Keanu Robot.

Keanu Robot
2008 - 2009
[Also known as: Kennaner, Keanz, Keannanu, K-Bot]

This is quite a difficult post to write. I've been absent for a little over a week, and now you'll understand why.

On Friday May 1st, I came home from work to feed the cats and as I looked down I noticed that Keanu's right eye was clouded. Keanu had been acting strange all week - he didn't want to play, he was lethargic, and his happy little curiosity seemed to have disappeared. He wasn't purring. And I was confused, but attributed this all to the fact that Jesse had left the previous week, and Keanu hung out with Jesse all day every day for the most part - until he left, and I worked all day. I realized on that Friday afternoon that this wasn't Keanu stricken with a bout of missing Jesse; this was actually something.

I dropped everything and headed out to our vet's office. They took a look at him and couldn't conclude anything, but gave him antibiotics and eyedrops. Jesse returned that Saturday and took him for his followup on Monday, where he hadn't improved, and so Keanu got some bloodwork done. On Wednesday he came back positive for the coronavirus - something many cats have, but in rare cases mutates into something called feline infectious perontitis (FIP). FIP is a fatal, incurable disease. That night, the vet called again to confirm that Keanu had tested positive for FIP.

Of course, Jesse and I were left heartbroken. Jesse was in an airport in Dallas flying back to LA when he got the news. I was, luckily, with friends whose presence comforted me greatly. The vet directed us to a cat internist at another hospital, so I took Keanu there last Friday, where I was told that Keanu's rate of deterioration (he can hardly see anymore, his bones are protuding because of all his lost weight, and his strength is not what it used to be) along with his positive test results confirmed our fears. We had to put Keanu to sleep, because he was dying. Our little Keanu Robot. I called our vet and made an appointment for today, Monday afternoon.

Jesse decided to fly back this past Saturday to be with us, given that I would not be able to do this horrid task on my own. And so we spent the weekend with Keanu. The internist gave us some steroids for Keanu to live out the last few days more comfortably. We spent as much time as possible with him, helping him to his food, his litter box, jump off the couch without falling, etc. He's still a lovely little boy who cuddles with us and nuzzles our noses.

It's obviously been a shock to Jesse, me, and all of our friends and family. I'm sure regular readers here know how much we love Keanu. And there's something so utterly depressing about having to be the one to decide this creature's fate - or, rather, to know what we have to do. One week he's fine, the next week he's been sentenced - and he's only ten months old. Jesse and I both talked about this shock; about how we both imagined moving into a house together in our future with an adult Keanu Robot, ready for an adventure. That's all been dashed, but we're staying positive. Keanu's deterioration and waning quality of life also made it apparent what is necessary - I just want that little guy to be peaceful, and happy.

My friends and family have been so great. My sob-filled phone calls to my parents were met with understanding and comforting words. My friends have all stood by me while Jesse was out of town; particularly Adam and James for helping me get Keanu to the hospital on Friday and supporting me through another round of bad news and crying, and Erica for being a grand roommate as well. Jesse and I love and appreciate them all in their support.

I've stayed away from the internet for the most part, and this blog, but writing it out now has helped me find closure on this sadness. Thank you for letting me impart all this.

Our final trip to the vets was emotional. The doctor and nurses were attentive and sympathetic, and Keanu was sedated and then peacefully went to sleep. Jesse and I had each other there to hold on to, and we whispered sweet things to Keanu as he passed. I don't know what I would have done without Jesse there to comfort me. I'm still a bit of a mess, and he holds me tight and lovingly, though I know he's feeling the same way. This was the hardest thing I've had to do in my short life, and I know I face even harder decisions and times in the future. However, it's good to know that I have Jesse, my family, and my friends to surround me when facing obstacles.

Keanu Robot is somewhere better now. I know we had to let him go, and we are just glad to have loved him so dearly and feel that love reflected back from his tiny, little self. We'll remember his love of sleeping on Jesse's booty and my chest; the way he first jumped up the daunting apartment stairs; the way he would meekly meow for food; and so on. Tonight we're going to celebrate his short life with a drink with friends, and a toast.

