ES!

Good Evening!
Pretty quiet here in the land of ES! Anyone like the music of Lisa Hannigan, Sea Sew?

I have to say, the Tour de France is pulling me back…

Good evening

CE,Nuero and ES. Hi how are you tonight?

we were expecting ashes and we got life.

sweet.

Loving the cooler summer nights!

Sorry, on phone with the newt. He’s helping me with my new net connection set up…)

Storms moving in here.

the newtmyster can fix and repair ALL. (Crashing thunder, bolts of lighting. and bad breathe shakes the earth)

Hi, ES and all. Going off-topic immediately–
During yesterday’s book salon w/ Jeff Sharlet, I decided I needed to go ahead buy the book, since it’s out in paperback now, and I’m 10th of 16 on the library wait list.
Went down to my B&N today with a coupon clutched in my little hand — couldn’t find it on the shelf, went to the desk and asked –
SOLD OUT! Can’t even order it from warehouse, publisher has to reprint!
Wow, huh?
Checked Amazon when I got home – “ships in 3-4 wks,” it says. Think Rachel has anything to do with that?
The bookseller, a woman of my (un certain) age, smiled knowingly when I explained what the subject is.

i’m very sad and crying tonight. i just came back from the vet. i’ve been pet and plant sitting for one of my hiking buddies who’s on vacation this week. one of the two dogs started going through an episode of weakness (third time in about 3 months) and we decided tonight to take her to the vet. turns out she had extensive cancerous tumors that were bleeding. my friend (via phone) decided to put her down and i was with the dog (trixie) as she went. i’ve been going hiking with her a few times a week since i moved here a little over a year ago.

do tissues go through the tubes?

relieved to get through the Bush Administration without the USA commiting the insanity of an attack against Iran?

well, watch out, Hillary Clinton is saber rattling again:

Clinton: US Won’t Hesitate to Use Military Against Iran
Not a Threat, It’s a Promise, Secretary of State Tells CFR

In a high-profile policy address before the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declared that the US wouldn’t not hesitate to use its military to “defend our friends, our interests, and above all, our people” during the segment discussing Iran.

She elaborated on the declaration with “this is not an option we seek nor is it a threat; it is a promise.” Clinton also warned Iran that the US offer to hold talks, which she had previously said she didn’t expect to work to begin with, would not be open-ended and that “our willingness to talk is not a sign of weakness.”

plus ca change, eh?

let me guess – Firedoglake will avoid all mention of this by frontpagers tomorrow, though it would be great to be wrong on that guess.

sorry you have to endure such sadness, greenwarrior

Hey tej,
For a preview google “Jesus plus nothing: undercover among America’s secret theocrats, by Jeffrey Sharlet. From Harpers in 2003. I’m only on page 6 of 16 and I want to throw up.

Handing tissues — I was there in February. Condolences, dear.

thanks, neuro

thanks for the tissues and sorry for your loss, too.

why are those aliens running our government dead set on destroying the whole middle east? never mind, it’s a rhetorical question.

Sympathy is all I can offer. I had to do same. Life is so preecious. It is hard to see it go. I guess thinking about all the fun she had on your walks may help deal with the pain. Try and remember the joy. Not much you can do now.

It was good, my sweet, that you helped her finish her journey. She loves you for it and feels relief. Your suffering is proof of her life.

(((((GW)))))
So sorry to hear this.
FWDiva

she was such a sweet natured dog. i’m not quite ready for the good memories yet. i’m still in the stage where i don’t want her to be dead. and thank you very much for your sympathy. i’m so surprised i’m reacting so strongly – she wasn’t my dog.

i went through this with my dog years ago and then i wasn’t even like active crying. it was literally like walls of water were just pouring out of my eyes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..annel_page

Lisa Hannigan. I don’t know.

Evening ES and loyal late late nighters!
Don’t forget you have only ten days to make it to the Meetup here in Redwood city!! Let me know and I will give you email addy!!

What MaryMcC said, GW.
FWDiva

Sorry GW never easy to put a pet down.. Our last dog lived to the ripe old age of 17 and it was his time but sure was hard to do…

Oh nahant,
I’ll be heading in the opposite direction to Campobello Island, Canada. I sure would love to meet someday (but I think that Margot and I are the only OH pups here).

why are those aliens neocons running our government dead set on destroying the whole middle east?

sorry about the dog.

Aw thats just a hop skip and a jump away CE (:>))
Maybe some day there will be a national FirePup Meetup!! What a concept huh?

