Thursday Thoughts - in this time of introspection on the eve of my election

1. Yesterday was the first and probably last time I took two dogs in at once for dental surgery. I used a new vet  and was quite pleased when Mae came out first super alert. She had six teeth extracted so I expected much worse. Then she started crying and wouldn't stop until Gus cane out. The vet tech told me they were "talking" to each other all day through their crates in recovery.  Weird as Gus typically had no time for Mae. As we were walking out Gus just started peeing and walking. Hmm. Maybe just still woozy but he seemed otherwise alert and jackassy like he usually is. Another vet tech said oh Gus and Mae they were in cahoots through their crates all day we couldn't stop laughing. I see. Collusion. I walked them for a while. Mae went to the bathroom. Gus waited until we were driving to shit in the backseat, which he then walked through and Mae sat in. I was in hysterics by the time I got home. They were quite pleased with themselves. MFD took care of car cleanup while I cleaned myself, them, and their leashes. Then I hand fed Geege wet food which was, as you can imagine, the cherry on top of a gross shit sundae. It takes a special kind of asshole to have two vengeful dogs go in for dental on the same day while the third dog still has pneumonia.

2. For that and other reasons I have failed at life this week. Kicked ass at work but otherwise sorry, self. Try again next week so you don't have to eat Lucky Charms for dinner two nights in a row followed by chocolate chip cookies on the third while your house clutters and dirties itself around you. 

3. Cookies and other goodies delivered by my mom last night who came to see MFD for his birthday eve eve.

4. My nails have taken a beating this summer. I freshened up last night with OPI Gelato on My Mind.

5. I love the show Billions. I have been obsessed with this song from its season finale for months. I feel like I've shared this here before but I don't care. Besides, it's an awesome fall-ish song and we all know fall is coming by the pumpkin shit everywhere.
6. We're on our way back when we were so recently making our way out. Also, please don't be an anti-Democrat. I will not survive it.

7. I'm relying on General Mattis right now to keep shit together (watch the video in this article if you haven't seen it yet). You hold the line too, Mad Dog. You too. I sure as shit cannot rely on the president to do so when he shows up in Texas and comments on the size of the fucking crowd there like this is a goddamn fucking victory tour instead of a visit to the state that has just been fucking ravaged by a crazy hurricane event and endured chaotic decimation. His entire response to this disaster has proved how fucking tone deaf he is. It would be nice if you would be a president but even nicer if you'd be a fucking human being and provide comfort and leadership instead of talking about your goddamn crowd size.

8. Can we make a promise to each other? Can we not shame anyone for how they choose to donate to hurricane relief? I am coming from the same place as Elizabeth Gilbert here. My only caveat is that if you are sending physical supplies, do not send whatever you think they might need or use it as a way to get rid of your stuff. Find an organization you support that is collecting and distributing supplies and stick to their list of requested supplies. Please please PLEASE do not let anything stop you from giving. Do your research if you need to. Get on charity navigator. But PLEASE do not be that person who is so suspicious of what is going to come of your $20 donation that you just don't give one. Please. And if you don't have money but maybe have some unused items that are on supply lists or a gift card where you can buy stuff to send, consider doing that!

If you want to but are unsure of where, here are some options:

The Black Women's Defense League: Accepting physical supplies and money
South Texas Human Rights Center, working with immigrants
Transgender Foundation of America Disaster Relief Fund
Portlight, assisting people with disabilities
Austin Pets Alive
Austin Disaster Relief Network - A network of churches and volunteers mobilizing on the ground with supplies. If you are mailing supplies, please call them to get an address. There is a supply list on their website.
Rockport Fulton Chamber of Commerce: Go fund me to help rebuild coastal bend businesses and communities. If you are interested in sending supplies I can get you the suggested list and also the address.
Native Dave: My friend Christy and her family live off the grid pretty and work their native plant business in Aransas Pass/Rockport/Fulton. Sixty to seventy percent of their town has been destroyed. You can see their live videos here on the Native Dave facebook page. If you are looking to give specifically to people, I know these people and they are good people. Here is their gofundme page. Their website states "In business and in life, we are inspired to conserve, preserve, restore, and celebrate Nature." And I know they will do that.
Together Rising: Text to donate. And remember...we belong to each other

Texas Diaper Bank providing emergency diaper kits for babies, seniors, and people with disabilities - these are not distributed by relief agencies
The Homeless PERIOD Project - tampons, pads, etc
Corpus Christi Food Bank
Galveston Food Bank
City of Houston Relief Fund
SPCA of Texas
Coalition for the Homeless
United Way of Beaumont & North Jefferson County
JJWatt's Houston Flood Relief Fund: This man set out to raise $500,000 and as of this morning has raised over $9.4 MILLION.

9. Reminder in this back to school time:

10. E-card of the week: I'm hoping this is me this weekend. I need to disengage for 48 hours.