No one in my family has hit a deer with a car, but I've had to brake many times for them.

I contend that the deer hit me. I saw the deer and slowed way down. Just as I passed it, it threw itself on my hood. I don't know if it thought it could jump over the car or just entirely misjudged the whole shiny moving monster thing. You know those inspiring USAA insurance ads that say things like, "Mine was earned at Guadalcanal"? They don't mention they will cancel that warm, fuzzy policy if a deer runs into your car. Also, my ex totaled a police car on a deer. Deer apparently have not been educated on the role of lights and sirens.

Having lived in deer country for years, I think of them as rats with long legs. They, like the nutria, are man-made natural disasters.

It wasn't easy to read, but I'm glad I did. Also, the cat nation idea was pretty great.

I loved the Oatmeal piece. I'm trying to decide whether to send it to a friend who has loved several damaged cats. The problem is that one of them died in November. I kind of think it will make her feel better, but I certainly don't want her to feel worse.

Edited for homonym fail

I contend that the deer hit me.

That actually happens a lot in Upstate NY. You stop, and the deer runs into the side of your car.

That actually happens a lot in Upstate NY. You stop, and the deer runs into the side of your car.

Deer are known for pulling insurance scams.

Our receptionist is a white guy in his 60s. We all treasure him, as do the customers. Best hire ever. He is the only reason we didn't go to an all virtual office, because he wouldn't work that way. So we rented our current space.

So I am considering a bit of a vacation to Jamaica. Flights out of Fort Lauderdale are surprisingly reasonable, like $196 RT. Friend that was our best man lives there most of the time now and has room at his house so it would be super reasonable. The only debate is whether to take the boys with us.

That actually happens a lot in Upstate NY. You stop, and the deer runs into the side of your car.

Yep. I think my sister has had 4 hit her over the years. Although usually it was just the inability to stop short on snow/ice.

school shooting in CA? people have any info on this?

I heard an adult and a student were injured. The student's injuries are not life-threatening.

Oh, remembered that the local paper posted a deer in the road picture a few days ago. [link]

Local as in where I live in the summer!

Chicago Tribune says:

Gunfire erupted on Thursday at a California high school in inland Kern County in a shooting in which two people were injured, county officials said.

The shooting occurred in a science building at the high school in Taft, sheriff's officials said. Parents lined the block at nearby Roosevelt Elementary School, waiting to take their children home.

Thanks. someone at work just said "another school shooting. in CA" and I was in the middle of a task.

Thanks all.