ShazzieB
ShazzieB's JournalWillow's trip to the vet (3rd attempt)
Sorry this update is so late, folks! For some reason, DU keeps eating this post every time I think I'm almost done. All I can say is it better work this time! 
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Willow's visit to the vet today went fine. She was already perkier than she was over the weekend, which was nice. She had a couple of blah days but seems to have reverted to being more of her usual self for now.
Fortunately, we are not going to have to make any difficult decisions for a while yet. There's no telling how long that "while" is going to be, but at thos point there are no signs that she is in any real pain or anything like that.
The bleeding from one of her lumps over the weekend is concerning, but not "hair on fire" concerning. The vet gave us some antibiotics to prevent infection, steroids to help with the inflammation, and a onesie for her to wear to keep her from licking the antibiotic ointment off.
I hate this feeling of not knowing what expect, how much more time she has left, etc., but I know good and well that this is one of those "one day at a time" situations, and I'm just going to have to find a way to deal with it. I need to focus on thinking of every good day we have with her from here on out as a gift and enjoy each one as much as I can. The future will take care of itself.
In closing, thank you all again for your words of support, sympathy, encouragement, etc. It means the world to me, and I love you all! 
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like F This -A Randy Rainbow Rainbow Song Parody
I feel like Randy read my mind, because he has perfectly captured how I feel these says. I'll bet he read a lot other people's minds, too!
Update on Willow
Some of you may recall that our tortie Willow was diagnosed with mammary cancer back in May 2024. I made several posts here at the time, about the diagnosis and subsequent surgery to remove the 2 mammary glands that had masses growing in them. When they were sent to their lab for analysis, only one was ruled malignant, but that was one too many.
She came through the surgery just fine, but we were told that recurrence was virtually inevitable, due to the way these cancers progress in cats. In other words, it was eventually going to be fatal, and there was no way to protect exactly how long it would be. We decided to just give her the best life possible for as long as we could, and that's what we've been doing ever since.
She seemed fine for about a year or so, eating, sleeping, and pooping normally and showing no signs of distress. But one day we noticed a new lump, and another one popped up shortly thereafter. We were pretty sure what was happening, but took her the vet to find out for sure. Our suspicions were confirme, and our choices were either more surgery or just continue to spoil her rotten while waiting for nature to take its course. We chose the latter. She was pretty traumatize by the first surgery, and decided it wasn't woth the additional trauma or expense to put her through more surgery just to buy a little more time.
She continued to seem basically fine for months after that. Her lumps continued to grow but she seemed unbothered by them and was still her normal self in most ways. Her appetite gradually got a little more fussy, but not to an alarming extent. But this past weekend, the largest lump started to bleed a little bit, so we called the vet first thing o Monday and got an appointment for 2 pm on Tuesday. We're not sure what we're going to fine out, it seems clear that she's running out of time.
The only thing we're sure of right now is that her comfort is our highest priority. My husband and I are agreed that we are not going to try to prolong her life past the point where it's no longer enjoyable for her. I'll post an update when we get back from the vet.
Schlump's face on new national park passes outrages conservationists
It is definitely outraging me!
The Department of the Interior announced a series of changes Tuesday for America the Beautiful passes, which cover entry and amenity fees at over 2,000 federally managed areas, including the country’s national parks. Among the differences visitors can expect beginning in 2026 are new digital passes, original artwork featuring President Donald Trump and “America-first” prices that will see international visitors paying steeper fares.
In a DOI new release, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said that the new policies will “ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations.”
Beginning in the new year, the cost of the pass — which covers entry for a year — will hold steady at $80 for U.S. residents but jump to $250 for international visitors, while nonresidents without an annual pass will pay an additional fee of $100 per person at 11 of the most visited parks alongside the regular entrance fee. These parks are Acadia National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Everglades National Park, Glacier National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Parks, and Zion National Park. There will also be at least eight new fee-free days for U.S. residents, such as Constitution Day, Independence Day weekend and Trump’s birthday (%@#&¡).
*snip*
In addition to the price hike, the administration is introducing a digital version of the pass that can be linked to a visitor’s mobile device. Both the physical and digital passes will include artwork “featuring bold, patriotic designs that honor America’s landscapes, heritage and outdoor legacy.” A mockup of the new design does away with the traditional images of scenic vistas or species like bighorn sheep and instead shows Trump beside a painted rendering of George Washington — a bold choice that has caused at least one spit take.
