Handsome Newton

Hello everyone – long time, no post. With Facilitate Your User completely posted, I haven’t been updating anything weekly. I wish I had a new story to post, but sadly that is not the case. Today’s picture is of Newton. I put this picture as the wallpaper on my phone recently and it cropped it nicely. Newton really loves sitting in this window. The red in the background is the japanese maple outside. All the leaves were gone less than two days later. This was sort of that “last hoorah” for foliage and flowers.

On the writing front, I sent my Reaping Covetous manuscript to the editor yesterday for its first round. I believe this one is a content editing. This is my first time through all of this so I’m not entirely certain what all that entails but think it is probably self explanatory. The editor has 3 weeks to return it and then I look over her suggestions, change what I want and send it back for a line editing. Again, the editor has 3 weeks to return it to me and same process again. It goes for a third and final time. After that I need to get a different person to proofread it. I still need to look into getting a book cover, downloading the formatting software and how to get it uploaded to book selling sites. Sigh . . . still lots to do and I’m assuming a big learning curve as well. My hope (fingers silently crossed) is that I can get the first book out at the end of winter or early spring of 2021. The second book is already basically written and I have a January date for it to go out for its first editing process. So much to do . . . well, you know the rest of the saying.

On the veterinary front, we have still been very busy. Last week I euthanized the second police dog of my eighteen year career. This time around, I knew a little more what to expect, but they are still emotionally draining. For those of you whom don’t know, police dogs are considered officers and when one of them is euthanized, it’s a very big deal. The dog’s arrive with a police escort – lights flashing and usually at least 10 cars long. Our parking lot is packed with policeman in their dress blues. When the dog has passed, they gather in the room, drape an American flag over the dog and carry them out. Then they leave in the same caravan, lights flashing on their way to the funeral home for cremation of their fallen canine officer. I’ve seen a lot of men cry in my career. I don’t know why, and I don’t want for this to sound sexist, but it is almost always more difficult, seeing men verses women cry. I always tell them it’s okay. That if there is anyone they can cry around regarding the loss of their pet, it’s me. Seeing normally rock steady police officers with tears running down their faces is difficult. I cried right along with them and when they left, the clinic was silent as a tomb, all of us standing by the windows as the caravan passed us by.

Sometimes, life is hard. Right now it’s harder than ever. Even the things that are supposed to bring us joy. The holidays that are supposed to be events we look forward too, are more stressful than usual. Should you gather or shouldn’t you. And if you do, how can you keep everyone as safe as possible. This year, I had Thanksgiving at my house. My older Aunt and Uncle decided not to come and I totally understood. My sister, her husband, their two kids and my mom and dad came over. My parents see my sister, brother-in-law and my niece and nephew almost daily so I kind of think of the six of them as “one unit”. Everyone wore masks when we couldn’t be separated. I ate at a different end of the kitchen than them and then we played a rousing game of Trivial Pursuit. It’s a good game for social distancing as I stayed on one end of the living room and they all stayed on the other. After they left, I went through the house spraying everything down with Lysol. We tried to be as safe as possible while still trying to enjoy each others company. Not sure if we were right or wrong, but that was our compromise this Thanksgiving. I’m guessing we’ll do something similar for Christmas but I suppose time will tell.

On that note, I’ll sign off. As always, I’m wishing you all well. Stay healthy – both physically and mentally. Hopefully a vaccine is on the way. We all have to dig in and hold on for the next few months. It’ll be a long winter, but we can do it!

MJ May

Epilogue of Facilitate Your User Posted

Happy post election everyone! Do all of you feel as hung over as me, without the benefit of the alcoholic high? I finally slept well for the first time in about six days. It’s been a rough ride and I have no illusions the next couple of months aren’t going to be a complete and total shit show, but for now at least, I’m trying to take a deep breath while I can.

I posted the epilogue of Facilitate Your User. It wraps things up and also hints at a future series. I have a difficult time writing a single story without looking further into the characters’ lives and wanting to continue them. When I write, I think in series. With that said, I do think this one wraps up well enough to end here. I have not started a second book and am not sure if I will or not. I suppose it depends on how my future as a writer does, or does not go. Right now I am concentrated on getting my Reaping Covetous series off the ground. The first book goes to the editor at the end of November and I am really hoping to get it out there late winter/early spring. More to come on that front (hopefully).

