Panda Penguin Crossbreeds

[jmfargo]

I have one dog at home right now, where normally there are two. I know this doesn't seem like much but MaiTai, the youngest of the two, is sulking, wandering around the house morosely (okay, that was 10 minutes ago, now she's just laying on the floor pining) trying to figure out where WonTon, her "older brother" has gone to.

This morning we loaded WonTon into the car, drove a half hour to the vet clinic, dropped him off, and here I am, waiting for a phone call from the office to tell me that his surgery is done, please come pick him up, he's all better, here's your bill.

WonTon, for the second time in under two years, is having cancer removed.

I have to have a talk with him and make sure he knows that if he wants attention he doesn't have to get cancer, he can just come nuzzle us a bit and we'll pet him, or scratch at the door and we'll let him out. It's a lot less of a pain in the butt way to get attention than getting cancer.

Bozo. *sigh*

Comments

[kimmaline.livejournal.com]

My turn to be the first comment in YOUR journal. :)


I'm very sorry, darling. That is terrible. I know how much pets can be just like human members of your family.

I hope that WonTon ends up just fine. I'm rooting for him.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

He's kind of the "loveable goof" of the family. His nickname is "Dope," said in a loving manner, right before giving him some scratches or patting his head. I know he'll be okay, just like he was last time, but this time it's on his neck, and that's just kind of a weird area to be cutting around, so I'm a little more worried for him.

Thank you, I appreciate it. By tomorrow I'll be complaining how much taking care of him I have to do, and how I have to keep MaiTai from full on body-slamming him, but for today, I'm worried, and the rooting for him helps. :)

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Oh, and just for note - it's pretty easy to be the first comment in my journal at this point. I'll work on that in the future though. :)

[kimmaline.livejournal.com]

It depends a rather lot on my sleep patterns...what with the time difference, and all. I tend to stay up half the night and sleep half the day, though...so that helps us out a lot. :)

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Just so you know, the surgery went fine. He has two fairly big scars now, from what the doctors say, but he'll be coming home tonight. I'm feeling better, but won't be great until I have him home. Then I'll allow myself to feel relief.

Chicks dig scars, right? I have to find some way to console him - one of the scars is on his head.

[kimmaline.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear he's going to be okay!!!

What is the long-term diagnosis? Do they think that this is going to come back again???


Chicks dig scars, and all the cute Poodle Girls will feel sorry for him. When he tells the story, and about how brave he was through the whole thing...they'll just swoon.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Well, WonTon is 8 years old, and this is the second case in two years. They didn't think it would come back again after the first time, but it did. Frankly I figure whatever they say doesn't really matter. I'll just keep checking him out now and then, he loves the attention anyways, and it's not like it's any more of a burden then petting him is. If it does come back, well, I don't know. I'll just keep trying to think that this isn't the case, and it's gone, but take precautions anyways.

I'll let him know then, that he has to tell all the Poodle Girls about how brave he was. He'll like that. :)

[kimmaline.livejournal.com]

Panda Penguin Crossbreeds????

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

I looked at my desk and saw a Panda thingy (wrist rest for the mouse), then happened to get a reply from you so I thought about Penguins, and the third part just kind of came naturally.

I never claim that my titles make sense, or have anything to do with anything. :)

[kimmaline.livejournal.com]

My bestest friend Beth, (kid_lit_fan), always titles her stuff with song lyrics. I love that SO much, that for a while I found myself doing it without even realizing that I was copying her.

Now, in an effort to be original, I try to limit how much I do that.

I thought for a while that it would be massively cool to title my posts with literary references. This is cool on another, rather dorky level....Beth, while musical, is really the literary one of the two of us. And I, while literary, am probably more musical than she. I am at least more classically trained....where she kicks my ass literarily (just let me have my dream that A} "literarily" is a word, and that, 2} I am more musical, okay?)

But, literary references are a BITCH to come up with. If my post is about...say, friendship...there are a MILLION things that I could GIS to get a literary quote. And I found that it was just too much work.

I should work on my titles, though. One of these days (read: over the summer, now that there will NOT be summer session classes for Kimmaline) I am going to put actual WORK back into the blog...and then I would like to do some serious work on building up my readership.

I need to start writing down my really great ideas for real posts. I mean...it isn't that I don't write real posts now. The feedback I get is great...people used to always tell me that they really appreciated that I would write essays, and then about my life. Actually, all of the most successful bloggers seem to do just this.

