Yesterday a friend from work emailed me for advice about her indoor cat having fleas really badly, being so miserable as to be sleeping in her litter box. When I talked to her, it turned out she had spent so much money on "natural" products she didn't have a dime to spend on the nasty harsh chemicals I recommended. So I had her meet me at Walmart and bought her two big cans of Raid Max. She told me she didn't know when she would be able to pay me back; I told her we'd do this on a pay-it-forward basis.

Today I gave myself the morning off; I have been so fatigued this week, being able to sleep in made a difference. And then as I was eating lunch friend messaged me that her kitty had died in the night. When I called her, she was so upset, needed help because she could not bring herself to touch the body, and didn't even have a box to put kitty's remains in. I jumped in the shower, grabbed a box and a sling I used to carry Harvey around in before his back trouble made it uncomfortable for him, and was on my way. Kitty had crawled under a low table in their storage area. I moved things out of the way, got on my hands and knees, wrapped kitty up and put her in the box. Friend's boyfriend will be helping her bury kitty. Spoiler font for pet sadness. And then I worked direct care - went out for pizza with the house tonight and taught new staff member how to do the paperwork for handling people's money.

WindSparrow, you are a very good friend.

Forgot to say, that first date was a bust. Nice enough but no spark. Was supposed to have another one tonight, but dude never got back to me with when he was free. So. Pppppplbbbbt. Got another guy who wants to meet up but nothing is set yet.

Sorry about that date, smonster.

I'm spending a certain amount of time watching Harvey breathe.

Sorry I've been away for a while. I've been burying myself in politics and Twitter and trying to think about time passing. My ankle is healing up well, it seems, I had the third surgery last week to remove a pin that was holding my bones together (they gave me the pin!) and tomorrow I go to get the stitches out, and after that I should be free of doctor visits for six months or so. I will be so happy to get home and not have to leave again. I've not been depressed really, except for a couple moments, but man, I'm ready to get back to my regular life.

I can't possibly comment on everything but I read it all and I love you guys. Everyone in pain, it sucks and I hope you feel better quick. Jilli, so glad you found a solution to your pain! smonster, DTMFA (what a useful acronym), you deserve better.

I'm glad your ankle is so much better, Zen.

Windsparrow, you are indeed a kind and wonderful friend. I got a panicked call from StY and his gf--they'd run out to the grocery store and come back to find their 17-year-old kitty dead on the kitchen floor and between shock and grief, had no idea what to do. I told him (she was still shrieking) if they wanted to clip a lock of hair to keep, to do that, and I'd be right there. I brought a box and a towel, though gf had calmed enough to have kitty's blanket to wrap her in, which StY and I did, and put her in the box. They decided to take her to the vet the next day to find out what had happened, and have her cremated. Sometimes it sucks being the practical rock.

Zen, I can only hope politics has kept you preoccupied enough to keep your mind off ankle miseries. I avoid it all as much as possible, with a surface pass every other day or so, and a dependence on reliable non-inflammatory sources. Otherwise I'd have chewed through the straps by now. I hope the ankle continues to heal, trouble free.

Smonster, I hate that life isn't coughing up a good partner for you. I'll continue to think good thoughts.

Awesome. Lab results didn't show a UTI, but since I'm still having symptoms they put me on a new antibiotic targeted at that. In addition to the AB I'm already on for the sinus infection. Having just finished 5 days of prednisone. And now taking a probiotic to counter all of the antibiotics.

I don't feel shame for taking medicine when it's needed, but I'm getting really fucking sick of the pharmacy.

Oh major yuck, Dana. I hope that something kicks in properly. I think you should get an Rx that forbids early morning meetings.

Pretty much all pharmaceuticals disagree with me. It is a big deal whenever one is needed. Went through 5 before I could tolerate a pain killer after foot surgery. Mom never had to worry about me popping pills. In my 60+ years I know each time I was forced to take antibiotics because it was such an issue. Yuck.

Well fuck. Just over a year ago my dad's wife's cousin passed away after a long mentally debilitating decline. She was fairly young and one of my favorite relatives from that side of the family.

She had a son a bit older than Kelly who was always an odd duck. Nice enough, but very removed and kinda stick up the butt. Anyway, he OD'ed last night. Apparently he had been an addict for years, in and out of rehab, sober houses, and even jail (dui's). He was due to go back into jail in a couple of weeks. His dad found him dead this morning. I didn't know about the addiction or any of it until today but wasn't really surprised.

I am heartbroken for his father who just lost his wife and now this. I can't imagine how alone he has felt for the last few years between his wife's disease and his son's addiction. And now they are both gone.

I'm supposed to fly to CA in a couple of weeks for a family party for my mom's side of the family, but I may shift my trip to spend time with my dad. My brain is overloaded right now.

Edited for typos

Oh, man, Suzi, that is awful. Can't imagine what he must be going through.

So the dude I was supposed to meet up with last night was at a con and his phone died, so that one may still happen.

Dana, I hope the drugs put you right and the probiotics keep you feeling okay.

Hi Zen! Good to see your pixels. Glad you can get back to some kind of normalcy soon.

Lord, I'm tired. Vacation cannot come soon enough.