California Dreamin': 6 Month Anniversary

Well In the midst of my crazy week last week, I forgot to mention a very very very special day...

Gerti and I celebrated our 6 month anniversary of being mama and kitty. No one can say that I am scared of commitment now huh?! :)

While my 6 month anniversary may not be with the man of my dreams, it is with the pet of my dreams and I couldn't be any happier with the spur of the moment rescue of Gertrude McFuzz Colett (aka: Gerti McStinky Butt).

How did Gerti and I meet you ask? So some may know the stories, but others don't. And since I love the story, I'll tell it again. (Please also be kind to any spelling errors as I do have a Gerti laying on me right now sleeping, and she does make it somewhat challenging to type!) Anyway, it was a Beautiful, warm and sunny day in San Francisco, the day of Hit and Run Hula (Dancers' Group's ONSITE) my mom and godmother were in town, and we had a full day planned. We meet up with Hit and Run Hula to start the day and then verged on our own to explore the AMAZING Ferry Building Farmers Market. While wondering around all the arts and crafts, we cam across the SF Animal Shelter who had cages ontop of cages of Kitties. Now of course I had to go over and say "hello" to them. (With no other intention mind you)

They were all so cute!! Probably 9 or 12 cages with multiple cats in them. The top left corner had 2 little tiny gray kitties who were so cute. One of them had their back to us and was a little bigger than her cage mat so of course I tried to get the little tiny kitty's attention and while doing so the kitty who's back was to us quickly jumped up and showed interest. I walked away to say hello to others, and before you knew it you just heard meows coming from the top left cage. I quickly walked back over and this little kitty (the bigger of the two...who had her back to us to start) had her paw on the cage and started purring like crazy. She was my match! The Animal Shelter rep took her out the cage and held her (I wasn't allowed too just in case she ran away) and as soon as I started petting her her purrs got louder and faster. It was crazy. I found my Kitty mate.

Now, I feel in love with this kitty within minutes and yet, I never thought in a million years I would get to take her home. While standing there, staring at her and falling deeper and deeper in love, my mom (being the most amazing mom ever) said "Do you want her? If Krystal (my roommate) is okay with it, then I will get her for you." I was in shock. Who would have thought a. that I would ever want a cat and b. that MY MOM would ever suggest getting me a cat! So I got her information, so I could go to the shelter later that day and pick her up if I wanted her. Her name on the paper: Tudy (the name made complete sense once I brought her home...whew that kitty had BAD gas!) and she was just 3 months and in need of a very loving home.

SO , I texted Krystal saying "I fell in love with a kitty, and my mom said she would get her for me, how do you feel about living with a kitty?" Now, Krystal has a dog that at the time was still in Michigan living with her parents. The dog was going to be in CA in less than a month and I didn't know how the two creatures would do and if Krystal would like having a cat. But to my surprise she said "Sure, Gabby (her dog) loves cats so get her!" OMG! I couldn't believe this. While we were waiting in line to take the SF Cable Car (trolley) to Fishermans Warf we decided that I was going to go get a kitty that day.

mom and I waiting to get on a cabel car...after we decided to go get Gerti!

I couldn't get her out of my head, I couldn't wait to hold her for the first time and play with her for real. So I rushed our afternoon and totally guessed how to drive to the shelter (seriously, never been to the shelter and I drove there with no directions...in SF I never can do that!) It was meant to be.

Once in the shelter I asked to see "Tudy" and gave them her number. They couldn't find her and I was almost heart broken thinking that someone else got this loving kitty. BUT, thankfully they found her. They took me up to her. Since she was in a cage all day for outreach they had her in a little room with her little friend (the smaller one of the two). "Tudy" quickly came running to me and started playing. I wanted to cry I was so happy to have her in my life. Over dramatic, maybe, but seriously nothing compares to finding your pet mate.

We went downstairs, I filled out paper work, and went through the interview. While finalizing everything, they then tell me that she has not been eating, had worms, fleas, stomach issues and just had been really sick. After reading a huge list of all of her issues they say "do you still want her?" I could see the fear of medical bills in my mom's face, but I couldn't let her be sick any longer...she needed to come home with me.

The whole ride home we started thinking of names. To be honest I don't even remember half of them. We were trying to come up with characters I had played in musicals and staying away from names that I could actually name a kid (if I ever chose to have a kid) We got home and we put her in the bathroom, like the shelter told me (keep them in confine spaces until they get comfortable. We then hit up wal-mart to buy everything you need when you have a kitty. I had NOTHING! We got home and I couldn't wait to sit and play with her.

The shelter was wrong with this kitty, keeping her in the bathroom was not needed. She was ready to play, cuddle and love. We got toys out and started playing!

Gerti Exploring her new home

My new Love! (She was so small...not that small anymore!)

Showing off her moves within hours of us bringing her home!

That night I put her back in the bathroom to sleep, by 6 am she was in my bed sleeping on top of me and not wanting to be separated from me.

Since then, we have been inseparable. She greets me everynight when I walk in the door, every morning when my alarm goes off she is right next to my face saying hello (no joke she says hello in meowing!) She cuddles when we go to sleep, she plays, she talks, she loves, and she brightens everyday of my life. I miss her when I don't see her, and I can't get enough cuddle time.

She was with me when I broke my ribs, she gives me strength when I am sick, she never leaves my side. She sits in the bathroom on the toilet when I get ready for work in the morning, she lets me know when she is cranky, and she kisses my nose to tell me that she loves me multiple times a day.

Kisses!

My mom saved my rough fall by getting me a true love. This angel of a cat has really made the past 6 months more wonderful than I could ever imagine. To those of you who don't have a pet, but feel like you need a companion, please go to your local Animal shelter and meet you petmate, they are out there! Soul mate ...I don't know if I believe in that...petmate though I believe in fully!

She loves TV