Well, I've finally heard. I didn't get the part. I'm too "real" and too "American". Ah well. No biggie.

Shucks, Aims. I really wanted to see you on stage, because I'm not sure I ever have.

Will you promise to maybe look for other things to audition for?

Don't need to say it twice.

Will you promise to maybe look for other things to audition for?

Ya know, I think I might.

Oh, I'm sorry, Aimee (Still not vacuuming). But now that you've gotten over butterflies, maybe you'll keep audtitioning, yes? There's bound to be something you'll walk in and they'll say, "Yes! She's perfect!"

But now that you've gotten over butterflies, maybe you'll keep audtitioning, yes?

I think I might.

There's bound to be something you'll walk in and they'll say, "Yes! She's perfect!"

Actually, I have one of these places. Home. :)

I'm too "real" and too "American".

Those both strike me as good things to be. I just think that it's great that you auditioned.

One of the things I recognised when I was being overcome by homesickness when I ventured out to California was how much exhaustion played in releasing the feelings.

I mean the homesickness was still there, but catching up on sleep helped me a lot.

Anyone want to help me make this PowerPoint presentation?

I just finished mine, Alex. I'd be glad to help you with yours, if you really want help.

Aims, wow, "too real". I kinda like that. The realest invisible friend I have.

Daniel, yeah, every time I get really tired I start whining for Florida. It's easy to get depressed when I'm low on sleep.

"Too Real? WTF? (although people have told me that too) You don't get homesick living in the same dumb city you never fit in in the first place...other than that I'd not recommend it.

I think having a new baby exacerbates the homesickness, too. At least for normal people.

I on the other hand, never claimed to be normal, and having grown up with a pathologically manipulative and controlling maternal parent, plus being an inexperienced and timid person anyway, was exceptionally glad to be having my kids an entire ocean away. I did have a small but sturdy support system in place, and I didn't have to second-guess myself constantly, dealing with my mom's ridicule and dismissal of my parenting methods.

Not that anyone else's family is as warped as mine. But I really was glad--and remain so--that my first few years as a parent were away from my family. She still pushed my buttons and made me doubt myself later on, but at least I had a foundation of "Hey, I managed fine on my own" to combat her criticism.

And by the time the inlaws got involved I was pretty able to stand on my own two feet and ignore autocratic attempts to countermand my parenting decisions.

Geegosh, I'm just a fountain of unsolicited advice today. Really going to make beds now.