(((((greenwarrior)))))

In the future: by train, in a medium city, all of us together!

[…Hands you a big ole hankie thru the tubes…]

From all dog lovers here, (((((greenwarrior)))))

Oh noooo. GW, It was supposed to happen this way. You helped the dog and your friend part ways in a much less painful manner.

thank you mary and funny diva and nahant and sporkovat. and everyone i already thanked. it helps to be able to share it and feel so supported. and held and hugged.

on edit: and es and egregious and newt.

hugs back at y’all.

Yup, lost my buddy two weeks ago.

Would be a cause to make sure we all got there!! Just imagine all those Pups in one place!!

We need a new Budda or Avatar. To much suffering. Glad that a Pecora Commission is getting formed. Glad I had some interval training, a friend bandage a reinjured knee, Glad I feel relaxed after a hot shower. My cousin from CO called to chat for the heck of it. That was nice. On balance not bad. Starting to eat my organic produce which is very zesty. Salad with basamic and fresh Thyme, romaine, avacado, cashews, almonds and some perky small green pepper.

My darling Elvis, old yellow shorthair. Chin Chin, Elvis!

i love this, ce.

The second song up top will make you feel better…)

aw!

I am making my first giant batch of all fresh salsa tomorrow.

If I could put it in a pill, we would all be rich. /s

We found her on the Colbert Report!

About to make TeddySanFran very angry…
But Phil Angelides is perhaps the penultimate Democratic hack in the whole state of California. Here’s to hoping that Pecora isn’t exclusively his to control.

Sorry that you lost your buddy too.Will you get another…sounds like a perfect place for a hound dog like a Rhodesian Razorback.

oh no, I’m so sorry!
((greenwarrior))

Yum love salsa especially hot. I have been getting green gaspacho from my health food store…a great sauce on refried black beans with Quinoa. The arm must be much better..that is a lot of fun work.

ya know, one of the hardest parts was that my friend’s sister came over to help me carry the dog to the car (big dog) and go to the vet. after the decision was made, i was crying my eyes out and the sister just completely ignored it. not a hug or word or anything. when i did ask if she had tissues in the car on the way home she did find me a napkin, but she was just totally cold to what i was feeling.

it’s so sweet that folks here are so caring.

RIP Jesse Yazoo

We love our animals so much — and I have a loving husband, too, since, 1975.

I will, went by the Humane Society today, but they had a big closed rod iron gate. The kind big mean dogs could be behind. Think I will call for an appointment. /s I can’t get a dog.. One can travel for a couple of days and a cat will be fine alone. Dogs, not so much.

LOL

So true. After Elvis went over the rainbow bridge, and we have an empty nest, MrCE and I have rented an apt. in Paris for two weeks.

Oh, I missed that. Dude, a country cat always goes on to the big ball of yarn.
(((((ES)))))

You’re a good friend (((greenwarrior))).

Pleasant dreams folks be happy in spite of adversity and stay well.

that looks like one nice kitty.

unlike, say, the monster my same friend owns that randomly bites people who are petting her. the nasty horror bit me hard the other day. blood was flowing profusely. needless to say i have declined to be in relationship with her ever since.

I must leave. Goodnight Pups!

Oh no! More hugs ((gw)).

Oh CE’s.. such a perfect way to spend a Summer.

More info tomorrow late late nite!

g’nite, luvly.

thanks, they feel good.

I hear ya. I won’t let kitties dislike me.. it’s unacceptable. *s* I kill them with kindness to the point they just can’t resist but love ya back.

Thanks, newtonusr, It all happened so fast, I still can’t believe it.

Wonderful! rest well.

I remember that whole ‘really fast’ thing when I lost Mutt last year, though she had been kidney-sick but happy for years. One day she was funny and playful, and the next she told me she was ready.

Have a random biting dood here. Mid life onset.

Current decor: spray bottles everywhere and legs that resemble raw hamburger.

Cheers to you and newt. !!

Yup, Jesse was fine until… suddenly he cried out… one look in the eye and I knew, whatever it was, it was over.

Rabies… no sign at all til the last 24 hours.

Oh dear, gw. So sorry for you.

I can’t believe all the news stories today.. giving Tenet credit for ending “the program” in 2004. He was DCI from ‘97 to 2004 for petes sake! He owned the program for years.

