I'm at a loss about the cat. I took her to the vet the week before last and they poked and prodded her, took some x-rays, gave her some medicine, and had three doctors look at her. And they still don't know what's wrong with her. They said it could be a simple urinary tract infection or maybe kidney stones or--in a worst-case scenario--a tumor or cancer. Jesus, it was funny for awhile, but now a bit of anxiety has crept over me.

See, two years ago, my dog and best pal Trouble fell down the stairs about two months after The Ex and I separated. He ended up being partially paralyzed and I had to make the decision to put him down. And then, if that wasn't enough, the puppy I had adopted the following spring promptly hung himself behind the washing machine two weeks after I got him. Of course, being the smartass that I am, I made plenty of jokes about how everything that lived with me either died or left me. I was living a regular country song.

And now it's the damn cat. She's pissing blood, for crying out loud. I went up to Thursday's tonight to watch The X-Files and while I was gone she peed at least seven times in various corners of the living room and kitchen. Seven times in two hours. I don't piss that much when I'm drinking. I mean, I love her and all, but the carpeting and hardwoods are really taking a beating. I spend a good part of my time worrying about where the cat is and if she's pissing in some corner. Plus, the smell is just killing Barney and me. It's truly god-awful, trust me. And she's been very very lethargic the last couple of days. I just don't know.

So I guess I've got to take her back to the vet. Again. The medication obviously didn't work (although it was fun waiting around twice a day for her to yawn so I could toss a pill down her throat). Now the vet's talking about ultra-sound. What's next? A kitty MRI?

Which brings up another problem: The cost. I've already shelled out about $400 on all the tests and examinations. I'm sure this ultra-sound isn't exactly cheap and who knows what other test the vet might want to run. So the question will be at what point do I say that I can no longer afford it? No matter how you slice it, I'm going to eventually have to put a price on my cat's life. Yeah, that really sucks, but it's reality. I hate to have to go through it all again, but it may come to that. I can only do so much.

I know, I know, if that cat is the biggest problem that I have, then compared to lots of other people I'm doing pretty well, yeah? Like I always say, perspective and lithium is the key to a level head.

Sorry folks, ain't exactly Mr. Happy Journal today.