Brandi

My cat and dog have 2 separate feeding/watering stations. However, the cat can get to the dog's water. If she takes so much as a single drink from it, he won't drink out of it. He'll whine and run back and forth between the bowl and me until I empty it and refill it.

I even took the cat to the vet, thinking maybe she had some health issue that the dog was detecting. Nope, clean bill of health. The vet joked that I just have a weird dog.

So, any one else have a dog that refuses to eat/drink after the cat? Or cat after the dog?

I did something stupid. I got a 5 lb. pork loin out of my deep freeze yesterday, intending to put it in the fridge to thaw. I got distracted by a phone call and ended up leaving the porkloin on top of the freezer overnight. This morning, it was completely thawed but still cool to the touch. Looks fine, smells fine. What do you think?

My grandmother tells about a drink her mother made for her father when his digestive trouble (undiagnosed then, probably celiac in hindsight). She doesn't remember what the milk was thickened with or what else was in it, only that it was simmered on the stove and drank from a cup, not eaten with a spoon.

They called "thickenin' milk." This would have been in the late 1920s, 1930s in Southeastern KY.

For some reason, I have an urge to try it but my Google-fu is just not up to the task. All I can mind is how to thicken milkshakes, gravy, or milk-based recipies.

Any ideas?

I currently have one, very dog-friendly 3 yr. old GSD mix. I've been thinking about getting a second dog.

For those of you who had one dog for a while, then got another, how did the dog react to a new one? Did the original dog become any less bonded to you? Are you glad you got a second dog, or do you regret it?

Before anyone jumps to any conclusions, I am a middle-aged professional with the time, money, and space to take excellent care of a second dog. I just worry that it might be detrimental to my current one.

It isn't so much the cake as it is the birthday person blowing all over it. Droplets of spittle get on the cake we are expected to eat. I'm not a total germaphobe, but I just find the thought gross. Any one else, or is it just a me thing?

I have a gyno appointment next week, but I'm trying to go in prepared. I'm in my early 40s. My mother died before menopause, but my grandmother went through it at 45.

Here are the symptoms that I think might be related.

-Increased PMS symptoms

- Insomnia/fatigue

- irritable, "out of sorts"

-night sweats (with the AC on 68-70 and a fan)

I've read up on menopause, of course, but I wanted to get some shared experiences? Did it sneak up on you? Or was it more sudden and obvious? Anything I should specifically ask the gyno?

It may be worth mentioning that there is zero chance that I'm pregnant.

Thanks for any advise you can offer.