Friendly Fill-Ins

Hello and happy Friday, friends! We're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. Are you? If you'd like to join in on the fun, please do so! My co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. I feel _________ when I _________.

2. I wish I could erase _________ from my memory to free up some space.

3. Others probably find it annoying that I _________.

4. _________ really needs to be invented.

My answers are below in bold. If you're short on time, feel free to skip the rambling I accompanied each answer with.

1. I feel most content when I am at home with my furbabies.

(I'm pretty sure I've given a version of this answer for various fill-ins roughly infinity plus one times. But it's the truth. I'm a homebody through and through, and I love being with my kitties and pups. So there you have it.)

2. I wish I could erase the Teletubbies from my memory to free up some space.

(Have you ever heard of the Teletubbies, or their namesake television show from the late 1990s and early 2000s? I used to have to watch it with little kids when I worked as a babysitter, and it was some sort of nightmare. The Teletubbies remind me of some sort of alien creatures, complete with televisions built into their stomachs. It was supposed to be an educational show, but the Teletubbies couldn't speak clearly if their life depended on it, and how is that educational? I shouldn't even know that the Teletubbies' names are Tinky-Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po, but I quite unfortunately do. I also couldn't stand watching The Wiggles with kids I babysat, and don't even get me started on Spongebob Squarepants, who absolutely drives me up the wall. If I could erase all those cringey kids' shows from my memory, I'd have more space for a lot more significant and beneficial things.)

3. Others probably find it annoying that I have terrible communication skills.

(I'm absolutely rubbish at talking to people in person, and small talk is absolutely not my thing. I'm not great with things like emails and such either, because sometimes I just don't have the bandwidth to send responses, and then after some time I just forget to respond. One of my friends from grade school and high school occasionally sends me emails to catch up, and while I always try to respond, sometimes I'm just horrible at it, and I'll remember weeks or months later that I never responded, and then I have to send my usual apology for failing to respond. At least she was used to my poor communication skills when we were kids as well. I'm really only good at communicating with my parents and sister, because I can easily talk to them in person, over the phone, through messages, and so on and so forth. My communication skills start and end there.)

4. The ability to play a true game of Marco Polo with your phone really needs to be invented.

(Isn't there some messaging app people use on their phones called Marco Polo? That's not what I'm talking about, though. I'm talking about the idea that, when you misplace your phone, there needs to be a way to yell out "Marco!" and your phone responds with a loud "Polo!" Or, you know, something like that. That would save me a lot of time. And it would save my sister a lot of time as well, since she's always the one who has to call my phone so that I can find it.)

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.

***

Who's ready for their Eddy fix? Today you get to see this tabby girl from a different angle. We'll pretend it's not because she wouldn't let me take a normal shot of her.

Happy Friday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's doodle is yet another snowy one, this time from a couple of years ago. It's again from a spooky winter series of doodles we did. I have so many doodles of this nature now that they're all starting to blend together. Nonetheless, we hope you enjoy this one.

***

Tip of the Day

For today's Spay/Neuter Awareness Month tip, we're discussing how it is important to be aware of your cat or dog's age and size, and to have them spayed or neutered at an appropriate, safe, effective time of their kittenhood or puppyhood. This is important, for one, because cats can potentially become pregnant as early as 4 or so months of age. Dogs fall not far behind that, with the potential for becoming pregnant at 5 or so months old. Should your kitten or puppy get loose, this means they could come back pregnant even at such a young age.

In addition, spaying or neutering your furbaby before they go through their first estrus or pregnancy will give them the best chance of remaining free from related health issues later in life, such as mammary cancer. Spaying or neutering before their first cycle can also help to potentially reduce the display of certain behaviors, such as spraying. Though certain such health or behavioral issues can still arise even if a furbaby is spayed or neutered, having this surgery performed before their first cycle can reduce the risk.

So, then, when should you have your cat or dog spayed or neutered? The short answer is to discuss this with your veterinarian. Ultimately, it depends on the individual animal's overall health and development. For typical, healthy kittens and puppies, the AVMA has endorsed spaying and neutering as early as two month of age, and/or when the kitten or puppy has reached two pounds. Many shelters and rescues follow this practice. Some veterinarians will prefer to wait a little longer, such as when the kitten or puppy has reached 3, 4, or even 5 months of age. Essentially, a veterinarian will best be able to determine when is the best time for your furbaby to be safely and effectively spayed or neutered, so of course discuss this with a professional.