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Open Thread

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Just got back from a big outdoor party to raise money for the local animal shelter. Now time for the Mountaineers to beat LSU.

I bought a lot of lime and rum to make mojitos, because I’m afraid this will not end well for my side.

Here’s a little picture of you know who:

If you’ll notice, she already has tags…

Reader Interactions

164Comments

  1. 1.

    JenJen

    Oh? And what do the tags say? Don’t you think tags lend an air of permanence to the whole thing?

    She is so freaking adorable!! Congratulations (I hope!) to your brother and family on their new arrival. :-)

  2. 2.

    South of I-10

    Geaux Tigers! My husband took my little girl to her first game in Tiger Stadium tonight. I’m guessing they will make it through maybe the first quarter.

  5. 5.

    Delia

    One ear up and one ear down. That is definitely a cute overload. Now we’ve got to have a pic of all four dogs lined up together.

  6. 6.

    Yutsano

    @South of I-10: Ya never know though. Little South might just be so enamored with everything she doesn’t want to go home. Unless she’s not good in crowds. Then things might get sticky.

    BTW thanks for being nice to the band kids. Away trips are fun but we never know exactly how the locals will react to our “hostile” presence. It’s really too bad you didn’t get to see the two bands interact. That’s always a hoot.

  7. 7.

    Kryptik

    I concur, she’s adorable. It’s almost like it was inevitable that your bro would keep her.

    And South of I-10, them’s fightin’ words here! Then again, WVU is kind of holding up the whole BIg East on its back now. They lose here, I don’t think the whole league will ever recover. Everyone else is just that epically bad.

  8. 8.

    Betsy

    Oh yeah. How could you even consider giving up a dog that can do the ear equivalent of the single-eyebrow raise of skepticism?

  9. 9.

    Violet

    So, so cute. Glad your brother kept her. I agree with Delia that we need a photo of all four doggies lined up. Heck, why not a canine Cole family photo?

  11. 11.

    South of I-10

    @Yutsano: They were sweet. They probably thought I was about to start talking trash. The trick to Tiger Stadium tailgating for the opponent is to accept the trash talk, and you will be rewarded with food/beer. Little South is okay in crowds, I got a text about 20 minutes ago that they were in the stadium. Hubby said he took her to see Mike the Tiger and to see the band come down the hill and she loved it! Just so you can laugh at me, one of my main concerns is how is going to take her to the bathroom? She is 6 – will he take her into the men’s room, or find some nice lady with kids to take her into the ladies? I’ll be interested to hear the outcome.

    @Kryptik: You notice I’m not talking trash. I am not confident enough to talk trash.

  14. 14.

    Kryptik

    @South of I-10:

    Heh. I’m not about to talk trash either. Much as I will forever love WVU, that secondary is a time bomb waiting to happen. I just know our season, our respect, and the Big East’s fortunes are kinda riding on this one game.

  15. 15.

    madmommy

    That is some serious side-eye she’s got working there.

    For some odd reason, I do not have the LSU game on my TV. My choices are Boise St or Auburn. LSU is supposed to be on ESPN2, but instead it is Oklahoma/Cincinnati.

  16. 16.

    Yutsano

    @South of I-10: That IS funny, although most public facilities are more than willing to allow young minors into opposite sex bathrooms if no alternative is available. It will cause hubby more embarrassment than Little South though I expect. Just to be safe he really should just take her into the men’s room and live with the inevitable looks. But at least single parenting isn’t as uncommon as it used to be. It’s possible he wouldn’t even get a second glance.

  17. 17.

    jibeaux

    That dog looks very much bathed. Possibly bathed in one’s own bathtub, dried with one’s own towel, and it’s still within the realm of possibility that one’s own fairly high-quality hair conditioner was used and brush, too. She’s really, really, cute.

  21. 21.

    You Don't Say

    Very shiny too like she’s just been bathed! Very sweet. Hope she starts packing on the pounds.

  23. 23.

    TrishB

    @TaMara (BHF): I’d bet she’s got some schnauzer in her, but it’s hard to say. So many of the terrier breeds have that beard and eyebrow thing going for them. Maybe some silky terrier. I’d be curious to know if she sheds, that could help pin it down a bit.

  26. 26.