The two above are from Keanu's first night!

Adam took this wonderful photo.

Tiny butt always demanding food.

Keanu and his wonk eye a few days ago.

Keanu and Jesse.

My two boys this morning.



<3

He was a good man and now he's gone.

I've decided to do as my friend Liz does on Fridays, and provide a Friday Playlist. I was walking into work this morning and a series of extremely walkable music came on. You know what I mean? Like, The Killers "All These Things That I've Done" is the quintessential walking song to me, mainly because of its march-like drum beat. Not all of these have that kind of drum beat, but they have the face-up, leg-moving, maybe-you'll-smile flow. As if you've got a Sorkin/Schlamme camera set-up in front of you on a cart. (Okay, that was a mighty dorky reference - kudos if you get it.) I've rounded out the rest of the songs at work - it's Friday! Also, today's my two year anniversary of working in this place. Not too shabby!

Friday Playlist

M. Ward - Requiem (I'm kind of obssessed with this song at the moment)
Brandi Carlisle - The Story
Bright Eyes - Road to Joy
Coconut Records - West Coast
Dandy Warhols - We Used to Be Friends
The Format - Inches and Failing
Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine
Foo Fighters - Hey, Johnny Park!
No Doubt - Excuse Me Mr.
The Gaslight Anthem - Meet Me By the River's Edge
Jimmy Eat World - Chase This Light
Ray Lamontagne - You Are the Best Thing

What are you listening to today? Anything I should be looking into? Besides Lily Allen & M. Ward's new albums, I haven't gotten into anything new. And you know I'm always on the lookout.

Finally - it's the WEEKEND!

And since Jesse left yesterday for the Midwest, I was writing him an e-mail this morning before work (during my Cheerios!) and little Keanu wanted to say hi, too. We miss him!

Where is my mind.

More records!!!! This batch ends this weekend so get on it if you're into vinyl from these bands -

Rocket From the Crypt (30!!! YEAH!!)
Pitchfork
Rodan
Shins (4)
Shudder to Think (4)
Sigur Ros (3)
Sloppy Seconds
Smashing Pumpkins (6)
Song of Zarathustra (5)
Sunny Day Real Estate (4)
Smoking Popes
Sugarcult
Superchunk
Superdrag (2)
Supergrass
Jimmy Eat World
Nine Inch Nails
Pixies

Remember, 10% of the proceeds is being donated to Andrew McMahon's Dear Jack Foundation. Do it! In other news, the Motion City Soundtrack website went under a makeover and they now have a TUMBLR! If you do too, start following it!

And because I feel like today is Friday, even though it's not, but I have that "Friday Good Mood at Work" feeling - here is a picture of zany Keanu from the other day when he was being absoutely nuts. Seriously, his back legs were acting completely independently of his front half!

Keanu Robot napping rituals.

Keanu tends to climb on me and sleep when I'm on my computer.
He used to be small enough to just sit on my chest by my neck -
but now he sleeps in my hand and forearm.
Yes, he sleeps like this.

Keanu wakes up groggily. I'm sure not happy about this photo session...

Keanu hears Jesse go for the food...
And leaps out of my arms!

Catnap.

Eko Robot and I: napping, chilling, being cool.

These kittens are kind of a big deal.

So, Keanu and Eko are getting pretty e-famous. Already a photoshoot with Jiscilla, and now with El Adam. Check the rest out on Adam's Flickr set! Obviously every single shot is full of CUTE.

Let's end it on this.

Did you vote?! Jesse and I woke up at 630am and headed to the polls. There was hardly a line and we were out of there in ten minutes time. It was pretty exciting! Our district had those voting booths with turn-knobs and then you cast your ballot by pulling a giant lever - which, feels awesome. I can't even concentrate today at work! I'm pretty sure me and everyone else in the office will be keeping up with the news all day. I can't wait to get home and start watching election coverage.

So, I decided, in lieu of work, to share some pictures of little Eko Robot, the famed diva of the household.

Eko practicing her catalog modeling on the couch.

