Why Do We Love Our Pets So Much?

If you have a cat or dog or any other kind of pet, I'm sure you can relate to this fun, heartwarming post. Admit it. You really do love your pet, don't you? He/she is a part of your family. You might even love your furry friend (or feathered or whatever...for the sake of this post, I'll stick with pets with fur like dogs and cats) more than you do many humans. Yep, some of you are nodding in agreement.

Jessie

That adorable cat photo you're gazing at happens to be my baby Jessie. I tell her daily how much I love her. I don't know why, but I suddenly have tears in my eyes right now. She wandered into my yard almost two years ago. She was starving, thin, unique looking with her tortoiseshell features and craving attention. 

I fed her.

And we all know what happens after that. Stray animals tend to stick around when they know where the food is. She didn't disappear and so I fed her some more. I felt so sad and sorry for her. She was obviously tame, showing little fear towards my husband and me, and rubbed against our legs just meowing her sweet heart out. Someone must've dumped her. 

I tried for 5 WEEKS to find her a new home. NO one wanted a stray female cat. And I knew she had a problem with her ears and probably had worms. 

After one night when we heard a coyote howling and worried about the cat's safety, my husband finally said to bring her into the house. If we were really going to end up with her, she wasn't staying outside. On October 9, 2011 Jessie joined our family.

She has been wonderful (knock on wood). If anyone knows who Jackson Galaxy is (Animal Planet's "My Cat From Hell"), he would be so proud of her behavior and love her personality...and probably try tucking her under his arm and zip out the door with her to keep her for himself!

And in case you're wondering...the VERY next day after making her our official housecat, I took her to the vet. She was checked for feline diseases (all ok), got her shots, was spayed the next day, received meds for earmites and both tape & round worms. Whew!

Here are the things I love about Jessie: when she curls around my head on the pillow (cat hat!), when she falls asleep on my chest, precious head bumps, kneading my leg or tummy with intense focus (make sure blanket protects skin!), chasing the string and somersaulting when she stops too fast, zipping up her cat tower and gazing down at me, galloping down the hall like a dog or stomping across the floor (not very stealthy cat!), allowing me to kiss her head (many times in a row), when she curls on her back with her legs partially up and wants/allows me to rub her belly, listening to her trill and "talk" to me (which is often - love it when I enter a room and she looks up and trills as if to say, "Hi! I'm here. See me?") and I love the rare instances when she's super relaxed, purring, eyes half closed, on her side, I'm rubbing her with my face inches from her face and she reaches out with her front paws and cradles/holds my face. How freaking sweet can you get?!

Pets are a responsibility. No doubt. They do take time, effort, care and money. They do have "their days" or moments when everything isn't so peachy. And we humans will get aggravated with them on those occasions.

But looking at the big picture - it's so worth it. I've had pets most of my life and loved each one dearly. They are precious little (or big) beings that love us unconditionally. Now...go hug your cat or dog :)

Jessie-before she officially became our housecat-begging for love.

Can you relate? Please post your own comments!

That is all,

Gina

"Dracula" Coming This Fall - Will You Watch?

I originally poo-pooed the notion of watching this new television show due out in the fall. I love my vampires, werewolves, witches and other demon-y things that belong to the world of the supernatural. But...another show about vampires? Would the viewing audience, me included, welcome yet one more series focused on these blood-thirsty, mesmerizing, physically and mentally powerful creatures?

Well, I made my final decision today. I'm watching it, right after I watch another favorite, "Grimm".

image credit: NBC.com

I did my research. Which tends to be lengthy. Don't worry, I'll keep this as short as possible. It seems people are experiencing information overload nowadays. Hmm...don't understand why. HA!

Okay, here's the synopsis from NBC:

~~~
Golden Globe winner Jonathan Rhys Meyers ("The Tudors") stars in this provocative new drama as one of the world's most iconic characters.

It's the late 19th century, and the mysterious Dracula has arrived in London, posing as an American entrepreneur who wants to bring modern science to Victorian society. He's especially interested in the new technology of electricity, which promises to brighten the night - useful for someone who avoids the sun. But he has another reason for his travels: he hopes to take revenge on those who cursed him with immortality centuries earlier. Everything seems to be going according to plan... until he becomes infatuated with a woman who appears to be a reincarnation of his dead wife.

From the producers of the critically acclaimed, Emmy Award-winning hit "Downton Abbey" comes "Dracula," a twisted, sophisticated and sexy take on Bram Stoker's classic novel, proving that some stories never die.
~~~

Here's a very helpful trailer:

I concentrated on what I watched in this trailer and discovered this is definitely NOT like other supernatural, sci-fi, fantasy shows that I consider my favorites (such as: True Blood, The Vampire Diaries, Teen Wolf, Being Human, Lost Girl, Supernatural...shall I go on?! I can :) ).

I am concerned with it being set in the late 19th century and how the younger viewing audience will accept that...if they're okay with the story played out in the past or indifferent or will become bored without seeing modern things on the screen. But, this makes it unique, which equals something different. And we like that.

