Hil, when I was working on my thesis ( BS) I had a friend who would fairly regularly "kidnap" me when I descended into spirals of non-productiveness (or just plain nutsdom.) Whether it was to one of her ultimate games, forcing me into the pool, a movie or a heavy 3 drink lunch (when I was really losing it), it probably kept me sane(-er.) Maybe suggesting that to a friend might help?

It was really hard for me to motivate myself to take a break that was actually worth shit, but being bodily dragged from the lab and not allowed to talk about what I was doing (I think the phrase was "Shut the fuck up.") did me a world of good.

So barring the kitten having anything that would make my cats permanently sick, looks like I'm acquiring a third. Oy. He's got a vet appt Friday, after I take mine in to update their vaccs.

N stopped by (Miss Louise's great granddaughter) to borrow catfood for HER cat, since she'd run out. (Yes, this worries me.) Luckily, I still had leftovers from when mine weren't on special diets. She said "So you are taking Tiger?" Looks like, since the family all seems to view it that way. N is moving out, with her cat.

This is going to be Very Interesting.

(Despite all my trepidation, I really, really hope this kitten isn't a carrier of anything. I'm happy to give him a home. Even if it goes against all my plans.)

Funny after the conversation in here today, I just got an email from a friend who is opening a maternity/kids consignment boutique in NYC. At the end of her list of the kinds of things they're looking for was this:

We cannot accept gear of any kind, because NY requires a license for that kind of stuff.

I wouldn't have had the first idea what that meant before today.

(Here's the store, by the way, opening at the end of the month: [link] She's working on the website.)

And OMG. I started a diet TODAY for the first time ever. You guys are making me wanna cry about pie. Holy crap. How on earth does the diet business stay in business? I don't think I'm cut out for this nonsense. I want pie. Followed by a pizza pie.

The first couple days are the hardest. The first few months of your first diet will be easy, because it's new, and you'll see quick results.

I have never heard of Sambo before today. What's the connotation?

Alibelle, wikipedia covers it pretty well: [link]

Here's some of the art from the racially charged version of the Sambo book: [link]

And holy crap, they linked to this, which made my jaw hit the floor. It's a 2004 Japanese earthquake safety pamphlet which was only withdrawn after many complaints: [link]

Wow.

Sorry, didn't mean to kill the thread. Developing a curriculum for African American Lit with my colleague Katie a few years ago exposed me to a world of racism I wish never existed. I'm grateful for the knowledge but saddened and angered by the reality.

Wow. I really killed the thread dead.

I can haz pariah?

(Kidding! I kid!)

I can haz pariah?

This is what you get for being sad and angry at the same time. It's blocking your chakras or something.

It's blocking your chakras or something.

Aren't you supposed to breath through your eyelids when that happens? Or wear a black garter belt. Something like that.

Or, say, finish cleaning your closet?

::runs away::