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[tallyollyopia]

I think my favorite children's book had to be The Holly and The Ivy, the Christmas story. When I got my first job I saved up for two paychecks to be able to afford a copy (the bills were horrendous so I couldn't put too much away at a time--and I was saving for tuition as well). Then, one Christmas, after a horde of relatives descended upon the house someone switched out my copy of The Holly and The Ivy  with the Velveteen Rabbit. (I never really liked The Velveteen Rabbit; the book made me cry a lot as a kid.)

 

[NewYork1303]

 
I think my favorite children's book had to be The Holly and The Ivy, the Christmas story. When I got my first job I saved up for two paychecks to be able to afford a copy (the bills were horrendous so I couldn't put too much away at a time--and I was saving for tuition as well). Then, one Christmas, after a horde of relatives descended upon the house someone switched out my copy of The Holly and The Ivy  with the Velveteen Rabbit. (I never really liked The Velveteen Rabbit; the book made me cry a lot as a kid.)

The Velveteen Rabbit really is a heartbreaking book. So beautiful. But absolutely heartbreaking as well. My mother has a specific version that she likes that has truly incredible pictures.

 

[tallyollyopia]

 
The Velveteen Rabbit really is a heartbreaking book. So beautiful. But absolutely heartbreaking as well. My mother has a specific version that she likes that has truly incredible pictures.

I don't know if this one has good pictures in it or not. The story is so heartwrenching that I can't bring myself to open it to look. (I keep hoping at at another family gathering The Velveteen Rabbit  will disappear and The Holly and The Ivy  will reappear--but it's been years now so I don't think that's going to happen.)

 

[donutte]

It is part of a veterinarians job to recommend all available treatment plans not just ones they think you can afford. And the same vet should have the skill set to work with you on a treatment plan that is effective and sustainable for your budget.  I guess the question is does his prognosis change with or without the electrocardiogram. It wasn't that long ago that all these bells and whistles from human medicine weren't common in the vets office. Even as a specialist.
Like most of us and I'm sure yourself. You want Artie to enjoy every minute of his life that is possible. When treatments become the focus of his whole day what's left ? And I'm not including the pilling. NO cat seems to like that.

Agree, 100%. My vet most definitely talks through all the options with me. When Sara was sick, there were some we ruled out off the bat because the $$$ was just too high. Others, we'd talk through it and determine if we'd actually change anything based on the results. We had these discussions many times, going through the same options each time. I think only once did I actually consider the ultrasound, but my vet thought it would be more like opening Pandora's box, and then asked me if I'd be able to treat anything that came up, or just keep doing what I'm doing. So, ruled it out yet again.

Definitely, treat the symptoms. My mom feels that way about herself at this point. She argues with her doctor who keeps wanting to treat the illnesses, and those treatments make her feel worse. She's not dying or anything, but just decided she's at an age (almost 79) where she would rather not put herself through such things.


Finally got around to brushing the youngin's teeth tonight. I swear, the first one I do warns the other two, and I go crazy trying to catch them. Then the little mat thing that Maple smells on had a smell of urine on it today. Not strong enough that someone actually peed on it, but more like someone had pee on them or something and then laid on it. Maple didn't smell bad herself but I wiped her down anyway. She hated it. I cleaned off the mat and sprayed enzymatic cleaner on it, and now it's hanging in my bathroom for the time being. Will wipe it down again tomorrow and then do the same with the other one. Then I need to check the other places that Maple frequents just to be sure.

I'm hoping she didn't have some "leakage" or something after getting all in a huff with Pea-Pea. Oh, they were not fighting, they weren't even touching, but with the panther-like noises coming out of Maple, you'd think Pea-Pea was killing her. No, Pea-Pea was on the floor and she was up on her little "bed" (pile of blankets on a box) by my bedroom. Pea-Pea was staring at her, but that was it. Then even after she went away, Maple was still growling. Geez.

