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I woke up this morning to the unmistakable sound of protest: meow meow meow. Translation: the kitty’s food bowl was empty and this was an emergency of the highest order. So I did what any responsible human servant would do. I fed her, gently placed her in her carrying case, and brought her downstairs to socialize with Mom and my brother. A proper introduction, a little family time, and then, at her request, I cleaned her litter box. Royal treatment. That’s when I noticed something unsettling. She had manipulated the entry flap on her cage. Not just fiddled with it,...

Quitting smoking isn’t just a decision—it’s a whole lifestyle shift. People talk like once you hit a couple of days without lighting up, it’s all smooth sailing. “Oh, you’ve quit!” they say, as if the cravings pack up their bags and move to Florida. But no—just like Whiskey the Kitty, those cravings still need daily management, patience, and a whole lot of responsibility. And speaking of responsibility… today I accidentally sat on the cat. Yes. Sat. On. The. Cat. To be fair, she is tiny, silent, black-and-white camouflage level 10, and loves to appear under me like she’s auditioning for...

Today I woke up late… way too late to get anything done with the healthcare system. Mom was irritated, but I reminded her—very lovingly, of course—that if she really wanted me to get things done, she could have woken me up. Classic bait-and-switch. And yes, she fell for it. Score one for the quit-smoking brain. We headed to Walmart for groceries, which—between the two of us—is basically a comedy routine where neither of us supervises the other. We wander the aisles like two unsupervised ten-year-olds, tossing every snack, treat, and candy imaginable into the cart. Ding Dongs? In. Drumsticks? Yes....

Cats aren’t dogs. Dogs want to please you. Cats want to please themselves. They’ll give you love—but only when they’re good and ready. The rest of the time? You’re just the butler, chauffeur, and personal chef. Like they meow so much in the morning to remind you to wake up feed them. They don't have a snooze button either. But here’s the thing: they absolutely know when you’re busy. The moment you sit down to work, relax, write, or—God forbid—try to use your phone… boom. Instant cat. Last night I was programming my phone when Whiskey—tiny paws, big attitude—wiggled her...

Today marks two full months since I quit smoking — sixty days, nearly nine weeks, 1,440 hours, and yes, I’m counting every single one because each one matters. Looking back, it’s hard to believe how much has changed in such a short stretch of time. There have been family rewards, moments of real healing, and the unexpected arrival of the newest member of our household: Whiskey the Kitty, my tiny fur-ball personal trainer. She has no idea she’s helping save my lungs, but she takes her job seriously. I run up and down the stairs to check on her, chase...