tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post5731656335155657738..comments2024-03-27T02:56:19.634-06:00Comments on Melissa Amateis: Are You Writing What You Love?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-76788401438973411902007-11-15T11:04:00.000-07:002007-11-15T11:04:00.000-07:00When I have time to write, I'm writing what I love...When I have time to write, I'm writing what I love. Though not always loving what I'm writing *g*.<BR/><BR/>Congrats on the new kittens! I do hope you get mamma fixed before she can escape again! <BR/><BR/>I too have no idea why vets charge so much for spaying/neutering. At least when we adopted C/C, we paid $10 (included in the adoption costs) and received a cert from the Humane Society for Cleo to be spayed. But that doesn't help if the animal is a stray - with our other two, we paid for it ourselves, and as students, that wasn't easy either.<BR/><BR/>Hope you can find homes for all those little ones!! If we lived closer.....Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15636189059910920978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-32563307658178013962007-11-15T07:28:00.000-07:002007-11-15T07:28:00.000-07:00Marty - You're right. I actually love to write lit...Marty - You're right. I actually love to write little essays, but don't know that I want to write them. More often than not, they're a "have to" sometimes.Melissa Amateishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16086267508858187716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-11415548231315872612007-11-14T20:07:00.000-07:002007-11-14T20:07:00.000-07:00I do notice a difference when I don't write someth...I do notice a difference when I don't write something I love. Well, scratch that, because 'love' might mean something different. I love to write a great essay or letter, or book...they aren't all things I WANT to write necessarily, but there's something about doing a job well.<BR/><BR/>Having said that, if I'm in love with an idea, it comes easier, but only perhaps because I'm enamored of the idea. Want vs. need.<BR/><BR/>And now that I've overanalyzed your questions... :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-77433179062704939562007-11-14T17:23:00.000-07:002007-11-14T17:23:00.000-07:00Christine - Yes, I have! In fact, I think I blogge...Christine - Yes, I have! In fact, I think I blogged about it a month or so ago. I was very disappointed by the ending. You can read my thoughts here (just so I don't take up too much space in the comments section!):<BR/>http://grosvenorsquare.blogspot.com/2007/10/downside-of-being-pubbed-author.htmlMelissa Amateishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16086267508858187716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-13099786970401931762007-11-14T15:35:00.000-07:002007-11-14T15:35:00.000-07:00Melissa -- We send them home the same day. Some ve...Melissa -- We send them home the same day. Some vets feel differently, but I believe it's less stressful for the pet to be at home than at the veterinary hospital, plus I like that the owner can keep on eye on them. (We don't have overnight staff at our place).<BR/><BR/>By the way, I just finished "Dream When You're Feeling Blue" by Elizabeth Berg. WWII homefront novel about 3 sisters, 2 of whom have sweethearts in the war. It was OK, but I felt like it just skimmed the surface of the period. You know, the usual suspects -- seamed stockings, sugar rationing, radio shows -- without really digging deep. Have you read it?Christine Fletcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17350760019997430843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-17366612668160637392007-11-14T15:16:00.000-07:002007-11-14T15:16:00.000-07:00Christine - Thanks so much for chiming in. :-) I c...Christine - Thanks so much for chiming in. :-) I called to a few different vets here in town and our vet was the cheapest. I think it was $70 for the procedure plus $35 for the office visit. I know some of them that I called were well over that and included an overnight stay for observation. I didn't think that was necessary, but since this is the first time I've owned a cat, I have no idea...Melissa Amateishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16086267508858187716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-2328124064830437542007-11-14T14:26:00.000-07:002007-11-14T14:26:00.000-07:00Melissa, congratulations on the kitties! Kitten se...Melissa, congratulations on the kitties! Kitten season is one of the highlights of my year -- I love it. <BR/><BR/>I hope you don't mind, but as a veterinarian, I feel I have to address what someone said about you getting "ripped off." <BR/><BR/>Places that charge $35 per spay are either subsidized (ie, you're not paying the true cost of the procedure -- like at some Humane Societies) or they're taking shortcuts at the animal's expense. <BR/>$35 doesn't even cover my costs for performing a cat spay. On the other hand, a comparable surgery for a person generally costs $5000!