No gardening for me right now, until the wound on my palm closes up. And now that it’s forbidden, weeding & mowing suddenly seem much more attractive. The cherry blossoms have fallen, the lilac trusses are starting to open, and with any luck there will still be a few six-paks of pansies and allysum available at the local garden center this weekend…
Farhad Manjoo at Slate wrote a highly enthusiastic review of Ray Newstead’s EarthTainer system for tomatoes. I’ve been very pleased with the Gardeners Supply Company’s self-watering troughs during the last two growing seasons — even during a week-long vacation that turned out to be the only bone-dry spell, the plants in the troughs stayed hydrated & fruiting while those in the regular pots between each trough withered. And I’ve been crowding 4 or 5 tomatoes into each planter, supported on tomato ladders, which is far from optimal but there’s very little sunlit space in my yard and I always order too many plants during the dreary February catalog season.
Anybody here have experience with building and/or using Newstead’s EarthTainers? How complicated is the construction? Have your harvests been satisfactory?
Little Boots
Why is Corner Stone so angry?
Little Boots
jeez, slow thread.
SFAW
Anne –
What does any of this have to do with Andrew Sullivan?
TaMara (BHF)
Haven’t done an earthtrainer system, but I have done a square foot garden which was probably the most successful I’ve ever had. Keeps everything close together, so moist, no weeds and just seemed to thrive.
I know it’s not a menu, but here’s a Mediterranean Pizza recipe if you want something different for the weekend.
Just bought some more flowers…but they are predicting possible snow next week after several 80 degree days, so I’m holding off potting them.
Little Boots
oh, great, sfaw is here. now I’m angry.
Suffern ACE
@Little Boots: I don’t know. Why aren’t you angry is a good question too.
ETA: Too late. I see that you are already angry.
Little Boots
@Suffern ACE:
I just can’t. I try, but I just can’t be angry.
Little Boots
so where is everyone?
Barb (formerly Gex)
@Little Boots: Get a room, you two.
SFAW
angry li’l boots is angry.
I tole ya – go sleep it off. Everyone will benefit.
SFAW
Barb –
Thanks, but no thanks.
joeyess
@Little Boots: Because K-Lo won’t quit dipping a wet finger into the vanilla flavored Coffemate?
MagicPanda
I am but a novice gardener, but all I can say is that the kids love watching stuff grow, and we’ve already harvested some stuff (tatsoi) to eat. Woo!
Just Some Fuckhead
Can we all just hug it out?
Little Boots
@Barb (formerly Gex): ‘]
If only.
But I think he’s just angry.
TaMara (BHF)
And I even blogged about square foot gardening (years ago, so I’d forgotten). This lays out the plan.
And here are some photos.
Oh, look and a video.
Little Boots
see? angry.
joeyess
@Little Boots: Ha ha!! I misread you. I read: Why is The Corner so angry. Sorry.
SFAW
I wouldn’t have pegged you for a Republican. But the projection gives you away.
XOXO
Just Some Fuckhead
@Anne Laurie:
General Stuck
Request for minor assistance. I have been upgrading the look of my little blog using CSS codes, But cannot figure out where in the HTML code deals with the background color outside the main body of the blog. It is white and I want to change it to a darker color. No need for detailed instructions, just what would it be termed in the template code? Any help appreciated.
Little Boots
@joeyess:
heh, but don’t tell Corner Stone. he’s angry enough already.
opal
@Little Boots:
Off the record, you both created one hell of a mess.
Little Boots
@SFAW:
the dance begins.
Little Boots
@opal:
we tend to do that.
Just Some Fuckhead
@General Stuck: Use FORMAT. It should in your root drive.
arguingwithsignposts
@General Stuck:
body {background-color:#b0c4de;}
Link
SFAW
What ho, Squiffy? Cabbage crates over the briny?
In other words … what?
Little Boots
@SFAW:
don’t be coy.
Barb (formerly Gex)
@General Stuck: You want something like this:
body {background-color:#b0c4de;}Barb (formerly Gex)
@arguingwithsignposts: You went to w3schools, didn’t you? Not only was I late to the game, but I came in with the same answer.
SFAW
OK, honey, you’ve won me over.
But I still won’t sleep with you until after you sober up.
