Small Talk: Y'all Come Back Now, Y'hear?

[RedDelicious]

In "Shag: The Movie", set in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Phoebe Cate's "Carson" is romanced by one "Buzz Ravenal."  Coincidence, no?  If you haven't seen it, its an hour and a half of your life that you won't get back also featuring Bridget Fonda, long before Single White Female and Singles :)

[MyAimIsTrue]

Sad to say I remember that movie quite well and also remember Buzz Ravenel.  It was some time after that I learned what a prominent last name it is in South Carolina.

[RedDelicious]

Re: Kathryn and the birth control debate, I say, if you don't want to become pregnant, don't let yourself become pregnant. Don't count on anyone else. 

I'm of the opinion that Kathryn used her pregnancies to trap Thomas. That's all folks.

[RedHawk]

I understand what you're saying about birth control and I agree.

I agree about Kathryn and her pregnancies, but please recall that Thomas quite clearly told her he would "take care of her" if she became pregnant. Both knew he meant marriage and money. He dangled that in front of her because I believe he wanted a child and she was a good candidate for wife and mother -- sexy, young enough to easily get pregnant (SO easily!), attractive, had two "old family names", etc. He probably did expect to marry her until he realized how unstable and immature she was -- and that she expected him to put an end to some of his T-Rav ways and come home every night like a nice husband. 

They each gamed the other, and here they are.

Edited May 18, 2016 by RedHawk

[Petunia13]

A lot of men (not all or even close to all, but many) will say anything to get a woman in bed:

"I'll pull out, I'll wear a condom, I want a relationship, I love you, I have ___ job, I'm working with _____ famous person, I can get you a part, I can help you become a model, I'm single...." 

most women learn this as teens and that's why they go on birth control even if their partner uses a condom and they don't have unreasonable romantic and financial expectations out of lying pieces of shit with sketch meters of the chart. But they also don't have the intelligence and maturity of a preteen and a sole career goal of being a Baby Momma to a drunken beat up wallet. 

[corter20]

Was it ever stated if she was on birth control? I will be honest and say that some women are just fertile. I am. I was on birth control both times I got pregnant. I never missed a pill and I took them religiously. Even after my husband had a vasectomy, I stayed on bc just because I was afraid that I would still get pregnant. 

I doubt she was on any form of bc, but I don't want to bash her for not being on it if she was. 

[wovenloaf]

Re: this weekly birth control debate that I have steered clear of until now...

Sure on a practical level the woman will be the one pregnant, and of course taking precautions about your own health and well-being into your own hands is always the smart thing to do. But just saying "Well she's the woman so it's all on her!" is so extreme to me. If, upon speaking to Mr. Wovenloaf about birth control, he had just said "Eh, whatever, that's your problem." Well...he certainly wouldn't be Mr. Wovenloaf. 

My point is that I feel entirely comfortable calling both Kathryn and Thomas irresponsible in the baby-making department, because it seems like they both were (for example, I'm thinking back to that time last season when she was riding in a car with I think Cameron and Danni and effectively admitted there was no protection involved...). Not just her because she's the woman. 

[Neurochick]

My point was that both are responsible, in theory that is true.  But in real life the woman is the one who has the baby, and people expect the woman to be the primary care giver.  Not fair but that's how it is.

[Major Bigtime]

This lady has some pretty amazing photos of a storm brewing in Charleston with the Ravenel Bridge as the backdrop.

[Jextella]

A few links about the families:

Whitney/Patricia

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patricia_Altschul.  
• ipedia.org/wiki/Whitney_Sudler-Smithhttps://en.wik

Rose's

• http://okhereisthesituation.com/2014/05/southern-charms-shepherd-shep-roses-money-come/

Ravenals

• http://www.charlestonmercury.com/index.php/en/history/131-cousin-arthur-tells-of-encounters-with-lowcountry-ghosts
• http://www2.lib.unc.edu/mss/inv/r/Ravenel_Family.html
• http://gawker.com/thomas-ravenels-southern-gothic-1769445426

Dennis (midway there are a few sentences about her family)

• http://gawker.com/thomas-ravenels-southern-gothic-1769445426

 

Edited June 19, 2016 by Jextella

[Major Bigtime]

Regarding the discussion of electric bills, I live in a very well insulated house with double pane windows. I open my windows at night when it's cool, to cool off the house, then close them in the morning so the warm air can't get in. My AC usually doesn't kick on until lunchtime or after. I change the air filters throughout the house every three months, using the best I can find at Lowe's. My house is older, built in 1985, hence the good insulation and a very solid basement. In the winter, I use one of those ceramic heaters that looks like a little fireplace, which reduces my heating bill a great deal. I have all-electric heat and AC, no gas.