Today’s picture is regarding the “leaf situation” at my house. A week ago we had a day of wind, wind and more wind. Halloween night, my drive and steps were clear. By the end of the following day, it looked like this. I couldn’t even see the bottom half of the steps leading up to the house and at some points, the leaves were about knee high (and I’m around 5’8”). It was a lot. It also provided a somewhat cathartic physical outlet post election day. I generally have Wednesday’s off from work and this past week was no different. Not wanting to even venture anywhere near the television, I spent a better chunk of the day raking and bagging leaves. My car barely fits in the garage right now, the walls lined with bags of leaves. I’ll put them out on the curb for pick up this week. It was a lot of work, but the weather was nice and it was good to get me out of the house and my mind away from the worry of our country’s future.

As tapped out as my brain is, I don’t think I have much more to say today. I’m also not sure if I will continue to post and update weekly or maybe every 2 weeks or so. Currently I don’t have another story to start posting but I’ll still try and keep up with the blog for those interested. I really hope those of you reading Facilitate Your User have enjoyed it. I like Keylee and Paul and hope to revisit their futures soon (always a relative term). I love sharing my characters with people. Always feel free to drop me a review/comment. I like hearing from you.

As always, please take care – body and soul. Take a deep breath, eat something you love and don’t feel guilty about it, pet your furry friends and take a minute to enjoy the sun on your face.

Thank you for reading.

MJ May

Chapter Twenty-Four of Facilitate Your User Posted

Happy Halloween everyone! I’m posting a little earlier than usual, mostly because I’m trying to get back into the routine of writing and wanted to have ample time tomorrow morning to do that. I just posted the final normal chapter of Facilitate Your User. There is still a small epilogue which I’ll post next week. More sexy times are ahead for Paul and Keylee, so be warned.

Today’s photo is courtesy of my new tile, with a healthy dose of Newton on the side. I had this past week off and it was a sort of working, staycation. I did get all the rooms painted, furniture shifted, moved and put back. The pictures were taken down and rehung. My body came out of the whole thing fairly unscathed. I few new bruises here and there, including one above my left eye where a few inches more ventral and medially would have been a hell of a lot more serious (got to watch our for those pesky table legs when they are turned upside down and laying on top of the bed). All in all things went okay. There were a few glitches but nothing that derailed the whole project. Mostly it was exhausting in the anxiety inducing way. I like the end product and evidently Newton likes the tile, or at least he likes laying on it.

I was off work, but it didn’t feel like it. Monday and Tuesday I took Fennik into the clinic so he would be out of the house. This meant dealing with messages on my desk and trying to triage a couple of things here and there. I also went in Monday night to euthanize a long time patient that had suddenly decompensated. I didn’t have to do it, but I wanted to. That might sound strange to some, but I think most veterinarians would understand. I spent a lot of time with both the dog and her owners and I felt like it was the last kindness I could do for them. It was heartbreaking but very needed.

The city I live in is still having trick or treat tonight. I usually have several and this year I made sure to go on-line to check out the recommended guidelines. I did what they recommended and packaged up my individually wrapped candies in little plastic baggies and set them down on a fold out table at the base of the steps leading up to my house. I left a note for the trick or treaters, placed a pumpkin and candle illuminated cat light on the table as well. It wasn’t an enormous amount of work, but there was some effort put into it. Sadly, at this point I don’t know that there have been any trick or treaters out. Sigh. I understand if they don’t venture out this year, but I was really hoping for some and tried to make things as safe as possible.

On a final note, I’m back to work this week, but more importantly, it’s election week. I did early voting this past week. I waited in line for about an hour and forty five minutes. Not as long as a lot of people, I know. I have huge anxiety for the coming week and the ones after. I really don’t know what to expect. I know who I want to win and who I fear will win. I also know that I fear the result of either outcome. The tinderbox is set and ready to be lit and there is more than one individual ready to flick their Bic.

As always, I hope you are all staying well. Be safe out there and try and keep your cool, no matter which way things go. I probably should have purchased some alcohol based products while I was at the grocery this morning. I have a sneaking suspicion I’m going to be in need of some self medicating this week.

