I think I just chased away Daniel's CraxyCousin!Steve, by the simple expedient of asking if he was done with the light in his room. He'd been sitting at Daniel's desk for some minutes, and his old room door was open, lights on in there. He said no, and gave me such a weird look. Rather than make a comment about being one of the people paying for the electricity to run those lights (after all I had just asked him to fix the brakes in the vehicle I drive), I simply suggested he shut his door, as the cats were now up and about. Unless he wants them to get in there. Within minutes he went into that room, fiddled around in there, shut the door. He then left the house, and backed out of the driveway. All this without any further conversation. Not a word. Odd, because I have come to fear his presence not for the glowering silence, but for endless yammering.

Aimee, it's not going to be doable.

You'll go nuts.

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.

I would agree with this take, and also, WTF, was he raised in a circus before being taken in by a caring-but-closed crimefighter?

and also, WTF, was he raised in a circus before being taken in by a caring-but-closed crimefighter?

Well, I *can* confirm that he is extremely flexible. Like, Dick Grayson flexible.

Suddenly this explains a LOT.

Oh, honey. Even if you manage to fall asleep immediately each time, that's 5 hours a night. You'll burn out so fast, it won't be worth it.

Yes yes yes.

Remember the insanity of the newborn period? Sleep debt is *not* something you can negotiate with your body.

I know, but real cash debt is driving me slowly insane anyway. At least if I had a nervous breakdown, bills would be paid.

Happy Birthday, Nora!!!

Suddenly this explains a LOT.

It really does.

Hey, can you resend me your address? I've got some stuff here that needs to go to you.

I know, but real cash debt is driving me slowly insane anyway. At least if I had a nervous breakdown, bills would be paid.

Can you find part-time weekend work instead?

What can you cut out? We were very broke last year and cancelled all subscriptions, including cable and magazines, stopped buying clothes or going out to dinner or anything that wasn't the basics. It wasn't as not-fun as it sounds, once we got used to it. We also had a big yard sale which netted us several hundred bucks and paid for Christmas presents and then sold anything not loved or used on Ebay, which got us another thousand bucks or so. We are still living very thriftily--no vacations, no fancy make-up or moisturizer for me (yeah, I miss the nice stuff when I hear folks going on about Lush), dinner only at under $10 places, but we have enough for TiVo, so that's nice.

This job might be weekends - I'm not sure yet. And mostly, other weekend work is mainly retail, which, I love and would work it in a heartbeat. But, I did something really stupid about 6 years ago and I don't think I'm "allowed" to work retail anymore.

What can you cut out? We were very broke last year and cancelled all subscriptions, including cable and magazines, stopped buying clothes or going out to dinner or anything that wasn't the basics. It wasn't as not-fun as it sounds, once we got used to it.

Wise, wise and wise. I kinda grew up like this too- in some way, you think of it as a challenge or a game or and adventure. (I look at it that way because that's how my parents got us through it)

ETA: man, I sound like a moron.