And if anyone needs to improve their day, here are videos of service dogs playing with a costumed Pluto at Disneyland.

[link]

Congratulations to the expanding family of Cow!

Fingers crossed, Dana!

I am a discontent kitty today.

Hooray, Uncle Sunil!

Fingers crossed, Mr. Dana!

We have another funeral this week (no joke): Tim's uncle this time, who was 81 and in poor health, but kind of a steady poor health, if that makes sense. But last week he had a stroke and didn't recover. Tim wasn't very close to his uncle, and I seriously can't remember if I ever met him (he didn't come to family shindigs, possibly because of his health), but I like his aunt and cousins a lot.

That makes 4 funerals/memorials so far in 2016, for those keeping score at home. I am not amused.

My brother is doing better, in that he's not drinking (again) and has an intake appointment today with a therapist who specializes in addiction and childhood trauma. I know it can take several tries for someone to find a therapist who's a good fit, but I'm crossing my fingers hard for this one. I hope it helps. I worry about him all the time.

Finally, I wish I had a petcam running all the time, because the super-fat cat did actually go SPLAT! up against the front window because she saw a cardinal in the bush. Amusingly, the bird was SUPER unimpressed, because it didn't even move.

I'm sorry you have yet another funeral, Tep. Jeesh. Good luck to your brother. It's so hard. But worrying doesn't help, if you can find a way to stop.

I have hit the point of the day where everything I could do would be SO MUCH EASIER from work than from home. Maybe I will take a hot shower.

Now I'm curious if dogs react the same way to Goofy.

Sorry for the discontent, Zen. How are you feeling physically?

That makes 4 funerals/memorials so far in 2016, for those keeping score at home.

That is beyond sucky.

Aw, crap, Teppy.

Jesus, Tep. This year needs to take a long look at its choices.

Steph, I'm so sorry. That just sucks.

Sorry for the discontent, Zen. How are you feeling physically?

Okay. Not great, not bad.

I got some test results back today and they weren't great. My fasting blood sugar (after a 15-hour fast, don't ask) was 102. The "reference range" - I assume that means normal range after a fast - is 62-99. While a couple points above normal might not be scary, after such a long fast my glucose ought to be much lower than that. I think that puts me in "prediabetes" range, although I don't have any other symptoms of diabetes. Considering my partner died of complications of uncontrolled diabetes 20 years ago, diabetes is a thing I'm pretty scared of. I've already cut back on sugar in my diet, now I think I need to get serious about exercising more. Losing weight is one thing, preventing myself from getting diabetes is another.

Oh man, Steph -- that is Too Many Funerals. I mean, there's getting older, and then there's ridiculous.

Good luck, Mr. Dana!!