Oh, Daniel. Ugh. I am so mad on your behalf. I think I understand how and why the woman took offense. I think you were right when you speculated that she thought you said, "You remind me of" rather than "you've (as in your conversation has) reminded me of," and after that, I can see how that misunderstanding put a weird filter on everything else you did or said, even if/when you were responding to her inquiries.

I do also think you need to contact the other man who actually told her the nasty name (I'd never heard it) for Brazil nuts. At least he can set the record straight on how she asked you, and maybe show how such a horrible misunderstanding was possible. I hope you get fight this right away. The longer you wait, the more it's going to look like you're pulling your explanation out of your ass.

Yummier than naked Hyena!Xander topped with Spike brandy butter.

C'mon now, Fay. C'mon.

(sigh. Christmas isn't very much helping me with the weightloss.)

Oh, let me fanwank this for you, Fay. Indulging over the holidays is good for your metabolism. You don't want your body to go into famine mode. You want to keep it guessing. In the long run, eating some yummies over Christmas is going to help with the weight-loss and maintenance. Plus? I've seen the pictures, you're already gorgeous.

My parents' minivan has a DVD player in the back, but it doesn't get much use since my dad likes books on tape for long car rides.

I hope you find something new fast.

Sometimes I think the endless detail work of custodian/janitorial work would be preferable to an office environment. I did some of that in college. Hated it then, but it was taking me away from collage. Why wouldn't I dislike being taken from that?

I really miss mixing daily in meatspace with my own kind, creative folk. If it weren't for Buffistas (Including Andi) and the like online, I believe I would have gone stark raving mad from the humdrum.

It has been ten years since I have really been in my old life. Writing, film projects, theater, etc. all still tug at my brain.

Now I have a 15-year-old degree in Journalism, and that won't buy me a ticket to the doorstep of any newspaper.

I somehow let my hobby of computers become my profession, and then when I lost that I suddenly became an office drone.

Every day I set foot in a cube farm seems to scrape a bit more off my soul; the political infighting, the general lack of enlightened discourse, the mindless tedium all serve to make me more atomaton than man.

I may have issues.

Thank god for Andi. Her intelligence, and warmth, and love are helping me deal with all this on a daily basis.

sj, she says you're Skywishes Pony.

And with that, I'm going to go spend a bit of time with her while Aidan's napping.

{{d}}

{{juliana}}

I wish I could do something tangible, but good thoughts and warm snuggles are being beamed your way.

sj, she says you're Skywishes Pony.

I like it. Hugs and kisses to her from me.

like how we're going to get the drain fixed on our bathtub (we have a shower in the other bathroom, so we're not being all dirty or anything, but still

It's liveable. We went for over three years with just the very crummy shower in the basement. I cheer you on! You can do it!

Also, watch for close-out paint at Home Depot. When they sell the mistakes, you can get good paint for $5 a gallon. I don't want to think about how many cans of paint I have in the basement from when I discovered this fact and went bonkers, but suffice it to say, I managed to get a few room's worth. (Mind you, we have 10x10 bedrooms, so one can does a whole bedroom with two coats AND leaves enough for touch ups.)

I hope you get fight this right away. The longer you wait, the more it's going to look like you're pulling your explanation out of your ass.

I gave them a basic two-page handwritten version of the events the day of, and kept a copy. Everything I've written since has been thinking and clarifying, and realizing some of the nuance.

Oh, Daniel. Bless you. And bless Andi.

Cindy, you're a doll. I've kind of given myself a free pass for Christmas Day & Boxing Day, but I'd planned on getting back on the wagon today - surprising my metabolism with exercise and sensible eating, when it's been lulled into a false sense of security. And I did spend 3 hours or so walking around town, and I've not been Crazy Overeating Girl or anything. Still.

Hmm.

I may go for a swim, perhaps. Silly to not, really, when my parents have a pool and I have a nice new 40s-type (?) minidress-swimsuit thingy.

Right. It's a plan.

*I* want a Man-pony!

I'll just bet you do.

I'd be the best Man-pony owner EVER.

You could lather him up and rub him down and put him through his paces and ride him all night long.

Er. Or something.