Stuff

[shipperx]

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

Various things:

* Saw that GRRMartin posted a chapter from the next book for a fan prezzie.  It did spoil, or at least confirm what many guessed, which is...

stannis is not dead.

* I see that the way that online posting now handles lj-cuts is different.  Let's see if it works better.

* Have been pampering my cat insanely but... *sigh* I think she's just too old.  Poor baby is SO skinny.  She rarely eats much (and if she does eat much she'll end up throwing it up).  I can tempt her to eat but never very much and she is so. so. skinny.   She doesn't act like she's in pain. she still jumps up onto the bed a bazillion times a night.   She's as active as she's been for a couple of years now (which is to say she sleeps 20 hours a day but she walks around a fair bit at night).  Her coat looks good.  She drinks water fine. She pees and poops.   So, ultimately, I think her problem is just that she's  18 years old (possibly 19 year old ETA: Thinking about it... I think she turned 19 two weeks ago).  Still, I weighed her.  She's barely more than 5 pounds now (whereas a couple of years ago she was 7lbs).  I've bought vitamens, enzymes, special high calorie food.  I feed her 'Instinct' or even just straight chicken.  And I have a grain-free kibble that she does eat (though never a great deal).  I don't know what else to do for her.  I wish she weren't so skinny. :(


* My own resolution is to eat more healthily in the coming year.  Not what my sister did (she's lost a ton of weight, to the point that she's both A) obnoxious about it and B) down to a size smaller than she wore in high school.  However, I maintain that nothing good comes from living off of 700 calories per day (that's what she's doing) and having dieted so much that her hair is falling out (which has also been happening).  But it's not like either myself or my mother can talk her out of it without being accused of 'sabotaging' her, or without her pulling the card that SHE is the M.D.  Still, you can't convince me that it's healthy when your hair is falling out.)   That said, I know I've been overeating a lot of crap.  So my own resolution is to eat more healthily.

* *sigh* Saw the preview for the 'Angel and Faith' issue.  While I do think that eventually they may allow Angel to be scolded slightly, I also believe that the full whitewashing is on like Tom Sawyer begging friends to help him with his fence.  You can't convince me there's deeply hidden plan that they'll pounce on us later (why do people still float these 'unseen but they mean the opposite'  theories when they keep not happening?  The comics haven't been genre busting thus for.  More like genre-adherent.)  Really, I believe it's just a pure case of protagonist privilege.  Most of what Angel does and decides isn't wrong... simply because he's Angel, and he's the protagonist.

*  Also, I do dearly hope that BuffyForums Zianna is right and Buffy is not pregnant.  Not only because I think it would be an incredibly stupid and mishandled story with this bunch at the comics, but also because it will disappoint a certain poster so very badly.

 

Comments

[sueworld2003.livejournal.com]

"but also because it will disappoint a certain poster so very badly."

And so say all of us. *g*

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

:D

[ms-scarletibis.livejournal.com]

Are you talking about the latest one where Harm guest stars with Clem of all people (or rather...demons :P)? If so, I've read the first half (and goodness, the drawings are awful...)

And what's this about BuffyForums now and "a certain poster"? I feel so out of the loop..

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

1) Yeah. That one. Angel says it was his plan all along to take the 'good people' to his Twi-universe. Whatevs. Retcon.

2) King of Cretins has had a hard on for Buffy spawning and assuming the 'proper' gender role for a while now, insisting that it will happen. It will, it will. Given the state of the comics not good it's not such a preposterous theory that I can't see the yahoos at Dark Horse doing it. But Zianna keeps insisting that this isn't the case. So... we'll see. I personally dislike the idea of Buffy having a kid so as to 'grow up.' Babies don't 'fix' adults. Babies need adults. They don't miraculously fix their parents damage. And Buffy is as prepared to be a parent as she is to prove or disprove the validity of String Theory.

[ms-scarletibis.livejournal.com]

1) Ah. Haven't gotten to that part yet. It's just the beginning of many retcons to come, I'm sure :)

2) Not sure who either are but...agreed about Buffy not being in any position to be a mom. Maybe ever. If there's going to be a baby in the 'verse again, it'd be better off with Dawn and Xander, and would be an even better reason why they'd drive a wedge between themselves and Buffy, and also why there's some kind of...whatever going on between them.

