I get the feeling that many of us found new and exciting ways to try to do ourselves - and our mothers, as well as assorted friends and siblings - in. We're creative!

Owen pulled a runner today. DH didn't lock the deadbolt when he left for work and I was distracted getting Olivia and myself dressed this morning. I was still half-naked when Owen topped the baby gate, opened the front door and went walkabout. I threw on a robe, rushed out the door and it took me about a minute to locate him. He was on our neighbor's porch (stark naked, of course) and trying to open their door.

This was an hour ago and I haven't stopped shaking.

Oh my dear friend. I am so sorry. Ugh. There's nothing worse. I'm getting back the sick headache I got when Chris disappeared, just thinking about it.

Has he been texting with Cindy's kids?

He sounds like he's been studying Christopher's master technique.

Yeah, but Owen has created his own interpretation. We didn't hear Chris leave, and Chris was not naked. He had on a red t-shirt and shorts (which I will see in my mind until the day I die).

And my stupid doctor's office didn't call me. I had to call THEM. The next available appointment for the substitute doctor: NEXT WEEK. I run out of pills on Thursday. I've taken an appointment with one of their other doctors (the one DH quit using because he always runs about an hour behind schedule). I'm getting a script and changing practices.

If this is for your new med, they need to write you a script, or give you another package of samples to tide you over, before then. You can get wonky physical symptoms if you stop that med cold turkey. You need to taper off. Don't let them jerk you around.

Lily's a good thing.

The rest is chaotic neutral.

Horse hockey. Life isn't just for achieving some sort of status or accomplishing something that looks good on a newsletter. It's for living. And your talents aren't your talents just so you can tick stuff off on a list. They're just a part of you.

Good timelies y'all!

I am so freaking tired. I had nightmares all night last night. The first was about crab/bug like things that were everywhere. At first they were benign, but then they started crawling and biting. Like tribbles, but less fuzz and more creepy crawly clawey. In the second, two guys stole my dog, Maxine. They just opened the door and she hopped in their car. I had to cling to the door and was drug down the street. After I practically pulled the door off the hinges, they let her out, but were very menacing, like the next time I let her out of my sight they were going to take her again. Both dreams had me flailing and kicking, so Mr. Jane had to wake me.

About to have to go on a longish lunch. I finally got our tax check back from the bank, and now I have to actually go to the banking center and make sure it goes through, and that they reverse all charges.. PITA.

On the plus side, my lawyer friend is going to help my friend L with the fallout from leaving her husband. He also sent me a really sweet email after I asked.

"Iva, I think you should sit down. Howard is on the roof."

As if Iva's going to stay in a chair after hearing that. Should have been "Iva, go get all your cushions and pillows, Howard's on the roof."

The combination of sleepwalking stories and walking out the door stories are freaking me out. Ellie started sleepwalking a few nights ago. Thankfully, she can't open the doors yet.

I was a walkabout child. I was always clothed but sometimes it was pajamas. I would go traipsing through the wooded area behind our house and a neighbor's basset hound would follow and then lead me home.

I only really took off once. There was a park across the street from our house when I was like 5. I crossed the street and played in the park for a while until my mom found me (she was totally frantic) and wore my butt out. I didn't really get spankings - that one was out of sheer terror, I think. There was another time I was supposed to be at one friend's house and ended up at another friend's house (all on the same street as my house). My mom and dad were going door to door and were just about to call the cops when they found me. I got grounded that time. I think I would have preferred the spanking.

Life isn't just for achieving some sort of status or accomplishing something that looks good on a newsletter. It's for living. And your talents aren't your talents just so you can tick stuff off on a list. They're just a part of you.

Apropos of nothing, Cindy, I want to hug you for saying this.

Owen, you need to cut it out with the scaring your mother like that! Don't make the mostly-invisible internet people invest in a kid leash for you! (But I'm generous, so I'd get the one that looked like a monkey.)

I missed a lot more, so hugs and ~ma for everyone. ::passes the basket::

I feel like I've got an itch in my brain, and I don't have the first clue what to do about it. Also, I had a conversation with a third party that I think totally destroyed the burgeoning crush that was forming on that boy from Indiana. Mixed opinions on that. Also also, I need a new job as of yesterday. Have we found that pause button for the planet yet, so that I can get my shit together?

::huddles in the collective Bitches bosom for comfort whilst I adjust my diamond shoes::

I totally feel you on that. But I don't mean porn, unless you want me to. God, Deena, your co-worker ruined that for me. Cause now in my head I hear some doofus talking about saying that to Actual Black People.

I would go traipsing through the wooded area behind our house and a neighbor's basset hound would follow and then lead me home.

This is possibly the most adorable mental picture evAH.