I'VE BEEN LAID UP IN THE HOSPITAL because of a medically-resistant staff infection I picked up at school. A doctor told me people lose their arms over these kinds of infections, so I took her advice and, put out several food and water bowls for my cats and admitted myself to the emergency room.

A day and a half later, after getting antibiotics pumped into my veins, I realized that my cats had to be checked on; after all they sometimes knock over water bowls, etc....(Mostly MOTORBELLY does that.)

Bottom line: the hospital wouldn't let me leave for 15 minutes to go do that--even though I offered to sign a waiver that if anything happened to me the hospital wouldn't be liable, etc....etc....

Still NO. I literally was faced with possibly losing my arm (they said they possibly wouldn't readmit me if I signed myself out w/o doctor approval, losing my cats (cats dehydrate quickly), and if I left without doctor approval, the insurance likely wouldn't cover my visit or even a future one for the same infection.

It was a horrible dilemna, but I was about to sign myself out of the hospital when I offered a nice girl who works there 50.00 to go and check in on my cats and put out more food and water; she did, the cats were fine--still had food and water, and when a new doctor saw me the next morning I was released with approval.

I'm really going to try and catch up on necessary survival stuff for the next several days, so please be patient till the weekend (Sunday) for a new "Elf and Motorbelly."

Thanks much for hanging in here with us!