Oh, yeah, we take very good care of them. We doctor minor injuries and illnesses ourselves, but know when a vet is needed. They never want for food, unless they are too busy playing to come to breakfast or dinner, but that's their own fault...naw if anyone misses out on food, they get feed a bit more. We realized that one of the kittens has round worms today and are in the process of clearing that up. They get flea treatments and brushing. We don't throw them in tubs and bathe them but we do use waterless shampoo and face and paw cleaning cloths on them. And next week the kittens are being fitted for their very first collars and tags. There are quite a few of them but we take very good care of them and most of them will eventually find their way to new forever homes, but the ones that don't have a loving forever home right here.

That's cool...I've never had pets, apart from some goldfish a very long time ago.

Awwwww...Why not?? Pets are awesome!!

I used to want a dog but my parents wouldn't let me have one as a child, and then when I got older I became afraid that I wouldn't be able to look after it and unintentionally neglect it.

Oh, I understand that. Best to not have a pet if you don't think you can take care of it. Smart move.

I still have that fear, and it's quite sad, my dad once asked if I wanted a dog probably a couple of years ago...I think he was saying someone he knew had pups to give away...but I declined thinking that whole unintentional neglect thing was too cruel for any creature to have to go through.

So whenever I go to someone's place, and they have a dog or cat, I would pet it and if I could, play with it too, with the owner's permission. Whenever I go out I seem to take notice of dogs and cats too...

Well, I am sure that one day you will be able to get a pet of your own and you will get over your fear of unintentionally neglecting it because you will see that you take very good care of it.

It's something for me to think about

Yes, Ling, definitely think about it. Pets are a joy to have. My dog, Lady, knows just how to cheer me up on my worst days. I'm lucky to have her.

I can imagine that..

Gods...school and work are killing me...so glad I finally got a free day for some much needed down time...

Sounds like you do need a break, I think studying and working is hard to do...

Would it sound insensitive if I said that I need a break now that I'm home from my vacation? (It was more stressful to travel than it would have been to stay home.)

I think that makes sense...travelling can be exhausting.

Not insensitive at all, Mathonwy...I absolutely hate traveling...which is why my vacations are all taken right here in my bed...

I got my mini break, Ling. Now I get to tackle a 5 hour shift tomorrow....sadly, I wished I got more hours. As it stands I am losing hours bad. Last month I was getting 28 hours a week. Two weeks ago, I was only getting 15 hours. Last week, I dropped down to 10 and this week I got 11. Let me just say having to travel to work and school 7 days a week cost more in gas than what I am actually making after taxes. I no longer see a point in keeping this stressful, unworthy job.

If you have other means for living financially, maybe it would be an idea to not work at all, or minimal hours for extra money, and concentrate on your studies, Mehimaru.

I'm already working minimum hours, Ling. I wouldn't be able to keep this job only getting 10 and 11 hours if it wasn't for the fact that my sister every other week pays for my gas for taking her to and from work on my way to and from school. I wouldn't be able to afford the gas needed to make the trips to and from school and work if it wasn't for my sister since work has cut my hours as bad as they did.

That's unfortunate that they've given you less hours to work in that way.

Yes, Ling, it is very much so but it just gives me the encouragement I need to dump this job come January in favor of a lab assistant job once I get my first semester of med lab tech done.

That's a good way of thinking about it

So far that way of looking at it is the only thing keeping me from turning in my badge tomorrow without a two week notice....

You can do it Mehimaru!

Awwww, thanks, Ling. Yeah, I can do it. School is turning into hell....I'm so tired....

Hi Mehi! How have you been??

*starts doing a bit of dusting* Hmmm, things sure do just dusty when one is away....