sarameg, months like yours are why I'm looking to finally start an emergency fund in my savings account, just in case. I have nightmares about my car blowing up on me, and my cat needing emergency surgery, and losing my job all at once.

I don't have to be a cautionary tale, I can be an inspiration?

(I swear to god, I posted this before, but who the hell knows where?!)

There was a short story on TAL called "The Underminer" that is one of my favorite things I've ever heard. It's on the The Allure of the Mean Friend show and it's all the dialogue of that passive-agressive, bitchy friend who is all, "Yeah, I'll be making six figures now, but I think it's great that you're not in it for the money."

I have some newish collections of short stories that have some good ones, including the 2007 Best Unrequired Reading (or something like that) and a McSweeney's collection of Astonishing Tales (or something like that).

2007 Best Unrequired Reading

Oh I think I have that from the year before! I got it while visiting with Hec and JZ and Matilda at City Lights!

Good times.

Oh! And Selected Shorts has a podcast, and that show is good times.

I would much rather be reading short stories right now. Alas, my fate is to be finishing term papers. Gads, these kids can't write! It scares me that they are in 11th grade and are incapable of doing a research project.

Hey, does anyone here have kids who like Angelina Ballerina? I have no idea if it's even current, but I have this random DVD I got from work that I would send anyone who's interested.

I just tripped over the cat and bashed my arm but good and smashed a glass.

Am I done? Please?

Maybe take tomorrow off and just sit very still.

I think some of my favorites are:

Dr. Zombie and His Little Furry Friends - Robert Sheckley
Lonelyache - Harlan Ellison
(Pretty much anything by Sheckley or Ellison, really.)
Instructions - Bob Leman
Fondly Fahrenheit - Alfred Bester
Nackles - Donald Westlake
The Great Switcheroo - Roald Dahl

Okay, line breaks would help.