But, as my "content" has gone to more personal, I have found that I am gaining NO new readers. Though at the end of the day I do write the blog for ME...I want the validation. I have just as sensitive of an ego as everyone else...actually...probably more so. :)

I like reaching a lot of people. I can't tell you how many times people have written to me and told me that I've put a face on disability. I am very candid about my crippledom...but I am a real person too.

Oh, and I write about shoes.

[kimmaline.livejournal.com]

Why do I always leave such tomes in other people's journals????

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Just for reference, I love tomes. :)

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Literarily is VERY much a real word because otherwise how could I say that I kick most of my friend's asses literarily? I'm a book person, with some musical training, and thus I didn't even ~question~ the validity of the word literarily. I just parsed what it meant, so you're all good on that. :)

I completely understand wanting to get more of a readership and get the validation that it implies. I'm right there with you, and am also thinking that as things settle down here a bit (some big projects in my life are slowly coming to a nice quiet end) I'm going to focus on my writing and livejournal. Of course, I'm one of those people that always says what they're going to do, and end up doing something very very different. That's just my life.

I can't say that you did for me what you did for others in "putting a face on disability." I can completely see where people are coming from on this, but to me, you're just Kimma. Sure, you're disabled, but you're also smart, funny, pretty, and a whole bunch of other stuff that I probably don't know. The disabled thing is just part of the whole amazing package. ;) (Of course, I know how cliched that might all sound, but just accept that it's just the way I view the world, k? *s*)

Oh, and I write about shoes.

You always know how to get that final guffaw out of me. Yes, when I'm alone I guffaw. Any new shoes to write about? I think I remember you saying you bought yourself some things recently, but I don't remember if shoes were a part of that package?

[kimmaline.livejournal.com]

*sigh*


No shoes.


I really royally screwed myself financially this month. I decided, on what is actually a very limited income, to do just plain too much in one month. It wasn't even spending...though I did do some of that...but not too much.

I decided to put more than half of what I make on my credit card (it is still suffering from Christmas, Vegas, and MY FUCKING SCHOOL BOOKS...and I HATE having my credit card high), then pay all my bills, then put a couple hundred in savings. On top of this, and my normal expenses, it turns out that I have to pay $400 in taxes.

My grandparents have been helping me out with my car payment...essentially, if they weren't, I'd have NO spending money for things like clothes, shoes, and food. That isn't too bad on a short term basis...we've all done it. But, since there really isn't any way for me to change my finances (even when most people feel that they can't change their finances, there is usually something within the realm of possibility that they could do. This is not the case for the disabled) Now, project1half is a great help to me...but I am by no means a kept woman. And, for all that I am constantly talking about purchases in my journal...understand that y'all basically hear about all of them. I don't really spend that much money. My grandparents are covering my taxes...but I told them that if they did that, I'd not take any money from them this month for my car payment.

But, you know those months where EVERYTHING comes up? This was one of those months. It was the month where I got my hair done. My grandma actually spends $20 a week to get her hair "fixed" and set...going to a lady she's been going to for years. Now, I pay a fuck of a lot more than $20...but since I only do it about every five months (cut and highlights)...I actually spend less than she does in two months. But, it is a chunk of $150, all at once. And then, this was the month where every single product I need ran out. I have psycho-sensitive skin, so I have to spend a pretty decent amount on skin care stuff. It's expensive crap, but the good thing about quality products is that you only use a little of them, and they last forever. But, I had to drop $100 there. It all nickel and dimed me to the point where Kimmaline will NOT be buying ANYTHING for a couple of months. I actually had to take money OUT of savings to cover my ass.

My monthly medical costs are pretty high, as I am sure you can imagine. I have NO idea what the hell I was thinking when I put that big payment on my credit card. Actually, I can tell you PRECISELY what I was thinking. I was thinking that even though I've been putting more in the form of payments on my card each month than I've been spending...I've still been spending more than I should. And somehow...in what is normally my very financially savvy brain...it made sense.

I can't believe I used to deal with other people's money for a living. I really fucked myself up. Thank GOOD HOLY GOD IN HEAVEN ABOVE I was responsible before this, and have some money in savings.


That is ALL you need to hear about my financial problems, thankyewverrahmuch.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Along with school, tests, and stuff, I can definately see why you've been stressing and pressed for time lately. I know the usual answer to this, but if there's anything I can do to help out, just ask and I'll do what I can.

