Sweet Catastrophe

Ripper would be my iPod. Cleverly named after Giles’ nickname (from Buffy the Vampire slayer…my cat’s name also comes from there ) and ‘ripping’ songs off cds to put on my iPod.

Anyhow, I’ve had Ripper since 2005. Last year, a problem developed–it’d be in the middle of playing a song; the song would suddenly stop, and the screen would say “no card inserted.” When I back out to the menu, it was in photo import! Guess what–my iPod is not a photo iPod; it’s not even color!

Well, it got to where it was happening quite often, and generally when it’d start happening, it’d happen frequently–every few songs. I couldn’t figure out what the deal was as it was never the same situation (after so many songs, or certain songs, etc) and it started skipping over songs as if the files were missing.

I bought the Best Buy warranty when I got my iPod so I decided to take it in. I may have this out of order, but when it was returned, it had a new processor, but I think this was the time it came back to me as an iBrick–meaning it wouldn’t do anything. Well, I take that back, I think it worked for a few days before I got the dreaded sad iPod screen.

My heart seriously sank. When you get this screen, it means the end. There are two ‘fixes’ you can attempt, but if neither works, enjoy your iBrick! Thank God for that warranty, eh? So back it went since it was obviously not fixed properly, and this time it came back with a new harddrive, but when I got it home, it wouldn’t sync with iTunes. My computer recognized there was a device, but iTunes didn’t recognize its existence. Well, that doesn’t do me any good, so off again!

Finally my Ripper came back to me with another new harddrive and a new LCD screen–I’m guessing they damaged my old one during the repairs ’cause it was perfectly fine. Overall, the ‘invoices’ for the repairs showed parts that, if I had paid for them all, would’ve totaled more than I paid for the iPod in the first place.

It’s now been less than a year since I took it in. I believe this all started in September last year. A few months back it started doing the photo import deal again, and one day when I turned it on I got the image of a folder with and exclamation point, telling me to go to apple.com/support. Luckily, a soft reset cleared that, but the photo import thing has become a daily annoyance. It always seems to do it when I find a song I really wanna listen to…

My Best Buy warranty expires in January, so I decided to go ahead and take it in, as there’s obviously a problem. The thing is, being my 4th time sending it off, supposedly there’s a good chance I’ll be getting a brand new iPod. Of course, it all depends on the technicalities, and they may not deem this to be truly the 4th time since the second two times the iPod hadn’t been properly fixed in the first place, but I really hope they send me a new one. I can’t afford to buy a new iPod this time next year when this one starts having the same problem all over again, ya know? And I certainly can’t do without my iPod. I know that’s really materialistic, but I listen to SO much music…I don’t even own half my original cd collection anymore! I’ve given a lot of cds away because I’ve got them ripped and on my iPod…or I’ve bought them online!

It’d also be really nice, considering I’d be getting an upgrade.

This is my iPod. It’s the 20gb, U2 Special Edition. I love black and red, which is why I got it. I’m honestly not a huge U2 fan, I just really didn’t want a white iPod, and at the time, you didn’t have all these iPod covers and such. See, they stopped making these, but they have a newer one. It’s a 30gb color, video/photo U2 Special Edition, and if they send me a new iPod, supposedly that’s what I’ll be receiving, as they no longer carry the old ones. Now, I’m not dying for an upgrade. I wouldn’t really use the video or photo aspect very much, but I certainly won’t deny a 10gb upgrade would be really nice. I’m pushing the max on my 20 gigs as it is! I wouldn’t mind being able to throw a movie or two on there for long breaks between classes either. It certainly wouldn’t hurt my feelings!

So here’s hoping I have a new iPod in the coming days!!

Oscar the Cat awakens from his nap, opening a single eye to survey his kingdom. From atop the desk in the doctor’s charting area, the cat peers down the two wings of the nursing home’s advanced dementia unit. All quiet on the western and eastern fronts. Slowly, he rises and extravagantly stretches his 2-year-old frame, first backward and then forward. He sits up and considers his next move.

In the distance, a resident approaches. It is Mrs. P., who has been living on the dementia unit’s third floor for 3 years now. She has long forgotten her family, even though they visit her almost daily. Moderately disheveled after eating her lunch, half of which she now wears on her shirt, Mrs. P. is taking one of her many aimless strolls to nowhere. She glides toward Oscar, pushing her walker and muttering to herself with complete disregard for her surroundings. Perturbed, Oscar watches her carefully and, as she walks by, lets out a gentle hiss, a rattlesnake-like warning that says “leave me alone.” She passes him without a glance and continues down the hallway. Oscar is relieved. It is not yet Mrs. P.’s time, and he wants nothing to do with her.

Oscar jumps down off the desk, relieved to be once more alone and in control of his domain. He takes a few moments to drink from his water bowl and grab a quick bite. Satisfied, he enjoys another stretch and sets out on his rounds. Oscar decides to head down the west wing first, along the way sidestepping Mr. S., who is slumped over on a couch in the hallway. With lips slightly pursed, he snores peacefully — perhaps blissfully unaware of where he is now living. Oscar continues down the hallway until he reaches its end and Room 310. The door is closed, so Oscar sits and waits. He has important business here.

