I agree with that approach, though have come to realize that it's the process itself that causes me to dread the task, and I am always surprised that once I begin it I get absorbed in it. Sort of like a writing project, getting into the flow is key. This year the results were pleasantly surprising, and, I promise, there was no "monkey-math" involved, except, maybe, perhaps, a companion lovebird might not really qualify as a dependent, but I do pay more than half of his expenses.* *Memo to any government tax officials or other officious intermeddlers in the group, this is just a joke. Honest. The bird will file separately.
Rodents. They are just such lovely little beings. Hamsters are fantastic, mice are cute, and rats are friendly little darlings.
A soulmate! I had fancy mice as a kid, and my daughter and I raised two consecutive pair of fancy rats. Lovely indeed when you get to know and accept them -- and they seem to feel the same way about us.
I've done my share of feeding rodents to snakes -- and even to a caged owl (with a damaged wing). Nature is like that, as all we carnivores like to say. But that doesn't require us to deny that all sentient beings have feelings and fears. I don't think I could feed a rodent to a snake at this stage in my life, knowing rodents as I do. I certainly would not like doing it -- I like snakes and I understand and appreciate the snake's need to eat, I just would rather not be a party to it.
Your feelings are understandable. I love both rodents and snakes, and frankly I would love it if all the animals in nature could just live peacefully with one another. Far from realistic, unfortunately.
Just for clarification: I don't keep snakes or rodents. I am very fond of the wandering garter snakes that grace my rose garden, ergo "my snakes." They have to locate their own rodents. But that doesn't require us to deny that all sentient beings have feelings and fears. Don't look at me. I'm an animist.
A cat, a chicken and a duck walk into a bar... This YouTube channel makes me inexplicably happy: https://www.youtube.com/@catsdiary3115
I can't believe this but I might really finish all of this term's coursework a few days into the Easter break! At the rate things were going, I was convinced I'd just be studying and writing reports the whole easter, but nope! This is such happy news. I have not written a single piece of writing that is worth a damn in months. And I've got a novel to finish. If all goes well, I'll be finished tomorrow and I'll have a lot of free time for the next two weeks. This is going to be a good opportunity to get lots of writing done because the first week I'm back, things will get really busy again.
Make that over a year for me. I also found myself happy to have a bit of extra time as I completed my coursework early for the break. Gives me a fair bit more time to actually get back into what I went to school for the second time around. Excited to write again.
So, today is my birthday and I've been feeling kinda weird about entering a new decade (not thrilled... but not disappointed? idk... i was stressed). Also, i have this irrational fear (since childhood) of throwing a birthday party for myself because i've always been worried that no one would come... or that I'd find out the people i thought were friends were really just tolerating me this whole time (this was why i never wanted birthday parties growing up, but would rather spend it with my immediate family). All my family is in another state, except my sister who is a few cities away. I was alone for my 20th birthday, though i was grateful for the classmate that invited me to a house party off campus that neither of us enjoyed and i ended up just going back to my dorm room to facetime my parents. I had it in my mind to silently and sadly enter into my 30s.... but my mom sent me a t-shirt that said "Perfectly 30!" and that lifted my spirits a bit. Then I got to work today after taking the day off yesterday and they had banners up around my desk and threw me a surprise mini office party I've only been working here for a couple of months, but they thought enough of me to do this and I am super grateful and appreciate even more that I work here.
My wife turned 50 last year. I threw a party for her at an axe throwing bar. When people asked how old my wife was I told them while she has access to alcohol and bladed throwing weapons was not a good time to ask.
Guest: you're a darn good lawyer! Me: Oh, I'm not a lawyer Guest: yet! Me: nope! librarian Guest: Oh, you're going to be a librarian? Me: no, I AM a librarian. Not a lawyer, just a librarian Guest: oh. well... not "just" a librarian. Don't ever say that. Me: I'm a librarian Guest: a darn good librarian at that! Thanks for your help! -leaves-
I'm with the guest. Never say "just" a librarian. And unlike lawyers, librarians have souls. [It's okay, I can say that since I am recovering lawyer]
Here's something wot made me laugh. I was house-sitting when the phone rang. I picked up, and after a few seconds of tell-tale call-center noises, someone asked "Can I speak to the homeowner?" That immediately made me suspicious, so I said "All right. But who is the homeowner?" The person paused for a suspiciously long time and then said, getting aggressive, "The homeowner! I want to speak to the homeowner!!!" Having been thrown back on the defensive, I decided to get belligerent. I said, "Yes, I heard you the first time. But what is the homeowner's name, hmm?" There was another long pause, and then he screamed "F*** YOU!!!" down the line and hung up. That made me laugh for a bit. So what do you think -- scammer? Or just a time-wasting call-center person? I'm guessing it's a scammer, only because call-center people would never get away with such aggressiveness and bad language.
Years ago when caller id appeared, we used to let our 5 year old talk to tele-marketers. Always good for a laugh.
Now I have a mental picture of a 5-year-old saying really excited (and MUCH too fast): "HelloMyNameIsStaceyAndMyParentsAreNotHomeAndUnicornsAreSoMuchFun!!!" (and so on). Meanwhile, the poor telemarketer is trapped. You can't curse at a 5-year-old girl.
have you, by chance, watched/listened to the 911 call made by a 5 year old who's father was having a heart attack? (the dad was ok, btw) the little girl was SOOOOOO funny! she remained calm the whole time, but then started having a conversation with the operator. Operator asked if her dad was still moving and she pauses and you can hear her yell "Daddy! are you still moving?" (or something like that). the dad groans in the background and she gets back on the phone like "Yes, he is moving" and then continues talking about her pajamas.
