I am using this as ammunition the next time I tell Kato he isn't earning his keep.

It'll buy a medium bag of kibble! Watch, they'll fall in love and he'll be a star.

The faux fur wrap was a bust. Adding "make dog costume" to my weekend to-do list.

It's all Mardi Gras crowd scenes, so I probably won't be very spottable.

I have a hard time picturing you not standing out in a crowd. Any crowd.

Aw, thanks, sj.

askye, sorry to hear about Dean's heart murmur. Xusha has one, but it's a very small one apparently. And I hear you on the money stress - all three of my animals need to go to the vet, and there's just no way it's happening any time soon. Both cats need their teeth cleaned, Xusha probably needs arthritis meds, and Frankie needs a follow-up for his urinary issues. Not to mention my overdue doctor visits. Sucks to be broke.

Steph, heart ~ma for your dad.

smonster: SO COOL!

I just had a great day of getting things done and hanging with my sis, totally derailed by my niece pulling another of her Jekyll-and-Hyde meltdowns, this time at Outback. Luckily we were already done with the meal and could just leave. No one needs this. My sister has a heart condition, she definitely doesn't need this. She had an anxiety attack in the car after her daughter (having drunk a large beer) screeched out of the parking lot in a rage. Niece wasn't meant to be driving, my sister was supposed to drive because niece left her license behind at the last party, so now she's furious, half-drunk, and driving illegally, speeding in a sports car because she's mad at her mom. She's 29 years old! She made it home okay, thank goodness, and they just had an hour-long text conversation because it's the only way anyone can talk to her when she gets like that. I don't know what she needs, therapy, or to stop drinking, or to stop hanging out with the drunken hard-rock loser crowd, but she needs to change something about her life before she drives everyone away. And I'm worried about my sister going over there to spend the night, I don't want another midnight call to take her to the hospital because her heart has gone haywire from stress. I swear, if that girl weren't family, I would never speak to her again. I'm so over this.

Zen I'm so sorry your Niece is still putting your sister through this.

smonster - Penny has gingivits and needs her teeth cleaned. She has epic bad breath, that maybe the result of a virus. Oh and her baby tooth never came out so she still has 2 canine teeth. And the baby tooth (which is the same size has her adult tooth) needs to come out and if I'd had her spayed at the vet they could have done it for an extra $15. Now I'll have to have her put under to take the tooth out. But the vet said that for right now, I just need to start brushing her teeth. I can start with a soft tooth brush and work up to using toothpaste.

Luckily my vet understands I don't have a ton of money for the cats and that is really good at letting me know what is necessary or cost effective ways of handling situations.

I swear, if that girl weren't family, I would never speak to her again. I'm so over this.

Yeah, the family caveat would probably not preclude me from cutting that toxic situation off. That's just me though. Just because we're related doesn't mean I have to - or should - deal with their insane crazy asshole behavior.

Thanks, askye. Kitty ~ma for Dean and Penny.

Damn, I need to be going to bed, but I'm too wound up.

I'm sorry, Zen. I hope you can get some rest.

Being concerned is totally legit, Steph.

I know it is

I phrased that so, so poorly. And unintentionally. Really sorry.

If Tim can't grab you more beer, I vote whiskey. Knowing you are absolutely limited to one might not be soothing.

Being concerned is totally legit, Steph.

I know it is

I phrased that so, so poorly. And unintentionally. Really sorry.

Oh, no! I wasn't trying to respond in a crabby way at all. I was just saying that I do know being concerned is legitimate, and it's weird to me that I'm shocked that I'm no longer blase.

I wasn't put off by what you said at all, and wasn't trying to be cranky back at you.

I have now had the one beer, and it was enough. I have such a low tolerance from living with a non-drinker (because it's just not interesting drinking when I'm the only one doing it) that one beer is enough to bring the mellow.

And I heard from Dad a little bit ago; they're running tests but don't have any results yet, which I expected. They're keeping him overnight, which I also expected. He still sounds fine, and he's in the best possible place to be if his heart is going to get all ornery, so for now I'm going to try to chill.