Oh yeah, late October is definitely the time to avoid Salem.

Amen, I usually try to be away from Salem the last weekend of October - especially if Halloween is close or on the weekend. Usually head up to Maine, because even commuting (let alone driving) in and out is major hassle.

If I don't travel this Halloween, I want to throw a massive Halloween party. All local-istas are going to be invited.

Too Many Realtors Up In My Business! They smell blood in the water. Heh. And, blah. Now I am tired.

We're walking a bit of a tricky line. We are very interested in this place in Salem, but are still wondering what's Out There in other communities. (Waltham, Arlington, a pipe dream for Somerville). So we aren't quite ready to commit, but we really like this place. We may be dreaded fence sitters.

oof, I am sorry to bring the thread to a crashing halt with really self-centered and boring real estate talk. I will speak of it no more! Though it did inspire talk of pumpkin ale and the word McSwiggen's so it's not all bad I think.

My brain is melty from work and potential life choice. blarg.

I spent the morning in ER getting breathing treatments . yay . asmatic bronchitis

Nora, I am so impressed with the house-buying! Go you.

Gudanov, I'm sorry. I hope you can work through it.

Juliana, your wedding pictures are *gorgeous.* You and Z just look so happy and right together.

And on the love/friendship thing ... I can't imagine loving someone and not liking him. (Being attracted to someone I didn't like, yes, but that's different.) It sounds very retrograde and unpleasant to me.But I'm not sure where P. and I are on the friendship-love continuum. I think we were becoming friends at the same time as we were falling in love, but there wasn't any period where I would have described him as a "friend" and not as "my boyfriend," if that makes sense. I do think we're best friends now.

Juliana, many seconds on how awesome your wedding photos are! You look amazing, and it looks like a really fun wedding.

My Latina students taught me all about quincineras today.

I had no idea it was so complicated and big and expensive!

Timelies.

Ugh, Beth, that sounds horrid. I hope you get better very quickly.

I've been busy today doing very important things. First, I napped all morning. Kara woke at 3:30 and wouldn't go back to sleep, so we stayed up all night. I got her to fall asleep at 7, got an hour and a half of sleep, and then Aidan got up. I fed him breakfast, turned on Noggin, and hit the couch for a couple of hours. Kara got up, I fed everyone lunch, and then I put Aidan down for a nap.

I futzed a little, and then I got busy. Kara and I picked up all the toys in the living room, Then Kara, Aidan and I built the second bookshelf, turned it cater-corner in the corner and fit the TV on the bottom shelf. It's a tad low for us but perfect for Aidan and Kara likes it too.

I put many of the library books and DVDs on the shelves above and now I just have to move the couch so we can see the TV when we're sitting on it. There's lots more to do, but it's not going to get done today.

Over the course of the last week, I also bought a potted gardenia and ficus which will go on the front porch tonight, an orchid for the dining room table, and got Kara some pansies to plant in her windowbox garden. That'll happen tomorrow. Whew.

This is all Nora's fault. She talked about HGTV. I'm also going to blame Nora if I end up getting to buy a house this year.

Whoops! I forgot to say that I love your wedding pictures, Juliana. So pretty. My favorite is the one of you and your mom, so loving.

It goes without saying that Juliana is gorgeous.

Please to keep breathing, beth. Yikes!

I am now exhausted by Deena's accomplishments and may take a nap.