Friendly Fill-Ins

Happy Friday! Would you like to join us for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge? If so, please do! Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. Years ago, I had a _________.

2. I used to want a _________, but now I don't.

3. I have just recently become interested in _________.

4. I wouldn't be where I am today without _________.

My answers are below in bold, accompanied by some painfully long explanations. Feel free to skip all the rambling.

1. Years ago, I had a negative opinion of ebooks.
(I used to be all pompous toward the concept of reading books that were digital and not physical. Then, a few years ago, my parents got me an Amazon Kindle for Christmas. I hesitantly loaded it up with some ebooks, and now I love reading them. Ebooks really are so convenient, as well as cheaper than physical books. Don't get me wrong, I still buy physical books, read them, and have shelves upon shelves full of them. But, I admittedly read ebooks far more often than I read physical books these days. I never thought I'd say that.)

2. I used to want a career as a veterinarian, but now I don't.

(I'm fairly certain I've mentioned this before. For essentially all of my childhood, I wanted to be a veterinarian. Then, as I approached my college years, I thought about it more and had to admit to myself that euthanasia and other devastating procedures were not something I wanted to fill my days with. I of course still love animals more than I could even put into words, I still studied animal sciences in college, and I still worked directly with animals in multiple jobs I've held as an adolescent and as an adult. One of my jobs right out of college was as a veterinary assistant, and after assisting with more than a few euthanasias, I was glad I had not pursued a career as a veterinarian. Helping animals is immensely rewarding, but I know that I would have eventually burnt out. I admittedly feel more of an emotional attachment to animals than I do to most humans, and so I believe dealing with sick and dying animals every day would have ultimately worn me down. Kudos to all veterinarians out there.)

3. I have just recently become interested in the true crime genre.

(I've always enjoyed reading and watching tales of suspense, thriller, crime, and all that jazz. That being said, I used to consume that type of thing only in the form of fictional tales. I've always been a fan of fiction above all else. Nowadays, though, I've discovered that I am highly intrigued by true crime stories. I have been binge watching crime documentaries of all types, and it's made me realize that I think I would have really enjoyed studying criminology and forensics in college. There's just something so intriguing about getting to the bottom of crimes. It's like they're puzzles to be solved, and putting all the pieces together must feel so rewarding. It also surely must be rewarding to seek the rightful form of justice for the victims and the criminals.)

4. I wouldn't be where I am today without my family.
(Both my human and my furry family members have impacted my life greatly. I'm not a social person and so I'm not close to very many people, but I am close to my parents, my sister, and some of my extended family. I was one of the lucky kids of the world who was raised in a safe home with a close-knit family, and of course I was also beyond blessed to have my unconditionally loving cats and dogs. Without my supportive family and without my beloved furry family, I don't know where I'd be today.)

Now it's your turn!

To add your link to the Friendly Fill-Ins Linky list, just click HERE!

You can also click on the badge below to add your link.

You are also welcome to complete the fill-ins in the comments below,

or in the comments on Ellen's blog, 15andmeowing.

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Today, Eddy wanted to share with you all another view from her favorite window.

Wait a second. That's not what the view out the window looks like right now. Those trees aren't all dry and brown like when Eddy snapped that photo. These days, the trees look like this:

Is the world all white where you live, friends? We've gotten quite a bit of snow this week. It snowed all day at least 2 or 3 days this week. It wasn't always heavy snow, so we don't have feet of it on the ground, but we do have a decent amount nonetheless. It's also cold outside. We've had some days where the temperatures dipped below 0°F. That always makes us worry for kitties and other animals living outdoors, and we've been thinking a lot about those little critters lately. We have a shelter with food and a heat source in our yard, but we know there are animals all over having to endure the cold, and we purr and pray for them.

Sending you all warm wishes!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Instead of posting one of our flashback wintry doodles, today we're sharing a Valentine-esque doodle from last year. I admittedly did not scribble up any new doodles for Valentine's Day this year, because it's really just not my favorite holiday. I was also too excited for some of the new doodles I'm working on to do any for Valentine's Day. So, today and Sunday, we're sharing a couple of the Valentine doodles we created last year.

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Tip of the Day

We're continuing on with our tips for National Cat Health Month, today's tip being all about diet. As you all certainly know, not all foods are created equal. Always be sure to do your research and read labels, ensuring that you are feeding your kitty food that is as high-quality as possible. Also remember that cats are obligate carnivores, so make sure that their diet largely reflects this. In addition, when it comes to feeding your cat, it is of course important to take a number of other factors into consideration, such as their age and health status. For example, kittens do best on foods formulated for kittens, as these diets will include higher protein and fat content, which helps aid in their growth and development. As your cat ages, consider how their health will affect their dietary needs. For example, does your cat have kidney disease or diabetes? Cats with kidney disease should be on a diet lower in protein, in order to help their kidneys function as well as possible. On the other hand, cats with diabetes are often better regulated when on a diet higher in protein. Other factors that could affect diet include of course food allergies, dermatitis, arthritis, dental disease, and weight, just to name a few. The most important thing is to understand your cat's dietary needs based on their overall health status. Of course, as needed, discuss your kitty's dietary needs with their veterinarian, and make sure you understand what type of food would be best for them.