Dart's shaved belly


Dart is doing well so far at home.  The bandage on his foot is where they left in his catheter just in case.  I am taking him in later today to have it removed. 

Hopefully the worst is over now and the healing and fur regrowth can begin.

( The gory details... ) 

The ultrasound guy is fully booked today, so we may not get to check for an obstruction in his gut until tomorrow.  He is on IV fluids, but was still vomiting as of an hour ago, even after prevention meds.  It also could be an ulcer. He will stay overnight tonight getting rehydrated, and after that I am not sure.  The good news is that his liver enzymes in the bloodwork this morning were back to the normal range.

My poor buddy.

I just got a bunch of new invite codes for Dreamwidth.  Anyone still looking for one?  Know anyone who is looking for one?

After finding blood in his urine on Sunday I had to take Dart back to the vet yesterday morning.  New doctor thinks he has a stress-induced Urinary Tract Infection which doesn't respond to antibiotics since it's not bacterial.  She gave him painkillers and some anti-straining meds and recommends subcutaneous fluids for a few days. 

I'll take him back this afternoon for today's subcue fluids so that I can monitor him after.  He did seem to feel better yesterday evening.  But now we are up to 2 pills twice a day plus liquid meds twice, plus the after fasting/can't eat for an hour pill once a day.  Poor thing.  He is taking it like a trooper so far though. 

This is in addition to whatever happened with his liver, which is still undiagnosed.  It's still another 25 days before I get any news on that at all.

I don't know much more than I knew before.  Dart continues to show signs of feeling like his old perky, active self.  His urinalysis was clear so the problem was / is wholly in the liver so far as we can tell.

The next steps are antibiotics for 30 days along with liver antioxidants to see if that stops whatever is going on in the liver, which is hopefully a bacterial infection rather than cancer or toxins.  After 30 days we re-test him and if he is still having liver issues then we will need to go further to find the cause, the next step would be an ultrasound I gather.

The new meds mean a new routine for all of us since the liver antioxidant needs to be taken after all-night fasting an hour before eating.  The boys are used to being fed when I wake up in the morning, so they were confused by the wait (and Dart by the pill) this morning, but mostly cooperative. 

I am just hoping for the best for my dear boy that the damage is minimal and can be kept that way.

Thanks to all who sent good thoughts and wishes!

Dart seems to be feeling better this morning.  He is back at the vet for observation and diagnosis, so I still don't know much.  He is on antibiotics now and perhaps that accounts in part for his feeling more energetic.  The x-ray showed a normal sized liver so I am hoping that this was perhaps just an infection and is not a more serious issue like liver cancer. 

Dart started acting strangely on Saturday night, he spent much of the night in hiding.  On Sunday I considered taking him to the emergency vet, but he ate ok and just seemed lethargic.  I figured it was not a crisis, so I got him an appointment with his vet today. He seemed a bit better on by Sunday evening and on Monday, more active though still not himself.

( here are the details I have so far )

So the bottom line is I will know more once I have met with his vet tonight and can get him back home to see how he does. But it sounds like it could be quite serious.  Given his history I knew he could have health issues down the road, but I didn't expect them to come so soon.

That explains it!  There was a little mis-communication and the catsitter thought I was coming home yesterday afternoon! No wonder the cats were out of food!  Well, no harm, no foul, it's not like these guys are going to starve in one day.  They had plenty of water, they were just really lonely...

My poor boys

Well, I was at home, now I am at work for at least a half day.  My flight from Chicago got in to SFO an amazing one hour early!  That allowed me time to go home and change, put the cheese haul in the fridge and feed and pet the boys for a minute.  I got to work at 11:00 AM and will try to hang in here til 3 PM.  Then I can go HOME!!

The poor boys were completely out of food when I got home, which means that the cat sitter probably had not been there yet this morning.  Dart was completely jazzed to have me home, as soon as he had eaten he jumped up into my arms and then followed me around as I got changed and partially unpacked.  I gave him as much petting and belly rubbing as I could before having to run out the door again.  Poor guy, he gets so lonely when I am gone.

Madison was great, but it's nice to be home.

Slept in and so got here a bit late today.  After sleeping in I went to the vast Farmers Market where a number of artisinal cheeses jumped off of the tables and into my bag.  Then I dropped into Walgreens to buy a small cooler in which to transport them home.  I really only got 1/2 way around the market before I started to feel the affects of no food for 16 hours, and left for breakfast.  After breakfast I headed off to the Concourse where I have ended up in the Tiptree Bakesale room munching on their gluten free options for dessert while checking in online.

