May have just started controversy, but hoping I did it in the most low key least likely for backlash way. The dancing I do Friday's sends out a weekly email about what is being taught each Friday. I don't often go. But I saw this week (which is aimed at beginners--every first Friday) the line dance is "pick a bale". And I was like "really? A bunch of gay almost all white folks dancing to that?? Is that really the image we want to give anyone but especially newbies?" I emailed the person who is teaching (who got pulled in last minute the other teacher is sick) and asked if she'd consider a different line dance. Here's hoping she says "oh, yeah, that's a good idea" and not "well it's not a racist LINE DANCE" and makes me want to hit her.

Aw, Toke! I'm sorry, Steph. Sometimes animals just decide to go in their own way and we never know.

Muppet and Toke at almost the same time, let's believe in head butts and shared purrs.

I don't know about the Rainbow Bridge, but I do believe in animal souls. After a beloved dog of mine died (horribly) when I was a teenager, I was inconsolable. Until I was lying there on my bed sobbing and I felt his presence, clear as if his fuzzy little self was right beside me. He didn't want me to be sad and he was okay, and suddenly I was okay too. I was still sad he was gone, but I knew he was okay. I can't explain it better than that. But if humans have souls that live on somehow, so do animals, because I met one.

So, digging your pet's grave blows. Especially in southern Ohio, because it's mostly clay. And so many roots! And since Tim has RA, I did most of the digging, but I wanted to.

We buried her with one of the bolts of fleece that she laid on on the couch, a tiny piece of plastic bag, because she LOVED to chew and lick plastic bags, and dogwood petals, because they're still blooming.

Oh my kitty. She was my favorite. I loved her so much.

Aw, that sounds like a sweet and fitting memorial.

I agree, digging graves is no fun, and digging in clay in general is so hard, and the two combined really suck.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Steph. It's just so hard.

Steph and Theo, I'm so sorry.

It's so damn hard to lose them.

I am so sorry, Steph.

I am so sorry Teppy.

It's just that Slinky is so old (19, at least) and has kidney failure -- I was sure she wouldn't make it through this year (and she might not), and then we'd have Toke around for years. But Toke was about 15, and that is a pretty good long life for a cat (Slinky is the weird outlier who I'm pretty sure is eternal).

It was just such a shock to find her, when she was basically fine. And even Tuesday and yesterday, she wasn't overtly distressed, or else we would have taken her to the vet immediately. I know sometimes these things just happen, but man, it sucks so much.

And now I have an assload of work to do. Woo.