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Shadow Update part 23 Wed Jan 26 21:42:25 CST 2005
Mood: Good Music of the Day: Mythbusters on TV
Well, I got a call from the vet, Shadow was being normal for a ferret, had two perfect blood sugars, and in his opinion he's all good. So I went and got him. On my way back I had a realization of why Shadow might have been acting funny.

He was depressed. He got sick, hadn't been feeling good. Then he's poked and prodded and seperated from his brother. I'd be sad too. So when we got Shadow home, back into the cage with Winter. And he seems fine so far. I won't be able to monitor his food intake as well, but as long as he acts normal I won't worry too much. I'm very relieved, and more than slightly exhausted. Hopefully I'll get a good night's sleep tonight.

Shadow Update Wed Jan 26 09:13:14 CST 2005
Mood: better Music of the Day: None
I just called the vet, his blood sugar is normal and he's nice and active. Vet wants to monitor him though the day, make sure his blood sugar doesn't drop again or act up. *relieved sigh* I'm such a worrywart when one of my critters is sick.

Back to the Vet Tue Jan 25 18:24:53 CST 2005
Mood: scared Music of the Day: None
Shadow goes back to the vet tomorrow. He's not improving, even on the meds. So I called the vet, and I'm bringing him back in tomorrow to be monitored, and maybe have the surgery depending. I'm not doing too hot, but hopefully after tomorrow we'll know something. And maybe, I'll have a healthy ferret.

Weekend Update Sun Jan 23 22:03:23 CST 2005
Mood: drained Music of the Day: Venture Bros. on TV
Well for a four day weekend I don't feel very rested. Between cleaning house and the Vet, and general ferret watching I'm worn out. Shadow's still kinda week, but he's eating and in general acting ok, if tired. Me, I'm worn down. Between worrying and and not sleeping and trying to keep busy, I feel like I'm going to fall over soon. Maybe work will be kind of calm...though a doubt it.

Ok, I've wrote the same few lines over and over again in different words, I guess I'll post this. *wave*

Yesterday at the Vet Sat Jan 22 10:58:09 CST 2005
Mood: ok Music of the Day: 01_A_Symphony_Of_Steele
Well, I said I would update about yesterday at the vet's office. Woke up yesterday earlier than I'd have liked, so I could take my mom to get an MRI on her back. She's been in pain since she strained it a few months ago, and the doc can't tell if it's arthritis, something pulled, or what, since mom is so skinny. So off we go, I drop her off at the MRI place, I run and deal with some insurance foo, come back...and wait. And wait. Talk to strange person in the office who ends up being someone I went to High School with. I guess after 14 years I haven't changed much...she recognized me right off. Weird... Finally Mom comes out, and off we go to Walmart to get her stuff. (Since she hurt her back she doesn't like to walk to the store like normal, so this was a good chance to get her shopping done.) Then we headed back to her place, carried in her groceries and put them up. Then I headed home, checked rather nervously on Shadow and fell down for a nap.