Little Boots
@SFAW:
oh, that’s no fun. Okay, I’ll try. but you better be worth it.
SFAW
What kind of tart do you think I am, anyway?
(And with a set-up like that, your reply better be worth it.)
burnspbesq
We are already getting ripe blueberries. Not a lot, a handful every three days or so. But soon there will be enough to put them into a bowl of spoon size shredded wheat. Good times ahead!
arguingwithsignposts
@Barb (formerly Gex): yep, although it’s not necessarily the correct answer to stuck’s question. he seems to be looking for the html code, which could an id or div – depending on the layout of the page. hard to tell with no link to follow.
opal
@Little Boots:
Corner Stone is a she.
joeyess
@opal:
I’m just going to be nosy. Tell me of this mess you speak.
Little Boots
@SFAW:
Cherry?
Little Boots
@opal:
really? damn.
Just Some Fuckhead
@burnspbesq:
Like on the box cover! Wow, that will be the perfect confluence of marketing and diet. I hope you blog about it.
General Stuck
@arguingwithsignposts: @Barb (formerly Gex):
Gracious!! I will check that out, I thought it would be under one of the margin codes. Here is the link to my blog. I want the main body of the blog with content to stay white, but the rest to be black.
Anne Laurie
@Just Some Fuckhead: Ha! My poor crowded tomatoes couldn’t look that good even at the height of August & with the assistance of a full advertising department. (If Cole ever got a look at my garden, his Germanic soul would probably force him to take away my posting status.) But as long as I have enough tomatoes to keep me & the Spousal Unit eating, I’m not worried about their lack of photographic appeal.
SFAW
You can do better than that, I hope.
If not …
Omnes Omnibus
@SFAW: There is something wrong with your banter.
Little Boots
@SFAW:
I’m tired.
Don’t yell at me.
arguingwithsignposts
@General Stuck: Here’s the part you change:
#container {border: 4px solid black;
background: silver;
padding: 10px;
just change silver to black.
Oh, BTW, you’ll have to change the header styles to white or something else too if you want that look. there’s a toolbar in firefox called Web Developer that will let you edit the CSS in browser to see how it looks.
SFAW
That’s because I just got back from Basingstoke …
Little Boots
@arguingwithsignposts:
what is with these formulae.
handy
Stuck I realize you’re probably not paying attention to JSF regardless, but really…don’t do this.
hamletta
Since this is an open thread, I feel free to stray from the topic—which is apparently Little Boots and SFAW’s twee little slap-fight—to say I was wrong about George W. Bush last night.
I said I preferred to think he was being modest and classy declining the invitation to Ground Zero, but hoo, boy!
Yes, the story of his petulance comes from unnamed sources, but the reporter is a damn good one, Thomas DeFrank.
I am appalled. What a WATB! Teach me to give that ferret-faced goob the benefit of the doubt.
handy
@opal:
Fer realz?
Little Boots
@SFAW:
well, that explains so much.
handy
@hamletta:
He’s a failed drunk who found Jeebus These things are features, not bugs.
General Stuck
@arguingwithsignposts:
I think that is for the header, it is one of the things I changed myself to silver with a black border
arguingwithsignposts
@handy: No, as far as I’ve been able to tell, CS is a he – a single parent living in Houston. Of course, that may be a disguise to conceal his real identity as Barack Hussein Obama II – Caliphate ruler of American Sha’ria law.
opal
@handy:
If she isn’t, a video denying it is sure to follow.
James E. Powell
Can anyone recommend a primer for a new WordPress user? Any other sources worth consulting?
General Stuck
@handy:
I know, I wouldn’t take instructions from fuckhead for directions on anything holy. or unholy
arguingwithsignposts
@General Stuck: It changes the entire border area in firefox for me – except for the footer, which is still blue.
Just Some Fuckhead
@handy:
Not just a “she”, but a Lesbian “she”, that had a sex change and became a man. But still likes to dress up as a woman to feel pretty.
It’s complicated.
General Stuck
@arguingwithsignposts:
there was a point in time a year or two ago, that CS was claiming to be a she. Pretty sure it is a he though
arguingwithsignposts
@James E. Powell: wordpress.tv is good if you like to watch video tutorials. also, there’s a lot of stuff in the wordpress tutorials area that’s helpful. Really, it’s a pretty good source.
