Last Day

Well, today was the day....

I suppose I knew it was coming for some time,
that's why I was not very shocked when this afternoon they said,

"We're sorry Rachel, but we're going to have to let you go...."

~They told me that they were not making enough money on the magazine and couldn't afford to keep me on any longer.

I went to the Unemployment Office after I left StarNet
and talked with some very helpful employee's there
who explained to me that I needed to file under "laid off".

The world goes on....

It was a great experience working there and who knows where I will end up next.

The Death of a Pet Rat

My beloved pet rat died in my hands....

He had been sick off and on for about 6 months.  I took him to the Prairie Oak Veterinary Center in Normal a few times, and they had put him on medication.  

In his last week of life, I watched as he grew thinner, as he was having respiratory problems and arthritis in his joints that prevented him from moving as much.  I began hand feeding him and giving him a nutrient filled liquid diet through an eye dropper.  As soon as I got home from work everyday that week, I would immediately check on him and hold and comfort him the rest of the night.  

In the last moments of his life, I was with him...holding him gently.  

He began to seizure then he was still.  I knew....  

I broke down and cried over the loss of my friend.  

My boyfriend came over for support and comfort and helped me by gently wrapping Caspian in a sock and placing him in a small shoe box.  I cleaned the rat cage out and sanitized it, then after pulling myself together, I set out for my hometown of Danville to give him a proper burial. 

I dug my first grave.... 

You may think, "Ew, a rat for a pet, that's weird", but half a million households in the U.S. own pet rats or mice.

I adopted Caspian from PETCO in Normal, IL on July 3, 2007. Someone had abandoned him in his cage at the store's entrance.  They assumed he was already 1 year old. 

I was planning on getting a rat eventually, and had gone into PETCO that day to buy a rat cage and other necessary accessories.  While shopping, a sales woman approached me and we got to talking.  She mentioned the rat that they had found that morning.  It was in the quarantine section in the back and they told me I could check him out if I liked. 

I thought, what is the harm in just looking, right?

Well, that day I walked out of the store with a cage, bedding, run-about ball, food, & Caspian!

I just fell in love with him and my heart went out to him...who could abandon such a sweet creature!  

I officially adopted him through PETCO, and they gave him, the cage, & some rat toys to me for free!

I came up with his name later on that very day.... I was playing with him and he leap off my shoulder onto my night stand where my book, "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" was laying.  I thought to myself, he's a white rat, he's very sweet, he is brave and takes daring jumps..., Caspian also sounds like Casper...and the rest if history.  

He was an albino pink-eyed large male rat.  Measured 18" long from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail.   He was my big guy.  I loved him so very much.  He was 'my' first true pet since I've been living by myself.   I had a harness and would take him for walks.  Everyone always wanted to pet him!  He loved riding around in my hoodie pocket and his favorite treat was strawberry yogurt chips.

Even now my eyes are watering....  He will be missed.  I've buried him alongside my family's other pets at my home in Danville, IL.  He was almost 3 years old. 

R.I.P. Caspian 

Born: Unknown, 2006

Adopted: July 3, 2007

Died: June 20, 2009

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Caspian has even stared in a few of my videos.  Check them out!  
Don't forget to rate, comment, & subscribe, and let his memory live on!

 
Sneaky Hoarder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Lu-UPWvlBo 
Rat Crunch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkowu3Ia3bk