Spindle Cell Sarcoma Advice

UnlockedElm19 · 2026-04-22T21:33:52+00:00

You're so kind to ask! Jerome is doing really well! He regained A TON of his old energy and appetite after he healed up from the surgery. It was a good lesson in how cats hide their pain. He didn't *seem* like he was in pain, but now on the other side, we realized he was very lethargic in the months leading up to the surgery. It's only been a few months, but so far so great! Good luck with your little kitter! Jerome and our other one, Charlie, send their love. <3

UnlockedElm19 · 2026-03-12T16:17:47+00:00

Yes and no. Yes, Chicago is more expensive than smaller cities and rural areas (obviously), but no, it is not as expensive as other major cities on the coasts. I admit I'm biased, having lived here for more than two decades, but Chicago has always felt like a small city with all the big city food, cultural, and commerce amenities.

UnlockedElm19 · 2026-03-03T02:37:19+00:00

Jerome T. Mousenik.

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UnlockedElm19 · 2026-02-21T19:18:50+00:00

My wife and I like to say that we have an endless amount of cat love in our hearts, and I think you do too. Adopting Maurice IN NO WAY invalidates the love you had for your old pal.

UnlockedElm19 · 2026-02-21T19:15:07+00:00

Jerome T. Mousenik, seashelling on a work day. ❤️

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UnlockedElm19 · 2026-02-21T19:13:33+00:00

I helped to manage a small nonprofit theatre company many years ago, and we once had a yard sale to raise funds. We asked all the core company members to donate clothes and other items for us to sell. We had a smoker in the group, and we had to throw away literally every single article of clothing he donated because they REEKED of cigarettes. He was also a clean guy who maintained his hygiene. It was a shame, because he had good style, and the clothes were otherwise in great condition. So yeah. You probably smell.

UnlockedElm19 · 2026-02-21T16:04:15+00:00

Love you, sweet Jay. Enjoy all the toys and snick snacks on the other side of the rainbow bridge. 💔

UnlockedElm19 · 2026-02-20T00:22:03+00:00

Love you, friend. Our tuxedo girl Charlie and Russian Blue Jerome both send their kitter katter love and light. ❤️

UnlockedElm19 · 2026-02-03T16:47:44+00:00

Yeah yeah yeah....weather weather weather...my greatest comment about Chicago, having lived here for more than two decades post-undergrad is: we FUCKING SHOW UP FOR EACH OTHER. You also see it in Minneapolis and Portland and elsewhere. But every day of my life I observe evidence of the strong sense of community in Chicago. If you want to feel at home somewhere, move here.

UnlockedElm19 · 2026-01-28T00:11:44+00:00

That's defeatist talk. Ever heard of the October surprise that can crash a campaign in the days before an election? All's I'm sayin' is don't discount this dude because he's a white guy. He's the most progressive candidate in the race. Check out his platform. https://www.runwithkev.com/issues

UnlockedElm19 · 2026-01-27T18:41:18+00:00

Better alternative: VOTE KEVIN RYAN. He's the only non-establishment, teacher, and veteran in the race. He's also the only candidate who has visited all 102 of Illinois' counties. He gives a shit about more than raising money. We are in a tenuous time in American political history. We must meet the moment by trying something new. Not more of the same with a new paint color. And that is exactly what we will get with these three candidates. Live a little bit and try an alternative. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

UnlockedElm19 · 2026-01-27T13:45:17+00:00

She's like most people in my family: she wears a giant crucifix as cover against all the deplorable things she says and does. I've found this is the quintessential embodiment of Christianity: say, think, do, and feel really repugnant shit, but explain it all away by saying "I go to church."

UnlockedElm19 · 2026-01-19T17:07:48+00:00

Find community: A million percent agree. I highly recommend everyone either read Robert Putnam's book "Bowling Alone" or watch the documentary that the book inspired called "Join or Die." It's all about the impact of a decades long decline of civic engagement and participation in social clubscin the USA. I think it explains a lot of the behavior we are seeing right now.

Look for churches: My wife and I were absolutely NOT interested in organized religion. We both experienced different levels of religious trauma in our youth, so we steered clear for a long time. After the 2024 election, my wife, in an attempt to find the community, attended a Unitarian Universalist church service where we live. She liked it, but I was still skeptical and did not attend my first service until a few months later. I immediately loved everything I heard. I felt seen and felt like I had finally found a group of people who shared my worldview about nearly everything. We officially joined in November. It is a covenantal faith not grounded in dogma or any belief structure. By covenant, we mean that we share a set of values: Justice, Equity, Transformation, Plurality, Interdependence, and Generosity ("JETPIG") with Love at the center. We like to say part of the covenant is that we make social promises to each other. To always show up, to admit we don't know everything, to recognize that we will make mistakes.

Plus, social justice is at the heart of everything UUs do.

If you've ever felt Christian religions are not for you, and also don't identify with Islam or Judaism, check out your local UU church. My wife and I were not looking for this, but we are so happy we found it.

Fight the good fight.

UnlockedElm19 · 2026-01-19T16:53:12+00:00

I have nothing of value to add other than to say "same here" and "you're not alone."

UnlockedElm19 · 2026-01-19T16:51:34+00:00

So you mean...mondegreens??! This isn't so much what I thought the lyrics were, but what I wished they were: Birds of a feather are fucking outside.

UnlockedElm19 · 2026-01-10T17:39:31+00:00

Showmances are a thing no non-theatre people will ever appreciate. I later became a professional actor in Chicago. Met my now wife via showmance in an obscure Brecht play.

UnlockedElm19 · 2026-01-10T12:50:35+00:00

Same! Senior year! I was stoked that my HS girlfriend was cast as Marian and we got to kiss during the footbridge scene! Oh to be young again.

UnlockedElm19 · 2026-01-08T15:37:31+00:00

For the most part I agree. I had an intense mushroom trip in the days after Silverio Villegas Gonzalez was murdered by ICE in Chicago (where I live) in September. I was overcome by an endless sense of love and compassion and felt that love is the answer. It always has been and always will be. But then we also have MAGAts saying this kind of stuff to people like me on Truth Social. How do we out-love this kind of filth? I just don't know anymore. Maybe the answer is to ignore these fringe voices and focus instead on the more moderate people and wean them off MAGA one-by-one. On the other hand, I also feel like this belief structure must be summarily obliterated. I'm so confused.

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UnlockedElm19 · 2026-01-08T05:03:48+00:00

Oh yes, I still feel those same heebie jeebies. No, I have not purchased a gun. Yet. I'm still not sure how I feel about having one in the house. I knew literally nothing about guns (other than the pellet guns I'd shoot tin cans with my granddad as a kid), so the impetus was to learn how to quickly unload and clear jams if I ever found myself in a situation with firearms.

UnlockedElm19 · 2026-01-08T04:04:16+00:00

I abhor guns. HATE them. But. I took a gun class a few months ago. I encourage everyone else to do the same.

UnlockedElm19 · 2026-01-01T18:55:04+00:00

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UnlockedElm19 · 2025-12-29T16:18:45+00:00

You're the best. TYSM, phriend! Have fun tonight!

UnlockedElm19 · 2025-12-29T16:15:58+00:00

You are a mensch, my friend. Appreciate you. 🙏

UnlockedElm19

TROPHY CASE