Delurking with a little bit of anecdata for JZ.

We became pet owners about six months ago when C. took in two guinea pigs which would otherwise have had to go to the shelter. I am not really a pet person (apart from cats, which we can't do because Mr. Fiona is highly allergic), but Odin and Nelly have won me over.

A couple of weeks ago, C. noticed a hard lump on the left side of Nelly's face? chin? neck? (guinea pig anatomy somewhat ill defined). It didn't seem to hurt but was so big that leaving it alone was not an option. The vet confirmed it was a tumour and, two days later, it was operated out.

The op went well and the tumour came out cleanly. That thing was massive - about the size of one of those wee bouncy balls kids play with, so scaled up for a human frame, about the size of a basketball, I guess. Nelly was fine though, probably more distressed at being kept separate from Odin for a couple of days than by anything else. Her stitches have come out now, and apart from weird fur where she was shaved and which will grow back eventually, she's back to normal and gaining weight again.

I know this is just one data point, but I thought it was funny that two guinea pigs on opposite sides of the world are having the same issues at roughly the same time, and I wanted to let you know that an op doesn't have to end badly. Wishing Prubs and all of you the very best.

Lisinopril was the one that made my tongue swell. I looked like Harry's Aunt Marge. I called the EMTs because I was home alone and didn't really know if the swelling was going to stop or not. Giving directions to the dispatcher was fun. She was quick though, and got almost every syllable. Deserves a raise.

They came, and they sat with me for more than an hour, until it became evident the swelling was decreasing. They left, admonishing me to call if it started up again.

It took me searching for info on "tongue swelling" to find Lisinopril as a culprit. I'd been taking it for five or six years, so who knew what set this incident off. But I'd taken it all that time without any problem.

Not trying to be scary, just a heads up. I hope it keeps working well for all who're taking it.

A lovely double Buffista birthday today! Calli and Burrell both should be treated with love today, and every day. May this year bring much joy.

I used to always tell my mom that I only believed in drugs for recreational purposes. I can still see her shaking her head at me.

According to 23 and Me I am actually genetically disposed to rely on vision, rather than proprioception for knowing where my body is in space. And that makes me predisposed to be afraid of heights! I though it was just because my mom and grandpa and uncle were afraid of heights!!! Oddly enough, other uncle’s job was cutting trees around power lines in those big cherry picker trucks.

How interesting, Sophia! I should read more of my 23andMe reports.

Happy Calli and Burrell day!

Yikes, Bev! And after you’d been taking it a while, gosh. Well, good to know that is a thing that can happen.

Man, I should have gone to get my blood drawn instead of starting work this morning, work is very stupid today.

I know this is just one data point, but I thought it was funny that two guinea pigs on opposite sides of the world are having the same issues at roughly the same time, and I wanted to let you know that an op doesn't have to end badly. Wishing Prubs and all of you the very best.

Thanks, Fiona! Good to see your pixels too.

There's a woman on YouTube (she does historical clothing) who has a pet guinea pig; as a present, her sister painted a portrait of said guinea pig as a Renaissance nobleman.

I had the weirdest dream last night involving Eddie Brock/Tom Hardy (it kept changing in the dream) but no Venom and Deadpool and some weird demon dog thing that I had to go through some kind of video game type sequence to flip to a devoted, affectionate, dog who could fight for me. Part of it was very action-y/video game ish and then the rest was more a domestic thing. Where someone who looked like Martin Freeman was my step dad, who I saw as more of my real dad. To the point where I forgot (in the dream) he wasn't my real dad.

For you Friday Night Lights fans, Scott Porter as part of an a cappella rendition of the Halo theme music: [link]