....I feel I should qualify that the pirate version of Howl's Moving Castle doesn't actually feature pirates, as such. I'm assuming. Just big Arabic subtitles.

Yeah, but it does feature Christian Bale's voice as the most petulent glam rock gothboy wizard who cries over his bad hair coloring and wears fabulous earrings.

My daughter's therapist recommended breaking the day into 15 minutes increments and listing each thing that needed to be done in a block. Then, adjusting how many blocks of time she may need for any particular task once she'd run through it a couple of times. As long as she stuck to it, it worked pretty well for her, she got a lot more done on a daily basis.

The Boy does this, but he's bad at adhering to it. If I come over and glare at him (no, seriously; he'll call me and ask "Can you come over and give me the Stern Glare?"), then he gets shit done.

But I don't want to be the taskmaster, you know? I want to be the....I don't know, just the loveable huggable Tep.

just the loveable huggable Tep.

You can be the loveable huggable Tep with an occasional Stern Glare.

But I don't want to be the taskmaster, you know? I want to be the....I don't know, just the loveable huggable Tep.

Would it be more fun if you brought a riding crop? And wore the big boots?

Tep, I love hearing about your Boy and his carrots and your Stern Glare of Doom.

Bless.

eta

...that somehow came out patronising, I think, maybe. Or it looked it when it was in black and white. And what I meant was just Yay, with a small side order of wist. In case that wasn't clear. And, yeah, did I but have a portable Stargate keyed in to the Buffistas' residences, I'd be stepping through a shiny event horizon and giving you a hug RIGHT NOW. Or I would if I were more demonstrative and less tentative about huggage. I think I'm more of a huggee than a hugger.

looks around empty flat sadly.

Jesus. I'm really starting to depress myself. It must be because my hormones are out of whack.

Teppy - insent.

But I don't want to be the taskmaster, you know? I want to be the....I don't know, just the loveable huggable Tep.

Would it be more fun if you brought a riding crop?

Already taken care of, believe me.

...that somehow came out patronising, I think, maybe.

Not even one tiny bit. Seriously.

these damned allergies, which resist Claritin's might.

Best allergy pill in the world is Aerius. Not sure if it is available in the US though...

Best allergy pill in the world is Aerius. Not sure if it is available in the US though...

It's called Clarinex in the US. Same drug, though.

But I don't want to be the taskmaster, you know? I want to be the....I don't know, just the loveable huggable Tep.

I sooo resonate with this. For some reason, I seem to forever attract the needingtobeled fella. And it grates. These days, when I find myself agitated because Fella doesn't do stuff unless I ask him to, (which isn't all the time...he really is respectful of my needs...he just...forgets) I sooth myself with the fact that, in the end, he actually DOES what I ask. Goodness knows, I've had more than one relationship where that kind of responsiveness was like water from the moon...Impossible!

It sounds like The Boy wants to do right. Which is charming and encouraging. Bless both your hearts, I hope you feel better/calmer/cheerier soon.