I second le nubian's post.

I mean, c'mon. Does the world need semi-aquatic rodents?

I just finished a weekly call with one of my project managers who has also been a mentor. I have worked with this gal for years, like over 16 years. Her son and my son were in Children's Hospital at the same time (CJ for his spinal surgery and her son for a high fever). We typically start off our calls with a quick kid update.

Today I mentioned that KCDW had been a huge help with the house clean up stuff. She sent me an IM (she shares an office) that not only did she not realize that I had divorced KCD, but that she is also divorced. Looks like we both did it around the same time. Trippy.

I'm done with my 8 hours of work for today. I should put in some OT but I kinda want a nap first. But I feel like I should start tackling my room instead of napping. But I feel like crap.

We've had mice in my building. A good deal less upsetting than rats, but still ....

And I've had my bug scare - thought it was bed bugs, so I consulted msbelle through email. I'm now wondering if it's something else. We'll see.

And my building has a big laundry room ... and there's one family that floods the laundry time every. time. They'll start up anywhere from three to seven washers at once, overload them, and when someone tries to tell them how they can avoid flooding the room, just sort of stare blankly. sigh ... luckily, it's a concrete floor with a drain in the middle, but still ....

Does the world need semi-aquatic rodents?

It does, but only if they're capybaras.

The way I would tell if a bug was a bed bug or not was to squish the bug and smell the results. Smooshed bed bugs stink, but other bugs I tried didn't.

eta: Also, bed bugs are hard to smoosh. You need to use a fingernail or some tool.

eta²: Unless the bed bug is engorged with blood.

Crap, now I'm getting bed bug flashbacks.

dammit. I thought nutria was something you eat, like a powdered sugar equivalent

It's that too. I cannot believe they went with that branding.

Nutria is used as fake mink, like how a lot of so-called red snapper is actually grouper.

Huh. Google informs me that now instead of a scam it's being actively promoted as sustainable/socially conscious fur. [link]

It also informs me that this [link] is a thing that exists in the world.

Don't you fuck with my snapper.

So that was exciting! I actually ate lunch at a place that wasn't my desk and not even on the office campus.

Blistering headache, and when the bill came, I couldn't actually focus well enough read it. So I just wrote in $18, signed it, and left. I hope I overtipped. I think I overtipped.

I would really love the work day to be done soon. Shame I have at least one more meeting.

That thing is scary. It will, however, cut down on unwelcome groping. Also welcome groping.

My grandmother had one of those stoles that was an animal biting its tail (hook and eye in head and tail, fyi). It was a stone martin, but we always called it the "stoned martin" due to the glasy eyes.

Ideally they should be cats trained by their mothers in the art of hunting. Which is why actual barn cats are generally better.

My friend's cat, who is a few years old but does not look full grown, killed a rat in their house. They were both immensely grossed out and proud. Then they had to figure out how to get rat blood out of their carpets.

I had the flu shot in November. Work always does a clinic for employees. However the cold I had around Christmas was v. flu-like, lots of aches and exhaustion.

This is amazing: [link]

Terrific, even.