I got the vacuuming done. I have a packing list (it'll take all of 5 minutes.) gotta hope I have time to run to a bookstore tomorrow.

Still processing my conversation with quasi-supervisor who is retiring. She really has no shits left to give and was pretty frank about some coworkers and our boss. It's actually given me a lot to work with, provided I stay working here. I can...direct some things.

She really, really, really thinks I should be given more authority. Noises she wants me to take over her role in mgmt meetings. I'm *not* the most senior person she could choose.

This spring is gonna be weird.

We met our new nurse who I like. But really, I won't know for a while. She will only be with Grace while we are at school which is a different thing entirely. Should be... interesting?

Kick some ass, Sara--take her job and let the contract shit go away? :)

I baked. new muffin recipe, Oatmeal with dried cranberries. haven't tried yet. I also cleaned off counters, so if I motivate or power through or whatever, there might be cookie making tomorrow.

It's been as bad as I thought with the child. Lots of slamming doors. Lots of trying to pick a fight. Lots of blaming everyone and complaining about all things me.

and now at 8:30 he comes in to see if he can go spend the night at a friend's house. JFC kid what are you not getting about this?

msbelle, I wish things were getting easier not harder.

I"m sorry, msbelle.

I hope the new nurse works out, Kat!

Wow, sarameg. I can't wait to find out how it all shakes out!

yeah. well. this is on him. I have offered a household where I do not speak to him if he WILL JUST DO HIS SHIT. pass school and take care of his stuff in the house.

I may just need to get back on medication because I am clearly not dealing. My house is getting more and more in shape, that is one thing.

I'm sorry it's so hard with Mac, msbelle.

Omg. This. Week.

First, thanks all for the sympathy. Here’s the situation, for those who asked.

Our bathroom is ancient and the tile around the old tub was not put in right. Over the years, a gap opened in the tile, and moisture has been steaming into the wall, subfloor and floorboard for at least the last year. We also had a pipe leak years ago that was fixed, but started the problem. This apparently caused a toxic brew of moldy badness.

I should have checked a lot earlier given these factors, but I honestly just didn’t think to until our cat Wilson got really, really sick. We thought it was an URI for a long time and tried a bunch of antibiotics, but finally, a few weeks ago, our vet checked for fungal infections and discovered it was cryptococcus — a serious diagnosis, and really rare for indoor cats. He’s been on anti-fungal meds night and day for weeks and will likely be on them months longer. He’s young and healthy, so we are hoping he recovers. One other cat started sneezing this week, so we just got him tested as well. Cross your fingers for us. It’s not contagious, but any of the animals (and us, for that matter) may have been exposed.

At our Christmas party, one of our other friends — also a vet — asked if we’d ever gotten our house tested for mold because she couldn’t figure out how on earth else Wilson could have contracted this illness. So I got a mold inspector out yesterday, and he was apparently horrified by what he saw and said that this had to be dealt with immediately. And by dealt with, he means two walls and the entire bathroom have to be gutted, treated by a mold abatement company, retested, and then reconstructed. We probably shouldn’t even be here these next couple of days before we leave, but honestly, we decided if we’ve been in this toxic brew this long, two more days wouldn’t kill us. And please don’t judge -- it was just one more thing we couldn’t deal with.

So yeah. The only silver lining is that we were about to leave to visit ND’s family in San Diego on Sunday and then head to Florida to visit my dad from the 23rd to the 31st, so that gives them time to do the initial demolition and mold abatement while we are gone. Of course housing six animals in that time period was trickier. So our dear friend who usually housesits for us is taking all four cats (into her tiny, one-bedroom apartment -- she’s a goddess), and our dog trainers agreed to take the two dogs for the two weeks we are gone (we are paying for that, of course). Side note -- we have the best landlord in the world who is doing everything right and never hesitates, but we also know money is tight for her, so we’re doing our best to minimize her costs. Yes, legally we could make her pay for another apartment or house while this all happens, but if we don’t have to do that, we won’t.

What we are going to do when we get back on the 31st is unclear. Even if the mold is gone, we only have one bathroom, and it will likely be nonexistent. We can temporarily sleep and such in the back house (a one bedroom bungalow that we rent for ND’s business) -- although keep in mind it is legitimately an office, and we have five people working full time back there, one of whom is deathly allergic to cats, so that’s not ideal.

ND is trying desperately to close a deal on a new office/warehouse space so we can get the business out of there anyway, but this is all happening over the holidays and the landlord over there is dragging his feet.

So basically it’s a crappy, somewhat scary situation, but we have a plan (and contingencies) to move forward. We would appreciate ~ma for quick resolution on the reconstruction and new business lease...and of course, the health of us and the pets.

X-post with msbelle:

That’s so hard. I’m sorry. Hang in there, and yes, get medication if it will help.