[cuphead]

35 minutes ago, Major Bigtime said:

Regarding the discussion of electric bills, I live in a very well insulated house with double pane windows. I open my windows at night when it's cool, to cool off the house, then close them in the morning so the warm air can't get in. My AC usually doesn't kick on until lunchtime or after. I change the air filters throughout the house every three months, using the best I can find at Lowe's. My house is older, built in 1985, hence the good insulation and a very solid basement. In the winter, I use one of those ceramic heaters that looks like a little fireplace, which reduces my heating bill a great deal. I have all-electric heat and AC, no gas.

This is why I can't ever live in a house. It sounds like so much work and I'm too lazy to deal with any type of maintenance.

Still can't get over your electric bill and what you need to do to cut down on costs.

[Major Bigtime]

Something you can do in winter, whrever you live (if a cold climate) is get a roll of bubble wrap and tape it to your biggest windows. It is not only a natural insulator, but the sun reflects in the bubbles and pumps warm air into your rooms.

It's really not that much for me to do to maintain a reasonable electric bill. My father built a house years ago and read about, studied up on, a geothermal system. He did it himself. Installed the piping just underground from a spring he had in his back yard, to consistently keep the house at the same temperature year round. Look it up. His electric bill in the cold mountains was never more than $30 per month. 

[Sun-Bun]

I dunno about you all, but I already have "Southern Charm" withdrawal...nothing this shmaltzy and elegantly Southern-fried to look forward to watching every Monday night anymore for at least the next 8-12 months(I'm hoping this thing finally gets renewed for another season, which *surely* it will, right?)...no more of those jazzy montages of beautiful Charleston as these chuckleheads pretend to be getting ready in the mornings, no more home decor porn, no more drunken Southern-accented drawls/brawls/"words of wisdom"...no more Kathryn yelling versus Landon dolphin squeaking, no more hungover/whiny Craig versus self-congratulatory Shep chuckling, no more JD cackling and Gentry bourbon shout-outs, no more glam Patricia martini-sipping sessions...I need my medicine!

For withdrawal's sake alone, I'd almost love to see a "Southern Charm" series of spin-off's in equally elegant old Southern cities like Savannah, GA or New Orleans, LA or even Oxford, MS. Oh well, this fellow Southerner can dream, right?

[Babyfoot]

Same, Sun-Bun, same. 

[Sun-Bun]

Whitney could truly make this his next big producer/filmmaker credit pet-project, just various SC spin-off's.

On that note, I happened to actually meet Cooper himself in Charleston a few months ago, and he was just as sweet as he could be. He happened to mention that Bravo was considering casting a SC spin-off somewhere in Georgia...so maybe much like when Lauren Conrad left "Laguna Beach" to star on her spin-off "The Hills" about starting her awesome new fashion career in LA, Craig could star on his own spin-off about starting his awesome new law career in Georgia, har-har...((ehhh, no thank you))

[Major Bigtime]

Withdrawals here also, and "Alone" is ending on Thursday as well. Summer is the worst for TV watching. Remember back when ALL the new seasons started in September? Back before we had a pletheroa of channels to choose from. This time of year is when I spend my time watching movies. Of course, there's always a Law & Order on somewhere.

[walnutqueen]

2 minutes ago, mbaywife123 said:

Would you be able to fit into a cat caftan (zero to twenty pounds).

My left foot might fit into one elaborately embroidered one. I would need a second one for my right foot and an xxl for my fat cat Ruby Tuesday.

My last remaining diabetic housecat is on a restricted diet - ME? Not so much.  A caftan would hide a multitude of sins.   I married a guy who wore one in the 70s, and didn't see his paunch until it was too late!

[Petunia13]

Asa kaftans are nice and she runs sales often on her site, they also are at Nordstroms. I wonder if any of Pats are from Asa. 