Little Boots
@General Stuck:
seems like a He. not sure why, and that’s prolly a little sexist, but really seems like a He.
Omnes Omnibus
@Just Some Fuckhead: Okay. I laughed.
freelancer
FNC rebroadcasting GOP debate right now on Eastern/Central feeds. Awesome.
SFAW
1) What does “failed drunk” mean? That he tried to be an alcoholic, but couldn’t? Or that he tried staying dry, but couldn’t? ‘Cause my money is on the latter.
2) Found Jeebus? Or just said he found Jeebus? Because he didn’t do a whole lot o’ worshippin’ when he was Preznit. (Well, except maybe to the Porcelain God.)
Cain
Hey! What happened to the whole thursday cooking thing? I’m very disappointed.
hamletta
@General Stuck: Everything’s white for me right now.
But using the almighty Firebug, I find this:
body { background-color: #FFFFFF;}You want to change it to:
body { background-color: #000000;}#FFFFFF is white, #000000 is black. And get you some Firebug. It’s invaluable for answering those burning questions, like, “Why the hell is that thing doing the thing in the wrong color?”
ETA: FYWP
Just Some Fuckhead
@Cain:
Unfortunately, our culinarianist has left us to pursue other opportunities and now we are left without the weekly joys of culinary text.
I’m thinking about volunteering to do a weekly column on relationships. Not only was my PhD completely unrelated to that but I’ve been in and out of unsuccessful relationships in the last 23 years of marriage. I think I may the one person qualified to tell you what not to do in order to have a mediocre, but from all outward appearances, successful long term relationship.
gnomedad
@hamletta:
Linky, plz?
Omnes Omnibus
@SFAW: For a minute there I thought you guys were talking about corner stone.
handy
@SFAW:
Sorry. “Failed drunk” being shorthand for a drunk who pretty much failed at everything he put his hand to.
He found him on the street corner or something what the hell do I know? He was a guy with daddy issues and a history of substance abuse who was able to leverage the value voters bloc of the Repub base.
Omnes Omnibus
@Just Some Fuckhead: With a CV like that you should be a shoo-in as the next business and economics editor for the Atlantic.
SFAW
handy –
I think you and I are pretty much on the same page.
Omnes –
I got no beef with Corner Stone.
Today.
MikeJ
@hamletta: Laura Bush didn’t get the memo that Bush was acting pissy.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/05/05/state/n094427D82.DTL
SFAW
Sounds like me giving investment advice
Little Boots
@Omnes Omnibus:
for a minute, we were.
General Stuck
@hamletta:
That didn’t work either, but thank you for the Firebug link, I will keep tinkering with it until I hit the right code section. Or I’ll just leave the outside borders white.
TooManyJens
I’m starting to think that it’s going to be time to put our cat down soon. She’s 15 and started having kidney and thyroid problems last year, which we have her on medication for. Lately she’s lost noticeable weight (and this is a cat that started at 5.5 pounds), she’s completely lethargic, she’s peeing and pooping wherever she happens to be, and she moves like she’s very uncomfortable. I’m taking her to the vet again on Monday to see if there’s anything we can do, but I’m not optimistic.
I’m taking this worse than I thought I would. I’ve never been one of those people who thinks of their pets as their kids or anything like that, and she’s been having problems for so long that I guess I thought I’d be more relieved? But I’ve just been crying on and off all day.
Omnes Omnibus
@SFAW: Seriously, I got the set of failed drunk comments intermingled with the CS set in my mind. I wasn’t trying to start a fight or nuthin’. I should be going to bed soon, but I have to stay up to be a test audience for the presentation my wife is doing tomorrow.
Suffern ACE
@gnomedad:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2011/05/04/2011-05-04_expresident_bush_feels_obama_undermining_his_staffs_role_in_osama_bin_laden_stri.html
handy
@Little Boots:
For a minute, I remembered why for eight years I had such a personal disgust with the Cokehead In Chief.
ETA: And I have no beef with CS either.
General Stuck
@arguingwithsignposts:
I want to change the color outside of the blog part, to the edge of the monitor, up and down, so just the blog part is white.
Little Boots
@TooManyJens:
sadness.
sometimes you have to do it. but it is a sadness. it is a hard thing, and you just have to cry and do it anyway sometimes.
