Katie T

Thinking of vacationing in the South Pacific this fall. We're use to the all inclusive resorts of the Caribbean where meals and alcohol are included. I'm having a hard time finding the equivalent anywhere down south. Does it not exist or have I just not found it yet? Any help is appreciated!

Last week my 1yr 4month cat started coughing. Having had cats before, I thought he was trying to hack up a hairball. After of a few days of coughing without it producing a hairball we got some hairball snacks from petsmart. It's been a few days and still - no hairball! My husband and I work so I don't know how much he's doing it during the day but it seems to be rare if not nonexistent in the evenings and mostly goes on in the middle of the night. He's eating, drinking, pooping, and playing like normal. No nasal discharge or other obvious physical signs. I'm calling the vet tomorrow. But until then, any ideas what it could be? It's almost 4am and i'm wade awake worried about him because he was coughing again. He's never had a hairball but in my experience it doesn't take them this long to hack the first one up!! Thanks for any help.

So I know this is a dumb place to be asking this because you're all going to tell me to see a doctor. It's just that i'm not convinced anything is serious enough to see a doctor for and am worried it's all just in my head.

Anyway, I was laying in bed about a week ago when I had this sudden, sharp pain in my chest that made me catch my breath (couldn't breathe). It went away after a few seconds and I thought nothing of it. This happened to me a hundred times when I was younger (early teens). Sharp quick pain, can't breathe then it's gone. But in the days following that I've been having these "attacks". It started with this feeling that my heart just wasn't beating right then i'd start getting light headed and a hot flash would wash over me and i'd start to sweat. I'd calm down for awhile, still feeling like my chest was tight and having a strong awareness of my heart. It comes and go and makes me feel really anxious. I only notice it when I'm sitting down or not doing anything so mostly I feel like it's mental. I've cut down on caffeine and sugar substitute from my diet. No more coffee, no more diet coke, no more tea with splenda. It seems to happen most frequently in the afternoon but last night it happened a couple hours after dinner but I did have one cup of coffee yesterday morning. At first I was really concerned I had a heart problem, maybe even a heart attack. But now I think it's just panic attacks or maybe even blood sugar problems? I have family history of diabetes but not heart disease. Lately I've been eating really healthy and exercising. I'm slightly overweight but not obese.

I guess I'm just wondering if anybody else has experienced things like this? Did you have it checked out? I really do feel like it's mental and am hoping that by hearing other stories where nothing was physically wrong I can make it go away. Thanks for any help or suggestions!

I've got shrimp marinating for dinner. I LOVE steamed shrimp but am worried that they'll lose the flavor if I steam them. Has anybody done this before? Should I just go ahead and grill them? Thanks!

PS- my steamer is the electric kind with holes in the bottom so liquid will run out into the water basin below...

My 15 week old kitten has another vet appointment tomorrow and i'm kinda dreading it. His 12 week visit cost $300 and a lot of the charges were because the vet does things without asking or informing you there will be a charge. We just moved to town 8 months ago and i'm definitely not attached to this vet and considering finding a new one.

When I took our dog in for her annual vaccinations I had to sit alone in a closed up, tiny room with her for half an hour without a proper chair. She was nervous, I got tired of waiting. But their phone lines were down so I thought it was just that they were busy that day. She's about 3 years old and they took a fecal sample to check for worms. Puppies are usually more susceptible to worms so I didn't know why they were doing this. Then I was charged $20 for it. (they didn't ask or tell me how much it would be). Then they said she needed a canine flu vaccine for boarding and when my fiance took her back he also was closed in a room alone for almost 40 minutes. He got upset with the vet saying the vaccine was ridiculous and was just a scam to get money from people who kennel their dogs there.

Then when I took the kitten in at 12 weeks they did the fecal test again (ok, understandable). But they did it when they took him in back to draw blood for the feline aids/leukemia test and didn't ask me or notify me! Then they went ahead and dewormed him anyway. So why not give me the option to check if you're going to deworm him anyway?? The vet also found that he had ear mites so he got the video scope out to show me the ear mites. After I left I noticed that they charged $12 to use the video scope! Something I was NOT told and didn't really need to see. I believed the vet!

It all seems like little things but it really adds up! I can't spend $300 every time I take my animal in for routine vaccinations. I don't ever remember our vet doing this before. Is this common? Do you think this is wrong? Should I look for another vet?

My 12 week old kitten has had runny poop for about 4 days now. I noticed it Friday and got onto my fiance about feeding the kitten human food. My fiance was home with the kitten Thursday and fed him hummus among other things i'm sure (grr!!). Saturday the kitten had his first vet appointment and had his rabies shot and was wormed (fecal test was negative). Saturday he was terribly lethargic (which is normal after vaccinations) and just slept the whole day and didn't eat much (but drank water). Sunday (yesterday) he was better and ate some but doesn't want his treats he usually eats. Today he's running around the house but hasn't eaten yet. He doesn't have accidents, his poop is just really runny. I didn't say anything to the vets because I was sure it was the table scraps my fiance was feeding him. Now i'm wondering if its a side affection of the vaccinations/worming?

