Kate, I'd love to try them.

The guy in the room with me is kinda creeping me out. He didn't want to be admitted to the hospital, because then he'd have a room to himself and be alone. I'm the only one in here apart from him. Which means I get to hear him cry out repeatedly for his absent wife, complain to doctors and nurses and refuse treatment. Oh...he's cognitively impaired. He doesn't know the month or the year.

Some of these nurses and doctors are saints. He's really naggy and irritating. But they're so gentle. I'd have snapped long ago. Which is why I'm in IT, I suppose.

Also, now that I'm back from France, we should plan a visit. YAYS.

YES. Although I don't know when, since we are traveling for Thanksgiving, Christmas, my cousin's wedding in mid-November, and the AHA in January... damn inconvenient holidays! Anyway, we can work something out over email.

Also, welcome home! How's your head?

edit: ita, I'd be happy to send them to you. Can you email me your address? Profile address is good.

After four years in Wisconsin, I had my very first tick in my life.

The weather was beautiful yesterday and we had a Halloween party for the kids so we were all outside a lot. I noticed a painful spot on my abdomen and took a peak.

I freaked the fuck out. DH tried repeatedly to remove said tick--olive oil, matches and tweezers but only managed to remove the body. I had to go into urgent care to get the head cut out.

It wasn't the burns from the matches, the shot of Lidocaine, or the digging the head out that bothered me. The tick itself gave me nightmares.

I'm seriously glad it was me and not one of the kids, though.

eta, responding to ita !'s comment on saintly hospital stasff: I marvel at some humans' capacity for patience in scenarios like that. It is awe inspiring.

Thank goodness, Bartleby does not snore. At all. I'm such a light sleeper that, even with earplugs, I know when he is dreaming.

My house is pretty secure and I've never had any reason to believe a nefarious character had gotten in until one night when Bartleby started growling. At first, I thought it was a dream, though he usually woofs in his sleep. Then, it went on and on and on. I reached for the weapon by my bed and prepared to seriously prod buttock. t /Pratchett

Time distorts when you are frightened, but it felt like the growl went on for two minutes.

To this day, I can' imagine what kind of dream would inspire that behavior!

Ew, Cash. I have a deep and abiding loathing for ticks. Vile critters.

My cat snores when he's deep asleep, and it sounds like something out of a cartoon. Adorable.

Leifur snores, too. Sometimes he'll segue from purring into snoring. It's kind of like he downshifts.

As much as I prefer to avoid chemical applications, I am so grateful for the invention of Frontline. Bartleby has gotten two ticks over the years...one, no lie, as big around as a dime. Both were dead by the time I even noticed them.

Despite living out of doors for 9 months all those years ago, I've only ever found two ticks on me.

Weirdly, all four of the aforementioned creatures attacked us in Rockville. Not widely known for ticks, as far as I know, but they sure are thick there.

Switch had a tick and the vet just pinched it right off. I think it was dead already.

He also groans like an old man in his sleep or when he's settling. Has since he was a tiny kitten.

Cody makes a little noise like Perry the Platypus if I forget to cover him up at bedtime.

The other patient told the cleaning lady he needed someone to talk to. She backed away slowly. But now he's sleeping, having lied to get his meds (he kept dating he couldn't sleep, but I could hear snoring consistently).

And he keeps hushing people not speaking English.