Mojotron
Corner Stone? He’s a man. No, he’s a boy. He’s a man. Well, he’s your mother. He’s a man. He’s a one-night stand. He’s a man. He’s a bi. He’s a man. He’s a slave. He’s a man. He’s a little girl. and we make love together.
Omnes Omnibus
@TooManyJens: That sucks. I tend to think that any relief one feels is always overshadowed by the grief.
Little Boots
@handy:
ya know, sometimes I can’t believe he was president. but there he was. being an asshole, and president, and an asshole. it’s really pretty horrific.
Omnes Omnibus
@Mojotron: corner stone is Terri Nunn? Wow. I would never have guessed that.
SFAW
Omnes –
I wasn’t peeved, sorry if it sounded that way. Was trying to make a joke, I guess it didn’t work too well.
Good luck with the audience thing. I’ve found that some/many variation(s) of “Yes, Dear”, “Nice job, Honey” seems to work OK. Good luck, though
eemom
Corner Stone came from Houston Tex-aa
Trolled her way across the USA
Caught a couple of Nicks on the way
Never got laid, until He was a She…..
handy
@General Stuck:
There’s probably another element containing the blog posts with the white background you have to find, most likely a “main” div or even perhaps a table, where you would have to do further digging to see if a style is applying to the entire body or to the row. Like others have said, Firebug can be a real help with sorting this stuff out.
Suffern ACE
@MikeJ: I kind of agree. I don’t really care at this point whether or not there is a cat fight between Bush and Obama. The poison of course is just continuing the idea that Obama is insulting conservatives and their values by commenting on OBL, so instead of being “happy” about something that they have wanted for ten years, they are now supposed to be sad and angry that it isn’t being done the right way.
But the liberals are supposed to be sad because Bush isn’t behaving right, which ruins what, exactly. Who cares?!!! George Bush is not in office and can’t do anything any longer.
Little Boots
@Mojotron:
damn, he’s just the whole Saturday night, ain’t he/she?
Omnes Omnibus
@SFAW: It is for a grade so I must be able to offer substantive and constructive criticism in addition to running the stopwatch. OTOH I got to help with the experiment so its all good.
handy
@Mojotron:
Hahahaha. For those not in the know, here’s the original for reference.
arguingwithsignposts
@General Stuck: Ok, try this: remove the padding from the wrapper and the container, like so:
#wrapper {padding:0px 0 0px 0;
}
#container {border: 4px solid black;
background: black;
padding: 0px;
}
That should remove the white border.
eta: fywp. all of that should be in code.
Little Boots
@arguingwithsignposts:
I have no idea what this means. but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.
Gretchen
Sure you want to plant pansies this late in spring? They don’t like hot weather – I’m going to dig mine up soon and replace them with impatiens. And how does one keep the birds from eating all the blueberries? Mine produced lots last year, but the birds snarfed every one. I’m afraid if I use bird netting they’ll get tangled in it.
Omnes Omnibus
@handy: Part of the original at least. Wasn’t it about 7 min. long?
handy
@Omnes Omnibus:
The video’s using the radio edit, but the 12″ was at least twice as long.
General Stuck
@arguingwithsignposts:
nope, didn’t work. but thanks for trying AWS,
Mojotron
@Omnes Omnibus: here’s the version you’re looking for.
asiangrrlMN
@handy: Which makes the radio edit six inches?
What’s up, Juicers?
handy
Terri Nunn is still quite the looker. Recently I saw the screening of her audition for the part of Princess Leia back in the day. I think she made the right career choice with the whole music thing.
Little Boots
hey, asiangrrl.
Omnes Omnibus
@Mojotron: Bastard.
Just Some Fuckhead
@Gretchen:
I use a cat.
Just Some Fuckhead
Hey hey, girlfriend!
asiangrrlMN
@Little Boots: Hey. How goes it in Madison?
@Omnes Omnibus: With that response, I thought you had been Rickrolled.
@Just Some Fuckhead: ‘Sup, JSF? I need some relationship advice….Snicker.
Steeplejack
@TooManyJens:
My condolences. It’s tough when it’s time for them to go. Hope you get some good advice and help from the vet. You’ll be in my thoughts.
My brother just had to put down his beloved old greyhound after a two-year struggle with cancer (last 16 months on three legs, but still 16 good months).
