So looks like I'm going to be an LAista as of August, unless something big changes. Weirdness. Starting to look at apartments today (not selling the CT house--my Gram needs it for now; plus, it will be worth a lot more in a few years once the gold course goes in down the street).

Holy crap. Serious? You're moving to LA? Wow, that's big stuff. Congratulations on the new job and exciting stuff and all.

And LA is markedly closer to Australia. IJS.

People, never clean your ears with cigarette butts. You will NEVER get to Paris that way.

At least make sure it's out first.

I've been in this one place for 34 years. I'm ready to see what somewhere else is like.

Australia's nice...

While I was lounging around coddling my back muscles, Dylan took Annabel to the park today:

Aww. Cute toddler pics.

Anyway. This morning, I called Bec for the first time since my mother died. It was a good conversation. It's still just so easy to talk to her. We were catching up on how the people we know are doing, and any problems they're having. I mentioned to her in the middle of it, "See, once you get to know them everyone's screwed up. You and I are remarkably well-adjusted."

There was some sad news. A couple we used to know in Melbourne from the FAC, apparently their relationship is on the rocks. It sounds like they're not even trying anymore, therapy didn't help, and now it's just a lifeless marriage. But they're staying together for the kids. That's a situation I'm glad I don't have to deal with.

Bec's feeling good. She'd been sounding down the last couple of times I talked to her. Apparently it's the first time she's had to cope with depression since I left, and the way she described it, before when she was down she always had me there to be a rock for her. So that's the kind of thing you like to hear.

She's having a bit of trouble with a guy at church. She'd become good friends with him, and then out of the blue (to her) he announced that he and his wife had separated. Long time coming, apparently, but a shock to Bec. And now she feels like he's coming on to her; and apparently he's been keeping track, to the day, of how long it's been since I left. Note to guys out there, women like attention to detail, but not this kind of detail. She's not ready for another relationship, wasn't looking for that from this guy anyway, and is rather concerned that he's apparently on the prowl right after leaving his wife of sixteen years. (That is, they were married for sixteen years, not that he was pulling some kind of R Kelly thing.) She sees a serious talk in her future.

So it was a good conversation. We're both going pretty well. I was a little nervous before calling her, and I know she was too, but it seems that we're still good friends.

Ao all in all, it's been a good weekend.

Hullo. I'm catsitting for friends with a computer, so have access to one this weekend, a rarity. I'm tired. Hiked around Angel Island today with suela, Katie M, vonnie lake and my house guest Bill, took a 3 hour bath with a tall marguerita and several magazines included, and caught part of the part of the Lost finale that Tivo missed ::kicks Tivo::. Umm, tired. It feels good, actually.

Wow, Annabel's so big already! what a cutie. Ditto Lily.

I'm glad you've had a good weekend, Billytea. It's good that you and Bec are working on being friends.

I'm glad you've had a good weekend, Billytea. It's good that you and Bec are working on being friends.

That's the thing. It's like, no work at all. I'm not going to be calling her every week or anything, because that way lies madness; but it just feels comfortable talking to her, even after everything.

That's even better then.

That's great news, billytea. One of the sadder feelings in a separation is that you're losing all that relationship that you've invested in. That this person knows you so well, and you're losing that. But you haven't, it sounds. Has Bec sorted out her visa issues?

If folks have any spare job-ma handy, please direct it toward EM. She had a good interview and should know by Wednesday. She's been out of work for a year, has exhausted her resources (and mine) and this is would be an excellent fit for her. (Plus she could start paying me back.) Also, obviously, it would be much more stable for Emmett if his mother was gainfully employed.

Has Bec sorted out her visa issues?

Not yet, though she has her employer's full backing. I think it's quite likely it'll get sorted out in her favour.

I think it's quite likely it'll get sorted out in her favour.

Not if she keeps spelling "favour" with a "u"! That's a dead giveaway! Oh wait...you don't have to pretend you were born here and adopt the accent do you?

Not if she keeps spelling "favour" with a "u"! That's a dead giveaway! Oh wait...you don't have to pretend you were born here and adopt the accent do you?

Nah. I think it helps, in fact. Last year a survey found that America's favourite [sic] foreign country [sic] was Australia. So that's nice.

Oh, on accents, apparently Bec thinks mine has become stonger (i.e. more Australian) since moving back. Also, apparently people have been telling her that she's picked up a bit of an American accent since I left, though frankly I think that's just crazy talk. She sounded just the same to me.