Hairpats for Seska.

And erika, I hope that project doesn't eat you from your bottom.

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Eh, it's easy...sometimes boring(gov't documents, anyone?) but important, and more important for me right now, it's a thing with a beginning, a middle, and an end...which I don't often have since I've been doing the ink-stained wretch thing.Some of these documents look like hot buttered ass, though, cause they've been copied into so many different formats...somebody's gonna have to be a real wizard to make that website look good(not me...I'm thrilled when all my copying and pasting works!) Seska, it should all be online sometimes this summer...will definitely link. It's weird...I appear to be the whole Arizona team. Which, partially, I don't want, but brings out all my Virgo conviction that that is one way to be sure it's done properly. But, yes, I absolutely wish more of the stories felt like stuff from The bad Old Days, but mostly, those are public accomodation stories(and I almost wrote "pubic accomodations" which we all know can't be legislated.(smirk) It kind of reminds me of my short volunteering stint with ACLU, reading letters from prisoners. Because some of them tell every sad thing that happened to them in their whole life(and, like the prisoners, there are a LOT,) and they don't know what to say, and think they need special writin' words, but what they really want is someone to *listen*, god damn it, and resist all impulses to fix their mistakes. Although I'm a Buffista, so I bet I get a rash.

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It's specifically the toxoplamosis microbe. It's contagious in cat poo during a certain stage of its lifecycle as a parasite in the cat. As the cat is the optimal host for this parasite, it may not complete the cycle in other species such as homo sapiens. They certainly don't get all het up about pregnant women who already have a diaper-wearing kid cleaning up the dirty ones, but whooo boy do people hear about giving up their cats (or at least not cleaning the litter boxes).

Toxoplasmosis causes birth defects in developing fetuses. Diaper wearing kids are not going to be carriers--cats can be. Your vet can run a test for Toxoplasmosis. If the cat's not carrying it, a pregnant woman could very well keep changing the litter. But she should certainly wear gloves when gardening just in case stray cats are doing their business in the dirt.

Full grown humans can defend against the parasite--developing ones, not so much. DH had a cousin who was born blind, with CP and was mentally retarded as the result of exposure to TP. He died when he was 11.

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IIRC from what I've read, if the cat is strictly an indoor cat and does NOT and has NOT ever been outside to hunt and/or eat birds (where the cats get the microbe, I think), then the litter is ok to change if the pregnant woman has to. A chance I was willing to take with my indoor cats while I was pregnant? No. But if it had come to it and I needed to do it once or twice, then I more than likely would have been alright.

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{{{ Bonny }}} comfort~ma for you.

Honeys, I'm home.

:: Tackle Hugs the Shir! ::

Are you claiming that you're not fuzzy?

Well, I shaved this morning, so what fuzz does grow, got sliced off the face.

Um, so I skimmed past a few things there (the cat stuff mostly) to say I just got a call from CA. It seems I am THE finalist. They are prepared to call my references and move towards an offer. And then I derailed the thing by talking to the HR gal about the concerns that I have, based on my day o interviews and tours. She was happy that I was comfy to address them, and bring them up. She also commented how astute my observation and assessment of the department was. And it sounds like due to the economy, the payscale isn't great, and then what ever it is, there is a 5% paycut right away. So?? Kinda mixed emotions.

Buuut, I got to get back to work here. Blargh.

Oh ya, and last week, at current job, one person announced they are leaving (which is good, because she is not a good worker) and another was announced that she has left (which is also good, for she was even worse worker). So things are on pins and needles here. Gotta love the growth times in an organization. Weeeeee.

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Never mind the whole other organizational stuff - omnis, that's wonderful! Congrats!

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Yay, omnis!

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Shir!!!

Congratulations, omnis!

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Oh all-knowing hivemind, I come seeking assistance on a friend's behalf.

Friend foolishly and generously co-signed on a car lease with his now ex-gf. She also moved in while they were dating and is still living there and paying a pittance for rent. He gave her 30 days notice and now she's making life hell, has not looked for a place yet, and he's afraid she's going to take the car and leave him on the hook for payments.

Friend lives in Wake County, NC, and can't afford a lawyer.

Any words of wisdom? Online resources?

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smonster, most law schools have legal clinics. Basically, third-year law students represent clients that can't afford to pay lawyers on their own. The two elite law schools (UNC and Duke) in your area should both have clinics. (I know UNC did when I went there, but that was quite a few years ago.)

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