[rahirah]

See, I could believe that Angel has convinced himself of that by now, but that he actually planned to do it? Nah.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I could buy that too. And it wouldn't be a bad direction to take or out of character.

It's just that the realist in me says that it's just a coat of white paint over the mess that was Season 8.

[rahirah]

Yeah, I really can't blame the writer entirely. They basically handed him a character who was for all intents and purposes a flat-out villain, and told to write him like a hero. I think it would have been simpler and made more sense to just go with Twilight having controlled him ever since the talking dog incident, but...

[rahirah]

Hair falling out is never of the good. O_o

Besides, I would think an M.D. would know that that kind of extreme dieting generally results in falling off the wagon and regaining most if not all or more of the weight within a few years.

I wanted really badly to post something like "No, you're not listening to hoofbeats and deducing a horse, you're listening to some coconuts slapping together and deducing the existence of Craig Ferguson's Secretariat." But I didn't.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Just because one should know better, doesn't mean that they do it. Sis has always been like this. When she goes on diets, it's extreme, and she's been on some weird mid-life-crisis kick.

For whatever reason, probably when my parents were moving, she's wound up with both hers and my prom dresses from way back when and she was saying that for whatever reason she'd actually tried them on and was complaining that she still couldn't zip my old prom dress all the way up. And, good grief, I had been on Atkins diet for six months when I bought that dress. I've never been that skinny ever, ever again, and here she is at fif-*cough* worrying that she couldn't zip my prom dress?

She's been in an odd mood lately.

[rahirah]

People is weird.

I was gonna say too, your cat sounds just like Silhouette - he's going on 20 and is just skin and bones despite special cat food and pills and everything else we can think of. The vet just shakes her head and says, "He's OLD." As long as he doesn't seem to be in pain and seems happy (which he does, at least when Churro isn't hassling him) I guess we just maintain. :/

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Reading up, it sounds like thyroid may well be the problem. I am thinking of taking her to have blood work done. That said, most of the treatments sound both expensive and extraordinary and she's 18. The chances of more harm than help are significant. It does sound like hills has a prescription food for thyroid.

At any rate, I may take her in for blood tests, just to determine whether it's her thyroid. I'm not sure how much can reasonably be done though without making her worse.

[txvoodoo.livejournal.com]

Yeah, hair falling out - BAD.

And doctors, alas, are no less susceptible to eating disorders than any others, just like they can get any other illness.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I don't really worry about it long term. It's just that she gets obsessive about stuff, but she's been obsessive about diets before. Eventually she'll loosen up (already did a great deal during Christmas). but, boy, she can carry stuff to extremes.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

I also believe that the full whitewashing is on like Tom Sawyer begging friends to help him with his fence.

Oh, it's happening. Undeniable after the last issue and Allie recently saying fans were making too much of a deal about his actions in S8. Given the way S9 is playing out (saving the world was bad, mmkay?), I'm not unconvinced it'll turn out he was right all along.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Boy, these comics really are pure fanboism aren't they. That really is what they seem to aim for.

[sueworld2003.livejournal.com]

To be frank I think that unlike some of the writers on the TV show (Jane Espenson I'm looking at you love) they don't really understand the characters nor take what they do with them very seriously. That doesn't excuse Whedon though, except maybe he's just lost it writing wise.

I think DH seem to only want readers who have very short memories and who don't give a flying fuck about the characters anymore. I mean It stuns me that they do what they did to Angel and yet think they can make him come back from that with just a few hand waves.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

Eh, I really don't think any of them care, not even Jane or Joss. I think shipperx has it right that it's literally fanboys run wild. Hence everything being the completely opposite. Different audiences.

The fandom reactions are far more interesting. From people claiming they aren't whitewashing Angel to the Xanderfen rage. I'm tempted to see if they're freaking out because Andrew is prominent on the #8 cover and Xander is still nowhere to be seen. Heh.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I don't think Xanderfen dignify Andrew as a comparison, which is why they reserve rage for Spike... if you're going to rail about who is 'stealing your character's spotlight' you don't choose the dweeb who makes the funny, you choose someone you think is cool and thus is teh nemesis!

