It’s Going to Be OK, You Know

You look sad right now. I understand. Sometimes bad surprises happen. I had a bad surprise once. There was a strange dog in the house, and every time I barked, it would bark. Every time I snarled, it would snarl. So I ran straight at it to chase it away, and I hit my nose on something hard. And I saw that the dog was just me.

My nose hurt, and I felt silly and stupid. But you picked me up, held me close, and rubbed my nose until it felt better. Someone will pick you up, too. Someone will hold you close and make it better. You’ll see. You just have to let them.

04iequg
Then we can get back to playing!

Via Imgur.

You already voted!

104 thoughts on “It’s Going to Be OK, You Know

  1. allein ? November 9, 2016 / 9:47 am

    You seriously just made me tear up, Mike.

    I’m trying to be optimistic. I should probably stay off the internet (except for here, of course), go find some puppies to play with.

    • fkaWaldenPond November 9, 2016 / 9:51 am

      Me too and I am Canadian. Why don’t we try and outdo ourselves in making each other laugh today. We can laugh/cry together.

      • allein ? November 9, 2016 / 9:54 am

        Well, I’ve amused myself this morning by putting my “I Voted” sticker upside down on my file drawer. (So far no one else has noticed.)

        • fkaWaldenPond November 9, 2016 / 12:11 pm

          Allein, I keep watching this and hoping I will have this good of a sleep tonight!

        • Murray C. November 9, 2016 / 5:18 pm

          This is SO hilarious – major derp.

      • Dulcie November 9, 2016 / 10:32 am

        Unfortunately we in the north are going to be crushed. It is a very very scary looking future. I can’t say how sad and shocked I am.

    • Shan November 9, 2016 / 1:59 pm

      I’m shocked, sad, mad, depressed, worried, fearful…and this is the only place on the internet where it’s all made better. Thanks Mike.

  2. Birdcage November 9, 2016 / 10:19 am

    Shocked Canadian here. Wishing everyone peace and wellness and an absence of fear for the future. I truly thought it was going to go the other way.

    By the way, thanks for everyone’s good wishes for my health yesterday – can’t shake this “cold” (or whatever it may be) so I have a doc appointment this morning and hope it will lead me in a healthy direction.

    • Not That Mike The Other Mike November 9, 2016 / 10:20 am

      Good for you, hope you get some answers and the help you need to get better. 🙂

    • DebG November 9, 2016 / 10:25 am

      Birdcage, keep us posted on what will hopefully be a rapid recovery.

    • Julie November 9, 2016 / 10:30 am

      Canadians – can we have Trudeau on every other weekend and Holidays?

      • Dulcie November 9, 2016 / 10:33 am

        OMG I just thought of the first ladies meeting each other…

        • Julie November 9, 2016 / 10:37 am

          Michelle and Melania? Or Sophie Trudeau and Melania?

          • 6rabbits November 9, 2016 / 12:52 pm

            Either one…

        • Murray C. November 9, 2016 / 1:39 pm

          I keep wondering how they’ll redecorate the White House.

          Mike, thanks for this lovely pup and the consoling words – made me teary, too – onions anybody?

    • JenDeyan November 9, 2016 / 11:15 am

      Haven’t been too active on the site lately. Hope you feel better soon. It’s good you’re going to the doctor instead of just hoping it will go away.

    • Amyliz November 9, 2016 / 2:01 pm

      Thanks for this, Mike. I felt sick to my stomach this morning. I guess the best each of us can do in the face of this dismaying development is to be as kind, caring and positive as possible. I am so grateful for this Web site (it’s a haven) and for all of you!

    • Amyliz November 9, 2016 / 2:03 pm

      Glad to hear you went to the doc, Birdcage.
      Hope you are feeling better SOON! Keep us posted.

    • D B November 9, 2016 / 7:42 pm

      hope the doc appt has you on the path to healing up soon!

  3. Doug November 9, 2016 / 10:22 am

    Just remember … when the pup starts “Meowing” .. that’s when you really need to worry.

  4. ladybug November 9, 2016 / 10:24 am

    Went to bed crying, woke up crying.

    Haven’t felt like this since I my pups Jake and Libby died within three months of each other in 2010.

