What's really got me down about this, though, is a bunch of stuff related to work has me feeling like I'm "Failing to thrive", and perhaps even "incompatible with" my career. And that any potential help with my professional development would be better spent on someone else. I feel a bit like Shelly.

But Nature is a scattershot - any species that lays an egg a day is going for quantity over quality, and not all combinations of traits are "compatible with life."

Even if Shelly had made it, I would have taken pains to make sure they didn't contribute to the next generation.

Like most of us I instinctively root for the underdog. I really hopped "shelly" (so named because they had part of their shell stuck to them the first day) would make it.

You've seen "accidental Renaissance"

Now we bring you, "Accidental illuminated manuscript!"

Seriously, he looks like those drawings of medieval cats made by monks that have never seen a cat.

I hope they come through St. Louis - I'm really iffy about demonstrations right now but I'd come out for this.