Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
It's the furballs 1st birthday!
It's the furball's first birthday today! Cha-ching won't be one until Monday. Daddy is home sick so Mommy gave him the computer and told him to make a slide show for their birthday. So here it is: A year in the life of the furballs!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
New projects
Friday is the furballs' 1st birthday and Cha-ching will celebrate his 1st on Monday the 25th, but this Tuesday is Hallie's (the niece) seventh birthday. So yesterday they had her bowling party. Daddy's shoulder is bothering him so he didn't bowl but Mommy had fun with her pitiful bowling.
Good thing it's very reasonably priced because then she doesn't have to save it for "special" occasions.
While Mommy was helping get ready for Hallie's party, Rayna (the other niece) brought Mommy a picture of Rayna with Santa from this past Christmas. Mom was so excited that she came right home after the party and used her new Cricut cartridge, Christmas Cheer, to create a scrapbook page.
She also finally found the picture she was looking for for the Mickey page she created using her Mommy's cartridges, Mickey and Friends and Mickey Fonts.
Mom has been spending a lot of time lately playing with her new machine. We don't mind too much because that means that we can lay on our quilt and watch her. She occassionally sprays the quilt with our catnip hydrosol. DaisyMae Maus' mom sent McKenzie and Zoey the hydrosol in their Christmas gifts a year ago and we love it! Mom just recently had to order new bottles from Prairieland Herbs. Here's Gandalf cuddling with the bottle:
Mom has been spending a lot of time lately playing with her new machine. We don't mind too much because that means that we can lay on our quilt and watch her. She occassionally sprays the quilt with our catnip hydrosol. DaisyMae Maus' mom sent McKenzie and Zoey the hydrosol in their Christmas gifts a year ago and we love it! Mom just recently had to order new bottles from Prairieland Herbs. Here's Gandalf cuddling with the bottle:Good thing it's very reasonably priced because then she doesn't have to save it for "special" occasions.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
It's been one year...
It's been one year since I said goodbye to my beloved McKenzie. It's still hard. I miss him terribly and still find myself crying about him often. I miss the jealous way he would get off the bed when Zoey jumped up. I miss the way he could be all riled up but if I put him on the bed, he would immediately get all lovey-dovey. I miss the "conversations" we used to have where I would speak to him and he would meow back, actually he never meowed. It was just a "meh." .JPG)
I love the way he could make my day brighter just by coming for attention and I loved the fact that he was only really lovey-dovey with me. It's been a rough day and I think that part of it is that this milestone is a hard one. So to my McKenzie who is waiting at the Rainbow Bridge for me, I love you and I'll see you again one day and in the meantime, I hope you have found your warm place in the sun.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Not so Wordless Wednesday
Woohoo! As many of you know, I have recovered from my acute kidney failure caused by the tainted cat food so I was especially excited to hear today that the Kansas City office of the Department of Justice has obtained indictments against Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co., Suzhou Textiles, Silk, Light Industrial Products, Arts and Crafts I/E Co., and Las Vegas-based ChemNutra Inc.
Xuzhou Anying Biologic and Suzhou Textiles were charged with 13 counts of introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce and 13 counts of introduction of misbranded food into interstate commerce.
ChemNutra, along with owners Sally Quing Miller and her husband, Stephen S. Miller, face 13 counts of introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce, 13 counts of introduction of misbranded food into interstate commerce and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
The indictments allege that Suzhou Textiles mislabeled 800 metric tons of wheat gluten tainted with the toxic chemical melamine to avoid inspection in China. The melamine was added to make the gluten meet the required standard for protein content specified in the contract between Suzhou and ChemNutra. Suzhou did not properly declare the contaminated product it shipped to the U.S. as a material to be used in food, the indictment says. The indictment also alleges that shipment was falsely declared to the Chinese government to avoid a mandatory inspection of the company's plants.
The indictments allege ChemNutra acquired the melamine-tainted product at a port of entry in Kansas City, then sold it to makers of various brands of pet foods (including Menu Foods).
I looked for the press release, but it's not on the DoJ's website yet. ChemNutra has already issued a statement:
Statement by ChemNutra on DoJ Indictment Wednesday February 6, 8:17 pm ET
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ChemNutra and Steve and Sally Miller deny in the strongest of terms the allegations by the Department of Justice and look forward to the opportunity to prove their innocence at trial. Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Miller had any intent to defraud or any knowledge of wrongdoing.
Importantly, the Department of Justice, although not stated in its news release, made no allegation that either Mr. or Mrs. Miller had any knowledge of the presence of melamine or any other erroneous substance in the products ChemNutra imported that would cause injury or death to animals.
The misdemeanor charges contained in the indictment are strict liability offenses, meaning that they attach by virtue of importing a product that is contaminated, regardless of whether one knows of the contamination.
The one felony count alleges Mr. and Mrs. Miller sought to defraud their customers by intentionally failing to disclose to their customers that some of the wheat gluten being exported from China was labeled by the Chinese manufacturer with a different tariff code than the one required for U.S. entry and otherwise applicable to wheat gluten.
