# \*Tiptoeing in\* Uh. I'm back? You do remember me, VOW, right? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 16, 2026, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoeing-in-uh-im-back-you-do-remember-me-vow-right/1027696 "2026-02-16T02:08:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoeing-in-uh-im-back-you-do-remember-me-vow-right/1027696/21 "2026-02-16T12:53:11Z")
You don’t have to behave here (much). You’re family! ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoeing-in-uh-im-back-you-do-remember-me-vow-right/1027696/22 "2026-02-16T14:56:10Z")
I’ve wondered if you were okay Vow. Good to know you are. Welcome back. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoeing-in-uh-im-back-you-do-remember-me-vow-right/1027696/23 "2026-02-16T15:14:18Z")
I get the same way, at 3AM. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoeing-in-uh-im-back-you-do-remember-me-vow-right/1027696/24 "2026-02-16T15:27:58Z")
VOW- mad, mad, mad…as hell and she’s not gonna take it anymore! You’ve helped me a couple ways..ok hell, alot of ways. You sent me a box ‘o sox. (That I wear, everyday) If that ain’t sisterhood, I don’t know what is. So so so happy to see you back. Really, keep posting. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoeing-in-uh-im-back-you-do-remember-me-vow-right/1027696/25 "2026-02-16T15:49:44Z")
Welcome back @VOW. I remember you from a number of political threads, but to be honest I’ve mostly stepped away from the Trump threads since he got reelected, so I’m not even sure I noticed you were missing. Avoid the Pit and P&E and I think you’ll be just fine. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoeing-in-uh-im-back-you-do-remember-me-vow-right/1027696/26 "2026-02-16T16:40:51Z")
Just block the trump tag and SD is a much nicer place. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoeing-in-uh-im-back-you-do-remember-me-vow-right/1027696/27 "2026-02-16T17:08:23Z")
I am so grateful to be welcomed back with open arms. Instead of a kick in the pants. I have to bite my tongue while we are in the Daughter’s home. For a while, we were rationed which and when we could watch TV news. I’m sorry, but I NEED to watch David on ABC World News Tonight. Our TV room at the Daughter’s abode is adjacent to the kitchen, and World News is dinnertime. Put it on mute, read the captions. Mr VOW watches CNN and MSNOW waaaaaaaaay too much. I often poke him to make him find something else. Thus I frequently OD on paranormal and alien horseshit. I’ve decided the paranormal programs are essentially the same story, different cast. And I’m practically on a first-name basis with all the alien “authorities.” One was named Dwight, and I thoroughly enjoyed his blue-blue eyes and grey hair. He hasn’t been around for quite a while. I googled him, and discovered his primary profession is acting, and I didn’t see any references to alien research. Alas. Unfortunately, we’ve become the stereotypical seniors glued to the TV. My neck and back often require me to sit and behave, or be occupied with hurting and counting pain pills. Only those who have chronic pain will completely understand my last remark. Mr VOW has hopped on the chronic pain bandwagon, unfortunately. He finally mentioned his increasing backache to his neurologist, who ordered a CT scan. That revealed severe stenosis of his lower back. He now has his own Rx for Lidocaine patches, and he uses a cane when the pain is especially bad. So our current life goals are to rapidly fossilize. I currently handle all my frustrations and disappointments by lumping everything together and ignoring them. I don’t get much done. And that pisses me off. I’ll just sit in the corner here, moan and groan, and practice my swearing. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoeing-in-uh-im-back-you-do-remember-me-vow-right/1027696/28 "2026-02-16T17:28:02Z")
Oh, and Mr VOW had to take my cat to the vet for a bon voyage to Rainbow Bridge. I still,haven’t really processed that yet. I got stabbed in the heart just keyboarding this. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoeing-in-uh-im-back-you-do-remember-me-vow-right/1027696/29 "2026-02-16T18:34:06Z")
Oh VOW, poor Cat. You know the cure. A kitten. I swear it works Everytime. I acknowledge your grief tho’. These things hit us in gut at odd times. Turn off the news. I’ve completely unplugged from a 24 hour news cycle. Can’t do it. It was making me unhappy. So much better with out it. I got interested in the Guthrie case and felt the draw to keep watching CNN all night. I created my own convoluted CT. It was scary when I wrote the FBI and Lima Co. Phone# down. I flipped the channel that minute. VOW, my favorite binge watching is Unsolved Mysteries back to back. The shows are old. They had really looney ideas. It’s on one of those dinky channels that come with your local PKG. MeTV, Bounce, or True CRMZ I think it is. My go-to is TCM. Bugs Bunny week kinda tested my resolve. But I’m back. Now I’ve enjoyed some Olympic event. I’m happy enough. That is, if you care 😅 ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoeing-in-uh-im-back-you-do-remember-me-vow-right/1027696/30 "2026-02-16T19:07:21Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > I’ve been depressed and angry as Hell over the deterioration of the good ol’ US of A You aren’t alone in that. Welcome back. Misery loves company. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoeing-in-uh-im-back-you-do-remember-me-vow-right/1027696/31 "2026-02-16T19:19:49Z")
