And I think I need to add in some time to think about the new migraine treatments that have come out in the last few years, and to be mad that they weren't around to help ita when she needed it.

Timelies!

Was a busy week and I'm struggling with the dark mornings, so I took off from work an hour early twice this week to get some more sun. Helped a bit.

Last night I went out for a long-delayed dinner with my niece and her husband, and it was a cool new Thai fusion place walking distance from my house! Which is just such a huge change from this neighborhood when I moved in. When I got my house 20 years ago this neighborhood was full of nail salons and karate studios, with a grubby Lucky's and a greasy donut shop. Now there are two good coffee shops, two beer gardens (!)(one with great Mexican food), and two hipster restaurants. It's kind of amazing.

Tom, I support the advice you got upthread. Frankly, you don't owe him anything, and I hereby grant you permission to send him an email cancelling future appointments, and block his number from your phone. You're in NYC and there must be many therapists, although I know it may be difficult to find someone who clicks with you.

Work has been busy, but only five months after the tentative offer, I finally have a start date for my new hire. Thank FUCK.

Oh, and on the vaccination front: our bosses are getting us all boosters, but even here in the Bay we have anti-vaxxers. One of the new engineers, who only started a year ago, has decided that he refuses to get vaccinated (and I didn't know he wasn't! and he's been working in the office every day for the last year!), and he will take early retirement rather than get the shot. Also, he's in his 60s! WTAF.

This is going to play merry hell with our workloads, because he was doing a lot of projects that needed to be done. It's not good.

Anyway, today is my day off and I'm going to take the dog for a walk and listen to a podcast about Tolkein.

I don't know if I will be able to helpfully nag, Dana, but I will also spend some time being mad about that. As I often do. Do the things!

Yikes Suela, that is cray, both the 5 month wait and the engineer (I can only imagine how long it will take to replace him!). But yay new cool neighborhood places?

I am feeling encouraged reading about the new treatments they’re developing for covid infections though!

And TGIF indeed—I am on vacation all next week (which may be a problem given that it looks to be a very busy work week) and while it IS going to involve seeing my parents, which is not very vacation like, it will also be my sister and my aunt and uncle, so that part will be nice.

Oh and good luck Dana—I have multiple onerous tasks as well. Plus a bunch of work stuff I keep putting off. And I hear ya on the unfairness for ita.

I need to add in some time to think about the new migraine treatments that have come out in the last few years

Shit, I need to see my doctor about that. I can't take the triptans (like Imitrex), so I've been flailing along with Fioricet. I should be able to take the new meds, like Ubrelvy, which do work better than Fioricet but not as well as the triptans. But better than Fioricet is still better than what I'm currently doing, so, yeah. I need to do that.

I also have zero motivation and just a very grey mood today, so getting shit done is going to be tough.

I would certainly recommend Ubrelvy and company over botox. Way fewer needles.

Dana, do the things!!

I finally have a start date for my new hire.

Sheesh, about time.

and he will take early retirement rather than get the shot

A random anti-vaxer report. I follow a General Hospital group, for reasons, and two of the lead male actors were fired this week because they refused to be vaccinated. Guessing at the general political environment because they aren't allowed to post political comments, but I can still tell from the past because of comments that if anything they lean far right. Annoyance at delays for political events during the day, and at outspoken lefty actors leave me with that notion. Anyway, I expected a huge level of outrage at the network and union for the unfair mandates and threats of quitting the show for firing the favorite dudes. I was so surprised at the reaction that I scanned several hundred comments. Overwhelming, nearly 100% endorsement of the actions of the show firing them. Only a handful of pissed at mandates people. Comments were all safety first, it's a job and you have to follow rules, and desire for beloved characters to stay healthy. It was a most pleasant shock. The anti-vaxers are so loud that you would think it is a higher percentage than you see IRL. Or at least I hope so.

Will Australia let unvaccinated citizens back into the country?

Greetings from the sickbed, folks. I came down with a stomach bug early yesterday morning that's the worst I can recall — bonus agonizing stomach cramps along with the usual symptoms. I was at least able to sit upright for most of this morning, and my appetite returned, so things seem headed toward improvement.