I've been away from this blog for so long that I almost forgot about it. I was Googling Freddie's of Pinewood tonight...and you all know how much I Frenching love them...and found my own review on my blog, lol. Oh yeah...my blog.
Thank you to everyone who held out positive thoughts for Rory and I. The freakishly good news is that she beat all the odds and did not have cancer. What she did have was eosinophilic granuloma. Basically, her immune system is a little wonky and thinks she has an infection where none is present, so her body attacks healthy tissue which caused the lesion on her nose pad and the tumor on the back of her tongue. Knock wood, neither has returned but we do remain watchful as this can affect her teeth/gums too.
In sad news, my little rescue, Saoirse Francis, that we knew and loved for 10 years encountered complications while dealing with hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease). She arrested suddenly and we lost her in the middle of the night at the emergency hospital a few months ago. Truth be told, there is still a lot of guilt surrounding her passing and the all too avoidable events that led up to it. It's actually why I haven't been around...anywhere...but life moves forward and there are two more naked Sphynx cats flying around the house! More on them some other day.
I am just getting back into my vintage swing and will have to update you on my chenille bedspread, chrome cozy tea pot, Mary Dunhill perfume purse flask, Bobbie Jerome purse, Richard Hudnut travel set, and my foray into vintage scents like Tweed and Woodhue.
Oh, one other thing, I colored my hair a couple weeks ago. Mouse brown, esh...but hey, the grey is gone and that's a damn start.
Um and one last thing...Where the HELL is INKY?????? :)
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Dear Feline Squamous Cell Carcinoma...
Listen you son-of-a-bitch, you may be mean...but I'm MEANER!
Yeah, you're gonna "win" this one, but not without a fight mutherfucker. You WILL NOT take my cat without a fight. You WILL NOT inflict your pain. WE WILL FIGHT you even if it just means we keep her comfortable and help her pass before you cause unspeakable destruction.
You picked the wrong cat!
See you at the surgical consult you prick bastard!
Squamous Cell Carcinoma is a big, bad cancer that affects feline nasal/oral areas. Rory, Raziel Reign's Once Upon A Dream, my bronze spotted Egyptian Mau, had a lesion on her nose pad that wasn't healing right. I thought it was because she kept rubbing it. Lesion, drooling, rubbing their mouths...all suspect signs of oral and/or nasal tumors. 99.9% of the time it's squamous cell carcinoma. Only a biopsy will say for certain, but odds are good this is what Rory has. I had looked in her mouth a few times and saw nothing...my vet saw a tumor way back on the base of her tongue and another spread under her toungue inside her jawline. I have a consult with a surgeon but realistically, the one on her tongue is in a very, very bad place that is not condusive to surgery. So, I go into this knowing there may not be a surgical solution to extending her life. There is a procedure called a mandibulectomy (removal of all or portion of the jaw). While it's really successful when combined with radiation in canines...it's not so hot with felines, typically extending life for another 5-7 months. Not sure I'd put her through such a drastic surgery and recovery to attempt a few more months. I'm really struggling to weigh treatment/prognosis/quality of life...hopefully the surgeon can guide me a bit on Thursday.
I have read about an NSAID called Piroxicam, to aleviate pain and reduce inflamation. It's used for prostrate cancer in human applications. This may be the best I can hope for. I'm also reading about chemo drugs being injected into the lesion on her nose to slow things down. I'll do what I can...anything except allow her to suffer.
Rory is only 9 years old, she's still got life in her eyes, bumps and purrs, still eating well...if you didn't see her nose deteriorating and notice the drool, you wouldn't think a think was wrong...for now.
If you don't already...have your vet do an oral exam each visit, ask about an annual dental...finding a squamous cell tumor EARLY makes a ton of difference!
Yeah, you're gonna "win" this one, but not without a fight mutherfucker. You WILL NOT take my cat without a fight. You WILL NOT inflict your pain. WE WILL FIGHT you even if it just means we keep her comfortable and help her pass before you cause unspeakable destruction.
