According to VWife, a cat in heat can be mollified by a Q-Tip. Seriously. I’m not going to describe how, but it doesn’t take a lot of brainpower to figure it out.
ETA: She used to be a cat breeder, FWIW.
I don’t want to be a big downer here, and in many ways, this is almost good news… my mom’s sister Monica died today. She was mentally handicapped, and while chronologically 66, she was mentally about 9 or 10 and emotionally about 6. When she was born, my grandparents were advised to institutionalize her, but they refused, and in some ways, she was like an older sister to me, being only 8 years older.
She had myriad health issues, including a hole in her heart and Parkinson’s, and since my grandparents died (goodness, more than 15 years ago!!) she’d become unhappier and unhappier. And for the last 10 years, my mom has had to deal with her alone almost exclusively, with help from my sibs when necessary. I always lived too far away to be much more than a sounding board.
Monica seemed to be trapped in her own personal hell, and some days, she seemed to be determined to drag my mother with her. I don’t think it was deliberate - she just didn’t function like regular society. For some reason, she was always nice to me. When I’d come visit, she’d always ask about the dogs or the cats and about FCD. I’m not sure why she connected with me, especially considering I left home almost 40 years ago and only returned for visits.
Anyway, I guess her body finally gave out. My sister called **FCD **- guess she didn’t know I worked here, too. Funny - she also called him when my dad died because she didn’t have my work number then either… The funeral is on Friday. I’ll try to call my mom tonight. Honestly, I think we’re all more relieved than saddened. Monica is at peace at last.
Please carry on with the silliness - it helps.
{{{{{Mooooom}}}}}
{{{{{Taters}}}}}, too.
{{{FCM}}}
So it turns out, if you want traffic for your site, Twitter is the thing. Seriously. I’m randomly getting followers on my Twitter, and I posted on my blog asking for opinions like an hour ago, and have two comments already. Who knew? (Besides everyone but me).
:smack: Except one of them is my boyfriend who doesn’t really count (although this is his first time commenting). I’m blaming my sleepiness for me not immediately recognizing his username.
{{{MOOOOOOOM and Family}}} Prayers and good thoughts headed out. Losing family is always sad. Your mom is probably feeling a combination of sadness (after all it’s her sister) and relief. That is not a bad thing at all.
If I may interject a little humor here, Monica liked you because you’re nice dammit.
ShinyCat I know twitter is supposed to be good for stuff. What exactly eludes me but I do know it’s supposed to be good for stuff.
Hehe, no worries SilverTyger; where one goes, more follow! 
{everyone}
Spent a few hours this morning sitting through an orientation for extended unemployment benefits. What’s odd, to me, that they do NOT require this of people who are first getting on unemployment. Why wait six months? By now everyone who is STILL unemployed knows what’s out there, or in most of our cases, what ISN’T out there after government layoffs in the already highest-level unemployment area in the state, also the country last I checked.
It just seems like poorly-timed, ill-used and wasted resources. But it’s done, tada.
And because California doesn’t have enough unemployed people (!!!) to qualify for federal benefits after Dec., Dec is it for everyone. Hope I get work before then I am planning on an out-of-state-move in a couple of years, partly because work IS too hard to get here, but can’t do it without work. If I spoke spanish, I’d happily take on one of my go-to jobs, restaurant or customer service, but without spanish even the DMV doesn’t want me. 
My dad keeps telling me ‘Just get a job here in Idaho now, go home and visit, stay with me the rest of the time’. That would not displease me, lol. MrTao would have a rough time though, I think. 
Home - just got off the phone with my sister (among others) - Monica had mostly stopped eating in the last week or so. Today, she had a couple of bites of bread, then she went to her room, and when my mom looked in on her, she had died. Funeral is Friday morning, so we’ll be driving north of Balto early that day. **FCD **and I will be among the pallbearers. The weather is forecast to be chilly and possibly rainy, so I need to pick my wardrobe accordingly.
I was talking with another sister, trying to figure out who needed to be notified, and it occurred to us that there aren’t too many folks left on Mom’s side of the family. She’s got 3 or 4 cousins who are still alive, one brother, and maybe some miscellaneous others who none of us have seen in ages. So except for Mom and her brother, my generation is next in line. Keep a happy thought!
On cheerier themes - grilled cheese for supper. Not that I’m a huge fan of grilled cheese, but it’s easy and **FCD **requested it. Minimal cooking is good. And he’s all happy - he bought a tablet today and he’s playing with it already. Boys and their toys… 
Meanwhile, the dishwasher won’t empty itself, dammit…
{{{FCM}}}
It’s been kind of a weird day today. Class tonight ended up being canceled which is cool because it’s also grief group tonight so I’m glad I can go there instead. In the meantime I’ve been making bracelets likethis and this. Everyone tells me that this is what they want. (Until I make them, then no one is interested anymore. Or, at least that’s what happened last time.) We shall see.
