Bastet

Heavens, no - I have used tweezers and an x-acto knife to get rid of that shit, because it was annoying me every time I opened the container. I was probably both drinking and procrastinating at the time, but still - it bugged.

My best friend being in the bathroom while I was in the tub wouldn't bother either of us, but being in the tub together? That has not happened since we were about six. I've sat here for several minutes now trying to think of a scenario in which we'd opt to share a bath, and can't. We have zero issue being naked in front of each other, or anything like that, but why would we cram ourselves into a bathtub together? I'm intrigued that best friends sharing a bath is apparently a thing among TV characters now.

He looks quite satisfied with himself after that post-vet meal. Does it remotely work to make a "purr-ito" out of him by wrapping him up in a towel or similar to keep his legs contained, so you can control him to give him the fluids? Some people have great luck with that, while I often find it just stresses the cat more. For junky treats to distract/reward him during fluid administration, try Temptations. They're kitty crack -- they're made almost exclusively of things cats shouldn't be eating, so most cats love them. Sometimes it's very difficult not being able to communicate directly with them: If you eat and let me hydrate you, you will feel better.

I never understood how Jerry didn't get fired for all the stupid shit he did. She's pretty much always wonderful on stage or screen. She may have retired from acting - at nearly 90, that's a damn good run - as her last role was in 2014.

I looked up when they dropped a helicopter on Romano, and that was season ten, so I watched at least through then. I'm not sure whether I gave up in disgust shortly after that, or drifted away slowly. That's why I'm glad Pop will finally be airing the rest of the series - so I can see what looks familiar to me. They did put Carter through a lot of crap over the course of the series, didn't they? I remember his girlfriend having to deliver their stillborn baby, but really don't remember her (other than she was played by Thandie Newton) or their relationship. Didn't they kill off his grandma (the only one in the family he was close to), too? I know his parents got divorced. He had that nice moment with his mom, when he learned that she blamed herself for his brother's death and understood that losing a child had just pretty much broken her and she shut down/closed off, but then his dad divorced her and she pretty much said, "Fuck the Carters" and peaced out. I think maybe he came to some sort of decent relationship with his dad, but I'm not sure - and, with the way things went for him in general, probably not.

Democracy Now ran a special broadcast about Dick Gregory last night.

Same here. Danny annoying me more than usual is a recurring reason, too, but it's often a Donna storyline that springs to mind when I think of episode weaknesses. 20 Hours in America Part 2 (see previous complaints) Process Stories (I used to like Andi, but I really hate the Andi/Toby storyline once she gets pregnant - it doesn't do good things for either one of them - and, of course, I hate the Donna/Reese storyline)

I feel your pain on struggling to get him to eat, period. I think that's one of the most frustrating situations for an owner to be in; they need to eat, and you'll feed them anything they want if they will, in fact, eat - but they don't want anything, or at least not enough, or consistently. I've cried over failed meals more than just about anything else. Going back to the fluids, you have probably tried this, but since it's generally the second-biggest factor (after the needle), I want to make absolutely sure (and put the info out there for others): Are you warming the fluid first? Room temp fluid can be uncomfortable (especially on the heels of being stabbed), so warming it to match the cat's internal temp of around 102 degrees can be a big help. I did this by submerging the bag (except for the port at the bottom of the bag where the IV set connects; it's supposed to be watertight, but just in case, I left it out of the water) in a small roasting pan filled with hot tap water and covered to keep the heat in, for anywhere from 10-20 minutes depending on how full the bag was (as it gets used up, it takes less time to warm). You need to either submerge the line (minus the needle connection, like the port) in the water, too, or bleed the line, so that the fluid going in is warm from the get-go, rather than having room temperature fluid to start and then the warmed stuff.

I'm glad you were able to get that much-needed conversation in motion, and that it seems to have gone relatively well and you feel good about it. I'm sorry it was precipitated by a possible TIA or similar event, and hope your neurological consult yields positive news.