    Not going to work today.

    Hubby doesn’t know what to do. He’ll probably go try and round up some corgis for me.

    • Elizabeth November 9, 2016 / 10:28 am

      Take care, Ladybug. Yesterday was my mom’s birthday–and a most unhappy one.

      I hope you find some comfort today, corgis or whatever works.

      • AJ November 9, 2016 / 11:10 am

        My birthday’s tomorrow. What a birthday present. I am seriously calling the Canadian Consulate today and see if it is possible for me to move north because of my mom being a Canadian citizen when I was born. Hubby’s company actually sending him to Oregon for probably a year for a job so Oregon isn’t too far from BC.

        • Shan November 9, 2016 / 2:01 pm

          AJ, my birthday was Monday. I was really hoping for a really nice present, but instead I got HIM!

          • BB/VA November 9, 2016 / 7:49 pm

            To all; Recommend multiple replays of The Piano Guys:

            • Shan November 10, 2016 / 9:49 am

              Thanks BB/VA, we all needed this. 🙂

          • Mr. Max November 10, 2016 / 7:13 pm

            To Shan: His Infernal Majesty? 🙂

        • Mich Patt November 9, 2016 / 9:45 pm

          We’d love to have you in BC! (Oregon’s pretty great too)

  5. Elizabeth November 9, 2016 / 10:25 am

    Wish I could have stayed home to snuggle my kitty today, but this helped.

    America really learned nothing from Brexit. Nothing at all.

    • 6rabbits November 9, 2016 / 12:55 pm

      Didn’t want to go to work either. Much rather snuggle my bun. I thought of Brexit also. I’ve had to go to Allein’s “emergency kittens” site a couple times today. Did help some.

  6. Lili November 9, 2016 / 10:48 am

    This is like when you pick up the phone and there’s been a death or the diagnosis is cancer. And nothing will ever be the same again. I feel both dread and numbness. I take solace in the kind folks here, the wit and dedication of Mike, friends and family, as we all take steps into a new future not of our choosing.

    Lili

    • Faye November 9, 2016 / 11:41 am

      Yes. Ditto.

    • hilz November 9, 2016 / 3:46 pm

      This morning I went into work early because I felt antsy and helpless sitting around the house just thinking about this. That’s exactly what happened the morning my mother died too, the same type of feeling. When I realized that, I felt kinda silly and overdramatic for comparing the two things, but seeing your comment kinda drove it home for me that it was a pretty legit reaction after all.

  7. Phred's Mom November 9, 2016 / 10:59 am

    C’mon, peeps, the system worked. We may not be thrilled with the
    result, but it worked. Whenever I hear someone moan about an
    election, and I’ve lived through many (77 yrs old in December), I tell them
    to have faith in the system. We/you will survive. The world did not
    end. Read the Constitution again, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln,
    I could go on . . .if you do believe in our country, pull up your socks and
    work toward what you feel is right. This is how we operate, work for
    your goals. Go ahead and vent for today, but tomorrow – put away the
    hankies. To quote an old cartoon character, Mammy Yokum: “Ah has spoken!”
    Now, let’s get back to the Qte, and come together.

    • Doug November 9, 2016 / 11:06 am

      Hear Hear !!

    • JenDeyan November 9, 2016 / 11:17 am

      Well said!

      • Phred's Mom November 9, 2016 / 11:50 am

        Thanks.

        • Dulcie November 9, 2016 / 3:00 pm

          Yes for sure Phred’s Mom – I can’t argue with your post. But think of the countries that will be affected that can’t vote and don’t have the power to stand up against what DT stands for.

    • Clairdelune November 9, 2016 / 12:01 pm

      I have lived through even more elections than Phred’s Mom, and I recall times this country came close to being undone – as it was nearly undone before we were rescued by the outgoing administration. This time it’s different, this time all the basest impulses of half the population have been carefully nurtured and given legitimacy. Unless a miraculous savior comes out of left field, I am not sure we will come out of this as a viable nation.
      I apologize for the doom and gloom, I hope to be wrong, but among the many impending disasters I foresee, I cannot help thinking about the millions of vulnerable citizens, especially the very young and the very old, who will lose health insurance and will die because of it .

