Holy Batfuck, Tep - that's bizarre and wrong to the umpteenth degree. I'm sorry.

Though, I can't help imagining your grandad Tycho Brahe style.

Steph, that is indeed some deep dysfunction. Sorry it got piled on you the way it did. I feel badly for your grandpa--it must be confusing and frightening to be in pain, in the hospital with that kind of major surgery and not realize what's going on. Recovery-ma for him.

If he's senile, does Caretaker Aunt already have power of attorney for him? Can't they move the house into a trust now? Hopefully, he won't have to stay in the nursing home--just until he recovers. I know it's a possibility that he might end up needing to stay there considering his age and health, but they should be taking the necessary steps to deal with the legal and financial issues now rather than freaking out over what they didn't do.

Cindy, it makes me sad that Scholastic has gone downhill. I remember them very fondly. I think my parents were pretty adamant about spending any amount so soon after Christmas. I think the smallest gesture is a good lesson about self control and financial management, even at Miss J's age.

Sean! I have no address for you. I'm not saying I'll mail you anything, just that I finally sniffed and erased the old apartment from my address book, so I need something to replace it.

Hi Em!

Address deleted.

Steph, I feel for you, really, but this sentence made me laugh out loud. You are very funny when you are righteously pissed off.

Absomalutely. I reckon that for the rest of the day you get a pass on listening to anyone else's crap. Just tell them, "Did you lose a frikkin' NOSE? Then I don't want to hear about it!" Ok, Big!Boss gets a pass on that. Other than that, today they have no place in your ear.

Wally report! The woman whose name I misspelled has replied. Apparently she has a kid, although her profile says otherwise. I feel better about the name-typo.

Anyway, this gives me scope to talk about my nephew, which is always good. Oh, and another woman has replied, and I think I owe someone else a phone call. 'Tis the season and all that.

Oh my word, billytea. You'd be like the Disneyland of step-fathers. Whoa. That was over-stepping. Must have been some Wally fic I'd been reading.

Cindy, it makes me sad that Scholastic has gone downhill. I remember them very fondly. I think my parents were pretty adamant about spending any amount so soon after Christmas. I think the smallest gesture is a good lesson about self control and financial management, even at Miss J's age.

I think they still have plenty of good, but the garbage to good ratio (at least for the elementary aged kids) seems less favorable. I don't know what to do about Julia. I'm still chewing on it.

Cindy, is there some chore around the house that she could do to earn the money for the book?

Oh, ChiKat. You maybe just gave me an out. Bless you. I'm sure I could come up with something. She's been guilting me, because the last time Ben bought, I did give him some of the money (but it was better timed) and I've been trying to balance out sibling fairness with the money less.

That was supposed to say "money lesson". Pardon me, my slip is showing.