That alleged incorrect code, the government alleges, allowed the product to circumvent quality testing by Chinese authorities. Although Mr. and Mrs. Miller strongly deny any intent to defraud or knowledge of wrongdoing, the government does not allege that Mr. and Mrs. Miller knew of the presence of melamine or any other substance that would cause death or injury to animals.
The Millers unequivocally support the government pursuing those with knowledge of the dangerous contaminants; however, they are deeply bothered by the government’s failure to make these important distinctions in its press release related to their indictment.
Contact:Stern and Company
Steve Stern, 702-240-9533
I noted that they never said anything about how sorry they are for all the families that have suffered the loss of a beloved companion due to their actions. I would also note that Menu Foods has not responded to the claim that we submitted for my vet bills caused by the tainted foods. They haven't even acknowledged receipt, despite the fact that we know and can prove that they received the claim (thank you United States Post Office for restricted delivery/return receipt requested mail).
So here's a big THANK YOU to the DoJ for the hard work that you have put in getting these indictments. Thank you for your dedication and perserverance. Good luck as you take this matter into the next phase. These people who were indicted may never see the inside of a jail cell, but at least someone is trying to hold them accountable for the harm they have caused.
Xuzhou Anying Biologic and Suzhou Textiles were charged with 13 counts of introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce and 13 counts of introduction of misbranded food into interstate commerce.
ChemNutra, along with owners Sally Quing Miller and her husband, Stephen S. Miller, face 13 counts of introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce, 13 counts of introduction of misbranded food into interstate commerce and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
The indictments allege that Suzhou Textiles mislabeled 800 metric tons of wheat gluten tainted with the toxic chemical melamine to avoid inspection in China. The melamine was added to make the gluten meet the required standard for protein content specified in the contract between Suzhou and ChemNutra. Suzhou did not properly declare the contaminated product it shipped to the U.S. as a material to be used in food, the indictment says. The indictment also alleges that shipment was falsely declared to the Chinese government to avoid a mandatory inspection of the company's plants.
The indictments allege ChemNutra acquired the melamine-tainted product at a port of entry in Kansas City, then sold it to makers of various brands of pet foods (including Menu Foods).
I looked for the press release, but it's not on the DoJ's website yet. ChemNutra has already issued a statement:
Statement by ChemNutra on DoJ Indictment Wednesday February 6, 8:17 pm ET
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ChemNutra and Steve and Sally Miller deny in the strongest of terms the allegations by the Department of Justice and look forward to the opportunity to prove their innocence at trial. Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Miller had any intent to defraud or any knowledge of wrongdoing.
Importantly, the Department of Justice, although not stated in its news release, made no allegation that either Mr. or Mrs. Miller had any knowledge of the presence of melamine or any other erroneous substance in the products ChemNutra imported that would cause injury or death to animals.
The misdemeanor charges contained in the indictment are strict liability offenses, meaning that they attach by virtue of importing a product that is contaminated, regardless of whether one knows of the contamination.
The one felony count alleges Mr. and Mrs. Miller sought to defraud their customers by intentionally failing to disclose to their customers that some of the wheat gluten being exported from China was labeled by the Chinese manufacturer with a different tariff code than the one required for U.S. entry and otherwise applicable to wheat gluten.
That alleged incorrect code, the government alleges, allowed the product to circumvent quality testing by Chinese authorities. Although Mr. and Mrs. Miller strongly deny any intent to defraud or knowledge of wrongdoing, the government does not allege that Mr. and Mrs. Miller knew of the presence of melamine or any other substance that would cause death or injury to animals.
The Millers unequivocally support the government pursuing those with knowledge of the dangerous contaminants; however, they are deeply bothered by the government’s failure to make these important distinctions in its press release related to their indictment.
Contact:Stern and Company
Steve Stern, 702-240-9533
I noted that they never said anything about how sorry they are for all the families that have suffered the loss of a beloved companion due to their actions. I would also note that Menu Foods has not responded to the claim that we submitted for my vet bills caused by the tainted foods. They haven't even acknowledged receipt, despite the fact that we know and can prove that they received the claim (thank you United States Post Office for restricted delivery/return receipt requested mail).
So here's a big THANK YOU to the DoJ for the hard work that you have put in getting these indictments. Thank you for your dedication and perserverance. Good luck as you take this matter into the next phase. These people who were indicted may never see the inside of a jail cell, but at least someone is trying to hold them accountable for the harm they have caused.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Thank you Lucy-Furr and Ben Fuzz!
Well golly we don't know what to say! We're so honored that Lucy-Furr and Ben Fuzz rated us as Excellent. Of course, we think Lucy-Furr and Ben Fuzz's blog is excellent, as well as Daisy Mae Maus, the Meezer Tails and Skeeter and LC (and Ayla too of course)!
We also get to announce that Lucy-Furr has agreed to be Cha-Ching's Valentine. Boy, how is the youngest one is showing up all the others of us by finding love first???
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