You picked the wrong cat!
See you at the surgical consult you prick bastard!
Squamous Cell Carcinoma is a big, bad cancer that affects feline nasal/oral areas. Rory, Raziel Reign's Once Upon A Dream, my bronze spotted Egyptian Mau, had a lesion on her nose pad that wasn't healing right. I thought it was because she kept rubbing it. Lesion, drooling, rubbing their mouths...all suspect signs of oral and/or nasal tumors. 99.9% of the time it's squamous cell carcinoma. Only a biopsy will say for certain, but odds are good this is what Rory has. I had looked in her mouth a few times and saw nothing...my vet saw a tumor way back on the base of her tongue and another spread under her toungue inside her jawline. I have a consult with a surgeon but realistically, the one on her tongue is in a very, very bad place that is not condusive to surgery. So, I go into this knowing there may not be a surgical solution to extending her life. There is a procedure called a mandibulectomy (removal of all or portion of the jaw). While it's really successful when combined with radiation in canines...it's not so hot with felines, typically extending life for another 5-7 months. Not sure I'd put her through such a drastic surgery and recovery to attempt a few more months. I'm really struggling to weigh treatment/prognosis/quality of life...hopefully the surgeon can guide me a bit on Thursday.
I have read about an NSAID called Piroxicam, to aleviate pain and reduce inflamation. It's used for prostrate cancer in human applications. This may be the best I can hope for. I'm also reading about chemo drugs being injected into the lesion on her nose to slow things down. I'll do what I can...anything except allow her to suffer.
Rory is only 9 years old, she's still got life in her eyes, bumps and purrs, still eating well...if you didn't see her nose deteriorating and notice the drool, you wouldn't think a think was wrong...for now.
If you don't already...have your vet do an oral exam each visit, ask about an annual dental...finding a squamous cell tumor EARLY makes a ton of difference!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
This Summer...
This Summer I won't make excuses.
This Summer I won't hide in the house.
This Summer I won't wear the modern matron uniform of stretch pants and a baggy T.
This Summer I will "Wake up...Look cute...and Love myself!"
*Thanks Mary Deluxe and Desi Mother Superior of Bus Stop Goddesses Everywhere*
Yellow is not by best color, but when you shop CURVY vintage swimsuits, you learn to live with compromise. I wanted real vintage, not repro and these two were in my price range ($40). Plus size vintage swimwear, actually name label vintage swimwear is really up, up, up there $! I will say this...if you can find an Alix of Miami in your size and you have the budget, go for it. They are gorgeous...just google around or search Zeebay for some amazing examples.
Larger View
Larger View
I figure these are closer to the 60's but I think they are cute. I found the green/yellow multi playsuit on Etsy. It isn't labeled, that I know of. The yellow suit is a "Muriel" Swim and Sun. I like the girly ties on the skirt (and that it covers my bum and thighs...giggle). I found it at That Girl! Vintage. She has others but some just look like modest skirted modern examples. There are, however, a couple of vintage Gabar worth looking at. The best part is they are under $100.
This Summer I won't hide in the house.
This Summer I won't wear the modern matron uniform of stretch pants and a baggy T.
This Summer I will "Wake up...Look cute...and Love myself!"
*Thanks Mary Deluxe and Desi Mother Superior of Bus Stop Goddesses Everywhere*
Yellow is not by best color, but when you shop CURVY vintage swimsuits, you learn to live with compromise. I wanted real vintage, not repro and these two were in my price range ($40). Plus size vintage swimwear, actually name label vintage swimwear is really up, up, up there $! I will say this...if you can find an Alix of Miami in your size and you have the budget, go for it. They are gorgeous...just google around or search Zeebay for some amazing examples.
Larger View
Larger View
I figure these are closer to the 60's but I think they are cute. I found the green/yellow multi playsuit on Etsy. It isn't labeled, that I know of. The yellow suit is a "Muriel" Swim and Sun. I like the girly ties on the skirt (and that it covers my bum and thighs...giggle). I found it at That Girl! Vintage. She has others but some just look like modest skirted modern examples. There are, however, a couple of vintage Gabar worth looking at. The best part is they are under $100.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Minky Sphynxy!
