Kanji symbols are... controversial in tattooing, from what I know. I think they are passing out of fashion, and are often roundly mocked by Japanese/Chinese speakers.

If I were ever to get a Hanzi tattoo, it would be 有仁 ('Yŏu Rén'). It means 'benevolent'. It's also Ryan's Chinese name. I'm pretty confident I haven't mistranslated it or missed any "Ich Bin Ein Berliner" wackiness (unless Wallybee's parents are in on it, and I wouldn't entirely put it past her father). It is, however, phonetically identical to "This toilet is occupied".

It looks like the feeding tube will be coming out tomorrow barring any major setbacks.

Excellent!

Yup. Nothing like an endless round of worrying about trying to sleep.

It's the worst. I spent last night / this morning doing it. And just getting close or drifting off for a few minutes at a time. A few times long enough to dream of shooting people. Which was surprisingly easy.

I wish you rest, Erin.

Erin, do you need a Google Voice invite? That way in future stuff you can use your GV phone and even if the phone line gets turned off like that, you can still see and grab the messages online. I'd be happy to send you an invite.

I hope you find a way to sleep. I'd suggest a hot bath just before planned bedtime but I'm guessing you've already tried that one.

Congrats on the successful lunch, Drew! I hope you're on target for the tube coming out tomorrow.

Oh, Erin. I wish there was something I could do.

It is, however, phonetically identical to "This toilet is occupied".

BWAH!!! Well, at least you wouldn't get peed on? By anyone other than Ryan, of course.

Drew, that's fantastic news. Fingers crossed that everything stays down properly and you're extubated by morning.

And ugh, Sox. I am totally cockpunching that prof with my brain.

And damn, Erin. I just two days ago managed to get off the no-sleep train after a good month or so of worry-induced 3-5 hours a night unless chemically assisted. I just wanted it to go away, not migrate to someone else.

Today, my officemate went off on a rant about how the TIAA-CREF retirement fund is forcing him to invest in all kinds of things that he doesn't want to invest in, because he'll only invest in precious metals, because that's the only real commodity, and the Fed is ruining our currency, and a dollar isn't worth anything anymore, the only thing worth anything now is gold.

Why are all of your officemates crazy? And if he doesn't want to invest in other things, he should open a freaking Roth IRA and have someone invest him money at his direction. TIAA_CREF is not compulsory.

BWAH!!! Well, at least you wouldn't get peed on? By anyone other than Ryan, of course.

I think I'm most intrigued that you believe this represents a change from my current circumstances.

Today, my officemate went off on a rant about how the TIAA-CREF retirement fund is forcing him to invest in all kinds of things that he doesn't want to invest in, because he'll only invest in precious metals, because that's the only real commodity, and the Fed is ruining our currency, and a dollar isn't worth anything anymore, the only thing worth anything now is gold.

Why are all of your officemates crazy?

To be fair, this officemate sounds less crazy than the former officemate.

SO FAR.

Oh, it didn't migrate to me, JZ; it's always here. Dammit.

Oh, well, I suppose I'll just watch lots of movies and read some books. Nothing to do about it.

I guess I could go get some sherry, and wash some OTC pills down with a couple of wee glasses. I don't get GOOD sleep that way, but maybe I could get some.

I don't like it, but it's a possibility.