Alibelle, et al., this is the thing I realized when my first year out of school was SUCKING: Every previous time in my life I had made a big transition, I was with a group doing the same thing, people had set up programs to make it all work out, etc. There was high school orientation, college orientation, blah blah blah. Freshman Year of Real Life? No one gives a shit. You're on your own. It does kind of suck, but welcome to the world.

Hmm. Not quite the hand-holding I was looking for, but instead a confirmation of my fears. Thanks a lot, Jesse. See if I invite you over to have some of the nine pounds of mashed potatoes I can make in my pink mixer. (Kidding. You can, of course, have some of the cookies I'll make. I don't share potatoes with anyone.)

Thanks, P-C. I'll go read one now.

Get a job. Don't obsess over it being a career -- just get a job. And don't try to come out of the gate at full speed.

Oh yeah, good call. Just pay the rent, and figure it out as you go. That is the real key.

How big is she, Aimée? She looks very long.

At last check up 2 weeks ago, she was 21.5 inches. I think she's a little longer now.

Also, pensive. Very "One second, mater. I'm thinking."

Totally. She's very serious.

And you? You look in love.

I am Completely and utterly.

I am tickled beyond the telling of it that "wedged between two pillows" counts as "posing."

Well, it's mommy posing her. Hush you.

Not quite the hand-holding I was looking for, but instead a confirmation of my fears.

SORRY! Honestly, it will be OK. And you don't have to make it as hard as I did: I moved someplace I'd never lived before, with no job, and no friends. Hey, that had worked out really well four years earlier....

Ooops, sorry, Ali. It is as hard as it seems, but you can still do it. There are decent apartments in OK neighborhoods that are affordable, and you will own that mixer some day.

Wow, this board is moving super fast. Thanks, Jesse! Again, the pink mixed cookies are in the future mail.

I got this one -- it's not difficult at all. Get a job. Don't obsess over it being a career -- just get a job. And don't try to come out of the gate at full speed.

That's the plan. I'm just having slight difficulties over finding a job at all, so that I can afford an apartment, because I will be kicked out of my own in May, before I have a chance to really start working full time. I'm sure it'll work out, but it's just going to be tricky.

He's so the bigger geek.

He is. But Ryan Reynolds is pretty.

I have too many co-workers. Almost as many as I have cousins.

That's a lot of co-workers.

This from a guy who's downloading every episode of Two Guys and A Girl for the Ryan Reynoldsy goodness.

Hey, I love that show, after discovering it being rerun on WE fifty thousand times. There is much goodness besides the Ryan Reynoldsy variety.

Baby!!! Baby in tiara!!!!

also

Yay Hil!!

SORRY! Honestly, it will be OK. And you don't have to make it as hard as I did: I moved someplace I'd never lived before, with no job, and no friends. Hey, that had worked out really well four years earlier....

No, I'm sorry. That came off harsher (in the sense that, it really didn't bother me as much as my reaction made it seem) than necessary, due to crazy cross-posting.

There is much goodness besides the Ryan Reynoldsy variety.

I don't remember the much. I mean, it's pleasant enough, but (Plei! back me up!) Dr. Berg is the only thing that made it worth me tuning in.

And he's just in it for the Ryan -- he agrees that the show's not good.

That's a lot of co-workers.

I'm saying.

Did you get the photo I e-mailed?

Oh, and Ali, where are you looking for a job?