This is why I always wonder a bit at people who renovate their kitchen before even moving into their house. Other rooms, I can see that, but a kitchen? I'm sure it works out most of the time, but my personal philosophy is to use it for a while to get a good feel for what I like and don't before changing it. Of course, I've been in my house over 10 years now and haven't yet done the kitchen (I've done almost everything else, and drew up plans for the kitchen several years ago, but am still a year or two away from tearing things out and going to town), and I don't advocate waiting that long -- just some time to really get a feel for things. Boy howdy! I've mentioned before that my stove is a prime example of this. I have a late '50s GE stove/oven that is fantastic, and that I've had to work on only once (and a minor repair at that). As I have renovated my house, I have opted for high-quality options. But it's unlikely anything mechanical or electronic, among those best-available options, I have put in over the past ten years will still be working 60 years from now the way my mid-range stove from 60 years ago is working now. Things simply aren't made as they used to be - even the high-end stuff. And that's infuriating. It used to be, you bought a Casablanca ceiling fan, and while you spent more up front, you had a high-quality fan for life. And the motor still has a lifetime guarantee, so you can swap that out and keep it going, but the rest? My fan from the '80s is going strong, but the new version of that same model that I put in around '05, I have replaced the electronics on twice now. And I didn't just happen upon a lemon; this is how it works now. Things are made to be disposable - it stops working, you just toss it away and get a new one because to repair it is almost as expensive (if you can even find replacement parts). It's disgustingly wasteful.

@bilgistic, I wish I was nearby to help; it can be really tricky to do alone. Maddie and I got into a routine pretty easily, but that was her personality. If Riley needed regular subQ fluids right now, I would despair just thinking of how I'd make that happen. Have you tried the Terumo Ultra Thin Wall (UTW) needles for the fluids? They're completely different than the Monoject or similar needles -- gauge isn't the issue; it's how they're honed and beveled, so they're sharper and go through the skin SO much easier than other needles, at any gauge. I don't think they make the UTW in 20-gauge anymore, but 21-gauge is available. If you haven't, I would definitely try that, in the hopes it makes it tolerable to him; there is a significant difference in tolerance of receiving subQ fluids via other needles vs. the UTW needles in many, if not most, cats. If he has CKD and pancreatitis, fluids are so beneficial to both, so I want to offer any and all additional suggestions beyond the many you've tried that may make it tolerable enough for him, as I completely agree with you on doing it from home rather than at the vet's office. Is there a Nextdoor.com group for your neighborhood and, if so, are you signed up (it's a private site; you have to prove residence in the neighborhood to join)? If you can't find a local vet tech who's willing to help for some extra cash, an equally beneficial assistance would come from a pet owner in your or a nearby neighborhood who has experience with this; Nextdoor might help you connect with one. If his CKD is progressing, you can try adding a phosphorus binder to his food. With him already being so picky, he may balk, and he'll almost definitely balk at the pre-made gel vets sell, but you can use plain aluminum hydroxide powder and hope he doesn't detect the texture (there's almost no taste). I've been through IBD, CKD, and pancreatitis (not all in the same cat, though!), so I am, as always, available to share research, resources, and experiences. I will be wishing you and Bilgisticat the best at his check up!

I don't remember this season as well, so there may very well be worse episodes than these, but here's what is springing to mind: Inauguration: Over There: For the stupid guys going over to stupid Donna's apartment to bring her stupid ass to the ball Inauguration: They might as well go together, plus the Reese stuff 20 Hours in America II: Because the first one is gone, so this might as well be, too, and I just vaguely remember not really liking either one - the fallout of the stories I didn't like at the end of season three, plus the adventures of Toby, Josh, and good ol' shoehorned-in Donna trying to get home. Meh.

Which leaves what? Flashback or return from the dead? I enjoyed the Gunmen as much as the next fan, but I'm pretty tired of people conveniently no longer being dead, so I don't want some ridiculous explanation for why we're seeing them. I had quit watching by the time they died, so I don't know how much wiggle room there is for them. I saw the scene where CSM died, though, and that dude was even more dead than Howard Graves, so - again, as much as I find him a fantastic villain - I'm irked by his resurrection. Okay, so you're in a bind because when the show was over you killed off your main villain, and then, oops, the show isn't over. Too bad; time for Main Villain 2.0. Has it been reported anywhere that William B. Davis will be back this season? IMDb has him listed as appearing in the first episode, but there's wrong stuff on there all the time, especially in early stages of production.

Yes, that was made when Loy was, in simplistic terms, on strike (following MGM's refusal to pay her the same as Powell in light of The Thin Man's tremendous success). So, not specifically one of those rejected scripts Russell joked Loy rolled down the hill to land on Russell's doorstep (to which Loy replied, "Where were you the night I rolled you Parnell?"), but something MGM put Russell in - and one of the first things MGM put her in, and I think the first thing in a co-starring role - because they didn't have Loy for it. As filming commenced, Russell basically apologized to Powell, saying she knew he'd rather be doing this with Loy, and he said he loved Myrna and loved working with her, but he thought this was going to be a great thing for Russell and was happy to be doing it with her.

