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Wendy took Akhenaten to the specialist yesterday (along with Bean, who is going there for weekly chemotherapy). The specialist did an ultrasound of Akhenaten and was cautiously optimistic that instead of being in “kidney insufficiency”, he may be instead sub-clinically dehydrated from his ordeal.

As briefly mentioned in this post, Akhenaten was found unconscious “in the hood” (that’s what his admission notes say) in Hamilton, Ohio. His body temperature was 91 – the same as the ambient temperature outside. (As a reference, normal body temperature for a cat is 100.5-102.5.) It is safe to assume that he would not have lived through the night had he not been found and brought to Wendy. What we don’t know is how long he was outside before he was found… He was certainly skinny, even for a Siamese, so it’s safe to assume that he’d been without food and probably without water for a while.

The distinctive rip in his ear indicates that he was probably a kitty-mill kitty. Apparently, there are several kitty mills in Hamilton, and they ear-tag the animals. The ear-tags are ripped out when the animal is removed from service.

So, based on the specialist’s recommendation, we’re doing subcutaneous fluids. This involves inserting a needle between Akhenaten’s shoulders and flowing Lactated Ringer’s under his skin. In addition to being funny to look at (he looks like a camel with the squishy pouch under his skin!), the extra fluid enables him to wash away more toxins that his kidneys aren’t sufficient (yet, we hope) to deal with.

Doing this will minimize the amount of damage those toxins do, while we wait for his kidneys to come back online (we hope).

We’ve upgraded his status from “bleak” to “cautiously optimistic”. Please keep your fingers crossed for Akhenaten! More updates (and some pictures) soon.

Wendy brought home Akhenaten’s blood-work from the lab today. The summary: It’s bad. Really bad.

His BUN, PO4, ALT (SGPT), Creatinine, Cholesterol, Protein (total), Globulin, and NEU% are all really high (the BUN and PO4 are high enough that the lab re-ran them to make sure there wasn’t a mistake).

I’m not certain (and Wendy isn’t here to validate), but I believe that means his kidneys are shitty. HOW shitty, and how well they would respond to treatment, and what kind of life we’d get for him, I don’t know. Wendy and I will talk about the options this evening.

I’m sad because he’s a great cat – a really great cat. I hope he gets to enjoy living in our house for a long time.

Will update more after Wendy and I talk this evening.

Just a few updates for today…

• Bean had her first chemotherapy today. Wendy described the treatment plan to me, which is three different chemotherapy medications each given once a week on a 3x repeating cycle. Bean tolerated the first injection today, though it made her tired. Thanks to everyone who offered words of support as my old girl goes through this awfulness. The doctor that we’re going to has Wendy’s highest trust, so I know Bean is in great hands.
• Akhenaten is adjusting to his new life in our house very well. As is normal procedure around my house when a new animal is introduced, we sequestered Akhenaten in a spare room to allow the other animals time to catch his scent and get the idea of a new resident. Wendy & I visit him in the room to help bond him to us, and the cats (especially Merrick) walk around at hiss at each other (or, if you’re Merrick, hiss at EVERYTHING – shoes, papers, electrical outlets, you name it). Akhenaten really seems to enjoy laying on my belly, so I spend a fair amount of time in there with him… Me reading (or dozing), him laying on my belly, making biscuits, and purring contentedly.

  Wendy has a day off today, so she’s given him the run of the house. She’s anxious for me to get home, so he’ll stop following her around everywhere! He’s a sweet cat, and I think after this period of adjustment and introduction, he’ll integrate nicely into the general population. And maybe Merrick will stop hissing at everything.

• Between my UC job and helping Jean-Robert & team open Jean-Robert’s Table, I’ve been working non-stop since August 4. Man, am I tired! But I couldn’t be happier about my involvement with Jean-Robert’s Table.
• The good news:

• After a lot of work by a lot of people, the restaurant is open and it is fantastic. I am so proud to be associated with the restaurant and especially to be part of the culinary team that makes it all happen.

So, those are today’s updates.

Last night, Tuesday August 10, 2010, was the opening night at Jean-Robert’s Table, the long-awaited new restaurant by Jean-Robert de Cavel. I’ve been working there to assist with the opening, and will continue to work there as my “moonlighting” restaurant job.

