a small addendum to my lexicon:
1) Holidays (n.): Nope. Not vacation or national/religious remembrances when we get off from work. Great word that I grew up with and still use fairly often. It means: spots that you missed when painting or cleaning; mostly painting. This actually comes in as #6 (the very last) on the definitions for "holidays" as a noun from dictionary.com. Check it!
Example: "Make sure you do a good job painting the baby's room; don't leave any holidays on the walls."
2) Break your face: Phrase often uttered by South Philly moms, sometimes in conjunction with "act right." It's a much more...colorful of way saying "I'll slap you." I've found that moms usually use this in a threatening way to older kids, say over the age of 10.
Example: "If you ever come home and tell me you are pregnant, I'll break your face."
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Happy 2nd Bloggiversary Contest: THE GOODS
Ok so I am finally going to post what you actually will get if you win my 2nd Anniversary Bloggiversary Contest! Here's a picture of the booty:
Here's what all that is (from back to front):
1 tote bag from Barnes & Noble
1 blue expandable documents folder
1 dishcloth pattern booklet
1 light-green long-knitting-needle holder
1 skein Lamb's Pride worsted in pine tree colorway
8 skeins Moda Dea Cartwheel 100% wool yarn in hazy colorway
1 mini notepad (black floral pattern) with matching pen
Trader Joe's Organic Breakfast Blend coffee
1 skein Knit Picks Palette in pool colorway
2 boxes of green tea pods from DHC in Japan
1 skein of Lion Wool in flower garden colorway
2 skeins of Shi Bui Superwash Merino sock yarn in a buttercream color (#330)
1 bar of Trader's Joe's massage-soap
1 bar of Greek olive oil soap (from Greece)
1 skein Blue Sky Alpacas 100% Organic Cotton in a toasted color (#82)
1 hand-knit by me dish/wash cloth
1 hand-knit by me matching scrubbie
1 flannel star-pattern pouch
1 $25 iTunes gift card
If I do say so myself, that is QUITE a haul. If you haven't entered yet, it's NOT too late! You have until August 31, 2008 at 8:00pm. Just go to this blog entry for your chance to enter & win!
Here's what all that is (from back to front):
1 tote bag from Barnes & Noble
1 blue expandable documents folder
1 dishcloth pattern booklet
1 light-green long-knitting-needle holder
1 skein Lamb's Pride worsted in pine tree colorway
8 skeins Moda Dea Cartwheel 100% wool yarn in hazy colorway
1 mini notepad (black floral pattern) with matching pen
Trader Joe's Organic Breakfast Blend coffee
1 skein Knit Picks Palette in pool colorway
2 boxes of green tea pods from DHC in Japan
1 skein of Lion Wool in flower garden colorway
2 skeins of Shi Bui Superwash Merino sock yarn in a buttercream color (#330)
1 bar of Trader's Joe's massage-soap
1 bar of Greek olive oil soap (from Greece)
1 skein Blue Sky Alpacas 100% Organic Cotton in a toasted color (#82)
1 hand-knit by me dish/wash cloth
1 hand-knit by me matching scrubbie
1 flannel star-pattern pouch
1 $25 iTunes gift card
If I do say so myself, that is QUITE a haul. If you haven't entered yet, it's NOT too late! You have until August 31, 2008 at 8:00pm. Just go to this blog entry for your chance to enter & win!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Info on Mr. Chesterfield...Plus...
First of all info on Mr. C:
He is HORRIBLY constipated, poor thing. Which apparently explains the bald patch on his upper back thigh area. He's been licking and pulling out his fur back there. His muscles are so sore and tender and that's the only way cats know how to deal with it. So we had them give him another enema. They said that "a lot was removed." So that's good.
As for the possible renal issues, well, we have to wait some more. They took more blood tonight and hopefully the results will come back showing an improvement. We should know tomorrow or Saturday. He's gained 2 ounces. But then again, that could be a build up of stuff in his colon, which they removed. Yuck.
Also, the vet recommended that we wean him off the BP medicine entirely, which is
something I've been wanting to do for a while too. So he's now down to .2 once a day. He seems ok now. I think he's a little confused and tired of being poked and prodded, understandably
So we're still in a holding pattern, somewhat. But things certainly look better than they did this morning.