<BR/><BR/>All the folks I knew in college who wanted to make "real money" left pre-vet and went into pre-med. Same amount of education at the same cost...but MDs make on average 3 to 4x what we do. I'm not complaining. I love my job, my patients and my clients, and I'd choose it again in a heartbeat. All I'm saying is, if veterinarians wanted to get rich, we'd have picked another profession.<BR/><BR/>As other folks mentioned, many communities have organizations that will provide financial help to pet owners who need it for spaying/neutering. Almost every veterinarian I know works with at least one organization like this.<BR/><BR/>Congrats again on the babies! I hand-raised an abandoned newborn kitty six years ago, and I was just cooing over her pics again the other day.Christine Fletcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17350760019997430843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-22597650045483063492007-11-14T13:29:00.000-07:002007-11-14T13:29:00.000-07:00I am writing what I love, baby!!:) Whether anyone...I am writing what I love, baby!!<BR/><BR/>:) <BR/><BR/>Whether anyone else does or not, is a different story ;)Toni Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08348843511453338339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-13973690270852845012007-11-14T13:23:00.000-07:002007-11-14T13:23:00.000-07:00Oh, new kitty pics soon I hope!I'm writing what I ...Oh, new kitty pics soon I hope!<BR/><BR/>I'm writing what I love right now...except for the times it frustrates me to distraction ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-12477208237361631072007-11-14T03:51:00.000-07:002007-11-14T03:51:00.000-07:00Congratulations on the new additions to the family...Congratulations on the new additions to the family. I hope mother and kits are doing very well.<BR/><BR/>It looks as though the cost is roughly the same. I had to pay £50 to get Holly done, but ended up paying an extra £5 because she was pregnant - I wish they'd told me, I would have waited until she'd had them as I had home for all of them - so that's around $100 too. It is pricey, though. <BR/><BR/>Over here the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) will do the ops for free or for a donation if you can prove you're on a low income or are on any kind of benefit.Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06430125606844410229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-47008354124741543652007-11-13T21:12:00.000-07:002007-11-13T21:12:00.000-07:00That's the only way you should be writing! Keep th...That's the only way you should be writing! Keep the dream alive!Ello - Ellen Ohhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18311917335471167591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-802356885550278152007-11-13T15:34:00.000-07:002007-11-13T15:34:00.000-07:00We have to pay an arm and a leg for spaying and ne...We have to pay an arm and a leg for spaying and neutering too. Spaying is more. I think ours were $130 a cat. The dog was $180. You're absolutely right. The service should be a lot more affordable. It'd be a no-brainier for people then. <BR/><BR/>And yes, writing what I love. I couldn't do it any other way. I'm glad you are too!Merettahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03860086164332852221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-19372456802789908782007-11-13T09:20:00.000-07:002007-11-13T09:20:00.000-07:00I've never had to pay more than 35 dollars to get ...I've never had to pay more than 35 dollars to get any of mine spayed, and I live in New York! Your vet is ripping you off.<BR/><BR/>In fact, when I got the twins spayed, they gave me a two-for-one deal -- both cats for $35.<BR/><BR/>Both The Humane Society and the clinic at Bide-A-Wee here have the best vets around, are reasonably priced, and do great spaying/neutering.<BR/><BR/>Plus, most shelters now include the spay/neuter in the adoption fee.<BR/><BR/>Best wishes to your new babies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-75515089339135772822007-11-12T20:17:00.000-07:002007-11-12T20:17:00.000-07:00Ooooh, kittens!Sadly I haven't written much this y...Ooooh, kittens!<BR/><BR/>Sadly I haven't written much this year (the mom thing, you know), but I'm hoping to get back to it in 2008. And fortunately for me, what I like to write is still marketable and hopefully will still be by the time I get the book done.Bailey Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00639029254352011915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-68935450285081529432007-11-12T15:23:00.000-07:002007-11-12T15:23:00.000-07:00Congrats on your kittens!And yes, I'm lucky enough...Congrats on your kittens!<BR/><BR/>And yes, I'm lucky enough to be writing what I love, especially now with novel number four. I think, with confidence, comes the natural desire to follow your heart vs. the industry's needs.<BR/>Good luck with your writing!Holly Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02336717023482533615noreply@blogger.com