I lose my keys all the time. I spent 5 mins today trying to figure out where I left them. I need to put a dish on the tv or something.

Insomnia sucks. I am melting. But, Teacup Guy will be here in 3 1/2 hours!

{{{vw}}} I am so sorry you are going through this. It is not you; the system sucks. It makes me so mad.

Happy Anniversary to connie and her DH!

Congratulations, Erin!!!

{{{Plei}}}

Aw, Plei, that sucks. But the first time through, I thought the baby was locked in the car, so I was really relieved by the ending. Particularly as it's been so awful hot here and I always project so I assumed it was roasting hot there and I was getting all worried...

It was quite a nail-biter of a story from my seat. Then I realized that the car seat was not yet in the car, and all was more clear.

Yay, Erin! That sounds like an awesome fit for you. And happy anniversary to connie and DH.

Also, thanks for the congrats, everyone.

Are you happy with the offer?

Very happy -- the dollar figure is a few thousand over what I was hoping for, the benefits are good, I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy the work, and the people I'll be working with all seem very cool. My only reservation is that the commute is a little long, but nothing's perfect.

Just as you shouldn't let your parents force you to do a PhD, you shouldn't let them prevent you from doing one, if you want it. Otherwise they're still controlling you.

What ita and Plei said.

To give you an example from my own life -- for my mom, financial success basically means you win at life. And she believes the best way to become financially successful is to own your own business. And she really can't understand why that isn't my goal, too.

So I let her talk, because I know it comes from a good place. And if someday I *do* end up opening an editorial agency (or whatever), I won't do it to make her happy, and I won't see it as an "I told you so." I'll do it because it makes sense for me. So if in five years you decide a Ph.D. makes sense for you, go for it.

If I have 3 writing samples, 2 of which have been published, one of those won an award, and one is a paper that with a little tweaking would be an awesome example of my mad skilz, is it ok to tweak?

I wouldn't tweak, but all of my samples are published so I don't really know what protocol is on unpublished work.

But the first time through, I thought the baby was locked in the car, so I was really relieved by the ending.

Me too! I'm so happy there was not a baked Lilybean, but I'm sorry Plei had to miss the movie.

Erin, I'm so fucking woo-hoo! for you.

I have a little hook on the wall right inside my door, and hang my keys there RIGHT when I come in. This has become a habit -- I started doing it about 5 years ago, and now it's natural. Otherwise, I have NO FUCKING CLUE where my keys go.

I've found them in the freezer, in a show, by the toilet.

Boy, damn, my adrenalin high is tapering off, and I am fucking tired. But I want to start planning! What books am I going to teach?! What poem will I stencil on the wall of my classroom?

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo

Erin, I'm so fucking woo-hoo! for you.

Hee. I want this as my new tag. Or possibly just a song lyric.

Egad, Plei. At least the keys were found.

I'll be able to -- pay rent! Get car insurance! Go to the doctor! Maybe even buy some FREAKING NEW CLOTHES.

How exciting. It's been three years since you had a decent income, no? That's a lot of scraping.

The big difference is that, post-Lily, I can't just shrug and see it another day, so little fuck-ups feel bigger.

That's the consequential portion of parenting. You have less leeway. You have smaller windows of opportunity. When the baby sleeps will dictate when you can do things. (Not just their unconsciousness, but knowing when they're going to get cranky and meltdown.)

I wouldn't. Credibility. (Imperfectly restraining self from begging for Groove Thang mix while asking Hecubus: Parliament and Funkadelic? Same or different. Mom says different, I'm arguing for a connection...who's right? She finally said I should take it to you because "he knows that shit") So?