ETA: I’m doing this while watching White Christmas which always leaves me singing “Sisters.” 
FCM, first, my thoughts and prayers are with your family, esp. your mother.
Now, in answer to your question, yes, I keep up with news from the DC area. I also read news for other places I lived in, growing up, at least what is available online. Grr on so many of the news organizations wanting you to subscibe in order to read the stories. One site I used to be able to read went subscription only, and they want $30 plus per month - not gonna happen. 
Not to be ghoulish, but mostly I check obits online, in the papers.
Sending good thoughts your way, 2gig, and so sorry that your soon-to-be-ex is putting you through such stress. Gah.
Dindin was roast beast with gravy, rice, cabbage casserole and rolls. Not too shabby for one who was uninspired as to what to make.
Herbs I read the ye olde hometowne online news pretty much for the obits.
StickyBuns that Cthulhu lookin’ bracelet looks like it would hurt. Then again, I suppose a Cthulhu bracelet should probably hurt.
Tao no orienation for those who first get on unemployment? Tres weird!
I’s tahrd!
Hugs to you and your family, **FCM. **
I received some good news about my Dad today. His strength is returning and he has a little feeling in his left side. The doctor predicted that walking will be a challenge for him, but I am hopeful that PT will help with that. He asked about me today and I will go down and visit him after work tomorrow.
He’s not out of the woods yet, but is much, much better than yesterday.
Time for some kind of dinner. I was in meeting that last over three hours and went through my lunch and beyond. I ended up skipping lunch. I was a little hungry around 3:30 or so, but now I’m not hungry at all. Considering that all I have had today is a 16 ounce quad shot Americano, black, I should eat something.
Evening! We are currently under a “severe thunderstorm” warning. Fun. Rain and 65 mph winds are in our future tonight. Although not as bad as the floods that have hit near my home town in the UK.
Supper was blackened tilapia Cesar salads and it was tres yum.
{{taters}} & {{fcm}}
Mittleschmerz is acting up. Hugs to the Chat family. VunderBob I hope you are happy. I’ve had ketchup dreams for the past two nights.
Dindin was bad Chinese for hubby and roasted potatoes and onions for me with ketch up! I no like Chinese. Tired and achey. My shot arm hurts badly today but hubbster says his didn’t hurt a bit.
Is it Firday yet? I am so tired of irk. This week doing employee evals. Not fun.
Good new Taters andEmmmms i have friends in OKC and they hate it there just because of all the weird weather. They are military so will be moving on in another year.
Mrs. Plant made corned beef and cabbage.
Surprisingly, it was very good.
She also sent me this via email.
Scared the snot out of me.
She just “thought it was funny” under interrogation.
SwampBear, don’t post anything about this.
Go make brisket.
Carrots, potatoes, onion and parsnips.
Bake it all at 350 for a long time, until everything is falling apart.
Go, shoo.
I used theAqueon water changer on the two fifty five gallon tanks downstairs.
Extremely cool. The sink splashed a lot, but I’m going to try and find a brass fitting for the sink faucet that I can put teflon tape on and tighten up.
I’m reading “The Promised Land” that Mrs. Plant v.3.0 bought for me. Very good. Anyrose, you would like it.
I fixed something important at work, the boss broke it last night and I fixed it again this morning.
I hate this stuff.
We are supposed to have sub-100 degree weather most of the rest of the week, yay!
Dindin was chickenshit on a shingle.*
And why, oh WHY, is Walmart full of Christmas stuff already?!?!?!?!!? This is gettin’ 'diculous. If you’re gonna have Christmas stuff early, make it the EDIBLE sort. At least THAT is welcome in September.
+S.O.S. with chicken. And gussied up white sauce. And biskits. Ok, so it was chik’nbiscuit, but chickenshit on a shingle sounds like more fun.
Waffles.
Also doing laundry (which is almost done, hopefully) and working on bookmarks. Waaaaffffles…
You should seek counsel with your Clergyman or a Physician.
Blurf.
Yay for improvement on TatersDad!
Great news, Taters! Hoping more is on the way…
Yay for rain, mmmmmmmmm! We’ve got a cold front due thru here, followed by many chances for precip. Wonder how many of those chances will fulfill? We could use some rain.
Just another day here - I’ll be building a parts library. Boring but necessary. And more fun than a sharp stick in the eye, so there’s that!
Suddenly, I want a donut. Where’s the Donut Fairy??
Happy Wednesday, anyway.