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.

It drove me nuts that when I had Pumpkin down in the basement, she would sleep on the cold, hard concrete, and not the nest of old sheets and towels I provided.

Lee, while the box is lovely and to my taste, there's part of me that wants to make a special pillow and tuck the ashes inside. To keep on the bed. But that might be just a little too...something, even for me.

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

This is also very much a librarian thing, or at least a firm librarian thing.