Thanks, Pix. Both of mine are indoor-only, so maybe we can skip a vaccine or two.

He hasn't been able to get vaccination boosters

For what it is or isn't worth, many vets believe that vaccinations are stronger than they need to be. Which means that Byron may have been protected for some time after he stopped receiving boosters.

(We went through some of this after Teddy's kidney failure and transplant. We asked whether we should give him vaccines when his immune system was suppressed. We were told not to vaccinate, and there was probably plenty of vaccine still in his system.)

I hope Byron is okay. New puppies can be stressful to old soldiers like him.

DJ, I am so sorry. That is just horrific. I had that happen once and it was really awful.

It turns out that our stay in Siena managed to coincide somewhat with their Palio celebration -- a yearly city-wide festival that culminates on 2 July with a crazy, barebacked horse race around the main campo. This race is a competition between neighborhoods of Siena, and in the week leading up to it (NOW!) they have trial runs and tests to reduce a field of 400 horses down to 10. We won't be here on the 2nd - my dad will be with my step-mom in London, and I will be on my way back to Los Angeles. But we've managed to catch some of the trials.

What I should be getting from this story is ZOMG adorable Italian pretty lady story but, since it's after the fact and Sean is already home while I catch up, what I am really thinking is ZOMG you saw part of the Palio (amazing horsie races that look crazy dangerous but intrigue me mightily)!

As one does.

On my Atlanta to LA leg, I was told I was being aggressive and threatened with arrest by TSA agents at the gate for asking for a pillow last night (short version).

When I flew home last week from San Diego, I had to complain about a TSA employee. I had my laptop out of the bag for the scanner but my Kindle and another tech thing were still in.

Now the Kindle has never come out of my bag for separate scanning but new tech was new and I didn't think about whether it might need to come out until the guy says they need to rescan. Sure, no problem. Scan it three times, search it in front of me, whatever. I got no complaints.

Except he goes to take stuff out and insists that the Kindle is a device that it's not and then WALKS AWAY with my bag and digs more things out. While I was asking him to just pull the stuff out in my line of sight and run it through. There was a lot of high dollar stuff in that bag, I want to keep an eye on it. Nope, walked off with me Very Politely asking him to only take things out of my bag where I could see. Not touch, see.

Once I'd collected my things, I walked to the next guy and asked if I could ask a question. Oh, yes, they are NOT supposed to do that. At all. So I made a complaint.

I don't like complaining. That one felt good. Dude could have pocketed anything. Or another passenger could have. I don't even walk through the detector until my laptop stuff has started through.

Then I had a bloody mary waiting for my plane.

Thanks, everyone. I decided taking a nap was my best option, and now I feel fine. Onlu I could start having an anxiety attack after taking anxiety meds.

hello all! I've just had a four-day weekend and got caught up on my sleep, which was lovely. I had my hair done, which leads to a question - the colorist is having serious problems with consistency. I never know what shade my hair's going to be - this month it's good as to dark/light, but brighter than I'm really comfortable with. Last time, it was really dark, the time before was good, the time before I ended up with Bozo the Clown hair (light and really, really bright). It seems that if I want the person who cuts my hair, I have to take this colorist. I'm thinking of going back to my old salon - which I don't actually like as much, and I wouldn't get the cuts I really like - but I wouldn't have to worry about what color my hair's going to be. argh

and, in regard to air travel, this turned up ... and, actually we may reach that point

In case you've been drinking vodka and thinking, "If only it were a bit fishier." [link]

{{Kate, Mark and family}}. How devastating for the family. All my sympathy to you and yours.

{{Max}} Fuck cancer, Fred Pete. Hope the vet has good news for you.

{{Byron}} Eat, bubba, you're worrying your human.

::hugs Buffistas tight::

The universe can stop with this scary shit anytime it feels like.

Todd, why can't you have your hair cut at one place and colored at another? I do different services at different salons. When you book your appointment, just book the cut. Of course, you can always go to the colorist and express your concern. Anyone worth their salt would offer to redo it. If there's a problem, just do cuts in the future and be honest that the reason that you don't want to do your color is a lack of consistency.

Also, I have a good colorist, but he's not cheap.

My condolences, DJ.

And Fred, so sorry.

DJ, I am so sorry.

Fred, my sympathies.

{{Kate}}

Okay, the universe needs to start treating my people better.