You have two awesome black cats, erin. They would be a fine addition to the Buffista Castle.

I've actually cut myself with the "thwack the avocado, not stabbity stab" method but not as often or as bad. I've also stabbed myself with shrimp. Twice.

Here's another reason my nurse is not a good fit--being at home means I can use my own band aids, but THAT'S NOT "ERNIE OR BERT!" That's Gonzo. Ernie and Bert aren't on the Muppet Show. Fundamentally we are disconnected.

Okay, that is not okay.

My food-related injuries have all been by bagel. Still have the scar of one of them and a little dip under the skin where the knife tip lifted the muscle from the bone and it never completely grew back. That was the one I thought I'd bleed out before I could get it stopped.

Perhaps bagels is why my body decided not to process wheat anymore.

Buffista in-house piles are indeed a lovely thing, and it has been too long.

Glad your bags arrived, Dana.

A good friend rescued a dog running around in traffic when it ran under her car at a stoplight. She hauled her out, stuck her in the car, and the dog was with her the next 18 years. She drove a lot for her job, and the dog rode with her most of the time. Sheltie-cocker cross, they suspected. She looked like a classic Border Collie, but was way too laid back to be one.

I'm having a 3AM Eternal moment. Not the song, but the insomnia. This is a bad sign for the week.

My body is revolting against me. I'm not sure if it is the sanding, the fumes, 5 am wakeup, the weather, a particularly bad swim or what. One giant ball of ache. Even my goddamn toes.

My treatment this week didn't break the headache. I have no idea what I'm supposed to do. It doesn't involve not working tomorrow, because tomorrow is the ridiculous presentation to the directors (I don't get to go to this meeting normally--I'm at least two levels too low on the org chart--but I'm presenting for forty five minutes? In this condition?)

Oh dear, ita. Can you go to the hospital today for anything?

My biggest problem is my tights being too short, which I think I'm going to fix right now with some scissors.

Oh, no, ita! I wish I had an answer for you.

ita, can you call your doctor and ask for advice? I'm sorry the treatment didn't help this week.

If anyone's still interested in the Pope, his name, and being a Jesuit, here's a quick piece by Colbert Nation chaplain Jim Martin.

My treatment this week didn't break the headache

Oh, no. I'm so sorry, ita. Sounds like calling the pain doc is a good move.

I have so much to do at home, and enough going on with my folks, that I just lay awake for large stretches of the night, unable to sleep. And then of course I dropped off and had a horrible time getting up. Hate that so much.

I suspect it must be spring break here: my bus was pleasantly empty of the under-18 set. So nice and peaceful.