Frank, if you have a dog or a cat, then you are not immune to the world of malicious urination or malicious vomitation.

Or malicious pooping.

We had a cat who did that whenever we returned from a trip.

My head needs to stop hurting.

Walking into my apartment after five days away, with my cat-hating parents along was....exciting. Cat-hating may be too strong, but they definitely don't like them. My dad said my cat was "needy." I tried to explain that no, that's just friendly.

Cute kid, sara!

I completely sympathize on the waterbed, since my news is that I STILL do not have electricity in part of my house.

This AM landlady's husband and father came over and tried all the same things that I had tried last night, before deciding (at noon) to call an electrician. I REALLY hope that I have power before new years!

Dear lord, Sophia -- that's horrible! Do you have heat? Are you at work? (Sad when going to work sounds like a good plan.) Oh wait -- it's not out in the whole house? That's something, but STILL.

Oh wait -- it's not out in the whole house?

No-- I am actually very lucky, because my kitchen and the furnace (and the whole downstairs apartment ) have electricity-- my living room, bedroom and bathroom do not.

I am just annoyed because of the "you're a girl, so I need to come and check whether or not the circuit breakers have flipped myself, even though you say they have." I imagine there is some sort of serious problem with wiring, as the house is from the turn of the century. I was actually up all night worrying that the house would burn down because of faulty wiring.

I am just annoyed because of the "you're a girl, so I need to come and check whether or not the circuit breakers have flipped myself, even though you say they have."

Yeah, that's cute. Not. Stupid people.

I got a little bit of that when I had the gas leak.

Um, hello? I make it my business to know what sort of smells could blow me up, you know?

That's all very annoying, Sophia.

Jesse, thanks. I think he is pretty nifty. It's funny, to those who knew my brother when he was little, he looks nearly identical to him. However, to those who knew my SIL? Identical to her. I've seen both their baby pictures, and it is true. My bro & SIL looked a lot alike.

Of course, when we were out at Target, a cashier thought I was Dominic's mother, J was my husband and my SIL was his sister. It was a little freaky. I think we scared the cashier with our horrified looks.

It was warmer in Baltimore than Birm for most of the time I was there.

My friend who was down in La. from NY said the same thing. The temp when she left was 11, when she got into La. the temp there had fallen to 20 and the temp in NY was up. The south can thank my friend Mel for the X-mas snow.

Were you back in NO for the holidays Dana?

I am just annoyed because of the "you're a girl, so I need to come and check whether or not the circuit breakers have flipped myself, even though you say they have."

Could these be the same people who ask if I've checked my oil when I say I need a new spark plug?