It is nice to have hard work recognized, even when it is the day to day stuff.

Darned cats were playing/wrestling on the edge of my bed and one/both of them clawed the crap out of the bottom of my foot as they went over the edge to the floor. I have alcohol swabbed, Neosporined, and bandaged. I think they are still hiding after my yelp of pain when it happened.

Barging in without catching up...

I just learned something tonight that I'm having a little trouble processing.

One of my nieces has started a blog and in the first entry she mentioned being diagnosed with PTSD and dealing with depression and anxiety. That was a big surprise but I reached out to her because I've been dealing with depression and anxiety for a long time.

I asked about the PTSD and was stunned when she said she'd been raped a few years ago!

I had no idea! I'm so shocked. this girl is sunshine personified and I can't believe a) this happened to her and I never knew and b) that her beautiful spirit is undiminished by this, at least as far as I've seen.

I'm flaberghasted and at a loss. I just told her that if she needed to talk I'm there for her, but I'm floored and horrified that this happened to her!

I'm not processing well.

Aw, that's rough quester.

Glam, you totally should move to Seattle!! But I vote for Capitol Hill. Way more awesome than Ballard. Be MY neighbor!

Our neck of Ballard has an ass-kicking public school.

Quester, that is awful.

Quester, I am glad your niece has you in her corner. While I can see how it would be shocking, I'm glad you now know and can be there for her.

And now, something from the chronicles of 'awwww.'

After an action-packed day...not bad, just work like WHOA...I decided to treat myself to one of my favorite suppers.

As Cagney and I stepped out to pick it up, we crossed the park immediately across the street from my house. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed an acquaintance sitting up against a tree in the pitch dark. I sidled up to her to see if she was okay.

She noticed us and whispered, "Cagney".

He turned into Rudolph frickin' Valentino, rushed up into her lap and began loving on her like she was his leading lady.

I was embarrassed and tried to pull him off until I noticed she had grabbed him up and buried her face in his neck. I heard her whispering, "Thank you so much, buddy. I really needed this."

Bless her heart. I would not pry into whatever was bothering her, but I'm so glad my little guy could be of help in a way I could not.

Holy shit quester. Strength to her and you.

Oh quester, that's so hard. I'm glad to hear that she has recovered with such grace and strength, but that's never easy news to hear.

Bonny, that's incredibly sweet. Good boy, Cagney!

BT, what everyone else said. Belated birthday happies, and I'm so sorry about your brother and SIL. I'm so glad you have such a joyful immediate family to take comfort in.

In meme news, our house is infested with (white-fonted for the rodent-phobic) rats. With four cats and two dogs, they never come out of the walls, but I hear them in the walls, under the house (floating foundation), and in the attic (which we don't have easy access to). I am beyond squicked. Our amazing landlady is getting a special exterminator out this Friday to assess the degree of the problem and start to fix it, but I'm fighting a serious case of the heebie jeebies. The worst was the other day when a MASSIVE RAT ran out from under the house and nearly ran across my foot on the back patio. I hear them scrambling around and even squeaking sometimes, and I'm pretty sure they are eating the duct work and OMG I CANNOT DEAL.

Shudder.

Oh Pix, I feel for you on that one!

quester,

WOW. You now, good for her for being upfront with you. Sounds like she is working her way through coping, though the process clearly hasn't been easy.

Pix, uh uh, I don't wanna.