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I don't know about everyone else, but I really crave good news these days. It helps keep me going during this time of crisis in our world. So, I thought I'd share some good news we received a couple of weeks ago at the vet. As some of you already know, Carmine was diagnosed with diabetes back in January. We were pretty sure it was steroid-induced. Long-term prednisolone use in cats is linked to the development of diabetes, and Carmine had been taking prednisolone for more than five years for his chronic pancreatitis. We made the decision to take him off the prednisolone in hopes that this would resolve the issue. He has not had any pancreatitis flareups in about three years, so we felt pretty comfortable that he would be okay without it. In the meantime, though, he had to go on insulin to help control his blood sugar. Unfortunately, the first dose we tried was too much for him, and he kept going into hypoglycemia, which was incredibly scary! My vet and I worked closely and figured out that Carmine needed the very tiniest dose of insulin possible - 1/2 (about one drop) of insulin only once a day. This dose allowed him to remain stable without going into hypoglycemia. He has his glucose tested at the vet once a month right now. About a week before his last appointment, I noticed that he was much livelier. He was running around like a young cat again (he is 15 years old!). He was eating more, too. He was even chasing Tylan around the apartment, which he hardly ever did before! So, I wondered if he could be in remission. Sure enough, he tested in remission at his appointment!! His sugar was still slightly high at 178 (normal ends at 170), but he is in remission. It was a piece of news I really needed. Things have been so tough for everyone, including me, lately. It felt great that something good happened. He will continue to go in once a month for glucose tests for the time being. We are hopeful that he will stay in remission, but it is not uncommon for cats to go back into diabetes from time to time.

Yes, winning a MUSE is a real honor! I had to look at the program about 10 times and still didn't believe I'd won until a fellow CWA member messaged me congratulating me. I didn't expect to win one with my first and only entry into the contest. My article was on how to care for a cat when you are visually impaired. I have learned so much over the years and wanted to help other people with vision problems care for their kitties, too. It has lots of little tips in there that most people wouldn't think about. For example, Carmine and Tylan's collar bells are of two different tones, so if they shake their bell, I can tell who is who even if they aren't right by me where I can see them.

The last month of the year is approaching and the past months have been a whirlwind of emotions for me. I keep thinking back on this year and everything that has happened. Besides all the heartache I've gone through, the best thing I've achieved this year is I fulfilled my dream of living in Brazil for 3 months. It has completely changed my perspective on life, friendships, love and myself. What are some great things you have achieved this year?

True, everyone does have a story and, to that person and to those who care about him or her, it matters. Even strangers can learn from it, and we do well to pay attention because it might be that a stranger's story teaches us how to cope with difficult aspects of our own.

@SableC., Mittenator - I LOVE it!! Cats know things. I think Mittens knew where she belonged and made her way there. Carmine got a very good report from the vet! His glucose was 105 - the best it has been since this whole thing started. The vet said he's probably just hot and drinking more and that his kitties were all hot and drinking more, too. He has six cats! We are testing Carmine's kidneys again in November. The vet is concerned about possible early kidney disease. I really hope that's not the case. Carmine is doing very well for being 15. Tylan went for his annual exam, too. There is still inflammation in his mouth and probably always will be - he has stomatitis. But the vet says the inflammation is the least he's ever seen Tylan have, so we may have finally found a good Prednisolone schedule for him. Tylan should be all set for another year now, as long as he doesn't get sick or anything.

Failure. From birth, it's treated as a terrible, taboo thing. Something to be kept at arms length. No one wants to be labeled as one, and nobody wants to associate themselves with one. Everyone's failed once, and everyone's experienced that awful sinking feeling in the pit of their stomach. But... what if we turned that around? Instead of avoiding it like a plague, why don't we treat it as motivation? As fuel for the fire we each hold? Accept that you'll fail once in a while, and try again. Accept that you need to learn in order to grow.

Your spouse or significant other (SO) should always be more important than outside friends. Your SO is the person who will be with you for a lifetime if you two can maintain a passionate and happy relationship. They are the person who will give you support and care when you need it. I’ve read that the rule of thumb is a couple should spend about 15 hours a week together in quality time, just the two of them. After that, it’s ok to spend time with your friends.

I just recently got back into dancing after taking a dance class when I was in Brazil. I've been going out and dancing my heart out and I realize how amazing it is to be doing something you love when at the same time it is good for your physical (and mental) health. What are some hobbies of yours that you really enjoy doing and that are also healthy for you?

How has this affected your daily life? My job training is on pause, which means I'll start officially working weeks or maybe even months later than expected. I also cancelled a cross-country trip to visit family. Please be careful and patient, everyone.

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I just got back from Brazil last week. I fell in love with the country (the city of São Paulo), the music, the people, the food. I really love it. It's a culture that I could fully relate to. The people are amazing, so kind. I've built up such a fantastic, full social life there. I definitely plan on moving there if anyhow possible.

When I was 20, I thought (from the safety of my youthful ivory tower) that people should just grow old gracefully. After a couple of decades, I began to notice a few things in the mirror that I'd never seen before, and wondered, "Am I getting old?" Now, as time marches relentlessly on, I find myself watching commercials for wrinkle-removing products with a bit more interest. Yet, I have come to appreciate that those lines represent the experience that comes with age and, although I do nourish my skin a little differently now, I think that my 20-year-old self wasn't completely off-base. There's something to be said about facing the inevitable with a certain amount of grudging grace.

Good for you, TravelBug! I really want to get into dancing someday because it just looks fun (in addition to the health benefits we can get). It's too bad that most of my hobbies tie me down in front of the laptop or just sitting all day long. I suppose traveling is the only time when I get to have fun and become healthier at the same time!

For me, You Tube has become my virtual encyclopedia and how-to manual. Today, the recipe I used to prepare homemade blueberry pancakes come from YouTube. My spouse used it to learn how to fix our water sprinkler. My daughter learned how to edit her website on it. Before I travel, I watch recent videos. When I want to laugh, I watch funny videos. Also, I watch international and BBC movies on You Tube.