{{{{{Nora}}}}} I'm so sorry for your loss.

{{{Nora}}}. I'm sorry for your loss.

just caught up

{{{{bitches}}}}

hang in there, 2008 is almost over.

Nora, my sympathies.

Glam, heal up, baby.

I have survived Trader Joe's. It was ridiculously crowded

Ridiculously so. Man, I would not have braved it if I hadn't just realized the cats were out of food. Though it went faster than I expected.

DH went to the grocery store for me. He is such a keeper.

{{{Nora}}}

My favorite thing about World's Best Cat Litter is that it is flushable. So, I just scoop and flush whenever I'm in there.

Cat litter from your cat's point of view. [link]

Hola, long time, no read, no post. It's SO quiet at work. I should tackle some boring projects while I have the quietus, since I need to hang around this side of the Bay until it's time to head to the theater to see a play.

I'm fostering some kittens with the support of The Cat Connection and they recommend The World's Greatest Best Cat Litter also. It is awfully good. Very expensive, but a bag lasts a long time.

That's a great article Java. I, the doggy lama, often get asked why cats 'act out' by not using the box and I generally tall them the same thing, but that article says it better.. Great to have a link to send folks to.

I'm sorry for your loss Nora. I'm around if you need DC support.

We had a very small, very private memorial service for StE, only four of us, family. And we clung and supported each other, and didn't have to endure and help other people through their easy, social "sympathy."

Bless you, Beverly. That was a great plan and, in the end, far more meaningful.

Easy, social sympathy is a perfect way to put it. I just don't get it. I think people most often sincerly mean well, but the delivery can be so, SO wrong.

My problem is often that people look to me to carry their emotional water...at some pretty inappropriate times. But because I'm a therapist, I'm supposed to deal with other people first right? It's like living next door to a firefighter and expecting him/her to put out your first first, even if their house is more engulfed.

Example: When I returned to Lockerbie in 1995...long story...an older man offered to take me to one of the local memorials. As I was struggling with my pent up feelings, he suddenly broke down and had to tell me all about losing his wife 20 years before.

At a time when I really needed to just be human, I had to rationalize for someone else...he's old, he's insensitive, etc. I had this sense of myself, folding up my 'stuff', tucking it back in my chest. That has happened a lot.

I subscribe to the notion that we train people how to treat us and I'm still scratching my head as to what I put out (when I'm not working) that makes it okay to not consider my feelings. Perhaps it is that people are so into their own thing...all the time...they just don't notice.

Wow. That comes off as a bit whiney.

I guess I'm mad at myself for venturing back into the clutches of the emotionlly unstable hairdresser again this after noon and I'm in a monumental temper. Hear me and heed me: NEVER again.

Does leaving the year with aggro in my heart mean I can be all peaceful in the new year? Jeebus. I hope so.

Thanks, bonny. I stumbled onto it on The Stanford (Univ.) Cat Network website. It has an excellent collection of linky cat info under "resources." [link]

Maybe it just means you'll be a woman warrior in the new year and be better armed to get what you want.

Maybe it just means you'll be a woman warrior in the new year and be better armed to get what you want.

This. THIS. Yes, please, this!

Thanks for that lovely benediction. From your lips to whomsoever is the boss of my life's ears.