There are several pictures from the evening here, but below is one of which I am especially fond. It shows all the kitchen staff that are/were affiliated with Midwest Culinary Institute, where I am proud to be an adjunct instructor, along with Mr. Dan Cayse and Dr. John Henderson from Cincinnati State.

Tonight is a portentous evening. An evening when many new things are coming over the horizon…

• After driving only Mazda Miatas for the last 18 years, I’ve traded my 2005 Mazdaspeed MX5-Miata for a 2011 Hyundai Tucson. I loved the Miatas – especially the Mazdaspeed edition with turbo-charger, intercooler, and all sorts of other features – but the 3-season nature of these cars has finally caught up with me. As incredibly enjoyable as they are in Spring, Summer, and Autumn, they are throat-clenchingly bad in snowy, icy weather. I made the deal this evening and will take delivery of the new Tucson in the next couple days. It was a difficult decision to decide to move away from my beloved Miatas, but it was time. The Tucson is an impressive vehicle which will be great for my needs and, now that I’ve decided to get one, I am anxious to get it!
• Wendy called me this evening to invite me to her hospital to meet a “very special” cat that has been under her care for a few days. This usually means that it’s an animal she wants to adopt, and tonight was no exception. The cat, a pure-bred Siamese with a hospital name of “Ramses” (though Wendy believes his final name will be “Akhenaten” should he come live with us, because he’s an …unusual looking… cat (the picture to the right does not do him full justice)), was found at room temperature (well, he was at 91 degrees when it was 91 degrees outside) and was very sick when he came to Wendy’s hospital. As you can see from his ear in the picture, he’s no stranger to trouble, and his health issues are just his latest fight. We’re waiting to learn results of his FIV test (which, if positive, would make it impossible for him to live with us out of respect for the other cats), and for him to regain his strength. Assuming the FIV test comes back negative, we’ll nurse him back while subjecting him to the hissing and spitting of the existing brood. Should he join us, that would raise the count to 10 animals (6 cats and 4 dogs). I’m sure this sweet & lovely blue-eyed, cross-eyed cat would fit in well with our menagerie. Cross your fingers for his health and check back here for updates as they become available.

  UPDATE: The cat’s FIV test came back negative. This is good news! Also, his PCV has doubled to 20 (normal, I am told, is around 40), and he’s put on half of a pound of weight. These are all good signs, and if they continue, Wendy will bring him home at the end of the week.

• Bean is like a new dog after her spleen removal last week. Well, sort of. Bean is like a new old dog. Wendy is awaiting the lab results analyzing the mass on Bean’s spleen, but is almost certain that it is cancer. However, Bean’s spirits are high and her energy is good – much better than it was when it was all sapped by the mass growing inside her. Thank you to everyone for their good-wishes as Bean fights her fight. She’s a great dog and we’re hopeful to have her around for as long as possible.

  UPDATE: Bean finished her pain medication this morning and just has to complete her antibiotic course in order to put all this behind her. Still no report from the lab (Wednesday August 11 is the earliest it might come back) about the mass on her spleen.

• Today (just glanced at the clock and noticed that it is after midnight!), Jean-Robert’s Table opens in Cincinnati Ohio. I’ll be working again with Jean-Robert and the team after working part-time for 4 years at the now-shuttered Jean-Robert at Pigall’s. I am really happy that Cincinnati has retained this great chef. In preparation for opening, we did a “friends and family” evening on Saturday August 7 2010 which I cooked with Jean-Robert, Rob, and Andrew (since I am one of two “Andrews” on staff, I go by “Vogel” in the kitchen). This allowed us to work through any menu and service hiccups with a group of friendly diners. Wendy was fortunate enough to be among them, and provided a great review of the experience. The dining room looks fantastic, the menu reflects Jean-Robert’s “casual, elegant” approach to the French culinary tradition with a contemporary touch. It’s going to be tough to get a reservation for the next while, but keep trying, and come see us at Table!

Lots of new. An exciting time indeed!

Last night, after attending a high school graduate party (congrats, Jackie!) and a celebration of the life of a college friend of mine who recently passed away(Todd Norris, we miss you), Wendy & I had a goal: to find an interesting restaurant that we hadn’t visited before.

