Ugh, Brenda. That is a lot! Can you find someone to talk to? Not that it will really help all of the Actual Suck, but it might help in the dealing.

You can't go wrong with a black T-shirt, or turtleneck. Or jeans.

I vote no on the turtleneck for myself, but otherwise, yes. I was buying a black and brown skirt with my mother the other day (at Goodwill!) and she said it was a tricky color or something. I was like, ???? Black sweater, black tights, black shoes, done!

zuisa! I ran past your ship today! She's biiiiiiiiiiiiiiig.

Brenda, hon, I'm so sorry you've got so much crap to deal with.

I'm sure by the time I log back in buffistas will have good answers for you!

If only!

Really, there's not a lot that's fixable, I just have to muddle through, and not do myself any more damage.

Can you compartmentalize the work stuff and just take it moment by moment until y can get through it all? Not a great coping strategy, but one that might allow y to just get through.

Or, what Kat said.

But it helps to put it out there.

What I really need right now is my mom.

(Her birthday was last week. So, yeah, not helping.)

Yikes, brenda, that is a giant pile of stress. I wish I had some helpful advice to give, but the only practical suggestion I can think of is to give Darby a hug, or if she's not into hugs, take her for a long walk and see if you can clear your mind a bit. Can you put off a couple of things (like working on the refi, or maybe talking to your brother) until after the presentation tomorrow morning?

zuisa! I ran past your ship today! She's biiiiiiiiiiiiiiig.

IT IS!!

I love your city though! This is the second time I've been able to get off the ship in San Francisco and I love it!!!

Oh, brenda, too much!

I am dog park bound right now, which is kind of my sanity saver anymore.

I did drag myself out on Sunday to volunteer for an adoption event, and got to hang out with this guy, too.

Muddling through sucks. I wish it were easier.

I kind of wish I were staying overnight in the hospital with grace because then I wouldn't have to go to work tomorrow.

That is a beautiful face!

Yeah, brenda, that's a lot. But you are smart and competent and this one past project does not define you. You should not feel pressured into contributing to your dad/brother problem if it's not something you're comfortable doing. And I'm sorry about the cat. I hope it's not dying.

Re: turtlenecks, I cannot stand things on my neck. And yet? I had five, count them, five identical black turtlenecks in my closet when I went to do the flylady purge. I think they're leftover from my black jeans/turtleneck theater days? And I hung onto them because they're the closest thing I still have to appropriate office wear these days. But seriously, I don't need five. I think I kept two, plus the keyhole Orvis shirt, which I still love.