Just Some Fuckhead
@asiangrrlMN:
Hell, I like you too much to ever do that to ya.
Steeplejack
@Mojotron:
Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown.
Little Boots
@asiangrrlMN:
it goes okay, with the recalls and the recounts and resentments. it’s an interesting time, still, in this city.
arguingwithsignposts
@General Stuck: Dodddamn, now you’ve got my curiosity piqued. are you editing embedded CSS, or the widget CSS? Somebody help me out. that fixed it in FF with web dev. but the widget CSS is all one line (WTF?), so not nearly as straight as the POS embedded CSS.
Omnes Omnibus
@asiangrrlMN: No, eight. Don’t ask why. I am too tired to type the explanation. I know because I tried and I misspelled a math term three times before I gave up. Circumference! That’s it. As you move towards the center of the record, the circumference gets smaller so the groove is shorter, etc. So anyway. Hi.
asiangrrlMN
@TooManyJens: I’m so sorry to hear this, Jen. My thoughts are with you as you help your cat in this difficult time.
@Steeplejack: Sorry about your bro’s greyhound. Sad. How was your mini-vaca?
@Just Some Fuckhead: Dear JSF, if a guy says he needs some space and then moves out of the country, how long should I wait before I move to be with him?
Sincerely, Desperately Clingy
asiangrrlMN
@Little Boots: So, are people still fired up? That was amazing to watch.
@Omnes Omnibus: You must be tired because my joke sailed right over your head. Get some rest, OO. I will keep your commas for you until you need them again.
Little Boots
@asiangrrlMN:
probably not as much as we should be, but I think the recalls will still piss off Walker, which is a good thing.
Omnes Omnibus
@asiangrrlMN: Can’t rest… Waiting to be audience.
Kristine
This has got to be one of the more surreal BJ threads I have ever followed.
So Corner Stone played Princess Leia in a version of SW with soundtrack by Terry Nunn. And it opens on Saturday. And Darth Vader is a drunk. Got it.
Gardening-wise, it’s been so cold in NE Illinois that I have yet to plant anything. I will put in the lettuces and broccoli raab this weekend, and I may start basil in pots. The tomatoes and bell peppers are in the starter tray. A couple sprouts are 2″ tall, others an inch.
@TooManyJens I am sorry. It’s never easy, even when you know it’s coming and you’re sort of prepared. Preparing to deal and actually dealing are two different things. Hug the little bit for me, if she’ll let you.
Omnes Omnibus
@Kristine: It’s Terri, but otherwise you hit the high points.
asiangrrlMN
@Little Boots: Yes. They will. And yes, it is a good thing. Wanker.
@Omnes Omnibus: Ah, yes. Now I see. Sneak tape her! Hope you don’t fall asleep during.
Just Some Fuckhead
@arguingwithsignposts: I took the liberty of using The Dialectizer to translate that from Hacker to English, then from English to Moron:
“God damn, now you’be got my curiosity piked. are you editigg embebbid cascadigg style sheets, duuhhhh, or the, uh, the wijet cascadigg style sheets, duh…uh…? Somebody help me out. Dat fixid it in Fire fox wid webuhb deb but the, uh, the wijet cascadigg style sheet is all one line (huh, duh…uh…?), so not near as straite as de piece of shit embebbid cascadigg style sheet.”
Just Some Fuckhead
Dear Desperately Clingy,
It’s time to spread the rumor he went gay and eloped with a male hairdresser to Bavaria. No man is ever worth waiting for. Sure, easy for you to say you say back to me, you’re a man. The sad truth is, men are all alike, pick one. Blindfold yourself and throw darts in a crowd. Dial up single men randomly from the phone book. Hell, dial up married men randomly from the phone book. They’re usually looking for a little fun and they don’t have the flexibility to just pick up and move out of the country.
Move On,
-JSF
Steeplejack
@asiangrrlMN:
Had a really pleasant day. In fact, I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. One of those rare days free of stress, anxiety and “There’s something I should be doing.” All too rare, unfortunately. And the weather here was beautiful–high 60s, breezy, sunny. Doesn’t get any better than that.
I don’t even begrudge having to get up at 7:15 a.m. to go to work. I’m finishing out the week with two rare day shifts. In fact, I need to start winding down and get to bed pretty soon.
