Monday 30 July 2007

..back in the saddle again

This blog-cast is coming to you from the rooftops of the Oudayas. The heat has driven us to the roof with our laptops, and while a tiny bit inconvenient it is lovely and blessedly cool, and there is a naked pudgy man a few roofs over and I am having a very hard time averting my eyes… he may well have on some sort of skimpy bathing costume, I fear to gaze too long in his direction lest he suspect me of more than simple curiosity. While I am clothed in what is normal summer attire (a short sleeve shirt and shorts) it is not something I would wear even outside my door here. However as I informed Q, this is my house and I am not going to wear any more clothes in this heat. There is the sound of drums in the distance, which could mean anything from a wedding to some sort of show for the tourists. Oh my giddy aunt he stood up and has on a rather skimpy bathing costume – and he is not someone who should… Ah yes I see now it is a bar-b-que on the neighboring roof, and as Q so brilliantly noted, “there’s a fire over there!” And only men. So where do you suppose the women are eating? Oh my, our mouths are watering as the smell of meat grilling and some sort of delectable sauce is poured over it while on the fire. We are not big meat eaters, more your chicken and fish girls, but we are carnivores and now and then the body screams, “feed me meat!”. Alas after dark here that is not going to happen, perhaps tomorrow we need to go back to Le Grand Comptoir. We have decided it’s the only place to eat fish and I’m thinking the beef will prove out as well.

We have such a splendid view up here of the river and the city. In the twilight the city is a soft white and grey with the green rooftops and the twinkling lights of the traffic adding splotches of color. We can hear the prayer calls now going out over the cityscape and see Hassan’s Tower and the palace are lit up. The neighborhood’s only two dogs are barking from the palm-covered roof over next to the bakery (they do not leave their roof as they fear attack by the gang of “terrace cats”). “Who’s your daddy now?”

The moon has risen and is the kind you see in all the landscape paintings. Full and rose colored with the clouds drifting across the bottom. In the distance we can see the lights from the “I want to die in an accident” Ferris wheel and tipsy top rides. Q is crying out in some agony from the smell coming from “the men’s party” terrace of meat roasting.

File under total lack of personal responsibility: NYTIMES “Study Says Obesity Can Be Contagious”. “You don’t want to lose a friend who becomes obese, Dr. Christakis said. Friends are good for your overall health, he explains. So why not make friends with a thin person, he suggests, and let the thin person’s behavior influence you and your obese friend?” Didn’t that used to be, “It’s just as easy to love a rich chap as a poor one”? What a world, what a world. So now let’s see.. it’s not guns that kill people… and it’s not that buttery pastry you are putting in your mouth but your friends who are making you fat? I don’t think so.

I am one who believes in the power of thought – be it called prayer, meditation, or intentions – and we can use some of your positive thoughts just now. I had not told you of this as the incident with marymary took my attention, but M.C. Solaar is unwell. He went in Monday last for the very simple neuter procedure. Unfortunately a series of events has turned it to a dark day indeed. One of his testicles had not descended turning the snip-snip into an invasive procedure with multiple stitch sites. Then he had a very bad reaction to the anesthesia and we had to take him back to the vet where he stayed for three unhappy days. Q brought him home and he is a scruffy, sad little fellow indeed. The first antibiotic gave him terrible diarrhea, and now he is on two antibiotics. He won’t eat or drink and Q has been patiently feeding him with a syringe and squirting the water into his mouth. There has been none of his usual running, jumping, leaping – just sleeping. We are very concerned that he is no better after a week’s time. He returns to the vet on Wednesday to have his stitches out. I know there are many of you who are ‘animal people’, and those who are wonderful without animals. If you could spare a moment to send a positive thought his way it would be so kind. This is the poor dear’s schedule at present:
10AM--amoxi 1.5 ml
10:15--12 syringes of food+3 water
11AM--stomach antibiotic 2ml
2:15--12 syringes of food +3 water
3PM--stomach antibiotic 2ml
6:15--12 syringes of food+3 water
7PM--stomach antibiotic 2ml
10PM-amoxi 1.5 ml
10:15--12 syringes of food+3 water
if you're up--2:15--12 of food+3 water

We are somewhat encouraged as he moved aside the box blocking the staircase and made his way up the stairs to crawl into bed with me last night, where he curled up and slept quite soundly.

