I am so in need of a job with sick days and PTO. I'm trying hard to ignore the fact that I have to go to work in the morning, because this is already a short week with the holiday and I can't afford not to.

Paul's asleep in Lilly's bed, and this is actually worse than when they send you home with a newborn I think.

I'm glad y'all are home, PMM. Wish you could stay there to recover a bit.

Plei, sorry you have to go to work during an already stressful time. Wish I could help from afar.

I woke up with my brain spinning. I'm working on an R&D project for my school in creating a file of data for student use and teacher use around goal setting. It's exhausting me.

Hugs, love, and wishes for strength, Plei. My parents went through this when I was growth spurting. It was way harder on them than me; that's a huge understatement. A couple thousand miles away so useless for local support, but if there is any thing I can do, be an ear, manage an onerous task, don't hesitate.

I think I need to try to adopt this philosophy [link]

Ugh, Plei. Sorry you have to be at work today. All sorts of ~ma headed your way.

I'm glad Tickybox and family are home and recovering.

New puppy continues to be adorable. He is kinda shy, but doesn't avoid other dogs or other people. He just doesn't always approach first. We hit up the dog park yesterday and he seemed to enjoy being off leash.

Not really sure about how he lived his first 6 months. We know he was in a kill shelter before being rescued by the group we adopted him from. He doesn't seem to know how to gambol about or how to play, but is having fun learning.

We are trying to keep him off the couch, which he does pretty well with. Unless he gets too excited about getting scritched and loves, then he tries to get as close as possible.

That is terrible you can't take today off, PMM. I'm sorry.

I think I need to try to adopt this philosophy

That is a good one.

Plei, I hope you get through the day OK.

Sending lots of love and support from down here, Plei. Wish I were closer by so I could give you more material support. Having to go to work when your life has just been tipped off its axis is hard, although for me going to work sometimes becomes a way to refocus for a bit.

We are having a minor stress here in that the kitten, Luna, had a loose, possibly bloody stool this morning, which seems very alarming to me. But the only symptom so far is the weird stool, so she's not critical YET, but don't want her to get any sicker. Problem is we no longer feel good about our old vet, what with the previous cat coming home vomiting up blood for two days and then dying. That was just too traumatic for me. Any recs for a good vet in the LA area? I am planning on calling my friend's holistic vet.