My line of defense has been drawn.

See? You won't get sick.

And I think she's right, anyway. Bearing in mind I'm not a doctor and just write House fanfic...

A friend said her doctor told her the same thing, so I'm going to gently put down my cracked pot step away from the paranoia.

Maybe a nice bath with the cool book I'm listening to.

Part of what is going on is that I slept very badly last night so I'm a bit weakened.

Bartleby hurt himself, which he is prone to do occasionally. The last time, it cost me $200 to find out that I have somehow taught him to 'fake it'. He responds to my anxiety about him by making the symptoms worse. Mostly limping like he's been buck shot. But when other folks are around, or he's in the doc's hands, no limp.

I gave him an aspirin for the pain...he really DID right whack himself...and then fretted about the potential stomach upset. I brought him into the bed with me, which is an extreme situation. The upshot? He slept great. Me, nsm.

Plus, I was all strung out about the drunk lady on the street until the wee hours.

I tried to get her some help today but discovered exactly what I suspected. All bridges have been burned.

I also learned an interesting bit about the asshat ex that I asked three times to leave her be. He has a restraining order out against her...but he wouldn't stop kicking her while she's down. Classy.

Early to bed, I think.

> Google knows all. It's organized by ANSWER.

Which makes the coherent messaging all the more surprising.

Yeah ANSWER is famous for lack of coherency and for insisting on controlling anything they are involved in. Maybe the combination of a lack of time and a local well organized Palestinian rights groups prevented their playing their usual games.

Yeah ANSWER is famous for lack of coherency

Nice to know it's not just me.

No, not just you. Basically a highly disciplined organization of sectarian Marxist trolls. They manage to sucker in non-marxists to join their organization without revealing what they are getting into. So you will occasionally see a well-meaning celebrity or liberal organization lured into putting their name on the stationary. The lack of coherency was a deliberate strategy, their version of "coalition building".

Oh for crying out loud.

Revisions to NCBTMB Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice

Section XIV of the Code of Ethics was amended to create an exception for pre-existing relationships to clarify legitimate exceptions for applicants or certificants who provide massage and bodywork to their spouse, partner or significant other. It is important to note that the pre-existing relationship must exist prior to an applicant or practitioner becoming nationally certified.

Emphasis mine. Srsly, though?

JZ, you are so sweet. Thanks for the offer. Unfortunately, I fell fast asleep as soon as I posted my question. I doubt you're at work anymore.

ETA: Nevermind Deena is going to make the certificatr for me.

I am such a member of the keep-my-shit-together-while-everybody-else-dithers club. My mom, late baby and youngest of four, was a hyoooge practicioner of personal drama, while tightening the screws on every possible expression of anger allowed me as a young girl-child. I've been switched for stamping my feet, slamming a door, pouting. The best was learning the lesson I was not allowed to exhibit honest anger or resentment, but had to cover it with cheerful behavior. And I got harshly critiqued on how convincing or not my performance was.

I only learned to be able to confront someone honestly in defense of my kids. I still hate it. It still makes me nauseous for hours afterward, no matter what the outcome.

I'm still trying to be the best parent possible to my inner moppet, and that includes booting my own rear when I don't stand up to unpleasantness.

However. Theatrical training did come in handy parenting teenaged boys. I could throw a smackdown, carefully staged for greater effect in front of peers, that would haul a miscreant back in line, at least for a little while. Performance. Even while they were both aware that the more honestly angry I was? The quieter I got. Sometimes, as a parent, I had to push some buttons I'd rather have left alone and avoided the drama.

But you know what? No matter what the unpleasant task, eventually somebody's got to do it. And honestly, I'd rather get it done and get it over with and move on than wait for somebody else to get to the point where they couldn't avoid it any longer.

I still won't change my oil or a tire, though. Lines must be drawn.

They took my morphine and now give me tylenol with codeine and I hurt. Am also full of gas and it hurts. Owie.