I have a black vest that says “IN TRAINING” on it, which generally lets most people know he’s a service dog. And I was prepared for kids to try to touch or ask to pet - they’re kids and he’s a dog. But to my surprise, the kids have been very good about not running up to him. They know he’s a ‘helper dog’ and they’re…

So, as I‘ve mentioned before, I’ve been training my own service animal for a year now. And he’s a sweet, adorable furface that has made life SO much easier for me - you really don’t realize how often you need to retrieve things from the floor until you don’t have to do so. Having Joss’ help gives me up to an hour…

Absolutely ask. I took Kidlet out for a fancy dinner when we went to Vegas and he decided he’d get the squid-ink pasta with sea urchin. He’s not at all a fussy eater, likes to get new things and try them, and he knows the risks that brings. Well, he happily scarfed the pasta, but said the sea urchin tasted bitter and…

Oh, yeah. You can download it or email it as an attachment, and if you have any collaborators or editors that you want to give access to, you can either let them view it or even edit it. That’s a huge plus for me - I can work on something, then just give someone the ability to read it so I don’t have to worry about…

Kidlet and I saw the doctor this week. For me, nothing’s changed - more non-answers, more pain pills, repeat as needed. Different story for him. He was diagnosed as having mild depression and given a low dose of Zoloft. And WOW, there’s already been a difference! He seems more present, more engaged, and appears to…

Check with your bank/broker - a lot of times they can give you some good advice. I worked for Principal Financial for a little while in my 20s and based on what several people suggested, I had most of my 401(k) invested in money market and mutuals, with about 15% actually in the stock market. That way, while I may not…

I have a down alternative comforter (https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-2616122/the-big-one-down-alternative-solid-reversible-comforter.jsp?color=Aqua%20Tonal&prdPV=6) and it is sooooo comfy! For the coldest nights, I sometimes need to put a blanket on top of or under it, but for the most part, it’s plenty warm - and…

Everything I write is done through Google Docs, because it’s all saved automatically as you go. I know both Word and Open Office can do that, but you have to set it up, and I’ve forgotten to do just that more than once. With Google, it’s automatic.

God, I hate those! They seem to be rapidly spreading in my city, and they can really make life difficult for people who may need to access the bathroom NOW, rather than having to wait to order. My mom has IBS, so when she needs a restroom, she doesn’t always have the time to stand in line, place an order, and pay…

I had one in my hip that didn’t do jack. My little pain sheet they gave me to fill out over the following week/month didn’t have a single number lower than 7 on it. It may be that whatever’s going on is either nerve-related (dr’s current theory on my hip) or that for some reason, cortisone just isn’t doing it for you.…

Absolutely call CPS. I spent years going through hell at my mother’s hand, and one of the worst things was not knowing if the extended family knew and didn’t care enough to step in to protect me, or if they were just blind to the thought that their daughter/sister/etc could do something like that to her child. In…

When Kidlet was small, a friend from work made the mistake of giving us a Veggie Tales tape. We aren’t in the least religious, but they turned out to be a decent way to teach basic values (and we just ignored the Bible verse at the end) plus they’re so. Damn. Catchy. Even now, put a Veggie Tales song on, and you have…

Dogs and their owners are a package deal - in that way, it IS like having a kid. When Kidlet was younger, I made sure anyone I dated learned that fairly early on, and now that I have Joss, anyone I’d date would be expected to learn the same thing. Especially since he’s in training for service, so he’s with me almost…

I’ve had times I regretted it (especially when Kidlet was 15 and 16 - those were rough years) but overall, I’m absolutely not sorry I had him. It’s true that you can’t miss what you never had, but by the same token, I can’t imagine my life without Kidlet. I didn’t really worry about things before I had him, but that…

I’ve been on a Lucifer binge lately, with Bull and Scorpion up next, then maybe The Librarians. If you haven’t seen Leverage, absolutely give that a shot, as well.

Yayyyy, Bigfoot! That’s wonderful news - tell her the Jezzies are proud of her! It’s great to hear that she’s doing so well, particularly since she’s doing so much of it all on her own.

I always say that I’m not a kid person, but a Kidlet person. I was completely conflicted about having him, didn’t even know I was pregnant until I was six months along, then had him two months early. And I admit that I fell head over heels for him when he was a week old - he was put into my arms in the NICU for his…

I line the pan with aluminum foil to help with clean-up - collect the bacon grease for other cooking, then peel the foil off, and the pan comes clean in a minute flat.

The wet weather and coffee are Seattle - I’m on the other side of the state, where we really only get rain in the spring and occasionally in the fall. The rest of the time, it’s sunshine in summer, snow and clear, cold days in the winter. And I’ve actually run across quite a few people from Cali - ‘where from?’ is the…