I'm learning all about that whole "savings" thing and am trying, but it seems things just keep popping up, you know? Refridgerator broke, had to get a new one, now the surgery for WonTon...I'll get there, eventually, but man it's hard starting out. Any advice? Note, not saying I'll take it, but advice for other people is almost always easier to give than to follow...or something.

[kimmaline.livejournal.com]

The thing I ALWAYS tell people...is the same advice I gave when I was working at the bank.

The nanosecond that you get your pay in the bank, you have to move some into savings. If you have direct deposit, they will often deposit part of it into another account, if you want. This might make it less painful for you, if you have trouble doing it yourself.

Once it's there, don't touch it. Just don't, unless you absolutely have to. But, if you put it right away, when you check your balances or are deciding what to spend throughout the month, the money is already gone. Even if it is $20 a paycheck...put in SOMETHING. It gets the money there, and it gets you in the habit of saving. For some people, it is just such a sacrifice to give up money to yourself...and though I don't really get that (I've always saved...maybe not every month, but relatively regularly)...I have seen it enough to recognize the phenomenon.

I highly recommend an ING account. Their interest is the best you are going to find (and this coming from a girl that is a credit-union FREAK) and it really helps to see your interest climbing (as they are seemingly always raising it) and adding up. I make hundreds a year on a relatively small amount of money. I know that there have been times when it has motivated the hell out of me to put more in. I've actually opened a CD now...I think it's wonderful. I've had zero problems with the fact that it's internet based...and though through the very extended grapevine I've heard some unfavorable things...no one I know has had any problems.

And, if you do decide to do it, let me know. If I refer you, I get ten bucks or something.

Anyway, set an amount that you are going to take out of EACH paycheck. Figure what you can spend a month, and divide it by how often you get paid (weekly, bi-weekly, whatever). It's easier if you take it out of each check, than one or the other.

The one caveat to this is that if you have a lot of credit card debt, you should put SOME into savings (to get into the habit, and for non-credit card emergencies)...but you really should pay down the credit card debt first. The interest you are paying TO the credit card company is never going to be offset by the amount you are MAKING from a savings institution. That is the joy of prime plus two.

I have a few hundred in a savings account at the credit union where I have my checking account, for screw-ups like this month. ING rocks, but it takes a few days to get money back and forth. Now, I am seriously anal about knowing exactly how much money I have in my checking account at all times...so for me I've always had time enough to transfer from ING if needed. But from my regular savings, it's instant into my checking. I'd have been fine this month without the instant fail-safe...but it was better to have it there sooner.

Credit Unions rule. I highly recommend them. The service is nearly always better (and I've worked at both credit unions, and a small bank. Keith used to work for BofA, and I am SHOCKED at what they used to get away with). I make interest on my accounts, regardless of how much money I have in there. I make interest on my CHECKING account. And, what most people don't know is that CUs are non-profit organizations. The one I used to work for had a profit at the end of one fiscal year, and deposited $200 back into every member's account.


I just checked. If you open an ING account, you get $25 and I get $10. Whenever or ifever you're ready. :)

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

I think I'll get an ING account as soon as I am qualified for direct deposit. For some reason my temp agency makes you stay with one job for a few months before you can direct deposit, so I'm going to wait for that.

ING really does seem to almost be too good to be true.

[evilbutcute.livejournal.com]

Thats what I was gonna comment! :)

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Panduins!

Pengas?

[evilbutcute.livejournal.com]

But would it beat pandog?

http://mfrost.typepad.com/cute_overload/images/cute_dog.jpg

Pandog!

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Dear gods, that's just too cute!

[(Anonymous)]

Poor Wonton...
Hope he's doing OK.
Mabye that tumor is from all the burrowing he does?



Oh, and when I said "I feel like I'm cheating when I use the Assist-tick in Stepmania", that doesn't mean I don't use it... I use it quite a lot... I just feel like I'm cheating :)

-tt

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Poor Wonton...
Hope he's doing OK.

I'll let him know you send along some well-wishes. I'm sure he'll appreciate it, and I know I do. Thanks. :)

Mabye that tumor is from all the burrowing he does?

The last time he had cancer, we took him out for a sausage patty from McDonald's after his surgery. We're pretty sure he did this just so he can get another one.

Oh, and when I said "I feel like I'm cheating when I use the Assist-tick in Stepmania", that doesn't mean I don't use it... I use it quite a lot... I just feel like I'm cheating

That reminds me. I won't be able to get that adapter for a while as money's going to be a little tight. The $20 just can't be spared. When I do get it, we can have a little party, k? Sorry that I can't help you break your dance pad...

