Vortex, bubble wrap will probably not be solid enough for your tree stand to support the tree. Try to find something more solid - maybe even fold or stack up thick wads of paper. But wood shims or similar would be best.

Poor Franny. But nighttime fevers are sometimes easier because you give 'em Motrin and they sleep.

yeah, Hec. I just gave her a dose of tylenol. Sis agreed with me it may be an ear infection given the runny nose, so I guess we're going to the doctor tomorrow.

You'll need something more solid than bubble wrap. Longer screws would be the best option.

I R Slow.

wrong thread.

Hope ita's sister arrived safely and their trip to the ER isn't too fraught with the idiocy of the medical industry.

Poor Franny, I hope the tylenol does the trick so there is rest for the night.

Is anybody still up?

I am so stressed out that I can no longer sleep. I DETEST apartment hunting. I HATE not knowing where I'm going to live. I do not want to live with random strangers, and yet I can no longer afford to live by myself in a safe neighborhood. Also, way too many people do not accept cats--note to the world: those people are completely lame. I have 11 days to find a place and move. And I do not want to move. I like my apartment. And I can't take time off from work to really apartment hunt as people are leaving all over the place to go celebrate something or other for the next couple of weeks. And I had to have a chat with my supervisor about how I'm committed to putting in the time when I asked to leave 15 minutes early today. 15 minutes.

In the meantime, I've applied for another part-time job, one that at least sounds really awesome, but they are not responding back quickly enough. And by that I mean I sent them something Tuesday, and I'd really appreciate it if they would have already hired me yesterday.

And since I suspect that I'm all by myself here for now, I'll also share the story of the apartment I saw tonight. Yes, it was quite affordable. I'd have my own room and a walk-in closet. But I would have to share a bathroom, not only with another girl, but also with cockroaches. Also, the entire place had an extremely weird smell. And apparently there are four teenage boys who live downstairs, and one of them plays the drums. And there was a couch on the front lawn of the apartment building, but no grass. And I watched a dog climb onto the couch and relieve himself. And on the way back to my car, I saw a man sitting in the bushes smoking a cigarette. IN the bushes. WHY? Is that the most scenic spot he could find? I hate apartment hunting.

ETA: Hi, ita! Hi, ita's sister! I've missed you!

Good health, Franny!

Alibelle, I'm about to head off to bed, but you sure have my sympathy on the apartment hunting stress. I hope the nicer job works out for you.

Alibelle, keep looking. I feel your pain. I found my current apartment 2 days (Yes, 2 DAYS!) before I had to move. I've now been here 6 years I think. I was about to settle for a place that I really didn't feel good about when this place suddenly popped up on the radar. Here's hoping the same happens for you.

To maybe ease the stress a little... Is there anyone you could stay with short-term while you look to buy a bit more time?

Thank you, Windsparrow!

I'm really trying my best to be upbeat about the whole situation, but that just means that I internalize all the stress and have a hard time sleeping. The only person IRL I really feel comfortable unloading my freak out on is my mom, and she hates it when anything bad happens to me (which I can appreciate), but she hates it so much that she gets very emotional and upset, and I'm always the one left to comfort her about my problems. And that is not nearly as soothing as being able to go completely crazy and freaking the hell out. I mean, my landlord raised my rent, which was already high, by 9%. It is highly unlikely that I will receive a 9% or better raise when I have my annual review in February, which simply means that this whole payment system kinda bites. And that I probably should take that lady who illegally broke the signed lease I did have to small claims court. Which just sounds like a giant ball of fun.

Thank you, Aurelia! Two days? That is intense. And yes, I definitely will be able to hit up people for a place to stay. It won't come down to me and my cats living it up in the backseat of my car. My aunt lives nearish by, and I've had several friends offer to let me stay with them for a week or two. And I'm even house-sitting for some people until mid-February, and they'd probably let me stay there if I really needed to, though I haven't asked. The difficulty in every single temp situation, though, is my cats. My aunt is allergic, and my friends aren't allowed to have animals in their building, and stuff like that.