I loved that dress, and was so happy to see Matilda wear it. I don't think I have that photo anywhere I can find it, so if you do, please post it again somewhere and tell me. Not that you need another task right now.

I definitely have lots of baptism pictures, so I'll round some up for you.

As an answer to the perennial "How are you doing?" queries I'll note that David had an instance of "emotional dysregulation" last night.

Fortunately none of the people I was yelling "Fuck!" at were the people in the room, but relatives-in-law at a distance who were trampling boundaries in a stress inducing way.

I knew I wasn't going to have any adequate words so I sent scratches and light. Literally. Hopefully in a form that was recognizable enough to mean something.

It's plugged in and lit up in the living room!

Hec, you have earned the right to say fuck as many times as you feel the need to.

As an answer to the perennial "How are you doing?" queries I'll note that David had an instance of "emotional dysregulation" last night.

That's the safety valve doing it's job.

It's plugged in and lit up in the living room!

<3

I cannot honestly imagine being as graceful, eloquent, and loving in such a painful situation as you have been, David.

You wouldn't be human if you didn't, Hec. I get upset over far less than all of that(Although there are, you know, real things, too. But I can't quite pull off being enough of an OG Greta Tunberg to pull off a contention that the climate crisis is what breaks my heart *every day*, but it is often in the mix. )

I stayed home sick today after breaking down at work yesterday. Suddenly a mental health day didn't seem like a luxury. My coping today has been making a video appt with the doctor about my cough and head, sleeping a LOT, and setting up with a new therapist for an appt on Friday, because I really need someone to talk to.

(I tried a few months ago with a very sweet older gentleman, but he worked for 40 years at the VA dealing with anxiety et al in PTSD veterans, and all he really did was give me breathing tips. Which is not so much helpful with depression, it turns out.)

::loves everyone in this bar::

Amy, I’m sorry. Good luck finding a new therapist.

Amy, a mental health day isn't a luxury. I hope the appointment Friday is a help.

Thanks, sj. The breakdown was as much physical as emotional (and also triggered by trying to do three jobs at once, which I have to do every Tuesday and Thursday, and I'm not sure how much longer I can hack it. I mean, I'm supposed to run the front desk, answer the phone, check patients in, work them up for the doctor -- which means prelim questions and running two machines -- make charts for the next day, and scan in charts from that day).

And I'm sick, so brain and body sort of joined hands and staged a sit-in with crying.