Oh, Pix, I’m so sorry you aren’t getting easier answers and that everything is so hard. Love to you and your dad.

I’m so glad Brendon and Laura are nearby and can take care of you, Pix.

Our cat Magellan had an embolism last night after we got back from Michigan and we had to euthanize him. We are heartbroken. It was so sudden. He was fine when we got home from our trip at around 6 but later I heard a yowl from the basement and he was collapsed there. We rushed him to the pet er and they said a clot had broken off and went to his legs and he was in a ton of pain. The only thing they could have done was treat him with heavy duty painkillers for weeks and it wasn’t going to help the underlying issue. I wish I could have taken him to his regular vet but I have to trust the emergency vet knew what he was doing and it was clear Magellan was in a ton of pain and couldn’t move his body so something catastrophic had happened.

Good thoughts your way as you continue to sort through this. It's just so hard emotionally, financially, and just time devoted to figuring it all out. Love to you all.

Oh, lisah, that is heartbreaking. I am so sorry.

Oh no Lisa! I am so sorry.

Oh Lisa! I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry, lisah!

Pix, it is so very hard. I like how dcp linked pet care to his care. He needs to care for himself at least as well. It is hard to get the message across that eating, drinking, taking meds = not having to go to the hospital or assisted living and losing the dog. Also, it sucks to have that role reversal of having to treat your parent as a child. I can still see my parents' annoyed looks when we told them what they should do.

Oh, no, lisah! I'm so sorry.

Pix that's so hard for you and your Dad I'm sorry.

lisah I'm so sorry about your kitty.

David - my dad has had a cleaner service for decades and Mom just got a lady to come in and clean recently and it's been great for both of them.

I got lovely cards for Calli, Jesse and I'm blanking on who else, I'm sorry. I appreciate them and will send out cards...

Happy Belated Birthdays to everyone.

I hadn't realized how hard I've been hit by working full time but it's been almost 2 years since I have and it's not so much the physical stuff at this point as the emotional/mental drain and so I've withdrawn more (well more isolated than I normally am) and I realized I need to step up my self care. Part of the problem is my horrible sleep, it's always been bad but it go off post concussion and has never regulated.. I don't know if it's actually because of the concussion or it's hormonal or what. But due to some other issues (like joint pain) I'm going to be contacting my dr about HRT (thanks Jesse for the suggestion on FB). I also need to start taking some breaks in my car and get away from the people who don't use headphones and have the sound on their phone or have phone calls or eat loudly (and sometimes it's been all three going on in our very small breakroom).

Christmas was very low key. Mom has the flu and was told to quarantine for about 2 weeks so I don't know when I'll see her. So it was me and M and his mom on Xmas day and I had forgotten to actually order M's present so that was a fail on my part.

The only super bright spot is Mom let me know that my cousin J's son's guardianship finally came through and he is officially living with J's cousin and J's son called and told Mom Merry Christmas and that he wants to keep in touch. It's a Christmas miracle really. After all that kid has been through he's with family who cares about him and has the resources to help him and support him.

Working retail (or anything public facing) was always super exhausting for me, askye, on top of the drain that just working entails. I hope the coping methods you are developing help. I'm glad to hear the kid's situation is resolved, that was all very fraught.