Count me in for the thread-poking for news of how Aims is doing.

Ow. Shoulder pain shooting down my arm.

Hil, which arm? Sometimes pain radiating down the arm is an indicator of heart troubles, depending on the arm because of how the nerves are cross-wired...

Stupid shoulder pain, go away and leave Hil alone.

ION I just searched the thread to find the stuff Aims used to quit smoking, because my boss needs to quit. She has to have metal screws and plates put in her neck and some joints fused due to long neglected pinched nerve, and the surgeon won't even schedule the procedure unless she has quit smoking. I hope it helps her. (Also, I hope I can be patient with her as she gets the nicotine out of her system. I swear yesterday would have gone a lot smoother if I ran the shift alone.)

Hil, which arm? Sometimes pain radiating down the arm is an indicator of heart troubles, depending on the arm because of how the nerves are cross-wired...

Left. But this is the same shoulder that's been bothering me for years, just worse today.

Ahh, never mind then. Didn't mean to worry anyone too much...

I have found the way to avoid human contact and study at the same time.

I believe it's called library, and it's AWESOME. I even feel better.

I made slight progress with a current paper, and even rewarded with finding a random Dave McKean article. Now, I have to find out if I can photocopy something, reclaim a book (that was in my possession most of the year. Now I need it back. Thank you, automatic computed system of these things.). Then I have to go outside, where the human-talkers are, read Rousseau and drink juice, and then debating Rome and why it declined. 2000+ years later, you'd think they'll find a freaking answer by now.

If my guest won't cough for 3 hours tonight (not her fault, the poor thing, but still), I might even get more than 4 hours of sleep. Rock'n'roll.

Billytea, I think you've hit upon one of the great cosmic truths. Parenting is a lot like a Kobayashi Maru test. But, I have infinite faith in the Kirk-ness of you.

Billytea, I think you've hit upon one of the great cosmic truths. Parenting is a lot like a Kobayashi Maru test. But, I have infinite faith in the Kirk-ness of you.

This may be the most perfect encouragement I've ever wished I had come up with myself.

Bartleby news: Well...it's a mixed bag.

The 'teeny' portion of eyelid they told me would be removed turned out to be much bigger than expected. We won't get the biopsy for a week but nobody made any noises like I should be worried. He looks a bit like Quasimodo.

The teeth cleaning turned into a much bigger deal as it came to light that the hospital that did his last extraction left a root in his jaw. I haven't looked up yet how long ago that was, but I'm thanking all the gods that the little guy didn't go septic as could easily have happened. Thank GOD I casually requested xrays to ensure he didn't have an abscess.

The poor wee beastie cried and cried and cried for. hours. after we got home. He'd had morphine and I ultimately gave him Rimadyl, but, oy. He was miserable with the sewn up eye on the right and swollen jaw on the left. No comfortable place to lay his aching head.

And the 'comfy cone' which is made of therma-rest-like material and ostensibly better than the hard plastic was making him miserable.

For my part, I was great in the waiting room for the first 6 hours. Reading and doing loads of free doggy lama coaching...which was fun. The last hour wasn't so good and, due to lack of sleep, the frustration of not being able to help him and the crying, I was pretty miserable myself last night.

We did sleep and that has turned out to be good/bad news. He seems so much better but, as a result, will NOT tolerate the cone. I have visions of one good swipe of the paw leading to yet another thousand dollars (not a misprint) worth of procedures.

I've taken it off and he's asleep in his soft bed next to me, but I won't be able to leave him, or pretty much take my eyes off of him for a couple of days. Those eyelid stitches a so delicate.

Sigh.

Thanks for the good thoughts. It really is amazing how helpful the ~ma is.