I am so tired. I want a nap. Instead, I must go look at an apartment.

Maybe I can say to the guy, "I want to test this apartment's napability. Come back in an hour."

ION, Go Jilli!!

The way I feel about these novels being published and touted as some kind of triumph or advancement of women's literature is the same way I often feel about the New York Times Style section: it would send me on a rage bender if I thought about it too hard, so I just try to pretend that it doesn't exist.

I see stuff like that published and it makes me nuts because I have sitting in my in-box stuff like:

Thank you for sending me BREATHE by Barbara Ferrer. I thought that Barbara Ferrer was a great writer and this story has an appealing voice and a natural pace.I was drawn to Nick and Libby and I could understand the attraction between them. While I enjoyed reading this story, at moments I had trouble with the unconventional aspects of Nick and Libby's romance and at the end of the day I failed to completely fall in love with this novel.

or

Ms. Ferrer is obviously a talented writer with a nice turn of phrase and startling emotional directness that I found both provocative and compelling. The characters are well-drawn and credible, and her intimate study of relationships is filled with both compassion and candor. It’s hard to fault Ms. Ferrer on a technical level. On a more subjective note, however, I’m usually less inclined towards the tear-jerkers. I think the comparison to Audrey Niffenegger (which I think is apt here) prevailed over my innate hesitancy towards Picoult-type plotting. Given Picoult’s large audience and the quality of Ms. Ferrer’s writing, I think this definitely does have commercial potential, but since I’m not over-the-moon about it, I feel I’m not the right editor.

or

Thanks for sending me Barbara Ferrer’s novel, Breathe. It’s a moving story, but overall I think it’s too commercial for our list.

Publishing could conceivably drive me crazy if I wasn't already there.

I just discovered my dad used an embroidered-by-a-dear-friend decorative handtowel to mop up tea.

Parental visits: gift that keeps on giving.

It's a mystery to me how I get along with anyone sometimes.

"bubba"

Which makes me laugh, because that is Emeline's nickname.

Looks like I'll be working on my application for the local MLS program this month. Deadline for the spring semester is October 1, and I'd like to get it to them by Labor Day.

Eeek!

Company will reimburse up to $5K/year, which is just over two classes, but since I'd like to finish the degree in four years (three classes/year), I'll be paying for some of this myself. At least I can save up the $2300 for the first class by the end of the year.

That sounds awesome Kathy!

The fruits of my freelance Luchador artwork: a new look for my bedroom

Great going, Kathy.

I just got jury summons. Bah.

I've never really understood why friends don't set each other up more, but at least here it doesn't seem to happen much. I don't do it, so why would I expect my friends too?

You do realize that you do (or did, maybe) this indirectly a lot? Through parties, scavenger hunts, etc. I know I got more than one date that way. And I met one of my best boyfriends ever because of you. (Not to mention finding Table Talk.)

Otherwise, I agree with all this:

I would love to find a partner, but I don't want to devote any time to it, so it is unlikely to happen. I've never really understood why friends don't set each other up more, but at least here it doesn't seem to happen much. I don't do it, so why would I expect my friends too?

The other way I often think about it is, I really don't like a lot of people. I don't make friends that easily and I am regularly appalled at peoples' behavior. So, it's clear to me I don't want most people. Like Scrappy said, I want just the one person and the trick is probably going to be not be shut off to the opportunity when it is presented.

ETA: I can't believe that Portland house is only $250K!

Hive mind: If I was looking for a Transformer onesie for an impending great-nephew, where would I look?

On the relationship stuff, I just read an article about the guy who shot up the aerobics class in Philly. He was angry cause he couldn't get a date and hadn't had sex in several years.

I could be that guy, except for being a woman and not blaming all men for the fact that I don't date and haven't had sex in a long time.

And I too, agree with all this:

I would love to find a partner, but I don't want to devote any time to it, so it is unlikely to happen. I've never really understood why friends don't set each other up more, but at least here it doesn't seem to happen much. I don't do it, so why would I expect my friends too?

The other way I often think about it is, I really don't like a lot of people. I don't make friends that easily and I am regularly appalled at peoples' behavior. So, it's clear to me I don't want most people. Like Scrappy said, I want just the one person and the trick is probably going to be not be shut off to the opportunity when it is presented.