[mbaywife123]

2 minutes ago, walnutqueen said:

My last remaining diabetic housecat is on a restricted diet - ME? Not so much.  A caftan would hide a multitude of sins.   I married a guy who wore one in the 70s, and didn't see his paunch until it was too late!

Ruby Tuesday has mega colon, mega bucks spent on this furry love boy who was abandoned and taken in by us.

Sorry about your ex, I also had one who died tragically almost 20 years ago. My mind wanders back sometimes but thankfully I was able to move forward due to the love of family, friends and the current mr. mbay, put yourself out there as there are truly some remarkable people and animals needing love in one capacity or another.

Current mr. mbay is a keeper (18+ years). He cooks, cleans and is a great cat herder.

[walnutqueen]

2 minutes ago, Petunia13 said:

Asa kaftans are nice and she runs sales often on her site, they also are at Nordstroms. I wonder if any of Pats are from Asa. 

Flove those, and aspire to afford them at clearance closeout prices some day. Not any time soon, as any disposable income I have goes towards catfood and a mortgage.  Hey, Patricia - dump the wannabe vampire baby & adopt MEEEE!!! (Or, just send me your Martini butler).

[walnutqueen]

5 minutes ago, mbaywife123 said:

Ruby Tuesday has mega colon, mega bucks spent on this furry love boy who was abandoned and taken in by us.

Sorry about your ex, I also had one who died tragically almost 20 years ago. My mind wanders back sometimes but thankfully I was able to move forward due to the love of family, friends and the current mr. mbay, put yourself out there as there are truly some remarkable people and animals needing love in one capacity or another.

Current mr. mbay is a keeper (18+ years). He cooks, cleans and is a great cat herder.

No need to pity this old fool - I gave up on men decades ago, and never felt the loss (the only "putting out" I do these days is on these forums). But my furbabies bankrupted me, and I have nothing but compassion for animal lovers, including Craigie-Poo.

[Eater of Worlds]

10 minutes ago, mbaywife123 said:

How I would love to see Whitney swanning thru Patricia's house in a caftan and singing show tunes (let's get real with it son).

Walnutqueen here's a good source for food ect.,delivered to your door (chewy.com TM). Sorry I know this is OT.

I used to use chewy.com.  Then they got bought out by PetsMart and I refuse to support the abuse and neglect involved in mass selling of animals so no more chewy.com from me.

[mbaywife123]

5 minutes ago, walnutqueen said:

No need to pity this old fool - I gave up on men decades ago, and never felt the loss (the only "putting out" I do these days is on these forums). But my furbabies bankrupted me, and I have nothing but compassion for animal lovers, including Craigie-Poo.

 Don't feel that you are a fool by any means.

People who have compassion for animals are tops on my list.

mr. mbay is currently working with me at one of our properties that is low income and has a cat overpopulation problem.

We are working with our city feral cat program to have them clipped , chipped, vaccinated, spayed  or neutered and returned to the property.  Six and counting, about four more to go and also providing food to one of the tenants at the property to feed these cats.

Sorry folks, I know this is way OT again. Mods move if you need to.

[walnutqueen]

4 minutes ago, Eater of Worlds said:

I used to use chewy.com.  Then they got bought out by PetsMart and I refuse to support the abuse and neglect involved in mass selling of animals so no more chewy.com from me.

Shit, fuck, piss.  Now I need to boycott Petsmart?  The only local affordable source for my prescription cat food? Gah, you are killing me AND shaming me, in one swell foop.

[mbaywife123]

8 minutes ago, Eater of Worlds said:

I used to use chewy.com.  Then they got bought out by PetsMart and I refuse to support the abuse and neglect involved in mass selling of animals so no more chewy.com from me.

Please do elaborate as now I am curious.

My local PetsSmart has shelter cats for adoption as well as small reptiles, fish and rodents "for sale". Nothing about dogs for sale.

[walnutqueen]

4 minutes ago, mbaywife123 said:

 Don't feel that you are a fool by any means.

People who have compassion for animals are tops on my list.

mr. mbay is currently working with me at one of our properties that is low income and has a cat overpopulation problem.

