ShazzieB
ShazzieB's JournalBelated post about Willow's last day.
We said goodbye to Willow yesterday as planned. Everything went smoothly, the vet was great, and our little girl left us peacefully. First they gave her a sedative, and then, once she was sleeping peacefully, the final injection. I stayed with her to the very end, but Mr. B had to duck out once she was sedated. Poor guy was having flashbacks to something that happened when he was a teenager, when his dad took the family dog to be euthanized without giving him any warning ahead of time, and he came home to fine the dog gone. He had never even told me that story before, but he was obviously pretty traumatized by that experience. For a minute there, I thought he was going to have a panic attack, but he had regained his composure by the time I came out and got in the car with him.
Anyway, back to Willow...she looked so sweet and peaceful after they gave her the sedative. Looking at her face, I realized that she had probably been more uncomfortable for a while than we had even realized. Her face was perfectly relaxed, in a way that told me she was feeling better than she had in a long time. The vet asked my permission before giving the second injection, I said okay, and it was all over in the blink of a eye, after all these months and weeks of watching her go downhill a little at a time. As much as I miss her, it's a blessing to be able to remember her that way, completely comfortable and peaceful with that sweet, sleeping kitty look on her face. I kissed her on the top of her head a couple of times, thanked the vet, and left to rejoin Mr. B in the parking lot.
We are doing as well as could be expected under the circumstances. Like I said, I miss her, but I realize that what I really miss is the "old" healthy, happy Willow, not the shadow of her former self she became towards the end. That's the Willow that will always live in my heart.
Before I go, here's the last picture I took of her back in January, smooshing herself into a much too tiny box. (Believe it or not, she actually fell asleep in there!)
Sorry it's taken me so long to post. I was feeling too exhausted and drained to post anything last night. I am deeply grateful for the support you all have given me at this difficult time. The DU Pets forum is awesome, and so are all of you!
The latest on Willow (not happy news, sorry)
Since I last posted about Willow back in January, her condition has continued to decline. Some days are better than others, but none of them are great at this point. Mr. B and I have reluctantly decided to stop putting off the inevitable. We've scheduled a vet appointment for noon on Thursday.
I know it's going to be hard, and the reality hasn't fully hit me yet, but we're at peace with this decision. As much as we hate the thought of losing her, I feel like we've been gradually losing her little by little for months now. In a weird sort of way, it's a relief to know it'll be over soon, for her and for us.
Thank you all for your support. It is deeply appreciated!
P.S.Sorry about the duplicate post! I will leave it up since it got a couple of replies before I saw it.
The latest on Willow (not happy news, sorry)
Since I last posted about Willow back in January, her condition has continued to decline. Some days are better than others, but none of them are great at this point. Mr. B and I have reluctantly decided to stop putting off the inevitable. We've scheduled a vet appointment for noon on Thursday.
I know it's going to be hard, and the reality hasn't fully hit me yet, but we're at peace with this decision. As much as we hate the thought of losing her, I feel like we've been gradually losing her little by little for months now. In a weird sort of way, it's a relief to know it'll be over soon, for her and for us.
Thank you all for your support. It is deeply appreciated!
The "F-Trump" Ad That Broke the Illinois Senate Race / The Focus Group
I think it's an exaggeration to say that ad "broke" the Illinois Senate race, but it certainly has gotten people talking, including the Illinois Democrats who made up the 2 focus groups this video discusses.
A voter's guide to the confusing world of super PACs influencing 2026 Illinois primary races
https://www.wbez.org/government-politics/elections/2026/03/13/super-pacs-influence-2026-illinois-primary-races-glossaryMajor dollars have also flowed into statehouse races as a host of super PACs look to boost their preferred candidates and slam the ones that don’t serve their interests. They often come with unassuming names that do not reflect their true purpose.
Federal law doesn’t require these political action committees to reveal all of their contributors until after the primary, but the Sun-Times is keeping track of who’s behind these groups. Here’s an A-Z glossary of the groups that are trying to influence your vote, with financial figures reported as of Thursday morning by the Federal Election Commission.
Idaho House passes bill to force schools and doctors to out transgender minors to their parents
Red states seem to be in a contest these days to outdo each other in passing the most oppressive laws against trans rights, and I'm afraid Idaho just might win.
https://idahocapitalsun.com/2026/03/11/idaho-house-passes-bill-to-force-schools-and-doctors-to-out-transgender-minors-to-their-parents/
House Bill 822 would require schools, health care providers and child care providers to notify parents within three days after the entities receive “any request by the minor student to participate in or facilitate the social transition of the minor student.”
