I can’t cope

[Captain24]

Yeah that’s the wooden things. I don’t even know what they are called! @Jynx 

I set mine up on the kitchen island bench now. The stools hurt my back though but I can stand up at times as well. I use to do it in the coffee table in the front room but Jett would take the pieces.

The succulent one is so cute.

Now I don’t have to see him until we are on holidays on the coast in Feb. Most likely it will only be one meal!

[Jynx]

@Captain24 aww Jett you wily little thief!! Would get very frustrating I've no doubt haha. And then like, you go to grab it and they think it's a game and then run away! Lil scamps 😂

Oh that's dope, what a win for you!! Is that your next lil holiday planned? 

I am about to head off!! Won't be back again till Monday haha I planned my leave very weirdly.... lol woops. Catch you then? Huuuuugs!! 🫂🫂

[Shaz51]

Have a good weekend @Jynx 😊

[tyme]

Hey @Captain24 ! How are you?

[Captain24]

I’ve just come home from work @tyme. Tough day. 

Mum just informed me that one of dad’s cousins wants to have a family reunion with my generation. Guess who she expects to help. She was suppose to help the last one but I did it all.

Great thing to try and sort when I’m struggling to stay alive. 

[tyme]

Heya @Captain24 ,

Can you set some boundaries around what you can and can't help with?

Maybe doing this will help pass some time?

I'm here if you want a talk about today.

[Captain24]

I will have to try @tyme. I don’t have the capacity to deal with dad’s cousin and organise. She thinks I’m just wonderful because I go to all the family things. When she wants something she usually gets it. 

It was just a long hard day. I had an argument with a coworker. He deserved it and I had the last say. He gets really aggressive when you confront him.

Then my truck broke down and it was right on the end of shift so that stuffed everything up. 

I’ve just been driving around in circles all day. I think I spoke in the 2 way maybe 10 times all day. So I’ve been very distant. 

Everything was irritating me. People calling on the 2 way. People just talking at crib. One guy didn’t shut up for over half an hour. I walk outside and just said ‘for f*ck sake’ they knew what I meant and about who. 

Just sitting here waiting for my dogs is irritating me. 

Im just not coping with just everyday things. I really not coping with life.

[tyme]

What a pain in the backside @Captain24 ! I couldn't stand people talking all day. That would do my head in! I'm going to Sydney next week on Friday so that will be the start to my mum talking at me for a few weeks. So just a heads up, I won't be around on Friday.

In terms of family, you've just gotta say no when you know you can't do what they want... You need to protect yourself... the more you say yes yes, the more they will want and expect from you. That's not sustainable. 

I get what you mean by everything being irritating! The kids here have been OFF... I take them out all day in the morning so that they get tired and flop in the afternoon and evening... but no. They've been at each other.

Ruby got a groom today. She's got such a small head and it seems like she has such a big body. I'll get a photo tomorrow. 

Do you think the dogs know when you've had enough?

[Captain24]

It’s the people pleaser part of me that can’t say no. @tyme. It’s to my own detriment though. One of dad’s other cousins wants to meet some of my generation before he dies. It’ll probably be the last time he comes here. He lives in Sydney. 

Oh.. that time of year again! Is it for as long as last year? Thanks for the heads up, I really appreciate it. That uses some of your leave hours! 

That would be annoying. Just send them home and it’s your sisters problem! 😜. 

The dogs irritate me more when they know I’ve had enough. They have to climb on me and keep licking me. Pix is sitting on the floor right now scratching at my leg to get up. When she is getting the shots with me ignoring her she gets her claws out like a cat. Jett can jump on the lounge so he just keeps getting in my face. Sometimes I feel like I could just throw them at the wall. Just a side note: I would never hurt them! 

How often does she get groomed? Yes please.. a photo! 

[tyme]

Yeah, pleasing people. Unfortunately, the more you please some people, the more they take advantage! @Captain24 

Being assertive doesn't mean you have to be rude.

And there are things we can be more assertive with than others. For example, I'm useless at being assertive when my niece wants to sleep with me... argh... hence she's still here!!!

Whatever it is, family seems to be huge for your family. Why I'm saying it is that I don't talk or see my parents more than once a year... yet you all hang out with each other, have each other for dinner, meet together. In a way, if you don't have this, you may miss it. I hear it can be challenging too. But that's with relationships in general. You can't have the joys without the pain... (and yes, some can be more painful than others).

As for the dogs, maybe they are just cheering you up using the only way they know how? Ruby knows when I'm angry at her. She puts her head down and goes to her pen. She's listens more now... but still absconds down the road. I'm yet to get a victory there. I think she's okay if there were no other humans, but when she sees other people in our court, she runs to them and they all pat her! That's the bad part. When I take her to the dog park, she stays by my side the whole time...