Exhausted...

 

You're a muffler?  That's an old joke: I had a dream I was a muffler... I woke up exhausted.

No joke; I was exhausted when I got up this morning.  Little Stella howled through the night.  My sleep number was 54, but I think that was optimistic.  I got up a couple times to check on her - she would look back at me like "What?"

When I finally got up, I let her out of the catio while I got breakfast ready for both cats.  I had to chase Murphy off of her at least a half dozen times.  With Stella cooing and saying, "That's it big boy, bite me..."  There were some other things said, I can't repeat them here.

I just have to make it through the day.  Well, and the night.  I had two things on my schedule for today: take Murphy to the vet for a check-up, and go to Mark's to play some music.  I felt bad for canceling, but I just didn't have it in me to make that 40 minute drive to Mark's.

Joan and I discussed putting Murphy in his harness and on a leash to go to the vet.  For some reason, she chose to take our smallest carrier (we have several to choose from) as our back up.  Murphy does not like to go for a ride.  He let out that low guttural howl that is worse than his horn-dog voice.  When we got to the vet, she sent me inside to get checked in.  The receptionist said, "You can bring Murphy in, it should be just a couple minutes."

"How about if I bring him in in about 5 minutes and maybe you can get us into an exam room at that point."

While sitting in the car, using up that 5 minutes, a woman came out with what looked like a dingo... as in: the dingo ate my baby!  Glad we weren't getting Murphy to the door at the same time.  No way was Murphy going to fit into that small carrier, so I carried him in, with him screaming at full volume.  No, I don't know why.

We got right into an exam room, and the vet tech Stephanie got Murphy weighed and asked questions before the vet came in.  Murphy wasn't any happier in the exam room...

 Maybe he was intimidated by the punk yak (or whatever that is) in the photo behind him?  The vet came in, looked him over, listened to his heart and lungs, looked at his eyes, ears, and teeth, and declared him a "big, healthy boy."  Good description. 

From there, we stopped for gas ($1 off per gallon at Fry's with our rewards); $2.49/gallon for premium.  Then to Walgreens to pick up an order Joan had placed, then back home.

Murphy did not want to walk on his leash from the driveway to the front door.  I would have though he'd be relieved to be back home.  Back inside, a treat for both kitties, then I let Stella out of the catio while I got their lunch ready.

The two of them sat by the patio door...

 Yes, Stella was playing with Murphy's tail.  I let them play together for a bit, then put her back in the catio with her lunch.

I think I need a nap.