If they then say something about retrieving ones property, I then ask them if they think that a human being should be property. Or if a state has the right to declare that a human being is property.

A woman told me with 100% sincerity that some slave owners treated their slaves well. I pointed out that literally owning another human being as chattel was the very definition of treating a person horribly. She didn't understand. Holy balls.

Oh, yeah, Theo, the Fugitive Slaves Act was the classic example of the ideological justification (state's rights!) being undercut by the actual thing. Why should slaveowners from Georgia be entitled to help from Massachusetts law enforcement to capture people who are free in Mass?

msbelle, try not to be so hard on yourself. You started this job right at the beginning of the craziness. You have stepped up under really tough conditions. You are working on solving the issues, and that is all that can be expected.

Well, more charges filed, and murder charge changed to 2nd degree. Stuff is happening. Maybe things will quiet down as far as the looting and so forth. The peaceful protests will no doubt dwindle as that is the normal course of events.

What has not been the normal course of events is anything taking place in the White House. I feel I am always holding my breath in fear of what he is going to do next.

"Some" slave owners. There was no laws about what you could do to your slaves, btw -- there was nothing even like the ASPCA to charge you with cruelty if you cut off their toes or ears (a common punishment for running away btw), whipped them to death or burned them alive (all recorded historically) to "encourage" the others.

Some slaves got treated like family because, well, they were, though it was more common to not acknowledge the relationship. But in the end, they were property that would outlive the master, and then would most likely be sold off to pay off debts or settle the estate among the heirs. Or, since chattel slavery was largely agricultural, it could take just one crop failure for the plantation to go bankrupt.

(This is why I don't get invited to parties in the South, I guess.)

askye, my dude, no. Look, I dated that guy. For YEARS. Your feelings are irrational, but his are just good logic. It is not worth your time and aggravation. We have all had various experiences in our lives. His, apparently, have not done a damn thing to make him less self-centered, and it IS NOT YOUR JOB to fix it. As you have now seen, it is basically unfixable. This is a guy who will have a "fun debate" about things that affect you personally and emotionally, and then get butthurt when you point out that it's upsetting to you.

You do not have the spoons for this at this time. If you want to send him a message, go with something short and unarguable, and then be DONE.

really, everyone who crosses your path does not deserve or require your time. Right now - stick with the friends you already know and be happy for any brief shallow pleasant experience with others.

Even if New Friend is a friend. He's still in probationary period. It doesn't hurt to try out a friendship and decide to back off to acquaintance.

UGH. I am not over-worked. This is not more than one person can do.

In a normal situation. This is not a normal situation.

Timelies all!

So Nova went to the vet, where they noted she had lost a lot of weight. Blood tests show kidney disease and hyperthyroidism. They gave me prescriptions for thyroid meds(to be given every 12 hours) and an appetite stimulant to be given every three days. They took x-rays also.

Meanwhile Mr. S has been horrible today. The meds don't seem to be doing anything for his focus. It's been a rough day.

I'm the only one in the office, so I'm doing a lot of minor things that would ordinarily fall to someone else. But I still have time on my hands. A lot of what I had been responsible for earlier has been taken over by another department, so I do feel guilty some of the time. But you know, I'm doing things that need to be done - I make sure any checks that come in are deposited, get invoices to the person who pays them, I'm watering the plants (not urgent, but it's good), make sure our dishwasher doesn't develop mildew (it happens), make sure our water dispensers don't get stagnant, cleaned up when some sodas stored in the kitchen developed leaks. I answer the phone and make sure people know who to contact (by email) if it's not something I can answer on my own. So ... I guess I'm fulfilling a purpose.