Also, Sox - WTF? December? How in the world do they expect productivity to be happening at all in that kind of environment?

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My old Koogie-cat died this morning. He was about 18 years old. He'd been having troubles eating and drinking, and he was starting to stagger a lot. I've been watching him and thinking, "I'm going to have to make that decision soon."

Last night he was curled up in the pillows by my head, where he always sleeps, when we realized he'd urinated. We started to scold him, then we realized he was just blinking slowly at us, without any of the complaints he normally makes when he gets picked up. I held him and napped a bit with him curled up next to me until, at 5 AM, he shivered a little and left.

I thought I'd be a whole lot more freaked out, holding my deceased cat. Maybe it was because it took a couple of minutes to be sure, because he'd been so still and his breathing so quiet.

Hubby's much more torn up than I am. He remembers Mouse and beloved cats of his youth that he didn't get to say proper good-byes to. I'm ashamed of myself because my relief that it's over is not primarily because he doesn't have to be an old sick cat anymore but because I don't have to deal with an old sick cat anymore. I tear up occasionally, but I have little trouble fighting it back. And the damnedable writer's brain kept going, "This is how a creature dies, we must remember this."

Maybe it's shock. The generous part of myself says so. I suspect, though, that my practicality and stoicism is an acceptable mask for selfishness.

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Sox - WTF?

Seriously - that's a long time to wait. But we're feeling better about it anyway. Because we have to. And because I have d coming over on Friday...

Happy Birthday Julianna!

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{{connie & hubby}}

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corn flakes (x2) because Connie & Julianna deserved itemized posts for different reasons...

ok, deep breath. Here goes.

Meantime, I am in a big WTF place wrt my job. NOT good timing at all. 10 years is a long time to be anywhere. I resigned once a few years ago and they made a big counter offer that I took. They've supported me in this move and allowed me to keep working there. Mostly because we've been able to do a huge stack of badass things for them on a nonprofit budget. For years. They have given us some additional staffing, and now are increasing the workload beyond what 2.5 people could ever do. But (as with Kristen) our director left last year and they're in the middle of a search, which is trending towards bizarre at this point.

If there are any bitches in mind of doing some (amply rewarded... of course) career consulting and/or resume help, I am one big post of need. Web-side software, databases/Info-Architecture/Writing/Graphic Design. This is not when I should be doing this, but I am starting to feel like I have to. I am starting to feel like I don't know what I am capable of anymore.

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(((Connie & Hub))) I'm so sorry.

Good luck, Sox, I have no consulting skills to offer but I will be glad to cheer you on while you look.

Kids are dressed but I need to get dressed to go to the gym. The good thing about this place is that I need to schedule the childcare so it forces me to get up and get in there because I have an appointment.

I wish the speech therapy place would call me back so I can get Owen in here.

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Now, if my kid(s) were bored to the point of not being challenged and were causing mischief or disrupting class, then I'd really have to think about it. Maybe not a full double promotion, but going up a grade for reading and math. My elementary school did that with a lot of kids (myself included) and it seemed to work out better in the short and long run.

I'm with you. Besides, learning to deal with being bored is a good life skill.

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(psst, it isn't juliana's birthday, it's her self-identified New Year's Day. see: Beep Me.)

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(Psst -- it's not juliana's birthday. t edit Ha -- inevitable x-post! )

Oh, connie. I didn't realize Koogie was 18. What a good long life for a cat. Hugs to you and DH.

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Happy New Juliana Year!

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