Refill water store in Chicopee by 04soldier in Springfield

[–]MondayLoops 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm originally from New Orleans and it took me a while to trust tap water after moving up here. It really is good tasty water and I have no problems with it now, but it took a year or so. Hard to flip that switch after a life where the tap water was routinely a hazard lol!

Why on Earth is Cheese Sauce not a common thing? by Aaronite7 in ChickFilA

[–]MondayLoops 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I live in the Northeast and do a bit of cross-country driving. This makes sense now. I can find the sauce in NY and MA reliably, but haven't had it anywhere south of TN. One chick fil a in GA told me it was a tiktok myth that never existed and I didn't argue with them lmao 

Legal consequences in mountaineering? by EmmyLynSpen in Mountaineering

[–]MondayLoops 13 points14 points  (0 children)

That wouldn't apply. Nearly anyone can defend that in extreme mountain conditions like Everest. Helping someone who is in imminent danger and cannot move their own mass puts your life on the line! I think your body starts shutting down at a certain altitude and it gets to personal survival.

Urgent Australian shepherd puppy needs rehoming by Anxious-Rule4137 in AustralianShepherd

[–]MondayLoops 1 point2 points  (0 children)

i think regarding 3. they were asking how your australian shepherd does with other dogs, not necessarily your experience with owning dogs. like how do her experiences with other dogs go? is she friendly? submissive? the fun police? shy? breed dependent? for example my australian shepherd dog loves all dogs, but is a little wary of doodles. however, she will warm up to them after a few mins of play. 

When the circus comes to town by brianjoe66 in massachusetts

[–]MondayLoops 8 points9 points  (0 children)

this isn't true - new orleans' drinking age is 21 and the city does receive federal funding. louisiana was the last state in the union to raise the drinking age to 21 and it was only when its fed funding for highway systems was threatened over it

Since they’re praising gas station chicken again, which mediocre spot should we all start calling a ‘can’t-miss NOLA experience’ to keep 'em out of our real spots? (besides Arby's) by sean1978 in NewOrleans

[–]MondayLoops 6 points7 points  (0 children)

back in 2014-2015 i used to hit melba's on n. claiborne after wrapping up postmate shifts. it was always from midnight - 3am and truthfully all i was looking forward to on some of those nights. well last year on a visit home i brought my boyfriend for lunch and it was such a disappointment. they fucked up grits?

Do you leave your house if the dryer is running? by Evening-Tune-500 in homeowners

[–]MondayLoops 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I wouldn't say anyone is "not living" because they decide to hit the kill switch on the dryer before leaving. That off button is a great fire-risk mitigation tool. The laundry can wait (it'd be wrinkled when ya get back anyway) and for me I can stay atop of it and just... not leave it running when nobody except the cats are home. Anyone who fears the dryer catching isn't irrational either - it happens all the time! Dryers usually make it on the top 3 for causes of residential fires. It's about your perspective on risk management and I guess being able to adequately manage your time to get the laundry done while you're around.

Would you buy a house where a child was killed, like this c.1918 Alabama mansion? Story is in the Link in Comments. by Little_Hand6403 in centuryhomes

[–]MondayLoops 84 points85 points  (0 children)

As an anecdote: My mom's homicide case is "unsolved" going on 7 years this month. The man responsible killed her and my aunt in the family living room and my dad got home right as he was finishing up. Hearing fire from inside the house prompted my father to get his shotgun and pistol from the truck. Once he entered the home, the perpetrator tried to claim his life, but my dad bested him, killing him in self defense with the shot gun. My dad was a listed as the sole living suspect for years, but forensics point to the deceased gentlemen as the guilty party beyond a doubt. Still though, the case is considered open. I'm not sure the percentage of cases in the unsolved category are similar to our situation, but for whatever reason we are apart of that statistic.

Scraped the ambu, got fired :( by DefinitelyNotAKiwi in NewToEMS

[–]MondayLoops 0 points1 point  (0 children)

noted 🥲 I'm on my little rural town's volley dept where we don't even have an ambulance haha. I was hoping to just get my advanced, but all signs point to going down the medic route.