    Yutsano

    @efgoldman: We used to sing our alma mater after every game. It was our way of bonding and recognizing that no one on campus was doing what we were doing for pretty much nothing every single football weekend. I bet you’ll find every band across the country has these rituals in place, no two are the same, and they all make us one unit. I think that’s why band kids get each other so well, we are our own subculture and we all have that commonality.

  27. 27.

    South of I-10

    @Yutsano: I’m sure that is what he will do. He is a great Dad, and I know she is going to remember this forever. It’s just the stuff Mom worries about when she is not there.

  28. 28.

    Calming Influence

    O.K., the cute face, the beautiful coat, you’re born with. But rilly, the pose PLUS the ear?

    Take it down a notch, sister. You’re in this for the long haul.

  29. 29.

    madmommy

    @South of I-10: @stuckinred:

    Ah, that would explain why it shows the LSU game on the DirecTV listing but there’s another game on. It looks as though the result of the OK/Cinn. game is a foregone conclusion at this point. I just cannot bring myself to watch the Auburn game. With those choices my only option would be to root for a scoreless tie with many minor injuries. So it’s Smurf Turf for the next few minutes.

    Even though I don’t usually pull for teams outside the SEC to beat and SEC team, I will make an exception in this case. Go WVU!!

  31. 31.

    bkny

    who’s gonna clean up all the poop when the cole family doggies all get together?

    gah, she’s adorable; her hair looks so silky soft. can’t wait for the photos of all of them romping thru the back yard.

  32. 32.

    Dee Loralei

    @stuckinred: I keep on waiting for OU to put this one away, but they keep on allowing the Bearcats to almost catch up. I’m only worried because Texass did lose today and Alabama tried to. Sheesh………….And OU wins the onside kick.

    Cole, damned cute doggy, good on Seth for keeping her. she and Boghan have to be the most handsome “siblings” in all of puppydom, and I say that as the proud walker and feeder of a “red” Golden male and a “mostly white” golden female.

    Boomer Sooner!

  36. 36.

    Kryptik

    Wow. Cincy made a game of it at the end. IMagine if they got the onside.

    And dammit WVU, fumbling within their red zone.

  39. 39.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    That’s a durn fine lookin’ critter! I can see why your bro buckled though. Looks like that will do it every time.

    To nice people.

  40. 40.

    stuckinred

    Well, the Georgia fans got what they wanted, fire Willy Martinez and hire an NFL genius. Mississippi State just jammed it up his NFL ass.

  43. 43.

    Kristine

    @TaMara (BHF): A Silky Terrier? Yorkie?

    FYI–I finally made the oatmeal-apple cookies today. I had to tweak–I was a little short on the oatmeal, and used half all-purpose/half KA white whole wheat flour. And I had to bake them for a longer time. But, good cookies. Very soft crumb.

  47. 47.

    Dee Loralei

    @General Stuck: That is quite lovely, thanks, sir.

    Oh and whoever in the previous thread mentioned “Max Headroom” I’m re-watching the series thanks to Netflix. Damn, was that show prescient. I’d love to see it re-made for these times.

    And John, next time you get into a Netflix Instant streaming, don’t forget “Neverwhere”.

    Now, I’m gonna go walk my dogs, grab a beer, toast my beloved Sooners and watch disc 4 of Max Headroom because I can’t stand to see LSU win any more. ( Nothing personal South of I-10, I hope your daughter has a magical evening with her daddy.)

  48. 48.

    silentbeep

    Oh my gosh! So wonderfully, insanely cute! No wonder he had to keep her. Just from the little bit I read about the situation, I knew he wasn’t gonna give her away.

  53. 53.

    South of I-10

    @Yutsano: Hey, these worry lines aren’t going to put themselves on my face, you know!

    @Dee Loralei: None taken. Magical night is over anyway, they have left the stadium. He says she is done! I would imagine she will be asleep within 3 minutes of being in the car.

  54. 54.

    Kryptik

    @stuckinred:

    Hey, now that’s a low blow.

    Unless you’re talking about the state as a whole, then I can’t really argue too much. State as a whole just has too many issues for me to defend it reflexively.

  56. 56.

    asiangrrlMN

    @General Stuck: I love your pics, General. This one really does have a calming effect.

    Cole, Ellie is beautiful, and she has the sweetest, happiest face. I’m so glad your brother is keeping her.

    P.S. I only have the Oregon St. v. Blue Turf game. Not that interesting.

  61. 61.

