Oh, Erin, I meant to come back to this:

You wouldn't need a deflector shield, with that ammoniacal reek.

Our cats' litter boxes don't get too bad unless I wait a couple days too long to change the litter. (Using pine pellets - once it stops smelling like saw dust, it's time to change 'em.) Even this morning when Harvey was peeing into non-absorbent, non-odor-controlling plastic beads, while there was a scent, it was not strong, or eye-watering. I do remember that sensation from changing litter boxes of cats in the past, back when I still fed them dry food. If your cats' urine is really strong with the ammonia, it may be a sign that they need more hydration. Cats often do not drink enough fluids to keep themselves in optimal health.

Empathy for Harvey, whose urinary tract issues sound very like my own!

Much house~ma, Aims.

Had to skim as have been ridiculously busy - hope everyone else is doing OK.

We're off to BBC TV Centre to record The Girl's panel interview! (Which, we found out to great amusement yesterday, will be broadcast at 5.45 on a Saturday morning. Way to promote feminism, BBC. But there should be an online version at least!) Then Derby to talk about what "disability support" I may need to do my PhD (oh joy). Then home again. And I woke up thinking I had a free day, till The Girl reminded me otherwise. Heh.

Empathy for Harvey, whose urinary tract issues sound very like my own!

I read that too fast and too late. Wondered why Seska was peeing into non-absorbent, non-odor-controlling plastic beads.

Time for bed. Fr srs.

Fuck. The eye vet thinks my dog has a tumor. In it's freaking head. CT next week. This is not good, because if it is a tumor, it's huge enough to pressure on his eye on the inside and make it infected and causing him pain.

Don't need this. I just wish there was something I could do for him. He hardly eats now. Yesterday night I crushed his regular food into yogurt, thinking he's not eating because of the pain, and it worked - but it took ages to do so.

~mas to those who need it.

I'm sorry, Shir. I hope the vet finds a problem that isn't too dire and can be quickly treated.

{{{{Shir&dog}}}} I hope whatever it is, it is treatable.

Empathy for Harvey, whose urinary tract issues sound very like my own!

He sends his best purrs to you, and hopes that yours aren't due to your mother feeding you mostly crappy kibble the first seven years of your life.

Much ~ma to beth's brother. Poor guy. Tough situation.

Shir, I'm so sorry.

beth, I hope things work out.

New cat almost scratched her eye out last night. She has trouble fully retracting her claws and since she's become basically an indoor cat over the past couple of years they're way too long. I came home last night and her eye was all bloody, but after I cleaned it off it's clearly a long scratch that starts on her brow ridge and goes straight down to the lower lid. Fortuntately the actual eye seems fine.

I have mixed feelings about this [link]

On one hand it is an old edition...

I love books as much as anyone, but I find that picture clever and amusing. May the library gods not hurt me. In preparing to move I was wondering what to do with the encyclopedia set my sister gave me when the boys were little. It has to be close to 40 years old, and yet much of the information is still accurate.

{{Shir}} I hope they find something easily treatable.

Best wishes for the BIL, beth.

Do you think you can trim the kitty claws, Brenda? I can't imagine trimming Georgia without damage to me. But she keeps them trimmed on the palm trees outside, and my tires for some reason.

Aims, you keep going mama bear on the uncle. If he dares to attempt to make you feel sorry for him come on back and we'll be happy to remind you that your family comes first. He created his own situation. My favorite response in these situations: Your lack of planning is not my emergency. Cafe Press even has t-shirts. [link]