MJ May

Chapter Twenty-Three of Facilitate Your User Posted

Chapter twenty-three is sweet, but also a return to sexy times – be warned! Facilitate Your User is wrapping up. There is one more normal chapter to post and then a quick epilogue. I hope you’ve been enjoying the story thus far and continue to read until the end.

Today is another Halloween decor photo of my house. The nighttime photos of the blinking “critter eye lights” didn’t turn out well. I was kind of bummed about that as I think in person, they look great. I took some video of them but am really not sure how to post that on here so for now that will have to remain absent. FYI, the metal pumpkins in this picture do light up. Once again, thanks go to my dad on that one. Yes, Kathy, he is one talented fella.

I’m in painting mode the next couple of days. I posted last week that I’m repainting the 3 bedrooms (one of which is more the computer/cat room). I’ve only got one done. Today I’ll do the second and tomorrow the third. I sincerely hope my body holds up for this painting marathon. Only one way to find out and that’s to get on with it. Thankfully I have this week off work. It feels weird. I hardly ever take time off and rarer still, a whole week. It’s a staycation and a working one at that. Still, it’s good to get some time off. I worked yesterday so you’d think the routine would be normal but my brain is already discombobulated. I’m partially blaming the fact my bedroom is a strange mess with everything scooted to the center of the room.

Painting with pets (that sounds like a PBS show) is difficult. They want to be where the action is, in this case, that action would be me with a paint roller. And it seems they also want to become a part of the action too. I really thought I did a good job yesterday keeping them out of the paint (I primed the walls in my bedroom). Well, in the light of the following day, that certainly is not true. Fen Fen is sporting some rather impressive white patches where he should be a ruddy tan and Newton has a similar patch on what should be a brown tail. So far it looks like Coperinicus is the only paint free critter.

I suppose if that’s the worst that comes of my painting fiasco then I should count my blessings. Fen Fen gets groomed this week so hopefully they can work some magic there. Dog grooming – now there is a physically demanding job. I don’t envy them one iota but am very grateful for all they do.

That’s all for today. I hope you have a safe and candy/trick or treater filled Halloween. In these fun filled COVID times, I’m not sure what all the rules for trick or treating are in different parts of the country. Come to think of it, this year I’m actually not sure what the rules are for where I live. Hmmm . . . that seems like something I should get on. I did buy candy so I’m prepared for whatever eventuality.

Be well, my friends and wish me luck painting!

MJ May

Chapter Twenty-Two of Facilitate Your User Posted

Happy almost Halloween everyone! Ready for Paul’s User exam? I hope so because this chapter is it!

Today’s picture is of my own personal skeleton crew. My dad cut these out, painted them and surprised me with them a few years ago. Bless his heart, he was so proud of them and excited because he painted them with a type of paint that was supposed to glow in the dark. It sort of did, but not enough that you could really tell. Despite his disappointment about the lack of glow, I really like them and they’ve been a Halloween decor staple for the past few years.

I started repainting the bedrooms in my house yesterday. I wrote in an earlier post that I’m getting new carpet for most of the house and new tile in the foyer. I am actually taking a whole week off work the last week of October and this is when the new flooring is supposed to be going in. I’m trying to repaint the bedrooms before that time. I have learned (the very hard, frustrating and making more work for yourself way) that doing test samples of paint on the wall, while irritating, pays off in the end. Because of that, I have all sorts of colorful (and not so colorful) patches of paint going on in now 2/3 rooms. It was 3/3 but I got the computer/cat room painted yesterday. I have to say, right now, I’m pleased with the color. It is a small room and I went pretty dark, but I like it kind of moody in here. It’s where I write and spend a lot of my time.

I was more than a little afraid of how my body would hold up painting (I’ve got bone spurs in both shoulders) but am happy to say that I’m feeling A-okay this am after yesterday’s marathon room painting. I am hoping that is a good sign for the other two rooms.

I am anxiously awaiting the new flooring going in. Like many other areas of the US, we are having a spike in the number of COVID cases in my area. Friday we had 2 clients call and cancel their appointments because they were ill with a fever. A clinic just a few miles from us has been closed for the last week and a half due to a COVID illness. Currently we are still allowing clients into the building – only two per pet and they must be masked, but I have a feeling that is going to change sometime in the near future and we will be back to only curbside. Selfishly, I hope all the flooring folks stay well and can get my job done. I also hope I can stay well and don’t have to cancel on them.