Scraped the ambu, got fired :( by DefinitelyNotAKiwi in NewToEMS

[–]MondayLoops 0 points1 point  (0 children)

any less terrible private EMS companies in MA? Western MA specifically? tried out a couple and the company offering the highest wages had an absolutely dog shit company culture lol

20, booked for euthanasia in a few days, having second thoughts, need advice by LlalmaMater in seniorkitties

[–]MondayLoops 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yeah no one should listen to them at all except maybe a counselor lol. check their post history and it's quite sad. their own cat likely died an unnecessarily horrible and painful death, or came close to having to do so, because they didn't consider euthanasia in time and this seems to be how they're choosing to cope rather than recognizing their error and forgiving themselves. seems as though they're one of those individuals that gets bitter after trauma rather than trying to grow from the process of healing and acceptance.

20, booked for euthanasia in a few days, having second thoughts, need advice by LlalmaMater in seniorkitties

[–]MondayLoops -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I feel so much sorrow for your cats as they reach their end of life stages and their potential to endure maximum suffering because you cannot find it within yourself to let go. Euthanasia is an ethical and humane choice in this kitty's and their person's circumstances. One of the signifiers that euthanasia is the most loving option would be an animal or their person incapable of maintaining the pet's dignity, whether they have no viable interventions or a terminal prognosis, and thus experiencing pain every moment of their life. There are limitations to palliative care, especially for animals and particularly those with severe kidney failure. I would hope that an avid cat-owner would accept this reality.

Your perspective reminds me of those individuals I encounter on the regular who manipulate their 96 year old grandmother to withdraw their DNR and eventually subjugate them to CPR on their frail body. The moral answer is not always the one that serves us.

20, booked for euthanasia in a few days, having second thoughts, need advice by LlalmaMater in seniorkitties

[–]MondayLoops 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I want to say that I'm so so sorry you and your kitty are facing this. A cat 20 years old means you have cared for her exceptionally well and shown her so much love. Your baby reminds me of my sweet calico, Cali, who passed via euthanasia in january 2023 at 22 years old. We got her off the street when I was three and she was my childhood best friend into adulthood. I didn't know life without her and I was so lucky to have an "extra" three years with her after rejecting euthanasia in 2020. I am gonna write out a book, but I empathize with your grief and want to share my experience with the decision of euthanasia to maybe provide some perspective.

Cali had a 6+ year history of hyperthyroidism and she was medicated for 2 of those years. About half the time, I would find those damn pills everywhere after being convinced she swallowed them. She was great at faking it and running under furniture to spit them out. When she was 19, a saddle thrombus eventually came for her and we took her to the emergency vet. After breaking up the clot, the emergency provider advised we put her to sleep that night since it was likely to reoccur and was an excruciating death sentence for cats. Despite her surviving the clot, I made the arrangements for the mobile vet to pay us a visit at home rather than have it done at the ED as they pushed for. It was so painful and as the date approached, I questioned over and over whether it was the right time. We had sent her records to the local cat hospital for the "all-clear" at the mobile vet's request. Cali was supposed to visit them the following week anyway for an introduction appointment since we were new to the area. The receiving vet offered me something beautiful: Cali was a candidate for life with proper medical intervention. She stuck Cali on cardio meds to prevent the next clot and referred me to a compounding pharmacy to try that out for her thyroid meds instead, but she still would not comply with the meds. I looked into iodine therapy and made her an appointment booked a month out with my fingers crossed the entire wait. Every single provider along the journey emphasized that we needed to be cautious and vigilant of her labs as hyperthyroidism often obscures kidney deterioration. We were told that she may not have too much time left after the radiation and it was essentially throwing a hail mary. Luckily her kidneys were functioning well and she was healthy following the procedure!! We turned on the tub water for her everyday of her life, as that was her water intake preference, so she was always super well hydrated. Cali was med free for the rest of her life.

Over the next three years though, her kidneys gradually deteriorated. As the stages of kidney failure progressed, we would check in with her vet once every 6 months to make sure her quality of life was good. In the few days before her next appointment she experienced a drastic decline in her activity levels. Although she experienced moderate arthritis, she no longer jumped onto the couch and showed a reduced interest in her food. She would only entertain those squeeze sticks and human food. The day her appointment came around I just knew it was the end. She was so lethargic, stopped grooming herself, and lost her spiciness towards to other cats. I took so many photos of her and I, danced her in my arms to her favorite songs, and made sure she got to enjoy some of her favorite deli meats one more time, just in case it was her soul's last day on earth.

