Well, that was the intent. it just looked a bit pale in retrospect.

Well, dude, you're from Lake Wobegon. From you, that was *serious* lustful panting. no worries, bunk.

tea and biscuits:

Stupid wind gust knocked down the trellis/ornamental ladder on the south side of the house, ripping down all of three years growth of grape vine and squashing the flowerbed.

I decided to tie it to the wall with some wire and an eye hook for now, and then I ran a wire from the eye hook across the driveway to a high tree branch.

I then strung the long strands of the grape vines along the wire.

I left a loop of wire and vine at the house end for when I can put it up a bit higher so we don't have to worry about trucks.

Then I trained another grape vine from the tree side to meet the one from the house side.

I always wanted an arch...

As I was putting everything away I noticed that the ladder had also broken one of our tomato plants right off at the base. Grrr.

Fay, what everyone else already said. You're gorgeous and stylish and spicy-brained, and the new haircut is stunning on you, and that boy is incredibly blessed to be the object of your crush. Go ahead. Ask him. Read Hec's letter over and over until you start, maybe, just a bit, to believe that at least a stray word here or there might be true, and ask him.

ION, arrrrrgh. While I was out running errands, the Big Giant Head called the NP at the desk next to mine just to chat, wondering how things were going with me and whether I was coming in on time. WHAT THE FUCK, BIG GIANT HEAD.

(Since she never actually comes down here to check in with us and I have no legitimate reason for direct contact with her, I've just been coming in on time, opening my email first thing, and bcc'ing her on the first thing I write so she has time-stamped proof of what time I'm in and working. Which is apparently not good enough for her.)

big giant head is a weirdo

Did they have problems with a past person in your position?

I sent DH the link to Fay's pictures. He used the word glamtastic

Jesus God, JZ, does she have REAL work to do?! WTF?

I just found my pocket knife (which I've been looking for for a month) in my ex roommates' room.

At least they left it behind.

The most optimistic assumption is that they borrowed it and then lost it and then found it when moving out?

does she have REAL work to do?!

The NP says no, this is how she spends her days to occupy her time and justify her professional existence. The NP also says, "Fuck her! We protect each other down here, and you could come in at noon and I wouldn't tell her a goddamn thing!"

On day she said " D, I don't know how this will make you feel, but I felt I had to tell you that I have a crush on you."

Oh, now, I like that. That's something I could actually see myself saying. You're putting yourself out there but not so far that you wouldn't survive the fall if you miss.