We have something unusual this Caturday, because today’s visitor brought a stuffed toy made by CuddleClones to look like an exact duplicate!
Andrew Y., bringing twice Teh Qte!
Weekend Open Thread
71 thoughts on “Weekend Open Thread”
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Cute but also a teeny bit creepy. Real kitty is not so sure about it’s mini friend.
Not much going on here. Won some items from an online auction site so have to go pick them up today. Then helping a friend figure out some financial paperwork. Maybe, if the weather is nice later, hubby and me will go for a drive in the convertible. Top down and head to the beach. I know such a California cliche, lol.
Not only is it a cliche AJ, it is downright mean! If we even so much as left the driveway with the top down we’d have frostbite!
Just kidding around AJ – enjoy your day!! 😎🌞
It is snowing here. Enjoy the sunshine for me.
Sorry Dulcie and Debg🙃. The weather is the main reason I left the East coast, had enough of freezing my toucas off. I actually wasn’t too thrilled with the purchase but I’m starting to like it, kinda a mashup of the freedom of being on a motorcycle with the safety of being in a car. Stay warm everyone,
I looked. Those decoys are $249! 😳Won’t be having one anytime soon!
Hope everyone is having a better year so far.🤞🏼 Haven’t got much snow here yet, but the squirrels are fat to obese, so we’ll see!
One of my tutoring students’ moms had a cuddle clone of her deceased dog made. I about jumped out of my skin when I walked in and saw the pooch risen from the grave! Creepy indeed!
Real kitty is cute. Clone is creepy, creepy, creepy.
Yep…deep into uncanny valley territory.
There’s not much going on at the Shortcakery. Last week we had the excitement of having the laundry room roof replaced as it was letting in water, I’ve just taken delivery of some yarn to make a patchwork blanket, and tonight we’ll be celebrating the reopening of the local fish and chip shop.
Alice – how is it going with a Europe free Britain?!
Fish and chips. Yum. 🤤
Dammit, the fish and chip shop was still closed after the holiday break – I hope the Eastern European owners aren’t having difficulty getting back into the country! And as for our new post-European status, all I can say is thank goodness Britain is 100% self-sufficient in its food and energy requirements. Otherwise I would have to question the wisdom of our mopheaded leader.
I’m going to do the obligatory creep out here and ask if they do people. A plush hubby for those cold nights when he’s working late…
I was watching an interview on Colbert yesterday (on youtube) with an actress who is in something involving a baby. They showed the very real-looking fake baby (a “clone” of the real baby) that they use for some scenes. Creepy.
Not much going on here. Slept too late. Again. Grr.
Someday I want to go to Ann Arbor and just wander around and see who I stumble across. (I love the little green dragon guy.)
Allein, I cannot thank you enough for posting that video.
It hit me right where I live, partly because I grew up about 40 minutes away from Ann Arbor, and partly because I’ve been trying to build intentional creative practices. I’ve never thought of myself as an artist, because I can’t create something from nothing. I’m a technician who copies what other people design, and I tweak as I go.
Now, however, with dyeing and yarn design, I’m trying to get closer to creation. It’s going to take a big mental adjustment, shutting down the “I’m not an artist” voice in my head–this man’s wisdom about art has really helped.
I love his stuff so much. There are a handful that I wish he had available as prints on his store.
Hits home to me, too – I haven’t been able to do anything for a while – I keep letting myself get distracted, mostly by all the political crap, then all the things I’m “s’posed” to do. I signed up to do a sketch a day for the month of January one stopped after the second day – last year I went the whole 31 days. Of course, Cutetropolis is another excuse not to do any artwork but I find that forgivable!
Then to add to distraction I had a sick bunny today – stasis, the usual culprit. And on a Saturday, so had to make an emergency appointment for dear ol Fergus. He’s not much of a water drinker – have never seen him drink – so I wanted to be sure he got some sub-cu fluids. He’s doing much better, back to pooping and eating, which are a rabbit’s main occupations.
Hi Murray C! Do you do Inktober 52? It’s a prompt a week (and 31 days in October). https://inktober.com/inktober52 It’s a little less stressful than starting the year with a drawing a day.
