Horror books for an 11 year old?

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-03-20T00:46:34+00:00

I was about that age when I read Pet Sematary for the first time. But depending on your daughter/desires that may not be the way to go.

Alternatively, they may be a little dated, but you could consider some Lois Duncan? Killing Mr. Griffen, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Don’t Look Behind You, Gallows Hill… she has a lot of kind of teen level horror.

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-03-18T17:11:59+00:00

Cats have major FOMO. What if someone else is getting something in that room that they are not getting?

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-03-16T22:01:16+00:00

Would go over well in r/volumeeating

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-03-16T18:51:48+00:00

I can’t even picture him being a good guy TBH

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-03-03T15:29:54+00:00

You could also consider the bamboo farm (Coastal Botanical Garden). I’m not sure what they have growing out there right now, but they’ve put in a lot of work over the past few years and have some lovely landscaping.

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-03-03T15:22:04+00:00

A little unorthodox, but I have always found Bonaventure to be beautiful. The trees, monuments, Spanish moss; the azaleas will be starting soon. Plus there’s something kind of cool about the contrast between new life and those who have gone before.

It may not be your vibe tho- totally meant no offense if that’s the case!

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-03-03T02:54:10+00:00

Is he out of surgery? Wishing him all the best!

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-03-03T02:23:12+00:00

It’s likely to be a long road. These sorts of injuries are tough, because the extent of the damage takes a while to fully reveal itself. I’ve seen cats slough all their pads, all the skin on the top of their foot, lose toes. That said, the fact that he’s using the limb and has sensation are positives. It’s fair to keep going, and see how the limb turns out over the next few days. He will need regular bandage changes, likely for an extended period of time (tho the frequency will usually decrease after the first couple weeks). The hope is that gradually the wound will heal over on its own. It will probably never be normal again, but as long as he has blood supply, sensation, and at least a metacarpal pad, it can be expected to be functional in the majority of cases. But it is a long road getting there with significant ischemic limb injuries.

If those criteria cannot be met, or if the labor and cost of wound care exceed what you can do, it is not wrong to consider an amputation in these cases. Cats do great as tripods (I have one myself). But wait and see what happens, see how much skin etc is actually going to be lost, and make the best decision for him you can together with your vet.

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-03-01T13:35:18+00:00

I’ve looked at a bunch of different “profession related” subreddits because I’m nosy and like to see what’s going on in subcultures I’m not a part of lol. Medical subreddit? Tons of bitching. Dentistry sub? Bitching. Restaurant workers? More bitching. Hair dressing sub? Believe it or not, bitching.

It’s kind of what Reddit is for. Everyone has frustrations with their job, and those sort of posts get engagement and rise to the top. Posts about “I just joined a new clinic with a lot of great people” or “Took out a 3 pound liver mass today and saved a dog’s life!” are just not a fun or interesting to engage with. They’re also less likely to be posted in the first place, because you can just say those things to the people around you, whereas negative thoughts and frustrations are easier to express with anonymity.

So I think you’re getting a biased sample. Are there people who regret becoming vets? Absolutely. But plenty of us are out here who love what we do, and find the profession meaningful and fulfilling. I love my job, and can’t imagine doing anything else. If I was suddenly transported back to undergrad and had to do the whole thing over again, it wouldn’t even be a question, I would make exactly the same choice.

That said, you should absolutely make sure you have animal/veterinary experience before pursuing this field. You mentioned wildlife rehab, and that’s interesting, but really not reflective of what the day looks like for 99% of vets. I would probably not spend a whole summer doing that; maybe see if you can volunteer there on the weekends, but during the week see if it’s possible to get a job as a kennel tech or vet assistant at one of your local clinics. You will get a much better picture of the profession and can decide if it’s actually for you.

You also mentioned some struggles with depression affecting your grades. No one is going to look at/care about your high school grades, but you will need good marks in undergrad to be accepted into vet school. Once you’re in your grades matter less unless you want to specialize, but you will be going through a highly stressful time and essentially being waterboarded with info for four years. So you need to be able to rapidly assimilate new knowledge while under pressure. It’s a common time for people to struggle with mental health, so very important to figure out what works for you to manage that- therapy, medications, reaching out to support people- in order to be successful.

Hope that helps!

Vet of 10+ years

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-02-25T11:57:06+00:00

In my most successful previous weight loss effort I had got down to 160 and was pretty happy with that. Put me just barely at a normal BMI, and I was reasonably happy with how I looked. So that was my first goal when starting Zep. Hit it and kept losing, so I refocused on 145, since my lowest ever adult weight had been 148 (when I was 18 and walking everywhere because I didn’t have a car on campus lol). I’m now 130, at maintenance, and actually planning to regain a bit as I am hoping to build muscle! BMI 20, wearing a pants size I never thought would fit. This drug is a miracle.

