fuckity, some financial hoohah regarding Tom's mom. I feel so helpless over here- we can't DO anything!

Like this: does it bother anyone else that the family who tried to help the Omaha boy by taking him in is getting raked over the coals by the media and asked 'do you think there was anything more you could do?' I wish they could kick back with, 'don't know mr anchorman, but I didn't see you around when he needed support, do you think there was anything more you could do? Sorry if that's too obnoxious too early in the morning.

Sox, we had a schizophrenic man shooting off freeway overpasses and terrorizing Columbus a few years back. He actually killed a grandmother driving home from a doctor's appointment. When they caught him and started looking at his situation, a lot of questions were asked of his family and why they didn't do any more to stop him. As someone who has dealt for nearly 20 years with an older brother with schizophrenia, your response would be entirely appropriate. The System does absolutely nothing to help people with severe mental illness or psychological problems deal or cope. Nor do they offer respite or assistance to families trying their best to take care of their loved ones and trying to keep them from committing crimes or hurting other people. It gets exhausting and even when a tragedy does occur, fingers don't get pointed at the systems that could have prevented them.

It also comes down to the fact that some of these crimes just can't be prevented. They're still examining the Crandon shootings here in Wisconsin and the authorities are not providing much information in response to FOI filings by the newspapers, citing the continuing investigation.

She starts Turtles on January 8th!

I approve. :)

She starts Turtles on January 8th!

Yay, Turtle Emeline!

Aimee, they have 4 year-old kindergarten here and I'm wondering if, when we get Owen figured out with his therapy, whether he'll fit in there. Freaks my shit right out.

He went upstairs to get his sister when she woke up a few minutes ago and I can hear him saying, "OK, Owibia, take a hold of my hand" as they walk down the stairs.

Finanacial~ma for Tom's mother's situation, Nora. I'm sorry you guys feel so helpless over here.

Oof, that is of the suck, Nora. I hate when hand-wringing is the only thing that can be done over a bad situation (see also ita's ongoing migraine hell).

My office is covered with snowman guts. The dog took apart a dog toy. Who would have thought the snowman to have had so much fluff in it?

The dog took apart a dog toy. Who would have thought the snowman to have had so much fluff in it?

Out out, damned Spot?

As someone who has dealt for nearly 20 years with an older brother with schizophrenia, your response would be entirely appropriate.

I don't have that kind of experience with schizophrenia, but I have to agree with your comment. If you've gone out of your way to help, at the very least you're exempt from criticism for anything that doesn't start, "Any idiot would know better than to...."

I love you guys. Where else could you make a Shakespeare joke knowing it would be appreciated?

A friend called me once because something happened at his work that made him laugh and laugh, but he couldn't find anyone who saw the humor in it. The office was being moved by Burnham Movers and the tall office plants had been put in moving boxes. He kept saying, "Look, it's Birnam Wood" and nobody got it.

A friend called me once because something happened at his work that made him laugh and laugh, but he couldn't find anyone who saw the humor in it. The office was being moved by Burnham Movers and the tall office plants had been put in moving boxes. He kept saying, "Look, it's Birnam Wood" and nobody got it.

Heh, that reminds me of a great speech from ROXANNE:

We haven't had any irony here since about, uh, '83, when I was the only practitioner of it. And I stopped because I was tired of being stared at.