Oh, Ginger. All kinds of ~ma for your mom, and decision-making vibes for you.

Cash, I'm so sorry about the shingled. I hope the urgent care is quick and painless, and the anti-viral kicks in right away.

{{{GC}}} It is Friday. There's that.

beth, I'm glad Matt made a decision about the job situation. I hope this one works out the way he wants to. Matt needs a job that treats him like the wonderful guy he is.

Also? I love Cindy. (And I wish I knew how to make the heart symbol.)

100?

Suzi, here's what I know:

PT = a master's degree. You used to be able to get it with a bachelor's, but the regulations changed about 2 years ago. A friend with a PT said her advice is to go to medical school instead; it's nearly as rigorous. (An MD would probably disagree, but, that's what she said.)

An occupational therapy degree can be had as a BS (BA? whichever) and San Jose State has a good program. A friend just a little younger than I went back to college after her oldest kids were in college and got this degree. She's in her first job and *loves* the work. She started out, not intentionally gunning for the OT yet, but because she could do it while her 3 kids were in middle and high school at home, getting a massage cert, which, I think, was helpful, in that you have to learn the muscles, nerves, bones, body, really well. There's a good school in Emeryville.

Suzi, I think my friend would be thrilled to talk to someone about her job if K-Bug wanted to ask Qs about OT.

Cash, yup, sHingles are bad, listen to Cindy. Signed, elder relative had awful complications from shingles.

I hope Matt's once and future employers reform their asshat ways.

I know that people live for years with congestive heart failure, and it was pretty inevitable with her atrial fibrillation. I just hate for her to be so miserable and not be able to do all the stuff she used to.

~ma for your mom, Ginger. ~antivirals for Cash.

I just tried to start my car for half an hour.

Ginger, I hope things work out as simply as possible for your mother and the rest of you.

Ginger, you're in my thoughts.

Today has been a day of minor frustrations and headaches galore. When does mercury get the hell out of retrograde again?

Per my skip level in the hallway today, today.

I blinked, as he's one of the last people on the planet I'd expected to offhandedly remark on that when casually discussing the generalized yargh that's been our week.

When Partner Communication Would Have Come in Handy:

Joe (to Emeline): ...and I just gave you some cough medicine.
Me: But I already gave her cough medicine.
Joe: When?
Me: Abot 20 minutes ago, when you were outside on the phone. When did you give it to her?
Joe: About 10 minutes ago, when I was on the phone with my mom.
t Emeline yawns
Joe: How much did you give her?

Oh CRAP! I'm sure she'll be fine, but oh no!

Today has been a day of minor frustrations and headaches galore. When does mercury get the hell out of retrograde again?

The 16th.

Went to 2 different urgent care centers. Both closed. The security guy at one suggested I go "down the road" to OSU. Um, the 100 acre campus medical center with the ER that treats most of the GSW's and trauma victims in town? No. I'd have been there until 5 a.m.

So I stopped by CVS for calamine lotion and some benedryl. I'll call the answering service tomorrow morning and see if I can't get speak to the on call doc and get a script called in.

Ginger, lots of ~ma for your mother. And coping & decision ~ma for you.

edited: Thanks, everyone for the love. It helped to come home to that.