Kristin, I hope the commute, and the day is as easy as possible on you.

Much Zoe~ma. It's never easy. Kristin, how possible would it be to have your students work on their own for large parts of the day? Or would that help even if it were possible?

((((Maria)))) I spent a large part of my growing-up years in a town with a major GM plant. If GM goes under, the town's dead. So I sympathize.

((((vw))))

{{Pix and Drew}} Much, much Zoe~ma.

{{Maria}} Gobs of job~ma. Here's hoping the short-sighted Senators go out and get a new prescription before they drive the economy-bus over the cliff. If it was only their own private short bus, I'd say let it go.

All possible ~ma to Pix and Drew and Zoe.

And, vw, what everyone else said, about how wise and mindful and self-aware you're being through all this sadness, and what an amazing person you are and how hard you've worked to get here -- and what a fool Aaron is to not see it (though, I think, part of it is that he's just so young, and six or seven years down the road he's going to look back at his present self and be baffled by his complete ignorance and cluelessness).

And {{{Maria}}}. I've thought of you often and missed your pixels and your good self, and I'm sorry it's taken panic over impending economic catastrophe to bring you back and posting again. Your life should be full of good things, dammit.

ION, Hec just called from the road. The car died again, in traffic, so he's going to lumber to the East Bay and just stash it someplace safe, and we'll try to figure out what to do over the weekend. It's on the verge of total disintegration, and I'm guessing that by trying to get by with it over the last couple of weeks we've driven its trade-in value down to zero. But we can't get by without a car. If any localistas know anyone who's got an extra car they're trying to get rid of, ping me, please.

(though, I think, part of it is that he's just so young, and six or seven years down the road he's going to look back at his present self and be baffled by his complete ignorance and cluelessness).

Yeah, Tom recognized his old self in some of the cluelessness.

And I'm also sorry if I've been very bitchy about CBD and/or the breakup in this space (and in my LJ, actually). He really is not a bad guy, and I don't want to paint him that way.

This is your place so you can bitch as much as you want but, as others have said, you've come across as being remarkably fair.

(though, I think, part of it is that he's just so young, and six or seven years down the road he's going to look back at his present self and be baffled by his complete ignorance and cluelessness).

This is what I've been thinking too. I think he's being an ass about the christmas presents (although, like everyone has said, you should do what you feel is best) but mostly it sounds like he was just not prepared for how difficult and complicated being in a long-term relationship can be and he isn't willing or maybe even able to do the work that it takes to sustain the relationship.

What a lovely offer, Shir.

Oh, sweet Maria. Only good things should happen to you, but the universe if obviously severely out of balance. I hope the best for you whatever happens to the auto industry. I really don't know what the answer is, but I hope it's one that keeps the most people employed.

Stay warm, sj. I suspected the headline "Ice storm cuts off power to hundreds of thousands" probably applied to several Buffistas.

vw, I think you've been quite unwhiny. It does sound like CBD has the potential to be a nice guy when he grows up, but it doesn't sound worth the wait. I'm late to the party, but if you conceived the presents thinking particularly of his family members, give them to them for the joy of giving and creating. It's all your choice, and no one else's.

Car~ma! Pet~ma! I would personally name the Goodbye and Good Riddance thread for 2008 "Fuck you and the horse you rode in on." May 2009 be better for all of us.

I would personally name the Goodbye and Good Riddance thread for 2008 "Fuck you and the horse you rode in on."

I'm not sure I'd like people to see the word "Fuck" in large font at the top of my screen. Otherwise, it's a great idea. Also a possibility: "Fuck cancer."

Perhaps we need a euphemism: "Frack you and the horse you rode in on."

I just woke up from a dream in which when checking the laundry I'd put in the dryer before going to sleep, I found the lint trap overflowing, and stuff like the laundry basket just coated in lint. And then I dreamed that Carol Brady was having an affair with some slick smooth guy that turned into a plaid flannel shirt-wearing axe murderer whenever she wasn't looking.

Highly entertaining.