    • Julie November 9, 2016 / 12:05 pm

      Agree with you, Phred’s Mom, except that the last time this happened (elected President won Electoral College but not popular vote) we ended up with troops in Iraq. The world did not come to an end and most likely didn’t significantly change for most Americans, but we had a lot of major world change that has and will continue to impact the globe.

      • Phred's Mom November 9, 2016 / 12:11 pm

        No argument there from me.
        And Iraq is still an issue, years later,
        and a different administration later,
        and Syria, and Afghanistan, etc., etc.
        It is tiring to my psyche.

    • Murray C. November 9, 2016 / 1:46 pm

      Good for you, Phred’s Mom, you are so right. I do worry about the environment and religious (or not) liberty, but all we can do is keep your eyes open, write letters, make phone calls, be involved.

      I hope things pick up for you now that the election is over.

  8. SoccerSue November 9, 2016 / 11:41 am

    I live in Washington state and have a friend in Vancouver BC who is Asian, and has mild Asperger’s. He also happens to be one of the smartest, kindest people I know. One of the joys of his life is traveling with fellow soccer fans to Seattle and Portland to watch his soccer team play away games. He is now absolutely terrified to travel to the US because he fears that because of his ethnicity and his disability he will be bullied, or worse. So I’m sitting here trying to think of the right words to let him know that he will always be welcome in MY America. Sigh… I might just direct him to this post.

    • Clairdelune November 9, 2016 / 12:08 pm

      I hope YOUR America and mine will survive and this is a temporary aberration…. This is not a good time to be “different” from the acceptable model.

    • Stressfactor November 9, 2016 / 12:23 pm

      I put this on my facebook today – it just kind of came to me – a mash-up of probably a lot of different pthy sayings BUT….

      If you can – be a lighthouse. If you can’t be a lighthouse, be a lamp. If you can’t be a lamp, be a candle. But most of all – be LIGHT.

      • Smartypants November 9, 2016 / 2:59 pm

        Stressfactor, I like that a lot.

        Also, “It’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness” (I think that’s from Amnesty International, but I don’t know who originated it).

        • 6rabbits November 9, 2016 / 3:57 pm

          Chinese proverb, I think.

      • tara November 9, 2016 / 3:27 pm

        Oh Stressfactor – that is really great! Thanks for posting that.

    • DebG November 9, 2016 / 12:40 pm

      The knee-jerk thugs tend to be geographically concentrated away from the West Coast, if that’s any help.

  9. Phred's Mom November 9, 2016 / 12:05 pm

    You may not be able to come up with anything that will counter his fears.
    I don’t know if he’s been reading too many tabloid newspapers on the net,
    or what, but the bulk of us ‘murricans still are decent, caring people who
    value other people. Of course, there are a lot of knee-jerk thugs out there
    who will grab any excuse to harass others. We have always had these idiots,
    Too many of these types have oozed from the woodwork in the past several
    months and created what he perceives as our attitude as a whole. No. We
    are better than that, MOST of us, independent of political preference. My
    dander is rising at the lack of confidence I’m seeing and hearing. Go have
    a cuppa, or a pint or two, everybody. The sun will come up tomorrow.?????

    • allein ? November 9, 2016 / 12:08 pm

    • Clairdelune November 9, 2016 / 12:12 pm

      You forget that about HALF the population voted in favor of the knee-jerk thugs. I really wish I could be as optimistic as you seem to be.

      • Phred's Mom November 9, 2016 / 12:20 pm

        It’s not so much optimism as realism.
        And I am not a thug.
        I am going to have lunch now and
        breathe deeply. No more of this.
        See y’all tomorrow, God willing.

      • Julie November 9, 2016 / 1:24 pm

        Yes, technically, half of America voted for DT. However, another way to look at it is that once he got the nomination, he was the only choice for anyone who is pro-choice, pro-2nd Amendment, pro-state’s rights, etc. A lot of America voted for the ticket, not the person on it.

        I think the votes cast in the Primary really represent people who supported DT as an individual, which was about 13 million and approximately 10% of the population that voted this time around.