He's drinking water and i've checked to make sure he's dehydrated (obviously the biggest concern and i'm keeping an eye on it). Since he's not having accidents, is eating off an on, and still drinking water (while running around) I don't want to take him into the vet yet. The second he stops eating or drinking or gets lethargic again I will. But for now, any ideas? Other than the table scraps we haven't changed his diet. If he was allergic to something my fiance fed him how long would he have diarrhea for??

Thanks for any help, I searched the web and nothing really seemed to apply here.

Which color combo do you like better?

http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Beaujo85/...

http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Beaujo85/...

Option 1: http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-76425617896115_2071_4...

or

Option 2: http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-76425617896115_2072_1...

I want to paint an accent wall in our bathroom. Because of the tile color I want a burnt orange/clay type color. I've narrowed it down to two choices but am having a hard time picking so I want input! Here is a link to pictures.

http://s650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Beaujo85/...

Each color has three pictures

Picture 1: against the tile floor

picture 2: against the counter top

picture 3: against the wall color & white door trim

Baseboards and doors are white. Cabinet is white. Cabinet pulls, towel hooks/bars, toilet paper holder are black. Faucets & door handles are silver. I love the metallic shine of the copper gleam but am worried it might be too much?

I've always wondered if you can tell how people will raise children by the way they raise pets. Some people consider their pets as children but at the same time - I think a lot of people will treat children differently. This is just a fun question and something I think about when watching my fiance with our dog.

I'm trying to come up with ideas for bridesmaids gifts. I haven't been in a wedding so i'm not sure what people usually give and what's most appreciated. We're having a destination wedding so I think the gifts need to be pretty nice. I was thinking of a Coach wristlet and some other small gifts (jewelry?) for the girls. What was the best gift you received for being in a wedding??

I'm living back in the same state as my extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents) after living 7+ hours from them for 10 years now. I'm not use to having them around or them being a part of my life. When I lived at home I only talked to them on the phone when they'd call my parents house. Then when I went off to college I never felt like calling to chat with any of them. I'd call my grandparents every now and then but never aunts or uncles just to chat. My fiance and i have decided on a destination wedding and I just got a call/guilt trip from my aunt because i'm the first one to get married on my dads side and they supposedly can't be there. For some reason, my aunt feels like she gets to be the boss of the family. Her and her husband never had kids and I feel like she expects us (cousins and I) to be her stand-ins. I have absolutely no desire to call and chat with her or change my life's plans to make her happy. She was talking about how they feel i've left the family. Am I weird or are most people like this? Does extended family usually expect so much involvement/communication?

Do you have any tricks to making heels more comfortable? Have you tried gel inserts? I love high heels but they make the balls of my feet hurt so bad from slamming against the ground all day. Is there any help or do all women just suck it up and deal with it?

My fiance and I are moving to Louisiana and I've been looking at houses. Never in my life have I seen so many houses up on blocks. What's with this? Does it serve a purpose and why would you do that?

Please tell me what you think the pros and cons are of an FHA mortgage as opposed to a conventional mortgage. Thanks!

My fiance and I are planning a destination wedding for Feb 2010. We're having the HARDEST time finding a good AI (all-inclusive). We went to Costa Rica back in August and LOVED the resort (Paradisus Playa Conchal) but think it's too expensive for most guests. Can anybody recommend a nice AI in the Caribbean? A couple of the things that we really liked about the Paradisus that we don't want to settle on is that they didn't charge for the in-room safe and dining at the a la carte restaurants was unlimited (could go every single night, not just 3 times a week or something). We'd certainly like to keep it under $1500/week/person. There will be at least one teenager coming so it can't be an adult only resort (but I don't want costumed characters running around my wedding either). The RIU chain has been suggested, we've also looked into the Gran Bahia, Breezes, Beaches. I would like to hear first hand experiences or new suggestions though. Thanks for any help!

I forgot I was supposed to take snacks to a seminar at work tomorrow. It's two of us, the other girl said she'd bring salty if I brought sweet. But I was out of town today and totally blanked. Now there's no time to go to the store and get anything to make. I feel terrible that I can't make anything - I bake well and love it but just spaced it out! So what should I buy? We've already seen a lot of cookies and brownies - what's something unique to take or am I out of luck? I also live 45 minutes from work so there's no going home at lunch to whip something up. I looked up a local cupcakery but it doesn't seem that they're open on Mondays and their cupcakes are $27 a dozen!! There will be probably 20-30 people. Suggestions? Much thanks!

Where do you buy high quality fake/silk flowers to make arrangements/bouquets? Thanks!

I'm pretty skeptical so i'm looking for first hand experiences. I would like to know where you got it (website or ebay store), if it's good quality material (give a comparison to say, Davids Bridal, if you can), if you have pictures of the product you received and anything else you can throw in. I don't want to get what I pay for. Thanks!

I know alot of stores are getting rid of their samples gowns right now but do they do that all year long or only when seasons change? When will they be getting rid of them again? In the fall? Thanks!