Thats is how it was with my dog Champ… he was old with all the usual miladies that goes with it but he seemed happy and then the growth he had on his chest open up and the next thinbg we knew he had gone septic and was sick all ove rthe front room… Knew it was time and called the Vet… they said ” We don’t just put dogs to sleep”! But when we got him there the Vet took one look and said it was time and treated him as best he could…. the whole family was with him till the end.. he knew we were there went happy… Still hard to remember it and it was over ten years ago!
We do love our pets, they ARE family!!

hah hah hah. well, how delightful to see that i’m still capable of laughing. i love that use of the word “decor”.

(((GW))) I think ES has it right. You were selected for a very important mission. If only the sister had been there, Trixie would have gone out of this world alone. Because you were there, she went out loved.

Rather special, I think.

oh, that’s so nice that the whole family was there.

many hugs to you, greenwarrior. It sounds like many of us have had very similar experience, and it’s never easy. In fact I now find myself in tears remembering the cat I had to put down 6 months or so ago. A wonderful, small, red, Persian I named Jake, after my only uncle who died in the early ’60s. Jake was a loving cat, with his pats, strokes, purring, and snuggles. He also would stand his ground when appropriate. Not long after we brought him home, he was being pestered by an older, larger, white with red tips, male shorthair. In a snap response, Jake bit Puddin’s ear, which immediately stopped the pestering and eventually led to Puddin’ protecting Jake for the rest of their lives. Puddin’s ear was permanently ‘ruffled.”

I almost feel lucky. I had been hydrating her with lactated ringers for about 5 years, and although she didn’t like it one bit, once it was a few minutes in the past, she was right as rain.
The vet gave her 18 months of good living when it started, and she lived 5 years plus. She was 20 when she passed.

thanks, emerson. that perspective is helping me steady out my own perspective.

Youch!

It was nice and we all remember his last day with us. We have his special picture with all the family pictures..

What’s a lactated ringer?

thanks, sweetie.

Hey ES, one cat or two for you?

Oh, sorry.
Subcutaneous injections of saline and electrolyte solution. Her kidneys wouldn’t process water, so I injected it subcu and she absorbed it.

it’s tough to watch a good dog go down. It’s not fair that their life cycle s so much shorter than ours.
This sounds demented…but…my beautiful mother ,an incredible artist and deep thinker is losing her mind at 85. She would never want to be an angry imbecile in her life. It’s against everything she was. And yet that’s the hand time is dealing her.
I wish we could honor the end of human life as we do pets.Cry at the recognition that their time is over, their pain won’t go away, their eyes won’t recover from blindness…………….
Shit. If I was going through what she’s going through…
Dogs have it easy.

“I Don’t Know” was awesome – I’ve sent it round to quite a few folks.

cowbell?

You’re kidding, right?
Lactated Ringers is the formal name of the fluids given to some sick animals.
Can’t remember if humans get the same stuff. Probably not. Something similar, though.

FWDiva

cowbell dropped into the spilled milk.
FWDiva

that’s better. g*

Wow, for years? impressive. I did that for the cat before last, but could only do it for a few weeks.

Now putting that cat down… was like a scene from terms of endearment. I made such a sobbing spectacle out of myself.. I don’t even know who that person was. At one point i tried to pay and leave…. so many tears my checkbook was soaked nearly all the way through. Th Vet (all of them) were just saying don’t worry about it!

I came back the next day with a new book…)

Never heard that term before tonight.. and I’ve done it.

I think it’s about time for us to see some movement on the Israel-Palestinian issue.

(((((openhope)))))

it doesn’t sound demented. it sounds like it’s very painful to see your mom in this situation.

She tolerated it several times a week, but it just killed me to actually do it. took several minutes to administer.

And yeah, I remember the whole blubbering idiot thing, too. I couldn’t breathe.

lol.

I was reading Wikipedia about fruit yesterday and on bell peppers it said they had been cultivated in this hemisphere for THOUSANDS of years. Isn’t that somehow comforting? Also, chilli peppers, the hot ones, only have that hot effect on mammals — doesn’t affect birds!

Also, there is an ‘ugli’ fruit which really is ugly.

Curious stuff.

nite pups. time to fall over.

nite newt..

g’nite newt, fall over gently.

gw, if you’re still here (just got back and saw your post), I am so sorry. There are few things in our relations with our animal friends harder than what you’ve gone through. What a pity. Passing the tissues through the toobz.

Good night newt, good night everyone.

GW, you are my hero of the day…)

good night

thanks, es. looks like i hit a raw nerve for you and a lot of folks tonight who’ve lost their pets. sleep the sleep of the just and thanks for all you do here to keep us all together.

