Since you can apparently get them manufactured with "your company's" logo on them, someone should commission them with "Mental Health Advent Calendar" printed on them. I'd buy one! I'd buy several, as presents!

... well, I had something scheduled that I wanted very much to do this afternoon, that required leaving my Mom's house in about 45 minutes. But my Mom seems to have bronchitis. And it's Saturday, so if we pursue medical care it's an urgent care or ER. Prob ER because X-Ray. Which will take HOURS.

That's certainly a thing. I hope this was their idea and that they've made a lot of money from it.

Getting a sore throat. Uh-oh.

Smallish Country.

Subtly downgrade a band. The Slightly-Unusually-Colored Furs.

I am hungry. So why don't I want to eat the food that the microwave is reminding me I put in it? I need to drive somewhere for about 90 minutes but I forgot it would be dark. I will probably end up going tomorrow morning instead. That will let me watch some cozy TV.

Once (before I knew the truth about it) S. and I went to Hobby Hobby. I bet him that there wasn't ONE SINGLE THING in the store that he would want to buy. He took that bet. He lost that bet. They didn't even have office supplies, his go-to.

There are many reasons to support local media, but one I just discovered is sometimes you will check your mail and find Bigfoot looking right back at you.

Listen, everyone is going to put their heads down on their desks and close their eyes, and whoever broke this timeline can fix it, no questions asked.

@crowgirl42.bsky.social Can one gloam in the home?

Need to take some kind of break. I've been doing job work for just about six hours straight (with a little time spent in the kitchen, prepping the lunch I worked through.)

Whether we call what we endured growing up "bullying" or not, how we were treated year after year (after year) by our peer group shaped us. We need to be realistic about those wounds-- even if we really, really wish they didn't exist or believe they "shouldn't" affect us now.

I know this is a waste of time, but of anyone in the Bay Area can take on a cat, this ~5 month boy I trapped for TNR turned out to be way friendlier than I thought and also has a limp that does not pain him but can't be easily fixed.

A little song just played in my home, over to my left. Finally realized it was my new stove, telling me the oven had reached the desired temperature. Now THAT'S convenience.

To the list of words that might make good names if they didn't have THAT MEANING, I suggest adding: "Perfidy". "Perfidy Jones" sounds well. Almost as good as "Felony".

Mine host Mine guest Mine table manners

I think maybe I have neglected my cats the last few days. Chief Cat seems to think so, anyway.

All the ads on Wunderground are for shoes I've already purchased.

I am getting nothing done today (well, I made a few phone calls.) But I am surprisingly cool about it, despite not knowing what to do next.

Pick one and spin the wheel.

I'll drive. You can lie in the back and howl at the moon.

What's your price for flight?

I'm not even a dog person and even I find this adorable.

There's a touring act called the Linda Ronstadt Experience. Apparently it's pretty good.

Il pleure

My cat is gently mewing at me in entreaty -- and I am yelling in a demonstrative way because this -- glute? hip? -- injury of mine is HURTING A LOT RIGHT NOW. It's been almost a week. Wondering if I should see someone. But who? Virtual PT? My PCP?

"I’m free today because of this advocacy,” Soliman said. “Don’t underestimate your voice."

Had a long afternoon nap and it was EXCELLENT.

A very big bag of "large breed" dog food was just delivered by the same vendor who delivered my 100 lbs of cat litter this morning. I absolutely did not order this (I checked online!) But it was addressed to me!

is a morning nap a nap, properly, or have you just gone back to bed?

I am working on my mother's taxes, assembling on-sale lawn furniture, dragging bags of cat litter around, cooking a couple of things, and probably doing some housekeeping today. Oh, and sheet-and-towel laundry. Hope to go out and do ... something else, if just stand in line at a Starbucks.

Where is this "Rapture is on Wednesday" thing coming from? If it's based on anything but Bluesky whimsy I'll mention it to distant friends (as a Thing People Are Referencing Over Here) but if it's just us being, well, us, I'll ignore it.

Anyone watching/have watched "Bookish" earlier this year?

"Are YOU the cat, or are you the CAT?!" [purring and mewing!]

Just ordered 100 lbs of cat litter to be delivered. Who will take it up the stairs, "that's what nobody seems to have an answer for".

Oh, is the world ending? dammit, I had plans for Thursday.

Vote for the 2026 Mayor of the Scratching Post Cat Shelter in Cincinnati! thescratchingpost.org/so/dePaAnaVT...

Chili. And cheddar. Maybe some raw-ish onions and cooked kidney beans.

Watching S01 E05 of "Bookish". I get the feeling that this not just a labor of love, but a hand-crafted one. A lot of *concentration* went into this show. There's this undercurrent of deep feeling. Nothing's played for laughs.

My hip is continuing to give me grief. And I can't exactly ice it because the complaining muscles (and I think it's muscles) seem to be deep inside. Thinking of taking a Diclofenac pill (4-5 years old) and a Tizanidine (which sounds like a distant place name from Narnia, but is a muscle relaxant.)

NEW: Ayman Soliman, whose detention sparked a community uproar and became a test of counterterrorism powers in immigration court, was released from an Ohio jail Friday as DHS abruptly withdrew its deportation case against the children's hospital chaplain. By @hannahallam.bsky.social

There are people reading this who have been convinced by their bullies and abusers that their life is a “failure”— but who are in the middle of redemption arcs and heroes journeys that nobody they grew up around could possibly understand. I see you.

Beef has just jumped in price at my neighborhood grocery chain. Somewhere between 20 and 25% percent.

Went to the gym yesterday, and now ache everywhere. I assume this will pass. Just was a little surprised to be so stiff! I didn't think I'd worn myself out!

The Midwest newsroom at @propublica.org is amazing. Fantastically talented, hard-working, good-hearted people who do this work for all the right reasons. And so much fun to be around. I love being part of it. Come join us! This is a **solid-gold journalism job opportunity.**

Do I know anyone in the SC area who knows someone (or *is* someone) who wants to adopt two cats? I desperately need to find a home for my parents' two cats. I already have three, so I can't take them. They are boarding at their vet while I look, and I have to go home to PA in less than a week.

Pen friends: Are there any mass-market or easily available ballpoint pens you'd recommend? Ones that always write, but don't get gloppy? We'd been very happy with U-Brands pens but they're starting to leak (badly). We would like medium AND fine point (different preferences!) and black ink.