        Which doesn’t change the fact that DT now has the nuclear codes, but I fundamentally believe that DT did not make anyone a racist/xenophobe/misogynist – those people felt that way before this election. I think on a person to person basis we are still kind and respectful people.

        • 6rabbits November 9, 2016 / 3:02 pm

          The republican ticket is pro-life, not pro-choice.

          • Julie November 9, 2016 / 3:06 pm

            Oops. my bad. It was probably my subliminal feelings coming through, since I am pro-choice.

            • 6rabbits November 9, 2016 / 3:59 pm

              Probably wishful thinking! 😉

              • Julie November 9, 2016 / 5:15 pm

                I have a lot of friends who voted DT because they are pro-life. So in a sense, those people voted for love, not hate.

                • Murray C. November 9, 2016 / 5:33 pm

                  Not necessarily so – that’s a loaded attitude, the “pro-life” stance – that has more to do with authoritarianism than love.

                  • BB/VA November 9, 2016 / 7:45 pm

                    My son-in-law voted for “someone else” because he liked neiter Hillary nor Trump. How many thousands did the same and got us into this mess?

                    (I really like the kid, and it didn’t affect the vote here – but how many places DID this behavior flip the majority?)

                  • Murray C. November 10, 2016 / 10:32 am

                    PS Julie – I don’t mean to cast aspersions on your friends, just to say that some phrases are code for other things so that sometimes one has to look below the surface. So many times with the pro-life movement a lot of the focus is on the unborn but once born – not so much.

                    • Julie November 10, 2016 / 6:42 pm

                      Hey Murray C. –

                      I agree with you one thousand times over. It’s just that I have friends that are very pro-life and I know for them, the pro-life stance very honestly comes from a good place – that they truly believe every life is valuable and meant to be lived and that life starts from conception.

                      I didn’t respond to your comment because pro-life/pro-choice is a really sensitive issue and it’s not appropriate for this space. I’m not offended or put off at all.

        • SoccerSue November 9, 2016 / 3:45 pm

          Thank you, fellow Cutetropolitans. I did mention to him that there have always been racist idiots; they just may be more open about their racism now. But the vast majority of Americans, and certainly Seattleites and Portlanders, are good people who would have his back if he ever was being hassled by anyone. I said it slightly more eloquently than that, but I’ve been fighting a migraine all day and my brain is fried at this point. 😛

  10. michael November 9, 2016 / 1:01 pm

    Thank you for this.

    Thanks for the puppy’s understanding.

    Thanks for the posters in this thread.

  11. Amyliz November 9, 2016 / 1:59 pm

    Thanks for this, Mike. I felt sick to my stomach this morning. I guess the best each of us can do in the face of this dismaying development is to be as kind, caring and positive as possible. I am so grateful for this Web site (it’s a haven) and for all of you!

    • benvolio November 9, 2016 / 4:38 pm

      I second that. Reading these comments and knowing that many people share my feelings helps a lot. We must believe in the power of kindness… as well as the power of The Qte!

  12. Patty November 9, 2016 / 2:11 pm

    I’ve disliked this election campaign from the beginning. Neither candidate was my choice. It’s just that Trump has a nasty mouth, and a nasty attitude, which he made very public. While I am not thrilled to call him Mr. President, I also believe most of the hype about both candidates was greatly embellished, and that his campaign promises will fall by the wayside. After all, campaign promises are just empty promises and will disappear like smoke in the wind. I am mostly sad because there are a number of people in my family, and among my friends who truly believe their lives are in danger from Trump supporters. Their fear may be unfounded, but that doesn’t make it any less real to them. They are grieving today, and yet, Trump supporters are gloating, making their fears seem more legitimate.

  13. Luv Bunny November 9, 2016 / 2:53 pm

    I’ve enjoyed this website and the comments, until today. I come here hoping to see the QTE and escape for a short time, from the crazy world around me. I know many are either sad or happy, and I understand but I wasn’t expecting to see so much of it here. I don’t want to upset anyone, just hoped to awww, smile, laugh out loud or want to snuggle, over a cute animal.