As a somewhat worrisome aside, one of the clients that canceled is a neighbor of mine and she’s also a nurse. I am always wishing our healthcare workers the very best. My sister is a RN and she works on the critical care floor of one of the major hospital’s in our state capitol. I worry about her as she is diabetic and also a smoker. It is an ongoing battle, trying to keep the mind and body healthy. I’m glad I have a socially distant, safe option for trying to keep my mind occupied – writing. Although, I haven’t been getting as much of that done as I’d like given how busy I’ve been. Hopefully I can get back to it soon.

Until next week, stay sane and remember to vote! Currently I’m planning to do early voting during the week I have off. Fingers crossed that plan doesn’t need to change.

MJ May

Chapter Twenty-One of Use Your Facilitator Posted

Good morning everyone (again, morning where I currently am). I just posted the next chapter of Facilitate Your User. It’s interesting how characters change as you get deeper into a story. When I first started writing Maxwell Haines, I wasn’t sure I liked him. By the end, he was one of my favorites. I hope you think so too.

Today’s picture is a throwback. This is Fennik as a puppy. My guess is I’d had him maybe a week when this picture was taken. It’s an interesting picture to me because this was one of the only times he used his dog bed as it was intended. It didn’t take the little fella long before he began dragging it around the house, humping it. He’s neutered now, but he still “enjoys” this activity. Sometimes I feel kind of bad that I neutered him as I think he would have made a great doggie gigolo.

On a little darker note, today’s blog post is about euthanasia. As a veterinarian, this is part of my job. Euthanasia is never something any veterinarian enjoys, but I’d venture to say that most of us truly believe we are relieving pain and suffering. I’ve been asked before how I feel about it and how I can put an animal down. After eighteen years as a vet, my answer has become pretty standard – I don’t feel bad about 90% of them. It’s that other 10% that keep me awake at night. It’s the one’s that have to be euthanized because of behavior problems (aggression, inappropriate urination, or something else that makes them difficult or impossible to re-home).

And then there’s the decision of when to euthanize. Two weeks ago, in the same day, I had two extremes of the situation. One client who I thought waited far too long and another who jumped to euthanasia way too quickly (at least in my opinion). Both of these clients had very different view points on death and quality of life and each would have been horrified by the other’s decision. As I’ve said in an earlier post, if this job has taught me anything, love means something unique and slightly different to every individual. How people view life and death and their role as caretaker of a pet is also very different. Like most things in life, most people fall somewhere in the middle, a position most of us can easily relate to. Other’s are the outliers, the one’s the majority of us look at and sort of shake our heads at.

Seeing the other person’s perspective is difficult, especially when you hold a life in your hands. That day was difficult for me and I felt guilty about both euthanasias for totally opposite reasons. I could have said no to the one I thought was occurring too soon, but in this case, there were extenuating circumstances and I understood her reasons. Would I have made the same choice in her shoes? I’m not sure.

At the end of the day, euthanasias are hard, and that is the way they should be. Deciding to euthanize your pet should be one the most difficult decisions you make, otherwise you never should have had them. It’s hard for a reason. It’s hard because pets mean the world to us. It’s hard because we love them. It’s hard because their loss leaves a gaping hole that is almost impossible to fill. It’s the price we pay. Most of the time, I think the price is worth the years of joy they bring us. And that is what I try and remind myself on the days where I have not one, not two, but multiple euthanasias I have to perform. And there are days like that, though thankfully, they are few.

Sorry if this post was sad or made you uncomfortable. In a way, I meant it as comfort for those of you struggling with an ailing pet. Know that you are not alone. I’ve lost three beloved pets. I euthanized all of them myself and I cried like a lost child during each and every one. I cried for days after and in the case of my first Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Georgia, I still have days when I cry. But then Fennik was born and came to live with me. He’ll never replace Georgia, but he brings a lot of joy, silliness and stupidity to my life. Just like good pets are supposed to.

