{{{Sean}}} I hope things are looking at least a little brighter this morning. It is really good to have you posting here. You've been missed.

Something wacky in the air? I've been feeling low-level general anxiety half of yesterday, most of today. I think the main reason it is gone now is sheer exhaustion. Tough day at work.

Windsparrow, I am blaming the tree sex. I think my allergies have increased my anxiety levels lately just by making things feel so much harder. I'm sorry you had a bad day at work. Dealing with someone with dementia is so very exhausting. I can't imagine doing it as a job.

Wishing you a better day today, Sean.

Something wacky in the air? I've been feeling low-level general anxiety half of yesterday, most of today.

Yep. Am feeling utterly rubbish the last few days. Stupidity from my university (and cat-worry) does not help.

Thanks for the fantastic cat advice, everyone. You are stars. We will try it all!

smonster, your idea about putting Merlin in a small room is a great one, but we really can't catch him right now - he's completely inaccessible behind the sofa. We could move the sofa, but it would be a big job and he'd get very scared. I'll see how much longer he stays there, but he is at least coming out to eat and use the litter tray now. It's progress. I think you're right that we just need to be firm with the ex-not-owner. It's frustrating for him that he can't see Merlin settled in before he leaves, but he hasn't given us a fair timescale for that. Which I appreciate was because it was so hard to find a home for Merlin, but that's life. We'll try to be clear that Merlin's going to be fine and offer to keep ex-not-owner up to date by e-mail with his progress. And re: Feliway, we looked it up and can buy it locally, so I'll go and get some today.

smonster Part the Deux, I totally missed what the e-mail was about as I have been crappily absent, but I hope relationship stuff works itself out for you.

WindSparrow, I agree with you about not letting him out for at least 10 days. I was planning on letting him out about a week after he seemed settled, i.e. not starting the clock until he was clearly happy, despite new people and other cats. The ex-not-quite-owner getting involved made me think I was being over-cautious, but you've all persuaded me I wasn't. The tip about feeding is a very good idea. Milo and Py have consistent feeding times, so we could feed them near the room that Merlin is in.

Erin, thanks - we knew about the idea of petting each cat in turn, but it's turned out to be a bit tricky, with Merlin being inaccessible! As soon as I can, I'll do that.

Sox, may I recommend Yo, Is This Racist?

That is fantastic.

I am determined to be a little more productive today than I have been recently. So I'm doing 10 minutes of productivity every half hour. So far I have put in a load of laundry (yay for the laundry room finally being done!) and done some exercise.

It sucks that we can't have the physicality of being there to combat the loneliness, to say, "I'll be right over." But it makes up for it in other ways, in skipping right over geographic boundaries and time zones so we can be together wherever.

It seems unlikely to me that we would have become so close if we had started out as friends without geographic boundaries. It is in part because we were blinvisible, posting with or without undies, that we are sometimes able to share our hopes, fears, and inner thoughts. I know I have shared with my friends here things not shared with my friends in meat space.

More concisely, I am so very grateful we are here for each other in this space. Also, I would totally jump on a plane and offer aid and comfort if possible. Buffista Island would be so helpful.

he's completely inaccessible behind the sofa. We could move the sofa, but it would be a big job and he'd get very scared. I'll see how much longer he stays there, but he is at least coming out to eat and use the litter tray now. It's progress

Oh, I think the fact he's coming out to eat and use the litter box is really excellent progress!

When we brought Taz home, he also would camp out behind the sofa for significant periods of time- and would come out, explore some, and then run back. Rinse, repeat. Eventually he was out and about more than behind the couch, and then the couch only became his Fort of Solitude when he was in a really weird mood, or if we needed to pill him, or something.

Sweet Merlin will get there, too, I promise. And I represent the universe by saying THANK YOU so much for taking in someone's beloved pet companion after she passed on- my heart breaks for pets whose owners have died.

Oh, I think the fact he's coming out to eat and use the litter box is really excellent progress!

I agree with Nora, that sounds like excellent progress to me.

And I represent the universe by saying THANK YOU so much for taking in someone's beloved pet companion after she passed on- my heart breaks for pets whose owners have died.

So much this.

Hope life looks brighter today, Sean.

Man, that headache (almost certainly muscle tension-induced) kept me up past 1 am. Not enough coffee in the world right now.

I represent the universe by saying THANK YOU so much for taking in someone's beloved pet companion after she passed on- my heart breaks for pets whose owners have died.

It was for exactly that reason that when we heard about Merlin and how hopeless his situation was looking, we couldn't say no. Also, he is freaking adorable. As soon as I can get near enough to take a picture, there will be far too many.

Thanks, Nora - good to know someone else's cat did this!

posting with or without undies, that we are sometimes able to share our hopes, fears, and inner thoughts. I know I have shared with my friends here things not shared with my friends in meat space.

yep. I agree with this.

ibid

Also, morning! MOAR COFFEE.