{{{Suzi}}}, babe, it's been a helluva shakeup for you -- does it help to try to reframe the matter? It's not you needing to go to your parents for help. It's you having a healthy support network -- they'll be glad to help you when you need it, just as much as you'd help them however you can when they need it.

(Or you can just blame the crapassed real estate market. Either way, it's so not about you being a failure, at all.)

My deepest sympathies, Tamara

40 has been ok for me so far. We'll see...

Only awesome people were born in November of 1968.

I am so telling my sister that. She was born in December.

I... still don't know what a Jesus Year is. I mean, I got that it was 33, and that it's when the dude died, but is blowing it out in his name like a recognized ritual thing that all the Christians know about and I don't?

No ritual or anything. It's just a...thing. I've also seen it as your Jesus and Alexander the Great Year--IOW, you're 33, and you haven't saved or conquered the world yet (you underachiever, you), but at least you're not dead!

(Or you can just blame the crapassed real estate market. Either way, it's so not about you being a failure, at all.)

Yeah, when my head is on straight this is how I think about it. I just talked with my dad for the first time today since I moved and he was shocked that I was in this financial situation. Can't pay the mortgage, don't have a car...he just doesn't have to worry about money so he doesn't think about others struggling.

He did say I could come to him if I needed a loan, but man, I really don't want to do that unless I can say "I need x and will pay you back when the house closes". Right now I'm afriad it will be "I need x for now, but may need y if the house doesn't sell, and then there could be z".

Crapassed real estate market, crapassed economy... there are people who were gainfully employed and had homes who are now living out of their cars because of the aforementioned.

The Hub and I have friends who just five years ago purchased their first house that they're now allowing to be foreclosed simply because they've been screwed over so hard by lenders and refinancing and interest rates.

They're actually relieved to be renting again. It's wild.

happy bday sara!!!!!

Jilli, I got the Aromaleigh powder you recommended! It was perfect timing, because I did something stupid that caused my face to break out in itchy hives, and the powder took all the red out without irritating. It is so awesome.

Question: Is it really necessary to list shit like Firefox and Explorer under programs/software you know? I mean, srsly? I see it listed occasionally on job descriptions, and I'm so puzzled. Like, you don't know how to open a browser? Really?

Allyson, when people list those as skills on a CV, I toss the CV away. Granted, I'm a technical publisher, so it would worry me if someone seeking a technical publishing job listed use of Firefox and Explorer as "skills".

When I was temping as a receptionist, I had someone recommend I write down the specs of the phones we were using, for my resume. Yeah, I could pretty much pick up any phone system in five minutes -- we aren't talking switchboards here -- so I let it go.

Somehow, the music discussion got me earwormed with "You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray.