{{{Sox&DH}}}

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I love that you put on rat music before the removal....

It really, really helped. It's hard to do something like that in complete silence!

P-C, you handled that FAR batter than I would have.

I would have had a stroke and collapsed.

Well, I was lucky I had a friend there. I don't know how well I would have handled it had I been alone. I mean, a dead rat is certainly less of a problem than a live one, but I still would have been at a loss.

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When I was a kid, our old house had a room we called the attic (even though it was just an unused room on the second floor). The attic had a single light in it that hung from ceiling in the middle of the room, and the only switch was on the light itself. So at night to turn the light on I'd just walk forward in complete darkness swinging my arms back and forth in front of me until I found the light.

One time I did this and turned on the light to find a rat the size of a cat staring at me five feet away. Then it slowly turned and walked away.

When we tore down that old house, my mom said she wanted to stay home from work that day to watch the rats flee.

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Oh, hey, this is cool. I think I can stop worrying about boss problems, because I just got this in an email from her:

I just wanted you to know that I think you are doing a terrific job and that you are very much appreciated. I also see your dedication and how hard you are working.

Not knowing how you like to receive praise, and knowing that you are private person, I thought I would start this way. I would also be happy to acknowledge you in public, if you would be comfortable with that. Would you mind letting me know?

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I'm so glad to hear it, Susan -- I've been keeping my fingers crossed for you that all those frustrations you were having were a result of her still trying to work out how to work with you, rather than her not being bothered to do so.

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No one has ever asked me how I like to receive praise.

Anyway, that's a real cool email.

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Plei, sorry to hear about your aunt.

Sox, sorry to hear about your DH's Aunt as well

(whats with the Aunts today?)

My favorite part about "The La Brea Tar Pits" is that that phrase actually translates to, "the the tar tar pits".

Bit like "Picacho Peak" is Peak Peak.

Or how about the rechristened Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (aka the Angels Angels of Anaheim).

So yesterday, got home from work around 9 (stupid dinner function had to attend). Sat down, watched news while IM'ing with a friend back east... and fell asleep on the couch by 11.30. Got up, and was fast asleep in bed before midnight. Yup, the time difference from trip to FLA still kicking in. I'm not fighting it tho. I actually showed up at work before my boss today, and thusly gave him a hard time about it.

KT, sorry I missed the snuggle-fest with you last night, I offer a belated version. How long is ND away for? Ya need some company Friday-Sunday?

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No one has ever asked me how I like to receive praise.

Me neither, before now. It's one of the quirks of working for professional chaplains. In addition to whatever gifts of empathy made them interested in becoming clergy and working specifically in a hospital environment rather than a conventional pastoral/rabbinical/etc. role, the training they go through makes them hyper-aware of interpersonal dynamics. Most of the time it's good, though every once in awhile you can see the gears working a bit too much. There's a certain jargon--areas where one needs to improve are "growing edges," for example, and I have to choose to be amused rather than annoyed when it becomes too obvious someone is using something they learned out of a book or at last week's didactic session on me.

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That's wonderful, Susan!

Hairpats and kind thoughts to Plei and Sox.

And I'm sorry, P-C, but based on everyone else's reaction I'm afraid there is no way in hell I will ever read about your recent adventure.

I have a second interview today at 2:00, and a different second interview for a different job tomorrow at 1:30. GAH.

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job~ma, JZ!

That's a very promising email, Susan! Awesome.

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