We are working with our city feral cat program to have them clipped , chipped, vaccinated, spayed  or neutered and returned to the property.  Six and counting, about four more to go and also providing food to one of the tenants at the property to feed these cats.

Sorry folks, I know this is way OT again. Mods move if you need to.

I am the (fixed) feral cat QUEEN.  Mods can move me, too.  Patricia gets my love forever for rescuing doggies whilst rocking a caftan!

I had many horses, back in the day, but Shep's choppers take some gettin' used to.

[walnutqueen]

21 minutes ago, PrincessPurrsALot said:

A big ol' heapin' helping of off topic posts were moved to the Small Talk thread.  Why not head on over there if you want to chat about non-episode topics? 

Nice to meet you, NewMod.  Glad you didn't slap my disabled wrist - YET!!! :-)

[mbaywife123]

45 minutes ago, Eater of Worlds said:

I used to use chewy.com.  Then they got bought out by PetsMart and I refuse to support the abuse and neglect involved in mass selling of animals so no more chewy.com from me.

So do you work at PetsMart(TM),or PetsCo(TM)? Or are you just a bot or troll or pissed ex-employee?

Both are running commercial daily showing delivery at front doors trying to compete. And NO I have no affiliation to chewy.com,(TM)

[Petunia13]

I (cough) a bit about those places I'm a former dog groomer. Now I'm a sales manager at a grocery store lol. 

[MrSmith]

6 hours ago, walnutqueen said:

Shit, fuck, piss.  Now I need to boycott Petsmart?  The only local affordable source for my prescription cat food? Gah, you are killing me AND shaming me, in one swell foop.

What's the prescription cat food supposed to treat? I don't think I've ever had a pet on a prescription food (dog or cat). So, I don't know much about this and any sharing you're willing to do is appreciated. Do you have to get it locally? Could it be ordered/delivered? If it can, I'm happy to help track down alternatives for you.

[walnutqueen]

2 minutes ago, MrSmith said:

What's the prescription cat food supposed to treat? I don't think I've ever had a pet on a prescription food (dog or cat). So, I don't know much about this and any sharing you're willing to do is appreciated. Do you have to get it locally? Could it be ordered/delivered? If it can, I'm happy to help track down alternatives for you.

You are too nice for words.  I have cataracts, and can barely see my screen (and screed) most of the time, so any help is appreciated.  My Babalu has diabetes and a thyroid condition.  He gets insulin shots every am & pm, and a quarter of a methimazole pill, too.  His prescription diet is currently Hills Metabolic Weight Management dry food - chicken "flavor" (he hates the canned stuff, so I'm cheating with roasted chicken breast and tuna water) -  there's actually a special RX section in Petsmart stores, and you can only buy the stiff with a vet's RX.

You are also too lucky with your pets.  I remember the days when my pet meds climbed to an astounding $300/month - they bankrupted me before dying and leaving me.  One of Beanie Baby's cancer meds cost me $85 per month alone - I had a few senior cats, who got old & sick in quick succession ... Now my baby Babalu is a senior citizen, which makes me older than dirt!!!  :-)

[MrSmith]

15 hours ago, walnutqueen said:

^^^ Yikes.  I hope the view is nice from up there.

Addiction isn't a disease we choose, it chooses us.  We are not morally bankrupt or lacking in character - there just happens to be some fucked up brain chemistry going on, and it is an affliction, just like any other medical condition.

Katheryn is young, and can hopefully turn this around.  I'm not going to turn blue holding my breath, though.  

T-Rav is even more worrisome.  He's due for a liver transplant in 3-2-1 ...

OK. So, continuing our discussion from here, since it's mostly off-topic....

Yes, as a matter of fact, the view is nice from up here. It was a rough climb with a lot of setbacks and personal sacrifice. So I'm going to enjoy the view now that I'm here.

As far as addiction being a disease that people do not choose, I disagree. It's widely known that heroin, cocaine, and many, many other drugs are addictive. Thus, if you're choosing to do them, you're choosing addiction. I never said that people who become addicted are morally bankrupt or lacking in character. First of all, morals has absolutely nothing to do with it. In fact, I personally believe that "morals" covers a whole lot less ground than most people believe. This is my opinion and a philosophical position. So, if you're keen on debating it, I'll join you for the mental exercise (and without ever telling you you're wrong because 1) I don't have to be right and 2) it's a thing like God, ghosts, and other things for which arguments can be made both for and against their existence).

