I don't know why, but cats make me sadder than dogs when it's their time to go. Probably because I'm a cat person.

I used to do the two clock thing when I was in the Navy. One clock next to me and one across the room set 15 minutes apart. It worked for most of my career; I never got written up!

Aw, kitties, no.

I have an alarm clock that I can reach from bed, an alarm on my phone that is across the room, and a FitBit alarm, but none of this saved me today. Getting the fail in early this week. It's fine.

I'm researching apartments in between meetings. I hope to get more info on timing later today.

My alarm is the radio, and I let it run so my brain can engage gears and come awake. If it was something I turned off, I'm sure I'd just slip back asleep. But the morning DJ reminds me that the day is running, and if I'm still laying there when the news guy comes on, I know I'm in trouble.

Free lunch tomorrow, yay.

That looks sarcastic. It's a sincere yay, I have not been thorough in my menu planning this week and can use the extra meal to take up the slack. But not super enthusiastic and meriting an exclamation point, as it will be pizza (that I will only eat the toppings off of) and salad, which is perfectly fine but not, you know, exclamatory.

-t, did you see this thing about sarcasm on the internets?? [link]

Speaking of the internets, I ended up telling my mother about FCM and also DINAO last night. The only horrifying part was when I was trying to come up with an example for DINAO and I said GWB or Jeb! and my mother was like, "That one's easy! Obviously Jeb."

I'm sorry, Theo

Yelling at people to get up is bad for my personal calm, and I won't do it.

It's bad for mine too and yet I find myself doing it. It's become pretty toxic and makes me feel sick for many hours afterwards. I should follow your lead and let folks get to school and work late. Or go in pjs or whatever.

I am having massive angst because I have a possible opportunity to help edit a book that, in theory, would be right within my wheelhouse -- science writing aimed to appeal to a general audience -- but I have zip zilch and squat in terms of writing samples to give him. Ugh. Seriously how have I thrown my career in the toilet like this? And what the hell have I been doing with my life? Double ugh!

The only horrifying part was when I was trying to come up with an example for DINAO and I said GWB or Jeb! and my mother was like, "That one's easy! Obviously Jeb."

That is hilarious. In her defense, you did take Death off the table.

Don't beat yourself up, Burrell. That does sound like a cool opportunity!

I have marked that sarcasm story to read later. So interesting! Already I am all "dudes in the 1500s already needed sarcasm punctuation? Damn."

That does sound like a cool opportunity!

Agreed, but probably one I will miss out on -- and rightly so -- because I have nothing to demonstrate that I can do it. And that's all on me.