And if you watch the trailer as I did, you'll realize there seems to be a heavy-duty plot in place. Real content. A story probably adults will be more drawn to, and less zeroing in on vampire horror and gore and teenage antics. Although, I did notice the trailer suggests the whole vampire "fun stuff" isn't ignored, either. Yay!

SERIES PREMIERE -- Dracula -- OCTOBER 25, 2013, FRIDAYS 10/9c.

I'm there. Will you be? Feel free to comment. In fact, would someone PLEASE comment!?

That is all,
Gina

I Need A Teen Wolf Refresher Course, Please

My memory sucks. And my comprehension is sometimes sluggish. I love MTV's "Teen Wolf", but I feel I need a refresher course on the show's story lines. I find myself sitting on the couch, scrunching my face and tilting my head, staring blankly from the TV to my husband trying to understand something. Or trying to recall some plot point from previous episodes or even the previous seasons.

And in my frustration, I've typed down my burning, driving-me-nuts questions about "Teen Wolf".
I'm not completely lost, although the following would make you believe I am. Several of the questions are more or less to confirm, refresh or clarify my frazzled, information-overloaded, distracted by shiny things brain.

Here are the 10 Questions. Would someone set me straight (and anyone else who's a tad bit lost on the series)?

1) Who turned Scott into a werewolf?

2) Does Lydia has supernatural powers of some sort?

3) Did Allison and her dad completely stop werewolf hunting? And if so, why?

4) Does Stiles's Dad know about werewolves and other beings?

5) Do we know WHAT or WHO the veterinarian dude (Scott's boss) really is?

6) Didn't Allison's grandpa die? What was the black stuff drooling out of his mouth and nose?

7) So, is a Druid doing all of the sacrifices this season? Or is someone following certain Druid practices/methods? And why?

8) The blind Alpha werewolf, Deucalion is his name? Refresh us on what his plan is...

9) Who is it that Derek seems to be falling for? A teacher? How did he meet her?

10) Are there any other important plot points we need to keep in our brains?

I love these guys!

Please post your comments or answers. I'm getting weary spinning in circles of confusion but totally psyched for another awesome episode on Monday. 

That is all.

Gina

What Summer TV Shows Are YOU Watching?

During the summer months I do not watch nearly as many TV shows as I do in the fall/winter season. This is likely true for you, too.

I always have mixed feelings when all my favorite fall/winter programs air their finales in spring. There is this sadness, like a weird type of withdrawal, knowing I won't be able to watch these shows for MONTHS. Premieres usually fire up September through November and that is just so far away. I actually FORGET (how dare I?!) some of the highlights of what happened in the previous season. I appreciate when show makers give us a quick review to jog our overloaded brains right before the new premiere starts.

credit: Aaron1a12

In the meantime...I do manage to find several summer shows to entertain me. Of course, the majority fall under my genre of writing. But not all.

Here are my summertime TV shows:

"Defiance" - not really considered a summer show, but it's still airing new stuff for another week. And hey-we ARE in July now! Love the characters, interesting aliens, location in St. Louis (right next to me), many mysteries, great alien makeup, very cool how there's the matching video game. What IS Irisa and how is she connected with that gold thingy?

"Under the Dome" - definitely caught my attention. It IS Stephen King! Wow-talk about mysteries and questions and a "Lost" feel to it. What is with the propane tanks?! And who or what created the dome over the city? What was that dude Barbie wanting from the doctor (the reporter's husband) and ends up killing him over it (although it seemed sorta accidental)? Why did a couple of those teenagers collapse and mutter "the stars are falling in line"?

"Teen Wolf" - I've been watching this since it started in 2011, and have sometimes had a hard time staying awake. But the actors and the storyline kept me hanging in there. Scott, the main character, looks better with his latest haircut this year. Everyone has really fallen into a wonderful rhythm with their acting and the character Stiles is hilarious!

"My Cat From Hell" - with Jackson Galaxy. A one hour episode with two different cat behavior problems explored and basically resolved. Love it. I think I cry every week - but it's usually happy, relieved, good feeling tears. I want all those cat toys he has!

"True Blood" - Holy cow! Or vampire, werewolf, shifter, demon, fairy, ghost, who knows! Constant shocks, lots of story lines (sometimes too many to keep track of), superb acting, the regular actors are so at ease with their characters making them believable and uber fun to watch, humor thrown in (Andy, Jason, Lafayette), hunky guys (Jason, Eric, Alcide, Bill, Sam), strong female characters (Sookie, Jessica, Pam, Tara)...And now we have the beginnings of a war between the humans and the vampires (and perhaps other supernaturals if they are found out). I'm already hyper-ventilating!

OK...those are the main shows I'm watching now. Sometimes I'll catch these:
"America's Got Talent"
"American Pickers"
"Pawn Stars"
"Ghost Hunters"
"Paranormal Witness"

What are YOU watching this summer? Feel free to comment!

That is all...
Gina