Trudy, seriously. You've got to just go cold turkey. I haven't been back in six months, and while I'll admit that the first couple of weeks were rough going, now I just feel so clean.

Okay, I do occasionally check out Glenn Greenwald's letters threads, but he rarely discusses gender politics so the letters are comparatively nontoxic.

But, really. You just have to cut yourself off. Come here when you feel like you're getting weak. I'll work on designing a 30-days-clean badge for you.

Sox, sounds like pinkeye. At least, when Mal had it those were his symptoms. Including the really gross parts.

we asked about this, but turns out that's what happens to her when she gets really congested. it comes out of her eyes. and that it was really a virus-y type thing. Yuck.

by the way, Suzi, I forgot to say - mmmm. brains!

Oh my God.

...

...

...I, I think I may have stood in a rat on the way to work.

...

...

I'm trying to convince myself it was fruit or something. Um. Because I was scurrying across the crossing (in Thailand, pedestrian crossings are largely hypothetical - there are black and white stripes across the road, but for some reason drivers genuinely DON'T GIVE A DAMN) and watching the bus heading towards me, and then my foot was in something and sliding, sliding...and then I was on the other side of the road, walking, and glancing back over my shoulder and trying to put together the physical sensation with the possibilities, and there was some sort of dark and meaningless shape that vaguely said lizard (but, honestly, when do you see a BIG lizard on the street? You just don't), and then I was still walking, listening to Written by the Victors on the iPod, my mind racing, and the word "....rat" rose irresistibly to mind. Because, you see, you do occasionally see squished rats on the street. Not often, but occasionally. Lizards, though - no. And dogshit - really, the street dogs just aren't stupid enough to crap in the middle of the street on a busy crossing. So...rat. Maybe. Although fruit seems plausible - it's right next to the market. And although I can't think when I've seen squished fruit lying on the ground (because if you dropped your fruit, you'd just pick it up, not leave it there...) it's still plausible. Right? Right?

Oh my God.

I think I stood in a rat.

:: bleaches foot. and brain.::

Fruit. I am absolutely certain. No self respecting vermin would die in the street. Fruit I tell you.

::rocks back and forth::

someone make me step away from the Salon letters

Apparently I have powerful self preservation instincts with this type of abuse. Some tell me I go overboard in protecting myself from "reality," but I will not apologize. I only watch local news if we are in a hurricane watch. Can't remember the last time I saw a network news broadcast. No reading of comments or letters ever, except on food sites. Sometimes on youtube, but then just peeking between fingers first to be sure it is safe. Sanity is a precious possession and you must fight to preserve it. This is particularly crucial in an election year.

I am older than you missy, drink from this fount of wisdom.

It was Fruit! Surely, next to a market it's plausibly squished fruit. If the drivers don't give a damn and dog's won't take the time to crap in the crossing, a person could drop fruit, fear for their lives, and race on sans fruit. Right?

In possibly entertaining news, what happens when you mix revealing photos sent to you via email and lacking knowledge of computers? Your co-worker (me) might catch your nudie pics while trying to help you. While we were talking about attaching your photo to a document, those weren't quite what I had in mind!

guess they weren't hot enough to forward to friends... or us.

But, um... on your WORK computer!?! C'mon. That's a lil non-sensical, no?

Fruit. I am absolutely certain. No self respecting vermin would die in the street. Fruit I tell you.

I second this thought.

He was surprised when they came up - I think he's just clueless.