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.

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.)

Good tip, that would definitely do Julia's room. Part of the problem is that Scott hates painting the way I hate having episiotomies. In the past, it's been my job to remind him that it's really worth the money for him, to get a painter. That's right out. But I don't mind painting. Once my mother moves out, I don't see why I can't put the boys in my mother's room, and paint a couple of hours a day, while Chris is at school.

This bonus was supposed to go to storm windows, and the balance was going to go into an account to save for eventually getting new kitchen cabinets/counter/floor, and a stove, and you know, Christmas. We did Christmas fine. We just skipped ourselves, and neither of us really cares about that. Santa gave them about what he usually does. Our gifts to them were significantly less, but we explained that up front, and they were sweet about it. The kitchen sucks, but whatever. That's a someday thing.

Sweet kid story: Ben has about a hundred bucks, right now. When we were car shopping, he offered it to give it us, to help out.