ETA: How has your “sleep hygiene” experiment been going?
Just Some Fuckhead
I gotta hit the sack. Gotta clean the cutters two stories up tomorrow and ya don’t wanna be foggy for that. You all have a wonderful morning and a wonderful mother’s day if I don’t see ya for a while.
General Stuck
Different day, same GOP. loves them some wingnut welfare.
Pathetic
asiangrrlMN
@Just Some Fuckhead: Dear JSF,
::adopts whiny tone::
But he is THE ONE. I have never FELT the way HE made me feel. He means EVERYTHING to me (as you can see by my random caps). He SAID he loved me TOO MUCH and he SAID he forgave me for that little fling with his sister and her boyfriend. He KNOWS I didn’t really care for the mailman or my yoga instructor or that really cute little nurse who took my blood pressure.
He UNDERSTOOD that a woman has needs! He UNDERSTOOD that a woman sometimes has to do a little retail therapy in order to feel better about herself. He UNDERSTOOD that maxing out all our credit cards was a sickness!
I didn’t even know what I had until it was gone!
Sincerely,
Needy and Greedy.
@Steeplejack: Cool. Glad you had a chill day. My sleep experiment has totally failed. For now, I’m just sleeping whenever I can.
ETA: Oh, sure, JSF. Leave before you can answer my letter. Sleep well.
opal
Ya know, it’s the Radisson, so it’s pretty good.
TooManyJens
Thanks for the kind words and the laughs, everybody. It helps.
asiangrrlMN
@General Stuck: Austerity for thee, but not for me and my buddies!
Suffern ACE
@asiangrrlMN: Ummm. So you’re the one my boyfriend keeps telling me about late at night when he asks me to hold him so he can sleep again.
burnspbesq
Dear Needy and Greedy,
Every woman has a time in her life when the only thing to do is to take the paper-towel approach to men (i.e., use them and throw them away). Sounds like this is your time.
Just Some Fuckhead
Dear Needy and Greedy,
The One sounds like a sane and reasonable man, a real catch for you. It’s unfortunate he slipped away but you can get him back with the right bait. I recommend Baby Bait. Nothing will drag his remorseful ass back to you quicker than finding out he’s going to be a father. Men are generally vain creatures so he’ll want a tall, strong son with his eye color, so choose wisely at the gym. If you’re in a hurry or you’ve let your gym membership expire, use a Greyhound Bus station bathroom and just go with the eye color.
Happy Breeding!
-JSF
asiangrrlMN
@Suffern ACE: Can’t…stop…laughing!
@burnspbesq:
Dear burnspbesq,
BUT I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE hi–ooooooooh. Mailman’s here. Bye bye!
Sincerely,
Rebound, Bounce, Bounce, Bounce
@Just Some Fuckhead:
Dear JSF,
You sound very wise and mature. In fact, you sound really hawt. What are you wearinG?
Sincerely,
On the Prowl
P.S. You win. Best advice letter evah.
Odie Hugh Manatee
OT eh? I have some OT to share!
Late last Sunday my little Manx kitteh (5.4 lbs and like a large kitten) started having seizures. As a childhood epileptic (grand mal), though I am familiar with it I was still scared shitless that it was happening. One minute she was on top of our Mustang (in my man cave/garage) and the next she was tumbling down the windshield. Before I could get to her she went rolling off the far side of the hood and disappeared from sight. I had no idea WTH had happened but I ran to the other side of the car and there she was, on the floor, twitching, drooling and with a mouthful of fur. I said her name but it was clear that she had ‘checked out’ and wasn’t aware of my presence.
I carefully picked her up, pulled the clump of fur out of her mouth, comforted her and talked softly while the twitching subsided. After about a minute she was ‘back’, looking confused and scared like she had no idea how she was in my arms. Her mew was unlike any I had heard from her before, it was clear that she was confused and scared. Since she otherwise seemed fine I waited, called the vet Monday morning and they got us in that afternoon. After a full blood workup and exam, the results only showed a slightly elevated white cell count and a slightly low red cell count, nothing else and neither concern the doc right now.
