u/Ok-Original-6157

I’ve been following this sub for a while, so I know the classic answer to the classic question of “should I become an archivist” - you will make absolutely no money and become resentful and bitter and burnt out. Do anything else.

So I’ve been doing that! I’m fairly young, a few years out of college, and have had a handful of part time and full time corporate jobs in the nonprofit field. I’ve tried more creative roles, I’ve tried mundane roles at organizations whose missions mean a lot to me, and nothing is clicking. I know a job is a means to an end. I know you sacrifice passion for stability and being able to live life outside of work. But work is so MUCH of your life, and I can’t help but feel drained by this too, albeit with a slightly nicer paycheck.

I fantasize about getting my MLIS, I fantasize about my past archiving and library jobs, I attend seminars and workshops and volunteer at multiple archives. I am so passionate about this work. Thinking about diving back in makes me almost giddy. However, everything is telling me not to - the job market, increasing prices, archivists themselves.

I guess this is a vent, but also an admittance that I won’t hold myself to never pursuing this work. I don’t know if I can live with myself having never even tried.

I adopted a 10 year old cat this March. Since then, he has had two partial urinary blockages, and two gastrointestinal surgeries to remove ingested blockages. This has totaled almost $30,000 and constant emergency vet visits.

I love him so much, but I am absolutely terrified of what the next issue will be. He did not have any of these issues at his previous home, which was with an elderly woman that didn’t work. I work 35 hours a week, and am 23. I am coming to accept that if I keep him, I cannot go on vacation, I will have to confine him when I am at work, and will have to severely limit going out outside of work. He is already on two different anxiety medications.

I am not sure what to do. If he ingests something else, I can’t afford a third surgery. I have experienced never ending stress these last four months that I don’t feel equipped to handle. Looking for any and all advice.

Does anyone else experience Harm OCD around falling and tripping down stairs or on train platforms? Just spent 10 minutes glued to the wall waiting for a train to come so I could have a “safe” buffer between myself and the tracks. I also experience serious terror around walking up or down a steep staircase. It doesn’t help that I am very naturally clumsy!

This is a new one for me … definitely bringing up to my therapist on Tuesday, but I can’t seem to find anyone with this same fixation/issue.

Hi all,

Last night when I went to give my cat (10 year old neutered male) his dinner, he did not show interest in it. I tried to get him to eat Churu, which always works, but he refused aside from a few bites. He was acting lethargic, and had thrown up a little bit earlier that day. Shortly after taking those bites, he projectile vomited undigested food everywhere, then went and hid under the bed.

I rushed him into the emergency vet where they ran basic bloodwork and did an X Ray. They said everything came back “normal, aside from what they would expect to see on bloodwork from likely gastroenteritis.” I felt very dismissed by this doctor, but took his advice and took my cat home with anti-nausea medication after they gave him subcutaneous fluids.

Since then, he has been hiding under the bed and has not emerged. I tried to pick him up at one point and he yowled in pain, which he never does. He had food and Churu available, but won’t leave under the bed for food, water, or the litter box, and obviously hasn’t taken the meds.

I am planning on taking him back to the vet, but it will be very expensive - is there a chance this really is just gastroenteritis?

Relevant medical background: I adopted him this spring. Shortly after he had a urinary blockage that was cleared with a catheter, then another blockage that was cleared with a catheter and fluids. A month or so after that, he was showing these same symptoms aside from vomiting. Id come to find had eaten a medicine bottle cap, and he had to have abdominal surgery. He is a very, very expensive cat.
We also recently moved apartments a few days ago. He currently takes Gabapentin twice a day and transdermal Prozac once daily.

Thank you so much. I love this little guy despite his persistent medical issues, but want to avoid another astronomical emergency bill if all signs are just pointing to an upset stomach.

I moved this time last year and although it was awful, I’m not sure how I’m supposed to manage this time around. I’ve been packing a few things every day and am dealing with constant dizziness, flushing red, dripping sweat, racing heart - just from folding clothes to go in boxes. Not to mention I have to hire movers because moving it myself is too physically taxing. Being disabled is expensive and exhausting!!

I keep seeing this online - that it doesn’t matter if you’re passionate about your job, just that it’s tolerable and pays the bills. But here’s what I can’t wrap my head around - it’s 40 hours a week for most of your life. It’s the majority of every day. It takes up so much time and energy, how is it possible to do something you don’t really care about for money if it consumes most of your waking hours?

edit: yes, i am young! recent college grad entering the workforce trying to deal with office culture and hoping it will get better as i get more settled. this was a genuine question, thank you for the replies!

Hi there,

My cat recently underwent treatment for a partial urinary blockage. He is a 10 year old male I recently adopted, neutered but they think he was neutered late. Since then, he consistently does this thing where he walks around straining, humping various soft objects and vocalizing. When this is done, his penis is exposed, and he goes to lick it. He does this dozens of times a day.

Has anyone had a similar experience? He is peeing fine and vet says there is no blockage. He is on gabapentin for pain.

I’m at my wits end with this - he climbs all over me in the middle of the night doing it - and am worried he could be in pain. Vets don’t know what’s wrong.