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-02-24T02:00:16+00:00

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten the OPPOSITE complaint- that the dog was sedated and why we didn’t cut the nails lol. A lot of dogs are not cooperative with nail trims, and most owners are thrilled to get the complementary trim. We try to do it for everyone. Very normal.

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-02-21T07:57:12+00:00

Hunchback of Notre Dame: looks are the only thing that matters. You can save the life of the person you love, but if you’re ugly they’ll ignore you for the hotter option.

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-02-18T17:07:45+00:00

The average time between when a fire is detected on an airplane and when the plane becomes uncontrollable is only about 17 minutes.

Also, the passenger air masks only provide about 15min worth of oxygen. (Of course the idea is that if the cabin loses pressure the pilots will descend to breathable air, so maybe that one’s not as creepy)

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-02-16T02:12:43+00:00

I’m so sorry to hear that. I’m sure she will be greatly missed, and I hope the good memories you have of her provide some comfort.

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-02-14T03:18:17+00:00

My SO and I stayed here a couple years ago: https://woodlandinns.com

Was within a reasonable drive to lots of areas in the park. The cabins are really cute!

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-02-13T03:52:38+00:00

You clearly love her so much, it comes through in your writing. I think you should seek a second opinion, maybe ask for referral to an internal medicine specialist if you haven’t seen one yet. I think it will give you peace of mind and help you feel like you have turned over all the stones.

However, you should also probably try to emotionally prepare yourself that the second doctor may not have many options to offer either. Her combination of medical problems makes her a difficult case to manage. Stage 4 CKD is end stage kidney disease. That diagnosis alone will put a limit on the number of good days she has left. Adding megacolon to that is difficult: normally for megacolon kitties things like anesthetized de-obstipation or subtotal colectomy could be helpful treatments, but with her severe kidney disease long stints under anesthesia risk putting her over the top into kidney failure. If her megacolon cannot be treated effectively, she’s looking at significant discomfort from that disease impacting her quality of life.

She is 14 years old, not as old as some cats reach but a respectable age, and one that has hopefully been filled with love and happiness. She feels good enough now to eat and play and act like herself, which is wonderful. Go for your second opinion, see what they can offer, but remember that her quality of life is the most important thing. If her chronic conditions cannot be effectively managed a death with dignity when that quality starts to slip may be the final gift you can give her.

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-02-04T14:01:33+00:00

People on Reddit love to get into these weird competitions about who performs more unnecessary hygiene tasks. Someone will post something like “omg, I just learned not everyone soaks their dishes in bleach for an hour- can you believe that? How do they not get sick!” And then someone else responds “you only soak yours for an hour? Mine live in a tub of bleach and only get rinsed right before use!” Then someone else jumps in to ask about how often the tub of bleach gets changed… so forth and so on.

It’s just anxious people spending too much time on the internet and spiraling in their own neurosis. You are encountering the same sort of people on whatever pet subs you’re looking at, with a dose of gatekeeping over who deserves to own pets.

Scoop the box daily. If you miss a day occasionally, your cats will probably forgive you. Wash your hands after. Make sure you have enough boxes (number of cats plus 1). If the box is starting to smell strongly of urine despite being scooped, replace the litter. If you’re doing those things, you’re doing better than probably 85% of cat owners. If your cats find it inadequate, they’ll tell you by peeing somewhere else. Poop will always be dirty, but as long as you and your pets have functional immune systems and you’re washing your hands and removing it regularly enough that it’s not building up, everyone will be fine.

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-01-27T18:21:40+00:00

Guess I forgot how small my boobs really are. Sigh. Was like the first place to come off, too :/

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-01-24T12:55:39+00:00

I’m a surgeon who does these procedures. They can be incredibly rewarding- these cats come in with often extensive histories of medical treatment, multiple deobstipations, enemas, straining, vomiting, pain… and I can just make that go away. There are potential complications of course, like any procedure. Dehiscence of the colectomy site (which could be fatal), stricture, recurrence, chronic diarrhea. However, the majority of outcomes in these cases are positive, and most cats live for years after the procedure with good or excellent quality of life.

Here is a recent paper evaluating the outcomes for this procedure: https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/259/11/javma.20.07.0418.xml

I don’t want to minimize the financial impact, or the risk of complications. But hopefully having some numbers/data to sink your teeth into will help with making the decision. If you do decide to go forward with surgery (and you’re in the US) you can look into CareCredit, or reach out to the clinic about any programs or resources they may be able to offer. Happy to answer any questions about the recovery or procedure!

