Some rambling

I haven't posted in a while, so get ready for a long, rambling update.

I ran Sunday morning. The workout was Week 6 Day 1, a sixty minute run. I ran for 60 minutes straight (!) and saw on the gps that it was only 5.75 miles. So I continued until I hit 6.00 miles at 1:02:41. I am really, really proud of myself. I have gone from being barely able to run 60 seconds to being able to run 60 minutes in six months. That is awesome!

I didn't run this morning, and perhaps that's why the morning sucked. No, it felt good to sleep in a little. I knew I had to get in early this morning. I was packing my bag and getting ready to take it out to the truck when I heard a strange sound. It was Marco, "digging" on the futon, trying to cover up the pee. Really? Two feet from the litterbox? I was furious!!

Sunday night I was so tired. It was only 9:15, but I really wanted to go to bed. So I went into the bedroom and saw that Marco had peed on the bed. ON THE BED!!! Dammit, I just put fresh sheets on there that morning and added a blanket because it has cooled off. The combination of the two incidents (and him peeing on the bed while Bill was here) has me rethinking my options. I cannot and will not deal with this. I should not have to cover everything in plastic. I do not want to live in that. I am not the one who has to change.

So here is what I have for options: 1) Get a pee culture and have it tested for anything and everything. Medical problems must be ruled out. 2) Try different kinds of litter. Maybe he prefers a clay or wheat to the pine. 3) Relinquish him back to the Humane Society and give him an opportunity to find a home where he is more comfortable. 4) Put him down. 5) Make him an outside cat.

I am embarrassed to even be considering #4, but the thought has crossed my mind. I think I will give #2 a try. Maybe he would prefer something else. Frankly I am not happy with the thought of having to clean up litter tracked throughout the house, but if it works and he uses the box instead of my bed, I suppose that is a small price to pay.

I really wanted to talk to Bill about this, but that was not possible. We have entered a new phase of this tour, and that is the one of limited and one-way communication. I cannot call him at night to tell him I love him. I can email as much as I want, but in terms of initiating contact, I can't do it. I can't call when I need to talk to him. I have been somewhat spoiled these past 7 months with him in the country when I coudl call or text if I need him, or if I just wanted to say hi. Now I don't know where he is or what he's doing and I have to wait for him to initiate a call. Yuck. And of course this is when Marco's issues increase.

I will survive, one way or another. I will get Marco checked for medical problems and I'll try some new litter. If anyone out there has any suggestions, please speak up. I really love Marco. I think he is a great cat. I just can't deal with the peeing. If only I understood what he was trying to say.