Ok. I'm going to be small and petty for a minute.

The receptionist is passing around a sympathy card for our co-workers cat. That's all well and good but in the two years I have been here, I've never even gotten a freaking birthday card. Of course, she asks me to sign it after her hour and half lunch on a day she's leaving an hour early. @@

Mmm. Yes, Aims, I support you in yer feelings.

The guys at the pub my brother drinks at sent him a card when his dog died. I was surprised; they are a smartassed bunch. But he was All About that dog.

Seriously?

That is just RIDICULOUS. (Your office needs somebody in charge of the office sent cards.)

That's one of her jobs! I'll get cards to sign for the people she's the closest to, but never for our bosses and not yet for me. She is ridic.

Party Planning Commitee Fail! Ask if if orange is whorish.

The receptionist is passing around a sympathy card for our co-workers cat.

That would elicit a breach of office etiquette from me.

A dog would be one thing, but a cat?

Also, now feels really guilty about how I take care of my animals! But...they've lived a pretty long time and seem happy! and sheesh.

Aaaagggh. Not the point at all! (Though I started bleeding moments ago and must confess to being pretty sensitive right now too.)

My question was in ZERO way intended to suggest that animals should be kept with human care standards. Could we please not jump on that?

I'm gathering information about normal practices to look at the connection between bowl media and bacteria. And the impact of bacteria growth on dental health. It has been suggested to me that a lot of dogs have an intolerance to plastic and that aluminum erodes more quickly with interaction wtih saliva. It has further been suggested that the vast majority of canine illnesses begin in the mouth.

Seriously. I am just curious and in NO WAY intended to make a negative statement.

Speaking of animals ad dental health, pardon me while I fret. I'm still worrying about getting my cats' cleaned. I've never had any of my cats' teeth cleaned, and they've all lived long healthy lives with all their teeth. I also have heard scary stories about anesthesia. But every time I see their vet, he tells me their teeth need cleaning, and implies that I'm a bad kitty caretaker if I don't do it. I've looked at their teeth - Leo has some redness at the gumline, and it's hard to tell with Percy because his skin is black but he's the same age and eats the same food, so it's a fair bet that his teeth are about the same. Neither has shown any indication of having sore teeth, but certainly I don't want them to. So what do I do? I'm frankly terrified that one of them won't wake up, or will wake up and be not quite the same anymore. I know it's rare and unlikely, but rare things happen.