Gud, I'm so sorry. I know nobody standing on the outside of a marriage looking in can ever really know what the people inside it are experiencing (especially nobody standing so far on the outside they're in another state, looking at letters floating on a screen), but it just kills me to read you saying again that you've screwed up, that you've said or done the wrong thing and it's your duty to undefensively sit and listen to your own screw-ups.

And it just kills me again that you never seem to get credit from anyone but the Buffistas for what a very good, loving, committed dad you are, how healthy and glowing your kids are, the security and sense of self and sly Gud-ian wit that radiates out from every picture, every movie, every story you post. Even if you screwed up a million ways from Sunday in a million other places in your life, those kids and your huge wide-open heartfulness toward them are such a great and good life's work. Maybe your wife does have her reasons, but I'm just bewildered that she gives you no credit, no patience, no benefit of the doubt at all for that.

Beej, I am convinced that there are no good phone options. All the phone companies suck. They have been the cause of much distress in my life.

It does seem like there are no good options. I've never had a cell phone, just because I figured my landline was hassle enough. What, in the name of sweet, weeping Moses are we supposed to DO?

I'm furious. And getting furiouser by the minute.

Nicole, the shoes arrived!

YAY!! PICTURE TIME!! WITH YOUR FEET IN THE SHOES!!

Teppy! There is no way I am asking for pictures of you in the shoes after the prior discussion

Pfft, Laura. That was a stranger. A weirdo stranger. I want PICTURES!! WITH HER FEET IN THEM!!

• *I do not now, nor have I ever had a foot or shoe fetish. Just a Teppy in kick-ass shoes fetish. So there.**

I have to go dry some clothes at the laundromat down the street because my shitty dryer died on me (again!) last night. I will keep my fingers crossed for pictures to be posted when I return.

Aw, Beej, been there, done that, bitten holes in the t-shirt in frustration. The most persistently irksome thing about it? The question of why, why, why every single creditor you ever have is willing, eager and able to make harassing phone calls to you wanting to know when the hell you're going to pay up, except the damn people who gave you the phone number in the first place.

Signed,

Had My Phone Turned Off Three Times Due To Ineptitude Largely No, I Was Too Generous, Entirely Caused By The Phone Company's Inability To Pick Up The Phone And Call Me (or, for short, Fuck Pac Bell, those fucking fucks)

Weird how the dsl works...guess I musta paid THAT ONE and just forgotten to pay the phone, which is on the same bill.

I had this happen with local and long distance FROM THE SAME COMPANY. It took me no end of grief to work it out, and now I have a different telephone company, which has been a dream for me to work with, but not always for others. I hope that your situation is resolved much more easily and quickly. I guess the good thing about phone problems being widespread is that hopefully your clients will be understanding?

eta: Upon re-read, I realized that this post inadvertently turned into being all about mememe. Sorry!

I guess the good thing about phone problems being widespread is that hopefully your clients will be understanding?

Phone company distress does seem to be a common complaint. Just about everyone I know has horror stories. I just moved my office phones and despite the massive advance notice I still had the disconnnected message. Grrrr.

Libkitty!

I know I owe you mail. I have not forgotten!

You're fine, Trudy. Just fine. You may not have forgotten, but I had.

Catching up,

Drunk!Juliana is adorkable. Awww.

she's still shy, and she's never met anyone over the internet before. SOOO CUUUUTE!!

Never met anyone over the internet before? Where has she BEEN? t /totally addicted to teh intarweb

ita, you should krav him. Just to prove you can

Now that I've heard more info about his scare tactics? I"m totally on board with this. Maybe he could be the demonstration person that you beat the crap out of for your test!!!

See, that's just sad. black leather pants should give everyone a +5

Well at least, almost everyone--I'm thinking Joe Schmoe with the beer belly is just gonna look worse in black leather pants. But anyone who's already reasonably attractive...

ast week was Restaurant Week here (special deals on meals at purportedly nice restaurants) and several people have gotten sick

Dude! That's no kind of good! I went to Restaurant Week, but it wasn't very good...but at least I didn't get sick!!