My uncle's first wife even babysat for the second wife's kids upon rare occasions,

Wow, that's very amicable!

Erin, I'm skimming since I'm on the phone, but I am extremely impressed by your Closet Conquest! Are you for hire, cuz...

Gilded cage, huh? I can find a day job in CA, I'm sure. For a guilded (gilded) cage, for sure! Maybe even for all-brass cage at this point.

(I had three vodka tonics. Tall ones. I feel all warm and expansive, and I keep opening the closet and gazing upon the contents warmly. Is this Freudian?)

Erin, when you are done with ND & KT's closet(s), can the Gilded cage be shifted south a bit? My closet needs a LOT of help. Not sure if it should be classified as one LARGE closet, or one SMALL apartment. Either way, dust masks will be provided. :: mmm, I may have lost her on those last two points::

ION, day one in the desert went well. Kept Neice occupied the vast majority of the day, so Sis & BiL could prep the house for big party tomorrow. Had the lil one help me make brownies. She *almost* did a few things wrong and rushed, thus receiving wrath from my sister, but not enough wrath to prevent permission to lick the beaters of chocolate.

IOcarN, as i started to back out of the driveway in search of holiday greeting cards, the Master Error Light on the Prius lit up!!! AAAAG! Called the dealership (thankfully open today). They said, should be ok, just bring it in when back in town. When i went back out to car, no light! Sister says she gets that all the time up here. They think it has to do with the high altitude causing low pressure in some lines, until the car warms up or something. Still gotta take it in for a look-see. shit, Wednesday is gonna be PACKED.

tomorrow, party with strangers, then wrap all night. The lil one is gonna make out ROYALLY! (mom too, and she has NO idea either).

Perhaps it was the influence of all that peppermint.

Could be! Could be.

libkitty, I agree with what everyone else has said. You did what you needed to do, and I think that makes it the right thing right there. So sad, though, that the family is going through all that.

{{{connie and DH}}}

The lil one is gonna make out ROYALLY!

That's so fun! I love spoiling little ones.

...the Master Error Light on the Prius lit up!!! AAAAG! Called the dealership (thankfully open today). They said, should be ok, just bring it in when back in town. When i went back out to car, no light! Sister says she gets that all the time up here. They think it has to do with the high altitude causing low pressure in some lines, until the car warms up or something.

Don't sweat it, omnis audis. Odds are, when you last filled up you didn't tighten the gas cap quite enough, and the emissions control system is sensing the leak.

Many auto parts stores nowadays have trouble code readers, and will check them for you gratis. With the Prius and it's nice LCD screen, I bet there is an even easier way to get to the engine diagnostics -- if you can get the mechanic to tell you how.

My Check Engine Light comes on every time I don't tighten the cap often enough. In fact in the manual it says

libkitty, that sounds like a hard situation to be in, and I think you did the right thing.

This morning I got up to wrap presents and I discovered that somehow I didn't get Mom a "main" present so I have to go out and get her something. The two stores I've been shopping at are closed today but maybe I can find something at the locally owned free trade store.

cafe au lait, and I need to throw some clothes in a bag, and run out to get some more cigs when the store opens.

My dad's picking me up in abut 45 minutes, and then I will help cook all day in my comfy clothes, and persuade my dad to crank up the tunes, as we will be the only ones there.

but right now -- cafe au lait, with cinnamon in the grounds. Yum.

I am a Virgo/Leo, so for the cheap price of airfare, room/board, cheap vodka and smokes, I will agree to fly anywhere and clean out ANY closet! I am free til Jan. 3rd!

(After Xmas sales prices do not apply. Dust masks and allergy eye drops, and an unlimited supply of lemon and iced tea a condition of emplyment. See fine print for other details and special features.)

What about the Utility Room of Doom, Erin?

The special features sound like they could be fun.

I have L'Oreal Excellence Intense Deep Burgundy on my hair right this minute. I'm not sure I can call it a spur of the moment thing seeing as the kit has been in the cabinet for a year, but I didn't really plan to do it today. Hopefully the smell will dissipate enough to not torture Daniel before he gets home from work.

Merry Whatever, y'all!