Oh, Kat. I'm sorry. WHY can this not be easy in any way shape or form for you????

t shaking fist at sky

Vibing that something AWESOME happens, like, today.

Oh, Kat, I'm so sorry!

I hope a solution finds its way to you as quickly and minimally-stressed as possible.

So, Vortex, titkhadshi!

so, teet-kah-DAHSH-ee?

teet-kah-DAHSH-ee

Only the emphasis (that's what written in capital letters, right?) should be on the very last one, on the "shi".

I'm sorry, Kat. I'm giving the universe a severe talking-to.

I think we should just adopt the Hebrew word. We use schadenfreude because English doesn't have a word for happiness derived from the suffering of others.

Speaking of dangerous escalators: [link]

I am in a blind panic because the childcare situation I had arranged fell through when my coworker lost her own nanny. So, starting today, I have to find a childcare place that I can afford and I really feel like vomitting and crying.

ShitshitSHIT. I'm so sorry Kat.

Me too, Kat. I wish there were something we could do to make this easier, since the universe clearly isn't playing nice.

Also, it is totally reasonable to fear escalators

See? See! Machines of death, I tell you what.

Go, paperdol! It's an awesome theme to move from intentional online community to unintentional physical community. What a rockin' concept. Glad your people went for it. Good luck with the proposal.

Our neighborhood here is the sort where everyone sits out on their porches and calls out to each other. Yes. I am rural. But after living in cities, I'd gotten used to living with my nearest neighbor about two miles away. So I'm just now getting to where I enjoy it here. Our neighbors really are great, interesting people. But I just wasn't used to walking out and having to talk to people All The Time. Now that I'm more comfortable, it's much better.

And soon we'll move, and have a better balance, I think. Neighbors, but only one right nearby. A great sense of community, but in gathered, shared spaces like the lake. Oh, and the little post office, with the little stationary store and the little honor system lending library (isn't that made of awesome! The postmaster said, well, check out anything you like and bring it back later. Or bring back something else. Whatever!) and the little general store and the bar called "Little Bit Saloon." We'll still be close enough to have friendships with the people we know, but it'll be more on our terms and quieter and less traffic.

The SO, though, is happy all the time. He loves people, loves talking to them, does the restaurant exit interview thing, randomly makes friends with service people (which works out in getting great deals on everything, but he doesn't do it for that, he just likes people and is interested in them), strikes up conversations with people on the street. And in a town this size, no one is surprised and they all talk back cheerfully to him and greet him later when they see him again.

Aww, Kat, that just sucks. Good luck with the search. I wish you could stay home, too!

Ugh. Kat, that's awful.