New pictures of my baby girl from Tracy at NoCoatsKitty
Larger view here
You'll notice she's looking like a bald Siamese these days. Well, she sort of is, but not quite. Siamese are Pointed which refers to a color pattern that restricts the pigment to the tips of ears, nose, tail and toes. There are Pointed Sphynx kitties, but my baby isn't truly a pointed kitty. She's a MINK which is another type of pattern. Her SEAL color won't be totally restricted to points but shaded over her entire body. I think she gets to keep the dark smudge on her nose though. :)
Her eyes are such an amazing blue, but that's just her baby coloring. Because she is a MINK, she won't have blue eyes as an adult...I'm expecting a lovely change over the next few weeks and will share it as soon as her true eye color starts to emerge.
Still no purrfect name jumping out.
Sabrina or Prunella are still options...but Astrid, Starla. I'm getting a celestial or glam sort of vibe from this little Starlet...hmmm, maybe Starla would be good.
Larger view here
You'll notice she's looking like a bald Siamese these days. Well, she sort of is, but not quite. Siamese are Pointed which refers to a color pattern that restricts the pigment to the tips of ears, nose, tail and toes. There are Pointed Sphynx kitties, but my baby isn't truly a pointed kitty. She's a MINK which is another type of pattern. Her SEAL color won't be totally restricted to points but shaded over her entire body. I think she gets to keep the dark smudge on her nose though. :)
Her eyes are such an amazing blue, but that's just her baby coloring. Because she is a MINK, she won't have blue eyes as an adult...I'm expecting a lovely change over the next few weeks and will share it as soon as her true eye color starts to emerge.
Still no purrfect name jumping out.
Sabrina or Prunella are still options...but Astrid, Starla. I'm getting a celestial or glam sort of vibe from this little Starlet...hmmm, maybe Starla would be good.
Get In The Drecipe!
Anybody remember Susan Powter of "Stop the Insanity" infomercial fame?
Her Black Bean Salad is one of my favorites, quick, easy, no culinary skills required dishes.
I dub this a "Get in the Drecipe"
Get it?...Dress-i-pee
Susan Powter's Black Bean Salad
1 16oz can black beans (or dried beans cooked and seasoned) *I rinse my canned beans
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped red onion (I leave out the onion)
1/4 cup picante sauce (I sub Newman's Own Garden Salsa which is one of the lowest sodium prepared salsas I can find on my supermarket shelf)
2 tablespoons no-oil Italian dressing (I use Non Fat Italian)
In it's original state:
Serves 4
Calories 140
Fat .5 gm
3% fat
Mix it all up in a container and store it in the fridge. That's it!
I've topped garden salads with it. I've used it cold inside a whole wheat tortilla with shredded lettuce and diced tomato to make a lunch time wrapper. I've heated it up and added a smidge of mexican cheese and set it up in flour tortillas for a hot dinner. I've even used up a couple left over chicken strips by chopping them up and adding it. Susan says you can even heat the original recipe and eat it like a chunky soup.
Tonight, I'm actually having black beans with chick peas and corn in a recipe my Mom nabbed from a TV show. It is soooo delish! I'll have her write it down and share it with you sometime.
If you have a fav Get In The Drecipe, please share!
Her Black Bean Salad is one of my favorites, quick, easy, no culinary skills required dishes.
I dub this a "Get in the Drecipe"
Get it?...Dress-i-pee
Susan Powter's Black Bean Salad
1 16oz can black beans (or dried beans cooked and seasoned) *I rinse my canned beans
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped red onion (I leave out the onion)
1/4 cup picante sauce (I sub Newman's Own Garden Salsa which is one of the lowest sodium prepared salsas I can find on my supermarket shelf)
2 tablespoons no-oil Italian dressing (I use Non Fat Italian)
In it's original state:
Serves 4
Calories 140
Fat .5 gm
3% fat
Mix it all up in a container and store it in the fridge. That's it!