All good thoughts are appreciated.

If I don’t die from the heat, it is to be 39C and over the next few days, I shall return.

You all certainly made me feel better these past days. After all the hoopla I really considered dropping the blog thing, but you have made me rethink that decision. Thank you to everyone – and thank you for coming by☺

Ciao.

34 comments:

I Beatrice said...

So glad to see you back - and to know that even YOU can be afflicted by self-doubt sometimes. Re my own little fit of histrionics - well, all over now, thanks to the support of good friends like yourself!

I am thinking all my very best thoughts for the safe recovery of little MC...

The Good Woman said...

Thinking of you and young MC - I have nursed a few kittens through hard times and found them to be very resillient little folk. Hopefully all will be well soon.

nutmeg said...

Of the animal people crowd - we're sending our healing (not to be confused with heeling) thoughts for MC. The heat can't be helping.

lady macleod said...

i beatrice

everyone here (cat included) gave a sad sigh at your news, so I am pleased to hear you are doing better. You are such a gifted writer I think the world would miss out if you don't publish. We are all dying to say, "I knew her when..."

thank you for the kind thoughts; with Q's most excellent care I don't see how he cannot improve in spite of the weather.

lady macleod said...

the good woman

thank you for the kind thoughts. we are all being positive but he remains lethargic at best. As the heat today was 39C+, so was I!

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

nutmeg

thank you for the healing thoughts, it does help i think.

thank you for coming by.

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

Poor M.C.!!! But it sounds like he's in good hands. He's had a traumatic short life, hasn't he. Still, if he can stand the sight of the fat man in the skimpy bathing suit, he can overcome anything! Lovely, atmospheric post, by the way, as always.

James Higham said...

The moon rising in Morocco is exotic but this is also interesting:

The heat has driven us to the roof with our laptops

It's a wonder they didn't melt.

Omega Mum said...

1. Thrilled about IBeatrice
2. How could they contemplate a barbeque in that heat?
3. Loved the 'fat friends kill you' piece. I think the obese should form gangs and fall en masse on the people who research this rubbish. That'd larn them.
4. Poor kitty. Doesn't sound much of a timetable. And given the background, no wonder he's a little subdued.

lady macleod said...

WUASTC

He is receiving fabulous care from Q who is most distraught over his condition. He is such a loving, fun little chap.

I do think it was I who suffered from the sight of the obese chap in the skimpy bathing costume! Oh my..

Thank you for the kind words, and thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

daimyo higham-baka-ohta

Indeed! Albeit today Q was telling me of the "Tuff Book", a laptop by IBM that apparently one can drop into a pond (why you would want to do that is another issue) and that you can take to the desert - now we are talking! I am thinking of it as backup.

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

omega mum

1. Me as well.
2. NO idea.
3.Excellent!
4.Indeed.

thank you for coming by.

@themill said...

I think the man in the not very flattering swim suit would be enough to put me off food forever. Perhaps it's just the diet I need!

Maude Lynn said...

Awww, poor kitty! Sending positive vibes his way!

jmb said...

Only an animal lover would understand someone following that schedule for an ill pet. Worse than having a baby, but absolutely necessary. And I'm not even a cat person!
Glad to see you back, I was thinking maybe you were laid low again by la migraine.
regards
jmb

I Beatrice said...

With customary joie de vivre restored, thanks to the prompt support of good people like yourself - I'm back again in fine commenting fettle. (Have even made friends with Mutley again: such a silly squabble - I a prima donna, he a sulky boy! But all is sunshine again now.)

I was thinking, as I read your lovely, lively piece about the pudgy man, about how much you are going to miss Q when she leaves! Does she absolutely have to go? And will we, your blogger-friends, be anything at all in the way of compensation when she does? I do hope so!

And how is little MC today? All bright-eyed and lively again I hope?