I watched last week’s episode, but could barely concentrate because I was worried about my cat Riley (she’s been doing much better this week and, as noted in the pet thread, checks out okay; I am cautiously optimistic, but quite optimistic). I was glad to be able to lose myself in an episode again. Summer’s adopter is the kind of person I want to be, yet probably never will be. I almost always adopt adults rather than kittens (Riley was about six), but I haven’t yet brought myself to adopt a cat that probably only has a year left. I want to do that, so badly (I have a fantasy version of myself that adopts all the seniors who get dumped at the shelter on their last legs, so that their final months are spent in a loving home rather than a shelter), but spending this recent time scared that something horrible was wrong with Riley and we’d wind up only having this one year together confirmed I probably can’t handle it. Thank the universe for better people than me, like Eileen, who can let the fact “she needs us” override everything else and provide hospice, especially for a dog who has never known a proper home for her 14 years, just a kennel. At VRC I thought the young son was a bit detached at first, but then he interacted, and at home (where he’s comfortable, despite the cameras), he got all excited when Summer came over to him. I'm so happy for Summer! Lizzie crying that she’s saying good-bye to her for the last time – happy because she’s getting a forever home, and sad because forever isn’t going to last long – choked me up. Earl helping Gunny make progress is sweet; Riley is the first “scaredy cat” I’ve ever had, so I had a lot to learn about supporting her and taking things very slow; she’s still not comfortable with anyone other than me, but with me she has made tremendous progress, so I like seeing a scaredy dog open up to the world around him. Gunny has a beautiful face and sweet personality when he's comfortable letting it show, and I hope this episode helps him find someone who wants to take the time to let him shine, because it’s so rewarding! I also want someone who lives on the water or who takes a boat out every weekend to adopt Worm (from the little "Looking for a Home" interstitial). What a fun dog she seems to be. Is this the first time they properly introduced the girlfriend Mariah (M2)? We’ve seen her for quite a while now, including in the credits, but I think they’ve barely mentioned her; I wonder if this means they’re getting married or otherwise making a new commitment to each other, or if it's truly only because she's started working for the rescue full time.

Damn. I encourage everyone to read that linked obit; he broke through some significant barriers as a stand-up comedian, and went on to dedicate himself to more direct activism.

Is that a hospital "bracelet" on her wrist, meaning she was in the "bad shape" referred to earlier even before she crashed?

That worked on Maddie once. She was constipated following dental surgery to extract several teeth. That happens with the Buprenex, but it just kept on, and it had been six days since she pooped (despite the addition of psyllium and water to her food), so I scheduled her for an enema the next morning. I told her, "Tonight is your last chance to poop, otherwise you go in for an enema." Two hours later she made a deposit in the litter box, and I was able to leave a message canceling the appointment. Maddie - like the majority of cats - carried the herpes virus (FHV-1), and she was one who'd have a flare-up from time to time. (The poor girl had been dying from an untreated herpes virus-induced upper respiratory infection in the shelter when I adopted her, and it took intensive therapy to bring her back to health.) I could usually just give her some L-Lysine to help her immune system keep it from progressing past sneezing, but once or twice we got to runny eyes and I gave her an anti-viral (Famciclovir) to make sure we didn't even start down the URI road again, given her history. Your grumpy old man may very well be sneezing for the same reason, since it's so common in cats, in which case hopefully he will get it out of his system over the next couple of days and you two poor souls will not have to go to the vet yet again. I'll be hoping for that! I also have further progress to report with Riley: She summoned me to the study (in case it's not obvious that she rules this household, let me state unequivocally: Riley is in charge here) for a quick play session a little while ago. She's always done most of her playing at night (I can easily spend an hour or more throwing toys around the room for her), but normally also requests one or two quick five-minute sessions as breaks in her busy daytime schedule of sleeping all day. But there had been no daytime play at all for a couple of weeks now, until today.

At worst, yes, and even at best, things are manufactured with no consideration to how an owner with a decent set of tools would keep it in repair. Even owner's manuals have changed so much. Now you get a leaflet with some drawings on it, the troubleshooting section consisting of "Unplug it and plug it back in. Still doesn't work? Contact an authorized [brand name] repair shop." You used to get a small booklet that included repair instructions and a parts list.

I cannot explain why, but I find changing spark plugs fun. Other tasks I particularly like, I have a reason - e.g. I like laying down tile because I like "playing" with mortar. But changing spark plugs? No clue why it pleases me. It used to be so much easier to change a car's bulb. Now it seems like you have to dismantle half the car.