Until next week, hug, pet, kiss the ones you love (unless they’re human and you suspect them of having COVID!). Stay well and sane. For me, that recipe typically has four legs and a lot of fur 🙂

MJ May

Chapter Twenty of Facilitate Your User Posted

Happy October everyone. I just posted chapter twenty of Facilitate Your User. There are more sexy times ahead in this chapter so be warned. Sorry, but I think this chapter is a little shorter. I had a hard time deciding where to split this one and the next and opted to make this one a tad shorter.

Today’s picture is of Copernicus. This was a little weird because I’ve never seen him lay on the arm of the couch like that before. I snapped a shot and thought it showed him off fairly well and opted to make it today’s picture post. I did take a couple of pictures of the Halloween decoration shenanigans from last Sunday. They didn’t come out the best though. I’m certainly no photographer and not sure how to take better nighttime pictures. I’ll put something up around the 31st, even if it isn’t all that spectacular. I do think the lights came out well. The logistics of all the extension cords wasn’t pleasant, but I had enough (barely) and didn’t have to make a frantic store run.

It’s election year in the good old USA. I would imagine every state in the union is currently being bombarded by political commercials – both good and mostly bad. I have to say, I normally mute them or switch the station when they come on. It’s nauseating and I hate it. But you know what I’d hate more? Not being able to vote. Democracy is a messy beast and right now it is down right vicious. I hate all the hate that seems to permeate not only the US, but the world at large. Most of the time I feel helpless and I know that that’s how a lot of people feel. We feel like we don’t matter, that one vote can’t change much. Or at least that’s how I feel, especially living in a state who’s general population is far more conservative than me. Regardless, I will be at the voting polls come the first Tuesday in November.

I’ve spoken to a lot of family and friends who don’t plan to vote – many of them women, and it makes me sad. Our female ancestors fought long and hard to get us the vote, and I, for one, am very grateful. The other day I did a quick search regarding women suffrage and was shocked. I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t know much (still don’t) but reading some of the reasons why mostly men, but some women too, didn’t believe women should have the right to vote was down right nauseating. If you’ve never looked into it, I encourage you to do so. The reasons are so WTF that all I could do was scratch my head while trying to pick my jaw up off the floor.

More to the point though, it made me think about all the other issues people currently bicker over. All the arguments and reasons given why something is a poor idea, why it will undermine society or poison the minds of our children. Amazingly enough, those same arguments have been used throughout history, including a woman’s right to vote. And you know what, the sun didn’t fall from the sky, the rivers didn’t run red with blood and the seasons still came and went. History has shown that nations whom allow women to participate in government are more stable and prosperous. Imagine what history will show in the future when things that are considered taboo now are the norm in a hundred or so years.

As I said earlier, I would encourage any of you who are interested to look into the history of the fight for women’s suffrage. Both the good and bad. There is a lot to be proud of there, and some things that disappoint, but at the end of the day, the point, my fellow ladies, is that voting is important. Individually, a single vote may not amount to much, but added together, they can make all the difference in the world. Your voice matters, your dreams matter, and most of all, your vote matters.

I’ll hop off my voting soapbox now. As always, I hope you are all safe and well. Remember to take care of your mind as much as you care for you body. The two are not mutually exclusive.

MJ May

Chapter Nineteen of Facilitate Your User Posted

Good morning everyone. Well, at least it’s morning here. I just posted the next chapter of Facilitate Your User. As a big FYI, this chapter does get into the naughtier bits and earns its eighteen and older warning label. Please, if descriptions of m/m intimacy offends you or makes you uncomfortable, then do not read this chapter, and for that matter, you probably don’t want to read the rest of the story.

Okay, warnings aside, if any of you are wondering what on earth today’s picture is of, then let me explain. Some of you may have seen something called a “cat cave” advertised on Facebook and other social media sites. Well, I sort of “caved” and ordered a cat cave. I got it in a couple of weeks ago. The cat cave is supposed to be a bed of sorts, something cats like to crawl into and sleep within. My cats have crawled in, but I wouldn’t say they’ve really slept in it. As for this photo . . . I do not believe this is exactly how the cat cave is supposed to function. The cats are supposed to get their whole body inside, but Newton either thought that was too much effort or he liked having his butt hanging out. Either way, last weekend, late at night I was sitting on the couch reading. I looked up to find . . . this. Newton had gotten himself half way in and fallen asleep. I couldn’t stop laughing. I’m still not sure if it was truly as funny as I found it or if maybe my brain just needed a good chuckle. Regardless, I found it funny and hope you do too. Personally, I think it looks like he has a big, blue mushroom stuck on his head.