In addition to the price hike, the administration is introducing a digital version of the pass that can be linked to a visitor’s mobile device. Both the physical and digital passes will include artwork “featuring bold, patriotic designs that honor America’s landscapes, heritage and outdoor legacy.” A mockup of the new design does away with the traditional images of scenic vistas or species like bighorn sheep and instead shows Trump beside a painted rendering of George Washington — a bold choice that has caused at least one spit take.
*snip*
More at link: https://www.sfgate.com/national-parks/article/trump-face-new-national-park-passes-outrage-21208431.php
"Bold" is one word for it, I guess!
There's an image of the new park pass at the above link (and yes, it's just as bad as it sounds, if not worse - headshots of Schlump and Washington, and guess whose face is bigger than the other guy's? If you want to see what it looks like and have the stomach for it, just click the link. I'm not posting the image here, because I don't want to inflict it on anyone who would rather not have to look at it.
#fuckdjt #sorryGeorge! #wtaf?
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EDITED TO ADD:
I've noticed some comments here and elsewhere to the effect that the park pass photo looks like his mug shot, and I'd like to address that.
I thought it was the mug shot, too, at first. But after googling to confirm my impression, I've changed my mind. The lhotos are very similar but quite different in ways that are apparent when looking at them side by side. Rather than subject everyone to both images, I'll try to describe what's similar and what's different.
1. It's basically the same pose: head down eyes looking up through those bushy eyebrows. (His official portrait has the same pose. I think it's his favorite now!)
2. Similar "serious business" facial expression, but the mug shot looks much more angry and menacing. In the park pass shot, I think he’s trying to look ultra serious and dignified, but he can't seem to do that without looking grumpy, lol.
3. The park pass photo seems to have been taken much more recently and is showing what I think are signs of his deterioration: his head is tilted to his right, his tie is slightly crooked, and the bags under his eyes are much more pronounced.
4. There are also differences in that haystack he calls his hair, probably just due to the fact that it never lays the same way from one day to the nex
However you slice it, his face on the park pass is an abomination. I epecially hate the way Washington looks like he's standing behind Trump and peering over his shoulder. George's face is also noticeably smaller than Donald's, which really pisses me off. I'm sure Schlump directed the designer to so that, because it's exactly the kind of petty thing that he WOULD do. How ironic is it that the Father of Our Country is depicted in a way that implies he's less important than the Orange Hellbeast who is trying to destroy it?!
Dr. John Gartner talks about Trump's cognitive decline & the fact that the NYT actually ran a story about it recently!
Trump refused to send disaster aid to Chicago after 2 devastating storms.
Trump’s denials are the first time any president since at least 2007 — including Trump to this point — has refused to help residents recover from such extensive damage to their homes, federal records show.
Trump denied both aid requests from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Oct. 22, two weeks after saying Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson — both Democrats — “should be in jail” for “failing to protect” federal immigration enforcement officers.
Trump has traded barbs with Illinois officials for months. The president has called Chicago a “hellhole,” drawn protests over immigration raids in the city and tried to dispatch National Guard troops to the state. Pritzker has sued to block the dispatch by Trump — dubbing him a “wannabe dictator.” Johnson has called Trump “a monster.”
More at link: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/22/trump-refused-to-send-disaster-aid-to-chicago-despite-devastating-damage-00655716
This is classic retaliation and payback from the Toddler in Chief, as well as a display of his love of cruelty!
The Dog Pack Pawdcast - Episode 1 (Pilot)
Description:
This is the first-ever DogPack Pawdcast — and honestly, nothing could’ve prepared us for how it turned out. 😂🐶
'Weird' Stephen Miller is Trump's Biggest Suckup: Inside Trump's Head
Stephen Miller is the ultimate suck-up, a master of shameless flattery whose influence keeps him at the center of Trump’s orbit. Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to unpack how Miller’s relentless devotion to Trump reflects the chaos and destruction in the East Wing. The two also touch on how Wolff’s countersuit against Melania has spurred a bizarre AI-generated TMZ story that falsely claimed he was writing a tell-all about the first lady. They preview their first live ‘Inside Trump’s Head’ event at the Museum of the City of New York, where Wolff promises more revelations about Trump, Epstein, and the ecosystem that enables them.
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Name: SharonGender: Female
Hometown: Chicago area, IL
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Member since: Tue Mar 26, 2013, 03:18 AM
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