Barb, all possible strength and good wishes to your FIL. And to Lewis and you and your MIL and his medical team.

Fred, eesh. Is this a medical thing? (I mean, I can't think you just go around restraining 15 lb mini tigers just for fun, but some people juggle geese) If so, all good thoughts.

More good thoughts and wishes for bonny and Bartleby (who is always Bartlebus in my head. I may need a dog to name).

Sparky, that's fabulous news! Synchronus serendipity! And other good S-words. Success! Sweet!

Oh dear. There may have been a smidge too much sugar in that last double-caf latte. Wheeee!

I'm not onerousing today. No. Can't make--okay. Clearing out yahoo email. Why again do I need email from 2002?

Fred, eesh. Is this a medical thing?

Seamus has a touch of the conjunctivitis that's has been going around the house lately. We have to put medicine in his eye -- Interferon, which he absolutely hates, and Terramycin, which he's a little calmer about.

Not a big deal as long as we treat it.

More good thoughts and wishes for bonny and Bartleby (who is always Bartlebus in my head. I may need a dog to name).

Here you go, Beverly...Bartlebus Maximus!

And thanks for the good thoughts. I've had truly humbling offers of assistance, both practical and financial that make the looming decisions at least thinkable.

I know I've said it a hundred times, but he is everything to me. Knowing that he might suffer because of some failing of mine is crushing. But I have hope now.

You all are a blessing.

And speaking of blessings.

It was 6 months ago today that my life was saved by thoughtful people who went way out of their ways for me.

I am grateful for every ounce of caring and caretaking that I received, both for myself and for Bartleby. I am grateful for my renewed health, for modern medicine, for a weird quirk of fate that protected me from a terrible financial outcome and for the generosity of spirit that surrounded me as I recovered.

Thank you all so much for being a part of my greater family...and by greater, you know I mean that in more ways than one!

Barb, I hope everything works out alright for your FiL.

Bartleby looks adorable!

Bartleby is a cutiehead!! And, all kinds of ~ma, bonny. I understand how you feel about him.

In other pet news, I have made some decisions about Mickey. I took him to another vet and I like this one so so much better. After a long discussion, we're treating Mickey's hyperthyroid and letting the mass in his lung be. In order to find out what it is, it would mean a painful procedure. Then, even if it is cancer and surgery is the option, that wouldn't necessarily cure him and would just add more trauma.

Currently, he's fine. He barely coughs (and the cough could clear up as his thryoid gets treated) and he is in good shape. If the cough does get worse, the vet can do some things to alleviate it.

I'm trying to wrap my brain around the situation. It could be a fast-growing bad thing and I'm not going to have much more time left with my baby, or it could be slow and not have much, if any, impact. I'm, of course, really hoping for the latter situation.

((((ChiKat and Mickey)))) A bit of a quibble, though. Our experience has been that the procedures aren't necessarily extremely painful for the cat. But cats are more likely to go under anesthesia for procedures. And the risks of anesthesia are greater if the cat already has health problems.

No way in hell was any adult who was in my life back then going to do any more than sign a paper to get me into school.

This is exactly why I'm opposed to vouchers and the very concept of No Child Left Behind. I know a number of successful people who had uncaring or clueless parents who would never have made any effort to get their children to better schools. If you set up the school system so that the students with involved parents are siphoned off into private schools and better-performing schools that the parents have to drive their children to, you doom the children who in the past pulled themselves up by their own bootstraps, with the aid of a good public school and library system. I don't know what so many people have this fantasy that everyone has good parents.

Yay for Sparky's timely school visit.

Bonnie, I'm glad you're still with us and I hope Bartleby will be for years to come.

What Ginger said.

Plus pet-health-ma to all Buffista pets.