This is a busy-ish weekend for me. I worked this weekend and since rain seems to be a notion only found in fantasies, dreams and genie wishes right now, I had to water the garden again yesterday which took a little less than 3 hours. Today will be spent decorating the outside of the house for Halloween. I’m really not into the gory bits of Halloween, but I love the lights and enjoy decorating for this holiday far more than Christmas. Part of that most likely has to do with the weather. It is supposed to be in the mid 70’s here today and I damn well guarantee you it won’t be even close to that warm come late November/December. Trying to figure out the technical logistics for things (mainly all the extension cords) takes more than a bit of time. This year will be a little worse because I’ve got to figure out a whole bunch of little lights boxes my dad made for me.

You see, my house is built up on a small hill with the driveway cut into the hill, leading into the garage and basement which are at ground level. The point of this is that I have boulders and plantings throughout as the retaining walls (thus why it takes nearly 3 hours to water things). Last year I got the idea that it would look creepy to have blinking “critter” eyes peeking out from in between the rocks. My dad is super crafty and I gave the idea to him to run with. His solution was to make little wooden boxes with the eyes cut out and to put a light inside. In true dad fashion, he’s weather proofed these boxes, added blinking lights, and somehow electrically spliced the them together so several run off the same cord. I’m excited to see how this pans out. If it looks good and I can get a decent photo, I’ll use it as one of my blog posts.

That’s probably all for today. Before I go, I want to say I’m kind of obsessed with a show on the Travel Channel called, “The Osborne’s Want to Believe”. For those of you who liked the Osborne’s when it was on MTV (that was many a year ago and makes me feel old realizing how old I was when the show was on), then you’ll probably like this. Jack shows Ozzy and Sharon video clips of paranormal/unexplained phenomena and asks them to rank it on a scale deemed the, “Woogie Boogie Scale”. As usual, the typical Osborne antics ensue. It’s a strange mix of creepy/disturbing videos and comedy (provided by Ozzy and Sharon’s responses). I think the reason I like it too is that beyond all the bickering and nitpicking, I always get a sense of underlying love. I am also always amazed at how sane Jack Osborne sounds. See all you mom’s and dad’s out there, there is always hope for your kids 🙂

Until next time, stay safe and sane. For those of you celebrating Halloween – happy decorating.

MJ May

Chapter Eighteen of Facilitate Your User Is Posted

I just put up chapter eighteen. DMaduks, you’ll be pleased to know we are getting precariously close to the “naughty bits” 🙂 Overall I like Keylee and Paul (as characters go). Oddly enough, this was one of the quickest stories I’ve ever written. Somehow the two of them just flowed.

Today’s picture is courtesy of Copernicus. I don’t have as many pictures of him as I do his brother, Newton. I don’t like/love Copernicus any less, it just seems like Newton gets into more funny cat antics than his brother. I actually wanted to post another one of Newton I took last night, but again, for some reason, the photos from my phone aren’t updating onto the computer. Anyway, this is a classic one of Copernicus lounging. He likes being on his back to sleep and usually finds a wall or some other sturdy structure to lean half his body against when he does it.

As usual, this past week at work was batshit crazy. For a change, I had Friday off, which was lovely. It gave me a chance to drive to a tile store and pick out something for the entryway of my home. I’ve lived here for over fifteen years and the carpet and linoleum (in the entryway) were there when I purchased the home. I’ve had much bigger fish to both fry and pay for, so it’s remained. For better or worse, leaving the carpet isn’t so much of an option anymore.

Both Newton and Copernicus still have all their claws and overall I’m happy with that decision. They don’t scratch up the woodwork or the furniture, but they do tear up the carpet. Since their cat tree is carpeted, and they scratch at that, I don’t think I can really expect them to know the difference between that carpet and the other stuff all over the house. Mostly it’s fine – just a few strands pulled up here and there, with one exception. The transition between the living room and the faux wooden floor in the kitchen, they’ve torn up the edge. A couple of weeks ago, Fennik trotted into the living room, laid down, and started chewing on something. When I went to investigate, I found he had a rather impressive chunk of carpet.

