Arrant Nonsense

I won't even call you scam artists because you're just not that good. But here's a newsflash for you: I've been on to you since way before the first time you called me. So when I get a call that hangs up on me, and google the number, and see via the helpful folks at 800notes that it's one of you? I figure you'll probably call back because you know you've got a live one. And I prepared for that, oh yes I did.

Sure enough, you did. After the usual "your computer has been sending errors to us" spiel, you asked me to turn it on. I informed you that it was on, and I was in front of it right now. And that's when it got funny.

"What's on your screen right now?" you asked.

I answered sweetly, "An article from Wired.com titled 'What happens if you play along with a Microsoft tech support scam.'"

"Oh." *click*

Hilarity ensued from my husband and son. But you, my friend, got off lightly. Because I kept the last scammer on the phone for nearly 13 minutes, wasting his time and letting him think I was falling for it. I do this for entertainment. So you might as well stop calling me.

I know you won't, though. So I'll continue to string you along every time you call, keeping you from calling some poor schlub who might actually fall for your dumb scheme.

No love,
Me

In other news, I got word the other day that they're starting audiobook production for my novel! So that is spiffy and awesome. I'm thrilled.

And I got an acceptance from Far Fetched Fables for the cow story, which will be going into audio production soon.

In other other news, the White Cat passed away a couple of weeks ago. She was nearly 16 and had chronic feline rhinotracheitis her entire life, and managed to outlive both the dog and the other cat, but it's still never easy, especially so soon after the dog passed. Before you ask, yes, we're going to get a pair of kittens, but after the holidays and all the travel that entails.

And in yet other critter news, if you haven't been following along, we went to the pet store for a guinea pig hammock and, uh, came home with another guinea pig. All three of them are still figuring out exactly what this is, and we haven't left the new one alone overnight in the cage with the other two, who are more than twice his size. But they're getting along okay, as good as guinea pigs get along, I guess, and Gandalf is little and cute and I'm pretty sure that he is also a Silky rather than an American breed. He's got the same sort of hair that Killian had when we got him. But we shall see. He's super cuddly. <3

Also, mad props to Kurt Russell, who laid a beautiful smackdown on a clueless reporter vis a vis guns. I have many thoughts about the issue myself, but that will require an entry of its own.

The Gray Cat died last night around 1:45.

Rest in peace, kitty. We'll see you on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.

Comments disabled because I know you guys all feel for us. *hugs flist*

She's in the dog's crate with an IV of lactated Ringer's in her leg, and I've got the raw numbers.

Her BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) level is 270. It's supposed to be between fourteen and thirty-six.

So. Yeah. If this works, I'll be amazed. But we're trying, right?

To keep my mind occupied (rather than running around like a rat in a maze), have an icon meme:

1. Comment to this entry saying 'ICONS!' and I will pick 6 of your icons.

2. Make an entry in your own journal and talk about the icons I picked!

The lovely and effulgent fenchurche picked these:

The artwork is from the brilliant and amazing Schlock Mercenary, by the handsome and talented hard-working howardtayler (if he sees this, he'll get the joke). It's one I've been known to use when I'm angry about something.


Sam Merlotte from "True Blood." He's a shapeshifter whose preferred form is a border collie on the show (a regular collie in the books). For awhile he replaced Robert Downey Jr as the guy playing Ben in my head, but then I saw the pic of Robert that I'm using for my default icon and now it's back to him. I use this one when talking about True Blood.


Sam again. I use this one when I'm really frustrated about something. This is more my "angry facepalm" than the other facepalm I have, which is more of a sad one.


A nerdy grammar quote from the movie "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang." But it's also apropos when I feel bad about something. Or when the mechanism that allows me to feel is broken and I'm benumbed by something instead. So many uses for one single icon--it multitasks!


Robert Downey Jr taking a polaroid in a weird little Volvo Promo called "The Route V50." You can watch Part One here and Part Two here--and I highly recommend you do. I have yet to show this to anyone at a Con who didn't immediately ask me to stick it on their thumb drive. I use this one when I post pictures.


You've all seen the quote "One by one, the penguins steal my sanity," right? Well, this is me. And therefore I substitute anteaters. Usually the anteaters stealing my sanity are Antubis and Flaubert, whom I have adopted as Muses. On occasion I'll use this one if something doesn't make sense. As a bonus, this one is (very) subtly animated. Watch his eyebrows.

We've decided to go with home treatment. This involves them inserting a catheter and me giving her fluids here. I've worked in a vet clinic; I can do this drill.

Because even though the prognosis is so very bad, I'd feel horrible if we didn't at least try. It's not like money is an issue with us.

I'm not really hopeful at this point, though. :(

The Gray Cat is in acute kidney failure right now.

Even with aggressive treatment, her prognosis is very very bad.

Treatment is going to cost, on the low end, about $600. In addition to the $250 we've already spent for the diagnosis. It could go as high as $1200.

I hate doing a cost-benefit analysis like this. Even if she recovers, her kidneys won't ever be the same. We might be able to make her "comfortable," (for a certain value of comfortable) but she won't ever be "well" again.

But not trying doesn't sit well with me either.

FUCK.

Why the hell does this stuff always happen when the Hubby's not home?

Sticking them all behind a cut because I'm just lazy that way. Critters, Puppet!Angel, Lost, and icons created just for WriterCon pins ( here )

So, I got nothin', fic-wise. *shakes fist at Antubis and considers looming Africander ficathon deadline with trepidation* But I have icons. I followed the lead of the lovely and effulgent winterlive and made some for writercon, plus some I made from the absolutely adorable pix at cute_overload, and one from an icontest that's over with. So, without further ado...

Teasers:



( More under the cut... )As always, they're all gankable. Comments are credit are my crack. :-)