The other day marked eight years since we adopted our dog, and I've been thinking about how quickly and fully we take pets into our hearts and they become family. I hope Batcat feels better at home and heals quickly and well, Shir.

I originally talked to my PCP about getting a talk therapist and someone to manage my meds in mid November, and I finally have an intake appointment for a place for long term therapy in mid-January! There has to be a better way.

That sounds like a productive morning, sj. I'm glad therapy went better.

I'm glad BatCat is coming home, Shir.

It's really hard to focus on work today. I'm lucky to still have a job, it's something I can do at home, and I even kinda like it. But many of my coworkers are off through the new year, and I really want to be on vacation, too. 1.5 more days.

sj, that's so frustrating.

When opponents of universal healthcare argue it will affect our ability to see doctors, I always think of how we had to wait months to get C to a gastroenterologist under our current "system" (and Greater Boston healthcare provider glut -- it's not like we live in some remote outpost).

Show me this magical America that currently exists, where we don't have to wait thanks to the power of Almighty Capitalism. I suspect it only exists for politicians, their owners, and those who can afford concierge medicine.

Lots of ~ for ND and sj and meara and everyone else in pain.

I hope Batcat starts recovering once she gets home, Shir.

I just used ramekins in a pot of shallow water. Do you have a more complicated method than that?

I didn’t know you could do them that way! I grew up with these: [link] But the metal rim the top screws onto always separates from the porcelain; silicone is about the only food safe adhesive and it eventually fails and it’s a PITA to remove the old glue and redo it. I think mine have been useless for about a decade, which means I’ve moved them seven times without ever using them.

Where the hell are my coddlers. Somebody coddle me dammit

I would also like this kind of coddlers

It's a long shot, but does anyone here have experience writing for elementary grades Math curricula? My company is looking for freelance subject matter experts/writers for the first half of the coming year. Profile addy is good if you want to ask any questions.

Matt, she hasn't been here lately, but maybe Hil R.?

I’ve never made a coddled egg and not sure I’ve ever seen one either!

I just need to make it through tomorrow and I’ll be on vacation! Even if I’ll likely log in next week sometime.

I just need to make it through tomorrow and I’ll be on vacation!

Me too! Well, at least off work for 5 days in a row. And because of the pandemic, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day won't be spent running frantically back and forth to various family members' houses, so I might wake up December 26 feeling something other than exhausted and cranky. (On Christmas Eve we will be dropping gifts off at my mom and stepdad's house -- basically literally just putting them on the porch, backing up 6 feet, and exchanging pleasantries at that distance for about 5 minutes and leaving -- and taking presents to and visiting with my Dad for a maximum of 10 minutes.) I do have to be out of bed by noon on Christmas Eve for a family Zoom call, and then apparently on Christmas Day we're opening presents with my mom, stepdad, brother, and SiL over Zoom.

I’ve never made a coddled egg and not sure I’ve ever seen one either!

But I can tell you anyhow I’d rather see than be one.