Tom, you are a beloved, and whatever gets you through to the next day.

3 hours of cleaning, and I skipped the rooms that were closed off and don't really have bad dust. In comparison, normally doing all the floors takes a little over 2 hrs. Over 6 water changes.

I think my cats are in recovery. They both slept a lot today at Anna's and were quite subdued tonight. First couple of days of new digs! Confusion! Chaos! Wore them out. Like me, they like their routines, and boy, have those been fucked.

Now I gotta inventory my paint supplies and debate color changes and make a piece of trim and recaulk my tub (this came to light. 7 years not a bad run for a first time job.) Look's like I'll be painting the ceiling this weekend at the very least.

Tom, reading through your post made me sad that you had such a shitty day, but it sounds like you're recognizing that some of your coping mechanisms, like withdrawing, may not be doing you favors now. You needed them then to survive and maybe you still need them now, but you can identify that this may be causing you problems. That's pretty fucking insightful, man.

Also, hi! I've been in a mindfulness meditation retreat all day. I talked to strangers about my feelings. I had to stare into a stranger dude's eyes. I went to lunch with strangers and had stimulating conversation. I had homework to practice mindful eating, so I sat down and focused on this yuzu mousse I picked up and it was delicious.

I did not die in an agony of embarrassment, although I am delighted to be at home in silence now. Maybe this is too much personal growth for one day.

but you can identify that this may be causing you problems. That's pretty fucking insightful, man.

Shrift's advice is better than mine because of her mindful meditation. I just got ragey all day about stupid authors, man. And that dog in Detroit.

I am delighted to be at home in silence now.

So much this. Even though I had far less interaction with other people today than did Tom or shrift.

In other news, reports of shenanigans in Saturn's F ring: [link]

My town, man. What a fucking mess. [link]

The cops who are supposed to be protecting kids on the street? Yeah, no -- they're abusing them too. Let's be straight: this girl was raped by a series of cops. And when she told the wife of the Chief of Police, nothing happened. Fucking hell.

Tom, I'm sorry you had a hard day, but you took some pictures, which is creative and that's a good way of beating back the black dog.

Me, I'm out of jury duty (they sent us home today because one of the parties is ill and they have to continue later), and I made Mexican chocolate brownies and the dog looked at me like her goofball self: [link]

Oh, Tom. I'm sorry it was such a bad day.

I'm sorry Tom, that's a lot of awful to have to process. And I'll note that workplace death is weirdly fraught so if you can, try not to let other people's weird coping mechanisms get to you. Just as a personal example, I know when my friend passed away in December it was just... awful. And I'm sure I was not acting like myself, and now I hope no one took it as a reflection on them.

Thanks for the kudos, I am proud of Franny. Also note the bath bomb was a success, so now I will be buying the ingredients to make more of them. And who knows? Maybe we'll even make soap

I hope today is a better one for you, Tom.

I hate that so much of life's ugliness is piling in on people here. I wish I had a magic wand to wave and make everything better.