And Eko in one of her less dignified positions, asleep.
(She'd kill me if she knew I posted this.)

HAPPY ELECTION DAY!

Follow me south of the big docks.

I caught Keanu and Jesse napping on the couch, and then they caught me snapping another pic a few minutes later. Cute out moment for sure.

I still get those butterflies I wrote about in the last post; maybe one day I'll tell the whole story of how we met. It's quite epic, and one we love to retell to each other and our friends. He continues to totally makes me swoon. Especially in pictures like this!

Turn the radio up loud and get down.

A little Friday fun: Keanu hanging out on the napping Jesse's booty. I had to take that picture, and now I have to post it. They both rested that way for quite a while last week...

For a Friday, I've got a bit going on, but I wanted to pause and share this. The Empty Cages Collective (where we adopted Keanu & Eko!) is having a Kitten & Cat Adoption event in Brooklyn tomorrow. If anyone out there is thinking about adopting, get yourself there tomorrow! I mean, after all the pictures I've shown you of Keanu and Eko, what's stopping you from helping out these homeless felines? Also, this flyer lists "kitten dancing" and I'd say I'm a little intrigued, myself!

I should have something up here later, too, when I have some time at home - check it out tonight or this weekend if you have a chance. Last night Jesse surprised me with reservations at an Italian restaurant in Manhattan, and then we went to see Religulous at the Angelika. My burgeoning fakey crush on Jason Segel made for a sidetrip to Best Buy on the way home to pick up Forgetting Sarah Marshall and then Jesse and I settled into the couch to watch the DVD, as Keanu curled up on my chest and Eko slept peacefully by in her claimed-for-herself kitty cubby. Like a little fam!

And I'd always win.

I'm bringing you kitten pictures. Because they are effin' adorable! They are constantly cute-ing me out, and it's getting a wee bit hard to take. They are both enthusiastic cuddlers of my lap, chest, and even shoulders - though their positions constantly crack me up. I wonder how they are comfortable sometimes, with their backs in a full 360 degree angle, and occasionally Eko sleeps half off my lap, half on. Eko keeps more to herself, but comes out to play and sleep, but Keanu is the truly curious one. Sometimes he just walks up right next to my feet and looks up like, "Whatchu doin now?" And, yes, sometimes I squeal and pick him up and start a cuddlefest right there when he looks at me like that. Like I said, CUTED OUT. They are also both spazzes, which is normal for kittens, as they chase each other around the place and jump at sudden noises. When they play, they play - and when they get tired, they zonk out! Here are some snaps from Jesse's iPhone the past few days!

I took this picture last night after looking in their little cubby and Keanu opened his eyes but then passed out again after ten seconds. I think Eko was a little perturbed by how much room he was taking up!

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In other news, last night the Patriots beat the Broncos! Jesse and I tried valiantly to adorn the kittens with their Patriots scarves, but they were having none of it! Tyler, Jim, Sean, and Adam joined us for the fun times and Erica even made wings!

Tonight I'm seeing one of my favourite live bands, The Photo Atlas, at the Charleston. I don't think there's ever been a CMJ I've participated in without a Photo Atlas show; they're quite amazing to dance to. I'll be hitting up Trainwreck as well, which has more free booze and live performances. Jesse is heading to see his buds in The Bronx for their 1AM show, but it's a "school night" for me, so I will probably call it an early night!

Also, I got my hands on the new Ryan Adams & The Cardinals album, Cardinology through somewhat top-secret methods (it comes out next week), and it's brilliant. I'm obsessed. Possibly more obsessed than last year's RA solo (but still with the same band as "backing") effort, Easy, Tiger. I know! That's saying a lot! But so far, I've had "Magick" stuck in my head all day, and though I love the album, it makes me a little more depressed to know that I won't be seeing the band on Halloween this year (like I did last year!) due to super-fast ticket sales! I'm still holding out hope on my connections though - we'll see!

Oh, and apparently, as a twenty-something blogger, I'm to create a video to post tomorrow. HAHAHA! Fools! You can't trick me like that! Everyone knows my most embarassing moments tend to be caught on film, so having me make a video of myself is an inevitable death knell to my pride! HAHA!