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

Heh, true enough. Oddly enough, I think Andrew is probably the biggest threat to usurp his role. Since that cover does suggest he has his own motivations and storyline (I think they're totally doing another Bot) he has the best storyline so far.

[cindergal.livejournal.com]

700 calories and hair falling out does not sound like a recipe for long-term success.

I have not been following the comics, but the whitewashing of Angel is just so surprising - not.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I don't think so either, but honestly, I can't say anything to her. (Heck, half my communication with her is her bragging what size she can now wear).

[lk737.livejournal.com]

First off hon, I want to say I'm so sorry about your cat and your sister. It sounds like both are ill. My sister was the same way for over 2 years and lost so much weight. Became really overly thin. My mom had anorexia and bulimia for many years while we were growing up, and my sister picked that up with an exercise and diet addiction. I think 700 calories is unhealthy for any full grown adult. She's losing not only weight, but nutrients, vitamins, and bone density. A counselor I contacted for my mom and sister told me that hair loss and loss of period, along with weight, are first signs of a diet crossing over into an eating disorder. My mom and sister were both diagnosed with eating disorders and anxiety disorders. Their therapists say that an eating disorder stems from anxiety and lack of a feeling of control. I just hope and pray that your sister gets the help she needs. I'll keep you both in my prayers sweetie.

I checked with some friends online who own older cats like yours, and they suggest a "senior profile of blood work" to rule anything out like thyroid, and then asking the vet for a special canned food which is prescription. She couldn't recall the name of it, but I googled presciption canned cat food and this is what I found?

http://www.hillspet.com/products/prescription-diet.html?JSESSIONID=O8p5TmM9yn8jTS4bnRoMBsbvG2rEhOSJFcx5vuCfeC821Et7d4dc!-693567425!167846932!7005!8005&bmUID=1325181305687

http://www.petfooddirect.com/landing/hills-prescriptiondiet.aspx

But there might be something else your vet would recommend. But my friends who are disabled and have older cats say they all recommend the senior profile blood work and asking for a prescription canned cat food. That your cat should still have some years left, if you can just find something palatable for her tummy. They say it might either be her teeth, gums, or tummy (if there's nothing internally wrong).

I hope this helps hon. And I hope too that Buffy isn't pregnant! Good lord, not in the hands of the writers on staff. Bunch of fanboys? *rolls eyes* And I knew Stannis wasn't dead! *rocks fist* *mega hugs to you* ♥

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Looking at it, it seems they have a thyroid diet, which reading up may be the problem.

I've scheduled a vet appointment for bloodwork.

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

Has you cat been checked of thyroid issues? Because becoming so thin was the first sign with Petzi Cat.

Not only because I think it would be an incredibly stupid and mishandled story with this bunch at the comics, but also because it will disappoint a certain poster so very badly.

And so say all of us.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Reading about it, it does sound like it may well be her thyroid. Any treatment options worth trying? They all sound like they'd take a high toll in and of themselves.

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

Petzi Sis' two cats have thyroid issues, all they do is take a pill twice a day.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I'm going to have bloodwork done. Although, I do know that since she most probably turned 19 two weeks ago, there's a finite amount of what's feasible to do. She's old. And thus far she's happy enough and in no pain. Still, if it's a matter of a pill, I'd gladly give her what she needs.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Looks like it's chronic renal failure. She hasn't reached end stage (which is good) but it's to the chronic stage and will have to be treated with sub-cutaneous fluids.

[shapinglight]

I hope your cat will be okay. Doesn't seem like there's much you can do about your sister. She'll have to come out of it by herself. :(

Re: the A&F comic, I read it last night and was incredibly underwhelmed. It might have been funny - possibly - with better art, because the script was okay(ish), but yeah, lots of wonkiness characterisation-wise. I can see why Gage writes from Faith's POV most of the time. He can't really do Angel's. Angel just comes across as a self-righteous prick, which would be fine if it were intentional, but we know it's not.