No, I haven’t heard of it – thanks so much, I will give it a try!
I’m less creeped out by the Cuddle Clone than the rest of you. But it does remind me of a bittersweet memory from years ago. My beloved black cat Gaufie had died in the autumn. That winter, neighbors moved in across the street; their black cat was often not allowed in at night. Black cat became friendly with me and eventually found a way to sneak into the house because it was freaking cold that winter. The first time he did it, I walked into living room and nearly had a heart attack, thinking it was Gaufie curled up on the couch with everybody else.
I’m spending the day inside, focused on self-care after the horrors of this week. Groceries being delivered, because the store will be too crowded at this hour. No more doomscrolling for political news. After I do some housework, I’ll get back to my Fellowship of the Ring audiobook while I play with yarn or fiber. Then I’ll work out, make myself a nice dinner, and finish up the History of Swear Words series on Netflix.
The Netflix series turns out to be really good as well as really funny. Producers chose an extremely diverse cast of comedians, along with some experts on language. Even the talking heads are pretty funny. Everybody focuses on how labelling something a swear has to do with power, and how the groups denied power have tried to reclaim the swear (mostly successfully). As a historian myself, I was impressed with what they did. Plus I really needed the laughs after this week.
Hugs to you all.
Thanks, Deb, for another incentive to finally get my Netflix account set up.
Sometimes I really feel for the folks at WeRateDogs…so many people just don’t get it.
I’m glad so many people don’t get it and send in Lawn Pandas (dry or slightly moistened). These people are saving the world with laughter and cuteness.
Meanwhile, one of the calendar pages this week rated a “dog” without even acknowledging that it was actually a bunny.
What!!!!???
Happy weekend.
Hubby taking me to fabric stores to restock. Last week we went to a soap and candle making supplies store, and he could barely get me out after. I’m trying to aggressively encourage myself to do things. I’m tempted to print off an iron on image of his face and make my own plushy of him.
Years ago, my then-boyfriend got a body pillow with an iron-on photo of me at one end. Wonder what he did with it . . . that was a surprisingly good photo of me.
Also, laugh until you cry. Why hasn’t somebody made this a real product yet?
Brownie Husband was HILARIOUS!!
Seriously, the world needs this product. Or at least the laughs from the spoof ad!
I hope that means you are feeling better. 🙂
Sadly, the tears of laughter morphed into some seconds of sad tears. The COVID months often found me crying for no discernable reason–just the stress and chaos and everything boiling up. This week gave me easily discernable reasons. But the tears are a good release, whether they’re happy or sad.
Thanks for the comment–I appreciate it.
It is a good thing that you are able to cry. I wish I could too. I would really need it too.
Anyway I hope you feel better soon!
Ems, sometimes I deliberately watch a tearjerker movie if I need the emotional release. Fortunately(?), I cry really easily so that works well. Hope you’re taking care of yourself in these troubled times.
My beloved Cutetropolitans, this week has been terrible and I am not referring to politics, although that was insane too.
The series of ” everything goes out of order at the Monster household” continues. And so does the several years long drama with my brother.
Just to put the crown on the week, Marci is very ill. Every vet I come across at the pet hospital says different things about what illness it is and how serious.
This afternoon Marci looked so poorly that I thought he would be dead by now. But thankfully he looks better for now. Unfortunately one of my favourite vets said that I may have to prepare for the worst and even if he got a lot of infusion this morning, he was in a really bad shape in the afternoon.
So I was stupid enough to call up a local vet ( the pet hospital was closed already) to come over and check if he is indeed on the verge of death. If he is, then we need to stop his suffering.
The guy came over and asked questions, and I only realised after a few answers that he asks all these to paint the pet hospital (= his rivals in business) black. Then the guy saw Marci from a distance and Marci was able to move again. So he said that I’m a heartless killer to want to put down a cat because of a minor illness. At the same time he wanted to get evidence from me very aggressively that the pet hospital made a mistake and he is so much better. This is when I lost my patience and started yelling at him that we should focus on the cat, not who is a better doctor. He called me a mask wearing sheeplebitch and left.
