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Eddie, my #2 Cairn had surgery yesterday to remove a blockage and they found a tumor. Did a biopsy, now we wait. The couple of glasses of Chard I had gave me a headache.

Wow, the only thing that kinda bugged me was the neighbor who showed up with her 4 kids and her husband. We've met before, so I said, "Oh hey! how are you?" Neither of them responded bc the husband was too busy looking over the exterior of my house and the wife was too busy peering over my shoulder into the house (making me sooooo glad I straightened up). Then they both discussed my pumpkin arrangement (several pumpkins arranged on and around a green chair on the front porch), looked pointedly at this gigantic dandelion that sprouted from hell, and then they left. Thank goodness they live two blocks away and not next door.

Izzy, sorry to hear about your Eddie, my thoughts are with you. I found a weird bump on my Carter, 5 month old Black Lab, it's been removed and being biopsied as well. Vet said chances are good it will turn out benign. I hope for the same result for your Eddie.

Susq--my condolences. I know you were really looking forward to your tiki extravaganza...look at it this way, now you have a whole year to make it even more spectacular!

Gosh--it sounded like we all had snafus on Halloween. I was at the vet earlier this month, and my thoughts and prayers go out to both wookie and iz's pooches--as well as for Susque's human loss. Fortunately, my dog on the mend--dogs can be wonderfully resilient.

Other than getting an late invite to a Halloween party after I had returned home (and missed it) and hardly any trick-or-treaters, though mine can't compare.

I got stood up...

@Susq--glad your doggie is on the mend, and wookie, too.

@izatryt: No worries. :D

@gastronomeg: Nightmares are bad enough. Halloween nightmares would be terrifying! And I wish the Beastie Boys would come to Pittsburgh. They're frickin' great. Feel better soon, too. :D

Halloween was a bust this year. Hardly any houses handing out candy for our little ones, or anyone at all. Of the 3 blocks we covered each street had maybe 2-3 houses giving out candy. The rest were all darkend windows and no one there. It was sad. I miss halloween

Hope you feel better Perky and glad to here the pet has no cancer.

((((((((((((((((Perky)))))))))))))))) consider yourself hugged sweetie!
@ Izzy, my thoughts are with you hun, my maggie is my daughter and best friend and i'd go nuts if anything happened to her.
My halloween was really quiet i went to the dr and found out the last surgery "didnt work" so other than spending the rest of the day in bed crying and indulging in a personal pity party I didnt do much of anything.
SO did make some homemade french onion soup though so that was totally yummy.

@huney ~ Being fairly new to SE, I do not know what you are dealing with. My thoughts are with you! It makes me so sad when I can't just reach out and give a huge hug of support. I am happy you have a loving someone to take care of you!! ;-)

I consider you guys among my good friends. It breaks my heart to hear of your personal tragedies. Know that you are all in my nightly prayers.

Halloween was shaping up to be a bust. My son didn't have his party (that I've been planning since Sept.) because our football team made it into the AAAA WPIAL football playoffs and the game was last night. At least we won. I decided to dress up anyway, and paid a visit to our local retirement center where my friend works as the activities director. This made my day. I dressed as a 20's flapper and even did the Charleston for the residents. The looks and smiles on their faces made my day. They shared stories of when they were youngsters and dressed for Halloween. We've all got pretty horrific issues going on right now, but we support each other and help take the sting away. These folks had nobody. Really, nobody. Quite a few were in their 90's and had outlived their spouses and even their children. I will be paying them a weekly visit from now on. We all need to know that someone cares for us. I'm thinking about all of you.

@Josdean ~ when I was going through a very painful divorce, after 30 years of marriage, I was a mess and just couldn't do real estate. I saw an ad for a local nursing home and they hired me to do activities. It's the only job I've ever had that I absolutely loved. For two years, I gave everything I had to give, and I got so much more than I gave. I would fall on the couch with my coat still on and fall asleep - that's how exhausting it was, but I never got so much love in my life. I would have stayed forever, but they didn't pay much and would only let me work 39 hours. I still visit all the time, and encourage all to get into the habit, if you have any spare time. I still play the piano and sing with them and they love it. They love visitors and seldom get them. You'll get so much more than you can even imagine.

@ Perky - Ironically, my friend who is activities director at the retirement center started working there two years ago when she was going through a divorce from her husbund of 20 years and her house was sold at sheriff's sale. She had just recovered from a year bout with hepatitus which almost did her in. She says she owes her current sanity to her job which, as you said, is absorbing, rewarding but low-paying. Recently, she was able to scrape together enough money to buy a modest home for her and her two teenage sons. Things will work out for you too, I am sure.

@ mayoxqueen - welcome and thanks for your well-wishes.

Very glad this thread allowed people to share their stories and relate!

@wookie: Those neighbors are such weirdos. I know people like that, though.

My sister has neighbors living directly behind her who are horrible. In her neighborhood, 8 p.m. meant the official end of trick-or-treating, so she blew out all the candles in her carved pumpkins and turned off her front porch lights. Then, she put my 3 year old nephew to bed. At 8:30 p.m., the neighbor living behind her brought his two older kids over to her house and rang the door bell!

Mind you, the porch is dark and he knows she has a 3 month old and a 3 year old who are probably in bed! I'm tempted to give him the stinkeye if I see him when we're at her house for Thanksgiving.

I got back from the gym early Saturday morning to find that my BF's friend, who had slept on our couch, threw up on that couch, the carpet, the bathroom floor, and numerous small objects I now have to burn. After hours of bleaching and scrubbing and Febreeze-ing, I can still smell it. Fantastic.

xxooxxx to you all, you're all such kind, supportive souls, i'm bubbling up, guys.... i wish peace & love & good health for everyone!!! let's hope
things get a little better with a new president, no matter who it is.
people don't deserve the stale cake they're passing around out there...

best to you all xx pooch

@beano ~ 3 weeks is a very long time to spend in the hospital, especially considering they now think of giving birth and having mastectomies as out-patient events. I'm sure you're still recovering. Hopefully, you have someone at home to give you a hand? If you need nutrition advice or ideas for recipes, just ask. There is a wealth of information, love and help here. Quick recovery, my friend.

@izatryt ~ I totally understand why you'd not want to inflict pain on your sweet little Eddie. You must be a master griller by now. I could use a new recipe for boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Ok, that's true, but we are all worried about you and are hoping Eddie is getting better. Need an update!

@ perky oopps sorry about that, I do not know what a "pet scan" is.

@pj ~ Eddie is iz's beloved middle doggie (of 3) who is 12 and very sick. See the first comment above.

A PET scan is a non-invasive diagnostic imaging test - for cancer, heart disease and brain diseases, mainly. In my case, I still have a mass around my windpipe (detected with a CT scan aka cat scan) that is pneumonia and might have been lung cancer. No need to apologize. I've never had pneumonia before and this was my first PET scan. I can't tell you how shocked and relieved I was with the results.

Izatryt I'm so happy for you! it sounds like Eddie may be on his way home soon. You can be sure you're all in my thoughts and prayers.

Thank you all for your kind words and positive thoughts!

Well, Eddie is one pissed off doggie! He looked at us when we walked in and immediately turned around and tried to leave with the nurse. She brought in a blanket so we could sit on the floor with him. The snubbing was immediately followed with a big pee on the floor and blanket. That's my Eddie! I just hope he doesn't think that is acceptable behavior when he comes home. Tomorrow!!! :-D He will be on lots of meds we are told.

I am thinking of having a Beef and Beer fundraiser. The current tab for my beloved doggie is $4,000. Ouch!!