Yesterday was my full program day, so from here on there are just a few items that I want to attend for sure.  I have not yet set foot in either the Dealers Room or Art Show, so those are on the agenda for today.

Yesterdays panels were all very good.  The "Apes who Pray" panel ran late by agreement though I was somewhat disappointed that we didn't really get beyond the initial discussion of whether religious tendancies are something that is hard-wired into the human brain.  Oh well, I enjoyed the discussion nonetheless.

For the next best thing to being there, you should read badgerbag 's liveblog from the Not Another &%!@ Race Panel which was really hilarious.

Today I plan to attend the Safe Space at Cons panel and later will help out at the auction.  After which I will drop by at the Verb Noire party.  Hope to see some of you there!

Hanging for the moment in the lobby, jsut taking a few minutes off my feet after a busy couple of hours.  I gotta remember that when I ask if help is needed, the answer will usually be yes, now and not when I meant to ask about on Saturday night.  Not that I am complaining, but I hadn't planned to help with auction set up this morning.  I certinly had some fun doing it though, and actually came up with what I think is a pretty cool solution for displaying the jewelry.  So first thing I get to feel like I made a little contribution!  All because I was dropping off my contribution which was the Jayne Cobb cunning hat by jocelyncee  I won in the accessiblehouse auction.

I forgot my badge at the Inn on the Park this morning, but wild_irises quickly got me a temp replacement so I don't have to go back to the hotel to get my real one just now.

The plan for today is Cultural Appropriation 101 at 2:30, Rethinking the Disabling Metaphors at 4:00, dinner with friends, evening panels not another race panel and Apes Who Pray and some of the LiveJournal party if i am not too tired.

I have been excused from Jury Duty after having been on call for 1/2 a day.   Although today would not have been a good day to miss work, I am still a little disappointed.  I am one of the few people who actually doesn't mind jury duty.  I find it interesting to watch the legal process and to get a glimpse into peoples lives.

On the other hand, it's a pain to miss work for it, and there is often too much waiting involved.  I do think it's a vast improvement they have made with the call in and online standby systems.  As opposed to past times when I've spent day after day in the courthouse and never had my name called.

Anyway, I'm off the hook for another year.

Do apples make you hungry? I don't mean the thought of apples making your mouth water.  I mean does eating an apple make you feel hungrier?

I knew I would be eating lunch later than usual today so I grabbed my apple as a snack, knowing it was probably a mistake to do so.  Sure enough, 30 minutes later I felt like I hadn't eaten in three days.  is it just me?

Yesterday I read this post from dolphin_girl which I found to be very thoughtful and educational.

Today I read this reply from kuangning  and it breaks my heart.  This is why I keep reading.

kuangning
</a></div>  is right.  No one should have to cry or yell to make themselves heard, or believed.  No one.



ETC: username

I have been planning a post for a while because I HAVE been following the conversation pretty much from the beginning.  If you don't know what I am talking about, you can start here at Seeking Avalon and then you can go here to the comprehensive links post from rydra_wong .

I am in the position of having no real power in this debate, I don't know most of the individuals who are involved.  I live my life mostly on the edges of fandom. I have never been involved in writing or publishing.  But I care very much about SF & F as a reader and occasionally con-goer.  I have been mostly a silent participant so far, but I just can't hide behind my privilege anymore.  I want to be among the many who have spoken out against the failures at the heart of this massive conversation.

After reading La La La, I can't hear you I just wanted to publicly acknowledge that I am as rosefox says "taking the first step of admitting this is a problem" for me and others around me and I want to continue "to learn about ways to make things better. "

As my friend and mentor wild_irises  has suggested, I will continue to read, and to listen and to learn.  I will keep an open mind and an open heart.  I will not let myself get defensive.  If I show my ass, please, please tell me it's showing.

I know that is not enough.  sugargroupie is right to say "Your words mean fuck-all to me if your mouth has written a check that your ass can't cash. Simply put, actions are louder than words. It's not just about working on your own privilege, but following through on that work."

I can only write words here, and I know it is not enough.  A promise to keep learning and to keep listening  and to try to be better is not enough.  But it's all I have for now.

