I'm using my new toaster oven for the first time. So far, it hasn't caught fire, but it is ticking at me to let me know it's working.

I think I prefer the flames.

Does anyone know anything about the Cambridge Who's Who Among Executive and Professional Women? Because they want to list me, and I cannot believe this is not some sort of a scam.

A few years ago they wanted to list me too, Zen, which is why I believed it was a scam. I posted here about it, and was convinced by the response. Not that I remember what that was.

Who's Whos are pretty much all scams. Scam may be too harsh a word, actually, but basically you're paying money to have your name listed in a book that only you and the other people who paid will ever look at or care about.

Also, whoo-hoo! I challenged something on my credit report, and just got an email that my score jumped 44 points by getting rid of that item. Especially good right now with scary mortgage issues coming up.

I don't know what to do.

Basically, there's a lack of information here. I don't know what the possibilities are for Senor if he were to see a specialist.

Here's an annoying thing. There are a number of specialist clinics in the Northern (read: upscale) suburbs of Chicago. But apparently they all have long waiting lists. Like, weeks. So what the veterinary hospital sometimes does is transfer a pet to one of the specialty clinic's emergency facilities (before the clinic's regular facilities are open) and then when the clinic opens (say, tomorrow morning) they are transfered to their regular facilities and receive immediate treatment. So one problem for me is I wouldn't even be able to talk to anyone at one of these clinics (at least, I don't think so) before transferring him there.

The emergency vet has told me Senor's problems are beyond them. (Senor is 11 years old, btw.) Like I said, she has her suspicions it's brain and/or nerve related, but she can't give me any thoughts on prognosis, etc.

If there was a good chance the specialty clinics could find the problem and restore some quality of life, I'd be all for it. But if that's not a realistic hope, then it doesn't really make sense. Because while I would be willing to pay thousands of additional dollars in the former case, it seems to me in the latter case I'd probably be able to do more good by, say, donating money to an animal shelter.

But I just don't know. So far I've found nothing about his specific condition through googling. I could ask the vet if she thinks there's a realistic chance one of these clinics could find out the problem and restore some quality of life. The last time I talked to the vet she seemed rather pessimistic. She said his declining temperature (despite being in the incubator) is a sign his brain has stopped maintaining his body temperature in order to focus on "more important things."

Some background - in the last ten or so years, there's been an explosion in "pet critical care" where pets are now routinely given complex, expensive treatments/surgeries/diagnostics etc. that once only humans received. I guess that's a good thing. But then I also have this image in my brain of wealthy suburbanites spending fortunes to prolong their pets' lives when the increased lifespan ends up being small.

I'm not sure where I'm going with this part. A friend of mine once took her sick dog to one of these veterinary clinics in an affluent suburb - she said it bothered her that the vet there was wearing a gold watch and a suit ten times more expensive than her father did when he was a doctor.

I guess I rambled a bit. Thank you all for your support.

Aw tommy, it's a difficult position to be in. How much more would an additional consult at a specialist be? I think I would go for the consult with the specialist, but wait to talk to them before okaying anymore tests and treatments, to see if they have a better idea of prognosis. But I know everyone has different thresholds of care when it comes to pets.

Nilly is correct. It is my birthday today.

Well, then, felicitations, Sean! I'm so glad you were born and glad you're a Buffista. May it be a peaceful and mellow day for you and S, and the beginning of a deeply good year.

Happy Birthday, Sean!!