    Yutsano

    @South of I-10: Oh I know how that is. My mom couldn’t take an empty nest, so she ran out and got herself horses. She’s starting to turn into a big time dealer now that she’s retired and can devote all her time to them. She’s at 9 with two for sale at last count.

    @asiangrrlMN: Are you dissing on the Smurf Turf there hon? :)

  62. 62.

    dr. luba

    @Yutsano: Many places will have “Family bathrooms” or separate handicapped accessible bathrooms. Comerica park (how I hate that name) is new enough that it might have both. Either would be a good option.

  63. 63.

    sven

    I was looking for something else but ran across this snapshot from the bubble yesterday. This Fortune article, titled “A Soft Landing For Housing”, really struck home to me again how poorly the media, especially the business press, served the public during the run-up in housing prices.

    http://www.forbes.com/2006/08/23/home-prices-sales-cx_jh_0823homes.html

    From the summer of ’06 it even includes these gems:

    “households have accumulated wealth that will support their spending as equity withdrawals slow”

    “Meanwhile, investment is pouring into non-residential construction, which will help mitigate the slowdown in housing by soaking up workers in construction, architecture and other fields.”

    “There is also an upside to a slowdown in the housing market: It will make it far easier for the Fed to rein in rising inflation without further rate hikes, argues Steven Wieting, the leading economist for U.S. equities at Citigroup.”

    Reading the whole thing I had a Keanu Reeves ‘Whoaaaah’ moment.

  64. 64.

    martha

    Well, I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that I went to the Wisconsin game today–it was painful to watch. They beat Austin Peay (TN) 70 to 3. I hate these games–they’re only scheduled for the $$$. I hope A-P made lots for their school. But, it was the high school band game, so in addition to the UW Band, lots of school bands played. And I got to “Jump Around” with 60,000 other people at the end of the 3rd Quarter and stay for “5th Quarter” where the band stays on the field and plays lots of fun songs and the whole crowd dances.

  66. 66.

    asiangrrlMN

    @stuckinred: Yawn. I iz tired. I had a little snooze, but not enough. I really fucking hate Brent Musburger. He used to be tolerable, but he’s gotten so damn smug and irritating in the last few years. I would love to be watching an SEC game, but no. I haz no cable.

    ETA: Gaaaaaah! Mofo Favre Wrangler commercial on my teevee! Good thing I automatically mute all commercials.

    @Yutsano: Yes. Is very ugly. I am rooting for them, though. How you be?

  70. 70.

    4jkb4ia

    It has now been noted that Pitt didn’t do any better today. Perhaps they were the substitute for the sacrificial bull.

  74. 74.

    Dee Loralei

    @asiangrrlMN: To you and the good General Stuck, I saw some amazingly ferocious pictures today on HuffPo, (yea, I was bored,) of the Kansas State football game during the rain delay. Some of those storm pics were just intense. I know you, Agrrl, will totally dig them…..

  75. 75.

    Mark S.

    I would argue the ACC is much more pathetic than the Big East, considering they stole the Big East’s three best teams and still aren’t any better than them.

  76. 76.

    madmommy

    Geez. Is it too mch to ask that VWU play a bit of offense? Maybe protect the QB just a smidge better?

    I might just be forced to watch the Auburn game. Shudder.

    @South of I-10:
    The first time my dad took the kids to a Saints game he actually though that they would stay for the whole game. Fool. They didn’t make it to half time, and that was after they ran him ragged with trips to the concession stand and the bathrooms. I tried to tell him it was a bad idea…

  77. 77.

    Ailuridae

    @stuckinred:

    I was wondering why Illinois wasn’t playing this weekend and then I remembered that they just ran the gauntlet of directional mid-majors schools from in-state. Southern Illinois two weeks ago and Northern Illinois last week (both at home of course). Who could blame them for taking a week off to prep for OSU?

  78. 78.

    Jay

    John, you should re-post that Jesco White video the next time you want to ridicule the wingnuts. It still makes me laugh.

    Just sayin’.

  80. 80.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Yutsano: Yes, I think that’s exactly what it means. And his sidekick is insipid, bland, banal, and tedious–but physically, he’s your type.

    @Dee Loralei: Found ’em. Amazing. Awesome. Thanks for mentioning ’em.

    Aaaand the game suddenly got a hell of a lot more interesting.

  83. 83.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @martha: My nephew was one of the Cub Scouts forming the tunnel that the Badgers came through at the game. He and the rest of my brother’s family had fun. It was a good game for kids; the good guys kept scoring and there were no worries about the result.