 

[margd]

I have a question which is a complete change of subject but I'm looking for input on something.  I don't have a couch at the moment and it's a problem because Chula wants to sit next to me and there isn't room in the chair I use.  She won't sit on my lap.  The result is that she keeps trying to get me to go sit on my bed where she can snuggle.  Paul will sit on my lap but could also use the space of a couch.  So....now  I'm looking at couches.  Money, of course, is an issue.  The question is:  do I go for a well made second hand couch or an inexpensive probably cheaply made new couch?  I've bought second hand couches before with no problem but have since heard of people getting bedbugs that way and....no.  Just. No.

 If anyone has any feedback, I would deeply appreciate it!  

 

 

[donutte]

I have a question which is a complete change of subject but I'm looking for input on something.  I don't have a couch at the moment and it's a problem because Chula wants to sit next to me and there isn't room in the chair I use.  She won't sit on my lap.  The result is that she keeps trying to get me to go sit on my bed where she can snuggle.  Paul will sit on my lap but could also use the space of a couch.  So....now  I'm looking at couches.  Money, of course, is an issue.  The question is:  do I go for a well made second hand couch or an inexpensive probably cheaply made new couch?  I've bought second hand couches before with no problem but have since heard of people getting bedbugs that way and....no.  Just. No.:shocker: :dash:

 If anyone has any feedback, I would deeply appreciate it!  :rub:  

After hearing stories of how my mom's mom handled bedbugs on a second-hand well-made couch (they poured kerosene all over it!) I'm apt to not want to go that route myself. I don't think cheap furniture is too terrible, especially if you're getting it, in part, because of the babies. They certainly won't care if it's well-made or not.

 

[margd]

After hearing stories of how my mom's mom handled bedbugs on a second-hand well-made couch (they poured kerosene all over it!) I'm apt to not want to go that route myself. I don't think cheap furniture is too terrible, especially if you're getting it, in part, because of the babies. They certainly won't care if it's well-made or not.

Yeah, I'm leaning towards thinking maybe I've been lucky the four times I've gone the second hand route with couches.  My only concern with cheap furniture is that it last for a decent period of time.  I know the sweetie pies won't care about anything except how comfy it is!  

 

[NewYork1303]

 
Yeah, I'm leaning towards thinking maybe I've been lucky the four times I've gone the second hand route with couches.  My only concern with cheap furniture is that it last for a decent period of time.  I know the sweetie pies won't care about anything except how comfy it is!  

We've always gotten are couches second hand. No bedbugs yet. Admittedly I've never heard of anyone getting bed bugs around here.

@Tallyollyopia  what is the holy and the ivy about?

 

[handsome kitty]

@Tallyollyopia is this your book?

https://www.hpb.com/products/the-story-of-holly-and-ivy-9780140507232

or is it this one?

https://www.hpb.com/products/the-holly-and-the-ivy-9780517586099

@Donuttea a TCS gathering sounds like fun.

 

[segelkatt]

  this is the futon sofa, I put a tiger blanket on it which I still have, the futon sofa went when I bought a proper couch, that is 
                                                                                                                                                                         Capucchino on the floor by the cat tree, I think I had paid $200 for the futon sofa in 2005 

 

[NewYork1303]

  this is the futon sofa, I put a tiger blanket on it which I still have, the futon sofa went when I bought a proper couch, that is 
                                                                                                                                                                         Capucchino on the floor by the cat tree, I think I had paid $200 for the futon sofa in 2005 

This is a really good idea. We got a wooden futon frame free off the side of the road and bought a futon mattress on Amazon for 100 dollars. Great piece of furniture. My cats love it.

 

[tallyollyopia]

  this is the futon sofa, I put a tiger blanket on it which I still have, the futon sofa went when I bought a proper couch, that is 
                                                                                                                                                                         Capucchino on the floor by the cat tree, I think I had paid $200 for the futon sofa in 2005 

I hear that you have to be careful with futon sofas, as the hinges that allow it to flatten it out have a tendency to break. 

 

[margd]

  this is the futon sofa, I put a tiger blanket on it which I still have, the futon sofa went when I bought a proper couch, that is 
                                                                                                                                                                         Capucchino on the floor by the cat tree, I think I had paid $200 for the futon sofa in 2005 

I really should look into futons - that's a good idea.  Your living room looks so warm and inviting, btw.

   Is Capucchino in front of the fan cooling off?  