Woke up about 2 hours before my appointment with the vet. Get the travel cage ready, get me ready, get Shadow in the travel cage. I think he's sick of different homes. But, with that...and directions we're ready, so off we go. Now I know in general where this place is...but not specific. So I have directions from the 'net. I'm also leaving way early since I don't know what traffic will be like, and I'm tense enough without traffic added to it. So off we go...follow the directions, and somewhere in there, Yahoo maps got their lefts and rights crosses...call vet, get real directions, head back. Glad I left early. Say hello, the vet staff oooh at Shadow. (He is a very cute guy, and a very dark sable color...so he deserve the ooohs.) I fill out a TON of paperwork on his health and habits (including favorite treats, this is a good sign with vets). Then off to the examination room. Lots of pics of ferrets on the walls, along with birds and turtles and snakes, this vet works mostly with the exotics. A vet tech comes in to give him the general once over and go over the symptoms with me. She weighed him (2 lbs 1 oz), checked his teeth (good), and generally seemed in ok shape, except for the collapsing. She then asked if he was my first ferret, and I said no, I've had them since I was 13 (eep, this birthday I'll have been a ferret slave for 20 years). She was VERY releaved, she didn't have to give the speech about how ferrets can get very sick as they get older. Must be very hard to tell a new ferret owner that their baby is probably going to have some aliment that needs surgury at least once in his/her life. Ferrets are hard pets in that respect..but so worth it for the rest...anyway, she tells me the exam room is ferret proof and so to let him run. And we do. Shadow hasn't been on a slick floor in a long time, so he's running kinda odd. Kinda amusing. Finally in comes the Vet. Very nice and pleasant seeming guy, made me feel at ease. He gives Shadow the once over, checks him out for obvious lumps, nope. We talk about the symptoms, and he has a feeling it's insulinoma. I didn't explain this disease in the last post, but I was a little whacked. Insulinoma for the non-ferret people is a condition where the pancreas in the ferret goes overboard, and produces too much insulin, making the ferret hypoglycemic, therefore listless and confused and can lead to attacks such as the one from last Friday. Ok. The test for that is a simple bloodsugar test...so they take Shadow for a bloodtest. Since ferrets are much harder to draw blood from than most critters (the squirm factor) they suggest a little shot of laughing gas to make him loopy, then the shot. Sounds good to me. A few min later Shadow comes back wrapped up in a towel. He looks stoned ;) It doesn't last long, soon he's up and about. The vet comes on in, and has bad news. Shadow's blood sugar is VERY low, dangerously low. So it's pretty much a given to be insulinoma of some form. They give him a shot of meds and a dose of sugar water to bring his blood sugar back up. I also get a 'script for Prednazone, which will help stablize his blood sugar. He works up a estimate for the surgury, and while it's expensive...for once I can afford it. And it's worth it. So, me and the vet talk more about things to look out for, what to do if he has another attack, etc. The vet is positive about the procedure, and he makes me feel less terrified. Very nice guy. The vet tech comes in with the Prednazone and two syringes, and for a second I panic...I've given shots to humans before (many years ago) but never a ferret...where's my laughing gas...but no, it's a squirt syringe, oral meds. *relieved sigh*. Go out, pay the bill (ouch). Call Shadow's godsmother (Amythest) and fill her in. Cry a little on the phone, get calm again, go home. Get home, fill in the friends on the ferret news, post on website and LJ, talk to mom. Check on Shadow, he looks normal. Get talked into going out to dinner with some friends, which helped my mood alot.

I came home, puttered aroung the house for a while, then decided it was time to give Shadow his drugs. Now I was warned this stuff is NASTY tasting so Shadow will fight. That, was misleading...what they should have said is your sweet little sick ferret will change into his close cousin the wolverine at one taste of this crap and shred you like a document. Which he did... took me 45 min to get half of the dose in him. Ferret and human both were kinda worn at that point, so I put him back up and went and did a little research. And got a lot of recommendations to mix his drugs with ferretone (a ferret vitamin that my guys are addicted to) I come back in, and I can't find the syringe with the remaining half dose. ARGH. (I finally found it today while writing this). Ok, get the remaining half dose set with the spare syringe. Mix it, and the ferrettone in a spoon. Offer to Shadow... he takes about 4 licks, steps back, shakes his head alot, comes and gets more...and so on til it's almost all gone. Good ferret. Why he doesn't like this stuff, it's in an alchol base, so it tastes bad to sane creatures like ferrets. I got a taste, and I can see why he fights...it's pretty icky. But he'll put up with the aftertaste for ferrettone. Addict. :) Afterwards he got some rest, I relaxed playing City of Heroes. Then I let the guys run for a while afterwards before bed. He seemed ok, we'll see how it goes. *Crosses fingers* And when he got his morning dose, he took it with little bitching...just alot of headshaking and weird looks. *relieved sigh* So, we'll see how things go. Wish us luck.

Shadow's Report from the Vet Fri Jan 21 18:04:17 CST 2005
Mood: scared but hopeful Music of the Day: None
Well, we just got back from the vet. I'll go into more detail later, since it had some amusing moments, but for now the news. Shadow has a very low blood sugar level. This explains the nap attacks and general lethargy. Normally in ferrets this is caused by tumors on the pancreas, so surgury is recommended. I've got drugs to help bring up his blood sugar levels, some emergency tips in case he has another fit like last week, and a pretty confidant vet that we can bring him though this. Once we get his blood sugar stable and his energy up on the drugs, we'll have the surgury and hopefully after that he won't need drugs for a long time. Often this will reoccur, but hopefully it won't for a long time. And there are drugs as I said, so I should have Shadow for a long time to come. i

I'm....
I'm scared, and worried. I'm also fairly optimistic, the Vet is one of the leading ferret people in Texas, and I know a number of people who recommend him. He also really likes ferrets, and Shadow likes his staff. So... please keep up the good thoughts/energy/magic/prayer/whatever for my ferret, and for me...keep me from going utterly nuts.

