carolyn

alpinfox, I might consider selling mine to you if your interested.

haha! Thats funny tvash! Do the cats and dogs get along well? My cat was introduced to a dog when I moved in with my current roommate. Actually, she had never really been exposed to any animal until about 3 yrs ago. She hates that thing! She will roll around on her back near him, offer a sweet meow to persuade him to come closer...as soon as he is in range...WHAP! HISSSS! He fall for it everytime! I think his obsessive barking often puts her on edge. Anyway...I took her back to the vet today. They did xrays. Didnt find any tumors in her organs. Most of her organs look younger/healthier than any other cat her age. Her kidney has a bit of crystallization. They didnt think it was a problem. She was severely constipated. She also has bad arthritis in her back hips and bone spurs on the last three vertebras. The vet thought she might be in a lot of pain to go to the bathroom and/or the spurs are causing some neurological damage to her bowel. Regarding the seizures - if she has a brain tumor, there is nothing they recommend except keep her as safe and comfortable as possible until either she decides or I decide its time for her to move on. A tumor would present an increasing amount of seizures. So far she has only had two, that I know of. Im going to start giving her kitty ibuprofin (I really do think she is hurting) and glucosamine, along with vaseline everyday. I also bought a raised food dish so she doesnt have to bend at all. I think with her water especially, bending down was quite a chore. She is eating a bit better, though its an awful lot of work and fricken expensive! Tonights menu - canned salmon patte with REAL salmon mixed in, pumpkin, dry food, fresh water, turkey babyfood. Mmmmmmmmmmmm!

And Kevbone- If you dont have anything nice to say, dont say anything at all!

Amen!

That was pretty much my thought. And Daler, Thanks for explaining it further. I dont go to the gym very often, so I thought maybe I was missing something. I just wish these guys would clarify to people that its really only a trick to use in THEIR gym - not everywhere and anywhere.

Im posting this in the newbies forum, cause I feel like I should know this - but I dont! In the last couple weeks Ive had a number of people tell me that the local gym is suggesting they wrap the rope around itself near the anchors as a way to increase friction when belaying someone who is bigger than you. I dont have decades worth of knowledge and experience. However, this just doesnt seem to make sense to me. I mean, it makes sense. It just doesnt seem like the best idea. First, I dont think I want my rope constantly being rubbed together like that. Second, how is that going to keep me from getting lifted? The same amount of weight is getting forced on the belayer, isnt it? I can see the friction making it more difficult to drop the person. I can also see the added friction making it more difficult to properly belay the climber (without excessive 'penalty' slack). Third, MAYBE...just MAYBE this is practical for a gym setting. Yet, how practical is it to teach this to people when they may wind up climbing outside? Or belaying a leader someday? Wouldnt you want to teach someone how and where to stand to decrease a pull? Discuss the pros and cons of clipping into an anchor (and maybe even having them available at the gym)? How about having someone hold you down, when that is an option? I know I have plenty left to learn about climbing. But my senses tell me this is not the best tactic and not something I would recommend or teach other people Correct me if Im wrong or Explain to me how this is an exceptable way to belay when there is a big difference in weight between the climber and belayer.

No, it wont...but it did make me laugh. Cats all have their own funny quarks about them, dont they? My cat has always loved rolling around in my smelly shirt at the end of the day (the smellier, the better). Ive even caught her wrapped up in my bra on occassion! I had a friend recently use a psychic healer/holistic vet for his dog who has cancer and was about ready to be put to sleep by his regular vet. He swears it did wonders - the dog has never been so active. Maybe something to look into. Anyone else ever use one of these?

Thanks so much! These photos were taken on my first trip out to the PNW. I spent a month, mainly solo, hiking around the big volcanoes. I took pictures that I thought were nice-and lots of em! Now, Im actually interested in knowing what these are pictures of! I will probably post a few more as I continue to go through the photos. That trip btw covered A LOT! -a few nights in pdx -hiked with some friends from pdx to the hut/cabin on S. Side of Hood. -Long hike (and drive) on a trail viewing Helens -a couple hikes in the gorge -2 Day trip to smith (first time climbing rock outside) -Two days on Adams. Hiked up to lunch counter? This part of the trip was with the infamous Beck. We had fun! -1 day on Rainier climbing seracs on nisqually -1 night camping near rainier at the side of the road - awaken by gunfire. -1 night sleeping on the porch of the rmi house -2 days at Teiton -2 days on Baker - 1 night in bham -couple nights in seattle -a few nights near cascade pass, I think. -a few nights in seattle AND -my first pub club The car accident I had a month before, which totalled my car was completely worth it as it paid for this great experience AND got me hooked on wanting to climb and annual trips to the PNW ! (btw, it wasnt my fault - i was rearended by a damn truck!)

Ya! That was rude! This is cafe Sensitivioso ya know!!!! Arch - letting go is the hard part for sure. The deeper the love, enjoyment and companionship, the harder it will be when they get sick. You cant have one without the other when it comes to a life. You may or may not believe this to be true, but ... some buddhists believe that when an animal dies it is because it has been released of all its negative karma. As a human, all we can do is make them as comfortable as possible while they are in the animal realm. In turn, it produces good karma for both the animal and human to carry into their next life. Deep, I know. Truth? Who knows. I like to believe it could be true. Two days of eating maybe a 1/4 can of food. One day eating a full can. And today, nada! Tried the kitten food. Heated it up. Put tuna water in it. Nothing. I did get a 1/2 spoon of baby food in her. Who knows maybe she will go on a binge tomorrow. Im just glad that Im un-der-employed and can be home with her. Hey - and sobo - thanks for letting me know that Im not alone in the way I choose to deal with her end of life. My vet seems to think she could live to be 20 and doesnt follow the same philosophy as me! I also take her to a vet that serves a lot of wealthy people. Im not one of them. Just someone who wanted to give her good care. Maybe its time to search elsewhere. Damn, this should be the poster child of posts in cafe sensitivioso!