  85. 85.

    Yutsano

    @asiangrrlMN: Are you talking about big hulking ex-quarterback plays with his wedding ring constantly Kirk? Yeah I’d go there once. Poor boy doesn’t have a lick of sense, but I’d go there.

    @burnspbesq: This only distresses me for one reason: I totally despise Neuweasel. He will fuck over UCLA as soon as he gets the opportunity. Mark my words.

  86. 86.

    South of I-10

    @madmommy: I think he knew there was no way she would make it through the game! She is normally climbing in bed for 8 or 8:30. They still have the drive home. I’m kinda glad they left early, they’ll miss the drunks leaving the stadium.

  88. 88.

    JCT

    Ellie has a beautiful coat — and such bright eyes! Another lucky dog stumbles on a member of the Cole family out for a drive. I wonder if the word is spreading through the doggie grapevine?

    Hah, college football bonanza — younger son just called after his first visit to the Big House. Looks like he’s finally decided on his first choice college. I’m not sure I’m 100% on-board with using a college football team as part of the decision process, but hard to argue with a UMich education.

  92. 92.

    Yutsano

    @JCT: As with all universities, it all depends on what he wants to do with his life, but yes, UM is a VERY good undergrad school. He could go pretty much anywhere he wanted after getting that diploma and he’d get noticed.

  95. 95.

    Yutsano

    @Martin: You just reminded me I need to check in with a friend of mine who has a Meyer lemon tree and see if she can’t send me a box of them again. I had way too much fun with that last year.

  96. 96.

    stuckinred

    @burnspbesq: Sure was! Better than putting a bomb on the 50 I guess. I knew we were in trouble when they made the Chief dance before the game! On the other hand, I got to go to the Rose Bowl so it wasn’t all bad.

    I don’t even think “hack” meant that then!

  97. 97.

    Annie

    Ellie is a keeper. Way too cute. A perfect addition to the Cole rescue animal shelter. The Cole doggie day care center just got bigger by one. Can’t wait for the video of all the Cole doggies out for an afternoon romp.

  99. 99.

    martha

    @Omnes Omnibus: We sat at the very top of the stadium and there was a family with a 3 yo and twin 2 month olds! Lots of other kids around us, but these parents were the winners…

  100. 100.

    Yutsano

    @stuckinred: Been to the Rose Bowl twice. Somehow made it through that seven mile parade and the subsequent game without dropping. Ate more In & Out than is probably good for a human. I still had the time of my life.

    Oh and for no reason at all, puppeh in shoes.

  101. 101.

    stuckinred

    @Yutsano: My poor mom, 60 years in Southern Cali and never made it to the parade. I was able to get her tickets for the game but we didn’t think we could hack both.

    See HACK!

  102. 102.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @martha: My brother was up top as well. He said he could see both Monona and Mendota from his seat. The nephew enjoyed the whole thing; apparently Carimi is huge.

  103. 103.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @martha: My brother was up top as well. He said he could see both Monona and Mendota from his seat. The nephew enjoyed the whole thing; apparently Carimi is huge.

  104. 104.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Moses2317: I really like your blog. When you provided a link a few weeks ago I clicked, read, enjoyed, and bookmarked. Thanks for your clear thinking, strong writing, and powerful arguments.

  107. 107.

    JCT

    @Yutsano: Totally agree, and hell, even though Cal’s football team was terrible when I was there, I have to admit that I still enjoyed my Fall Saturdays in Memorial Stadium.

    Thank goodness the Wolverines don’t play Cal too often, brings back bad memories of my Dad’s (UCLA 1959) razzing me after they killed us every year. My son would enjoy those UMich – Cal match-ups way too much!

    So while I had a secret hope he would shoot for Berkeley, I’m more than happy to see him don the maize and blue. Besides, it’s much closer to NYC!

  112. 112.

    Yutsano

    @JCT: Maize and blue, gold and blue, blue got in there somewhere amirite? Plus your child should not patronize Berkeley until they get up the guts to fire John Yoo as a law professor. It just gourds me to no end that he is training a new generation of attorneys with his own whacked out half-legalisms.

    @Kristine: Best part is she’s back home safe.

  113. 113.

    stuckinred

    @Omnes Omnibus: I just know there was a time when they filmed the entire student section the entire game because it got so bad.

    They have a nice feature at some SEC stadium’s where you can text for help with morons.

