Huh. Like climbing salve. If it gives me any twinge, I will hunt it down. Thanks.

P-C, does your mother have a Cafepress store?

Heh, ita.

So I called my mom, as there was never going to be a good time for it. And for maybe a minute or so, I was able to stand my ground and attempt to assert that no, I was not going to change my biodata, I was not going to remove the "junk" from it, but she said at this initial stage, all she needed was the education and stuff. People would look at this and think I was a joke, and you know what they say about first impressions.

And to top it all off, one of my stupid cousins in India went and tarnished our family name once again by kicking his wife and kid out of the house, so this reflects badly on me.

She said that after first contact was made, she didn't care; I could send this and she would have no problem. I brought up JZ's idea that someone could actually be looking for something different, but that's not the way our society works.

I was probably crying by this point. I can't do this. It just doesn't work. As soon as she starts talking, I lose. I try and I try and I try, but when it comes down to it, I can't do it. I'm just not built that way.

I guess I should just surrender to destiny.

Cass just threatened me (elsewhere) with a) TV, and b) her cats.

Huh.

Cower before the Kittenish!

Also? Puppycat will totally pull your pigtails if she doesn't get entranced by them.

To sum up? Bring the SPN disks, and I shall provide a comfy sitty / chatty place and drinks.

Yay on the tattoo, Cass! I just got the red and yellow sections on mine touched up a couple of weeks ago. Yep, it hurts. Although the endorphin rush afterward is verra nice. I got good results from lubriderm, but I didn't know Tattoo Goo existed. I'll have to check that out when I get my (unscheduled, but it'll probably happen sooner or later) next tat.

{P-C}

Did your tattooist tell you the hot washcloth trick? Soak a washcloth in water as hot as you can stand, then wring out the washcloth and put it over your tattoo. It helps with the itching.

This is because itching is controled by the nerve endings that handle pain--when you load them up with something that might be painful it cancels out and you get sweet, sweet relief.

We got at least two (maybe three) inches of snow yesterday and it's all pretty, fluffy and white! Still cold (my apologies to those of us in the Frozen North) but this is still freakin' cold for central Ohio.

Congrats on the tat, Cass.

Did your tattooist tell you the hot washcloth trick? Soak a washcloth in water as hot as you can stand, then wring out the washcloth and put it over your tattoo. It helps with the itching.

You can do that with a blow dryer too when you have itchy places you don't want to get wet.

Oh, P-C, I'm sorry you're feeling so badly. Maybe you didn't lose. Maybe you compromised?

Ben is still sick. His fever was 101.5 when he got up. It was up to 102.something (4, maybe) within 45 minutes. I hadn't given him any fever medication though, because he was also extremely nauseated. I've been swabbing him down with a cool, wet cloth, and eventually convinced him to take a sip of ginger ale, figuring it would resolve the nausea the calm way or the violent way. So far, it seems to be working in the calm way.

I'm sick to the point of tears of my poor little boy being so sick. We're due to contact the dr., today. The thing is, this may well be the stupid fever virus Chris recovered from, the day before Ben contracted the strep. If this is a virus, and the doctor can't do anything for him but tell me to keep doing what I'm doing, I'd rather not cart him out in the frigid morning. But I don't want to not go, if we should go.

I want immediate recovery, please. We've been praying for it, but at this point, my prayers are more tears directed to God, than anything else. This poor little boy has had enough and I'm so frustrated I'm no longer even doing a good job hiding it from him.

Scott has to work at his office today (he gets to work from home, a lot) because they have a contractor coming in all week. I can't let my mother come over and help because my aunt has her colon cancer surgery, tomorrow, and I can't risk my mom catching anything. Yesterday was the anniversary of my father's death and I'm just left without any reserves. Ugh. I'm sorry I'm so whiny. I shouldn't post this, but I'm feeling so sorry for Ben and for myself that I am going to.

As I was reminded yesterday Cindy, this is where you come to ask for help in shouldering whatever you're carrying. I'm so very sorry for both Ben and you, and the rest of your family, because illness taxes everyone. I'm sending him the very best thoughts for quick recovery, and you too. I hope the doctor is able to help him quickly, that the visit is entirely worthwhile.