Keep On Trying T'il You Reach Higher Ground!

Ok, so this past week has been a little crazy around our house. We've been battling FLEAS! Not the dude who plays bass for the Red Hot Chili Peppers (although, I WISH!), but those annoying tiny ankle-biters that just. Won't. DIE!

After coming home from our trip to B.C., we discovered within a couple of days that our 2 cats, Morley and Jasper, had fleas. We did have some liquid-drops treatment left over from last summer (they seem to pick them up every year!), so promptly administered them to their backs, vacuumed the entire house, laundered any and all blankets or clothing they had been making a bed out of and hoped for the best!

A week goes by and we are only in a worse situation - they seem to be migrating to Ruby and in greater numbers! We woke up this past Tuesday morning to find she was completely covered in welts - an obvious allergic reaction to flea bites. That morning was HECTIC as Karl attempts to locate a pharmacy open at 6:30 am. We eventually get to one by 8:00 am and give Ruby some comfort with Benadryl. Although, Tuesday is my bike-to-work day... and by the time we were able to head to work, I didn't have near enough time to make it on time. *Tears* :(

Come Thursday, Ruby's skin has become completely covered in a rash (after it appeared to be getting better Wednesday), so we made plans to take her to the Vet first thing that morning. Turns out she was having an allergic reaction to the medication we received from the Vet a week earlier and cost $100 - they were happy to credit it back, but now prescribed Prednisone. There goes my second bike-to-work day. *Tears again* :(

So, it's been an unfortunate week for riding... but the good news is that Ruby is doing very well, and the fleas are definitely under control around here thanks to the additional treatments given to us for the cats by our Vet. Rubester hasn't had much energy since starting her pills last Thursday so we've just been taking her on short walks instead of bike rides/runs... but I know she is missing them as much as we are!

Here's to another week! Here's to Higher Ground! (Originally a Stevie Wonder tune, covered by Red Hot Chili Peppers)




Also, in case you are not familiar with TreeHugger.com, I'll "show + tell" this with you - Ride Your Bike! Lot's of bike-friendly information - it's mostly USA-centered, but still a lot of useful and interesting ideas! Then there's this invention from right here in Canada! A Bottle Opener for Bikes! Uh, I'll take TWO... for pop... ya, POP! ;)