  114. 114.

    madmommy

    @stuckinred:

    The Rose Parade is very pretty to watch on TV, but it confuses my kids. They cannot understand why anyone would go to a parade and just sit there watching it go by. For them a parade is an interactive experience, and if they don’t end the day with a sack of cheap geegaws they count it a failure.

  116. 116.

    martha

    @Omnes Omnibus: We were probably within shouting distance of each other…we sat up in the empty seats where visiting fans are supposed to sit, but few people came from TN for the game. My husband is infamous for not sitting in his assigned seats.

  117. 117.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @stuckinred: I think things are better than they once were. The fact that the team has been good for a number of years now has had an effect. There was a period of time where what went on on the field didn’t matter; that time is over. This is not to say things are quiet. Of course, the last time I was in Camp Randall was for the Culver’s Classic hockey game in February. My dad and I stood in the student section watching Wisconsin beat Michigan in an outdoor game. Temp was approximate 0 and it was windy. His poor 65 year old knees were aching from standing on the metal benches for the whole game.

  119. 119.

    stuckinred

    @Omnes Omnibus: Ah, I remember watching Billy Marek hit one of my buddies with his thigh pad right in the kisser! They walked Big John up and down the sidelines and I swear you could see the birds tweeting over his head.

  122. 122.

    martha

    @stuckinred: I know, just being snotty…I think that was during my husband’s time and before. Since I’ve been in the picture, it’s mostly drunks and coasties.

  125. 125.

    burnspbesq

    Oh, and if there are any Deadheads out there that still have a functioning turntable and some disposable income, Warner Bros. has re-released the first five studio albums (The Grateful Dead, Anthem of the Sun, Aoxomoxoa, Workingman’s Dead, and American Beauty) in a box set on audiophile-quality vinyl. They went back to the original master tapes and cut all new lacquers, and sent them to the world’s best remaining pressing plant to be manufactured. I’ve heard that they sound teh awesome.

  126. 126.

    Steeplejack

    Late shift checking in. Just home from work and barely into a beer to replenish my vitally important electrolytes. Put the ‘Neers (‘Eers?) game on in solidarity with Cole. Looks like they are coming back after a, um, sluggish start.

    Interesting thing at work tonight (Big Box Bookstore in NoVa). When we were leaving one of my yoot coworkers was ranting because he had asked for October 30 off so he could go to the Stewart/Colbert rally. Not only did he get turned down, there was a notice on the bulletin board in the back office saying that “no more” requests off would be accepted for October 30. Which means that some number of worker bees (including myself) have already requested that day off. Ranting yoot coworker said he was going to call in sick and go to the rally anyway.

  127. 127.

    martha

    @stuckinred: A term used to describe students from the “coasts”, usually the east coast. Generally they are more affluent than the Wisconsin kids, which can cause issues. So, the shorthand term is coasties. Heck, they’ve got more money than lots of nonstudents and drive better cars and have personal trainers…but, they’ve got daddy’s charge cards, so…

  128. 128.

    Steeplejack

    That is one stylin’ pooch at the top there. Glad she landed with the Coles–the luxury marque for outsourced hounds looking to get back into a solid gig.

  130. 130.

    burnspbesq

    Well, well, well: WVU appears to be back in it. Only down three with five minutes to go in the third quarter.

  131. 131.

    Steeplejack

    @General Stuck:

    Beautiful picture, General. This is right before a line of Apaches on horseback appears on the ridge line and the stagecoach has to go into overdrive, right?

  132. 132.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @martha: It was fun. We came back to my place and the parents, Madame Omnibus, and I went to Nam’s Noodles. Next day, it was the Super Bowl. Very sporty weekend.

    @stuckinred: A bit before my time, I think.

  133. 133.

    Martin

    @Yutsano: I love our meyer lemon tree. Planted it when we bought the place and it almost produces enough to meet our needs. One more year and we’ll need to start giving them away. 100 degrees out and we cleared the apple tree today. Insane.

  134. 134.

    Restrung

    I don’t want, don’t… can’t have a dog.
    But dang, that photo makes me feel something. What a cutie. My cats could take turns riding her up and down the steps.

  137. 137.

    Yutsano

    @Martin: I would absolutely KILL for a couple of citrus trees and a Hass avocado one too. Unfortunately it’s too cold in the winters here, so we’re stuck getting imports from down south. I think they even tried greenhouses but the light isn’t right or something like that.