Okay, maybe I'll still do it.

Naming the kittens.

[OMGZ I KNOW KITTENZ AGAIN! But, honestly, getting kittens is like having babies (right?) so it's kind of a big deal. Back to regular scheduled programming later.]

There are two entities to thank for the naming of Eko Robot & Keanu Robot: The Casey and Mom Show, and Ryan Adams' Blog.

The Casey and Mom Show (TCAMS) decided months ago that were two kittens to be purchased, they should be named Mr. Eko and Keanu. Because TCAMS tends to take place on the couch, I can probably pinpoint the moments we decided. Obviously, Mr. Eko is a character on Lost. Pronounced "Echo" but spelled "Eko," which us girls at TCAMS love, of course. I think the name happened in the midst of a repeat viewing and we started naming off "possible kitten names" -

Juliette Buttface, Black Cloud Monster, Hot Jack, Hot Sawyer, Polar Bear, Creepy Kid, Big Prayer Stick, Desmond Best Chesthair, Poor Charlie, Mr. Eko, Brainmelting Future Kate with Baby ---wait, wait! Go back! Before Kate! That's the one!

And then, yes, Mr. Eko ended up being a girl, so she is simply Eko. Or The Lady Eko. Because when we take her out to restaurants we ABSOLUTELY LOVE saying, "And the Lady will have..." Makes SO much sense!

I think we all know where the name Keanu came from. I mean, it probably light-bulbed when we were watching another amazing never-gets-old viewing of The Lake House. And of course, The Replacements on TBS, or Parenthood (classic style) or, (bite your knuckles here) a Day the Earth Stood Still trailer. Also, real Keanu might have something to say about kitten Keanu soon...

Yes, we realize these names have sci-fi, time-warping connotations in some ways. But that's where we found the kittens - we snatched them out of a wormhole leading to another time and dimension, duh. And, clearly, they've gotten too big to go back, as Eko bravely tried to today:

Now for their quasi- last name, "Robot." Ryan Adams has a blog, though it got semi-deleted, and only lives on in the name of his band, The Cardinals. In an amazing series of posts, Mr. Adams wrote about his cat "Daryl Hannah Robot." I CRACKED UP immediately upon hearing that name, deducing it be quite brilliant in naming schemes. However, he then posted a picture of his cat (after describing it sans pictures for a few posts) and it was an actual cat robot. There is only one archive I could find referring to his cat -

"now i get to sleep with two imaginary women AND a robotic cat. my cat is truly a fucking robot. ask anybody. meet me at the BMX track behind Bill Bristlemeyer’s furniture repair shop at high noon and we’ll have a jump contest.

woah. i am excited."

That is why Ryan Adams' blog was amazing. (Jonah, shut up.)

And that is how Eko Robot & Keanu Robot came to be.

Getting bigger and sleeker.

Keanu and I last night!

Okay, this blog isn't going to turn into kitten central, but I decided to work from home today (along with Erica) and Jiscilla was here and took some great pictures of the kittens! I had to share. Of course.

Eko has come out of her shell and is quite the cuddler, just like Keanu. She just took a little longer. They love all the toys and are quite rambunctious. Keanu pooped on the carpet last night, but Eko surprised us by walking straight to the litter box and taking care of business. Trained! Woo! They're also eating pretty well and I think it's a good sign, considering how I've heard that cats that move to new places sometimes don't eat for a few days (this happened a lot with my cat growing up).

I videochatted with Jesse last night and he got to see the kittens play around and have fun. He's so bummed that he hasn't been here since we got them, but he arrives tomorrow morning for his own bonding time with them! I can't even begin to explain how excited he is to have kittens, too.

They make me incredibly happy!

Keanu loves to strike a pose.

Both kittens are fans of the Bowflex!

I love, love, love Keanu's stripes and swirls!

Eko hanging on my lap!

Eko is usually a diva, but Jiscilla caught her in a goofy moment.

Keanu stalking.