The vet decided to treat the symptoms and we would monitor her otherwise, so he started her on phenobarb (1/2 cc 2x a day). She had a few more seizures but by Wednesday she ceased having them and now you wouldn’t even know that she had them in the first place. Her appetite has improved, her fecal incontinence seems to be in check plus she has mellowed out. She’s a former feral with spinal birth defects known as Manx Syndrome and only lets me pet and pick her up. She’s always been my kitteh (and I her human).
Today my wife saw her sunning herself in the garage entryway and knelt down to talk to her. Since she didn’t get up to get away from my wife (as she usually does), my wife eventually reached out to pet her and she actually seemed pleased at the attention. She was completely relaxed and responded to the petting as any cat would. I was watching and we were both flabbergasted at her response. As my wife said afterward, “I still have my hand!”.
Now my little girl is jumping up on the car without touching the chair I put next to it for her, as if she has always done so. It’s like I have a new cat on my hands. She even let Sammy and Freddy (our other two cats) come up to her and sniff her without any desire to puree them, which is a first. Right now she’s crashed out on my lap as I’m in the garage and on my laptop, softly purring and just enjoying life.
I was scared that the doc would find something bad and although he didn’t, I am aware that something may still crop up so I am watching her closely and checking on her regularly. The vet is a new one since the last one was a shit-for-nothing Teahadist who brings his politics to work and seemed more interested in discussing that on my dime than caring for our pets. That and his weekend advice to my call about our dear departed Maine Coon, Tommy, who seemed to be choking, was to put butter on his tongue. Tommy died two hours after that call and I’ll never forgive that asshole for as long as I live. I was willing to pay the $165 that his answering service said it would cost me if he had to come into his clinic to see us but it was clear that he didn’t want to do that.
The new vet is excellent and it’s clear that his people care deeply about their patients and the work they do. My little Manx didn’t like the old vet (and he was afraid to handle her at all) but she was nervous but didn’t slice anyone up during the exam at the new vet. The vet let me stay in the exam room and I calmed her before carefully transferring her into his arms, continuing to vocally reassure her that everything was ok. Surprisingly, it went well and soon she was back in my arms. Everyone in the office thinks she’s the cutest little thing and the people there were just excellent.
Contrast that with my call to the Teahadist vet on the Monday after our Tommy passed; I called and told them that Tommy had passed, despite his advice about putting butter on his tongue. The new vet thought that advice was nuts for a cat that seemed to be choking and was clearly in distress. The lady asked me why I was calling if the cat was dead and I told her that they could put his paperwork away as he would not be returning to their office. She said, “Oh, ok. Is that all?”, to which I replied “Yes” and hung up. I guess it’s just a job to them, a way to make money and spread their Teahadist bullshit.
I’m happy, our little Manx is happy and the wife is very happy that she can now pet her without fearing for her hand…lol! The phenobarb seems to have given her a new attitude along with halting the seizures. I know things can always take a turn for the worse but right now all is well in our little part of the world.
We’re happy and that’s all that matters right now. :)
Pets rule, teabaggers are drooling fools.
Yutsano
@burnspbesq: I still hate you.
BTW the lesbyterian lawyer at work is interested in possibly networking with you. She’s an expert in immigration law and a helluva collector to boot.
Anne Laurie
@TooManyJens: Is your old girl still eating? Can she be tempted with special treats — strained baby-food chicken, or the oil draine off a can of tuna?
It’s always hard when an old companion reaches the end of her life, but the consolation (for her, if not so much you) is that you have the chance to give her one last gift, a release from pain & failing systems. But it’ still so damned hard, to be Responsible…
Yutsano
@Odie Hugh Manatee: I honestly read that whole thing. And smiled. I hope WereBear asks if she can steal that. And yes I’m planting a seed.
The Swiss Army Knife of Visual Effects
@TooManyJens: My sympathies. My 17 year old boycat is slowly dying of kidney failure. Breaks my heart.
@Odie Hugh Manatee: May your kitteh enjoy good health for years to come.
The Swiss Army Knife of Visual Effects
Back to gardening…AL I haven’t tried the exact Earthtainer system, though I’ve had excellent luck with tomato plants grown in this self-watering system made with 2 five gallon buckets. I got the buckets for free from a local bakery (They used to contain guava jelly for their excellent pastries.) The instructions can be found here:
http://greenroofgrowers.blogspot.com/2008/07/how-make-two-bucket-sub-irrigated.html
I’ve also adapted the greenroof grower’s concept with 2 28lb cat litter buckets, and that’s worked well. I grew squash and japanese eggplant in them. This year, I’m trying collard greens and kale in the litter buckets.