As for "lacking in character", this is a thing where the scrimmage line between "not lacking" and "lacking" is fuzzy and movable, depending upon a person's perspective. And becoming addicted to something is, in my mind, not an indication that a person is lacking in character. All it really is an indication of is someone did something stupid and now are subject to forces larger and harder to fight than those forces appeared prior to the commission of said stupid act. This is why I pointed out that Kathryn was aware of the addiction threat on an intellectual level before ever deciding to start doing drugs. At this point, no one who chooses to start doing drugs can claim they were unaware of the addictive properties prior to doing drugs, unless that person is round about eight years old. The only thing I'll believe is that the person didn't realize just how powerful addiction is.

Thus, my position that addicts choose to subject themselves to the disease of addiction is accurate.

1. They're aware drugs are addictive, even if they don't understand how powerful addiction is.
2. They choose to do drugs in spite of knowing that drugs are addictive.
3. Ergo, they choose to become addicted.

I've been faced with such choices several times in my life. And yet, without having personal experience with how powerful addiction is, I recognized that if I chose to do drugs, then I chose the consequences - including becoming addicted. I recognized there was absolutely no upside to taking drugs and opted not to make the stupid choice. I also recognized that every time we make a choice, we're showing the world who we are and deciding who we are going to become. And taking drugs was never who I was or who I wanted to become. Maybe making that choice has been easier for me because I dislike taking anything that alters my state of consciousness because I believe that I would no longer be me for the time my consciousness has been altered. I don't even like taking aspirin and have only ever taken one Vicodin (as part of a prescription). I hated how I felt after taking the Vicodin and have never taken another. It seemed to dull my brain and make it harder to think, and that is THE cardinal offense for me.

[MrSmith]

10 minutes ago, walnutqueen said:

You are too nice for words.  I have cataracts, and can barely see my screen (and screed) most of the time, so any help is appreciated.  My Babalu has diabetes and a thyroid condition.  He gets insulin shots every am & pm, and a quarter of a methimazole pill, too.  His prescription diet is currently Hills Metabolic Weight Management dry food - chicken "flavor" (he hates the canned stuff, so I'm cheating with roasted chicken breast and tuna water) -  there's actually a special RX section in Petsmart stores, and you can only buy the stiff with a vet's RX.

You are also too lucky with your pets.  I remember the days when my pet meds climbed to an astounding $300/month - they bankrupted me before dying and leaving me.  One of Beanie Baby's cancer meds cost me $85 per month alone - I had a few senior cats, who got old & sick in quick succession ... Now my baby Babalu is a senior citizen, which makes me older than dirt!!!  :-)

Your pets are lucky to have you. I wouldn't be able to spend $85/month (to say nothing of $300/month) on pet medications. You should ask your vet if there is another way to manage his weight and still get him the nutrition he needs without having to purchase the crazy-expensive prescription food. This is the food we feed our cat (the Rocky Mountain Feline formula):
https://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/formula-finder/formula-results/?pet_type=Cat&category[0]=Dry

I don't know if that would work because ... well ... I'm obviously not a vet. And I'm not advocating changing. The only thing I'm advocating is having a conversation with your vet. I would think there has to be another option available. (Our dog gets their Southwest Canyon Canine with Wild Boar formula, though he mostly waits to eat that until after he gets his frozen turkey neck around 16:00.) I'll show this to my wife and I'm sure she'll probably talk to our vet. (She likes to learn about this stuff, anyway.) And then whatever information she digs up, I can pass along to you for you to talk to your vet about.

And I'll still look up and see where else you can get that prescription food.

[MrSmith]

@walnutqueen I found your cat's cat food on Amazon (link below). The link is for the 17.6 pound bag of chicken flavor food. At $87, it comes to about $4.95 a pound and free shipping. I also found a link for a 4 pound bag of chicken flavor food. However, that bag is $41, which makes that food $10.25 per pound. Thus, I'm not providing the link for the 4 pound bag.

https://www.amazon.com/Hills-Prescription-Metabolic-Management-Chicken/dp/B01JPD2RBC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1493730113&sr=8-3&keywords=hills+metabolic+weight+management+cat+food

I did also find a link for an 8.5 pound bag, but again it's much more expensive on a per pound basis.

