What wording should I get? Caution? Anxious? Do Not Pet just seems too long. Part of me wishes I could get a mock therapy dog vest since people have kinda learned to not pet therapy dogs. But he isn't one so that would just be wrong.

I don't think "Do Not Pet" is too long. It's straightforward, which is what you want.

Do not pet. Or Don't Pet. No Pets.

He isn't a therapy dog, so don't imply that (you wouldn't) because it messes with legit service animals.

Anything that gives a warning will make people think and less likely to just grab.

I googled "do not pet vests" and they are available for non-therapy dogs. Pretty inexpensive, too.

I'm advising on a show at one of my university jobs, and I'm bored out of my skull. Someone save me!

I googled "do not pet vests" and they are available for non-therapy dogs.

Now why didn't those pull up when I looked before. That is the style I was hoping for, clearly NOT a therapy dog but a vest with a handle so we can hold him closer, if necessary, without choking him.

I'm sorry people. I am so tired. I want to love on you but there's nothing left. I split the overnight shift last night with the staff person who wanted to call in sick. The answer to people calling in sick is, "You have to find your own replacement" but of course, the fact that we are desperately short-staffed and there is no one to cover for her is not her fault. I worked as long as I legally could, and went home at 5am after 16 hours.

House down the block is having the roof replaced.

The noise at that distance is much more tolerable than when they were working on OUR roof, but still, loud enough to keep me from falling asleep again after the cats woke me up for their breakfast at almost 10am.

I've hired three people, that will help with being short-staffed. But I have to train them. That is draining. Trying to do admin stuff while multi-tasking at direct care because of the staffing situation is draining. If bosslady were not so reassuring about not worrying about the things I'm not getting done because she and grandboss have my back (or maybe they are holding a net under me) I'd have run screaming for the hills by now.

May renewing rest happen for you, WindSparrow. It is good to hear that you have support and understanding during this transition. It is still no doubt physically and mentally exhausting, but better to at least be understood and appreciated.

Sleep well, WindSparrow. You are doing a great job and this is the hardest part.

Two bits of good things on the health front - I went to dance class last night and I'm 36 hrs smoke free this go round (smoked a pack the day after the election, been smoking 2 packs a week since).

If anyone has advice for me on the job/money front, whether ideas for side hustles, ways to save money, favorite podcasts, or some career you think I'd excel in, hit me with it. I'm pretty wide open to ideas right now.

Dana, I hope your hand heals quickly. I know it's hard not to push it.

I just started a bullet journal. It's going well so far, though I'm sure I will need to tweak things.

Windy, I'm so sorry. The closest I've come to really killing someone was a 16 hour shift at the shelter when I was on-call and had to cover for someone. I'd been up for 32 hours at that point and went home at 8 am, got home to cat vom on my freshly washed bedding, and 5 minutes after I finally fell in bed, workers started jackhammering pavement 20 feet from my bedroom window.

I was screaming profanity out the window in a seriously unhinged manner. I called my little sister, bawling, and had to go crash at her apartment a half hour away.

I empathize, truly.

Smonster, quitting is so wretchedly hard. Im going to try to switch to vaping, and go from there.