Ramble on.

Happy Birthday, Jerrye25. Ya ain't 25 anymore <wink, wink>

Happy birthday, Jerry!!

Thanks for the birthday wishes. I actually haven't been 25 in 7 years...yikes.

By the way, I went out yesterday and bought peanut butter and jelly. I'm very excited about this new season starting but I'm still a little concerned about whether I'm gonna enjoy it or not. It really depends on who ends up there.

EDIT: Of course I'm gonna like it regardless of who's there. I'm a voyeur gosh darn it and it's about time I come out and admit it. Hi, my name is jerrye25 and like to watch :)

Aw, pb&j... That reminds me of a night pre-house last summer when I had the apartment to myself and I made myself pb&j sandwiches and dirty martinis in a pink martini glass and did a little drubnk recapping. Good times.

Anyone else have a recap night they remember in particular?

I have two that I remember. I remember recapping the truth or dare that a little over half the house was playing early in BB4 (I think, whichever one was the stupid X-Factor twist). I only remember that because I think it was one of the first recaps I did.

I also remember a night last season when they were all conspiring against Eric. I remember there was some big plan and it was a huge deal and for some reason I don't remember the specifics of it. I think it was when they were trying to save James and put Eric up. if I recall, it was after veto when Kayser said something like, I caught the bigger fish, or something like. I just remember sitting up half the night watching people like Kayser and James going to room to room working this thing out. I remember calling a buddy of mine who had started watching the show but not yet the feeds so I was filling him in on things as they happened. I need to find those old recap pages of ours and read through that.

Are the BB6 recaps available anywhere? I couldn't find them on this site.

The last time I checked, the recaps were still up at the old ezboard site. I like to go root around in there and relive the good times every once in a while.

My most memorable recap moment is still the time the gas grill blew up on Ivette. I was totally shocked (and typing like mad, of course).

The BB6 Archives can be accessed from the link in the header for the EZBoard Archives.

I can't remember if I was recapping at the time or not, but one of my most memorable Live Feed moments was right after Amy re-entered the house and she spilled everything to Roddy in the HOH room. I was screaming and rolling my eyes and getting up and pacing about. I wanted her to STFU and no amount of fuming outrage on my part closed her stupid mouf.

Good times.

I can only wish that I had been recapping during Janelle's drunken rant against the Nerd Herd. "You look like a fucking clown, you whore!" HAHAHAHA!

HAHA! That was an awesome rant. However, I just realized that my recently developed penchant for calling other (bad) drivers "WHORES!" may, in fact, but subliminal channeling of Janelle.

I'm not sure if I this new revelation means I should seek counseling or be more involved in BB this year...

Happy birthday, lifeonhold!!! I hope your celebration includes sushi and martinis!

Happy birthday lifey! Hope it was great.

I am exhausted. I've been entertaining a variety of Europeans for the last three weeks and while it's been loads of fun, I just need some me time. Which of course is impossible, what with BB about to take over my life...

Kyara, being more involved with BB *is* therapy.

Right! I guess I'm all set then! Heh.

I see Nola99 on the site - how are things going for you and your family?

Well, see, that always bugged me. I was trying to say "I Am Canadian" (I was feeling particularly patriotic at the time, for no apparent reason). But the usual identifiers would come out as "I am a Canadian" or "I am from Canada." So, I use an adjective, which would surely raise the eyebrows of my Russian profs. Too much trouble.

Which brings me to the fact that no, I have no Russian blood whatsoever. Would you believe it was the only option that fit in my schedule three days into the semester a couple of years back? Three consecutive A's and an A- later...

Finally, what the hell's wrong with being "all Oily"? I could be a Leafs or Canucks fan. Or even worse, *shudder* a Flames fan.

Fixed tags - Tsy

Any other Keane fans out here? I just got their new CD, Under the Iron Sea, and it's phenomenal.

Need advice - STAT !! So, I'll turn to my fellow hammies....

How does an office-mate handle the "you must have chewed on a piece of puppy poop to make your breath smell that offensive" issue??? It's not a one-time occurence - it's constant.

Are you friendly enough with this person to pull them aside privately and talk to them about it?

Is it a recent phenomenon or has the situation always been that way with this person?

Checking in, yo!

Offer them a breath mint every time. Manners dictate you take the breathmint if offered.

I was wondering if this was something recent, because there are medications and some medical conditions that can cause bad breath and the person can't do anything about it.

Does the person have diabetes perhaps? If blood sugar levels are messed up, that can cause (I think it's called) ketoacidosis, which gives the breath a weird, sweet odour. Not much they can do about that, except get better control of their levels. If it's constant, (and you're comfortable with them) I'd say pull them aside to speak about it. Constant bad breath is usually a sign of health issues of some kind, so you could frame the conversation in context and say you're concerned about them, to avoid offense.

