a big Everything update

life just some general updates on all fronts. i've been dealing with quite a bit of pain and ensuing bad sleep the last week, it had me all emotionally out of sorts, too. i'm reading a book that turned out to be sad as hell, too, in some unfortunately realistic, daily ways that affect many people i know. there's also been a whole swathe of animal deaths in my online circles. just a bummer all around and had me missing our cat. it's been years without an animal companion but i don't know that we'll have one any time soon. after kara's passing our life became much more flexible, we travel, we can be spontaneous (partly because of having more energy due to fewer daily responsibilities). i fear the only pet that would allow us to somewhat maintain that flexibility would be a dog and i don't think that's for us. training, socializing, walking... all the extra vet stuff with an out-door animal. so that's also making me sad, not being able to envision a way to have an animal pal around in…