Laura is so very wise.

Ooh, bt, that's awesome. ~Ma for the AS.

The important thing is finding something that works for you.

Yes.

Aaaand, just for a hat trick, I've filled out some thoughts on various subjects on one of the dating sites. Certain ones would be familiar round these parts:

Children: "Babies, chum: tiny, dimpled, fleshy mirrors of our us-ness, that we parents hurl into the future, like leathery footballs of hope. And you've got to get a good spin on that baby, or evil will make an interception!"

Commitment: "The world is full of guys. Be a man. Don't just be a guy."

Racism: Does anyone ever say anything other than "I'm against it"? This is an intelligence test no one should fail.

Romance: It means the difference between a relationship and a love story.

Sexism: I'm against it in principle, but I still don't feel comfortable kissing boys.

Ah William, that sounds very encouraging. Interview~ma for A Student.

Ah William, that sounds very encouraging.

It really does. It's too early to tell, especially since we haven't actually met in person yet, but I'm hopeful I might have met my match (double entendre intended).

bt, lot's of ~ma for the AS. She sounds like a wonderful woman and I hope when you get together it is everything you wished for. And I liked your anwers to the dating site questions. Particularly the one about romance. That's an awesomely baited hook there. Although, if things go well with AS it would be well to fling anything you catch with it back into the dating pool. And, she is one lucky lady to be getting you.

Quite seriously, to anyone considering house buying (single family homes--I think condos get a pass on this, on account of dues covering a lot of this shit) soon, if you live anywhere close to paycheck to paycheck, even if your mortgage is about the same as your rent, save your pennies and keep renting.

This is our theory at the moment. Even if we could find a mortgage we could afford (which, as far as I can tell, means either living an hour from the city, or living across the street from drug dealers, neither of which appeals in the first place), there are still maintenance costs and property taxes and all of that.

I'm sorry you're dealing with it, though.

Poor unsleepy Annabel. Poor sleepy mama.

Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs question: Which of their scents might I like if my favorite perfume ever is Lush's Karma?

An Episcopalian church desided to send copies of it's current fiancial balance to the entire congregation via email. Unfortunately they forgot to change Quickbooks default message in the header - so every congregation member got the balance sheet accompanied by the statement: "Dear Customer. You have an outsdanding bill. Please remit."

Having worked in an Episcopalian church office, I am not at all surprised at this.

Job ~ma to Anne and Jilli (YAY job interviews) and Astarte (+ extra deep dark chocolate)

much ~ma to Susan, in every way. I'm thinking of you and yours. I hope you all get through this week OK. I'm so sorry.

Quite seriously, to anyone considering house buying (single family homes--I think condos get a pass on this, on account of dues covering a lot of this shit) soon, if you live anywhere close to paycheck to paycheck, even if your mortgage is about the same as your rent, save your pennies and keep renting.

This is our theory at the moment. Even if we could find a mortgage we could afford (which, as far as I can tell, means either living an hour from the city, or living across the street from drug dealers, neither of which appeals in the first place), there are still maintenance costs and property taxes and all of that.

Ours, too. We live in a fantastic neighborhood, have lovely landlords, and our apartment is huge and has its own entrance. Yeah, there's the issue of living in a basement, but for the rent we're paying, we couldn't find anywhere to buy that's remotely near the quality of this place.

Still, there's that feeling I occasionally get when we go visit another friend's new house (and more often than not, new baby) - the feeling of being left behind/not growing up/whatever. Does anyone else who rents (not in SF or NY, for lo, your housing market is screwy) feel that way? It's getting worse for me with all of the condos going up around here.

Raq, backflung of your insent.

And rallied.

Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs question: Which of their scents might I like if my favorite perfume ever is Lush's Karma?

I second this question.

Aww, billytea! Well-wishes for your AS.