That would include: Using a different name than their legal name, including a nickname; using pronouns or titles that don’t align with their sex assigned at birth; using restrooms, locker rooms, changing rooms, or overnight lodging that are meant to be used by another sex; and playing on a sports team of another sex.
Entities would be banned from assisting a minor’s social transition efforts without written consent from their parent. The attorney general could seek up to $100,000 in civil fines for entities that violate the bill.
I'm sure it goes without saying that if this actually gets passed by the Idaho Senate and signed into law, it will be fiercely challenged in court. But somehow that knowledge doesn't make me feel much better about watching trans people, especially trans kids, get used as a punching bag yet again.
The doctors who helped Jeffrey Epstein keep his "girls" sexually fit.
Jeffrey Epstein was in some respects fastidious. As he managed an international sex-trafficking operation, the size of which is likely yet to be comprehended, he was careful that the young women in his orbit were sexually healthy -- ready to be used for his purposes. The latest cache of emails, texts, and other documents released by the DOJ reveals that Epstein had an established system for making sure the women were tested for STDs, prescribed birth-control pills, and inoculated against HPV. As a part of this system, he regularly made payments to at least three New York City gynecologists, as well as a dermatologist and his own personal physician.
For the moment, it's difficult to tell whether the involved women, whose names are largely redacted by the DOJ, are among those who have been considered victims. It's also unclear, to varying degrees, if the named physicians were aware of Epstein's criminal activity, though by the time of the earliest relevant messages, he had been convicted for solicitation of a minor. What is certain, however, is that Epstein paid for many of these medical appointments directly via check or credit card. It is also clear, from messages with his close contacts, that he was sending women to gynecologists and other physicians so frequently that it was common knowledge among some in his circle. In one December 12, 2012, email, an associate whose name is redacted but whose email address matches that of Mark Epstein, Jeffrey's brother, asks Epstein, "Do you remember the name of the Gynocologist [sic] that you used to send your victims to?"
https://www.thecut.com/article/the-gynecologists-who-helped-epstein.html
Free link: http://archive.today/1Y3uj
Why Ailing Trump's Erratic Ego Has World On Edge / The Daily Beast Podcast
My favorite psychologist, Dr. John Gartner, pays another visit to the Daily Beast to take a look at the current state of Trump's ongoing cognitive deterioration. Highly recommended viewing for anyone still entertaining the notion that Trump has not yet lost most of his marbles!
Mapping Christian Nationalism Across All 50 States: Insights From PRRI's 2025 American Values Atlas
In 2022, PRRI pioneered one of the most comprehensive measures of Christian nationalist ideology. This year, we build on that foundation, sharing new findings from the 2025 PRRI American Values Atlas, which draws on more than 22,000 interviews to provide the most up-to-date, state-level picture available.
Additionally, the new report examines the impact of Christian nationalism on attitudes toward political violence and authoritarianism, as well as debates over immigration and childhood vaccine mandates. PRRI's webinar unpacks these findings and what they reveal about the political landscape today.
Panelists:
Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Ph.D., Professor of History and Italian Studies, New York University
Fr. Bryan Massingale, S.T.D., James and Nancy Buckman Chair in Applied Christian Ethics, Fordham University and PRRI Senior Democracy Fellow
Robert P. Jones, Ph.D., President and Founder, PRRI
Melissa Deckman, Ph.D., CEO of PRRI
Read the full survey report at: https://prri.org/research/mapping-christian-nationalism-across-the-50-states-insights-from-prris-2025-american-values-atlas/
Video is pretty long, but VERY informative.
Something just occurred to me.
I have always wondered why Schlump picked RFK Jr of all people to be a member of his cabinet. I assumed they cut a deal prior to the election so that RFKJ would not run as an independent and split the anti-Harris vote between him and Trump, and that still makes sense to me. But I couldn't help wondering if that was the whole story.
Just now, thinking about the Orange One's recent attack on the Kennedy Center, the thought popped into my head that his making Bobby part of his cabinet must also have been a great big middle finger to the Kennedy Family. What you all think of this theory? No one but Schlump would be that petty, of course, but no one is as petty as the King of Petty!
Of course that didn't satisfy him, so he went after the Kennedy Center. That's because Schlump is a hollow man and nothing will ever satisfy him for more than 5 consecutive minutes.
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Name: SharonGender: Female
Hometown: Chicago area, IL
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Member since: Tue Mar 26, 2013, 04:18 AM
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