I've topped garden salads with it. I've used it cold inside a whole wheat tortilla with shredded lettuce and diced tomato to make a lunch time wrapper. I've heated it up and added a smidge of mexican cheese and set it up in flour tortillas for a hot dinner. I've even used up a couple left over chicken strips by chopping them up and adding it. Susan says you can even heat the original recipe and eat it like a chunky soup.
Tonight, I'm actually having black beans with chick peas and corn in a recipe my Mom nabbed from a TV show. It is soooo delish! I'll have her write it down and share it with you sometime.
If you have a fav Get In The Drecipe, please share!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
NSB: "Wait!...I can explain."
I was really, really good yesterday and today. I only bid on and won a desperately needed OB Girdle. It was a thought out, planned purchase and I got it for much less than I had expected. I was really happy with me!
Then I saw it, a yummy pink and lace confection of a dress that I need like a hole in my head (or pocketbook). I tried to resist, I really tried. Then I thought about the other two dresses that I resisted that were scarfed up and listed for sale elsewhere at 3 to 5 times the auction price. I looked at "my" dress and figured if I didn't move, she'd end up there too, far away from the financial reach of those who would love her best. I had to save her. You see? (Don't worry...I'm not buying this either!)
The truth is, I thought it was a really pretty dress and I did give myself one pass for a useless dressy-dress. I find it really hard to find this kind of stuff in my size and I know it's not something I could make myself in this lifetime or the next. I indulged. I have nothing against sellers making a profit. Heck, I worked commissioned sales for 20 years. It's just that really pretty plus size vintage is sometimes hard to come by. I'm tired of watching these dresses go for $70-$100 at auction and end up for sale at over $300 in a zip code I'm too poor to even speak, let alone live in. It's just nice, if once in a while, we regular girls can nab one of these dresses ourselves...even if we'll be so broke we'll have to wear it at home...eating Ramen Noodles for dinner.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Is It Sew Wrong?
I am not a crafty person.
My Gram sewed a bit, mostly alterations necessitated by the vertical challenge of just missing the 5' mark. She taught my Aunt Mollie a bit and if we blow out the cob webs, I'll bet my Aunt could still deliver the basics. My Mom is completely devoid of both the sewing and shopping genes. (Try growing up with that!) Me? I'd like to learn! It sure would be nice to just make a great dress instead of going blind and bankrupt watching auctions go down on LeBay! I have a big sewing basket, with practically nothing in it, stashed in the back of a closet from over a decade ago. Come to think of it, I might have a huge instruction book too.
I've gathered the few patterns I have. The plan was to start with the nighty because it doesn't have to turn out perfect to sleep in it. Then I decided to start with a smaller project, the hat and purse pattern. Well, I read it over for an hour today and I'm on the fence. There are a lot of tiny details to the hat that I might not be ready for, including a crinoline backing for rigidity. Seriously, I spent 10 minutes trying to figure out if there was a bonus slip pattern for the crinoline yardage called for or if there was some ruffled version I wasn't seeing! LOL The other item I'd really like to get cracking on is the short sleeve version of the blouse, minus the monogram. I think it would be really practical!
I tried looking at fabrics online but to little avail. I did find one super bit of1940's red print fabric. It's not enough to make the hat, but I might be able to just squeeze out the purse! We shall see. I didn't like a single fabric for my nighty so I will have to brave the brick-and-mortor stores. (Ex-retail junkies seldom like to hang out in stores for any length of time...sigh.) There was one cherry or berry print on white fabric that I thought would look cute for the blouse. I don't like super thin fabric that you can see your hand and bra through. So, that project will require in-person selections too.
Finally, the NSB may have to be revamped to accommodate a little starter sewing machine...or possibly just dogear any $ I might get on my tax returns. And then there's buttons and trim and pinking shears and... Oh noooooo!!!!!
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