Safety~ma for your parents, chrismg.

Today's author problem: an author who believes, like 110%, that the process of having his article accepted for publication was the end of his involvement. In that process, authors are asked to revise things and then resubmit the article. (I should also note that they're also told in very plain language that their article will then be copy-edited and returned to them for approval.)

This author absolutely does not understand why I have sent him the edited article for approval because "This process ended 3 weeks ago and the article is to be published. I made all changes requested."

I explained that the article gets copy edited, and I sent him a copy of the author instructions that all author receive (which ALSO talk about the copy editing process). And then I asked him to review his article and return it. His reply? "I took care of this process 3 weeks ago." And then attached the email chain between him and the Editorial Office.

I gave up and kicked it up the food chain. And got his article bumped to a later issue because he won't return his article to us. Which I told him, though more diplomatically ("The significant delay in returning your edited article has led to the rescheduling of your article in a later issue of the journal. The Editorial Office will advise you of the new later date.")

I suspect maybe he's never been published before. But still, if you can read (which I assume you can if you are able to respond to my emails), you should be able to comprehend me telling you that further editing happens to all articles and you need to do your part.

I think someone way up the food chain is going to have to call this dolt and try to explain it via the spoken word. That would have happened sooner, but he's in China, and the staff tries to avoid calling international authors.

I feel like that would lead to a feeling other than "antsy."

Amputatedish isn't a word. Yet.

So the most important thing for everybody to remember is that the new Tick series is now available to view on Amazon.

I'm so ambivalent about that.

We've been waffling about this for a little while, but we're having Slinky put to sleep tomorrow. I am not handling it well at all. I hate this year.

I'm so sorry Tep. Warm non-huggy thoughts to you all.

The inevitable end of pets is why I can't bear thinking of getting another one yet. Maybe in another couple of years.

This makes Toke, Kato, and Slinky in the past 16 months. They were all close-ish in age (though Slinky is ancient and I can't believe she's the last of the original pets standing), so it's not surprising that it's happened so close together.

But this is so hard. I keep trying to convince myself that her quality of life is not that bad. But the last 2 times we've had her at the vet (in the last 4 months), the vet has pointed out very nicely that Slinky didn't have much time left, and suggested very nicely that euthanasia would not be an unkind option at this point.

Slinky has had renal disease for 2 years, and is hyperthyroid, both of which we've managed with meds and subcutaneous fluids for 2 years. The last time Slinky saw the vet, she said that 2 years is an exceptionally long time for a cat with renal disease to live after diagnosis. And hell, 20 years is an exceptionally long time for any cat to live.

But it sucks.

And she's just lying next to me on the couch right now and has no idea what's going to happen. I feel like a murderer.