Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness

Are you taking hormones for the transition? In that case, what are your doctor saying about you being vegan? Just curious.

What kind of cyclist are you???

I'm hoping to get my new machine at the end of the month too...it'll be a great spring for vegan cycling

But as long as people stay away from our cooler bags with our meals and not ask silly questions, we're all pretty tame

i tried to look up your blog on msmittens.com. it didn't work.

how long are your touring trips? I really want to get into touring. I bought a koga miyata and ortlieb panniers to do such but haven't made it out too far yet.

I would like to change that. I really want to cycle across the country. If you're interested in a partner, i would love to jojn up with you and gain some quality experience. I pretty much have all of the equipment already and you live very close to me, a major plus.

let me know...

i would like to go to pasaden to visit potter when it gets warmer. I'd also like to travel around ny state, it's supposed to be beautiful. Pretty much game for whatever.

Cool to see someone here who has toured!

I can't believe I'm doing this but today I'm booking an appointment to say goodbye to my first companion animal, Mittens (her appointment is on Tuesday). After 15 years of life, she developed cancer of the mouth. It's gotten so bad recently that she's not eating, not grooming and blood is coming out of her mouth. This has been the hardest decision I've ever had to do because sometimes one wonders whether it's time. I do know it is because well, she's not happy no matter how much she tries. It always amazes me as to how much animal companions give to us without asking much in return -- and give it totally without judgement or much complaining.

But as hard as this decision is, I know it is the right decision for her. So I say goodbye to the kitten who was given to me to help me deal with my mom's murder and ask nothing more of me than to be loved. Good bye, little mittens.

You can see the original of this post with pictures here

Well, we're back and Mittens is now out of her suffering. Forever a character to the end, she spent part of this morning playing with the water in the toilet. I never knew why she was so fascinated by it but she did like to paw at it and make little waves. It went quick once they did inject her. Someone had said that I would be glad I did it now and that I would probably have feelings of regret for not doing it sooner. And they were right. The vet weighed her and she had lost 2lbs in the last month! (keep in mind she was about 10-10.5lbs during her last visit, which was at the end of Jan/beginning of Feb).

But I don't want this to be a sad post. For many of you who never met her, I want to tell about how this amazing kitten impacted my life. She was given to me around September/October, 1992 -- a few months after my mom's murder. I was teetering on the edge of full blown depression and here I had this little bundle of furr in my arms, purring madly, looking at me. The first night I put her beside me on my pillow and for the next 15 years, she pretty much remained there. Mittens was kind and gentle but also playful and inquisitive. Here are some of my memories of her:

When I lived with my dad I would take Robbie, the family corgie, out for walks. And who would follow us through the park and into the woods but Mittens.

I remember coming home one day and seeing Mittens with another cat (almost a duplicate of mittens but larger). They had caught a bird, a feat for Mittens since she was declawed in her front paws.

I remember walking home from the vets after Mittens had been groomed. She had a pink ribbon around her neck and insisted on following me rather than being carried. We walked down the whole street (it was a quiet street in Mississauga) until we got home.

I remember a big winter storm in Mississauga that dumped about 2-3 feet of snow and see just a little black tip as Mittens played in the fluffy stuff.

I remember Mittens playing tag with Robbie and knowing where every carpet was so that Robbie slid into the walls while she turned on a dime.

I remember having my first apartment and Mittens catching about 9 mice one night! Claws or no claws, she was an expert mouser.

Mittens always tried to convince the birds they should play with her. She would attempt this by "chirping" at them.

Mittens always looked for a lap because she knew if she found one she'd also likely find some petting and would purr loudly for it. She was also talkative, "answering" questions posed of her.

She knew how to find little cubby holes to hide from the youngins' when they got out of hand but loved a good piece of string or a fake mouse at any time.

She aptly got her name when she hid in a bunch of mittens to get away from Robbie. There were times I would open a drawer and find a furry kitten head pop out. She had this ability to climb up the back of the dresser and sleep in my clothes. To this day I do not have a piece of clothing that is not covered by black fur from her sleeping on it.

Goodbye, my little Mittens. I will miss you but I am ever so grateful and thankful that I had you in my life for the last 15 years.

You can see a video of Mittens here