Colored Guy

Pets are funny when they get mixed up in something foul... they want it gone yesterday. When I was a kid, one of our cats came in via the basement window one night and got mixed up in some turpentine that my dad had paint brushes soaking in. My mom got up with the cat meowing at the basement door and she knew right away what happened. The cat actually let my mom place her in the bath tub and wash her off, it must have burned. Even with a few shampoos, the cat stunk for a week after.

I'm in the 3-hour range lately too.. then I'm done. I'd rather break the work up into a couple of sittings.

A crow attack map.. whoa.... I'm close to the ocean and we have loads of crows around all year, I've never seen anything like that though. They must nest elsewhere. I did see other birds chasing crows before, they're notorious for grabbing baby birds from nests. Rob

My sister had birds grabbing at her hair many years back when she was little, not crows but my mom felt that they were looking for nest materials. She was terrified of birds for years after that. Check out this link. There is a tab for the full-version that aired on PBS, it goes into the face recognition thing. A Murder of Crows ~ Crow Facts | Nature | PBS

This place came well-recommended and they could not be any nicer to us. Its a little scary since we lose the safety net of a hospital for things like patient handling, but I haven't seen anyone else there up and around. My wife has sat up in a chair a few times though. Still a lot better than trying this at home for her sake and everyone else. Rob

I have some red and yellow on me from 2008 that is now washing out. Also some of the brighter oranges as well from 2010 and 2011. I'll just ask what the artist thinks when I want it touched up down the road. My oldest reds from 1978-1980 did all sorts of funky things while they healed and after as well. It may be sun exposure that is accelerating the process even though I use a sun block diligently. Rob

Another day in paradise. Barbara is doing better in hospice than she's been doing in the past few weeks, awake most of the day, alert, talking and laughing. Still quite weak but starting to eat more solid food. She did look pretty bad on Friday after she was moved and one nurse told me she has a week to live at best, so she will be surprised to see how she looks now. Talk about a grim place though... they have quite a turnover there. Rob

Maybe so, lol. But everyone knows how I feel about cats. I haven't had a cat in over 30 years until this one came to live with us.

Good for you to take her in. We did the same with our Chloe, who we got at 4, she just turned 6. She was very skittish at first, but after a couple of weeks she got better. She's still developing as a pet, we find out new things that she likes to do all the time. One of her favorite toys is this fishing pole that has a ball and feather on the line, I get 2 in a package for $1. So when they get tattered, I break out a new one for her. Rob

Thanks again all. Barbara goes to hospice any day now, which may not be a 1-way ticket. I talked with her oncologist for a long time yesterday and she gave an open offer to see her if she gets some strength back. She can't be treated in her current condition. Everyone (including here) has been very supportive and I've had to make some tough decisions, all of which have seem to be right so far. Yesterday I had to protest her release from the hospital so we can buy a couple of days to get her into hospice. Some people in the family are familiar with the facility and she will get far better care there, as opposed to at-home hospice. Rob

I liked his work on the OG Miami Ink, can't recall if it was really outstanding though. It would be hard to stand up against the hype that the show did bring about. Rob

I had some work done on 5/9 and used Aquaphor on it. Definitely the best healing I've ever had. No thick scabbing at all, just light flakes and all I use now is body lotion. It itched a little for a few days but nothing uncomfortable. Rob

I use a Neutrogena 45 (usually a 2-pack deal at Target) and I just keep applying it during the day. I'm in and out of the pool or ocean and it tends to stay on for a while. I have a Coppertone 50 that works well too. Someone gave me a SPF 100 on the beach one day, but I needed a spatula to apply it, it was that thick and hard to wash out of anything, like Desitin we used on the kids. Admittedly, my skin is probably not the best due to sun exposure over the decades. But my days using oil or a SPF 4 are long behind me. Rob

Everyone, thanks again. My wife went back into the hospital on 5/22 and is still there. They may have something as a last-ditch effort to combat her cancer, but she's just in very weak shape right now and eating very little. So she may not be able to survive the treatment. This past Saturday night, I was called to come to the hospital as her breathing had changed. I was asked if I wanted to have her intubated which goes with her being sedated and restrained. I said no, that's not what she wants. But she's been doing better since. If no treatment is available based on her condition, she may have to go to hospice and live out her last days in comfort and dignity, which is something that all of us want. On a good note, there is a pretty good tattoo show at any given visit. My son has a new scorpion tattoo on his arm, her friend and daughter just got new tattoos yesterday and were there to show her. Rob

The best advice is to do what you have planned... and take it easy on the weekend. For me, anything below the knee whether it is a tattoo or cut, they heal slower than other areas. Rob

For whatever reason, if I'm not comfortable with an artist, I won't have them tattoo me. I had something small done recently at a new shop and while the tattoo itself was satisfactory, I wasn't comfortable how the artist conducted himself and how he spoke of other artists that had done work on me in the past. So I won't be going back there. Rob

Thanks all. We had a bad night here last night and Barbara took the ambulance rise to the ER at 2 am this morning. I've been up for 32 hours right now less a 45 minute nap in the back seat of my car outside the ER. Evidently the cancer has spread and is the cause of all her discomfort. Her oncologist and palliative-care doctor will discuss a plan of treatment but hope is slim for a recovery. She's in a good place with hospice services available, I'll see what she wants to do. Rob

I agree, great to have a happy cat that keeps you in good company.

Thank you and you're right, hard to get everyone on the same page with this one, but in the end it will come down to what me and my wife decide, more so what she wants but I can try to sway her. We see her oncologist (at Sloan Kettering) on Friday and we can talk alternate treatments, etc. Rob

Just been continuing with caring for my wife Barbara who is battling cancer, which has moved to her liver. She was recently in the hospital for 6 days at the recommendation of triage at her oncologist's office. They changed up her chemo in March and its kicking her ass and now she's very weak and very run down. Also eating very poorly which is the main cause of her weakness. I'm doing most of her care in evenings and overnight, but her family and mine is chipping in during the day as they're either retired or off for the summer. I'm truly being tested and my patience is not the best at times, which goes with my serious lack of sleep. I hug her and tell her I love her many times a day. I don't want her to give up. I've taken over the banking and she's really not able to help me with what she was doing, so I'm writing lots of checks until she can help me figure it out. We're applying for LTD with her job and permanent SSDI with the state. I don't know how much longer I can go on caring for her by myself. We have a visiting nurse who comes in a few days a week and we've applied for a home health aide, which is pending approval. I'm at slight odds with her sister on a few things as well, talk about stress. We go back to see her oncologist on Friday and she knows my concerns and I told her I'll go with any suggestion she has for improved care for Barbara. I think a short hospital stay may be in order to get her daily PT and get some nutrition into her. Rob

Heaven forbid that you should move a cat off your lap or from any other place where they're sitting.

Best wishes Myles, you can get on top of it. Coke is one of the worst substances on earth. Personally with my wife being quite ill, I haven't had a drink myself since she came home from the hospital last week. I have a prescription for pain medication which I'm doing well by not abusing it, I take it as directed. I'll eventually have to be professionally detoxed at some point in time. Rob

I also work in an office environment and keep mine covered. Some people know me out of work but most have no idea. I was in the bank yesterday, ran into a guy I work with so I'm sure he got a good look.

My son was about 16 and had real long black hair... one day he calls me and says he decided to go for a mohawk haircut. My wife went with him and they had a flyer on the wall about Locks of Love and he donated his hair. They banded it up, chopped it off in one shot. That was nice of him and anyone else who does this for others. Rob

All depends on where the tattoo in question is...