[periannth.livejournal.com]

Poor WonTon! *virtual hugs for him* I hope he feels better real soon, 'cuz I don't like it when my boyfriend isn't feeling well. ;)

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

I'll send him your hugs. I'm sure he'll appreciate them.

He's going to be cranky for a few days, but I'm pretty sure he'll come out of this good as old.

[periannth.livejournal.com]

*Going* to be cranky? How is that any different from normal? ;)

Oh, and you can tell him that his new "battle scars" will make him look tough. hehe :)

Hope you're feeling better too, now that you know he's okay.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Cranky-er? :)

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

Just a thought, if your vet hasn't suggested it (but I'm guessing s/he has). Feed Won Ton Shark cartilage. You can find it in health food places and/or those big pet stores. My best friend's parents dog had cancer and although it eventually was his end, the shark cartilage helped tremendously. Don't recall how pricey it is, but I know from first hand experience it helps. Well, that and a well-balanced diet. No more table scraps for Won Ton, because that can make the cancer worse.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

I know lots of people say this, but we rarely, rarely feed our dogs table scraps. Things like white bread and the seldom bland meat might make their way into a small piece of "do a trick for this treat," but they're few and far between. We try to keep our pups healthy, and table scraps usually don't help with that, especially if you're not careful about which scraps you're giving.

Like Maria's parents give their Pug things with garlic, and then wonder why he has so much gas...hmm. *chuckles*

We haven't heard the shark cartilage for this, but I had thought it was one of two things - 1) Very good for helping mending bones/joints 2) A false hope. I've never heard of it for cancer, but I'll ask the vet, he'll have a view on it, I'm sure. Thanks for the suggestion!

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

I know it was suggested for my best friend's parents dog (rottweiler) when he had cancer by the vet up here. I'm told there are nay-sayers but I did see an improvement in the dog's overall health when he was taking it.But I do recall it was fairly spendy.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

It sounds like that dog had a case of cancer that was worse than what we have here, but I'll keep it in mind, and ask the doctor about it tonight. It being fairly costly does kind of keep it on the list of "probably not," but if this happens again, and I'm told it'll increase his health and quality of life, well...we'll have to see where we are then. Instead, I'll just keep hoping it doesn't happen. That works, right? Positive thinking and all that? *hopeful grin*

[cieo.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear.
I hope it all turns out well.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

I just heard from the vet, and the surgery went well. He's waking up, and now they just have to make sure that all the motor control and what-not is okay. Not like they did brain surgery or anything, but it's surgery so they still have to check all the little details.

The healing is going to be the hardest part, I think.

[cieo.livejournal.com]

Of course. All things going according to plan, he'll never even know about the surgery.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Well, I don't know about that - he's going to wonder why he has these two funky scars, and why we won't let him go for walks (the cancer was right on his neck, no leash for him), so while he may not know about the actual surgery itself, he's going to wonder what the hell happened.

Of course, this is very much anthropomorphizing him, but everyone thinks their dogs are the smartest in the world, and mine are. :) He's just a ... uh ... dumb kind of smart.

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

You can actually take him for walks, just fashion a braded leash that wraps around his torso instead of his neck.

If you're curious I'll explain the 'how to' as it is rather simple to do. I've done it in the past for pet owners that have had problems with their pets and injuries on their neck. All you need is a long piece of soft, yet sturdy material, such as a leather belt, or strap or something along that nature.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Actually, we have a harness that'll work for him...he just hates those kinds of leads is all. He would probably prefer just being let out back. I guess we'll have to see. Thanks for the offer though - I appreciate the helpfulness.

I've been saying thanks a lot lately. *laughs*

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

It's because you have such awesome friends that we're willing to help out a friend in need. WonTon, not you. ;)

[(Anonymous)]

I'm very sorry to hear that. I hope no further cancer develops. Btw what kind of dogs are they?

[lycaonvulpes.livejournal.com]

sorry that was me.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

WonTon's a Shar Pei (I think that's how it's spelled)/Bull Mastiff mix. Shar Pei's tend to have lots of skin problems, so...this isn't really unexpected. I guess the fact that this is the ~second~ time is a little unexpected by us, but...*shrugs*...that's life.

Thank you for your well wishes. WonTon is home now, and though he looks like a Franken-dog, he seems okay.