Now the plus...
This is THE most hilarious picture from Lost that I've ever seen, I think. I'll have to keep looking for more. This is from Season 1, Episode 5: The White Rabbit. Yeah it's a slow week at work.... Enjoy!
Ok first of all, can I get Matthew Fox to come roll around on the ground with ME, please? Jesus Tap-dancing Christ; even filthy, grubby, & sweaty he's SMOKIN' HOTT. Second, look at Terry O'Quinn's face. LMFAO. He's probably like "GAH, MATT. YOU ARE CRUSHING MY LEFT ARM." Good stuff.
He is HORRIBLY constipated, poor thing. Which apparently explains the bald patch on his upper back thigh area. He's been licking and pulling out his fur back there. His muscles are so sore and tender and that's the only way cats know how to deal with it. So we had them give him another enema. They said that "a lot was removed." So that's good.
As for the possible renal issues, well, we have to wait some more. They took more blood tonight and hopefully the results will come back showing an improvement. We should know tomorrow or Saturday. He's gained 2 ounces. But then again, that could be a build up of stuff in his colon, which they removed. Yuck.
Also, the vet recommended that we wean him off the BP medicine entirely, which is
something I've been wanting to do for a while too. So he's now down to .2 once a day. He seems ok now. I think he's a little confused and tired of being poked and prodded, understandably
So we're still in a holding pattern, somewhat. But things certainly look better than they did this morning.
Now the plus...
This is THE most hilarious picture from Lost that I've ever seen, I think. I'll have to keep looking for more. This is from Season 1, Episode 5: The White Rabbit. Yeah it's a slow week at work.... Enjoy!
Ok first of all, can I get Matthew Fox to come roll around on the ground with ME, please? Jesus Tap-dancing Christ; even filthy, grubby, & sweaty he's SMOKIN' HOTT. Second, look at Terry O'Quinn's face. LMFAO. He's probably like "GAH, MATT. YOU ARE CRUSHING MY LEFT ARM." Good stuff.
Mr. Chesterfield Needs Your Good Karma!
Most of you who read this blog know that Todd and I have expanded from 1 cat to having 6 cats over the last 3 years or so. Our most recent addition is Mr. Chesterfield. We acquired him last year in September.
Even though he's only been in our family for less than a year, we adore Mr. Chesterfield. Last week (while I was away in NC) Todd needed to bring Mr. C and Sophie in for a check-up. Both of them are on medications---Sophie for thyroid and Mr. C for high blood pressure. You can imagine how concerned and sad I was Todd told me that the vet said that Mr. C was not doing well. He lost about 3 pounds. He was severely dehydrated. He had ulcers in his mouth that were infected. And his blood pressure didn't seem to be any better either.
Todd (the saint that he is with animals) made three visits to the vet with Mr. C, all during the week I was away. The initial visit with a blood test, then a visit for a urine sample/test, then a visit for an enema. Results of the blood and urine tests showed problems. Low levels of something-or-other. High levels of such-and-such. Whatever they were, they were definitely not good.
Now Mr. C is on a medication for the infectious ulcers, a stool-softener, his BP meds, and Todd has to give him an I.V. of fluids every night at dinner. :-(
The verdict? Well, we have one more visit to the vet today, to see how he's responding to the fluids and such. Probably another blood and/or urine test. Here's what the vet thinks. It's one of the following things:
1) Mild kidney toxicity caused by ingesting some chemical (like soapy water from our shower or worse, a cleaner for the shower). This most likely can be flushed through his system. This is the best-case scenario.
2) Averse reaction to his BP meds. Now, he's been on these for almost as long as we've had him. However, in January when he went in for a check-up, the vet said that his BP wasn't coming down enough so they raised the dose. It's possible that this higher dosage is too much for him and has caused the other problems.
