That first one really hits home only for the fact that I just had to help my wife write up her annual letter requesting a raise. It will be a useless task since they probably already have decided how little they are going to give her. We do it every year though. The last one hits home too, for the same reasons as you. Funny stuff. Our dog always barks as us when we get home like she is telling us all about her day.
The dog ones always get me... some of them make me sad and even misty-eyed because as Nadi gets older I need to start preparing myself for the inevitable. In all actuality I really need to find a place that I plan on and am capable of being long-term because in a few more years it will be too dangerous for her to fly long-haul.
That sucks about the wife not getting what you feel she deserves from a salary perspective. I always hated the game that is salary increases for the brief time that I worked in a career in the states.
Yeah, the whole negotiation thing is a joke. Especially when you know they already have their minds made up. Unfortunately, there isn't much we can do at this point. We are still far better off than most of the population. We just got some "downers" for the first time this year to help our dog when she travels. We started her off with a half of one and it seemed to help a little. We might need to bump it up next time we take her camping.