Some cool Weight loss images:
Oscar: 1991–2007
Image by adamrice
We put Oscar in the earth today.
Despite the name, Oscar was a girl, and every inch a princess. Gwen tells the story of when she first got her. Gwen was living in Minneapolis, and the mother cat’s owners (who called Oscar "Whiner"), brought her over to Gwen’s place. Oscar was the runt of the litter, but as soon as she was released in Gwen’s apartment, she walked around the room, sniffed everything, jumped up on a table, knocked something over, and then came over to Gwen, got up on her hind legs, and gave Gwen an affectionate head-butt. This was her most endearing habit, and often used in the years that followed to defuse anger at, say, knocking something over. In that moment, Oscar became Gwen’s cat.
A year or so later, Gwen moved to Austin, and moved around in Austin quite a bit after that. Oscar was her one constant companion. She added another cat, Kevin, to her household, and when Gwen and I got together, we wound up with three cats between us. Hence the king-sized bed.
Oscar had been a svelte 17 pounds in her prime, but once she hit a certain age, she started losing weight, and her kidneys started shutting down. Ironically, the weight loss made it easier for Oscar to get into trouble, which she did, jumping up to places she couldn’t reach when she was heavier but younger. She often found ways of getting into trouble specifically to push our buttons, to let us know it was time for a snack or something. As infuriating as she could be in these moments, she always made us laugh (either at her or ourselves) because her needling was so transparent, and yet so effective.
Over the past four days or so, she lost interest in eating (apart from barbecued chicken from Hoover’s) and became much quieter. Gwen took her to the vet and found that her blood urea nitrogen level (an indicator of kidney function) was off the scale. The vet said Oscar had "days or weeks."
With much grief and second-guessing, we made the decision to euthanize her, and this afternoon, after a snack of barbecued chicken, the vet came over and ended her life. We are both wrecked.
It’s a hell of a thing, having pets. You take them in as cute companions, knowing in the back of your mind that some day, a day like this will arrive. And when it happens, you’re completely unprepared.
(from Gwen) It’s impossible to sum up a life together in a few paragraphs. Oscar has slept by my side (or, more often, on my pillow) for 16 years. She’s made me laugh, pissed me off, purred in my ear at 5 a.m., and today licked my tears while we were hanging out together for her last few hours. I hope I can always remember the smell of her head, in the sweet soft spot between her ears that tickled my nose at the beginning of endearing-for-life head-butt. And I hope her cat friend Kevin, who has always been "Kevin and Oscar" will find some way to be Kevin. Rest well, Oscar. Piggy. Pig Pig. Muffin. Pig-a-Muff. Muffy. Muff Muff. Schmooky. Schmook.
Grey knight squad attempting to shoot up the chimera
Image by jon_a_ross
Warhammer battle report Daemon Hunters vs. Imperial Guard
1000 points, spearhead deployment, Annihilation mission.
jon-a-ross.livejournal.com/967909.html
This would be the first time fielding the daemon hunters for me. The battlefield was left set up as it was for the guard vs. necron battle. The logic behind this is that the Grey Knights were not sure if it was a daemonic attack or something else that the guard were able to drive off. The goal of the Grey Knights was to claim the area, search it for clues and then, if required, save the souls of the tainted guardsmen who battled the daemons.
My Grey knights therefore launched their attack with the required two troop choices, taking the third as a fast attack and therefore able to deep strike unit. A hero in terminator armour would lead them. And a Purgation Squad and the Lance off their strike curser would be the heavy support.
The imperial guard were taking three chimera’s loaded with troops, a large block of troops on the ground and heavy weapons to guard the sides. The plan for the guard was to shift their troops into the ruins while the chimera’s curved around the battlefield sweeping up the Grey knights as they did so.
(turn 1)
Grey knights have one troop squad move forward, armed with two psy-cannons. The second troop squad, with it’s two flamers hungry for foes. The purgation squad sits on the hill and attempts to blast the guard. They have range but the damage dealt is minor.
The guard move forward. The full weight of the guard comes down on the five man grey knights unit with the psy-cannons. Only one grey knight survives.
(turn 2)
Grey knights know they are in trouble. They have lost 20% of their troops and dealt almost no damage in return. They also fail to get both of their re-enforcements. The purgation squad fires into the guard, scoring some death.
The imperial guard roll forward, their chimera wall pushing along the north side. The rest of their troops pour into the center. Weapons fire claims a handful of grey knights, dropping the grey knights down to 65% left.
(turn 3)
The grey knights get their re-enforcements, the lance blast strikes into the center temple killing 8. A grey knight squad deep strikes, lead by the terminator hero, fires into a heavy weapons team. Other light losses occur on the guard.
The imperial guard keep rolling forward like a steamroller. Another handful of Grey Knights fall.
(turn 4)
The grey knights blast into the imperial guard. The lance blasts a number, and the Grey knight with the flamer cooks some more. The psy-cannons on the hill blast another couple. The Grey knight hero and his team also add their fire into the guard. Three troops remain standing outside of the chimera. In kill points the grey knights have won, as long as they don’t get wiped out.
The chimera and guard keep rolling ahead on turn 4. They finish off the final grey knight trooper who was in the middle, as well as pick away at the Purgation squad on the hill.
(turn 5)
The Grey knights, victory close, but not close enough, fire into the chimeras trying to at least slow them down. No luck.
The guard, in turn, roll ahead with their tank wave. One chimera gets up to the grey knight purgation squad and unloads a full load of ogryn. The other two chimeras unload their loads of storm troopers on the grey knight hero and squad. It ends quickly, as the grey knights are shot to death.
Victory guard.
Bought these fresh low salt low fat halloumi and Akkawi cheeses today
Image by ~W~