Thank you. It’s part of the human experience, this aged elders thing.
I wish there was a way to “put them down”. Mom’s not there yet. She still has moments of joy. And isn’t that the definition of life worth living?
But the clock is ticking, she’s a tuberculosis survivor with one lung. Technically she was supposed to be dead years ago.
Until 3 years ago she was active, painting and supporting good causes.
Last year she was still protesting the war at our local gathering place. It was awesome that we had 3 generations protesting together. Laughing together. Swapping stories together. We used to march together until Mom got too old.
Can’t take that away. That’s real and alive.

thanks, tejanarusa. the tissues arrived safely. i’m taking a temporary break from the crying. i’ll save them for later. i know it’ll start again by tomorrow morning at the latest when i go over to feed the cats and ferrets and walk the dogs and there’ll only be one dog. oh my, what a day it’s been. thanks for your caring.

that’s wonderful that you could all be together protesting. she sounds like a wonderful woman. no, we can’t put them down, but at least there are Do Not Resuscitate orders. both my parents had made living wills, so that part was easy.

on biofuels:

Today I noticed that ExxonMobil is teaming up with Craig Venter’s Synthetic Genomics to produce some kind of biofuel produced from algae. Venter is the guy who mapped the human genome. he’s a real go-getter and I suspect they’ll be successful.

What’s amazing is I also saw a story about Dow Chem. teaming up with a biofuel company and they’re going to produce something, perhaps an ethanol. The story said their process would chew up a lot of CO2.

Curiously, I then heard Venter interviewed on NPR and he said the algae process would also consume a lot of CO2.

These are great stories and potentially great investments for anybody who still has a few dollars.

on economics:

I thought that would be the economics news of the day and then I read a web article which Kevin Drum had referenced over at MotherJones. The article was about the tax treatment of corporate stock dividends vs. corp bond interest payments. It seems bond interest payments are tax deductible, but dividends are taxable. This different treatment means corps are driven to borrowing like crazy to get the capital they need while using the tax deduction.

This is possibly THE big reason they leverage so much and endanger the world’s economy.

It would behoove anyone considering making financial reforms to consider reducing the tax benefit on interest payments while also reducing the taxability on dividends. Bringing treatment of these two things could shift corps away from over-reliance on ultra-leveraging.

How much to shift and how fast or whether this is even appealing are obviously debatable. But, in any event the unequal treatment of these two things has to be considered somewhat improper.

I once considered what would the investment world be like if there were no stock market and all investments were secured. Given the relative sizes of these two ‘markets’ I think we know and with over-leveraging it’s not a pretty sight.

on AfPak:

I wonder what progress is being made, aside from people being returned to their homes in their Swat valley.

on Judge Sotomayor:

I watched a bit of the questioning today and I must say the judge is solidly steadfast in holding onto precedent and process. I just hope that if she’s a SC Justice that she realizes Constitutional Law must be given deference, over Statute Law (Congress). Clearly she’s not going to discuss judicial philosophy or anything else which might reveal her personal views.

Q: Is the Constitution really immutable? Does a word only mean what it means and no more, no less, even over time? Tis a puzzle for all who are interested in Law.

What I always thought would be great for artists was this: In the really lucid times for your mom, let her talk about her artwork and record it. Have her artwork surrounding her. I think it would give your whole family many wonderful moments.

Many in our family were vibrant& active until about six months before they passed… they seemed to know it was their time…

My Mom died of Alzheimer and that is truly hard to watch as they slowly lose who they were and no longer know who their family is. she lasted about 8 years before the final end for her… But strangely on her death bed she open her eyes and looked at the family that were there smiled, closed her eyes and about 3 minutes later gave a big sigh and was gone. I was not there but my sisters told me how she looked so at peace at the end. I hold on to that memory.

I hate that pain. I’m sorry you have to do this. I’m sorry for the companion animals ,too. They grieve. Sometimes in ways that irritate humans.

OMG. All the best.

Night, newt.

Sorry, ES. Didn’t mean to be snotty, honest.
And, yes, it’s a challenge to give a cat fluids every 2-3 days. Somehow they’re more docile at the vet. If it’s at home with Mother and Other Mother, hoo-eee watch out.

Anyway…
Goodnight, Pups. Hugs to all who are feeling loss today. It hurts because our companions are worth loving. And not loving them is not a viable alternative.