    • Murray C. November 9, 2016 / 3:03 pm

      I think if none of us said ANYTHING it would be an elephant in the room. I’m sure we will have our little bursts, get some of the negative energy out of our systems, we’ll be back tomorrow to The Cute in full force. That, at least, is my fervent hope.

    • Julie November 9, 2016 / 3:21 pm

      Hey Luv Bunny – you have a very valid point.

      I just think there are a lot of people who just want to commiserate amongst like minded folks. This is a safe place. Not like FB, where people you don’t know will disagree with you in an ugly, disrespectful manner. Also, people here are (I believe) vastly more intelligent and educated than the general public, and that is a community that is difficult to find on the internet.

      For better or worse, Mike has created a little community that is here for the cute, but also here to support each other. Like Murray C. said, it is the “elephant in the room”. Sometimes by acknowledging the elephant, the fear/sadness/anxiety gets worked out and will go away.

      • Faye November 10, 2016 / 7:43 pm

        I agree totally. Well said. While the cute is our main concern here, we are real people living through a truly historic time of change. It would seem strange to say nothing or to not offer comfort to eachother for a few days here and there.

    • 6rabbits November 9, 2016 / 3:30 pm

      Cute enough, Luv Bunny?

      • Murray C. November 9, 2016 / 5:35 pm

        Beyond the pale CUTE! Thank you, 6RABBITS!

      • Luv Bunny November 9, 2016 / 8:53 pm

        Yes, 6 Rabbits, that leetle otter pup is adorable, (least I believe it’s an otter) , now I feel better, an innocent bebeh animal to smile and awww about.

        • 6rabbits November 11, 2016 / 8:03 pm

          It is, indeed, a prosh baby otter!?

  14. Smartypants November 9, 2016 / 2:56 pm

    I’m sick at heart. My country! If I thought drinking would help, I totally would…but then I’d just be heartsick lying on the bathroom floor – so nope.

  15. Laura November 9, 2016 / 5:07 pm

    I had to stay up last night until things came to their non-conclusion, and then even though I knew I should probably get up to help with the final statements, I just couldn’t. I grieve that the wonderful accidental community of coworkers I’ve spent the last few months working with is over; we had fun, which made a hard job a lot easier.

    And I really hope that the basest elements of our society don’t think they can act even worse now. I saw Jim Crow up close and personal, and I hope we never return to that treatment of fellow citizens.

    But we’ll be okay. The wheels of government grind exceedingly slowly, and I don’t think as much damage can be done as we first think. We’ll be okay as long as we try to continue to be good people. And enjoy the cute. You’re the only one who’s made me laugh today, Mike! That’s got to count for a lot!

    • Murray C. November 9, 2016 / 5:49 pm

      I hope you and your gang or fellow workers get a much needed rest – thanks for your good work.

    • Smartypants November 9, 2016 / 5:56 pm

      Laura, thanks so much to you and your colleagues for all your hard work. Phew. I can’t imagine! You all deserve a nice vacation.

    • Amyliz November 9, 2016 / 7:11 pm

      Laura, thanks for all your hard word and dedication! And thanks for the reassuring words. Now rest and recuperate!

    • Mr. Max November 10, 2016 / 6:40 pm

      A bit late to the party, I know. The system may have “worked” in its own, dysfunctional way, but that can be changed. The electoral college, which hands lots of power to just a few states, can be changed without a constitutional amendment. As you doubtless know, the 2000 election was handed to W on the basis of 537 votes in Florida. Gore had 500 THOUSAND MORE votes nationwide. So, instead of “one person, one vote”, we got “one person in one county in Florida, one thousand votes. The rest of you–suckas!”. Looks like the same thing happened here. This undermines the faith in our system for BOTH parties. The electoral college may have handed a victory to two candidates who lost the popular vote, BUT, those same “winners” have rightfully faced resentment and suspicion and resistance from millions of voters. No one truly benefits from this.

      If you want to help change the way the electoral college works, please look into the National Popular Interstate Compact. This assigns electoral votes IN PROPORTION to the popular vote in each state. 11 states have already signed on. If your state has not, you can contact your elected officials to get it moving in that direction.

      In the meantime, groups like EarthJustice, Freedom From Religion, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and many more, can be supported in their efforts to keep our country on the path of environmental responsibility, separation of church and state, and limiting the effect of hate groups.

