I have a job interview today. I know that "part-time" means "no benefits." (How I miss the Good Job that let me go last year). Sadly, instead of feeling all pumped up and ready to shine, I feel resentful, bored, frightened and very reluctant to put on pantyhose and the expensive blue suit to go to a strange place to write down all my personal information - aGAIN. Why do they all say, "We've had over a hundred applicants already." They want me to be demoralized, knowing they have plenty of desperate people to choose from, and they'll probably pick one who's younger, prettier and more suave than I could ever be?

The morning paper says that the median home price down in Silicon Valley is now in the $700 K range. I get to watch the market accelerating without me, oh joy. Too bad I never could afford to hop on. I think my retirement option is "Bag lady."

This post brought to you by Disillusionment, Despair and Lots of Whining about it.

My theory on Crush!Boy's actions is based on knowing jack-shit about him, and created mostly to amuse myself with some kind of faux-clarivoyant pseudo-psychology. It should therefore be taken as authoritative.

I think that he is inclined to be flirty now because there is absolutely no risk involved. He's told you STOP, so he is in the driver's seat as far as your relationship goes. He's the one who can turn it on or turn it off. Consciously or not (probably not), he's a control-freak, and risk-adverse because of that. He can flirt with you, and enjoy flirting with you, because he took the initiative of heading you off at the pass, so he doesn't have to worry that things will go too far, or otherwise get out of his control.

Advice: Next time, put Rohipnol in his drink.

Driving around with Beverly, enjoying the ride and seeing and snarking at the sights sounds like a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a dream-night. Or an actual night, for that matter. I can't remember what I was doing with my dream-self last night, but I know it wasn't nearly as enjoyable, and it was sadly lacking in Bevness.

Crush!Boy's cluelessness sounds like genuine (and epic) cluelessness to me. I'm sure he has many fine qualities (or else Tep would never have gotten crushy on him in the first place), but right now he's making me roll my eyes forever so hard it hurts.

I think he loves the idea that you have a crush on him. It's an ego boost for him. And he thinks that by throwing you a bone by flirting, he's being a nice guy. Clueless booger. Mixed messages are a shitty thing to do to someone you've just shot down.

Yes, yes, yes. This from Cash. Underline the "shitty thing to do" part, memorize it. It is especially shitty if it keeps you from finding a New!Improved!Crush!Boy, Teppy.

I agree with Raq and Cash WRT to Poophead Parker

I have just gotten lots of financial advice, which is good. I need to diversify my portfolio. Which I want to do this afternoon (dammit, I'm just hanging there overexposed with all my Large Cap funds!!!) but sadly, I have actual work to do.

Cindy, I had a dream last night that I was at a pool party with you and your kids, we were in the pool, and Chris (that's your youngest, right?) let me hold him and hang out with him. Then he carefully and calmly suggested that we go see Mama, and we went over to you, and he flung himslef in your arms and started bawling. And here I'd thought we were having a good time! It caught me completely unawares, I tell you what. Cute kid though! (well, the version in my dream anyway)

Index funds, babe. (And why do I suddenly feel like the creepy guy in the Graduate who walks up to Benjamin to say "PLASTICS")

Happy Day of Noraliciousness!!!!!!!

Cindy, I had a dream last night that I was at a pool party with you and your kids, we were in the pool, and Chris (that's your youngest, right?) let me hold him and hang out with him. Then he carefully and calmly suggested that we go see Mama, and we went over to you, and he flung himslef in your arms and started bawling. And here I'd thought we were having a good time! It caught me completely unawares, I tell you what. Cute kid though! (well, the version in my dream anyway)

Hee! The little stinker. I think he would actually like you a lot. He really likes women.

Happy Birthday, Nora!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NORA!

ION, I just applied for a second job working from 11pm to 4am. Whooppee.