Twenty-five minutes later, the door finally opens, and out walks a nurse’s aide carrying dirty linens. “Hello, Oscar,” she says. “Are you going inside?” Oscar lets her pass, then makes his way into the room, where there are two people. Lying in a corner bed and facing the wall, Mrs. T. is asleep in a fetal position. Her body is thin and wasted from the breast cancer that has been eating away at her organs. She is mildly jaundiced and has not spoken in several days. Sitting next to her is her daughter, who glances up from her novel to warmly greet the visitor. “Hello, Oscar. How are you today?”

Oscar takes no notice of the woman and leaps up onto the bed. He surveys Mrs. T. She is clearly in the terminal phase of illness, and her breathing is labored. Oscar’s examination is interrupted by a nurse, who walks in to ask the daughter whether Mrs. T. is uncomfortable and needs more morphine. The daughter shakes her head, and the nurse retreats. Oscar returns to his work. He sniffs the air, gives Mrs. T. one final look, then jumps off the bed and quickly leaves the room. Not today.

Making his way back up the hallway, Oscar arrives at Room 313. The door is open, and he proceeds inside. Mrs. K. is resting peacefully in her bed, her breathing steady but shallow. She is surrounded by photographs of her grandchildren and one from her wedding day. Despite these keepsakes, she is alone. Oscar jumps onto her bed and again sniffs the air. He pauses to consider the situation, and then turns around twice before curling up beside Mrs. K.

One hour passes. Oscar waits. A nurse walks into the room to check on her patient. She pauses to note Oscar’s presence. Concerned, she hurriedly leaves the room and returns to her desk. She grabs Mrs. K.’s chart off the medical-records rack and begins to make phone calls.

Within a half hour the family starts to arrive. Chairs are brought into the room, where the relatives begin their vigil. The priest is called to deliver last rites. And still, Oscar has not budged, instead purring and gently nuzzling Mrs. K. A young grandson asks his mother, “What is the cat doing here?” The mother, fighting back tears, tells him, “He is here to help Grandma get to heaven.” Thirty minutes later, Mrs. K. takes her last earthly breath. With this, Oscar sits up, looks around, then departs the room so quietly that the grieving family barely notices.

On his way back to the charting area, Oscar passes a plaque mounted on the wall. On it is engraved a commendation from a local hospice agency: “For his compassionate hospice care, this plaque is awarded to Oscar the Cat.” Oscar takes a quick drink of water and returns to his desk to curl up for a long rest. His day’s work is done. There will be no more deaths today, not in Room 310 or in any other room for that matter. After all, no one dies on the third floor unless Oscar pays a visit and stays awhile.

Note: Since he was adopted by staff members as a kitten, Oscar the Cat has had an uncanny ability to predict when residents are about to die. Thus far, he has presided over the deaths of more than 25 residents on the third floor of Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, Rhode Island. His mere presence at the bedside is viewed by physicians and nursing home staff as an almost absolute indicator of impending death, allowing staff members to adequately notify families. Oscar has also provided companionship to those who would otherwise have died alone. For his work, he is highly regarded by the physicians and staff at Steere House and by the families of the residents whom he serves.

Original Article

This fascinates me to no end! I’ve seen a lot of people remark at how creepy it is, or scary, etc, but I think it’s nothing short of amazing. After all, we’ve heard plenty behind the case of dogs being able to sniff out cancer and animals can always sense when something’s wrong; so it just doesn’t seem like such a stretch for me to see. As far as being creepy, I think it’s absolutely endearing. I suppose a lot of the talk about it has sort of taken the route of making it sound as if the cat is choosing who’s next, such as in this lolcat pic (which I think is hilarious) from icanhascheezburger from yesterday:

I feel more that the cat senses it and chooses to be there with the person during their final moments. It’s comforting. I teared up a little when I read the part in the above article when the parent told the child Oscar was there to help Grandma get to Heaven.

So here’s to Oscar–a spectacular creature =)

Haha! And for the record, I don’t mean the kind of groupie who sleeps with the band *cough*ortheroadies*cough* Though I know a few *ahem* questionable people who fall into that category. For these purposes, we’ll just stick with the stalking aspect of groupie life.

I’m entering this little gem in Reese’s Caption your childhood photo contest.

(Pssst Catie, don’t enter, ’cause you’ll win hehe j/k)

Ladies and gentlemen! I give you Joshua Isaiah!

Look at all that hair!!! I’m a proud aunt again =)

My aunt and uncle send me forwards all the time. These are two I got recently that cracked me up =)

National Geographic Magazine

An archeological team, digging in Washington DC, has uncovered 10,000 year old bones and fossil remains of what is believed to be the first Politician .

Disney Desperate Housewives

Craziness, eh? These are Mark Jenkins’ creations, and I’m loving them! I really want to do one or two of these myself! I wonder if I could get kitty to sit still long enough….

So first, car pictures!

Goodbye Tryxie Karen–My last drive in the Gold Camry:

New Car!! Elliot! (As in Jack’s son from Will and Grace….long story)

And here are some pics of Parkview in general, and a few of Jesalyn and a little video or two behind the cut.

There’ve just been a lot of really cute and/or funny images I’ve seen lately, and some I’ve passed along, some only a few of you’ve seen, and some I’ve probably kept to myself, so here they all are at once!

And yeah, basically all 48 pages at I can has cheezburger? They all make me giggle a whole lot…

And this one has nothing to do with anything, but man I was a cute/awesome kid, eh?