shame on you, you fool me once

Okay, so this is a new post about the 4th of July. Let's pretend I didn't fuck up the first one.

Anyway, Mom, Jeff, Mark and I went to Mike's for a cookout last night. It was nice. Cold but nice. It definitely didn't feel like July. It felt more like Halloween. But it was nice; good food, good friends. Until the neighbors came. We didn't really like the girl and she invited people over and that made me wicked uncomfortable. Especially because of things they were saying in front of the five year old girl who is one of her students not her own kid. So after dinner and dessert I was ready for home. The fireworks hadn't even started yet. But I was uncomfortable with all these new people and my guts hurt from my Crohn's Disease. I thought I was going to die. I still have a little pain in my side. It sucks but what can you do? Also I was very proud of Buddy. He didn't get scared of the fireworks at all. He just chilled out on the rocking chair. And the fireworks are really loud at our house because we're so near to where they set them off. But my little Buddy was a tough guy; usually loud noises scare him until he hears them repeatedly and learns it's just noise and not something thhats going to attack or whatever. So last night wasn't too bad.

As some of you may or may not know, I've entered in The Spark Inside's Summer '09 writing challenge. This year's theme is writing in collaboration, which I've never done. So that part should be interesting. Also I'm paired with Renee C (mizzc) which makes me happy :) I was praying for her or Renee P because they were the only two I knew and I happen to like their writing. So who I got paired with is awesome. Bad thing: no plot....yet. Hopeffully we'll figure something out. I need to look at the challenges again and see what I can ccome up with for ideas. We're supposed too email each other tonight with ideas. It's kind of hard for me to come up with something when all I want to write is Kradam.

Also there's this little awards thing going on called The Hanson Only Awards. I was approached about voting. I told them I hadn't. Honestly, I don't think I've even read any of the fic that was nominated. Also I didn't really want to participate in something that banned 99% of my stories because they're Hancest. And yes, know that SPARK isn't allowing it either. But that was my choice. It sounded like fun and I mean, I do write some hetfic so it's not a big deal. But usually no one reads them so I don't usually post them. *shrug* I don't know. The two things feel different. With SPARK I knew I couldn't do Hancest. With the awards I didn't know I wasn't qualified just because of content. And srsly, what if one of my Hancest stories is my best work ever? Should I be penalized because I write hancest (and slash in general) better than I write hetfic? So that's all I'm going to say about that because I don't want an effing comment war.

So what else did I tag for this entry? Oh I know. The Gerbs: Scout and Froy. So on Friday Froy and Scout went back to Petco. As I explained on an earlier post, they were getting no quality of life with Buddy around. So my mom brought them back to Petco for me. Well, I went with her but I didn't to inside. It was too much. I really, really loved them. I'm going to miss my boys :( but there wasn't anything I could really do. Buddy just couldn't get over them. He spent hours looking for them that night. He didn't get it. But at least the little girl next door could use my leftover bedding, food and chew sticks for her hamster. So it won't be going to waste.

And that's it because I keep almost falling asleep.

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

So I've asked people how you can try to make someone that hates rats change their mind about them. All I've really heard is exposure. Now all I need to know is exactly how you expose someone to rats when you don't have any and don't know anyone who does. I'm definitely confused. I heard one girl begged her mom until she let her foster a pair from Mainely Rat Rescue. It took some time, but her mom eventually fell so much in love with one of the rats that she couldn't bear to give him back. They ended up adopting them. I mean, my mom doesn't have to be head over heels for them. She just has to like them enough to let me adopt a pair. Hell, she doesn't have to even like them, just tolerate them.

But whatever. It's not going to happen. I believe that so much that I got a pair of gerbils. Scout and Froy. I'm not sure if we can keep them. They're just locked in my bedroom because of Buddy. He can't leave them alone. He even dive-bombs the cage when I bring it in the livingroom. It's gotten to the point that Froy likes to fight back. Whenever Buddy sticks his nose in the cage, Froy nips him — which is kinda funny. But it's gotten to the point that now Froy nips anything that gets stuck thru the bars, including fingers. But he doesn't bite when you're holding him so that's good. :)

Scout on the other hand is very nice. He doesn't antagonize Buddy and stays away from the bars when Buddy is near. Also, when you stick your finger thru the bars he holds on to it to pull himself up onto his tiptoes to get a better look around. Or he puts his mouth againts your finger as if he's kissing you... Or more likely to see if you're edible :D

You're probably thinking I'm stupid for getting gerbils when I have a cat, right? Well, thing is, I've had two cats and a hamster all at the same time before. Once in a while Logan would jump on top of the tank but not often because she was scolded for it. Also she would run away from the hamster whenever it was out of the cage and tried to go near her. Unusual, I know. What's even more unusual is that MnM would actually let Jazzy crawl on her. She'd even give her piggyback rides, which she always got a treat for doing.

I thought that Buddy would calm down after a while. But of course he hasn't. I'm not liking this one bit. I think I might have been spoiled with Logan and MnM. They weren't your typical cats by any means. I don't want to keep my gerbs locked in my room and not play with them. Or lock myself in my room so I can play with them.

We'll try a glass aquarium first so they're safer from Buddy — and less messy with their bedding. (they like to dig like little meerkats) But I'm not sure what's going to happen. I kind of feel bad about getting them because of the way Buddy is reacting. But I've never had a cat react like this so how was I to know? *sigh*

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

So my mom and I have come to an agreement of sorts with the whole pet issue. She told me what I could and could not have...... that is, if she decides I can have one. Right now it's a maybe. But here's the list....

YES: hamster, gerbil, guinea pig, turtle, hermit crab
NO: cats, dogs, rats, snakes, birds, sugar gliders
MAYBE: leopard gecko, rabbit

So of course I took my options and did a little research. I crossed hamsters off my list because I've had them before and they're not big people animals. So I looked into guinea pigs and gerbils. Guinea pigs are quite interesting. They are very social animals that love their people once they get to know you. That was definitely a plus. But I'm pretty sure we don't have enough room for an appropriate sized cage. So I crossed them off the list. Then I looked into gerbils and fell in love ♥

Basically (in my opinion) gerbils are pretty similar to rats =D Gerbils are easily taken care of and are diurnal; which means they sleep at night and are active during the day. I think that makes it easier on the bonding process, ya know to be on the same kind of schedule. Like rats they are also happier and healthier in a pair or group. I'm also quite sure I've convinced Mom that we have to get two if we get them. Gerbils are a lot smaller than rats. They are about four inches in body length plus about four inches of tail. In my research I even checked on how to decipher between males and females to be on the safe side. If we're going to get two we need to make sure there won't be any little babies. Gerbils can have six at a time and I think one article said they've even been known to have up to eleven.

There's probably more I should and could read. I should probably check out the American Gerbil Society website again and check something other than breeders :p I'm also going to try very hard not to constantly bug my mom about getting them. She told me earlier not to pressure her or it's definitely a no. But she knows me and knows I'll have to check in with her once in. While to make sure she doesn't forget haha

Posted via LiveJournal.app.