Yeah, what Hil said--I felt like we spent one whole semester on learning how to give directions and describe a room.

I took it because I was interested, and I"d wanted to take it during college but they didn't offer it. And because I was in DC and Gallaudet was right there. I liked it but (a) it met on Saturdays from 9-1, which seemed very early when I was 23, and (b) by the time I hit fourth or fifth semester they started acting like we were planning to become interpreters, and requiring a lot more stuff than I was prepared for (and throwing a fair bit of attitude, also).

I still find it fascinating, but then again, if I won the lottery one of the things I'd do is move a different place every few months/years, and take classes in the local language and stuff. I like language.

I am trying my hand at meatloaf again. I bought a box of food service gloves, and they make the experience much less oogy, plus the meat doesn't stick to the gloves the way it does to hands.

I mixed sharp cheddar in the meat and put a bunch in the middle of the meat loaf. I keep thinking cutting up some turkey sausage into chunks and mixing it in would be good too.

How many times have y'all wrote out a post. Read through it and then just deleted instead of posting?

I might do that more often than I post.

Go you with the innovative meatloafs, Connie! That sounds great.

That's really cool, Hil & meara, about ASL. The differences between languages are fascinating.

So I just got off the phone with the vet, and yeah, TNG has cancer. They are assuming I'll want to operate, and probably I will, except she is losing mobility pretty fast. I will want to talk to them about how fast the tumor will grow/metastasize, and how long she has if I don't operate.

Thing is, she is so sensitive a temperament that the slightest thing knocks her off. Just coming out of the mild sedation for the needle biopsy resulted in her having diarrhea all over the living room yesterday. I am having a hard time imagining how she'd do after actual surgery. Not well.

If she's only got a short time left, I want it to be a low-trauma as possible for her.

I'm sorry, Consuela. Poor dog, and poor you stuck with the hard decisions.

You and TNG have my sympathy, even though I would have named her DS9. :)

I have never eaten meatloaf. It looks like a really big flat meatballs, and I haven't had one of those in 35 or so years. Fufu, my mother would cook, but not fry chicken. She's kind of weird.

Theoretically speaking I could try it on my own, but I'm doubling over with lasagne lust at the mo. I still haven't really et solid food for a few days, and although I partly don't mind, I'm partly obsessed with the idea of lasagne. I have pasta sheets, probably mincemeat, lots of tomato product and the right seasonings. I might only need to buy cheese!

If she's only got a short time left, I want it to be a low-trauma as possible for her.

It's so hard to tell a critter that the recuperation they're suffering through is for a good thing.

Consuela, I'm sorry to hear it -- whatever the outcome, I wish you and TNG comfort.

Thanks, folks. She seems fine today; no accidents in the garage. (Although she did tear up the cushion I left with her, sigh.)

I have a Monday morning appointment with the oncologists. (Sorry, boss! Dog is more important.)

I'm so sorry, Consuela.