But I did learn that my first aid training is out of date -- they no longer recommend giving ipecac to a kid who swallowed poison.

It depends on the poison, right? You shouldn't induce vomiting with caustics because they can do more damage coming back up.

Nothing We Do Is Being Done Right And We're All Just Here To Piss Him Off.

That was pretty much my dad all the time.

That's got to be hard, Seska. I'm afraid that if I had to have someone around the house, I'd be the world's grumpiest employer and would spend a lot of time channeling Dawn's "Get out get out get out."

The dog is on the list. After weeks of trotting in on cue, this morning he decided to play keep away, and my impatient neighbor, with whom I go to the Y every morning, gave up on me and went on. Now I have to decide whether, after my night with the insomnia fairy, I want to go on my own or blow it off.

I'm afraid that if I had to have someone around the house, I'd be the world's grumpiest employer and would spend a lot of time channeling Dawn's "Get out get out get out."

It does take some getting used to, especially as I am a moody sod and I reeeeeally like my own company. If the assistants can just learn be quiet some of the time, though, we get along pretty well.

Sorry to hear about the insomnia. If you make it to the Y, I hope it helps with the tired.

Seska, is there something she can be doing when you don't need her so she doesn't feel like she is waiting around for you to wany something?

Headed to Mom's beach house for the weekend! We'll have it to ourselves as part of her birthday gift to TCG.

(he mocked Kirk's punching technique)!

This is hilarious to me because Shatner was my stage fighting instructor's favorite role model when I did stage fighting workshops in high school. Sure, he'd probably get his ass kicked in the real world, but he always knew how to take to the camera after each hit.

I may skip the Y. I'm getting plenty of exercise trying to dig out my yard after the Great Deluge. Considering the number of casualties and destroyed homes, my rearranged landscape is a minor problem, but there's certainly a lot of digging and retaining wall rebuilding in my future.

Grrrr. After 9 months of using the litter box religiously, my cat chose this morning (when I was running late and after I'd cleaned for out-of-town company coming in this evening) to pee on the rug by the front door. He isn't showing signs of a UTI, and his litter box gets scooped 2-3 times a day. He's just unhappy with me for not taking him out as often as usual just when the weather's gotten glorious. And he's probably still unhappy for me skiving off to Greece for 11 days and for me getting rid of some of his favorite furniture.

Still, little dude—you couldn't have made your point Sunday, after my friend had left?

Calli, keep an eye on him. Just in case.

I will, Fred. If he continues with the non-box peeing, starts peeing more often, starts licking his genitals more, or gets lethargic it's straight to the vet for him.

(Guess who spent the first 20 minutes in the office researching cat UTI symptoms?)

I'm also hoping to leave work early today to check on him. My manager's a cat person. It's helpful.

Seska, is there something she can be doing when you don't need her so she doesn't feel like she is waiting around for you to want something?

Oh yeah - the very first part of assistants' training goes 'Bring a book. You may get bored.' She knows I need someone around but I don't actually need her every second. She's just finding that a bit tricky to get used to, I think.

Have a great weekend, sj! Beach house sounds fantastic.

Health~ma for your cat, Calli.