  138. 138.

    Mnemosyne

    @madmommy:

    The best part of the parade is going to the place where they park all of the floats afterwards and getting a close-up look at them.

    The only downside the year we went was that it was the year that one of the floats had frickin’ “Proud to Be An American” on a loop, so I had to control my nausea the whole time.

  139. 139.

    South of I-10

    Well, if anyone still cares, my honey and my baby are home. Got the little one tucked away in bed with promises to tell me about her adventures tomorrow. She got an ant bite on her foot, which resulted in a hugely swollen foot. Apparently my husband carried her all around LSU’s campus.

  143. 143.

    Zuzu's Petals

    On another thread I commented about my 19-yr-old Maine Coon who seems to be “winding down.”

    I said that sometimes his legs just slid out from under him when he got up. Today that’s happened almost every time he got up. He just gives up and flops over before he’s even off his pillow. A few times I’ve been able to help steady him and he slowly wobbles to the food bowl or whatever. But mostly he just can’t stay on his feet.

    (The vet had thought he might have a little arthritis because sometimes he’d walk with his rear legs stiff, but there was no diagnosis of displasia.)

    The other thing is that even though he’s eating and drinking, he hasn’t peed or pooped in the litter box today. Possible he did something outside this morning, but it’s sort of worrying.

    No signs of major discomfort, fever, etc. Just lots of sleeping, per usual. Thinking I’ll take him in Monday, but wondering if I should wait that long.

    Advice?

  144. 144.

    Steeplejack

    @Zuzu’s Petals:

    I think you can wait until Monday, as he seems to be in no pain, but it looks like he might be on the final glide path–which can be long and gradual, I hasten to add.

    The other thing to consider, and to ask the vet when you go, is whether he might be dehydrated. When my black cat Simba was about 16 she had a bad patch–unsteadiness and looking like she was disoriented–and I thought I was going to lose her. But they took her for a day or two at the vet’s and gave her IV fluids and she perked up. And had another three good years.

    My thoughts are with you.

  145. 145.

    Phoebe

    Tags! Now I can look forward to more pictures of this fabulous dog. I knew they’d keep it, though. Friend for the puppy.

  147. 147.

    Zuzu's Petals

    @Steeplejack:

    Thank you for the good advice. I hadn’t even thought about dehydration – he’s on Lasix, so that’s a possibility.

    Will definitely bring it up with the vet.

    ETA: Thanks also asiangrrlMN.

  148. 148.

    monkeyboy

    Jeeze. This thread draws everybody that is easily distracted by incredibly cute dog porn.

    Meanwhile in the last thread, I have been trying to discuss how that James Mason advertisement for Thunderbird wine is an attempt to mass market to the middle class in the early 1960s which was just beginning to discover “sophisticated” tastes such as wine and cheese.

    It is hard to do because a lot of comments there have to do with experiences with bum wine and being drunk.

  149. 149.

    Phoebe

    I found a home for Gary the cat, after carrying him home with me from the library bushes after a midnight show at a nearby movie theater, and plastering my neighborhood with flyers [owner never came forward]. I was bawling my eyes out after dropping him off at the nice lady’s. Then a couple hours later she calls my cell phone and asks me to take him back because he’s swiping at her giant dog and freaking it out. Heh. The bf caved and we kept him. When they’re that adorable, plus they love you, you’re pretty much screwed.

  150. 150.

    Mnemosyne

    @Zuzu’s Petals:

    With our terminally sick cats, the vet said the big thing to keep an eye on was whether or not the cat was doing the Big 4: eating, drinking, peeing, and pooping. Not peeing or pooping could be a bad sign, so I would keep a close eye on it tomorrow.

  151. 151.

    Phoebe

    @monkeyboy: I appreciate! Hey, did you see the movie “Infamous”? It’s the better, and underrated, of the two movies about Truman Capote writing In Cold Blood that came out the same damn year. Anyway, in it, Truman Capote is introducing the Kansans to non-Velveeta cheese.
    People moan on and on about how everything sucks now [and by “people” I mean “I”], but we have to remember how American food was so much boringer back then [because it was before all the Mexicans and Asians came is my theory].

  152. 152.

    Anne Laurie

    @Steeplejack:
    __

    The Coles—the luxury marque for outsourced hounds looking to get back into a solid gig.

    That made me laugh!

