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Today in 1890, Vincent Van Gogh, having sold one painting while alive, walked into a wheatfield and said good-bye to this cruel world.
It's believed he suffered several possible disorders, half of which cabn be attirbuted to the chemicals in paints. (You're not mad to be an artist, but the chemicals in paints could drive you bonkers --- lead, cobalt, copper arsenite, mercury, cadmium. Mix with oil, particularly linseed oil,w hich penetrates deep into skin and WHAM!)
And back then, they bought powdered pigments and mixed in with oils themselves often, which resulted in inhaling these things. Even today some of these are sold.
So while the gorgeous colors came from things that we ban? They didn't do great for the guys using them.
Whatever the cause of his issues, Van Gogh was always a restless soul, seeking a vbocation of some sort, seekoing to become SOMETHING, and even he probably didn't know what.
He was competing with the impressionists like Monet and manet when it came to style, and if you know art at all, you know his style and theirs were worlds apart. (Money didn't die until 1926!)
Some allege Van Gogh's last words were about unending sadness, but sinfe now one was standing next to him when he did the deed, we have to assume that's not accurate.
His brother and he were so close that Vincent Van Gogh's death devastated the brother, Theo, the art dealer whose suppor tallowed Vincent to pursue art. He admired Vincent, wrote him often, and treasured the letters Vincent bothered to return. He went from robust health to death within 6 months of Vincent's death. (The cause was possibly syphilis.)
Vincent, hwoever, suffered who knows what. Was he always moody? Yes/no. He didn't fit in, which of course leads to depression, and may have had epilepsy or even porphyria or poisoning. We'll never be sure, but his death made him notable.
I bring htis up b/c he's my favorite painter from that era, and at his peak, his sunflowers and starry nights pretty much became iconic to me of "goo dart", meaning "it stirred deep feelings".
RIP, Vincent. And don't drink absinthe, people, it's just a bad idea.
Monday purrs
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Another day, another ouchie?My bruised achilles tendon (don't ask) makes my foot numb. Wonky on meds, whacked it.Now, as to fibro:A lot of reports are going around some parts of social media that fibro (and dang near anything else) are caused by post-Covid, post-flu, post-vaccinations, post-pick-something.1. Your risk of death or serious complications beyond "ow, that shot hurt!" are typically...
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Today (August 8) is INternational Cat Day. Don't click away! International DOG day is August 26! Both were created to raise aweareness and funds for the well-being of critters. We have many such dayts, to the pint that every day is like an old Catholic saints' day calendar: Take your pick!I'm home, obvs, and still ill. Left calf and foot not great after a tangle-fall, but i'll live. Just can't...
I'm exhausted and my period is about to start. I did an all day virtual continuing education thing yesterday, and one of the lectures was about dentals...I learned that dogs can get stomatitis (essentially a severe immune reaction to bacteria on the teeth, usually happens in cats). I genuinely think Miki has it. I've compared her to a stomatitis cat more than once, and it explains how her gingivitis and periodontal disease get bad so quickly when she has barely any tartar. Also how when the more affected teeth are removed, other teeth become symptomatic when they weren't bad before. I looked yesterday and she has mild contact ulcers where the inside of her lips touch her teeth (which I'm sure are only mild because she had a dental 7 months ago and I brush her teeth daily) which is typical of stomatitis. I feel bad that I didn't know it was a thing, but it's apparently very uncommon...and removing all the teeth is the gold standard treatment, so she's a lot of the way there. I'll talk to the doctor on Thursday about it...Basically I need to figure out if I should biopsy the oral tissue to confirm the diagnosis, or just remove the teeth. Or if it makes sense to remove her teeth in 2 separate procedures, since she still has all 4 canine teeth and taking out 4 canines at once is rough. And Haco needs a tooth out, so I brought him today, because I wanted to try gabapentin and trazadone since he's very anxious, but I want to see how he does on a day he's not getting anesthesia. We got blood from him, which hasn't been possible before, so that's positive.
Otherwise today is just a Monday working with Jackie. Who is in court ordered therapy and mental health evaluation.
It's hot and very sticky here today. We may get severe storms later. Fortunately, after I get home this afternoon.
My car is still under construction. The wrench that we needed arrived yesterday. The opening was slightly offset (China made) which prevented it from fitting properly. My partner took a hammer to it and made it work. He has the new hose on more or less but it has been very difficult. He's been lying on the engine bay for about 2 hours. Still working on getting one bolt reseated. And, pretty mad. If I need a new power steering pump too (won't know until this is done) that's not going to go over well.
I do like VanGogh and have seen his work in person. I wouldn't say that he is an absolute favorite but I love a few of his pieces. Thanks for the great check in today Leo!
Miki - You take amazing care of your fur kids. I hope that Haco does well with the medication. Why am I not surprised that Jackie is in court ordered therapy... I hope that your day is over before you know it.
I need to get on with chores. And, stay out of the garage. I hope that everyone is doing alright today. Waves!