us to say sorry, thank you, please and be nice. It's become a "thoughtless" and unconscious ritual like washing hands before you eat. Thank God my mother never told me to be nice. There wouldn't be any Cat woman blog if she did. So next time someone screws up something at your expense, "DON'T say, "that's o.k.". It's really not o.k!

NOT A TORY, NOT A LIBERAL & NOT ULTRA CONSERVATIVE EITHER

Some people think that I'm some sort of a freak Tory or Conservative. SO I'll answer the question now. I'd prefer to not be categorized as either a conservative or a liberal.
I'm obviously not a liberal and I'm not conservative because for one I don't believe that federal government or state have the right to decide which people constitute a family.
For instance if two women, gay or straight, cohabitating under the same roof, with their children in my opinion are considered a family unit.
People in these arrangements deserve the right to make the pull the plug or don't decisions, or have family membership rights at the "Y".
I also don't think that anyone has the right to shove their Judeo-Christian beliefs down the throats of anyone who wants to have an abortion or deny insurance and legal rights for someone's same sex partner.
This is a free country that was formed expressly for the reason of freedom of religion. If a woman wants to abort, why should anyone interfere? One can express their opinion,but to legally stop it is really unAmerican altogether.
I wont continue with several paragraphs of political rhetoric but I will say, as I've travelled around the world. I've seen how we really don't have it so bad at all.
You don't want socialized medicine because if you've ever been to the U.K. or most places in Europe, where you had to pay a buck 65 for a soda out of a vending machine.
Or double for a burger and a beer. Or even 45 bucks for a pair of cheap walking shoes, at the equivalent of a Pay Less shoe store, you'll see how it's a bad idea.
The reason stuff is so expensive is because they have to pay for the free health care somehow. They have to get the money from somewhere and the percentage out of everyone's pay check just doesn't cut it anymore and hasn't for a long time. DO YOU ALL REALLY WANT TO PAY double for practically everything?
The wages in the U.K. are the same as here in the U.S. but almost everything is between 20 and 85% more expensive than here in the U.S.A.
Still think it's a good idea for free health care to all? EVERY SINGLE PERSON ALIVE AND BREATHING IN THIS COUNTRY?
There are Americans who think that the leaders of this country are their enemy.
Albeit they aren't especially productive without the persistance of our beloved lobbyists on their heels.
I've been to Indonesia and in this country you are not allowed to co-habitate with your girlfriend if you're a male. Yet here in the states if a man wanted to live with two women or two other men, he can without consequence.
You can be a gay male or female here and your partner can be covered on your insurance plan.
Still think our leaders are your enemy? The PM of Australia (big ol' AUSTRALIA) is opposed to giving gay people equal rights. IT'S 2007 AND John Howard IS STILL OPPOSED.
Come on children. Let's wake up and smell the coffee!

POLITICAL SHMOLITICAL

In the recent past when conversing with friends or relatives and said, "I'm dating a 'Scotsman' and he wears a kilt at weddings" or "I'm dating a cute 'Irishman' from Cork." I was not accused of being a bigot or racist. No one shusshed me and said, "don't say that!" Nor was I scolded when I told friends, "my friend Simone just married a 'Frenchman' who reminds me of the French dude from Hogans Hero's." But now on a family reunion blog on which I added my chopstick story to, (see below) I used the word Chinaman and, WHOA! You should have seen the feedback I got on it. I was reprimanded and told that I should use the word Asian American and that I shouldn't say things like that. OH MY GAWD! I was attacked and scolded. Which is what I am ranting about here. The people in this country are all being newly programmed with this stupid PCness crap. How dare you say this and how dare you say that. You're horrible. I'm not allowed to say to a group of people a comment like. "I think that it was right that Immigration deported that Mexican women in the movie Babel. She broke the law." Or I'll be called heartless. Yes I felt sorry for her. I cried. But I don't feel like it was so wrong that she got deported. Having said that, I suddenly become the antiChrist in the room, for saying such a thing. It's crazy insane for people to think that a comment like that is a personal attack against all Hispanics. It makes me think that there's a lot more small mindedness in the world then I already believed there to be.
It's also wrong of me to think that most politicians suck up to all kinds of groups and lobbyists falsely and exclusively for the purpose of getting votes. (of course I mentioned a few, which I wont here) They tap dance around issues very tactfully to appease both sides of the fences. And I get bashed for opinions of mine like this. I'm accused of being uncompassionate and unchristian and told that this country has enough to go around as a reply to me, after I said, I think we're being sucked dry and tapped out by this that and the other" (each city has it's own sects and groups, so it's different everywhere. 'Fill in the blanks')
I thought we had freedom of speech here in this country. Yet guys like Borat get sued and Isaiah Washington gets sent away for de and re-programming and then subsequently sacked, for ranting in front of colleagues in a rehearsal room. I saw the Larry King interview. Isaiah has become a big fat scapegoat. There are those who truly believe I'm a "bigot" and "ignorant". According to a couple of cousins, by my saying something in the likes of, oh, for instance......., "My friend married an 'Englishman' who remind's me of Hugh Grant." is something that would be a big NO NO to say in public. It's not P.C. Who knew? One cousin thought I lacked compassion when I had given such opinions of the afore mentioned. Note to self: Take those Isaiah classes.
It also seems we can't talk about God or Jesus in public anymore and I'm supposed to be all right about that because of the off chance possibility that I may offend a Hindu, Jew or Muslim. And how dare I not find that acceptable. How dare I not be considerate to the atheist or satanist, (or who ever) by NOT putting up a Christmas tree.
How dare I complain about it. I should be tolerant. These days tolerance means you must not offend. Therefore I should BE O.K. about NOT PUTTING UP MY CHRISTMAS TREE IN MY SHOP.
Sorry but all this is bullshit on a stick to me. I don't buy it. I wont buy it. It's stupid.
I don't give a toss and I don't care who I offend. I am offended too.
When did so many people in the U.S.A. become so joyless and humorless? I don't know but I feel like Donald Sutherland in The Body Snatchers movie. That humans are being replaced by drone versions of themselves.