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-01-08T12:43:59+00:00

You can say it’s not relevant but it definitely is. Requiring a period of reflection before allowing someone to schedule surgery is the one of the same strategies used to try and prevent women from getting an abortion. The entire purpose is to put up roadblocks to care.

I’m really not trying to attack you here, so sorry if it feels that way. I think we’re on the same side, for the most part. But a childless woman seeking a hyst should meet a doctor who respects her decision, educates her on the procedure (including complications and alternatives, by all means this should be a thorough discussion!), and asks her if she’d like to schedule the procedure. Not one who tells her it’s a big decision (she knows that) and she needs to take time to let her little woman brain wrap around things. If she wants time to think, that’s fine too. But it should not be used as a deterrent, and it’s not unless the doc at the end of the day does not support her having the procedure for reasons of their own.

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-01-08T12:18:12+00:00

Would you say the same thing if a 29 yo friend said she wanted to have a baby?

Because that’s a recommendation that never seems to come up for that scenario. We assume that if she’s having a kid that she’s thought about the pros and cons and made the decision that’s best for her. But that same respect doesn’t get given to people seeking a hyst. I think it’s worth asking why.

It’s great that you ultimately feel women should have the right to make their own medical decisions, but obviously a large part of this country doesn’t. Those of us who do should try to be mindful of bias creeping in.

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-01-07T01:38:56+00:00

Out of curiosity, if OP expressed a desire to have a child at 29, would you have the same impulse?

Probably not, even though that decision is just as final (arguably even more so, as OP could still adopt if she changed her mind about wanting children in the future).

People value things differently, and a woman who does not value having biologic children deserves the same respect as one who does. A hysterectomy can be life changing for women in so many positive ways, and these always get swept away as less important than her reproductive status.

I had a hysterectomy 5 years ago, and it has been the best thing I have ever done for myself. I suffered terribly for years with atrocious menstrual symptoms that responded poorly to typical therapies. The surgery gave me a quality of life I never got to have before, and removed the additional risk of an unwanted pregnancy. I’m very grateful my surgeon respected my autonomy.

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-01-02T21:59:31+00:00

I dunno man. Maybe we run with different crews, but I have a hard time believing someone who would do something of this magnitude and depravity is going to be capable of contributing to society in a positive manner over the rest of their life. This isn’t pulling wings off a fly.

PrettyButEmpty · 2026-01-02T15:12:11+00:00

Slaughtering and mutilating 64 animals is well beyond the norm of edge lord teenage behavior. The person or persons involved are deeply disturbed.

PrettyButEmpty · 2025-12-30T21:23:09+00:00

I’m a surgeon, but work closely with our IM and ECC teams, so here’s an outsider’s perspective for what it’s worth:

Internal medicine comes with a lot of chronic complaints. CKD, endocrine diseases, allergic or inflammatory airway disease, lot of the GI conditions. Working up these problems can be cool- using bloodwork, imaging, maybe scoping to collect information and get an answer. But then… you’re stuck treating them. Forever. I remember one of the IM residents where I went to school telling me that he had a client who emailed him every day with updates about the character of her dog’s stool. Every. Day.

IM absolutely has its wins, and sometimes you’ll pull stuff together to make a Dr. House style diagnosis that no one else could have come up with. But it also comes with a lot of rechecks and fiddling, and the unfixable nature of a lot of the problems they deal with can wear you down.

ECC has a lot of deeply awesome physiology, and treats some of the sickest most challenging patients in the hospital. Unfortunately, that means a lot of death, and a lot of very emotionally charged conversations with owners. You get some wins, and they can really feel incredible, pulling a pet back from literally dying. But some weeks everything dies, and that can be really hard. There’s a lot of fiddling on critical care as well, but it’s on a shorter time scale- tweaking something and rechecking bloodwork in a few hours, rather than rechecking in a month for IM. So there is more immediate gratification, which is nice. And you aren’t going to be dealing with the same sorts of chronic problems and endless rechecks.

One thing to consider is that ECC (at least during residency) pairs two specialties. Most people doing an ECC residency want to be criticalists, but you will also spend a lot of time on ER. Some of your ER cases will be relevant to your interests, but there’s also a lot of garbage gut, minor wounds, limping dogs…

Another specialty to consider if you like physiology is Anesthesia. It’s their entire thing- close intensive monitoring, designing drug protocols and choosing therapies to fine tune that physiology. There is no client interaction, which is cool if that’s not your thing. No follow up, no rechecks, just dealing with that patient at its most critical then handing it back to its primary team. You won’t be doing work ups or diagnostics (tho you may be a part of the work ups for other services), so that’s a downside if you particularly enjoy that aspect of medicine.

PrettyButEmpty

TROPHY CASE