And I still want to know who gave me the ferret pendant.

Suprise Thu Jan 20 16:40:04 CST 2005
Mood: Confused Music of the Day: TV
Well, someone likes playing 'confuse the fox' out there. I checked mail today, and got a package. No shocked, I have a few things due in from Ebay. Open it up...it's a ferret pendant with a jade sphere. Very cute, very adorable...

I didn't order it.

No note except a message from the company, and "Per aspera ad astra." Latin for "Through Our Endeavors, The Stars". No idea if that's the message, or the store motto. *blink*.

So if any of you people is responsible, let me know. Please don't get me wrong, I love it...I just strung it on with my fox necklace, til I can get a shorter chain for it. But, curiosity is killing the fox...

Here is the pendant...



I'm off to ponder this more...

Wednesday Update Wed Jan 19 10:18:49 CST 2005
Mood: Good Music of the Day: Work Sounds
Just a quick update about Shadow...last night when I let shadow out he was acting normal and energetic. No slumping over or nap breaks...and he was picking on winter...*laugh* I still need to clean up the mess they made with the roll of paper towels. But it looks like he's really on the upswing. Lets hope the vet agrees.

(Yes, pretty much all I talk about right now is my ferrets...I'm a little preoccupied.)

Shadow Update: Part 3 ? Tue Jan 18 11:20:08 CST 2005
Mood: Good Music of the Day: Hammerfall - Child of the Damned
Still alert, still not as energetic as his psycho brother, still going to the vet. His appointment is for 4:15 on Friday down in Mansfield. Good thoughts please...

I'm doing ok, still worried/stressed but I feel a little less worried. I did sleep though the night without checking on shadow 30 times...I think he appreciated it ;)

thanks again for listening to me ramble...

Shadow Update Mon Jan 17 14:07:51 CST 2005
Mood: Better Music of the Day: Hammerfall - Child of the Damned
I went home at lunch to check up on him, and he seems good. I'd been worrying about his food intake, but when I left he was chowing down on ferret crunchies. (I hate to say it, but he seems to dislike gooshy food, ferrettone and kibble seems to be his thing.) I'm still planning on taking him to the vet, better safe than sorry. Thanks for putting up with a worrywart of a fox.

P.S. Winter is fine, other than I think he's jealous of all the attention Shadow's getting. Need to get a good wrestling match with my White Weasel of Doom. :)

What a Weekend Sun Jan 16 21:29:57 CST 2005
Mood: exhausted Music of the Day: Megas XLR on TV
Well, I had an asskicker of a weekend. Went out Friday night with some friends to see Elektra, got home very late. Went and checked on the ferrets, and Shadow was laying on the floor of their cage. This is not normally ferret behavior, at least for my guys. So I picked him up, and he was very unresponsive. (Before anyone gets worried, he's fine. Everytime I've told this, I've scared the bejeezus out of people.) The next while is a blur, he did respond to ferrettone, then started eating. I isolated him from Winter, and tried to sleep. I expected to wake up to a ferret who'd passed on. I didn't really sleep, I just got up to watch him sleep, or pet him. Every time he gave me a look like "Why are you waking me boss ?" Finally I woke Saturday morning, and he was mostly ok. Still a little lethargic, but ok. I ran some errands, came back to a very irrated weasel wanting out and to be with Winter. Let him run around some, isolated him again. Got called names in Ferretese. Was suppost to go out and visit friends, but I really wasn't in a mood for it. Was too worried about Shadow. Came home, decided to clean out their cage and let them run for a while. And Shadow was fine, back to normal. They played for a long while, then I put them to bed. And had a nice little breakdown. Today was more of the same, staring at the weasels, worrying. I'll be taking Shadow to the vet this week, make sure everything is ok. So, if you can spare thoughts/ prayers/energy/whatever for a healthy, happy ferret and a calmish Fox, it would be muchly appreciated.

Weekend Foo Tue Jan 11 08:01:15 CST 2005
Mood: bleah Music of the Day: None
Another weeked has come and gone. And a fairly interesting one at that. Friday at work was kinda....hectic, but I had fun plans for the night so I survived. Headed over to give SugarFae a lift, then headed out to a Lebanese place in Fort Worth called Byblos. Got very lost thanks to online directions, but we got there. Nice place if a bit loud. I had a very tasty chicken dish that I can't remember the name of, the sauce was very good, but a touch overpowering. Plus some very good cheesecake. Speaking of cheesecake, Byblos also has bellydancers on Friday nights. And the dancer was quite nice. Good dancing ability, a big happy smile, and she knew how to work a crowd well. Was alot of fun. Expensive dinner, but I think it was worth it. Headed home, and to bed early.

