jaunthie | Tuna Power, Fearful Anticipation, and EEEK NaNo is almost here

Yes, this is going to be a random grab-bag kind of post, because I haven't updated in a few days and I have a lot of different thoughts bouncing around in my head. You've been warned.

Monday night

hiker_chick and I had a girls' night out. After work, we went to dinner downtown, and then to listen to Stephen Sondheim talk about his life, career, and work. It was a fascinating talk, facilitated by Frank Rich - but Mr. Rich didn't have to say much. Stephen was quite able and willing to talk and tell stories. We were in the first row, off to the side, but still close enough to have heard him unamplified if the microphones had gone out. (They didn't.) There were all kinds of interesting anecdotes about his life in theater, the shows he's done and the people he's worked with, as well as some enticing hints at what might be coming up in the future for him. One of the many tidbits he related to us (and one that stuck with me, clearly) was the news that there was a great deal of interest in - and money on the table for - turning one of his musicals into either a movie or a televised movie. From what he said, it sounds like there are committed backers, and people who are really invested in doing this. Naturally, he's thrilled and flattered.

The only problem? The musical in question is Assassins. Which just so happens to be one of my favorite of his works. But it's also all about the history of the people who have attempted to assassinate a President of the United States (and their effects on society, and lots of other things). And right now, the Secret Service is dealing with MASSIVE numbers of threats against President Obama. They're not stating actual numbers, but they have said that it's far more than any other president in recent years. So Sondheim said he has pulled back from this project, because he doesn't think that going forward is a responsible thing to do. It's just not the right time for it, despite the money and interest being there.

Morally and ethically, I think he's absolutely right in this decision. But as a big fan of that particular musical... *sigh*

So disappointment about Assassins aside, that was a wonderful evening. Unfortunately I got home from that lovely night out to find out from

fisherbear that J had refused to eat all day. (He wasn't interested in breakfast when I left that morning, but that has happened before.) He wouldn't eat for me when I got home, either. He was lethargic, and squeaked pathetically when I picked him up, and looked very poorly. I sat up with him late into the night, trying to get him to eat, or at least provide some comfort. He wouldn't even eat the Pill Pockets, so I had to pill him the old-fashioned way. He didn't have the strength to fight it much, and he wasn't really getting up.

That was not a good night. Tuesday wasn't any better, until that evening. J was still drinking, so I had the idea of draining some tuna juice into a bowl, to try and get some calories into him that way. He's always loved tuna.

And bless him, J staggered into the kitchen and yammered at me before I finished draining all the fluid into the dish. Not only did he drink down the liquid, he ate the Pill Pockets I'd dipped in tuna, and then he ate some of the prescription food that I'd mixed up with some more tuna. He's eaten tuna-laced food several times today, and taken his medicine quite eagerly. Some of this is probably due to the Pepcid making his tummy feel better, but a lot of it seems to be the compelling power of tuna. He just can't resist it.

Of course the power of tuna also drives M crazy, but it is what it is.

Today I had another foot procedure scheduled. The last three have been painful, so I was all braced for yet more ouchiness. I was not looking forward to it. I was, in fact, really dreading it. I'm tired of foot-pain and limping and not being able to do my usual routines.

So I was very pleasantly surprised when today's procedure was super-quick and just about painless. And my foot really doesn't hurt in the aftermath. Whoo-hoo!

So that's all been crazy. And work continues to be really busy, and I've been not as effective as I would like, which just makes things all the more stressful.

And NaNoWriMo starts in just over TWO DAYS.

*whimper* I'm so not ready for this. Oy.

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more!