Thank you, @CoderLady, for that lovely compliment, and thank you all for the well wishes. Last night, I got drooling again (funny how something gross can become cause for celebration), and her meow was, while still not full voice, stronger than it has been. I thought once before she was almost back to normal, and then she had the two bad days, so I won't get ahead of myself, but we've had a week of steady improvement, so I am cautiously optimistic. Remember how I changed her name to Riley, since after a rough start she would now live the life of Riley? Yeah, good call. Because she's not a food-motivated cat and thus appetite is the first thing affected if she gets scared or doesn't feel 100%, I have been doing like I did back when I first adopted her: poaching her chicken breast (her second-favorite treat; first being baked salmon, but I'll only go so far), that I can then tear up and put into her food so she'll actually eat a full meal. And breakfast gets served to her, because she only likes to eat at night and thus won't go to her bowl in the morning (I had been letting her just eat everything at night, but once she started having this problem, I found she did better if I fed her in the mornings as well). Hopefully I can wean her back to the normal routine when this is all over! (I once had to feed a cat egg yolks, tuna, and chicken breast for nearly a week to keep him eating and give him lots of protein, and then when he was well and I put down a bowl of cat food, he looked at me like, "Are ya kidding me?") Ooh, edited to say she followed me into the kitchen for her breakfast! I still had to sit down and feed it to her in there, because she wouldn't follow me into the laundry room and eat it out of her bowl, but at least I didn't have to go find her and coax her to eat. Yay! @ABay, I hope the day of sneezing is over.

I can't fathom having to talk to/email someone every single day just because; it would drive me nuts to get daily calls or emails for no reason, as it would make me feel smothered. And a little creeped out, because while it's not stalking, it would feel like I was being kept tabs on by an insecure, possessive person, whether that was actually the case or not. A friend of mine had a boyfriend like that years ago; they got along well in other ways, but the constant communication - plus wanting to see her several times a week - quickly became a deal-breaker for her and she ended it.

I didn't want to post about Riley's mild problems in light of Bella and then Olivia dying, but now I'll share that we've been at the vet a few times lately. I noted about a month ago that I took her in for a check-up because she'd been acting a little off, and that she was pretty much back to normal by the time we went in, and all her tests came back fine (three things out of normal range, but with explanations for each). A couple of weeks after that, she started acting a little off again - sort of subdued. She'd still eat, drink, play, cuddle, pee, poop, etc. in general, but one day her appetite might be cut in half and then the next she would play for 30 seconds and quit. She was napping in some different places, and sometimes I'd find her lying down but awake. Then she had two days where she acted like she truly did not feel well. So, we delved a little deeper with the blood tests (which had already been fairly extensive; that senior panel covers a lot of stuff), checked her blood pressure, took x-rays, etc. Everything looked fine except the base of her heart looked unusual, and slightly different than it had a year ago. Heart tumors are quite rare in cats, but they have a poor prognosis even when benign, so I spent a couple of days terrified that's what we were looking at, but two different specialists (a board-certified radiologist and a cardiologist) looked at the x-rays and said it's not a tumor, she just has a slightly funky ascending aorta - it's more prominent than typical, but still within what can be considered normal for a cat her age. It's frustrating not to know what's the cause of her "ADR" (what old school vets call it when an animal just "ain't doin' right" in mild ways like this), as there's nothing to do now but continue to monitor her and hope this passes or, if she gets worse/develops a new symptom, recheck things to look for changes from the previous tests, as that would point us in a direction finally. But I'm glad everything appears normal; she could be in the early stages of something bad, yes, but she could also just be working her way through something that's no big deal. And - knocking the hell out of my wood desk - she has been doing well this week. Zero days of acting like she doesn't feel well, only one day of reduced appetite and she still ate about 80% of her food that day, vigorous play every night but one, and, best of all, two days ago, for the first time in weeks, she purred so hard she drooled (that's normally a near-daily occurrence). Hopefully I spent a whole lot of money to find out she just really hates humidity or something. (And, of course, this means she still hasn't had her teeth cleaned; maybe that's her plan!)

That's tragic. I've read about his work for years (although, as noted in that Guardian piece, when interviewed, he was quick to shift the focus to others). Lotter dedicated his entire adult life to the cause, and may very well have been killed for it.

What I love about Steele at Your Service - which is just an okay episode - is how as each suspect gives her/his version of events, we see that dramatization, complete with the character staring at the camera. It also gets points for winking and nodding at the various caricatures it presents (while previous episodes have simply perpetuated the stereotype).