K is a phenomenal worker who is nonetheless somewhat abrasive and simply cannot stop railroading people or pissing them off.

This sounds a LOT like annoying co-worker. She does good work, but omg with the drama she creates, and lies - stupid lies to give her desires authority.

So your cousin is on the court facing the Williams Sisters right now?

Yeah, I'm going to have to be super careful in what I say or don't say about anything work related. She is a good friend, in addition to our work relationship, so I'm wearing two not very compatible hats right now.

Ridiculously cute Sand Cat Kittens.

So I guess I can feel good that I did manage to carve her out an additional year and change, since her b-day was two weeks ago. Yay me?

You did all you could, Brenda. I don't envy you this evening. But you really did all you could. I hope tonight isn't too hard on you.

wow brenda.

I don't envy you in this situation.

but omg with the drama she creates,

This.

and lies - stupid lies to give her desires authority.

But so much not this, which is what makes it so hard. She is super incredibly diligent and meticulous about her work. And has a very hard time seeing that the K-way of doing things is not necessarily the only way. So she's constantly getting into scraps with people or trying to take over and do things the "right" way.

What especially kills is that she recently broke up a with a toxic boyfriend and has been so much happier recently. Being miserable before was making this all so much worse, but the core issue is, apparently, still there.

"sand cat" - isn't that a derogatory name for a leopard?

Uh, no.

These are much, much, much smaller than leopards. And are absurdly cute.

Almost like a Japanese cartoon.

We'll have a good time, I'll try to steer the convo away from work, and at some point as things develop see if there's any way I can prevent it from being a total blindside. Best I can do, I think.