LOL at Brent Spiner

4 hours ago: I'm leaving for a while. Going to try to find myself.

1 hour ago: Okay, I found myself. Now I'm trying to get over myself.

30 minutes ago: I think I'll stop there. Before I get ahead of myself.

I guess this is why I joined twitter, to follow people who are wittier than I.

This was a nice Potlatch and it was nice to have a chance to go.  It has been a number of years since I have been able to attend, for various reasons, so it was almost like a new experience for me.  My favorite part of Potlatch was seeing a number of people who I have not seen in quite some time and reconnecting with them, but it was also a great jewelry weekend for me.  Running the auction was a valuable experience, most of which I enjoyed.  I am releived that it went so well, and was so successful.

I think having the Auction drop-off table was helpful.  My hope was that it would inspire people to drop their contributions off sooner rather than later so that they could be entered into the database a little easier.  I think for the most part it worked, though there were still a couple of things that came in <1 hour prior to the start of the auction.  There were still some things missing out of the database, but mostly everything was organized.  It also helped to let people know who I was, since I haven't been around the community much recently.

I managed to see some programming on Saturday, and have lunch and dinner with friends, so despite the impending auction, it was a nice day.  One of my favorite things on Saturday was having elisem make a pendant from a lovely Murano glass bead my sister gave me some years ago.  I will try to photograph it later and post it.  It is stunning.

The auction itself was a good deal of fun.   klages made a surprise appearance after having the misfortune of an injury and volunteered to auctioneer.  I especially felt for her when she made the comment that it was very difficult to perform without being able to scamper about as she might normally do.  Co-auctioneers Jay Lake and Tom Whitmore kindly began to dance in her stead. "It's just not the same." she said whistfully. 

All three did a terrific job, selling some very interesting items.  The book "Cooking in Alaska" which was a whimsical donation because of the picture of Potlatch hats it contained sold well when Ellen pointed out a recipe for some sort of candy that seemed to involve copious amounts of lard.  Tom and Jay somehow managed to sell  the book "All I Ever Wanted to Know I Learned from Star Trek" not once, but twice after imnotandrei paid us to take it back and auction it again.  Jay did a particularly nice job of modeling the custom pendant that Elise was donating, which was to be made at her table the next day.  Though he might have broken it, throwing it like that!

On Sunday morning I decided that rather than store two boxes of books that the Dealers said were pretty much worthless for a future auction, we would have a clearance sale.  We managed to sell all but 1/2 a box and those I bought and will post on Bookmooch.  If you put out books, you can trust fans to come and adopt some.

I closed up shop in time for the Helixes, Corals, and Brains: "Oh My!" panel with kate_schaefer elisem  and Laurie Edison. This was a terrific panel with each artist talking about their process, their inpiration and how it relates to math, science and nature.  light_of_summer has already posted a poem she wrote inspired by the panel.

After this panel I rushed off to join the basic wireworking class elisem was holding.  It was a wonderful class, and I am very much looking forward to getting together with a friend who also attended and practicing what i learned.  Everyone came away with a pendant and pair of earrings they made, and I am very happy with mine.  I was able to finally find a way I liked to use some cool beads I had been struggling with, thanks to the gift of some spacers.  

I got home about 6:15 last night and managed to stay awake until a little after 8 PM.  Tonight I will have to give a lot of attention to the wayward boys, who were quite unhappy to see me leave again this morning.

The good news this morning is that my company is not having another round of lay-offs (YAY!!!!!!), at least not anytime soon.  So my job is reasonably safe for now. 

I will post more about Potlatch later, I had intended to live-blog from the auction but my computer was in use, and not by me so that didn't happen.  I was busy anyway, but it would have been fun to share a few moments.  we raised about $2,400 for Clarion West, so I am very pleased with the outcome. There was also some good entertainment and a few bargains were had.

7:45 PM:  15 minutes to the start of the auction.  Gee, I hope one or more of the auctioneers arrive soon.

In the "Invocation Against Entrophy" Chiasstic Farrago performance.  It is nice to hear poetry read really well.

I am nervous, but I think we are ready.

Still in the Scalzi rule panel:

light_of_summer  made the suggestion for a rule that if someone begins grandstanding in a panel that if three other audience members stand up it means that person must sit down. 

But, as irontongue points out, this could lead to conspiracies to shut certain people up.