(I have left you a message on my own page btw, to explain why there's unlikely ever to be a Beatrice book, sigh)

rilly super said...

my ladynessship, I'm not quite sure if it was the aroma of the barbeque or sight of the chap in the speedos which was making you salivate the most, but do be careful because if this research that you cite is correct then merely watching someone across the street light up their 'barby' is the equivalent of scoffing a whole tableful of morrocan cuisine and watching that same person wander around practically naked is equivalent to, well....

lady macleod said...

rilly

holy lipose tissue batwoman! i never thought of that! i am off to the hammam right now to have them scrub and exfoliate that association off my thighs. And just for good measure i shall have a manicure and pedicure as well because... well because you just never know do you?

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

i beatrice

Huzzah! We only want you ever to be in fine fettle!

I fear she must go as she does have her own life's path on which to depart. She has graduate school to begin, a wedding to plan, and good times to have - a life of her very own. (sigh)

I had actually thought what good timing the entire blogging adventure has turned out to have. I had no idea I would actually be making friends when I began this little foray. Yes, I do think you all will be very good company when I am living alone once again.

We are taking M.C. back to the vet this morning, so today's post will be late I fear.

I shall be over to visit this afternoon.

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

jmb

Isn't it the truth! No "la migraine" today! Always a good day when I can say that.

Your email reply in ON THE WAY. I am so sorry to be so late but what with one crisis and another around here...

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

mama zen

thank you, and thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

@themill

That is some diet plan you have there (yuk). But it just might work. Should I try to get a photograph for you?

thank you for coming by.

Kim said...

I hope kitty is doing well today. When our kitties were neutered and spayed, there were quite tired and out of sorts for several days, even without complications. Good wishes for the sweet little guy.

KarenO said...

Don't you DARE drop this blogging thing, or even dare to THINK about doing it, I love your blog too much! So much so that Morocco is going to be a stop-over in my planned trip to Europe (dunno when, but I'm planning it!)

I laughed out loud over your description of the “I want to die in an accident” Ferris wheel - that was just too sharp for words!

My cat, Tienkels, is sitting right next to me while I'm typing here, trying to sit on my arms between my body and the keyboard, so I'm almost certain that she is trying to send lots of catlove and positive thoughts to poor M.C.Solaar. Hope he's doing better every day!

Brillig said...

Oh, I'm so sorry that MC Solaar is going through such a rough time! I've become quite attached to him through your blog. Praying for a speedy recovery...

Annie said...

Poor kitty - and poor you in that heat! Heat stinks - which is why you will rarely find me outdoors here at this time of year!

You are so good at responding to your commenters - makes me feel quite guilty that I don't do the same!

lady macleod said...

kaycle

He has gone home with the vet and we are praying today. Thank you so much for your good wishes, and thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

kareno

Yes dear, and Huzzah! I hope you intend to allow me to play tour guide.

Those little feline beauties do claw their way into our hearts don't they? Please thank Tienkels (great name) for the good wishes, they are appreciated. today was a difficult day.

thank you, as always, for coming by.

lady macleod said...

brillig

Thank you for the prayers, much appreciated,
and thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

annie

I say this with love, I am so glad you were not with me today! 43C!!! and we had to be out all day, until four when we finally were able to run away to MEGA MALL with MEGA a/c.

I enjoy the comments, so I enjoy the responding:-) Not a hardship - and I have done the child-duty you are doing my dear; I have no doubt your hands are quite busy with other task.

thank you for coming by.

Anonymous said...

You write so evocatively, both the good sights and the not-so-good ones...not fair, you ladies have to cover up, that rooftop man can show all that's not beautiful!

I feel for you all with the feline bedside routine. Not only is the patient going through it, but the day nurse ad the night nurse are one and the same, getting no off duty!

I've had times when blogging seems pointless...then someone who is obviously a true friend pops on a comment or emails me and I'm back in there. We owe it to each other to keep our community flourishing just like any other part of our lives.

Well done you! And, please keep your heat. It is not compatible with my version of MS, sadly.

lady macleod said...

Shirl

thank you for the kind words. All right I will keep the heat here then, but only for you! As long as I have somewhere to run for a/c I can make it.

thank you for coming by.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Ah, now I know the hitory with little MC. He is a fortunate cat indeed to have you two to look after him. That's interesting about the men's psrty - I suppose the women get the leftovers? So glad you didn't stop blogging!

lady macleod said...

welshcakes

knowing the women of Morocco that we have met so far, they were probably having their own party. Yes, that M.C. is a real survivor!

thank you for coming by.