3) Acute renal failure, or cancer, or liver failure. This means euthanasia. :-( :-( :-(
Mr. C doesn't seem to be showing any of the typical signs of a cat with kidney or liver failure. I know because I've had cats or have seen other's cats with these conditions. For one thing, he eats whatever you feed him. He drinks normally. He never throws up. He uses his litterbox without issue. He doesn't seem lethargic or abnormal in any other way. However, I believe that he is OLD. Whatever the folks at Forgotten Cats said was tragically incorrect. I think I recall that they aged him between 5 and 8. Our eye specialist vet said "at least 10." I think he's 15 or 16. I've always suspected that he was an old guy.
Anyway there are 2 things that we noticed that are different than normal.
One, he's been meowing or calling out a lot, especially in the evening. He's always done this. It will be 2:00 am and suddenly you'll hear "Meow! Meow! Meow!" Well last night it was noticeably more frequent and with greater intensity and length of time.
Second, on his right side towards the upper thigh, he is suddenly missing a patch of fur. We noticed it 2 days ago. Last night this bald patch seemed 3 times the size that it was when we first noticed it and the skin underneath was very flushed and hot. Maybe this is a reaction to the anti-biotic? Or maybe he's just stressed?
We have no idea. But all we know is that he's a sick kitty and we want him well again. As soon as I know anything about his condition from the vet, I'll post it here (good or bad).
So please send some love to Mr. Chesterfield today. <3
Even though he's only been in our family for less than a year, we adore Mr. Chesterfield. Last week (while I was away in NC) Todd needed to bring Mr. C and Sophie in for a check-up. Both of them are on medications---Sophie for thyroid and Mr. C for high blood pressure. You can imagine how concerned and sad I was Todd told me that the vet said that Mr. C was not doing well. He lost about 3 pounds. He was severely dehydrated. He had ulcers in his mouth that were infected. And his blood pressure didn't seem to be any better either.
Todd (the saint that he is with animals) made three visits to the vet with Mr. C, all during the week I was away. The initial visit with a blood test, then a visit for a urine sample/test, then a visit for an enema. Results of the blood and urine tests showed problems. Low levels of something-or-other. High levels of such-and-such. Whatever they were, they were definitely not good.
Now Mr. C is on a medication for the infectious ulcers, a stool-softener, his BP meds, and Todd has to give him an I.V. of fluids every night at dinner. :-(
The verdict? Well, we have one more visit to the vet today, to see how he's responding to the fluids and such. Probably another blood and/or urine test. Here's what the vet thinks. It's one of the following things:
1) Mild kidney toxicity caused by ingesting some chemical (like soapy water from our shower or worse, a cleaner for the shower). This most likely can be flushed through his system. This is the best-case scenario.
2) Averse reaction to his BP meds. Now, he's been on these for almost as long as we've had him. However, in January when he went in for a check-up, the vet said that his BP wasn't coming down enough so they raised the dose. It's possible that this higher dosage is too much for him and has caused the other problems.
3) Acute renal failure, or cancer, or liver failure. This means euthanasia. :-( :-( :-(
Mr. C doesn't seem to be showing any of the typical signs of a cat with kidney or liver failure. I know because I've had cats or have seen other's cats with these conditions. For one thing, he eats whatever you feed him. He drinks normally. He never throws up. He uses his litterbox without issue. He doesn't seem lethargic or abnormal in any other way. However, I believe that he is OLD. Whatever the folks at Forgotten Cats said was tragically incorrect. I think I recall that they aged him between 5 and 8. Our eye specialist vet said "at least 10." I think he's 15 or 16. I've always suspected that he was an old guy.
Anyway there are 2 things that we noticed that are different than normal.
One, he's been meowing or calling out a lot, especially in the evening. He's always done this. It will be 2:00 am and suddenly you'll hear "Meow! Meow! Meow!" Well last night it was noticeably more frequent and with greater intensity and length of time.
Second, on his right side towards the upper thigh, he is suddenly missing a patch of fur. We noticed it 2 days ago. Last night this bald patch seemed 3 times the size that it was when we first noticed it and the skin underneath was very flushed and hot. Maybe this is a reaction to the anti-biotic? Or maybe he's just stressed?
We have no idea. But all we know is that he's a sick kitty and we want him well again. As soon as I know anything about his condition from the vet, I'll post it here (good or bad).
So please send some love to Mr. Chesterfield today. <3
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