Maybe one of the colleges/universities has an Arabic speaking lunch table you could get to, Sean? Berkeley's International House had all sorts of those going on for people who wanted to meet up and practice.

Sox is a mac & cheese pizza pusher. But have I ever actually seen one? No!

connie, that's awful. So sorry.

Aimee, WTF? Buggering bureaucracy! That's insane.

Lisah, it sounds good! Hope it works out the way you want!

I stopped using fluoride toothpaste years ago. There's enough fluoride in municipal water to protect your teeth, just from rinsing with it, and there's some evidence that ingesting fluoride is not good for you. I use Tom's of Maine toothpaste with xylitol in it. There's plenty of evidence that xylitol aids in remineralization of teeth. That's what I attribute the vanishing of my last cavity to. It was clearly there on one x-ray, about four years ago, and the dentist was quite disgusted with me for refusing to fill it. Last year, different dentist, no cavity. She looked at me funny when I asked her about it, and showed me the x-ray to prove I had none. She of course didn't believe it had been there at all. Whatever. I wish I'd gotten copies of the x-rays to prove it.

Yup. Sucketh mightily.

I explained for over an hour and to anyone I've gotten on the phone over there. I told them my reason for quitting was no child care and that child care on a Saturday would have eaten up my entire check. Apparently, this doesn't matter. Nor does it matter that the job that actually fired me paid me twice as much. I asked the people how the fuck I was supposed to feed my child and they had no answers for me.

I can appeal and all that, but that means an actual hearing. In California. In person. I have to weigh whether or not it would be worth using our FF miles to do it.

Sigh.

Oh Connie. That's horrific. I am so sorry. {{{{}}}}

I can appeal and all that, but that means an actual hearing. In California. In person. I have to weigh whether or not it would be worth using our FF miles to do it.

Aw, crap. I know that's going to be a hard decision. I know you guys (and me too) want to use those miles to bring Joe out here for the Halloween Horror nights build, but....

If you decide you need to use those to come out here for an appeal, S and I just bought an aerobed, and would love to have you stay with us.

No Breakfast:

Tale of an Aimee-Imitates-Lucy Moment:

Mom had her pre-school class here to play in the water, play with the bunny and mom's dog, etc. We opted to leave Ollie out of it as he gets too hyper and can knock the little kids down and scare them, even though he's being friendly. I ran inside to grab some snacks and as I was leaving the house, Ollie got out. I threw the bags of chips down and made chase.

About 2 feet of chase.

My foot slipped on the stairs of the deck - hand towel someone left there - and I ate it, face first, into the wood chips and hard ground. I just missed the brick walkway by about 6 inches.

Joe jumps off the porch thinking I've busted my head and I just moan, "Get Ollie. Kids." He runs off for Ollie.

I jammed my right arm and wrist, my jaw is killing me cause I was chewing when I hit and jammed my jaw against the ground, and I have the beginnings of a nice shiner PLUS abrasion on my left face cheek.

t shakes head

As usual, I have some 'splainin to do.

Thanks Seanie. I appreciate that.

I wonder who I can get to be me and go to the hearing.

Prolly fraud, huh?

I'm scared that now they're going to decide that I was overpaid the money I have received and have to pay all that back PLUS interest PLUS penalties.

Blargh.

AIMS!!!!!!!

NO FALLING DOWN!!!!!! Come on! I have enough of this problem with S!

I'm not always smart about things, but this part reads to me like I *can* have the appeal hearing by telephone. I got is directly from the California Unemployment code.

1953.5. The presiding officer may conduct all or part of a hearing by telephone, television, or other electronic means, notwithstanding a party's objection pursuant to Section 11440.30 of the Government Code, on a showing of good cause by the party requesting the hearing by telephone, television, or other electronic means.

NO FALLING DOWN

Well, goodness. I tripped. I didn't just face plant cause there was air there.

Hey All. Playing catch up games as usual.

Aimee's story (ouch!) reminded me of me to such a degree, I thought she might appreciate one of my newest tees: [link]

{{ Aimee }} (Hugs from a non-bruise-touching distance)

Aimee -- it sounds that way to me too.

ION, I was forced through finances to purchase less expensive cat food. Unfortunately, one of my cats cannot keep it down. I have 7 days until I get paid and can buy the regular stuff. What are the odds that he will adjust to the food between now and then? (I'm planning on supplementing his kibble with some of my scrambled eggs. I really have no other animal protein in the house at the moment and I'm not sure what good peanut butter will do for a feline.)