Awwww...thanks, JZ. I love our place. I really, really do. I'd stay here for a very long time IF we could afford to live in it with just me and Emily and Toto and Bastet. We're finding that we don't do well with a third roommate...especially a third roommate with a girlfriend who practically lives here. We're just too old and cranky and set in our ways. So, in starting to think about a two-bedroom (or a MUCH cheaper three-bedroom), I'm starting to dream of dishwashers and laundry in the building.

((Kristin))

Lots of healthy-dog-ma to Betsy.

{{{Kristin}}} Much ~ma to get you through this difficult time.

Catching up:

{{Cass}} It sounds like you made your grandmother's passing as peaceful and loving as possible. I hope you can feel peace soon.

{{Kristin}} I am so sorry, love.

Health~ma to Betsy. Get well, soon sweet dog.

I am finally feeling better. I was sick 12/29-1/2, went back to work for Tues and Wed of last week then decided I still wasn't well enough to work, so I took off Thursday and Friday. I just now am feeling human again. The snot monster not only took up residence in my body, but invited all its friends and they all reproduced. Damn snot orgy.

::kisskiss:: from guatemala!

SA!

Aw, {{{{kwistin}}}}

We should go see Masha and get scrubbed half to death.

I was only suggesting a mediator for at least the paperwork because, even if you agree on absolutely everything, it is very complicated and very emotionally charged. It's just a layer to protect yourself from a lot of stress and pain.

My (albeit not personal) experience with mediation has been the same. And you'll know its done correctly. Y'alls divorce, even though its amicable, seems on the complicated end of the spectrum for amatures to "do it yourself" and while you technically CAN, it'll be more like "do yourself in". And the $200 might not even be a complete wash -- once the mediator does the bulk of the paperwork you could chose to do the filing yourself. Or you could sell it on Connecticut EBay!

She's the one with the daughter, only it turns out said daughter has all-over body hair and retractable claws.

And you are the one that woman has been dreaming of. Seriously. Just don't tell her about the mating habits of the daughter until your third or fourth date.

I took a sick day today. I just woke up and am feeling much better. Now I shall walk the dog, eat chicken soup, and clean stuff. And probably nap. Its a half sick/half housework day.

We should go see Masha and get scrubbed half to death.

Oh! Trudes, I meant to ask you - my sister is going to be toodling around Manhattan for about ten days towards the end of this month. Cat sitting, of all things. Can I put her in touch with you? She'll have a lot of time to fill and not many people around to hang out with.

Even replacement parts can be built on a Friday.

What means this turn of phrase?

It means that it could be the exact same model, just assembled poorly because the workers were tired from the week, and their attention is on getting out of there for the weekend. It comes from the automobile industry, for the most part. "Never buy a car built on a Friday" is the old saw, although some people extend this to include Mondays, and Holidays.

Gosh, I wish I could prove it. Unfortunately, I didn't run ASP before sending it in so I don't have a record of the brand and model of the drive I had before. Bummer. I'm not sure if I've got enough assertiveness in me to call them about this when I have so little backup. OTOH, the fact that my AppleCare is probably going to run out this March might influence me.

It really isn't a problem, unless you get a jerk. Replacements aren't always perfect, and they know it. The sooner you tell them, the better. They might even arrange a faster turn around because it's their fault.

Brenda, please do!