That's the hard bit. I know it isn't on me, but the impulse to help is strong.

For instance, the dog from last week that nearly bit the walker's face? Today, I spent an hour trying to find a veterinary behaviorist for them, event though they aren't clients any more. I just feel terrible when it seems there is no help, or when others easily give up.

I've been accused of being too helpful. I really don't want to bug people. I just don't feel good leaving people/things in need.

My older brother was in town this weekend. We went out to dinner last night, along with our respective firstborns and our youngest brother. (They chose a restaurant directly across the street from my office, which was unexpected.) He's landed a full-time job, which is nice. Good that Ryan has the chance to spend time with some of his extended family too. (It meant that he was up an hour after his bedtime, though.)

Alas, our poor little boy has been feeling sick. Bad cough again, as usual. He's had swollen tonsils as long as I can remember now, but the doctors all seem to think the surgery is worse than the frequent respiratory infections. A couple of nights ago he managed to cough up a truly prodigious quantity of phlegm all over his shirt. Seriously, he looked like he was fresh off the set of Ghostbusters. I hope he's feeling better today.

I also think it's reasonable to expect a civil environment in a voting context. Politics are fraught enough as it is, and people are tense. I think it's reasonable to not expect to feel yelled at when I'm trying to exercise my duties.

I'm with you Liese.

I can say that a number of people went out of their way to thank me/us for doing our civic duty. They were no, sadly, in the majority.

It's a thing of glory that we do not live in a country where one has to camp out for a week and/or risk life and limb to exercise this particular privilege. Few people in my sphere of influence seem to realize this.

I'm off to exercise another thing of glory...soaking in my tub.

Cheers for the good thoughts all, and for being part of a place where I can seek thoughtful support/reality about things like this!

Posting on my phone was a fail. I apparently clicked unsubscribe instead of post.

Run around all over day. Went to the nursery to pick up 92 plants to finish the landscaping for the house. One of the very last things to do before putting up the sign. Yay!

Then off to the doctor with Bobby. Both ears infected. Bad. Got drugs and put him to bed. It came on super quick. He only complained of having a cold yesterday and then after he showered this morning one ear bothered him. By noon both were super bad. I went off some on the front desk person and manager. I asked that the charge be reversed on the card I gave her and moved to the HSA card. They acted like I was ruining their lives or kicking their dog or something. And there was not a single person in the waiting room so it wasn't like they were busy. Sorry to inconvenience you and take you away from your Facebook or whatever ladies. Grumble.

The change in personality thing where I have little patience or tolerance still comes as a big surprise to me when it happens. Well, hopefully they will learn that patients are customers and not always in the best mood.

Then I stopped by my eye doctor who totally gets how to make you feel like you are being cared for. He gave me a set of contacts about a month ago to try out and see how they worked for me. When I stopped today I explained that I was good near for reading books or close things and far was good, but not my computer monitors. I have a rack of 4 monitors and they are maybe 3-4 feet away from where I am sitting and I find myself either leaning forward or having to blow up the screen resolution. He totally understood what I was talking about and gave me another set to try out and let him know. Thank you!

I was unreasonably saddened this morning to hear of Mickey Rooney passing:

[link]

Tangentially - the first time in years I heard something on the radio before here.

Ugg. It's Monday. Students are in whine mode. If I had a dollar for every time they said "that's not fair" in the meeting, I could buy a new car! OK, I exaggerate slightly. Dude. You picked a state school, who is paying you to go to it. We don't have endless budgets. Occasionally, we actually make you justify wanting a piece of gear in your show. And saying "we are being punished" is only pissing off faculty AND staff, and now, nobody wants to help you. This is life. Sometimes, people say NO to you. DEAL WITH IT! Adapt and overcome.

t /vent

So, to make up for the negativism that I received, rather than passing it along, and having the cloud of doom spread through the school, I started a path of sunshine. I saw one of the actors, who had the lead in the big show last quarter. And told him how amazing he was, and how his emotion really poured out of the character. And how strong a performance it was. Which totally made his day. He gave me a hug, thanking me. It was all true. No lies. He played a political prisoner, in chains, and on trial. The whole show he was locked up, and on a platform, while scenes of his life played around him. Even when he wasn't the focus of the scene, he was workin' it. The pride of a justified cause. The despair of detention. It was captivating.

Fuck clouds, give me sunshine, baby!

And saying "we are being punished" is only pissing off faculty AND staff, and now, nobody wants to help you. This is life. Sometimes, people say NO to you. DEAL WITH IT! Adapt and overcome.

I am trying to teach my kids this lesson. When they want my help but are rude to me, I stop helping immediately and tell them to come back later and ask for help when they can do so politely. But le sigh, it is a hard lesson to learn.

At a different dealership. They got a nice 2008. Blue. It's got a panel in the dash that's not seating, and a chipped windshield. I'm showing him Edmunds website for my price. We are $3,000 apart. Something tells me, this won't be the one. I'm ok with that. But, it would have been nice to drive off with it. The only option it doesn't have, that I'd like, is USB jack (which this year doesn't seem to offer), and EV mode, again, this year didn't offer. But $3,000 is a big difference.

eta: The carfax says it's clean, no accidents. So, I doubt it was that. I suspect the previous owner installed an aftermarket thing, and removed it for sale, and busted the clip. I'm not seeing any other evidence of damage/accident. But. I'm no mechanic. And I didn't put it on the lift. It drives nice. :: shrug::

Now, just waiting for the sales dude to see if they can deal. I'm happy to use cosmetic flaws to save $3,000.

The biggest negotiating thing you have going for you with a car dealership is the willingness to walk away from the deal. Especially since you are looking for a Prius in Southern California, there are tons of them around so you just wait until the right deal hits.