Hi all,

It's been a busy couple of weeks at my end, and I've fallen behind on Nina
updates.  I've added seven new Nina Pics to my Yahoo Photo album:

http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/prince_nigel_h/detail?.dir=/11f2&.dnm=828e.
jpg&.src=ph

We had a small family reunion for my mother's birthday on August 11th, and I
took the latest roll of film over to show everyone that Nina is at the
absolute peak of her cuteness. With a look of utter mystification, my sister
said  "You took 36 pictures of a KITTEN???"  I didn't think it was any
moment to say  "Oh, that isn't the only roll of film." Plainly, she wouldn't
understand life at alt.pets.cats.anecdotes.  I mean, who ELSE should I take
pictures of, if not Nina?  =o) And my sister has two cats of her own, too.

Yesterday, I took Nina to see Dr. Mell for her first shots. SHE may think
he's evil as he stuck a needle in her, and stuck this weird THING down both
her ears, but I think I have a good vet, even if he is a trifle forgetful.
He was very gentle and very sure while handling Nina, and at the end of the
appointment he let Nina bat at his pen while he wiggled it for her.   She
was fascinated. =o)   I took the "kitten package" which is all necessary
shots at the appropriate times plus spaying at the age of 6 months,and
microchipping, and was given a 15% discount for paying for it all upfront.
I always get the feeling from him  that this is a vet who's definitely in
the business because he loves animals, and not just to make money. His
office staff is also very nice, and the receptionist cooed over Nina when I
first came in the door.

Seeing that he was the one who performed Francesca's C-section, and found
the two dead kittens as well as living Nina inside her, I was a little taken
aback when Dr. Mell asked "So you found homes for the rest of the litter?"
I just said  "She was the only kitten that lived."  I suppose he's seen a
lot of mama cats and a lot of kittens, but I wouldn't think C-sections are
that common in  the day to day life of a vet.

Ah well, I got a new cat, and a baby bonus, so I can't complain.

Melissa