I need to get the garbage out. And I remembered that I may have skipped a drawer in my old cubicle that needs to be packed. Why is being unemployed so much work?

Eek. 125 Jackson Hewitt franchises being investigated for tax fraud.

If you haven't yet done your taxes, I suggest going elsewhere. If you used them, I'd give the return a once-over while you have time to amend.

Oh dear, that's like H&R Block being audited, isn't it?

oof too early!

My mom, who is staying with me and Katie, is now mad at me and won't talk to me. Before we went to sleep last night, she was in the guest bedroom playing bad music (Huey Lewis?) relatively loudly to keep us up. I hurt her feelings and now she won't talk to me.

It's an odd role reversal. When did I become the adult and my mom the sullen teenager. Is this just cosmic payback?

Also, there was an earthquake 30 minutes ago. Luckily I was already awake to pump milk and got to feel it.

Is an early AM earthquake an ausipicious sign?

It may have been God hinting to your mother to Doblerize.

Did I mention that in clearing out my cubicle yesterday I found $200 in gift checks that I got as a bonus for finishing a special project and promptly forgot about? A nice find on a day that could have been more fraught. Hell, even getting a really convenient on-street parking space seemed like a Sign, what with the having to tote out all the books & cruft.

Oh, I'm sorry things are tough with your mom right now, Kat. That's the last thing you need. I know I've seen how hard things with our kids can be on my mother, because she's not only worried about them, she's worried about me, too. And the only time I came close to having in-law problems with Scott's mom was when Ben was brand new.

I think grandmothering is fraught with all kinds of emotion, and right now is such an emotional time for your whole family, particularly you. I hope your mom gets past this quickly. You need to feel loved and supported, and to not have to worry about one more person.

When there's something bigger and more important going on, I tend to do whatever I have to to smooth things over, and make the hurt feelings go away, because it is easier for me that way. It's the wimp's way out, but both of our families are always there for us and very cool about everything under most circumstances, so it's a small price to pay.

Excellent find Theodosia! Maybe I should clean my desk more often.

I'm sorry Kat. I hope she gets over it quickly. Tell her you'll shake the earth a bit more if she keeps it up.

Man, in the next cube over I can hear neo-con!coworker going on and on about Communism and how the country's going to hell, and I'm really restraining myself from killing her. UGH.

Some days coffee is Just Not Enough.

This morning my bus stop was plastered with signs reading: Delta Kappa Epsilon: GI Joes and Barbie Hoes Party - Guys Wear Camo, Girls Wear Pink. Taking place Friday night.

I have this great fantasy of midnight Friday rolling around and the frat section is a sea of camo, no pink anywhere.

Kat, I hope everything chills ASAP. And not in the frosty sense.

Man, a couple nights ago I dreamt I slept with Drew Barrymore. Who's apparently killer in the sack. Last night I dreamt I was raped (luckily I was spared the details in the dream) and got revenge by setting afire the homes of everyone who knew what was going on. And then the town whore tried to kick my ass because she thought I was encroaching on her territory.

Oddly there was a "happy" ending, but I don't know what it was.

Mornings are getting weird. I have to remind myself of my address to settle what's reality and what's not.