Scaly Freak

Fingers crossed that it does happen. You'd be good at mentoring.

We are complex puzzles and trickster devices.

Doh. Of course, that would do it. Then I can be patient. Have you tried any of their non-beverage fragrances? Actually, I think studies have shown that a large number of smallish cats send out a larger overall amount of snoozon than a single large cat will. When the smallish cats are in close proximity to each other, the snoozon production increases, apparently.

Fair enough. For some reason I pictured your son as older than 9. And I hear you on the age ratings.... and wish more parents were that level of involved in their children's gaming habits rather than blindly follow the ratings.

He's a kind person, when he cares to show it. Though in that particular case I think it was also driven by self-interest.... It's different from the sci-fi I normally read, in the best possible way. Highly recommend.

I have not, but I am running low, and now I am mildly concerned.

Exactly. First think, then act. Not the other way around!

Those are all things worth holding on too. the trick is to recognize when the job demands so much that it stop being worth the stress and the long-term effects that stress will have. But you knew that already, so I'll shut up now.

No need to do anything about it right now, but keep that resume current...

If I may add to this suggestion.... when you do go out on this date night (not "if" -- "when"!), set a firm rule for both of you that you will not complain about, vent about, problem-solve about, or in any other way discuss, your guest. Because if you do, you're not getting the break from the guest that you need. the date night should be about the two of you. Also I want to second everything that A.P. said about setting time aside to discuss ground rules for this and other guests for future visits. Especially if the guest is going to insist on leaving paraphernalia out that make your anxiety worse.... because Artemis is right that in a partnership, what genuinely bothers one should automatically be a problem for the other. I'm not accusing Dave of anything , or you for that matter. I'm trying to suggest that you two work as a team to figure out how to make future visits less stressful for both of you, and for you in particular. I'm going to take a wild guess that you'd be a lot less reluctant to have this particular guest over for a visit if you didn't have to worry about things like second hand smoke and other irritants. You're impressing me with your patience and your determination to see this through with grace and positivity. Keep it up! You've got this.

Two words; Separate accounts.

Stamina (emotional energy) I resumed my reading of The Three Body Problem today. This requires a lot of mental energy.

The episodes with Dr Stanley are some of the best ones in that entire show.

Are you joining the current challenge period? I can't find your thread... 🙂

Hey, how're things going? How are you doing?

Hail to thee, O Lucy Lawless, Xena actress great and flawless! Beacon by whom we all steer In this book. Wish you were here. Thou who art a constant charmer, Thou who wearest way cool armor, Thou who provest, day by day, Women have a lot to say Whether sword or child in hand, Spread our message through the land! Shamelessly stolen from from the dedication page of the fantasy/sci-fi anthology "Did you say Chicks?!", the sequel to the popular and often misunderstood anthology "Chicks in Chainmail". They are hilarious and well worth reading.

It's a very nice little community. Considering it's made from introverted music-loving Tolkien nerds, that shouldn't be a surprise.

Thank you everyone. Today is better. I didn't realize how much I've completely neglected several basic form of self care until last night, right after H. got back from the gym. He was getting ready to shower, so I followed him into the bathroom to bounce some dinner ideas off him. The dinner conversation taken care of, this exchange took place: H: Can I ask you something that might sound offensive, but isn't meant that way? Me: Sure. Of course. H: When was the last time you showered? *awkward silence* Me: ...I don't remember... *more, awkwarder, silence* H: Could I convince you to please shower before you come to bed tonight? Me: Ohgodyes. Absolutely. *embarrassed, gradually amused, silence* Me: Thank you for hugging me earlier. I felt considerably better after my shower. I spent yesterday evening sort-of by myself, logging into LOTRO to join a weekly social music-event, where the other regulars immediately took note of my complete lack of enthusiastic participation, and wondered whether I was playing tonight or not. After being told only that I'd had a rough week and was tired, they expressed sympathy and hopes that my weekend would be better and then they completely backed off, which allowed me to enjoy the event and their company, without needing to spend too much energy at it. HP (physical health) Saturday: Gym day! After skipping my workouts on Tuesday and Thursday, going to the gym and lifting a barbell was exactly what I needed. H. and I went together, which is fortunate since I would have struggled so hard to get there on my own I probably wouldn't have, if he hadn't nagged pushed for it. I did 15 minutes rowing machines, barbell bench press, and seated rows at a cable machine. Mana (mindfulness/mental health) ...forgot. Dammit. Stamina (emotional energy) I edited songs for my LOTRO musician again. Today's project was to try and convert a couple of Dragonforce tracks to being played on a solo instrument in-game. I think I got it! And now I'm drinking hot chocolate, because I watched this video and it inspired me. Mine isn't nearly as elaborate though.

Is the Kobo US book store down for anyone else...? I keep getting a message saying, "The service is unavailable."

This was my morning, and now I know why

Okay, that changes my position, because nothing is worth starting shit with your partner. I was going to suggest something similar... maybe not rice and beans and nothing else, but when food money was tight for me in the past, variety was always the first to go. Cheap and in bulk was the order of things, and then I scraped and saved until I had a decent spice collection, and variety of seasonings was how I had variety of food. Needs must, and all that. Channel a firm no-fucks-given attitude about hosting, and focus on preserving what you can for when the guest leaves, both budget and relationship.

The Painted Red Skeleton Steed's actual default name is the very boring and uncreative "Dusk". Obviously I had to give her a better one. That aside.... I've been ignoring challenge updates here for a while, and it occurred to me that I should explain why. Plus, it'll be nice to vent a little. I will spoiler the venting, because it involves cancer -- not my own. I am perfectly healthy. (Aside from the high blood pressure and the eczema and the asthma and the anxiety disorder..... But otherwise healthy!) So I'm going to go eat chocolate and hug a cat now, and then I will do a kettlebell workout at home so I don't have to go to the gym and suffer their very questionable music choices.

Technically.... no, you are not. You didn't invite this guest, nor did you force them to carelessly over-spend for a visit that you were told about too late to be able to stop it. So no, you're not on the hook for anything this so-called guest brought on themselves by making bad decisions and forcing you to bail them out. Hospitality goes both ways, and guests who don't have the grace and courtesy to treat their hosts, and the home of their host, with respect and consideration, are assholes who don't need to remain guests. Definitely an asshole of the highest order. You wouldn't happen to have an over-enthusiastic pet that by sheer coincidence just happened to play very energetically in the kitchen and accidentally crash hard into a kitchen table leg while the bong was on the table and you were in another room by chance...? 😇

Yes, this. This is a valid option for books.

OUCH! Reading that injury description made my own thumbs twitch. I'm glad it wasn't a serious injury, though obviously I hope the pain passes quickly! Take care of yourself, and remember that perfection is for toxic people. It's more important to eat anything at all right now, than it is to follow your food plan at every turn (note I do mean "plan", budgets generally should always be adhered to if possible), and be patient with your hand while it recovers.