counting at war (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
kerpingtack) wrote2013-02-06 12:32 am
kerpingtack) wrote2013-02-06 12:32 am
possibly, probably
I took my cat to the vet again last night because I was worried about an unusual urination pattern that had been going on for a month, and because over the past 1.5 weeks it looked like he was losing weight - and other people commented that he looked thinner, without me asking them. When I weighed him on our home scale it seemed like he had lost a couple of pounds too. When I called the vet about it last month, when the weird urination started, she said that it could be diabetes or a kidney malfunction; if the pattern persisted, maybe bring him in for bloodwork. I waited a month because I wasn't sure, I didn't want to spend money and stress him out (I just feel like such a monster forcing him into the carrier and bringing him to the vet, because he hates it so much and gets so scared).
Anyway it turned out fine. Chorong had actually gained weight since the last vet appointment (he's 13.5 lbs now! but he looks so slim and svelte lately lol. ~where does he keep it all~) and his bloodwork totally came out fine. The vet (a different one from before, since mine was on vacation. this vet had seen Chorong for his yearly check-up in the summer though) showed me the chart and everything, including his kidneys, were well in the normal range. It was really relieving to see the actual chart and the vet let me take it home haha. He also told me exactly what I needed to hear, without prompting - "bringing him in was a smart move," "this is money well spent, and it's not a lot of money either," and that I seemed intuitive so I should trust my gut instinct. HA! HA! HA! Anyway, I feel good... really glad that Chorong is still fine. I worry a lot, orz.
[Notes for my own reference: the urination could be crystals or a bladder infection - antibiotics for this. look for changes in patterns, straining, blockage. FUS is very complex and has many factors.]
Regrettably enough, the older I get, the more I realize how much reassurance I need. Since everything is kpop, I was reminded of how I used to be really put off by Yuri's hunger for attention and approval. There was a comment about her on the ficsmeme once - "it's obvious that that girl needs a lot of love and reassurance." At the time I hated that about her, because I understood it and I hated seeing what I didn't like about myself. Now, though, I sympathize. Which is better. You have to accept and take care of your weaknesses, instead of trying to hide or reject them, I think. It doesn't necessarily mean you are being complacent with them, or that you don't want to change. It's more like you don't want to be hurt by them anymore. So you bring it inside your heart and you kind of nurture it as you can, and get used to it and learn to live with it? Anyway, Yuri doesn't bother me anymore lol.
Pulling out relevant details from this post on Starbucks tips so I can remember them:
Anyway it turned out fine. Chorong had actually gained weight since the last vet appointment (he's 13.5 lbs now! but he looks so slim and svelte lately lol. ~where does he keep it all~) and his bloodwork totally came out fine. The vet (a different one from before, since mine was on vacation. this vet had seen Chorong for his yearly check-up in the summer though) showed me the chart and everything, including his kidneys, were well in the normal range. It was really relieving to see the actual chart and the vet let me take it home haha. He also told me exactly what I needed to hear, without prompting - "bringing him in was a smart move," "this is money well spent, and it's not a lot of money either," and that I seemed intuitive so I should trust my gut instinct. HA! HA! HA! Anyway, I feel good... really glad that Chorong is still fine. I worry a lot, orz.
[Notes for my own reference: the urination could be crystals or a bladder infection - antibiotics for this. look for changes in patterns, straining, blockage. FUS is very complex and has many factors.]
Regrettably enough, the older I get, the more I realize how much reassurance I need. Since everything is kpop, I was reminded of how I used to be really put off by Yuri's hunger for attention and approval. There was a comment about her on the ficsmeme once - "it's obvious that that girl needs a lot of love and reassurance." At the time I hated that about her, because I understood it and I hated seeing what I didn't like about myself. Now, though, I sympathize. Which is better. You have to accept and take care of your weaknesses, instead of trying to hide or reject them, I think. It doesn't necessarily mean you are being complacent with them, or that you don't want to change. It's more like you don't want to be hurt by them anymore. So you bring it inside your heart and you kind of nurture it as you can, and get used to it and learn to live with it? Anyway, Yuri doesn't bother me anymore lol.
Pulling out relevant details from this post on Starbucks tips so I can remember them:
- we have a number of flavor syrups that aren’t listed on the menu, just ask what we have. Also, despite what many customers think, we have peppermint year round, so we can make peppermint mochas and peppermint white mochas any time of the year. Gingerbread and pumpkin spice are seasonal, but we may not run out of stock for quite a while, so if it’s February there’s still a chance.
- it’s honestly not that annoying that you have a very specific drink order. It breaks up the monotony, and it’s nice not to be a vanilla latte robot. Sometimes people would ask for weird things that I’d make for myself later and end up liking! (protip: green tea latte with peppermint)
- infrequently ordered, but delicious drink: a marble macchiato. It’s like a caramel macchiato but with half mocha syrup, half white mocha.
- if you have no idea what to order, ask us. Since we get free drinks you can count on us trying every single drink in every disgusting combination. Our favorite drink will probably be something excessively complicated we’ll be happy to make for you. on that note, if you’re like, green tea latte? disgusting or delicious? you can ask us to sample it. we’ll make a whole drink and split it into sample cups. No big deal, our manager will probably like us better for promoting drinks anyways, and you don’t have to spend money to find out raspberry mochas are gross and green tea is delicious.
- in terms of dairy allergy/vegan stuff, the caramel sauce, white chocolate syrup, and pumpkin spice syrup all contain dairy. The chai contains honey. The whipped cream is 100% legit heavy cream. The caramel syrup, mocha syrup, and other syrups are non-dairy. This stuff might not matter to the lactose intolerant, but to some it does. For the caffeine-sensitive, the mocha syrup does not actually have any coffee - it’s chocolate sauce, and is just named that because it’s what we use for mochas. The “creme-based” list of fraps is usually pretty short, but there are usually more caffeine-free options, just ask.
same thing for pastries. We’ll sample it if you ask and we have enough (generally yes).
→ If a store is super busy, they will not just sample a bar beverage or pastry for you. Or, if say, a store is in the middle of Chicago where every day drug addicts ask for free samples. BUT, if you want to try something, let your barista know you’re trying something new and you’re not sure you’ll like it. They will say, “Try it, and if you don’t like it, we’ll make you something else, no problem.”