Oh, Burrell, my sister and I were HORRENDOUS to each other for a long time and drove everyone around us absolutely batshit crazy. We, of course, were oblivious to our impact on them. I am feeling empathy for you... and retro-guilty. I would so very much have wanted to squash us like a bug back then if I'd had to listen to it.

How could someone I love be so annoying?!?

They can be very irksome.

"Irksome" is one of the constant states of parenthood that you aren't warned about.

I thought they might be hungry so I fed them. It improved the behavior in the older one but the younger is still being a PITfuckingA.

I banished him from my presence, which helps. Now I just have to listen to him pester his sister instead of having to deal with it directly.

I am not working, and I can always be tempted with Felipe's!

I am in Connecticut and I am tempted with Felipe's!

Holy crap, I just did a whirling dervish of cleaning I'd meant to do all weekend. Feeling better about life, as I usually do when my surroundings are clean(ish.)

Now I fall down, go boom.

Thoughts for you and your family, Erin.

So I'm in (worthwhile) kitteh hell. We adopted another cat, name of Merlin. His owner died and he was about to get put down (he's an older cat - about 11). We couldn't have that. We thought Milo might get a bit alpha cat with him, but we thought it would probably be OK. Well, he was very distressed by the car ride, which meant he wasn't in a great frame of mind upon arriving (caused a ruckus and was already covered in pee, so not the best introduction of new cat to the old cats). Then Py was consistently horrible to him (we've separated them now). Milo's actually been OK. In short, they're all upset, but especially Merlin who is now behind the sofa and hasn't eaten or drunk all day. We're hoping he'll come out at night, if he gets the free run of downstairs (we can keep the other two in our room). I really wish we could let him out, as that's where he usually spends most of his time, but until he seems very clear that this is his home, it's a bad idea. I was just wondering if anyone here had any other advice, given the wealth of pet knowledge there is here!

Seska - I gotta run to work now... if nothing better gets said before I get back, I will have some suggestions. But for now - yeah, keep him in and having him off by himself for a bit can help.

Happy Birthday to Sean!!!

Burrell, I was such a PITA to my folks as a kid, I am STILL apologizing. Dad told me at a few points (not as a LITTLE kid), "I will always love you...but I don't LIKE you very much right now."

OMGWTFBBQ EYE SOCKET NO! smonster, holy carp, ugh!

Woo, I slept for 12 hours: I needed it. Gotta run some errands as soon as I get coffeefied.

ita !, I was backing up, and fell backwards, twisted to the side, so I would avoid the glass-topped table. I also have quite a magnificent bruise on my left butt cheek.

ita !, I was backing up, and fell backwards, twisted to the side, so I would avoid the glass-topped table

In that scenario the fallbreak is pretty counter intuitive, I find. I absolutely hated the side fallbreak, although none are fun.

As you're kinda going limp sideways, you slap the ground with your arm outstretched alongside your body. It's kind of hard for me to properly describe..

I do have to say the times I've had a huge surprise ass over teakettle fall (including during krav class) the reflex totally failed to kick in.

Happy birthday Sean!

WindSparrow, thanks. We may now have a deadline on this, as the guy who was looking after Merlin (the son of the owner who died) wants him outside as soon as possible - since that's where he's happiest - and is coming over on Thursday. Bit worried he'll take Merlin away with him if he doesn't seem to be adjusting by then. Gah.