Take care, all!
FWDiva

Meant that for greenwarrior.

what a beautiful idea.

a couple of years before my uncle irving died, his kids made a video of him talking about his life. when he got to the part about immigrating here from russia, he told them to turn it off for that part. they made believe they turned it off and he revealed that all the brothers and sistersl lied about their ages, saying they were older, so they could get work. in his 90’s he was still afraid to say this on a video. it was very poignant.

I always liked Venter because he was such a rebel. The woman who succeeded him at Solera was a client of mine.

RE Sotomayor, I would have preferred a Progressive. I think she’s a little right of Souter, but smart legal minds say if a Supreme changes on the court-they move left.

i could tell. :)

((g’nite))

okay, beauties, it’s WELL past my bedtime. thanks for all the love and sharing. i’ll see y’all next time.

I think the New Age in America is caring for our elders.
I’m pretty sure I can’t do 8 years of this. My grandmother died at 102. My stone alchoholic grandfather[other side] died at 91. We have some serious longevity issues working here!!!!!!!!!!
If we’re so willing to kill our young why can’t we eliminate our old while we;re at it ? / s/

{{{{{hugs to everyone }}}}}}

Having read the posts now, it seems nearly all of us have been through something similar with a beloved pet.
greenwarrior, glad you’re feeling a little better. The video/youtube was amazing, wasn’t it? Virtual communities are wonderful – would never have seen that without CE’s rec.

ES-your cat was a lovely boy – markings much like one we said good-bye to recently, too. Nelson stayed with my husband when we separated, and he hadn’t been well. Then, like so many, he took a sudden turn for the worse and on his visit to the vet, he, too, didn’t come home. I wasn’t there for it, but I think of him when I pet and brush his brother, who lives with me. There’s a lovely photo of Nelson on the bookshelf.

I hope you find a wonderful next companion (they are never a “replacement, of course.)
Time for me to head off, too – keep trying to go to bed early, but it isn’t working, is it?

g’nite GW. Have a nice deep sleep.

I agree openhope. my parents also have the do not resuscitate clause in their living wills.

Eliminate I don’t think so! Make them as comfortable as possible a resounding YES! All these extraordinary medical attempts to extend life when there is no way there could ever be recovery to a “normal” life are totally wrong. When it is known for sure that death is the only way out allow them the dignity of dying at home with their loved ones and not in some cold hospital alone in the night! But DO make sure there is no pain… none give them all the morphine/heroin they need to make them comfortable till the end. So what if they get addicted it doesn’t matter what are they going to do go hold up a store for money to buy more??? While growing up many relatives died peacefully at home and that is the Natural way not in some cold room with a bunch of strangers!!

On the bright side… our asshole Representative, and I use that term loosely, was highlighted today the the Ed Shultz Air America show. I was SO proud!!!
Rick Larsen, Washington state….you are part of the problem.
Until today it was our beat-your-head-against the Blue Dog/Pharma/defense crap. It’s great to see him outed as a Repug wearing a donkey furry.

Well what a thread!! Good sharing with all… Keep all your passed loved ones and pets in your hearts and remember the love shared it will comfort you over time.
Night good Pups have to work the veggie garden in the morning..

I agree. But neither of my parents take pills. Just won’t do it. Without those f$$king pills you can live a long time past the “sell by” date. Or so it seems. Go figure.

I’m now kinda taking a liking to Ed Schulz, based on the last couple times I heard some of his radio show. Seems to be a lot more ballzy than I remembered him years ago.

g’nite nahant.

That’s it for me too. Sleep well, openhope.

While I’m promoting euthanasia as an important componant to health care, obviously we’re a long way from that conversation as a society.. And so the “Olds” will suffer. Who’s to make that choice? Not us.
Not us, not now. I don’t want to say,” Kids, I’m taking Grandma in and having her put down tomorrow. Give her love and hugs and treats.”.
So sci-fi.

I’m not a big fan of his. But this was a good thing, Larsen has been allowed to be an invisible Rep for too long. He’s a f$$king repug, non-committal until the final vote kind of guy. Needs an opponent. Jeez, he didn’t even have to campaign too hard up here last election. No one ran against him. He’s a dick. I’ve met him numerous times. He’s always a dick.
I used to say,”If only we had a Donna Edwards.”. But now I don’t know about her either.
If only we had a Darcy Burner…………………….

Oh, I’m going to give Marcy Wheeler another $5 for saying BLOW JOB on national teevee.
That was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It always feels awful to put an animal down, because you’re never sure they really can understand why they can’t continue hanging out with you.

Here’s a Rudyard Kipling poem for you and the dog’s owner to be comforted by:

Dinah in Heaven: A Poem