[walnutqueen]

13 minutes ago, MrSmith said:

Your pets are lucky to have you. I wouldn't be able to spend $85/month (to say nothing of $300/month) on pet medications.

Back then, I had a J.O.B.  I took early retirement just in time for my oldsters to get really sick & die on me, eating into the paltry retirement funds I'd amassed - and I wouldn't trade a single lovely moment with my boys for any semblance of financial solvency.

My vet is a peach, who gives me free samples and discounts at every turn.  I've been with her from her from Day 1, and she's THE BEST vet ever.  She always finds me the cheapest deals on Meds I need, too.

I will be ordering my next bag of Babalu's food from your Amazon link, as it saves me some $$$s.  Thanks once again for your time and kindness.

[MrSmith]

@walnutqueen I'm glad your vet takes such good care of you. It can be hard to find such a good vet. We had one of those in Sun Prairie, WI and then we had to move away. I was going to tell you about what happened with my awesome Alpha Female dog; apparently I haven't recovered from the trauma like I thought I had, even after 15 years. So much for that (for now, anyway). Maybe later I'll be able to control my emotions better.

You're welcome for the help. Every little bit saved makes a difference.

[walnutqueen]

3 minutes ago, MrSmith said:

@walnutqueen I'm glad your vet takes such good care of you. It can be hard to find such a good vet. We had one of those in Sun Prairie, WI and then we had to move away. I was going to tell you about what happened with my awesome Alpha Female dog; apparently I haven't recovered from the trauma like I thought I had, even after 15 years. So much for that (for now, anyway). Maybe later I'll be able to control my emotions better.

You're welcome for the help. Every little bit saved makes a difference.

I feel you, Mr. Smith.  My emotions get the best of me whenever I think about my dearly departed animals, and nothing else brings me to choking tears ... even after all these years, I've yet do do justice for any of their stories.

[MrSmith]

@walnutqueen When I lost that dog, we started a tradition of getting an identification tag as a memorial. It's kind of nice since you can put almost anything you want on them, and they're cheap and easy to get.

[LIMOM]

57 minutes ago, MrSmith said:

OK. So, continuing our discussion from here, since it's mostly off-topic....

Yes, as a matter of fact, the view is nice from up here. It was a rough climb with a lot of setbacks and personal sacrifice. So I'm going to enjoy the view now that I'm here.

As far as addiction being a disease that people do not choose, I disagree. It's widely known that heroin, cocaine, and many, many other drugs are addictive. Thus, if you're choosing to do them, you're choosing addiction. I never said that people who become addicted are morally bankrupt or lacking in character. First of all, morals has absolutely nothing to do with it. In fact, I personally believe that "morals" covers a whole lot less ground than most people believe. This is my opinion and a philosophical position. So, if you're keen on debating it, I'll join you for the mental exercise (and without ever telling you you're wrong because 1) I don't have to be right and 2) it's a thing like God, ghosts, and other things for which arguments can be made both for and against their existence).

As for "lacking in character", this is a thing where the scrimmage line between "not lacking" and "lacking" is fuzzy and movable, depending upon a person's perspective. And becoming addicted to something is, in my mind, not an indication that a person is lacking in character. All it really is an indication of is someone did something stupid and now are subject to forces larger and harder to fight than those forces appeared prior to the commission of said stupid act. This is why I pointed out that Kathryn was aware of the addiction threat on an intellectual level before ever deciding to start doing drugs. At this point, no one who chooses to start doing drugs can claim they were unaware of the addictive properties prior to doing drugs, unless that person is round about eight years old. The only thing I'll believe is that the person didn't realize just how powerful addiction is.

Thus, my position that addicts choose to subject themselves to the disease of addiction is accurate.

1. They're aware drugs are addictive, even if they don't understand how powerful addiction is.
2. They choose to do drugs in spite of knowing that drugs are addictive.
3. Ergo, they choose to become addicted.