Gforce makes an excellent point that I had forgotten about diabetes and how to go about it.

Not sure about the diabetes thing - he just started with my company this week. The breath has been there since day 1 - although not there during the interview process (truth in advertising, dammit !!). Let it be known that this man is newer to America, so he may not understand the whole "Miss Manner's breath mint" protocol. I, however, was glad to learn that shoving a mint into someone's mouth when they decline is simply adhering proper manners.

I just returned from lunch with the team where he sat next to me - staying on Weight Watchers has never been so easy...

I always take out my altoids and pop one in my mouth and hold it open until they take one. Most people even if they are obtuse get the point and take one. That way I do not have to be nasty about it and they do not have to feel as though they are the only one with bad breath. That is why I put one in my mouth first. lol

Maybe it's more a teeth-brushing frequency issue. Back in the stone age when I was waitressing, we had an assistant manager who NEVER brushed his teeth, and his breath came off in waves as if he was a cartoon drawing.

Me! Me! Husband got me the last album as a gift, but I haven't picked up the new one yet. I'll be sure to get it soon though!

Leave an anoymous note on his desk.

"Your breff be STANKY."

Yay, cool! It's really, really good. I think I paid $11 for it at Target, and if you throw the CD into your computer and go to the band's website you get access to some live tracks and demos. I'll be interested to hear which tracks you like best. My favorites so far are "Is It Any Wonder?," "Nothing In My Way," "Crystal Ball," and "Try Again."

Now I just need to get the CD out of my player long enough to listen to the new Snow Patrol CD I bought at the same time.

Kind of a serious question. I recently had a biopsy of a growth on my leg. The results came back positive for squamous cell skin cancer. The doc has to go back and remove more tissue to be sure he got it all. The question. Has anyone else had that diagnosis? What happened?

It might be better to go back channel with this. The e-mail address on my profile is correct. Thanks y'all.

I've never had that, but my mom has (as well as melanoma) and generally speaking squamous cell carcinoma is not considered that bad. I know, I know - it's still cancer, which is scary as hell, but it's definitely light years away from a diagnosis of melanoma (which is much more serious).

So your doctor will cut out enough to get a "clean border," meaning that they want to get non-cancerous cells in the biopsy edges to make sure they've gotten it all out. You'll probably have a little battle scar from it, but that will just make you that much cooler.

I do research for cancer patients re: diagnosis, treatment options, etc., so if you want any help in that way just let me know.

good for your mom, HWG, to have gotten over melanoma. I lost my Stepdad to it.

Consider yourself lucky to have squamous, lizann. You'll be fine.

I absolutely do. It's just weird hearing the word cancer in reference to a part of my body. Also, I got the diagnosis the day after my mother's wake (not from cancer) so it hit me like the nerd herd on crack.

The ever lovely and wonderous Highwaygirl wrote:



And think of the special treatment I'll get from Mr. elizabethann. I'm gonna milk this baby for all it's worth!

Thanks to everyone who responded via post or back channel. Not for nothing, I'd never have posted something like this at that other site (which shall not be named). On HT I'm part of the family; there I'm an anonymous poster who gets ignored.

Now you're talking!

That's why I love this place and keep coming back year after year (although I didn't decide to sign up until this year- ya'll are much funnier than I can ever hope to be). This is my summer home. I choose HT over the Hamptons, the Keys, and wherever else it's cool to have a summer place. I feel like I know ya'll, everyone's nice, and hopefully now you can get to know me.

And elizann....big hugs....it's a scary time for you, but you'll pull through!

Hi, Justin! Or was that a Krusta-ism?

Krusta would have been, "Nut fer nuttin'."

I believe it was Scaggie who coined the "Not for nuthin" term.

Ugh.

Actually it wasn't a BB reference. I was channeling one of my all time favorite comedians/people, Mario Cantone. He used the phrase in Sex and the City.

Oh! He did! I totally forgot about that.

Now it makes me kind of happy and sad. Happy, because Mario used it on one of my favorite tv shows, meaning I can safely use that phrase too. Sad, because Scaggie used it, and thus, I can never say it without thinking of that self-righteous cow.

I'm very sad this morning. My cat, Dawsey, has been losing weight over the past year due to impaired kidney function. I took him to the vet this morning because he hasn't been feeling well (lethargic), and he's now in advanced kidney failure. He's lost two pounds since February (down to 7.4 pounds) and is now also dehydrated and anemic.

So now I have to make the decision of when to have him put to sleep. The vet gave him fluids and I've brought him home ... but he isn't going to get any better. He won't be able to gain the weight back and the kidney failure will ultimately lead to him starving/dehydrating to death if I just let it take its course (which I cannot do).

Seventy-five percent of me feels like I should have him put to sleep now, because he's not feeling well and doesn't really have the kind of life I want him to have. But then he comes in and head butts my hand to get me to pet him, and the 25% of me that just selfishly wants to still have him here takes over.