A friend with a good drill helped me make them. It was a bit of work, but well worth it. Although I must admit, I lust after the original Earthbox.
http://www.earthbox.com/
ETA: Living in Los Angeles, these self-watering buckets are a life saver in our hot summers. Also, too, the plants use substantially less water in the buckets than in the ground. Win, win.
opie jeanne
@hamletta: Do tell! I have heard nothing of this but I am relieved to know that my opinion of the man does not have to be rehabilitated.
Parallel 5ths (Jewish Steel)
@Odie Hugh Manatee:
ugh. dreadful.
hooray!
this post has made go all emotional.
P5 (J-Steel) + 7 signing off.
Sarah Proud and Tall
@asiangrrlMN:
Why are you channeling Nancy Reagan?
Fucen Pneumatic Fuck Wrench Tarmal
@Sarah Proud and Tall:
i thought it was shania twain, in many ways, one and the same.
Sarah Proud and Tall
@Fucen Pneumatic Fuck Wrench Tarmal:
Tomato, tomato.
Valdivia
@Fucen Pneumatic Fuck Wrench Tarmal:
How can you compare Shania with Nancy?
stuckinred
@Valdivia: Sinatra maybe.
Valdivia
@stuckinred:
Ha! Funny and agreed.
@TooManyJens: so sorry about your cat. hugs.
Odie Hugh Manatee
@Yutsano:
I looked at it afterward and thought it was a bit long but what the hell…lol! It happened and though there is more to it than that it pretty much covers the main points.
Plant that seed. ;)
@The Swiss Army Knife of Visual Effects:
Thank you very much and I am very sorry to hear of your impending loss. Seventeen years is a long time for a cat and the loss of such a longtime family member has to be very painful to endure. We only had our Tommy for a bit over a year and though he was an old cat when we rescued him, we loved him dearly. He was my wife’s baby boy and we miss him dearly to this very day.
While memories and pictures are all we have left after they leave they will always remain in our hearts. My little girl is not expected to live beyond 4-5 years, as is typical for cases like hers, and I have been steeling myself for the day I dread. Her name is Bobbi and I call her my Bobbi Cat. She’s not a playful cat at all, being rather serious about everything, but she is who she is and I love her for it.
Our pets are our family and I wish you and your boy the very best.
Odie Hugh Manatee
@TooManyJens:
I’m sorry to hear of the difficulties of your loved one and hope that your vet can help both of you get through this difficult time. I wish the best to both of you in this difficult and painful time. I know how you feel and it’s painful to see a loved one slowly slip away, knowing that there is little you can do other than to ease their pain while you endure yours in having to deal with it.
Good luck and my heart goes out to both of you.
@Parallel 5ths (Jewish Steel):
Thanks. Yeah, the crazy bastard puts his teaparty crap on his sign in front of his business now and he regularly writes foaming at the mouth screeds to the local rag. I wish I had known more about him before choosing him as our first vet, the guy is a real piece of shit.
Again, thank you for the smile. :)
harlana
@burnspbesq: Men are nothing but pain-machines and should not be kept around too long
stuckinred
@harlana: puleeezzeeeee
jo6pac
Little behind but I use concrete wire connected to 2×4 and 4×4 post. You can train them to go up the wire and don’t be afraid to trim them
Kristine
@Odie Hugh Manatee: I hope the kitty goodness continues.
chopper
wow, lotta gardening advice in this thread.
i’ve made plenty of self-watering containers, tho prior to the ‘earthtainer’ plans hitting the web. i’ve made similar ones, and i’m reusing one to grow peppers on the fire escape this year. they work great, you just have to tie them down if you’re growing tall vegetables. a good wind will knock your tomato container right over.
also, the old ‘put a stripe of fertilizer on the top of the soil’ thing is a bit of a bubbe meise. use a good organic non-burning fertilizer (or better yet mix up a batch of your own) made mostly with insoluble stuff and mix it all through the potting mix.
chopper
@The Swiss Army Knife of Visual Effects:
the bucket method is only really good for tomato cultivars that like containers. other than that 5 gallons of soil is not nearly enough.