I would put one word of caution, in position of bird feeders. This is *not* from personal experience, so I could be completely off base here. It would stand to reason, if there is a "water cooler" for the birds to hang out at, there could be an increase of... um... bird evacuations, shall we say. Might want to hang the feeder in a spot where you don't mind things in a 6' radius getting bombed.

You are not off-base at all, omnis, as I have discovered. One reason I've decided to move bird-feeder central off my porch itself and into the trees, where normal people hang bird feeders in the first place. IOW, birds do shit where they eat.

Woot! Logic wins again!!!

I use to have so many squirrels around that they killed my front porch plantings. Then a neighbor moved in with two outdoor cats. My mostly indoor cat has issues with the new guys, but my plants are rather grateful. Or, at least, alive.

Is there, like, a yelp for surgeons?

I've been referred to a surgeon for an excusion of a liver adenoma, which i'm totally ok with in a rational, makes sense kinda way. better to get rid of the thing in a scheduled, routine surgery that i can research and prepare for that run a significant chance of having it rupture and ending up with whoever happens to be on duty at the nearest emergency OR. or having it turn into a carcinoma and then having both surgery AND other major complications. It's nice and defined, kinda dangly off the liver so should be relatively easy to lop off. Apparently there are very few surgeons in the Portland area who specialize in livers, and even fewer who don't specialize in transplants. Apparently livers are a little tricky, what with all the blood vessels and bleeding and such. Anyways, while i'm fully in favor of going for it, of course i'm also a little...aprehensive...about any kind of surgery. So I have a consult next week and have been researching and actual proceedure as much as dr google has to offer. But it seems harder to research the Dr. I can get all his background and education and everything his practice wants me to know...but no non-subsidized testimonials from actual patients. Maybe it's asking too much to be hoping for first hand survivor stories for a procedure that is apparently pretty rare to begin with it...but I do enjoy researching. Makes me feel that teeny bit more in control of my own body and future.

Annoyingly, this is in no way related to my ongoing pain issue. Had another MRI (this one with x-ray guided needle placement for injection dye) yesterday and should have the results of that by the end of the week. Fingers crossed it is a minor labral tear that can be fixed with PT and some injections. Signs point to 'very plausible' and dear dog the day after the dye injection is MISERABLE. Pain (already present at all times) +4 walking, +5 standing, +3 sitting on anything less squishy than my sofa. Sitting on sofa tolerable. Looking forward to lying on back on even squishier bed. Left work early to come home, pop vicodin, alternate ice packs and hot epsom salt bath. The itchiness is worth the lessening of pain tonight.

Dear liver: sorry about the vicodin and ibuprofen. It's for a good cause. Feel free to have words with hip about stopping the hurtiness.

Angie's list maybe? I suppose there is no guarantee that enough people who use it would have opinions on liver specialists.

If you can't find a liver specialist who inspires confidence, could a vascular surgeon get the job done?

No lack of confidence...just...no standard for comparison.

eta: and a healthy helping of apprehension. I've never had anything removed from my body except wisdom teeth and blood. Hospitals are scary places to me.

Call your library, Erin. There are books that have background about doctors- or there were. Not sure if it will get you any more than you know, but it is worth a phone call

Just popping to amuse you with this article on fan fiction. Going against tradition, DO read the comments - they're better than the article.