Lee, I don't even know how to parse that.

Neither do the attorneys. That's part of the problem.

It may a librarian thing, since Flea got it.

Basically, the USPTO screwed up their online records so badly that I felt really proud of myself for unraveling it, but they screwed up their records in such an odd way it was impossible to explain, so it ended up looking like I was the one who messed up.

Tom, my condolences on the complicated nature of all of this, but it sounds like you're firmly taking good care of your own wellbeing, for which I'm grateful.

So Mister Kitty's ashes are finally home (there were apparently supply issues for the boxes or some shit.) It's...odd. The box had been sitting in the sun, so it was warm. Body temp warm. And for some reason, that made me involuntarily lose it a little in public for the first time basically since that day.

Not sure where I want to keep MK. Right now he's on a shelf with a little cast Bast sitting atop it. But it's not the right place. I think he's going to be moving room to room with me for a bit. Which is just weird.

Damn, I miss that cat. He filled so much space.

I nearly killed myself in the pool (hyperventilation is hard to stop when you keep swimming, ) but got my pace under 56 seconds on the two miles. FINALLY.

I have got to find a new job. I was chastised for not charging the federal government a "pain in the ass" fee when they terminated a contract for convenience. A contract that was awarded on a Friday and basically terminated the next Monday afternoon. There was no earthly way I could artificially inflate the invoice from the supplier showing exactly how much we were charged to install a heavy-duty tow hitch per the requirements.

Tom, do what you need to do for yourself. Your father has the hospital staff to look after him.

edit: sara, I'm so sorry. I know this is rough. MK was a large part of your life.

Not sure where I want to keep MK. Right now he's on a shelf with a little cast Bast sitting atop it. But it's not the right place. I think he's going to be moving room to room with me for a bit. Which is just weird.

I've been having the same problem with both Perkina' and Ozzie's ashes, especially since the move. the house wasn't home to either of them, and it felt wrong to have them in the same room, given the last 2 years with Ozzie.

I got her a large rawhide bone yesterday and she has chewed the knotted ends off of it already. Since having that she has not chewed the outside doormat anymore (she had chewed on it a bit earlier in the day). I think it is more in my head that she needs something soft and cushy to sleep on than any sort of reality.

My brother has give his dog Nylabones because she'll chew through a rawhide bone in a day.

Dogs usually don't tear up towels too much. It still would have to be a towel you're willing to sacrifice. Also, as Sue said, something else to chew might help.

My mom's not sure what to do with her mother's ashes, to be honest.

I think it is more in my head that she needs something soft and cushy to sleep on than any sort of reality.

I would probably feel the same way. A carpet remnant might be a good idea. And a Nylabone will last a lot longer than the rawhides.

I got a cat bed that came with plush (but cheap) pillows. Clio hates them and refused to get in. I took the bottom cushion out & put in towel, and she'll get in now.

You are allowed to decline hugs, especially in a work environment

Maybe they're going to ask me to come out of the closet?

It's as good a guess as anything I got.

I just had two big unravellings of stuff today--one about financial terminology that just came up a week before the project goes live (I realise I don't actually know what the acronym stands for, but I get the difference between it being true, or just production. Even if they split shares, apparently I get that) that I'm going to have to explain to a segment of the business that either doesn't get it, or were keeping secrets.

And I may have been part of sussing out a technological problem that we *have* to fix before release, but that means an emergency fix, and everyone hates the word emergency. If they'd worked it out three days ago, it would have been routine, and I'd have looked better. THEY. Not me. I'm just the middleman.

It's really hard having to be on everybody's teams. There are so many teams.

At least there's Supernatural tonight.