    My best guess for Ellie’s ancestry would be some kind of terrier, or multiple kinds of terrier, plus maybe cocker spaniel. From her face & body shape, my original guess was Schnauzer, but with her ear up, could be Westie — or even Yorkie, with that coat! She most resembles a dog I once knew whose mother was a cocker/poodle cross and whose sire was a schnauzer/poodle cross, aka the Schnockerdoodle, but Sara Lee had the wooly poodle coat texture while Ellie’s looks much silkier…

  156. 156.

    Martin

    @Yutsano: No avocado – but we planted a grapefruit last year. Too small to get anything off of it – maybe in 3 years.

    The apple tree is really the bonus. They just aren’t supposed to be able to grow here. The closest one to ours that I know if is 30 miles away.

  157. 157.

    Steeplejack

    @Anne Laurie:

    “Luxury marque.” That was my pompous Car & Driver columnist voice. Have you ever looked at those car magazines? They are a whole subculture parallel universe unto themselves.

  158. 158.

    Anne Laurie

    @Zuzu’s Petals: If he’s not showing signs of discomfort, his organs may just be shutting down, starting with his kidneys. So… the bad thing is, he may not last until Monday. On the other hand, if he hates going to the vet as much as most cats do, since you know he’s not long for this life, there are worse ways for an old cat to go than dropping off to sleep in his own home with his loved ones at hand. (When we lost our little dog Candy to kidney failure, our vet told us that he’d actually asked some humans with kidney failure whether it hurt, and they told him it didn’t… they just gradually lost interest in eating & wanted to sleep more & more.)

    It may come down to what you’re comfortable with. If he dies before Monday, will you be okay dealing with that? If you bring him into the vet (especially an emergency vet clinic which is strange & noisy & horrible), will you regret it if he dies fighting IVs, injections & other indignities at the hands of strangers?

    My personal impulse would be to make that appointment for Monday, knowing that it might be his last trip even if he makes it that far. But I’m prejudiced, because “we” chose the fight-at-all-costs options for one of our cats, and I still feel guilty that Figaro wasn’t allowed to die quietly at home. On the other hand, the Spousal Unit feels equally strongly that he’d never stop thinking that we should have fought harder if we’d gone with my impulse, and takes comfort in knowing that “we did everything we could”. So, hard as it is, you have to decide which course of action will make both your old man and you least miserable…

    Either way, you will be in my thoughts & prayers.

  159. 159.

    Steeplejack

    @Anne Laurie:

    What you said. It’s always tough, and you never escape the nagging thought that maybe you made the wrong call. But you do the best you can by the lights you have at the time.

  160. 160.

    Zuzu's Petals

    @Anne Laurie:

    Thank you so much for the insights. The thing is he still seems responsive when he’s awake, so I’m not sure what to think.

    Probably I will monitor him tomorrow and take him in on Monday. Maybe he’s just dehydrated, who knows.

    I do feel like I will bring him home even if they say he’s getting ready to leave, and if the time comes when he needs help, I think I’ll see if I can find a vet who will come to my house. I know there are some who do that.

    I remember you’re the one who told me he’s a Maine Coon, so I thank you for that too. It helped explain a lot.

    ETA: I don’t mean to say I won’t be giving a good fight if it will help. We’ll see, I guess.

  161. 161.

    TrishB

    @Zuzu’s Petals: I hate to say this, but at 19 years old, I’d wait until Monday. I’ve taken my dogs to the emergency vet over some crazy stuff, but they’re a lot younger. My roommate now uses the same vet as I do for his 16 year old chi-mix. They pretty much recommend leaving most of his issues as they are. Best of luck with whatever you do, and may your kitty find the brightest path.

  162. 162.

    Zuzu's Petals

    @TrishB:

    Thank you. He just managed to walk out to the laundry room for some fresh wet food, so I feel okay about waiting ’till Monday.

  163. 163.

    eir

    Zuzu – just saw the dehydration comment and felt the need to mention that there’s a fairly easy way to tell if your cat is dehydrated (mine had a rough patch once). Gently pinch up the fur between the cat’s shoulder blades. It should go down pretty much immediately; if it stays up like a tent, the kitty needs some fluids. (This also works with people if you do it on their knuckle skin.)

  164. 164.

    shell goddamnit

    That is the prettiest curbside terrier I’ve ever seen. They’re all cute but this one has pizazz! If she’s as well-behaved as described she is one for the ages…

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