Yesterday, at a few minutes after midnight, our cat Teddy passed away at the age of 15. He became ill about a week and a half ago, and he became much worse overnight Saturday night/Sunday morning. After he spent the night at a local vet emergency clinic, we took him to the University of Pennsylvania vet hospital Sunday afternoon. When we last visited him shortly after 6:00 that evening, he seemed to have perked up. But by 10:30, the vet called to tell us that Teddy's vital signs were becoming unstable. Shortly after midnight, we went into cardiac arrest.

We brought his body back to the DC area yesterday. Funeral services will be held at Noah's Ark Pet Cemetery in Falls Church, VA on Saturday. Time not yet known.

Thanks for all your support and parentheses over the past couple years as Teddy fought a number of illnesses. This is the first chance I've had on the computer since all this happened.

Some ~~ma please. Came home last night (this morning) and noticed that Ollie was walking funny. Then, he wouldn't get up on Em's bed. I watched him and his hind leg kept slipping inwards and then his rump hit the ground. I don't know what he could have done or if he's sick and I'm freaking out. I'm taking him to the vet at 10:30.

I release the ~`ma to GC and whoever else needs it. Ollie is home and on strict restriction. Vet is pretty sure he has a slipped disc and as a result the left hind leg is becoming paralyzed. Ollie is getting prednisone (steroids) and has to be carried outside for business. It might work, it might not and then tough decisions will have to be made. Thank you all for the good vibes for The World's Stupidest Dog.

I'm definitely attending a conference in San Francisco, arriving August 18th (early afternoon) and departing August 20th (early evening). I predict that I'll be happy to ditch events at the conference to meet up with locals.

(I'm still learning - thanks for your patience, all)

I'll be in Atlanta from August 1st to 8th; I don't know how much free time I'll have, since I'm Travelling To See Someone Special(TM), but we'll see!

I'd like to request some of that powerful Buffista jobma, if I may. This morning I handed in an application for a job I would really, really love to do. As the atmosphere at my current place is turning decidedly unpleasant, I could really use a change.

I've been asked for some updating of the Buffista Gifty Database. If it's been a while since you filled this out (I have some from 2003!), or you never did, would you be so kind as to send it to me? Opt in only, so don't do it unless you like being surprised by interesting (and good!) things in the post and don't mind sending the woman in the glowy box your personal information. Complete only the questions that move you, leave blank the ones you don't want to answer, add stuff at the bottom if you feel like it.

Buffista name:
Real name:
E-mail address:
Mailing address:
LJ name, Facebook, Myspace, AIM or other messenger name, chat type contact info:
Telephone number if you want it included:
Top 10 under 10 pick-me-up list (In case you need a smile, what would make you happiest? Postcards; a new pen, refrigerator magnets, a keychain?...)
Birthday (no need to include year if you’d rather not):
Anniversary and type (buffistaversary, marriage, moved in together, coming out, conversion to X):
Name(s) of significant other(s), if applicable:
Name(s) and ages of child(ren), if applicable:
Pet name(s) and type, if applicable:
Name of roommate(s), if applicable:
Holiday system and favorite holiday:
Allergies or sensitivities:
Favorite kind of chocolate or other sweet treat:
Favorite alcoholic beverage:
Favorite non-alcoholic beverage:
Tea or coffee and favorite flavor/kind:
Favorite fruit:
Favorite food:
Favorite scent(s) or scent family:
Favorite flower or plant:
Favorite color:
bath or shower:
Favorite animal:
totem animal(s):
Passion or collection (music, leather, utilikilts?):
Favorite comic book, cartoon or similar character:
Favorite metal:
Favorite stone (river rock, fire opal, diamond):
Piercing(s):
Mac or PC:
Favorite website(s) (after buffistas.org):
Wish-list URL:
Something every Buffista should know about me:
You can/can't share this with any Buffista who asks (posters under 500, regular posters, only posters whose name starts with ‘B’, ask me first):

In 12 hours (eep) I will be at the airport, heading out to Europe until late on the 29th. I don't know if or how often I'll be checking e-mail.

(FIRST CLASS, BABY!)

Boston-area Buffistas! I will be in Boston from Sunday, August 2, to Sunday, August 9. I will be staying with a friend that second weekend, so I may not be free, but during the week, I'm good. Let's have dinner and dominate at pub trivia or something. I'm staying at the same hotel as last time, the Sheraton Boston by the Prudential Center.

If some of y'all would think kindly of my old friend Brian today, I would appreciate it. He's been battling esophagal cancer since January, and while it seemed to disappear for a while, his liver has been shutting down for a couple of days now. Things look bad, and he's having an operation today. The guy is 38, married to another old friend, and has three delightful and very young children. They're in Huntsville AL, so please direct your kind thoughts that way.