I've been faced with such choices several times in my life. And yet, without having personal experience with how powerful addiction is, I recognized that if I chose to do drugs, then I chose the consequences - including becoming addicted. I recognized there was absolutely no upside to taking drugs and opted not to make the stupid choice. I also recognized that every time we make a choice, we're showing the world who we are and deciding who we are going to become. And taking drugs was never who I was or who I wanted to become. Maybe making that choice has been easier for me because I dislike taking anything that alters my state of consciousness because I believe that I would no longer be me for the time my consciousness has been altered. I don't even like taking aspirin and have only ever taken one Vicodin (as part of a prescription). I hated how I felt after taking the Vicodin and have never taken another. It seemed to dull my brain and make it harder to think, and that is THE cardinal offense for me.

While I agree with you that addicts chose to start doing drugs, some unfortunate individuals can't help continuing and in Kathryn's case, I think that she started as a teenager(when we all more or less make stupid decision).

I liked her as a person but I have to say that she really needs to get a grip on her addiction, her behavior last episode was really, really ugly.

I chose to believe that the drugs and the hurt were talking, not Kathryn.

[MrSmith]

@LIMOM We all do stupid things when we're teen-aged. Perhaps I did things that are less stupid than others' mistakes. I suppose that's arguably true since I got through those years relatively unscathed.

I haven't seen the most recent episode, yet. We'll be watching that after I get home from work today. What little I remember of her while she wasn't stoned on the show was not a person that I liked. She is an ugly, ugly person on the inside and it shows in her words and deeds. At this point, anything and everything she says and does is driven by the drugs (or the withdrawal).

[walnutqueen]

If you're an asshole sober, you're likely to be more of one when under the influence.  K is probably an asshole, no matter what her brain chemistry is doing to her.  For the sake of her children, if nothing else, I'll have to hope she beats her personal demons and grows the fuck up in time to become a semi-decent parent.  Those poor kiddoes were born under two bad moons, despite their silver spoons.

Addiction is just something hard to wrap your brain around, and is different & supremely personal to every individual who suffers from it.  'Nuff said.

[Eater of Worlds]

It's no secret that all the animals PetsMart and PetCo get come from animal mills.  If they don't come from mills, they are wild caught in the case of fish and reptiles.  One supplier is Segrest Farms supplies fish, reptiles and amphibians.  I've actually been at their facility, watching them unpack fish that were just shipped in from the wild, and back when I saw it I would classify it as a "good" one, even though all their reptiles had lice.  They supposedly treated them after they found out.  PetCo just recently cut ties with Holmes farm, but PetsMart didn't, I don't know if they ever did.  Just look up Holmes Farm and PetsMart and follow the rabbit hole of dead small animals.  Here's one of the articles that doesn't have photos  http://www.seattletimes.com/business/dealer-that-supplied-petco-petsmart-is-charged-with-cruelty/   If you want photos, https://www.thedodo.com/petco-petsmart-pet-supplier-abuse-1563393540.html and https://www.thedodo.com/petsmart-supplier-lizards-1633352619.html

 

I used chewy.com for cheap (relatively) script food too so I was really upset to see it bought out.  If your cat is diabetic, this site has good food information that can be cheaper than script food.  http://www.felinediabetes.com/   I won't post more on this topic, but I wanted to answer those who questioned my statement on these petstores getting animals from animal mills that have high levels of abuse.  This isn't limited to PetsMart and PetCo, you can pretty much assume any animals sold in pet stores come from these suppliers unless you're in a city that bans selling in pet stores of dogs and cats that are from breeders, or you have an independent pet store that works with small local breeders for their animals and can prove the provenance.  These pet stores wouldn't have dogs and cats anyway.

Edited May 2, 2017 by Eater of Worlds

[PrincessPurrsALot]

We have one main rule at PTV -  BE CIVIL.  Yes, be civil.  Regardless of the forum or thread that you are on.  Please think of how you are engaging others in your discussions.  If you feel someone is breaking this rule, do not engage.  No need to blow up the forum.  Report and let the Mods review the issue.

It's Small Talk.  Discuss what you like.  However, remember you are like guests at a party.  Don't be the guest that no one wants to sit next to. 