MAN DISGUISED AS TREE ROBS BANK!!

Police are on the hunt for a man who robbed a New Hampshire bank on Saturday disguised as a tree, according to MyFoxBoston.com.
The suspect walked into the Citizen's Bank in Manchester with tree branches duct taped to his body and demanded money from the teller.
Click here to view the report from Boston Fox News.com
The teller filled a bag with cash and the suspect took off. A dye pack inside the bag exploded, the Web site reported.
Manchester cops described the man as a white male, between 45 and 50 years old, wearing glasses and a blue shirt.


I had to ticker this one. This, to me is the news story of the summer. No one shall top this.
I'm sorry but how do you think to disguise yourself as a tree to rob a teller?!
A real tree?!
Oh come on!
Dude are you for real?
Must've been crystal meth.
Who's the numb nuts security guard who let this guy even get to the teller window.
OY People are so mental or plain ignorant. Where does this bank hire security? Crack heads R Us?
Click on link to see the picture of this guy. MORON! Stupido!

NO FORK IN CHINA TOWN!

Last night a friend met me in Chinatown after an appointment I had there. So we had a late dinner. We found a place that he knew and sat down. We ordered and when the food came I asked for a fork. I don't do chopsticks. I don't do them because when I went to Tokyo I struggled to figure out how to use them before getting there. When I arrived in Tokyo, no where in two dozen restaurants that I saw, were there chopsticks on the table. There was no where where I had to sit on my knees on the floor either. The tables were like the ones in the U.S.A. and regular utensils were on every table as well. So I never bothered. I thought what's the point? All the Chinese restaurants in Chicagoland metro area have both chopsticks and utensils on the tables. So when I asked for a fork last night I didn't think that would be a strange request. The old guy said, "This is Chinatown. No one ask for fork here. Let me go find something for you." I felt like a I turd. I refuse to struggle for my food. It's so much easier with a fork and spoon. And being an American I see no point. It's not like I'm in Rome and I should do as the Romans. I'm here. In my homeland asking for a fucking fork! That's all. Is it really so complicated to keep forks being a restaurant owner? REALLY!

OH CRAP!

Holy crap. I came home late last night and saw this guy near the shrubs by my front door. If it weren't for that neon stripe that is spotable a mile away, I would have gotten sprayed!!!!!!!!!!!!! Boy was I close this time! I need to carry a maglight with me everywhere I go now. Jesus! Shine a beam of light along my pathway. I sure can't see me call my neighbor, "Um, I just got skunked, can you please go to the store and buy me 30 gallons of V8 and douse me in the basement. I can't see myself in a tin washtub being immersed in tomato juice. Embarrasing!

This Is How Much I Love Chocolate Cake

This is how much I love chocolate cake. Yes I bug my friends after we go out to dinner. I bug them to take me to Ethel's Or the The Fudge Pot in Old town. I confess I'm a bad influence. But this is me. I'm the one who sticks a finger in a cake's frosting. And I'm the one saying, "No I don't want to share a dessert. I want MY OWN!" Yup me in a nutshell. Or should I say a chocolate bag?

PRIVET BLOOM

Privet Bloom is my new favorite perfume. It's from Hampton Sun They are sunscreen gurus who branched out with a new signature scent for their company. It has the unique component of the bloom from the privet hedges indiginous to the Eastern U.S. and Hamptons area. It's a fresh clean spring/summer scent which includes a perfect blend of privet, sea spray and dune grass. It's not like anything. The perfume mist is light and lasting. Call them for a free sample. This product can't be found in most places other than New York or some coastal cities so you would have to order online.