Saturday I woke fairly early, and headed out to help prep for a party Amythest was throwing. My cleaning skillz are in demand ;) It was a girls only party, and even though I was a longhair, I wasn't invited. Poo. So from there I headed home, did laundry and then headed out to the boys only party. We sat up watching kung fu movies and playing Risk til kinda late, then I headed home to play CoH and sleep.

Sunday I woke up and headed out to run errands. Got ferret food and cat toys, then spent my $HOLIDAY cash at Movie Trading Company. Got Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2 , the first DVD for Ghost in the Shell, StandAlone Complex, and.... Legend of the Chupacabra *laugh* A little post-holiday cheese I guess ;) From there I headed to Fry's. Yog-Software, my gaming box has been very tempermental while playing City of Heroes, I hit a high graphic area, and it thrashes my RAM. So, after much cursing and grumbling I decided to try throwing RAM at it. Actually I went to CompUSA first, but they wanted a fairly outragous amount of cash for RAM. So off to Fry's, spent a little more than I would have online but I got instant gratification. *grin* Came home, slapped in the RAM and now I'm running at 512 megs instead of 256. And there is a major difference. Running around in the city isn't like a bad deja vu trip. So I'm happy. And I spent most of yesterday afternoon/evening playing CoH. Went to bed around midnight. And had the most fscked up dreams I've had in a while. First one was their was a world wide air shortage....and we were running out of air. I could hear my pets gasping, as I was trying to build something to fix the problem out of a broken shop vac. I failed...I woke up gasping. One of my big fears is running out of air...scares the hades out of me. So I was up for a while trying to destress, went back to sleep...and dreamed me and my mom were in a cabin in the mountains, and they were predicting enough snow to cover the cabin, so I was rigging a giant snorkle to bring us air...*twitch* So, I woke from that one and didn't really get back to sleep. *twitch* I need better dreams, the one about sailing on Saturday night was fine.

So, another work week. Weeeee. Hopefully a nice calm week. Next week I'm taking a few days off to take care of personal business and spring clean. I got a list of chores a quarter mile long. Let's see what I get done. :)

New Years for Vulpine Wed Jan 5 13:28:17 CST 2005
Mood: Ok Music of the Day: Hammerfall - The Dragon Lies Bleeding
Happy New Year to all. Well, unless you're from a culture that celebrates the New Year at another time. I had a good weekend all in all. Thursday night I met up with the D/FW Ufies List for dinner and a movie. They went to see the new Phantom movie, I went and saw Darkness. Very good horror flick, very European (well duh, the director is Spanish). Reminded me vaguely of Argento's movies, not in anything in particular, just the atmosphere and feelings. I loved it, the audience on the other hand...well lets just say European horror movies don't go over well with normal audiences. Loud yells of 'WTF was that about'. Oh well, I enjoyed it.

Friday I woke up fairly late, did laundry and watched 'Allo 'Allo on DVD. (thanks Nymaz). Went to the store, then off to the Ufie New Year's party at The Grim Squeaker and SugarFae's. Watched Legend, introduced a few people to the magic of egg creams, made bad jokes, generally had a good time.

Saturday I went and hung around with my mom, went to Half Price Books, then Walmart. I like hanging around my my mom, she's as looney as I am. That evening I went with Techie, The Grim Squeaker and SugarFae to Starbucks and we sat and BS'd for a long while. Came home, watched TV, played City of Heroes and was generally a bum.

Sunday I woke up in a foul mood. Sunday's tend to be blah days, and this was no exception. I really don't remember doing anything that day other than rearranging my bedroom, moving a bookcase and swapping where the ferret cage and my bed were. I like the change so far.

So my new year started off with a small yawn. But that's a good thing, dull is good. Hopefully this year will bring alot of nice things and good memories. Oh yeah, new years resolutions...I don't have many, I didn't hit enough of them last year, so I decided to aim lower ;)

Vulpine's New Year's Resolutions for 2005: Be happy, enjoy life and get a good laugh out of things. That's it. Everything else is bubkis. :)