The polyp was removed with a cold snare.

It's nice how they just yank the polyp for you right then and there.

Gold star for gastrointestinal health!

my career goals are to work just hard enough that I'll eventually be able to stop.

OMG hard same. Our People department (or someone, they are who it comes from but I don't know that it originates with them) has made it a goal that we have concrete discussions about career paths in our more formal 1:1s and I hate it so much. It's a little lucky that I am officially in a new role as of last year so my "path" just being "learn how to do/get better at my job" makes sense for a while more. I think I might be old enough that if we have a round of layoffs (which I hope we do not, we are hiring at the moment but that is no guarantee) I might get offered an early retirement package but I'm not sure when that kicks in. I have been here long enough that I should get a decent severance package (knowing what they have offered in the past) if it comes up, which is a comfort.

{{{lisah}}}

{{Gud}} I wish the breakdown didn't make you feel ashamed and embarrassed. I wish you didn't have it at all because I know they are no fun but I also know that they don't mean you are worth any less or doing anything wrong. And I am amazed at how much you get done.

Yay new dog!

Happy birthday Karl!

Oh, crud! I failed to actually schedule anything with Shir when she's in Seattle!

Thanks, folks. Next birthday is going to be the weird one (I lost my maternal grandfather when he was 58 and I was 3, and that event had ripples throughout the family.)

I am trying to just be calm and enjoy the day today, but I'll admit it's difficult. So much accumulated grief and fear for the future, and I feel like I've been in crisis mode since well before Lisa's mum passed.

I love you all, and I am so thankful for your steady, gentle presence in my life. Having one online friendship survive for twenty-plus years feels like a gift; having all of you is genuinely an embarrassment of riches.

You are My People, and I am blessed beyond possible words.

Any blessing we give you, you've given back a bunch of times. Which is true, even as it's making Inner Chandler Bing super-uncomfortable to have written it out. "Jeez, can I *be* more sentimental?" Scola, I'm no expert, but that seems as good as it gets.

Happy Birthday, Karl.

"Cold Snare" is a solid band name.

Yeah, I could see that.

Nice results, Tom, and good on you for the adulting.

Gud, what -t said 100%. I know down to the center of my being that you are such a good human, and if beaming that in your direction helps, consider it constant.

Yes, if it helps. If it wouldn't, nobody is so perfect they don't lose it under pressure.

Gud, what -t said 100%. I know down to the center of my being that you are such a good human, and if beaming that in your direction helps, consider it constant.

All of this.

Back on the diet bandwagon after a week of cruising. I wasn't really bad, but not good either. DH is starting to feel some issues with his RA, so doing hard antiinflammatory Mediterranean-type stuff. I did my meal plan yesterday and did a big curbside pickup at Whole Foods this morning. Tonight is chicken with a topping that involves red bell peppers, garlic, and pecans. Served over some of the Whole Foods mixed grains. It looks and smells good. Nice to be back in my kitchen cooking stuff.