      Also, CUTE ANIMALS RULE!

      • Julie November 10, 2016 / 6:58 pm

        Thanks, Mr. Max! I learned something new today!

        Dear Cutetroplis citizens – If you want your President to be the ACTUAL PERSON who won the most votes, go to http://www.nationpopularvote.com. You can put in your address and the site will direct you to your legislators and you can email them.

        I’m going to do it right now!

        • Mr. Max November 10, 2016 / 7:22 pm

          Thanks for this!!! I am lucky enough to live in a state that has already signed up for the change to the electoral college. We overwhelmingly voted Hillary, but have just 4 tiny electoral votes.

          If Groper Cleveland had legitimately won the popular vote I would be somewhat less upset, although still really disgusted. If Hillary had won the elect. college, but not the popular vote, I would have been happy to have her instead of the Tangerine Terror, but would understand and be prepared for major protests from It’s supporters.

          BTW, in case anyone felt I was just religion-bashing with my suggestion re: Freedom From Religion, I was not. I have friends who are Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Wiccan, Pagan, and Satanists, among others. They are all very nice people, and we all get along very well. This is because we respect each other’s beliefs and all go with the “the only evil is that which causes suffering” aspect of the Golden Rule.

          • Mr. Max November 10, 2016 / 9:32 pm

            Thank you for the correction. I am going to get together a list of ways in which people can take action instead of giving in to despair, and I will be circulating it among friends and family. I don’t do Facebook or other social media, but many of them do. Mid-term elections are only 2 years away, so perhaps we can get some changes in the works by then. In the meantime, let’s support those organizations that will be respectful of this planet and its citizens, human and otherwise!

    • Murray C. November 10, 2016 / 10:05 am

      Nice. Thanks, Allein.

    • Julie November 10, 2016 / 10:27 am

      Allein –

      That was PERFECT.

      Thank you.

      • allein ? November 10, 2016 / 10:49 am

        Trying to remain optimistic. I don’t think he actually cares about a lot of the conservative social issues (though Pence does so he worries me more on that front). And they can’t just up and reverse a Supreme Court decision or cancel the first amendment or civil rights like some of the sky-is-falling comments I’ve seen are saying they will. Our system doesn’t work that way. I get that people are worried, and I understand why some groups would be more worried than others, and I don’t think they’re wrong to worry…but I don’t think he’s gonna be the next Hitler, either.

        But my I Voted sticker is still upside down on my drawer. 😉 (Still no one has noticed. And I had to use scotch tape because it had too much fuzz from my wool coat and fell off by the end of the day yesterday. Maybe that’s a sign that’s it won’t be as bad as we fear. 😛 )

        • fkaWaldenPond November 10, 2016 / 10:57 am

          The subversive upside down sticker is still cracking me up on Day 2.

          • allein ? November 10, 2016 / 11:22 am

            Upside down American Flag is a distress signal, but apparently no one recognizes it!

            • tara November 10, 2016 / 7:56 pm

              Heehee !
              Allein, you and Sheldon Cooper……
              I totally laughed yesterday at the upside down sticker!

              • Julie November 10, 2016 / 8:21 pm

                Ha ha! Dr. Sheldon Cooper’s Fun With Flags!!

              • allein ? November 10, 2016 / 9:05 pm

                I was picturing the scene when he flips the flag on the fridge when I was taping my sticker back up. 😛

        • 6rabbits November 11, 2016 / 8:07 pm

          I live in Indiana. Be worried about Pence.
          (Thought we were actually getting rid of Pence when he accepted VP, darn it!)

  16. Kar November 10, 2016 / 11:03 am

    I can’t believe this but as I told my brother, at least there aren’t bands of armed “resisters” in the streets angrily protesting.

    Thanks guys, I know that we try to keep things non political/controversial but obviously we all need a group hug. Regardless of who we voted for on Tuesday.

    • Doug November 10, 2016 / 4:06 pm

      Sorry .. No hugs for yous !!

      Would yous accept a wet kiss instead ?

      • Faye November 10, 2016 / 7:49 pm

        Ooo yes. Wet dog kisses.

Comments are closed.