Hey thanks. She has been to the vet 4 times in her life. Once when she was a kitten, for all the shots. The other three times, within the past year. She had her second seizure a few weeks ago which is why I took her in. Christ! Its sooooo traumatizing to take her there!!!! Anyway, all her bloodwork was perfect. They have suggested a spinal tap. If that doesnt provide reasoning behind the seizures (and her somewhat aggressive behavior as of late), then she is off to the neurologist at the university. I have decided to hold off on the spinal tap until we see if she has anymore seizures. I will do everything I can for her, but I can only do so much (financially). If she was a kitten, I would probably borrow money to extend her life. She is old, though. I dont neccesarily want to do a bunch of stuff to make her live longer. I just want to make sure she is comfortable as long as she is alive. Eating has been more of an issue the past six months or so. She had an obstruction in her bowels, so I started feeding her soft food per the vets suggestion. Now she wont have anything else. However, even that is getting difficult to get her to eat. And, yes, I have had to take into consideration less multi-day climbing trips. I guess I figure she has been such a low maintenance cat for so long, that if I have to give her extra time, so be it. Other than the random, occassional seizures and eating, she is playful, loving, and alert. You would never guess she is 14yrs old. Btw...the vet called and suggested kitten food - its higher in calories. Guess I will give that a try. And, what is CRF? I dont think she likes being photographed (notice the tongue sticking out!)

for the past 13 and a half years she has been so incredibly low maintenance. I could leave a big ass bowl of food and water and leave her for a week or two. Kind of along the lines of what Sobo said. I hate to play that game with her now, as she has lost 2.5lbs this year, weighing in at 7.2lbs. She is no contender for the photos of big housecats, thats fer damn sure.

I didnt know it ever snowed in pdx?!?!?! We finally got some snow out here. Sadly, we are in the subzero temp category right now. Doesnt make it much fun to play outside.

My cat doesnt eat mice, silly wabbit! She just bats it around until its brain no longer functions. She sits in front of the refigerator for hours on end waiting for them to come out and play. She does like vanilla ice cream. I hate to condition her to eat 'real' food. Maybe some canned tuna would do the trick? Ive actually got a call into the vet. there has to be some high calorie food out there or vitamins. She does seem to like the dog food (and the dog likes the cat food-grrr). Maybe I should just start feeding her that!

Dear Cat Lovers, My cat is old. She is healthy, except for an occasional seizure which cant be pinpointed. Her weight is very low, so I must make sure she eats well. I fear she is getting too picky. Today I have 3 different kinds of food out for her. One of them is probably too chunky. The other, too crunchy. The last, probably too cold. By the time she decides to try eating again the food will be too 'dried up' and she will want something more fresh! Am I contributing to her pickiness? Any suggestions on ways to get more food/nutrients in her? She has claws and doesnt like to be held, so force feeding may cause a number of battle wounds. Please help! Sincerely, A frustrated (and pissed-off) cat owner in despair!

what if an online dating experience turned out with you meeting that fella?

I had to order some frontpoints for my rambos, which I couldnt find online for the life of me. I called and spoke with mike? He was very pleasant and helpul. I had my frontpoints within a few days. I think his name is listed on the initial message directory. Beside the holiday, its also a busy time of year with Outdoor Retailer right around the corner.

No shit! I remember them meeting us at the top and joining us in the descent. That was the first time I had seen goats so close up. I thought they were cute and wanted to pet them. You dared me to try. It was tempting, tho! Anyway...this is one of my favorite photos I found. Someone I met out here in Orient Bay, Ontario started guiding for RMI. He took me out on the nisqually to climb on the seracs. I was scared shitless as we walked accross some of them. We never quite made it to any clean one's - I think due to my fear of walking any further! This was in 2000?2001? Here are photos of the fire near Adams: The spot in that cloud is a plane, throwing down water. And It started out being such a nice day! Then...*cough!cough!*

Those make sense as I hiked up heliotrope trail on 9/10/01 and camped by the glacier until 9/12/01 (yup, no clue what was happening in the world until I came down). I also hiked some trail by Helens, spent some time at Mt. Adams - thats a story in itself. I have some kewl photos of a fire developing while I was there, engulfing the mountian in smoke. Climbed the tooth in 2002. I'll keep working on the last one. I might throw a few more in here. Kurt- My photos of Outer Space kinda suck, except for.... damn disposable cameras!!!! Ive always been too scared to carry a real camera. No longer! I am armed with digital and ready to shoot.

Sweet! Please dont give me a reason to visit in the winter now! Nice work. Sounds like a nice day.

Ive been scanning a bunch of my photos to put on my computer. So glad I FINALLY have a good digital camera now. Anyway, some of the pix I never labeled or think I mislabelled and was wondering if anyone can identify what I might be looking at. Be warned....the quality of the photos are not great!

CreeeeeePYYYYY!

You can pay to get a background check done on someone. You can also google their name and often find some information. Have a friend be at whatever place you go when you first meet. Stay in public. Have someone call you midway through the date. If its not going well, then tell him there is an emergency and you have to leave. If its going fine, then tell the caller you will talk to them later. Set up a few calls or text messages, if need be. Dont let him know where you live until you feel comfortable. Maybe avoid alcohol, initially so your judgement is sound? Follow your gut.

Yikes!

ya, I think they do some sort of ice fest out there every year. I want to say Will Gadd was out for one of them. I've said it before - ya gotta make do with whatcha got!

Whats up with making sure people know youre not a "chick"?