I think I just got grossed out by PBS. Usually, it is CSI. But no, scientists slurping up sturgeon sperm from the fish's whatever with a syringe. Complete with revolting noises. I'll never be able to consume cream of chicken soup again. Nor mushroom. Gah.

I was eating corn chowder. Was.

Is this where I mention that book I read this weekend informs me that the sperm whale's name is in no way unconnected to what you think it is? Apparently, they have a big resevoir of oil that when it hits air, basically becomes... Not genetically, but appearance-wise. And that was so not even close to the grossest bit of this book.

So, I'm in a hotel. Do I seriously just put the room service tray on the floor of the hallway? That just seems so tacky.

(I'm also hoping I sent enough work emails to justify the ten bucks this internet connection is costing.)

That's what I do, Jesse, if I don't want to keep it in the room. But I was until recently quite oblivious to niceties like tipping the cleaning lady. So what do I know?

Man, (no offense intended to Jilli!style) I'd love these without the bats. Now, I'd never wear them (because when can you?), but at least there'd be love.

Oh, crap, tipping the cleaning lady. Right.

I have spent too much of the last 36 hours dealing with medical professionals.

Yesterday afternoon was the followup with my doctor on the antidepressants and antifatigue medications. The fatigue is less but not resolved. So she doubled my dosage of Provigil. No blood work yet, which surprised me.

Today was Teddy's sonogram. He's still losing weight and there's calcification in his kidneys. But no explanation other than eliminating some of the usual suspects. (Bright sides: One of the usual suspects to be eliminated is cancer. The tests showed he's in pretty good shape for a 13-year-old cat.) So, more blood work (and he won't let us take off the bandage). Appetite stimulant. And if that doesn't work, possibly participation in a study of unexplained calcification in cats.

My parents are flying out to be here for my niece's high school graduation, which is in mid-June. Because my sister's MIL will be here as well, and she has limited mobility, my folks will stay with me while E stays with my sister. Well, my dad just emailed their flight information.

They're going to be here for ten days. With their five-month-old cockapoo puppy.

Oh. My. God. t weeps

I love my parents, I do, but ten days sharing my 700-square-foot house with my mother will kill me.

That sounds like reasonably good news on the Teddy front, Fred. Good luck with all of it.

Oy vey, Suela. There's a reason I don't go to my parents' for more than four days in a row anymore.

Fred, I hope Teddy turns out ok. And I'll say, having dealt with it, that IV-ing a cat at home isn't that bad, should his kidneys need it (traumatic for the human, maybe. The cat is more annoyed at staying put.)

Consuela..um, my sympathies. I adore my parents and they once spent 7 days living in my one bedroom, 750 sq.ft. apt. I still love them but oh.my.god. May they be as gracious as mine in understanding my fleeing.

I'm still learning about tipping. I've finally got that I should tip the shampoo person if it isn't my stylist (who normally gets 25+% anyway, cause she rocks.) The last shampooist gave me such a freaking awesome head massage she got $5.

Consuela..um, my sympathies. I adore my parents and they once spent 7 days living in my one bedroom, 750 sq.ft. apt. I still love them but oh.my.god. May they be as gracious as mine in understanding my fleeing.

Mom is here for a full week in May. We're already negotiating strategies so no one ends up dead or hated.

To be honest, it's the four-hour each way drive with her to my uncle's for a couple of days that week that I has me most concerned.

Thank god I have wireless, I say. Last time they were here for several days, I would let them take over the tv while I surfed and wrote in the study. It worked.

But I'll have to feed them, too.

Speaking of food, time to go to book club and eat cheese and drink wine, yay!