This year ... the Cuyahoga is on fire (last time was 1969).

well, maybe a new Burning River Ale?

Timelies all!

Got up at stupid o'clock for a 7 am dentist appointment, then went to work. Tired as usual.

Well, I've seen the house. It's shocking to see a place you know so well destroyed by fire. The kitchen, the living room, the dining room all charred beyond recognition, with fire retardant foam covering the floor and the charred ceiling open to the sky.

All the Thanksgivings and Christmases we spent there.

My poor brother-in-law, Chris, was feeling so close to the finish line on selling the house and the business. They were going to put the house on the market in September and expected it to move quickly.

They will probably take the most expedient route with the house, which means putting in a new roof and stripping the interior down to the studs and selling it to a contractor to fix and flip.

Between the insurance (which is comprehensive and deep) and the overall value of the property lot and its size and location, they'll make about the same money they would have anyway. So not a financial hit, but a huge hassle, delay and, of course, all the irreplaceable things lost. I guess that's why he paid for the good insurance.

So sad

I'm really glad JZ has been posting pictures of at least some of her finds to FB as she was sorting

What -t said, David. What an awful, awful year for her.

To add to the list of stupid injuries I've ever had: I needed to unplug a fan where the plug was in a hard to reach flat-to-the-ground power strip. Thinking that if I yanked on it right smartly and straight UP, it would come free, I gave it a try.

And it worked.. except for the part where the vigorous yank sent the plug end flying straight UP, hitting the side of my nose hard enough to leave a scab. I'm so lucky that it didn't hit me in the eye, or it would have been a much less fun night.

Theo, I'm glad your injury was superficial enough to just be stupid rather than a cautionary tale. Hopefully your mask will cover it?

Steph, what others already have said. Put on your own oxygen mask first.

Laura, please to not fall down or else we bubble wrap.

Today was my 12th anniversary at work, and I've celebrated... by being On-Call, having multiple meetings with Directors, and working for 10 hours straight with no real breaks except to jam food and caffeine in my face.

Congratulations? I mean, twelve years, that's pretty good, but that day is not really what I would wish for you.

I was just thinking how I recently made 7 years with my company and while I knew I couldn't take a sabbatical as such I was hoping for something kind of mini-sabbatical-esque somewhere along the line. So far it has been like an anti-sabbatical - more work to do, longer hours and less time to think (even about work!). Even my time off has been rushed and full of stress. And I have it pretty easy, compared to a lot of people.

Teppy, this whole situation sounds so hard. Please take good care of yourself. ♥

IMHO caretaking for dads can be the worst. I should know, twice I've taken care of a grumpy, sick old man who honestly feels disrespected and offended by his daughter/ in law taking care of business and telling him what to do, even when he is completely incapacitated, even when there is no one else. It seems to be about being allergic to the reduction in their lordly Dad Power...by a girl.

Fortunately for me, my dad was basically a good guy again as soon as he started feeling better. My FIL had a mean streak and liked arguing with everyone so I didn't feel too bad about stepping back so his wife and sons could drive him around.

So I say Patient Advocate is a swell option, especially if it's a guy. Old farts listen better to other men.