The Daughter has a convalescing outside cat in the garage. When he is cone-free, he will most likely become my next cat. For convenience, The Daughter named him Hugh, for the huge, um, “endowments” he sported. Removal of such explains his convalescence and cone. I’ll probably rename him, but I dread the argument. I _tried_ to adopt a kitten a while back. A cute little tuxedo cat who reminded Mr VOW and me of our first furbaby. We paid all the vet stuff, and named her Suzie, after that first cat. Suzie said I’m not her real mother. The Daughter is. She won’t even let me _touch_ her! She maybe comes within ten feet of me, won’t even look at me when I call her name, and runs away like I lit her tail on fire. 😭 Hugh is a flame point Siamese. I have a soft spot (in my head, obviously) for that breed. My kids gave me one on Valentine’s Day, 2000. I named him Zircon for his beautiful blue eyes. He was a mean little shit, who eventually let me love him, and, oh, how I did. He’s the first cat we’ve buried on our AZ property. Hugh is nothing like Zircon. His face is more round, and his eyes are a lighter shade of blue. The Daughter doesn’t know it yet, but his name is going to be Blue. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoeing-in-uh-im-back-you-do-remember-me-vow-right/1027696/32 "2026-02-16T19:36:25Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > Oh, and Mr VOW had to take my cat to the vet for a bon voyage to Rainbow Bridge I am so sorry! > [@VOW](#): > > The Daughter has a convalescing outside cat in the garage. When he is cone-free, he will most likely become my next cat. Ah, the Cat Distribution System working as needed, for both you and Blue. I have to always have more than one; and my mantra for grieving cats is “I shall pat The living cat.” It doesn’t stop the grief of course; but it does help. And yes, there’s a whole lot of anger around. Do what you need to to stay sane; and find some spot, even if small, where you can aim that anger usefully. > [@VOW](#): > > Suzie said I’m not her real mother. The Daughter is. She won’t even let me _touch_ her! She Cats! they will make up their own minds; sometimes for reasons entirely unclear to the humans. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoeing-in-uh-im-back-you-do-remember-me-vow-right/1027696/33 "2026-02-16T20:13:27Z")
I can’t trust the Universal cat delivery scheme. It can’t be that I should have them all, it seems they all like being around me. Maybe it’s my aroma…😜 ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoeing-in-uh-im-back-you-do-remember-me-vow-right/1027696/34 "2026-02-16T20:33:53Z")
Back in May, I started a thread about the emotional fatigue issue, where a bunch of people listed their actions, activities and other options to dealing with it: > [@Are you posting less? Is it because of the way the world is? Well, let's fix that!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-posting-less-is-it-because-of-the-way-the-world-is-well-lets-fix-that/1018456): > > A few days ago, I was exchanging DMs with another poster (they know who they are, but I won’t @ them without their permission!) and we were talking about how it seems everyone was posting less these days. I felt (and they concurred) that a lot of us were emotionally wrung out over the outrages going on in the USA and our limited ability to do anything about them. I know that outside my responsibilities, I have spent less time in P&E as a result. No, I need to know, but emotional fatigue is a … Maybe there’s something to emulate in there? As for avoiding Trump news, _some_ of us can’t avoid it (self-inflicted wounds and all), but as I told a friend of mine in similar despair, that after a point, it doesn’t do much more good to focus on the latest outrage. There will always be another, and the Trumper’s won’t believe (or will excuse) anything. Just vote, vote, vote and if timing, health and safety permit, be seen at protests to show everyone there that they’re not alone either. And yeah, thinking about the loss of either of my cats causes the choking pain in the back of my throat as well. Be as well as you can be. