July 3, 2018

Happy update! Was: I need kitten advice!

Updated to add, Lady Liberty, AKA Libby, has found her forever home. She was presented by her new mom to her new brother as "his" kitten. He is over the moon happy. Libby spent the morning snuggling with her new human siblings. I purchased a case of cat food and gave her new mom some money to cover the cost of the first vet visit.

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Thanks to all. Oh, BTW, she not only pooped on the towel in the "shower hotel" last night, but pooped in the crate on the way to her new home today. Such a little thing made such a stink!

As I was driving today, I turned a corner and the car ahead of me was stopped. The door opened, an arm came down, and then they pulled away.

I saw something in the road, and thought it might be a dead opossum. Nope. It was a tiny kitten. It was 91 degrees and someone dropped it on asphalt.

I have a home for it starting tomorrow, but tonight it's safe in my glass-enclosed shower. A couple of questions:

I've put water in a shallow bowl, and it's eaten a bit of cat food twice. Is it okay for me to leave the cat food out for it? It hasn't had a drink that I can tell.

I have a towel in the corner of the shower for it to curl up in. I have made a litter box with a shallow cardboard box and some newspaper. I've given it some cuddles as well.

Is there anything else I'm missing until I deliver it tomorrow? How often to cats urinate/defecate? Drink water? What should I worry about? Will it make itself warm enough in the shower? Our air conditioning is at about 75 in the house.

Thanks, from a dog owner!

June 21, 2018

I fixed Melania's jacket for her.

[link:|

June 19, 2018

"¡Primero con Papa! ¡Primero con Papa!"

That little child, calling for Papá on the Propublica audiotape. Crying for Papá. I can envision a campaign commercial with this sobbing, bereft child's voice and Donald Trump's ugly face.

June 14, 2018

New rescue pup pooping in house

We got a new little guy, about 3 years old, from a rescue a bit over two weeks ago. He's doing well - knows nothing obedience-wise, but he's slowly learning. We've had two pee accidents and tonight was his fourth poop accident. I have had most of the house closed off to him and am opening it up slowly. Here's what I've been doing:

Wake up in the morning, quick potty outside, breakfast, and then an immediate walk where he'll generally pee and poop
Mid-day walk (me or dog walker)
Potty outside when I come home from work
Dinner at 6, immediate walk outside where he'll generally pee and poop (if I can't, I kennel him briefly, then walk)
Potty outside in the evening

I am praising him, "Good potty! Good business!" for #s 1 & 2, like I've always done.

This evening, I fed him dinner and he ate, bolted to the guest bedroom, and immediately pooped. I cleaned it up, didn't say anything (he's lightning fast) and put him in the crate. There he sits. I didn't reprimand him. I had JUST taken him out to pee at 5:30 when I got home, and he peed (reluctantly - I needed to encourage him and stay out with him), but didn't poop.

I'm at a loss. My next idea is to feed him in the crate, assuming if I can't get him outside immediately, he probably (!?!) won't poop in his crate.

Any other ideas are most welcome.

June 10, 2018

I'm in my car. Who is on CNN with Jake Tapper

right now? Thanks!

May 18, 2018

I'm taking our boy to his final visit to the vet tomorrow.

Our darling Jack, little ruffian rescue dog who barged into this house full of testosterone - and heartworms, as it turned out, has been with us for a little over 8 years. He has become the most wonderful dog. Everyone who visits wants him to sleep with them, and he does. When we visited my elderly dad, Jack looked at me as if to say, "Just to let you know, I'm going to sleep with Grandpa. Okay, bye." Off he'd go.

He has mitral valve disease and collapsing trachea. He coughs day and night, and I'm medicating him twice as much. He wakes me up panting at 3 a.m. I believe while he's not in pain, he's struggling.

This is the hardest decision - everyone in the family agrees, but I'm just plagued with uncertainty. Yet, I know.

I just lost it feeding him his dinner tonight. Boy loves to eat, still.

May 12, 2018

Female & Male, or Female & Female?

One of our dogs, our spayed female dachshund/papillon Chloe, seems to get along with the male dogs in our extended family better than the female. We have six dogs between all four couples (daughters & husbands & us): Four males, two females including Chloe. Right now, Chloe and Jack are our two dogs. I'm looking at other dogs on Petfinder, and have been limiting my search to male dogs.

Do any of you have experience with females living with other females, or is my gut telling me to get a male the best choice?

Thanks in advance!

April 21, 2018

I need a group hug.

I’m at my Dad’s. He’s 90 and a staunch Republican. I can’t even tell you about our conversation today because I’d be slapped down for spouting Republican talking points. HIS talking points. Everything you’ve heard, on steroids. When I asked him if it’d be okay for any political party to have received help from a foreign government, it took him wading through five tries to say it wouldn’t be okay. Other things he’d “never heard about that.” All I can say is he’s moved on from Fox to a station called “One America News.”

I just can’t. I’ve left the basement where the tv is and am up I’m the living room.

So sad.

April 12, 2018

OMG, I'm watching Chris Hayes and he's allowing this Republican Congressman to filibuster

the ENTIRE conversation.

Where is Joy Reid when we need her?

April 7, 2018

Need advice: Having VHS tapes transferred - do I ask for DVDs or USB?

We have 40+ videotapes of our family dating back to 1988 (we rented that camcorder, I'm sure of it!) Our daughter and I just went through and labeled all of the tapes and I've found someone locally who will digitize them. I'm not sure if I should ask for DVDs (old technology, I know) or USB/thumbdrive. I have a newer computer with a built-in DVD so I can easily watch them. We also have a few DVD players in the house.

Can I transfer them to USB by myself? Has anyone done this before? Thanks in advance for advice