At least one large, invasive needle, anyway.

He called teh cancer center. They didn't recognize his name, but the recognized the type of cancer. It is apparently that rare. So tests on Monday, results up to the center on Wednesday, he goes up for a consult on Thursday. Treatment probably starts the week after. He's been fast-tracked. His coping abilities are cracking. I'm sure not for the first time. Weirdly, I'm the one feeling optimistic. It's going to be bad, but we've seen bad before. For a change, it's a bad with an end date (at least for the chemo). And if it works, he'll probably feel better.

And if my supervisors give me grief on taking time off, I will be going over to HR.

Wow, Shir. That's very sweet and nice of her not to wait. Are you going to splurge a bit or save it all?

Connie, I'm glad he's getting fast-tracked. I hope he can lean on you a bit until he regains his composure.

sj, the cookies are delish! I just got them today and have been nomming. Thanks for the other wee gifties, too.

I think there was more but I dunno. Oh! Suzi, backflung.

bonny, I'm glad your landlord's indifference extends to the positive as well as neglect?

I feel like I've been on the go non-stop since I woke up at 5 am. I've updated my budget, deposited checks, paid three bills, scooped litter pans, taken out the trash, changed the air filter, sent a couple of work emails and talked to my boss, sorted work receipts, gone to the post office, grocery store, and used book store (sadly not buying since they are closing), walked Frankie and taken him to the dog park, fixed dinner for myself and RI, and oh yeah - am in the middle of washing all my bedding AGAIN because my roommate's dog peed on my bed AGAIN. He did it the day I left town for vacation and I had just put it all back together this morning.

He's also chewed the crotches out of three pairs of underwear, destroyed a book I got for Hanukkah (roomie has already ordered replacement), and gnawed on the corner of the coffee table. He's 80 lbs of naughty in a 10 lb bag, and I've kind of run out of patience. She's trying to train him, but... he's an 11 month old rat terrier mix. So it's going to take a while for him to mellow. I can't shut my door because the cats need litter pan access. He steals the underwear right out of my hamper, so I'm going to have to bungee the top or something.

Anyway. Need to vent.

{{Connie and Hubby}}. My continued ~ma to you. You're in my thoughts.

smonster, it seems to me that you're very patient with that pup. I hope he'll be trained ASAP.

Sean and Ginger, how are you doing?

I need to amend certain impression. It is a generous gift, and however. It comes with a baggage. I think I mentioned it before, that many members of my extended family are a bunch of twisted and not really loving people (for example, they pick a "favorite child" which they treat better and spoil more then his/her brothers and sisters). She was kind, in her way, to give me this, but the subtext was strong with the "you're not married. It's a problem and I kindda gave up on the idea". So her gift, kind in some aspects, also comes with a bit of disrespect to my life, given her expectations.

Anyhow, 1/3 of it will go to two savings accounts, 1/3 to cover tuition installments and therapist bills, and the rest to balance my bank account. After I'll balance it, I think there should be enough left for few donations for some charities and perhaps a new dress.

Connie, continued ~ma. Hope all goes better than planned.

Shir, congrats on the windfall, no matter how strange it is. I think it's great how you divvied it up. Long term savings, self investment, and current funds/charity. Just ignore the baggage crap. And there is nothing wrong with being single... (says the guy who has been single too long).

IOmeN, today I started large, onerous task of filing.

Over the past several years, I've had a bad habit of filing like this... Step 1) Stack things that need to be filled in a pile. Step 2) when company is coming over, and need to clean, put stack in file in file cabinet.

Other times, it was slightly more organized, by partially sorting, creating new folders, and shove them into the cabinet. Such that there were a half dozen folders for the same thing.

Today I started to tackle the filing cabinet, and get it so like is with like. I've gone through 2.5 drawers. My bed is covered with over 30 file folders, of stuff sorted (but not sorting each of the files into a timeline... one step at a time). It got to dinner time, and I hit the mega files of a year+ worth of stuff to be sorted, and decided it was a perfect time to take a break. Sadly, I didn't resume after dinner. And now it's 1:30am, and my bed is still covered. I think I'll be on the couch tonight. It will be easier than clearing the bed, and then laying it all out again tomorrow.

Do I know how to party on my vacation days, or what??

smonster, go you with the productivity!

As for the pooch. I bet you can guess what I'm gonna say. Right? It starts with a C and ends with a 'rate'.

You know I offered lifetime help for Frankie...that extends to the roomie's dog...since it effects the two of you.

You are 100% correct that a Rat Terrier puppy is going to take a minute to calm down. Many minutes, in fact.

Their whole reason for being is seeking and destroying!

Yeah, it sounds like the roommate's dog needs to be crated when she's not there to supervise. Destroying your property is really not OK, and the fact that she's not crating means that she is actually directly responsible for it.

However, since that's a solution that relies on other people doing the right thing (which is something I generally do not do) - is there any way to move the litterboxes out of your room, perhaps into your roommate's space? Or the laundry room or bathroom? That way at least you can close your door.

I'm mad at your roommate on your behalf, BTW.

Fuck Cancer! A good friend's mom passed away on New Year's Day after a long fight.

My condolences, sj. I'm sorry.

Thanks, Shir. They're not doing anything like a wake or a funeral because the Mom didn't want anything, but I was thinking of making a donation to a breast cancer charity. Does anyone have a suggestion of the best ones to donate to?