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoeing-in-uh-im-back-you-do-remember-me-vow-right/1027696/35 "2026-02-16T20:44:57Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > I have to bite my tongue while we are in the Daughter’s home. For a while, we were rationed which and when we could watch TV news. I’m sorry, but I NEED to watch David on ABC World News Tonight. Our TV room at the Daughter’s abode is adjacent to the kitchen, and World News is dinnertime. > > Put it on mute, read the captions. > > Mr VOW watches CNN and MSNOW waaaaaaaaay too much. I often poke him to make him find something else. You have my sympathies. I’ve been a news nerd for my entire life: I was the geeky kid who was reading the newspaper and _Time_ magazine when I was 8 or 9. Up until last year, I watched network news, BBC News, and MSNBC regularly, and spent my work afternoons with NPR or BBC World Service on in the background. Since the 2024 election, I just can’t anymore. It crushes my soul, and becomes the equivalent of doomscrolling for me. I watch the local news (WGN here in Chicago, which is quite good), and keep up on current events through this board, as well as a few selected websites (like the AP), but that’s it. My wife will sit there in front of MSNOW all evening, but I have to resort to putting on headphones and listening to music, because I just can’t do it any longer. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoeing-in-uh-im-back-you-do-remember-me-vow-right/1027696/36 "2026-02-16T21:07:22Z")
Same page @kenobi_65 . Can’t. I have a suspicion if it’s really REALLY bad. Won’t be a dang thing I can do about something currently happening somewhere far away from me. Good thoughts and vibes ain’t gonna cut it. Along with Vote, Vote, Vote…I’ll add; donate donate donate. $5 bucks to your Democratic candidate or cause. Will do a lot. If we all do it. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoeing-in-uh-im-back-you-do-remember-me-vow-right/1027696/37 "2026-02-16T21:21:29Z")
Amen, Sister! **VOTE VOTE VOTE** And I say a Thank You with my heart to all the protesters. I double and triple blessed those in Minnesota, out in the cold, the snow, the ice, marching, waving signs, and yelling at the top of their lungs! My mobility is so damn wretched I’m doing good to make it to the bathroom. I desperately WANT to protest, and I have to settle for a raging, flaming protest in my heart. (So, two weeks before T-Day, I tripped over an imaginary line and I tap danced like crazy to NOT FALL. So, I didn’t fall. Last time I fell, the paramedics had to pick me up… However, I did sprain my right ankle, badly. Excruciating pain. Mr VOW dug up a walker so I could at least pee. I eventually went to Extended Care got xrays, yep, it’s sprained. One week after I FINALLY weaned off the walker, my LEFT foot swelled up. Bring back the walker. Off to Extended Care again. Beck will sympathize: ankle’s infected. Why ? “You’re Diabetic!” No open wound or sore on that sole, heel, toes, arch, ankle, leg! Diagnosis: cellulitis. Something Diabetics try desperately to avoid. Everything has healed, uneventfully, but I’m in no shape to protest march.) Bitch, bitch, bitch… See why I was gone? ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoeing-in-uh-im-back-you-do-remember-me-vow-right/1027696/38 "2026-02-16T21:34:35Z")
This is safe “bitch” space. To a degree. Protests are not thing I could do. I so wanna be that person. I always had 60s wannabe hippy vibes. I mailed, snail mail, about 600 Kamala cards at the last election. That’s a lot of stamp licking 😛 (I know, I found the sponge thing to help me). It’s a thing I could do that didn’t require speech. Or stepping away from my pet anxiety about actually interacting with a live person. You know how I hate that. Yeah. Gotta do all we can. Get creative. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoeing-in-uh-im-back-you-do-remember-me-vow-right/1027696/39 "2026-02-16T21:41:10Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > And I say a Thank You with my heart to all the protesters. I double and triple blessed those in Minnesota, out in the cold, the snow, the ice, marching, waving signs, and yelling at the top of their lungs! > > My mobility is so damn wretched I’m doing good to make it to the bathroom. I desperately WANT to protest, and I have to settle for a raging, flaming protest in my heart. The sentiment, good feelings, and other efforts are enough, like I said: > [@ParallelLines](#): > > Just vote, vote, vote and **if timing, health and safety permit** , be seen at protests to show everyone there that they’re not alone either. [new bolding added] On a deeply cynical level, if one were to protest despite that, and become too ill/infirm to vote, it’s less helpful. Blech, I don’t like thinking about that. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoeing-in-uh-im-back-you-do-remember-me-vow-right/1027696/40 "2026-02-16T21:51:03Z")
Just stop watching TV news. Both you & hubs. Nothing good for you comes out of TV news, regardless of which station you have tuned in. Ditto internet news sites. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoeing-in-uh-im-back-you-do-remember-me-vow-right/1027696.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoeing-in-uh-im-back-you-do-remember-me-vow-right/1027696.md?page=3)