Depressing post alert!!

We're taking care of our friend's pets this weekend, 3 inside cats, 1 outside cat, and 2 dogs. The dogs were boarded until today - we went to pick them up and brought them home and found the outside cat, a kitten of no more than 7 weeks, in a horrible, horrible condition.

He had obviously been trying to climb up on this bamboo torch they have, or trying to claw it, and he got his thumb stuck. Not just his claw, his entire thumb. It was STUCK in a split in the bamboo torch stand. I have no idea how long he had been in that condition, but he was panting, shaking, and his fur was all matted. He had to be in so much pain. When we finally got him to the vet, his temperature was 106, and the vet saw that somehow he had ripped one of the claws out of his back left foot trying to get himself out of there. He'll be okay. The vet wasn't sure if they'd have to amputate just that toe or his entire leg due to nerve damage, but he's feeling alright now. They gave him something to calm him down and gave him fluids, and by the time we left the vet, he was pretty relaxed, but I think I needed something to calm me down because I've been crying for like 2 hours. I guess I've lived a pretty sheltered life, but seeing that poor animal in that condition is worse than anything I've ever seen and ever hope to see again. Oh my God... I have to stop thinking about how long he had been there... just that he's okay now. He's okay now, he's okay now, he's okay now.

Between that, those boys in New Jersey being found dead and the pictures the media from Hell have taken of their families' grief, and the fact that I would be holding my baby right around now, I am N O T having a good weekend. How do you deal when things get to be a little too much for you? My therapist says everyone has a sort of boiling point, and everyone gets to a point where life seems to be a little too much for them. My baby would have been due any day now (if I hadn't had it already) and additional stress has pushed me over the edge somewhat. It's a *real* good thing I'm seeing my therapist on Monday.

I think I'll just spend the rest of the weekend cleaning and watching Napoleon Dynamite. And taking baths. Lots of baths. And cuddling my cats. Extra treats, yeah, that's the ticket. We'll see how the kitten is on Monday. He's okay now, he's okay now, he's okay now....