I’m not normally a yelly type, but this vet really made me angry. Especially because nothing would make me happier than Marci’s recovery. I’m totally ashamed of having thought about euthanising him, but in the afternoon he really looked almost dead and I just didn’t want him to suffer. I was emotionally in a black hole and took a poor decision. I’m very happy that Marci is still alive, I will know more tomorrow when the bloodwork is ready how serious his kidney issues are.
I’m not proud of myself for my wrong decisions, not being able to handle stress properly and screeching like a banshee at the vet. He was an idiot but at least he saw Marci wasn’t dying yet.
Sorry for the incoherent rant, I haven’t eaten/slept for a few days because I worry about Marci night and day. I will tell you as soon as I know more.
I’m so very sorry for all your pain. Your reaction to a self-centered vet is completely understandable: in that situation, Marci’s needs come first.
It is so difficult to know how to proceed for us pet parents when our babies get sick. My eldest kitties are 15 and 16, with what I think are not serious movement and breathing issues. But I keep second-guessing myself.
You know Marci best. You can best read his emotions and reactions. Trust your instincts. Whenever we have to face decisions about putting down a beloved companion, we can torture ourselves. Don’t do that.
You know all of us here have your back, whatever you decide to do, because we know that you’re acting out of love for your darling.
Thank you, Debg.
Marci is a very choosy cat with not very consistent appetite. I have told him he should have a light bulb attached to his head, which should give signals if a vet is needed. It was so much easier with Felix as he was always hungry. If he wasnt, the vet was needed.
For now I think the good decision was not to put him down, I hope the vets will do a miracle and we can have a few more years together.
So sorry you had to deal with such an imbecile at such a difficult time! How dare he!😠
You know your baby best, and you do what you think needs to be done. (I have been in the same circumstance with a bunny a couple of times). Sending prayers and hugs!
You love your cat and don’t want to see him suffer. NOTHING you did or will do is wrong or shameful. And I believe that Marci knows that. Screw the a**hole vet.
Exactly. He sounds like someone who shouldn’t be working with the public, and definitely not with animals!
Absolutely. My blood is boiling!
It is that vet who should be ashamed, not you. His job is to assess the cat and tell you the truth of his condition. If it wasn’t as bad as you feared, he should have been happy to tell you that, not yell at you for considering what to do if it was that bad.
And if there’s somewhere to report him, I would do that.
Hugs to you and Marci; glad he’s feeling better.
“mask wearing sheeplebitch” ??? wow.
Ugh. EmsTM – this was so hard to read because I can just feel your pain. I am so sorry for what you are going through and this jerk didn’t make it any easier. I agree with everyone – you did nothing wrong!
As far as this vet’s “bedside manner” I also agree you need to report him. I would submit a review to the Better Business Bureau. No one wants to be reported there. But also yelp or google reviews.
Lots of hugs to you and Marci. ❤️❤️❤️
Oh yes Tara you are so right!!
Ems. I know this is an unbearably stressful time and you want to concentrate on Marci. But if you can manage it, even at a later date, this man definitely needs to be reported to the appropriate authorities. Definitely.
In the meantime Ems, big hugs and take care. My heart goes out to you.
💕💕
Ems, if it were up to me, that so-called “vet” would be stripped of all credentials.
YOU KNOW YOUR MARCI BEST. And whatever you decide, and whenever you decide it, it will be done with Marci’s best interests at heart, with love and the best of all your experience that you can bring to bear on the decision. Marci is in the very best hands with you.
I went through something somewhat similar toward the end of Ricky’s life, though the vet in question was (thank goodness) not a disgusting low-life creep like this guy was. She just didn’t know Ricky and me well enough to make the right call. Like you, I stuck to my guns (at least I didn’t have to yell) and I made another appointment with our regular vet, who hadn’t been available on the crisis day. She affirmed my judgment, and when Ricky did need his passing eased, she was the one who took care of it. I’m glad I trusted my gut, and I send you MASSIVE, AFFIRMATIVE HUGS for trusting yours.
Love and puppy kisses from NYC.