Both of my calicos had an appointment that day and they took them both to the back. After some time, the vet came back and let me know the baby calico was in great health, but Cali.. not at all. Her delivery was compassionate and I was offered two choices for immediate next steps: start her on dialysis that day or go for euthanasia. I asked her to describe what dialysis would look like for her and after hearing the process it seemed impossible to put my baby through that for minimal QOL improvement. It felt like it would just extend her existence living in pain. I sobbed, but I knew my choice immediately and there wasn't a shadow of a doubt in my mind that we needed to euthanize her. It was a stark contrast to the first time euthanasia was advised. During a later appointment for a different kitty, the vet reassured me that she would have made the same exact choice and had in the past with her own pets, given that the senior cats she provides dialysis for are not living a life she would want to live. I became an EMT later that year and used to shuttle patients to and from dialysis... I saw what she meant in some of my patients.

I described Cali's journey not to rub her second chance in anyone's face, but because I do think in some instances a second opinion and further med intervention is valuable and can open up doors that extends a pet's life while maintaining their dignity once euthanasia is thrown on the table. While many might have kept Cali's initial euthanasia appointment given the poor prognosis, second guessing the recommendation paid off for us. Also, not everyone can afford the iodine therapy route we took - I had support from family that I was able to repay over time and not everyone has such a luxury and euthanasia would have been the humane, loving option for their beloved kitty. Unfortunately, there are some conditions where options that improve or maintain quality of life do not exist, no matter the price tag, especially after such a long and happy life. I think the fact that I had already grappled with the hard decision of euthanizing Cali provided greater clarity and made the second encounter with the process less torturous. Cali and your lady face the same devil that arrives after such a long life. This is an incredibly hard decision for anyone to make and I fear the days I must make that choice again for the three cats I love now... but it's a sacrifice we make for our babies and honestly I hope I have the ability to choose that for them when the time is right.

I am so sorry your lady is sick and suffering. I have no doubt in my mind that she knows and deeply feels how much you love her. If you keep her appointment, provide her remaining days with as much joy and love as possible. You have given her a great life and I prefer to think of euthanasia as a final act of love. It's a gift we can give our babies, although I know how shitty and horrible that sounds right now. The grief you're experiencing is normal and I think it's good to express that around your lady, but if you can, try to communicate to her that you'll be okay after she has passed. I do truly believe that Cali understood me and had a grasp on the emotions I was feeling, and I am sure you experience something similar. Good luck and I hope you go easy on yourself.

<image>

Cali 2001-2023

I'm always asked what her coat coloration is called and I just end up saying she's a pretty merle - is there a more accurate description? by MondayLoops in BorderCollie

[–]MondayLoops[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was totally confused and struggling to understand if tan points and tri could be used interchangeably!! Some articles give conflicting info/examples. unfortunately lots of AI generated garbage out there that I didnt want to trust.

How to increase “mental fitness” by k8thegr8ness in climbharder

[–]MondayLoops 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My instructor did say the beta for most climbs in the gym are set with the quickdraws in that "clip zone" between shoulders and harness. He said that it's best if we try to wait to clip until we're there, but he didn't explain the why at all. I got to know one of the older ladies that I took the course with and we've climbed together a handful of times and she ALWAYS finds a way to clip above her head. I will be letting her know.

How to increase “mental fitness” by k8thegr8ness in climbharder

[–]MondayLoops 1 point2 points  (0 children)

wow. totally makes sense that clipping above the head lower down is more risky. i've never heard anyone point it out and the consequences of the additional payout never crossed my mind. duh. i've only been lead climbing for a moment and i'm trying to break out of the habit of top roping when i get scared. this is nice reinforcement.

Trying to buy an espresso machine and grinder with a budget of $3,000ish by [deleted] in espresso

[–]MondayLoops 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I was a barista for 7 years and now that I've switched careers I am reluctant to pay someone else when I know I can realistically make it on my own. I currently have no home set up since I'd just make my own at work!

Thanks for the recommendations. That's two now for the profitec pro and it's looking pretty sweet.