They say teamwork makes the dreamwork, but in this case, Fennik teaming up with the kitties to rip up the carpet is only going to lead to gastric foreign body surgery. And so . . . new carpet and also tiling over the “fabulous” yellow linoleum in the entryway. Well, it will be better in the long run, but the process gives me hives. As I said earlier, the carpet in the house was here when I moved in and the bedrooms are colored. I don’t know what I’m going to do without the pink-mauve carpet in my bedroom (if you couldn’t tell, that was said in a sarcastic tone). New carpet is leading to repainting the bedrooms and computer/cat room. It kind of makes my head want to explode, but I’m desperately trying to suck it up and say, “I can do it!”.

I ordered and committed to everything on Friday, but it won’t be done until the end of October. Fingers and toes double crossed as none of my home improvement projects have ever gone smoothly or as planned. And just for reference, that includes re-roofing the house, replacing a foundation wall running the length of the basement, rebuilding all the retaining walls lining the drive and leading up to the house, and a few other, more minor things. I love my home, but somedays I think it might lead me to an early grave.

That’s all for today. I hope those still reading Facilitate Your User are happy with where the story is going. I’m sorry for all the spelling/grammatical mistakes that are bound to be there. I don’t think I’ve edited it as well as I’d like. Time is a commodity that seems to be shrinking as the days pass.

Before I completely leave, I just wanted to say, for those of you living on the fire ravaged west coast, or the hurricane battered gulf shore, please know that many of us in the rest of the country are thinking of you. I lived in Virginia for 3 years and went through hurricane Isabelle and the aftermath it brought. I remember seeing power companies from across the country helping in the days after and can only hope that is occurring now. These are atrocious times and we just keep getting hit again and again. The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg is just another punch to the soul.

Until next week, please stay safe and as well as you can.

MJ May

Chapter 17 of Facilitate Your User Posted

I just updated Facilitate Your User. I hope those reading the story are enjoying it. Keylee and Paul are moving closer together, just as Users and Facilitators should.

Today’s picture is of a very exhausted Fennik. Evidently grooming can be rough on a Fen Fen. He’d been at the groomers most of the day and crashed when he got home. It’s not unusual for him to sleep in the bathroom. I’m assuming the tile floor is cooler for him. It is unusual for him to bury his head beneath the shower curtain. The loud, reverberating snoring was a the musical score to this picture. With the toilet in view, it looks like he had a bender the night before. Sadly, neither Fen Fen’s life, nor my own, are nearly that exciting.

It was a particularly rough work week. For those in the United States, last week started with a holiday so most businesses took the day off. That’s great, but we tend to pay for it the following days. Unfortunately, not only were we busy, but we lost two older, long term patients. Their euthanasias were difficult. I’ve been seeing them and their owners for several years and know very well how much their dog’s meant to them. These were people who felt the same way about their kiddo’s as I did Georgia. Those always hit my heart harder because I know the pain they are currently in and will continue to be in. I cried with them and although I know I’m not supposed to right now, I still gave hugs. Overall I am not a touchy, feely person. However, I view grief differently and sometimes there’s nothing like human contact to express your communal sorrow and support. Keeping everyone physically healthy is important, but I think we can’t ignore the human soul, the part of our spirit that makes us uniquely human. It’s tough right now, finding the balance between the two. This past week, I thought achieving that balance warranted a hug or two.

Last week I updated that I might have found an editor for my Reaping Covetous book and I’m happy to say that is true. She won’t be able to start on it until late November, but I’m still very excited and hopeful. What I’m not excited about is that I feel as if I hardly have time to write anymore. The veterinary profession is slammed right now. I keep thinking things have to slow down and they just aren’t. When I get home, I’m tired. I don’t think I’m to the same level of exhaustion as Fennik post grooming (No plans to shove my head under the shower curtain yet), but my brain is too tired to be creative. I hate that but there is a lot of truth to the saying, “it is what it is,” and right now, this is what my life is.

Baring anything tragic, I will update next Sunday as well. For those of you wondering, I think we are probably somewhere between half way and 2/3 of the way through Facilitate Your User. A few more weeks and it will be all up!

Thanks for reading and know that I’m wishing you all well – in body and in spirit.

MJ May