P.S. to DebG: I have every faith that your eldest kitties are also in the best of hands. Yours.
Thank you.
You know Marci best and love him. Trust yourself. That vet is definitely in the wrong line of work. I would report him to whoever is in charge of licensing vets where you are.
I know watching and waiting and worrying, but I also have known the right time when it came with each of my babies and I’m sure you will too .
Thanks a lot for your supportive words, I really appreciate them. I can see some minor improvement in Marci, we are going to the pet hospital soon.
Marci, is that b****** vet a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association? If so I’d be inclined to report him. A letter to the local newspaper wouldn’t go amiss either.
I believe Ems is in Hungary.
The day started normal enough, I put a pork roast into the slow cooker, took a shower and checked the news and waited for my husband to get up because he goes to bed later than I do.
When he finally got up he was not a happy puppy. Poor guy has been trying to get an appointment with a doctor for the pass 3 weeks for a unitary track infection.
Today he really wasn’t feeling good, he wasn’t sure if he was going to try to get an appointment again or if he was going to go to the emergency room. Finally he said he wanted me to drop him at the emergency and not wait because he would probably be there all night, so off we go.
Well what do you know miracle of miracle, 2 hours later I get a phone call to come and pick him up!
Seems he got referred by the hospital to the clinic next door, the same clinic that he tried to get an appointment to for the last 3 weeks! So I picked him up, we stopped at the pharmacy to fill out his prescription and here we are, home in time for diner.
Yeesh, what a ride you’ve been on. Sending healing wishes your husband’s way. And calming wishes (or a drink, or chocolate, or a spa day) yours.
Oh man. I hope he’s on the mend now.
Spending a somewhat quiet weekend at home after a crazy week. In addition to trying to catch up at work from my week off, we bought a new TV because our ancient plasma TV was on the verge of going kaput. I finally found a new SUV to replace my 20 yr old Jeep, so I’m now trying to figure out how to work everything on my brand new 2020 Nissan Murano platinum (and hoping that it won’t be cursed for being a 2020, haha!) And on Wednesday I took my mom in for cataract surgery.
This morning I got my first COVID vaccine! No side effects so far, other than the usual sore arm. It was the Moderna one, and I’m scheduled for the second dose in 4 weeks. Supposedly the side effects are worse after the 2nd one, but I’m getting it on a Friday afternoon so I’ll have the weekend to recover if necessary.
Congrats on the new TV, wheels, cataract-free eyes for your mom, and COVID protection for you! Hope you and mom heal quickly.
Thanks! Mom did great with the surgery, and she’s already looking forward to having the second eye done because she’s seeing so well with the first now.
In addition to the sore arm I’m a little wiped out tonight, but that could be from washing the car, grocery shopping, etc too. Going to veg out and watch a movie or something for the rest of the evening.
There is utter confusion over Covid vaccinations in England. My Dad had no side effects from the first jab (although he did lose his wallet at the site!) and was due for the second on 12th January. Now we are told that twelve weeks, not four, must elapse between the two jabs. I’m almost 61 and still haven’t heard when I’ll be eligible for them.
12 weeks?!
I have a facebook friend (someone I went to high school with) who posted yesterday that she got her second shot on Friday (she’s a nurse and also a cancer survivor). She said she got it at noon, and by 10 pm she felt really bad, by midnight had pain that reminded her of the bone pain she had with cancer, then sweating enough to have to change her sheets at 2am….and by 11 am she was starting a 150 mile ride on her Peloton bike. So the side effects were miserable but fairly short lived.
Thanks for the info, Allein. My office has requested that we get the shots on a day when we don’t have to work the following day. I’m assuming (but will verify) that it’s OK to take Tylenol, ibuprofen, etc to help with side effects.
I work for a health care system, and we were originally told 21 days was ideal, but the Pfizer vaccine had been studied with the 2nd dose between 17 and 23 days so that would be OK. Then when I got the vaccine I was told 24-28 days for the 2nd dose (maybe because it was Moderna? Not sure).
Anyway, I had read that England was going to be stretching out the interval between doses, but the CDC doesn’t recommend that since none of the clinical trials had data for intervals that long.
