Last night Nathaniel, my cancer cat did not eat . this morning he is lethargic. Like I put him on the couch and there he sits. he won't purr. So I have to call the vet. Part of me is really really scared. A tiny part of me is pissed because today was supposed to be a day off with nothing scheduled.

Oh beth, I'm sorry today is not the peaceful, relaxing day you deserve. All the best purr-vibes to Nathaniel.

Has anyone ever used AZO test strips to self-diagnose a UTI? I can't decide if I'm sick or not, and these would be cheaper and easier than a doctor visit.

Best thoughts to you, Beth, and to Nathaniel.

(((Cass))) In my thoughts. Always.

omnis, that was a wonderful thing to do. That's a thing to bask in on dark, pointless days.

I am womanfully restraining myself from expressing a public opinion of erin-o's former relative by marriage. Not my place, man.

Feel better, Zen.

Nice delayed Valentine's Day, sj.

I missed the convo about parental shortcomings, but I resonated like a tuning fork to much of it. I'd love to hear what my kid has to say about us, now that he's an adult. I know we screwed up along the way.

Hey y'all. I've been reading along, just fighting through a period of inarticulate. So, hi.

Has anyone ever used AZO test strips to self-diagnose a UTI?

I have, it told me I had one. So I went to the walk in clinic and told them that I'd done it, it expedited the process. They still took a sample from me while there, but told me it was just in case the a-b's didn't work.

((( Beth b))) I hope it's nothing serious.

My stepmonster would totally do that(in fact, if you read back, you might find how my brother's graduation announcement from college became all about her and how I, mannerless heathen, purposely left her name off.) Note: was following a template that didn't have four parents, as favor to other set--I'm still not sure that everyone vaguely parental needed to be included, but if they did, honest mistake. No, she called me up and screamed at me. Then she called Bro up and screamed at him, too. But he was at work, and he has the magic penis, so when he told her to shut up she did. It's awful to say, but my life's gotten easier since cancer saps her energy.

Note: was following a template that didn't have four parents, as favor to other set--I'm still not sure that everyone vaguely parental needed to be included, but if they did, honest mistake.

That was a bit of a fraught issue with our wedding invitation; on Tim's side, his mother is dead, and on my side are cordial-on-the-surface-but-acrimonious-underneath divorced parents, including a stepdad. And listing my parents (birth and step-) in any sort of order would imply (in my dad's mind) that one of them contributed more financially, etc., etc.

We ended up picking a design that had room for one line at the top to list the parents, where, because of the way the text boxes were placed, there was room for "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" and "Mr. and Mrs. Jones", which we just changed to "The Family of the Bride" and "The Family of the Groom" and then braced ourselves for wailing and gnashing of teeth that someone deserved to be listed by name on the invitation.

Surprisingly, everyone was cool with it. (They didn't get input on the invitation; we just designed them and sent them out and held our breath.)

But DAMN, every little everything is such a big damn deal. Especially when, like with a college graduation, it's NOT ACTUALLY ABOUT YOU, oh parental units or parent-like units.

At the vet. He has a fever , so I just dr googled. It is not über high. They are running test. It could be nothing or a reaction to the last chemo drug or an infection . Oddly I am less worried. And now dh is headed home. He should have stayed home because he was sick all weekend

(beth) I hope both Nathaniel and DH improve quickly.

Beverly!! Good to see you always.

"The Family of the Bride" and "The Family of the Groom"

Awesome plan! I can't even imagine going through that stuff or giving my kids a hard time about such choices. Chances are at their ages they still think we suck as parents but I hope by the time they are 30 they will have a better impression.