but when I didn't even know about her but they were "best buds,"

And the best buds thing- people (like this Katie) sometimes look for drama to enrich their lives. And having an acquaintance who tragically passed away is an easy in for their own self-mythologizing. I bet you a nickel that's all her and her issues.

My opinion? They weren't. I know there are probably lots of things you didn't know about Rob, but this isn't one of them. She sounds like the kind of person who enthusiastically decides that some person is her BFF 4EVah!!1!, when the other person is like, "Eh? Uh, yeah, I know her."

It's all from her POV, and, despite not knowing her or Rob, I would bet good money it's all a one-sided "best buds" dealie. Someone like that is best ignored, but it's got to be hard when you see it on Facebook. I wouldn't be able to ignore it, because things like that drive me insane.

But since I'm at a remove from it, my opinion is that it was all one-sided, and it's really easy for people to mythologize their "best bud" -- and the nature of their friendship, such as it is -- when they've died.

If I go too fast, I know I will relapse;

Smart woman. Feel better, Strix.

It won't have fully kicked in yet but I got my flu shot on Monday. I wish I'd done it months ago.

I have been stirring a spoon of almond butter into my oatmeal. Makes it all flavory and feels dense. Like I'm eating an actual breakfast and not just shoving oatmeal in that open spot of of my face.

Expecting plumber. Who called about twenty-five minutes ago to say he was running a little late due to all of the local hard freezes and associated 20-hour days of plumbing jobs. Whatever. I am not awake yet.

Egads, Strix, you don't do anything by halves, do you? As a note, I got my flu shot this year and I've still come down with an ick. Probably not as bad as it could be, but they can't formulate the flu vaccine to cover every single variety out there. It seems like half our division is out with a mild form right now that seems to be a sniffly, sneezy, muscle-achey version. I know I feel like a limp noddle and even going in for four hours last night ran me out of spoons and my voice. I'm home on the couch, again, monitoring my e-mail in case a fire only I can put out comes along.

I have been stirring a spoon of almond butter into my oatmeal. Makes it all flavory and feels dense.

Ooh, that sounds awesome!

It won't have fully kicked in yet but I got my flu shot on Monday. I wish I'd done it months ago.

I know -- I got mine Friday, and I keep muttering "2 weeks! 2 weeks!" And I nagged Tim enough that he got one yesterday.

Now I have to see if my diabetic heart disease-having father got one (as of last week, he had not, despite the fact that he works as a bagger at Kroger, a job that assails him with germs [I'm actually surprised he hasn't gotten sick yet]). And he told me that they were giving employees flu shots for free, and yet he didn't get one. (He claims they ran out.)

My mom, queen of paranoia, got one back in November. She has not gotten the flu.

As for her weird liver thing, she wanted to get the CT scan yesterday, but the doctor's office* didn't fax the order to the hospital, and the doctor wasn't in yesterday, so apparently no one had the authority to fax it. (That doesn't sound right, but I am only relaying what she told me.) She's hoping she can get the scan today.

*(She and I have the same primary care doctor -- Awesome Doctor, of the Worst Staff EVER. Like the moron who tried to call in a refill for a blood pressure drug I've NEVER TAKEN [atenolol] when I needed a refill of albuterol, for asthma. Like she heard the first and last letters of the drug and guessed, or something. So the fact that Mom's CT scan order didn't get faxed does not surprise me one bit. And she ripped them a new one about it, too. That is one woman you do NOT want mad at you.)

I asked about flu shots when I was at my pharmacist this week, but they didn't have any left and I have not been busting my ass to get another one. I don't like the look of the transdermal thing that smonster got at a different pharmacy! Her injection site was all red and swollen and hot to the touch. If I haven't gotten one by the time I go to my doctors in a couple weeks, I will get one then.

Maria, what everyone else said above. We would never think less of you here, especially for being true to yourself in your grief. We're honored that this is the place where you feel comfortable doing so. Much love to you.

Strix! Goodness gracious, woman! Glad you made it through! Mostly. You're almost there. I think you've definitely filled your illness quota for 2013. So good on ya for getting that out of the way.

Much ma ~ma, Daniel.

And ~ma to bonny and sj and all around, I'm sure I've missed something. I've been sick myself, with a mild version of the flu (I had my shot back in Nov.) or a monster cold, complete with coughing for a week and general exhaustion. Go flu shots, choose flu shots!

My clinic ran out of injectables, but they do have Flumist. I have an appointment for mine today. I suspect I may be getting paid back for laughing at my cats when they got their FIV vaccines (I think that is the one, dropped into their noses).

I have been stirring a spoon of almond butter into my oatmeal. Makes it all flavory and feels dense.

I do the same thing, but with peanut butter. It almost tastes like a peanut butter cookie in a bowl then.

It's good to see your pixels, Strix! I hope you feel better soon.

Huh. All I had to do was post about my mom's CT scan, and she e-mailed me to tell me it's scheduled for 2:00 today.

I wonder what else I can will into being.

There is no chocolate on my desk. None! Travesty!

t waiting for chocolate...