02 Sep 2010
by Ubiquityin Reality bites Tags: Nacou, photos, Schaffhausen, Switzerland, updates
So my fruit diet wasn’t really working out. Although I managed to replace breakfasts and lunches with fruits, it gets really tough at night when my tummy growled ferociously from the lack of carbs. I don’t mind being hungry but I hate being very hungry. It makes me weak and I can’t think properly. I had to give in at end and it went on like this for 4 days. But hey! Guess what? I’ve permanently lost 1 kg! That’ll do for now.
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According to the Events widget on my blog’s sidebar, I will be leaving for Singapore in 6 days. I think ‘time’ purposely pass really slow just to make the wait unbearable. Each day seems forever to end but when it really ends, the next day seems even longer than yesterday. The worst part is when ‘time’ decides to fly when I’m there. Why can’t ‘time’ slow down and make that moment last a long while for me? Just that while when I’m with my family? Pfft!
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TO-DO list in Singapore
- eat prata & chappati
- eat kway teow goreng pedas2
- eat black pepper crab, cereal prawns, bbq stingray, sambal kangkong & seafood fried rice
- eat fried fish beehoon
- eat epok2
- change name in NRIC
- change passport
- shop for spices
- go on the Singapore Flyer
- eat KFC
- eat laksa
- eat Nasi Padang
- buy more Mamee!!!
That’s all I can think of right now.
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Some photos on my iPhone…
Isn't she cute?
She was pawing at the laptop monitor for my attention!
Nacou startled from her sleep
Nacou sleeping
Nacou still sleeping
Nacou preparing for sleep
Nacou curling herself up into a ball
Nacou is too picky for her own good. Each time I try feed her with some new brand of canned food, she would simply sniff her plate and walk away in utter disgust, as though I’m feeding her poison. And it’s not some cheap and smelly canned food that I’m feeding her, mind you. It’s those gourmet kind that are highly recommended by vets! Yet… she refuse to eat them. Especially when there are rabbit’s meat. How in the world does she knows that there are rabbit’s meat in there?!? So there goes another 2chf worth of cat food…
Strangely enough, she only prefers Purina Gourmet. That’s the salty kind of canned food. Totally bad for cat’s health. But there’s nothing else I can do to make her eat healthy. I guess a cat really takes after their owners.
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We went up to the chalet for a weekend...
...had dinner with family and good friends...
Nacou again, this time stretching as far as she can reach
Nacou sleeping on the sofa with us. She's really everywhere I go.
Fred thinks that Nacou is a ‘broken’ ragdoll because she’s hardly ever nice and docile to him. On the other hand though, she’s a total ragdoll when she’s with me during the day. Following me around like a puppy, demanding for attention, snuggling up close to me on the sofa… So is she really broken? I’d say that she’s just used to 1 person’s attention. What do you think?
Nacou doing what she does best
I don't know what this sign means but I think the cow looks kinda cute
Went up to the chalet again for another weekend...
I've never seen a fresh raspberry!
I think this photo is awesome because it's taken by my iPhone and it looks like some DSLR shot.
Magnificent view!
Mom asked me to take photos of the grapes
Nacou again. This time she's snuggling up close to me...
Nacou in one of her many sleeping poses...
Finally got my residency permit! Comparing the photo with my NRIC... Not so many changes huh?
We went to the Rheinfall last weekend...
So many fishes! And I stupidly asked Fred, "Who put them there chéri?"
Okay, so this time the iPhone camera can't do justice to the Rheinfall...
On our way home, we stopped by the canton Schaffhausen and I decided that I liked it better than Luzern.
Wanna take a peek of our humble home?
Entrance & Dining area
Entrance & Buddha console
Dining table & my favorite lights
MY kitchen!
Hallway
Living area
Living area
Terrace
Master bedroom
This entry will end right here because I have to collect the mail, take out the trash and go to the supermarket. Oh, I wanna make macaroni goreng tonight! Tchüs!
PS: I’m not Malaysian by the way.
13 Jan 2010
by Ubiquityin Nacou Tags: Nacou, photos
For some of you who don’t know who is Nacou, she is my cat. Nope. Sorry, correction. She is mine and Fred’s cat. We got her together on the 16th of August 2008. Both Fred and I, we are cat people. We simply ADORE cats. Unlike Fred though, I like ALL cats. He, on the other hand, finds it a bit hard to accept cats with crooked / short / no tails. So Nacou is really special. Not gold-fur special kinda way but she’s special because she’s a ragdoll and her tail is long and bushy. Ragdoll cats are super gentle and they go limp when you carry them.
