Life is hard - learning to manage your own is what makes one a grown-up. I used to feel that I had to have a husband, a house, a CAREER, and maybe even kids to be a real adult, but I don't think so anymore. Now, I feel very much the same as Erin. I'm 42 years old. I pay my own bills, usually on time, I do my job reasonably well, I don't eat candy all the time, and I don't mess up other people's property. That's grown-up enough.

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BEST FRIEND, fool.

I'm am still leery of the boyfriend word. My friend tried to use it on my this weekend, and I shied like a spooked horse. 5 dates do not a a BoyF make.

(DO they? Oh, god, I feel sick...)

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No! Absolutely not! Neverever and in no way.

t fans erin gently

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VW, you are so totally NOT a failure. Fitting the Expected Template for Adulthood doesn't make one suddenly more mature or successful than the rest of the world, and not fitting it doesn't mean you're somehow less worthwhile or mature.

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Hell, I'd even say that the Expected Template types are often the least successful -- IME only, and no offense to Templatey types here, of course.

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Thanks, Trud. The room started to spin, and my vision greyed....

I am 33 years old and have never had a boyfriend. I think I may be too old to start. It's so...weird to contemplate.

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I pay my own bills, usually on time, I do my job reasonably well, I don't eat candy all the time, and I don't mess up other people's property. That's grown-up enough.

I heartily endorse Zenkitty for defining "grown-up."

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(whew) According to Zenkitty, I sorta qualify for adulthood. The part about being unemployed is sticking in my craw at the moment, but hey. I never got downsized for not performing my appointed duties.

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Bless WeeSisterJay. She rocks. Which we already knew, of course. Still. Bless.

Oh how lovely. We like it when people in our families, or that we know, come through. Especially when we aren't sure that they are going to all that well.

She's playing with her bugs in the kitchen while I finish getting ready for work--Paul has today off, so she'll be having a Daddy and Squeak day today.

I hope they are having a great day.

Unfortunately, I am still In Search Of Paneer which has led me to Brit places as well as Indian. So I am trying to not to think of this as a family variation of Bubble and Squeak. Okay, I'm not. But it's in a funny way, because baby toes look yummy to nibble on already.

HMOG, I didn't sleep at all last night. Not even a twenty minute cat nap. The bed was too hot, the bed was too cold, the pillow was too big, the pillow was too flat, the covers were too heavy, what's that noise outside, it's too quiet now... ARRRRRGH!

So sorry, Nicole. I hope you sleep well and fully tonight.

The Magic Eraser will make you want to get stuff dirty just so that you can clean it.

I don't think anything would make me want to do that. If it is so amazing though? I might build it a shrine.

Damn, I have to go buy me one now. If I weren't starving as well, I would complain but I guess it Needs To Be Done.

I totally want a magic eraser now. Do they make them big enough to just wipe the whole house?

(If they do, I am buying them ALLLLLLLL!)

Dealing with difficulties - part of what turns you into a grownup.

And, vw, you are amazing at this. More than you should have to be. Ever.

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Oh dear, Cassie, one of the Finnish ski jumpers drives. vrrrrooommm vrooommmmm

They are talking about krav on the food network.

See? This is what happen when worlds collide!!!! RUUUUUUNNNNN!

(Which driver?)

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You'll notice I didn't include "clean my dwelling regularly" in my definitive-adult list.

And hey, Katerina, "having a job" isn't actually on the list. I declare you qualify.

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