We've finally reached what I call success with Liv in regards to training. It's a HUGE relief.

Getting done with potty training is great. Not fun.

What we used to do with Nate was stroke a cold wipe down his bare thigh before removing the diaper. This caused a trigger effect, he'd pee again, and we could then safely change him.

Oh sure, now I learn this trick. Filing it away for grandchildren.

Actually we have a little baby girl in the office now. One of my employees had a baby this summer and I told her she could bring the baby with her to the office. We have a playpen and high chair and so forth. It will be fine until she walks, then it gets trickier. You might say we have a casual office.

I would have kept working if I had worked for Laura.

I'm supposed to be careful regarding my heart and all sorts of other organs

Hubby's got heart problems, and diabetes, and he's missing his gall bladder, and and and. One the upside, he's single-handedly raised the survival rate for cardiac incidents in our State. Our hospital is currently advertising their great positive outcomes for heart problems, and I think Hubby should petition for a royalty.

How's he doing, by the way?

The doctor who was going to do a procedure on his lower back on Monday is currently in the hospital for the flu. Hubby's currently scheduled for skull surgery in November to clean out a colony of invaders that's set up shop in his sinuses and bone cavities.

I just want to state again that our insurance coverage deciders need to be devoured by red ants, but our doctors and medical staff have been nothing but competent, caring, and wonderful.

POLAR BEAR!

THAT'S MY HOMETOWN, BITCHES!!! YEAH! We have mighty, Anchorage-destroying POLAR BEARS! YEAH! GO NANOOKS!!

Ahem. Sorry. That was just horrifically awesome.

Hugs to my lovely Bitches.

Do you spend lots of money when you're in an up mood, PC?

Hm, I don't spend lots of money in general, and when I do feel spendy, it's not dangerously spendy. I think the correlation between being up and spending money is more related to my natural stinginess needing a release every now and then.

Mild, reoccuring depression is diagnosable, P-C. Lots of people have periods of dysthymia but if it's enough to cause you concern, talk to your doctor.

I don't know that I'm concerned, per se. I think I'm mildly self-aware during these bouts, recognizing what's going on but deciding that I wear sad well.

Not a professional, but this inclines me to say no, you are not bipolar.

Oh good. I didn't know whether that was a good or bad sign.

P-C, do you know things that help?

Laughter. Having a good time. The usual. Although, really, I'm not sure that I fully recover from a down mood until I go to sleep. Until then, I can ameliorate it, coast through feeling kind of bad emotionally but being okay cognitively.

I've begun to wonder if any sort of behavior that leans toward either side of staid is considered part of a syndrome. Sure, the extremes are worrisome and anything that interferes with normal functioning should be dealt with, but the mild ones seem to be the natural effects of a passionate life.

This is sort of where I am. My mood can sometimes drop dramatically—usually after a call from my mom—and it can ruin the rest of my night, but...that's normal, right? People have moods.

Until then, I can ameliorate it, coast through feeling kind of bad emotionally but being okay cognitively.

AKA, life, and coping with it.

I would have kept working if I had worked for Laura.

Brandy goes to work with me every day. She is not interested in the baby, but has glanced at the trash once or twice since we started having diapers there. My sister brings her cat when she works in the office. The cat may jump right in the playpen. K has a cat at home so that shouldn't be an issue. We may find out tomorrow on that.

Amelioration is a good thing. These things can't really be cured, so whatever helps.

Oddly enough, a crisis sometimes helps my psyche, too. My Seasonal Affective Disorder hits me in September and October (in other words, when days are getting shorter, not when they're short). Yet one of the easiest autumns I've had in recent years was two years ago, when we were spending all our time on Teddy's kidney failure and transplant.

I don't recommend that route, though.