Nacou had to stay at my mom’s till we move because the Wilby does not allow pets in the apartments. But it’s not a big deal since my mom have a ragdoll too. In fact, the ragdoll is Nacou’s sister and her name is Cocoa. So I guess she won’t be lonely.
Anyway, here are some of her photos…
This is (the only time) Nacou on my thighs when we first got her
Nacou all wrapped up
Nacou's favourite pastime : curling up on the poof (bean bag)
Nacou @ 10 month
Really grumpy Nacou
Unhappy Nacou stuck in between Fred's thigh
Nacou pretending to be one of the soft toys
Nacou with one of her paws in Fred's shoes
Face off @ my mom's : Nacou & Cocoa
04 Aug 2009
by Ubiquityin Reality bites Tags: muses, Nacou
Just when we’re about to conclude that we’ve bought a broken cat, Nacou proved to us that she’s a very strong ragdoll. Right after the episode of her lungs infection, we detected swollen lymph nodes around her neck area. To be honest with you, I was almost ready to give up (sorry Nacou but you really scared me then).
Sometime in 2005 when my dad was around, he had swollen lymph nodes. He wasn’t seriously ill or bedridden, but he was definitely unwell. He went to see from one doctor to another to get a second opinion, with hopes that it’s nothing serious but he was referred to the hospital instead.
There are plenty of causes that can lead to the enlargement of lymph nodes. They are mainly:
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/swollen_lymph_glands/page2_em.htm
- Infection: This can increase the number of white blood cells, which multiply in response to stimulation with a foreign substance (antigen)
- Virus: Immune reaction to a generalized infection in the body such as viral infections that can occur with the common cold as well as more serious infections such as HIV
- Inflammation: Infiltration with inflammatory cells during infection or inflammation in a region of a given lymph node
- Cancer: Infiltration with malignant cells (metastases) brought to the node with the lymph flowing from an area of a certain type of cancer
- Cancer of the Blood: Uncontrolled, malignant multiplication of lymphocytes as in lymphoma or leukemia
Back in the hospital, a biopsy was performed and finally the doctors confirmed that my dad has lymphoma. As in many cancers, lymphoma is most likely to be cured if it is diagnosed early and treated promptly.
And so the treatment began.
After the gruelling anticipations of the cause of his swollen lymph nodes and throughout the chemotherapy and radiation treatment, my dad wasn’t at his best. Yet the strength inside of him was so strong that he went through it all.
I still remember that one particular morning vividly, when the nurse wheeled my father on the stretcher to the operating theatre. Right then, watching him being wheeled away from me, I felt vulnerable, small, immensely sad and overwhelmed with fears.
Fears that I might lose him.
Fears of being without him.
My eyes prickled with tears and I quickly took a huge breath, filling my lungs with the sterile air of the waiting room. I felt my tears evaporating and a voice from inside told me, “Dada will be fine.”
True to the voice that whispered to me then, my dad turned out fine. He survived lymphoma.
Now I really wouldn’t blame myself for wanting to give up when we detected Nacou’s swollen glands.
Cheeky Nacou
It brought me back those bitter AND sweet memories. The fears.
Thankfully, the swell has been slowly subsiding. Our petite Nacou has been very active. We will take her to the vet should it not disappear.
Anyway, look at this photo of her, she looked healthy enough to be cheeky to rest her front paws in Fred’s slippers!
23 Jul 2009
by Ubiquityin Reality bites Tags: Nacou
When I got out of the shower earlier, I noticed Nacou making herself small trying to hide from me in order not get chased out of the room. She looked so cute crouching there. Can you spot her in the picture?
Sorry about the quality though, it was taken with my crappy mobile phone camera. I couldn’t whip out my camera fast enough before she’d scoot away hiding in another spot.
*shrieking* I bite! Get away from me!
20 Jul 2009
by Ubiquityin Reality bites Tags: Cocoa, muses, Nacou
Cocoa has FINALLY been spayed over the weekend and according to my mom, she’s recovering very well. We’ve also made a trip to the vet for Nacou’s check-up, unfortunately the doctor advised us to complete the course of her antibiotics before doing another x-ray. Clinically though, he mentioned that Nacou’s breathing is almost back to normal.
Well yeah it has to be! We’ve been suffering throughout the whole of last week without the air-conditioning!
The rest of the weekend has not been eventful for us except for the recent Jakarta incident.
I am utterly disappointed by the cruel and wicked actions of the extremists. No precious lives should have ended in any ways that are unnatural and I really wish that one day justice will be brought upon those who created mayhem.
Anyway, here’s a couple of photos that I took of Nacou and Cocoa during the time I was at my mom’s while Fred’s away…
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Can you spot which is Nacou and Cocoa?
