I stayed with her two weeks ago for a similar procedure but she said that she just asked 'family' for help, not me.

I guess it was this disconnected thing, and the sad timing, but sheesh, that felt bad. I know my feelings are my responsiblity and we aren't really family...but after nearly a quarter of a century, I guess I just took it for granted.

{{{bonny}}} I had a similar experience with my MiL when my FiL was sick. She said that only "family" could visit as his immune system was weakened, and I was not "family." Funny, after 14 years of birthdays, Christmases, vacations, etc., etc., not to mention being basically married to her daughter all that time, I was not considered family. It really hurt my feelings, and while I'm not exactly holding a grudge, I haven't forgotten it.

Very cool visual representation of virus/cell/atom sizes:

[link]

does anyone else feel really disconnected right now?

That's me right now too. feh. Really hard to get myself to do what I need to do on any given day.

Kathy, good luck with everything and congratulations on moving ahead on so many fronts at once.

Really hard to get myself to do what I need to do on any given day.

HA! Even on good days, I suck at this!

Aw, thanks, GC. I'm sorry you've felt this too.

I'm normally so good at processing feelings out of my body, but this one has really stuck. I don't blame my friend (see what I did there? I'm trying to avoid calling her what I've always called her and even that bothers me) for her response. It just doesn't feel good. Her being defensive about it didn't help either.

Thanks for the hug.

Not only has my unemployment benefits -- third extension -- run out this week, but my final class should be next week, and my therapist is now out on indefinite maternity leave/bed rest. I'm attempting to soldier on with as much bravery as I can, really.

If I seem extra-special needy of late, I really do have have a reason for it.

Gah, Theo. That's a hat trick of suckery.

{{theo }} and made good news come your way soon.

{{bonny}}

Big-time hairpats for everyone who needs them, especially Theo for her hat trick.

I'm now starting to get excited by the idea of the surgery, because I've already got myself scheduled for splurging on a really nice corset when I get close to my target weight!! It'll probably be the only thing that'll give me the appearance of boobage, so it'll be worth the investment. (My sister had gastric bypass, and if it weren't for the fact that she's currently unemployed, she'd probably have had a boob job by now. Her weight loss moved her cup size from B to negative-A. I'll probably be in the same boat.)

I don't feel disconnected, but there's a lot of free-floating anxiety about work. We have a company meeting in 20 minutes to discuss our catastrophic financial state. Ugh.

Also, I went to the grocery store at lunch, and the cashier got shirty with me for using a coupon that she felt took "too much" off the price of the item. The coupon was NOT expired; it was for the correct item; I, personally don't control the grocery store's pricing of said item, nor do I control the company's decision to issue a $4 coupon.

She told me I was committing coupon fraud. I told her that I would speak to the manager. She followed me to the manager, told the manager that I was committing coupon fraud, grabbed the coupon from my hand and shoved it at the manager. I kept my cool, ignored the cashier, looked at the manager and said, "I don't appreciate being accused of 'coupon fraud,' nor is that my intent. Here is the item I would like to purchase -- what do YOU think, looking at the item and the coupon? Is that a legitimate coupon?"

The manager glared at the cashier, looked at me all apologetic and said, "Looks valid to me -- let me ring it up." The cashier stalked away, and I thanked the manager.

I am SO e-mailing the grocery store. Way to lose a customer.