I've had him for 16 years, and I've known since February that it would probably come to this, but I'm still in agony over trying to make the final decision.

Hugs, HWG.

We are actually in a very similar position with our 17 year old cat - weight loss, kidneys failing, etc. Our Dugan is down to 5lbs (tho he never weighed much more than 8lbs when healthy, he was always pretty skinny). He's drinking, eating some (with some throwing up), and sleeping a lot (which cats do anyway). But when he's awake he is still playful, seeks affection and cuddles, and doesn't seem to be suffering. So we are going to stay the course for now until it appears that he's suffering or uncomfortable, or if his condition changes noticeably.

One thing we did a while back was change his food to something for older cats with kidney problems (which you may have already done) - and got a water pump/fountain thing for him to drink out of, which did improve him for a while. Now we are biding our time, like you.

Hang in there, and trust that whatever decision you make, no matter how difficult, will be the right one. You'll know ....

I had a 17 year old cat who ended up with feline leukemia. I did keep him at home until he was unable to drink anything because he didn't seem to be in pain and he was able to go through his daily routine, albeit much more slowly, of sleeping under the covers and trying to convince the birds to come a little closer.

Maybe as that 25% diminishes to 20, 15, 10%, you'll know it's time. Many sympathies to yours and Sophy's situation.

It seems to me that he's telling you it's time. Four years ago I had to make the same decision regarding my best friend Beau. He was a 15 year old Basset Hound and had been having seizures. My husband wanted to wait a week but ultimately the decision was mine because Beau had been in my life longer that Doug had. The next day Beau went peacefully to a better place with a belly full of steak and me singing in his ear. I still miss him every day. But, I did the right thing for him. A short while later I adopted Desmond (another basset) from a shelter. We named him Desmond after the Beatles' song Obladi oblada (life goes on). Lucy a basset hound who was found wandering in the woods came to live with us a year later.

There's a great line in the film Harold & Maude where Harold tells the dying Maude that he loves her. She replies: "Oh, Harold... That's *wonderful*. Go and love some more." There are tons of future Dawseys out there who need homes. The greatest honor you can bestow on him is to take in an love another pet. When it's time, of course.

I'm thinking good strong thoughts for you. I know you will do the right thing.

Oh, hwg, big hugs to you and Dawsey. I don't have any words of wisdom for you, other than to suggest that you look around the Internet for sites and articles that might help you in your decision. Here's one article that I found that addresses quality of life; maybe it will help you in determining when the bad days are outnumbering the good ones. I know that whatever decision you make will be made out of love, and I think that when the time does come, you'll know it.

I've been there as well, Hwg. I'd worked as a vet tech for years and had been through this scenario many times with other people's pets, but when it came to my Katie, it was still a very difficult decision to make. Trust in yourself that you'll make the right decision for Dawsey. If I can answer any questions for you, just send me a PM or an email.

Much empathy to you HWG.
I had a cat who was terminal (complications from having kittens) and I was so torn about the issue. I loved her so much I couldnt bear to think of her gone, or here in pain - she had pain pills from the vet for a week while I made the decision.

I finally made a decision and made an appointment to have her put to rest - she couldnt walk very well, and I had been carrying her outside a couple times a day to use the yard facilities, then carrying her back in to clean her up. I put her on the porch to get some sun the day of the appointment, went inside to answer the phone, got distrated and left her there alone for almost an hour. I came out and Elvira was gone.......and I do mean gone, she had gotten up and walked away. I hadnt heard a thing, so nothing had "gotten" her while I was in the next room.
I never found her......to this day I wish I knew what happened.

I am now on Elvira 7. (I name all my calico's Elvira, my orange's Elroy, and the grey's Jackie-boy since I was about 5)Ladyjane loves her kitties.

Thanks for all the kind words, guys. I just got back from the vet; I had Dawsey put to sleep.

My mom came up to see him and after a few minutes she agreed that it was time. I think I knew it was, but I'm so heartbroken over it that I didn't want to have to admit that. I've never had to put an animal to sleep before, so having to make the decision was rough.

All this morning whenever I'd look into his eyes I could tell that he was tired of the struggle, so I decided to give him some peace. I do feel a sense of relief, but mostly I'm just very sad (understandably).

Anyway, when it was done my vet said that I had made the right decision (she just didn't want to say that this morning when I was unsure what to do).

It was time for him. It just wasn't time for me. But then again, it was never going to be time for me.

You put Dawsey's needs ahead of your own, and that's a very loving thing to do, hwg. I'm sad with you, but I think you did the right thing. Dawsey's time here was coming to an end, and you spared him needless suffering. You have many fellow animal lovers here, so if you want to talk about it, just say the word. *hugs*

Truer words were never spoken for any of us who have had to be in your sad position.

*hugs*