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Nacou
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Cocoa
Back to my crafts, I have been rather unproductive lately. Ever since the pink fingerless mittens, I’ve been having some kinda mental block on crocheting. Perhaps I’m just too excited for the new batch of yarns to arrive.
14 Jul 2009
by Ubiquityin Reality bites Tags: Nacou
Her breathing has gone pretty much back to normal. She’s still on the medication and will be scheduled for a check-up at the vet this Friday. Other than that, she has been very active and really adorable.
We used to take Nacou out each time we puff away at the lobby but that is a HUGE no no now. Although there is no known cause for chronic bronchitis in cats, we don’t want to take any risks. We’ve also cut down on the air-conditioning usage. The air in the house could be dry which could also promotes the irregularity in Nacou’s breathing. Thus, with the humid and warm weather outside being indoor is quite unbearable these days.
Anyway, soon after Nacou’s episode at the vet last week, I decided to make the spaying appointment for Cocoa. Somebody had to take action! So whether they like it or not, they MUST take her tomorrow.
On the hand, Cocoa will be spayed tomorrow. Finally! I’ve been bugging my mom and my sister for way too long and Cocoa has been incredibly thin. Through her intermittent ‘heat’ period, she has not been eating well and her fur is lacking the lustre.
07 Jul 2009
by Ubiquityin Reality bites Tags: Nacou, updates
I’m finally contented with the site design. Thanks to Ainun Nazieb, my blog’s spotting my favorite site layout, Facebook. Yeah it’s tacky but who the hell cares? Right? I like it. I like Facebook and that’s all there is to it. Now I can spend more time writing than coding.
So Nacou is still on her meds. Her ‘meows’ are throaty and she won’t drink any water. We had a hell of a time last night trying to feed her the antibiotics. We tried almost everything the vet has taught us (including grabbing her head force it up till her mouth opens) but she still refused the meds. She gagged and her mouth started to foam. I couldn’t take a photo of her, I was too sad to see her suffer like that. I don’t know if it’s hurting her but if I’m in the same position, I would’ve reacted the same way. Hell! I’d even take a scratch at my owner. We couldn’t bring ourselves to force feed her medications further, so we mixed the dissolved antibiotics in her water.
But there’s still one more pill for her to take! And surprisingly, it took us only a minute to pop the pill into her mouth. We’ve finally found the effective way. The secret is to do it fast, one person holding the kitty close to his/her body, the other with the pill pry her mouth slightly open, quickly pop in the pill and hold her mouth shut using the thumb and index finger. That way the kitty would have no other choice but to swallow it. With the same method, we’ve succeeded again this morning!
Reality check, I will have to move my lazy bum. Haven’t had anything accomplished since I woke up this morning!
06 Jul 2009
by Ubiquityin Reality bites Tags: Nacou
Ever since my boyfriend got back last Friday, Nacou has been breathing abnormally. Her breathing has been so rapid that you could see her abdominal contracting when she sit still. To be honest with you, I thought nothing of it as it could be mainly be her excitement from seeing her favorite master home. But it persists further and it’s hard not to notice that she could well be in pain.
My boyfriend had to point it out to me SEVERAL times that night to make me admit that Nacou is indeed breathing ‘funny’. What is strange though, there is no wheezing involved that may have make me change my mind instantly. Apart from that, there really are no other signals that she is indeed sick.
Not especially when I have brought her to the vet about 2 weeks ago and the doctor didn’t find anything amiss about her!
Saturday passed, still breathing as though she has been running a marathon.
Sunday morning and she still the same, we got very worried and made an appointment with the vet. Luckily, they also operate over the weekends. Especially Sundays!
We went to the same vet but got a different doctor as the doctor who treated Nacou the last time answered her call with, “Have you checked with the clinic? This is the after-hours number!”. That and our frustrations aside, we had a good doctor who went out of his way to drive us to his other clinic for the second x-ray for Nacou. It seemed that the first x-ray had been over-exposed and it didn’t show him much about what’s happening in our poor cat’s lungs.
So back in the 2nd clinic the verdict was out, there are no liquids in her lungs. She was diagnosed with Chronic Bronchitis and given an anti-inflammatory vaccination to reduce the lungs inflammation along with some tablets to follow-up with for the next couple of days.
Although the doctor has repeatedly emphasized that the causes of the bronchitis may be the cigarette smoke, an online site suggested that in most cases it is unknown. Okay, as for the cigarettes we are guilty. So no more taking her out when we puff away outside.
I wouldn’t make it a point to tell you guys now how nervous we were to find out the results of her blood tests and x-rays. We were of course prepared for the worse and were promising to one another to never ever own another cat again. But God has been kind to us and Nacou will be with us through this.
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