 
This is a really good idea. We got a wooden futon frame free off the side of the road and bought a futon mattress on Amazon for 100 dollars. Great piece of furniture. My cats love it.

Now that's right in my price range!  

  (It's amazing what people throw out, isn't it?)

 

[donutte]

Soooo after looking in my toilet a bit more and googling to figure out the terminology, it looks like the overflow tube in my toilet is broken. The very first thing google has to replace it says "turn off the water remove the toilet and fix the broken tube" just like it's nothing. REMOVE THE TOILET??? I think they meant lid but still! Anyway, this will be difficult because there is a counter right above the toilet, so getting in there is hard. There's only a few inches of space to work with.

Seriously, this tube is just broken into two pieces. Somehow I figured that out. I don't know how it was filling as high as it was before, but it's not filling very high at all now. If I add water, it trains so fast.

Interestingly enough, there is also no float ball.

 

[kittens mom]

Soooo after looking in my toilet a bit more and googling to figure out the terminology, it looks like the overflow tube in my toilet is broken. The very first thing google has to replace it says "turn off the water remove the toilet and fix the broken tube" just like it's nothing. REMOVE THE TOILET??? I think they meant lid but still! Anyway, this will be difficult because there is a counter right above the toilet, so getting in there is hard. There's only a few inches of space to work with.

Seriously, this tube is just broken into two pieces. Somehow I figured that out. I don't know how it was filling as high as it was before, but it's not filling very high at all now. If I add water, it trains so fast.

Interestingly enough, there is also no float ball.

Are there screws holding the shelf up ? I have seen bathrooms with the installed shelves and my first thought is always how do they get in there to fix things?

 

[donutte]

Are there screws holding the shelf up ? I have seen bathrooms with the installed shelves and my first thought is always how do they get in there to fix things?

Not sure. It's connects to the sink counter, or is possibly part of the same counter (thinking more the latter) so not sure it's even removable. I messaged my nephew to see if he had time to come over this weekend. No way I can do this myself.

 

[kittens mom]

Not sure. It's connects to the sink counter, or is possibly part of the same counter (thinking more the latter) so not sure it's even removable. I messaged my nephew to see if he had time to come over this weekend. No way I can do this myself.

Best advice. If your Nephew is handyman inclined and you end up pulling the toilet out replace the entire workings.

 

[NewYork1303]

 
I really should look into futons - that's a good idea.  Your living room looks so warm and inviting, btw.

   Is Capucchino in front of the fan cooling off?  

Now that's right in my price range!  

  (It's amazing what people throw out, isn't it?)

The best part about used futon frames- without the mattress is there's nowhere for bedbugs to go. So not as risky as second hand couches potentially.

 

[donutte]

Best advice. If your Nephew is handyman inclined and you end up pulling the toilet out replace the entire workings.

Yeah, he installed the toilet in my mom's bathroom and did some other things around our house. He also fixes up old cars so he can take them to car shows. So yeah, pretty handyman inclined. I just hate that the water is constantly running in there though - my water bill will be huge!

 

[foxxycat]

there is a valve to turn the water on or off to the toilet=every time you pee just turn it on. do your business and flush then shut the valve off. OR-what we did in the days before when power goes out=get a watering can like your garden watering can-put in the tub=fill with water. take the cover off that has those little holes=pour into toilet tank or  bowl to flush. or I have used a large gaterade bottle-its wide mouth and the toilet flushes better.

Last summer at the camp-the toilet broke-we ended up shutting off the valve and filling the tank with water whenever we had to use it. we left the watering can in the tub and filled it via the tub faucet. was a pain in the butt but doable.

Got my safety glasses ordered but they no longer take our eye insurance. So now I have to go see if I can get decent glasses at Walmart. Evidently I offended them. They said I wont find the quality there, I said I bought a complete pair of glasses for under $100 and they guarantee them. This place charges at a min $400 for glasses. I said I cant afford $500 for the same thing I can get elsewhere. The only expensive thing I need is that coating they put cresol I think its called? It makes a big dif in glare and scratches. Right now the street glasses are 2 years old and have scratches in the middle. you would think they would have a way to buff the scratches out like on cars. I never understood why glasses are so marked up anyways.

On a happy note Bee Kitty slept with me last night