[Mindthinkr]

@walnutqueen and @Major Bigtime

I love you both for your care and consideration of your pets. I'm another kitty (2) owner and have had many in my day; most living until their early 20's. My current two are very spoiled. Did you catch the bit where Craig was opening a pouch of Fancy Feast for Gizmo? Well, mine would consider that a small appetizer, and it's just darn expensive. Even with a coupon I don't see it below $1. I laughed because the one time I did get it cheaply (to try) about a third of the food wouldn't come out of that darned pouch. Same trouble Craig was having. Lol. I had to get a fork out to fish out the bits all while being scolded for being too slow to get dinner on the table (not literally). I use the Science Diet and supplement with some canned. Occasionally I can get people tuna cheaper than the cat kind and will get them some of that as a treat. I'll buy 10 cans when it's on sale. The lady at the check out stated "Oh my, you eat a lot of tuna". I had to explain that I'm allergic to it. She laughed at me. At other times they've seen me buy more cat food than people food and they comment on that. Hey, mine are spoiled rotten. I'm proud of it too. I think my grocery store thinks I'm that stereotype of a cat lady. I don't care. I told my vet that they are reincarnated Tibetan monks and can have what ever they want when he asked me why my big boy is overweight. He said that he's heard a lot of human excuses for why someone's cats are overweight but that was a new one to him. I'm scared of him becoming diabetic so I have begun to limit his intake. He was down 4 lbs last visit. His sister only weighs 12 and will give up her food after he scarfs his so I'm now also the bowl monitor. Never ever have my cats been swatted. A voice command to stop will do. Tone of voice works too. Anyway, sorry if I interrupted your conversation but you hit on one of my favorite topics!!!! 

[walnutqueen]

3 minutes ago, Mindthinkr said:

@walnutqueen and @Major Bigtime

I love you both for your care and consideration of your pets. I'm another kitty (2) owner and have had many in my day; most living until their early 20's. My current two are very spoiled. Did you catch the bit where Craig was opening a pouch of Fancy Feast for Gizmo? Well, mine would consider that a small appetizer, and it's just darn expensive. Even with a coupon I don't see it below $1. I laughed because the one time I did get it cheaply (to try) about a third of the food wouldn't come out of that darned pouch. Same trouble Craig was having. Lol. I had to get a fork out to fish out the bits all while being scolded for being too slow to get dinner on the table (not literally). I use the Science Diet and supplement with some canned. Occasionally I can get people tuna cheaper than the cat kind and will get them some of that as a treat. I'll buy 10 cans when it's on sale. The lady at the check out stated "Oh my, you eat a lot of tuna". I had to explain that I'm allergic to it. She laughed at me. At other times they've seen me buy more cat food than people food and they comment on that. Hey, mine are spoiled rotten. I'm proud of it too. I think my grocery store thinks I'm that stereotype of a cat lady. I don't care. I told my vet that they are reincarnated Tibetan monks and can have what ever they want when he asked me why my big boy is overweight. He said that he's heard a lot of human excuses for why someone's cats are overweight but that was a new one to him. I'm scared of him becoming diabetic so I have begun to limit his intake. He was down 4 lbs last visit. His sister only weighs 12 and will give up her food after he scarfs his so I'm now also the bowl monitor. Never ever have my cats been swatted. A voice command to stop will do. Tone of voice works too. Anyway, sorry if I interrupted your conversation but you hit on one of my favorite topics!!!! 

Don't let me stop you, my fellow cat lady - you are singing my life with your words!  :-)

[Major Bigtime]

Funny thing, today I was in the grocery store and bought a 16 lb bag of cat chow, a box of their favorite canned food, large thing of cat litter, and six cans for my dog. He had plenty of food already at home. The cashier looked at it all, in with my groceries, and she said "You must have a big cat." One is 20 lbs, the other is 16. So, I had a coupon from coupons.com for $2.05 off the litter. What an odd amount, she said. Next coupon was for $1.05. LOL, I think I made her day!

[walnutqueen]

Cat food, cigs & coffee - in that order -  are the only items I'll leave the house to buy, day or night.  I have my priorities (and my weaknesses).

[Mindthinkr]

We have a common denominator!! 

No wonder we usually like each other's posts. 

P.S. By big boy is now 24 lbs...over a quarter of my weight. It's a wonder I can still lift him. 

Edited May 3, 2017 by Mindthinkr

[Major Bigtime]

The first cat in this video, this is what my big boy does. He loves me to pick him up this way, at 20 lbs, it's a workout.