Marci has chronic kidney deficiency. The blood results are shockingly bad. We need to switch to renal cat food once Marci starts eating again. I think wet food transition is doable, I seriously hope he will accept the renal dry food as well and that he will start eating again more than just a few bites. So anything can happen still 🙁
Marci is quite active and deeply offended that I won’t let him outside in the chilly winter. Sometimes I think he wants to learn to yodel as he keeps howling in front of the entrance basically night and day.
He is getting the next part of the infusion cure tomorrow.
That’s sounds awfully promising.
Go Marci go! Wishing I could help it along Ems!!
Thank you, Dulcie. I’m trying to remain optimistic, we will see.
Yes, that sounds like better news than expected? I hope Marci makes the transition to different food willingly.
Yodeling is a good sign too? Maybe?
Still sending good thoughts your way…
❤️
Thank you, Tara. It is very much appreciated. He is surprisingly strong. It took quite some strength to coerce him into the carrier.
Sending best wishes and {{{{{good vibrations}}}}} to Marci and you!
Good luck with the food transition; that’s always a little nerve-wracking, at least for me. I’ve learned the hard way that hurrying the tranistion process does not tend to produce happy results; what it does produce is extra clean-up.
Are there toys, or ways to play with Marci at home that will make him a little happier about staying in? I don’t know what you have available, and perhaps Marci isn’t naturally playful. But it might be worth a try.
I love the idea of a cat yodeling!
Thank you, I’m a bit desperate to see improvements right now, but he is only OK because of the infusion/medication.
It is absolutely nerve-wrecking, and I appreciate your advice not to rush the transition, this is the first time I need to do such a thing.
Unfortunately I haven’t found any toy he would enjoy for longer than a minute. He likes playing in the garden, climbing trees etc. pawing at weeds 🙁
It is so unbelievable that he was running up on all the trees in the garden a week ago, like a lil’ athlete.
I’m the worst with plants, so consider the source, but could you set up a window-box or indoor planter with safe plants for Marci to dig about in?
As for food transition, I strongly recommend you consult with your regular vet. If you can’t, then I’d suggest replacing old food with new food by the spoonful, a couple of meals before the next step of replacement. In other words, remove one spoonful of old food and add one spoonful of new food. Maintain for at least one more meal, then replace by another spoonful. It will take a while, but slow and steady gives you a chance of success without tummy upset.
Others with even more experience than mine may have better advice than mine. I’m really not an expert, just a concerned fellow pet parent.
P.S. I hope I was clear. It’s easier to do than to explain!
Thanks for the ideas:
I have always had indoor planters. What Marci likes is the big trees in the garden, posing like a rockstar on the top of the trees as if he was the king of the garden. I have tried to make him paw at some of the plants, moving the leaves, no success.
Yesterday I entertained him with a big bowl of water for some time. I poured some water into it slowly and he was trying to catch drops with his paws tap-tap-tapping on the water surface. He loved that.
As for the food transition, I have been a total failure so far.
The vet told me that while transition is of utmost importance in the near future, I cannot let him starve at this point, he is too frail with the illness. Even eating the wrong food is better than eating nothing.
So I hid a tiny bit of new food under the old one and Marci decided to keep crying instead of eating. After an hour I gave in, and gave him his usual wet food, from which he has eaten a little bit, which is great news in itself, but of course the new food would have been much better.
Anyway I will talk again to the vet today, and will prepare Marci’s next food without him seeing it. When he saw that I took 2 grains from the new dry food and put them on his plate, he quickly cuddled up to his regular dry food packet, showing me what he wants. Even if I put the old food on top, he just took 2-3 pcs of old food out of it and that was it.
I’m not giving up, I will keep trying. Now that we are talking about it, I remember that we had to do a similar food transition for our dachshund when I was a teenager. But that dog wanted to eat at least, so slowly we could do it. Thanks for reminding me the slow and steady part, I think I am a bit too impatient.
OMG. Stop! 😂😂😂
What?
Thank you for posting these. I loved these back in the day. I love the cuddling punishment.