There's a sauna in my clubhouse here at my apartment complex, but you have to walk through the party room to get to it. I've never used it, but am thinking about doing so some winter weekend when it's really cold out.

I'll have to keep it in mind when I get bone cold hurting during the winter.

I just got off the phone with my mom. Now, she's a politically progressive woman, former nurse, who's pretty up on most things in current events. But, I had to explain to her what the public option was. When I mentioned my disappointment at Obama's seeming willingness to toss the public option aside to get a weak-ass reform package passed, she had no clue what I was talking about.

I am just no good at sharing my space with other beings, human or not. I'm so used to my solitude.

Trudy, if only this West Indian could have one job, now that my research for my sister is done.

Today is a long-assed day session at Flushing Meadows. Is your dad home yet, msbelle?

My mom is very similar, Kathy. The pro-reform people have been horrible at actually getting the message out. And the town hall meetings were not the greatest venue. When my mom was asking me some questions about the reform a few weeks ago and I suggested that she go to a town hall meeting and listen and ask questions, she said, "Oh, are those the things where everyone goes and yells at each other? I don't want to go to that."

I think my feet have convinced me to stay home, even though I promised a friend I'd be there. I've tried three times to get up and get ready, and each time my feet said, "No! We won't let you."

Speaking of Zooey Deschanel, I just watched The Happening. Unfortunately, she really has a blank, deer-in-the-headlights expression that puts Torchwood's Gwen to shame.

I should not read comments. But I was reading sfgate where they were saying you can predict the retail numbers by looking at how full the parking garages are. Well, - a lot of the commenters were talking about how expensive it is to park. But then they started complaining about crime, bums, and dirt. Ummm.... city, people. And while I have only lived here for 10 years, there are less panhandlers than there used to be , at least downtown. and more shinny places to shop and less skeevy places. ( once again downtown) . And While I know there is crime, I haven't seen more ...

crazy people.

Nothing's better in the cold of winter than a sauna. Good times.

my parents are listening to the TV too loud

What's funny is, I think my parents listen to the TV too loud, and they think my grandmother listens to the TV too loud!

I need to make a plan for tomorrow. I've basically wasted two days of my four-day weekend, and that's not on. Aside from the Open, I mean. I will say, Nicolas Keifer got a ton of fans after Nadal wiped the floor with him in the first set. It was kind of hilarious.

Speaking of loud tv and such, I really hope my dad got his hearing checked. We've always accused him of not listening carefully, but it's gotten so bad, it has to be hearing loss, despite his protest to the contrary. It was really evident on the trip, because he flat out didn't hear shit he'd want to hear and we'd have to repeat for him.

My hearing test fine, but even I know I have issues in crowds, and tend to place people and phones on my right in such cases. I have a hard time filtering sometimes. I'm sure it is all the ear infections I suffered as a kid- a baseline hearing test doesn't seem to pick up on the filtering issue. I can hear an amazing range, in isolation. Like the goddamned pitch of computers and lights in a quiet room. But throw me into a group with everyone talking and music, and I'm going to be leaning into the lap of whoever is talking to me.

Someday, I will need hearing aids, I know this. I can't imagine being in such denial at such cost.