A quick search of names on OpenTable yielded Virgil’s Cafe in Bellevue Kentucky, and it had the dual benefits of being somewhere we hadn’t been and being in close proximity to the celebration for Todd.

After our events, we made our way to Bellevue, just a few minutes east of Newport on the Levee, and found parking on the street outside the small restaurant.

We entered (through the side door – the front entrance is a fire exit) the bustling restaurant, were promptly greeted by Kristy, and led to a 2-top in the front window, with a great view of the street and the folks playing with sparklers across the way.

Settling in, we were greeted by Amy, our server, and offered the menu. In addition to being very friendly, the service staff is prompt and attentive (our water glasses were topped up frequently and unobtrusively).

Our menu included:

• Marinated Olives with Fruit Butter: Lovely warm olives with a delicious pear fruit butter.
• Tomato Basil Bisque: Wendy really liked this soup!
• Fennel Citrus Salad: A classic old-school salad that was really refreshing on a warm evening.
• Shrimp Creole: Nicely spiced, the shoestring sweet potatoes on top added a nice texture.
• Scallops with Risotto: Great flavors, but overall the dish was …soft…
• Coconut Cream Pie: Both desserts were top-notch!
• Chocolate Tart:

Chef Matt came out at the end of the night to talk with the table next to us. On his way over, he greeted us and we realized that we knew each other. Matt & I actually went to college together! It was great to catch up with him, and we wish him the very best success with Virgil’s!

For this month’s Happy Mouth Supper Club outing, Kristy picked The Wildflower Cafe and Coffee House all the way out in Mason. It’s a bit of a haul, but well worth it.

Our rowdy group had an entire room to ourselves (a good choice on the part of the restaurant!) and we enjoyed a wide sampling of their wares. Standouts included the Cheese Board, Burgers, Gourmet Grilled Cheese, and desserts.

It was a good time for all of us!

Today is the Day of the Bright Carvers, according to Mervyn Peake’s GORMENGHAST novels.

Today is the day that the Bright Carvers (who take their name from the age-old craft of woodcarving, which is their only passion), a poor a disease-ridden community whose only pride is their carving and in their allegiance to the House of Groan, are permitted to enter Castle Gormenghast to present their best work. The carvings are judged by the Earl of Groan, and the finest are taken and set up in the Hall of the Bright Carvings, a long room in the north wing of the castle. No one ever visits the hall; the masterpieces are simply left there to gather dust over the years. All rejected works are burnt in the courtyard below the earl’s chamber. The carvers whose efforts have been chosen are given vellum scrolls and the privilege of walking the battlements above the Dwellings (their homes) at the full moon of each alternate month. This is their only reward, an honour greatly prized by the Bright Carvers.

Happy Bright Carvers Day!

Happy Towel Day, everyone!

“A towel, [the guide] says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have. Partly it has great practical value. You can wrap it around you for warmth as you bound across the cold moons of Jaglan Beta; you can lie on it on the brilliant marble-sanded beaches of Santraginus V, inhaling the heady sea vapors; you can sleep under it beneath the stars which shine so redly on the desert world of Kakrafoon; use it to sail a miniraft down the slow heavy River Moth; wet it for use in hand-to-hand-combat; wrap it round your head to ward off noxious fumes or avoid the gaze of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal (such a mind-bogglingly stupid animal, it assumes that if you can’t see it, it can’t see you); you can wave your towel in emergencies as a distress signal, and of course dry yourself off with it if it still seems to be clean enough.

More importantly, a towel has immense psychological value. For some reason, if a strag (strag: non-hitch hiker) discovers that a hitch hiker has his towel with him, he will automatically assume that he is also in possession of a toothbrush, face flannel, soap, tin of biscuits, flask, compass, map, ball of string, gnat spray, wet weather gear, space suit etc., etc. Furthermore, the strag will then happily lend the hitch hiker any of these or a dozen other items that the hitch hiker might accidentally have "lost". What the strag will think is that any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still knows where his towel is is clearly a man to be reckoned with.”

— Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

So long Douglas, and thanks for all the fish!

Do you know where YOUR towel is?

TowelDay.ORG