In my family, growing up, we rather literally called grilled cheese 'cheese on toast'. We did cook it under the grill, though. When I was 18 and went to America and was shown how to make it in a griddle, I was somewhat bemused. Now I have an awesome toasted-sandwich-maker that makes perfect toasted cheese sandwiches in about three minutes.

But not at midnight.

Best time for toasted cheese sandwiches!

So I'm about to fire my PCA - or at least tell her to disappear for a week while I reconsider her contract. If I do, I'll pay her two months in lieu of notice, which I think is exceptionally generous. I'm still nervous she might make a fuss, though. I was supposed to extend her contract after a trial period of a month and I didn't - just told her to consider it a continuing temporary contract until further notice, as my living situation was getting complicated. But she could still take me to court if she wanted to make a fuss. I don't think she'd win, but she could. Hmm. Employment stuff is a bit stressful.

Connie, I'm really sorry to hear about your sister. I hope the chemo has a positive effect.

Katerina, that man sounds plain evil. Taking a walker from an elderly person during an argument? Horrendous. Not to mention the crap he's putting you through! I'm good at writing angry letters, although my distance from the situation might preclude them having much effect :) But I'm up for a yard party with beer and porn! (We have management 'issues' in our building. The Girl and I have reached the point of taking them to court - case comes up in the next month or so. It's complete madness that building managers have this much power.)

Oh Connie. {{Connie}} I hope this will be the easiest chemo ever taken.

Katerina, I cannot believe your neighbor. There's got to be something that could be done. Mafia friends, dark magic, using his place to shoot porn, something. I'm sorry you have to deal with this.

omnis, sorry to hear you had to work anyhow.

It's a Saturday morning here, and I'm pretty much in love with life thanks to great music, a dog, and sleep. Now, of course, I have to get back and study. Hopefully I could get all of this done in about 3 hours. I think it's possible, and then getting back to my weekend of simple leisures. I'm so easy.

Oh, and the restaurant with a friend yesterday thingy was amazing. Food is good, not incredible, though, but the mere fact that they're a 24/7 non-kosher place in the middle of J-city and they're open and successful is (and I thought I live in an armed theocracy...). Definitely going back there for more.

Connie, I hope your sister's chemo is fully effective and brief.

In a different, whiny, mememe tangent, why can't I sleep past 7 am when I'm awake until 2 am the previous evening? Why?

Connie, much ~ma to your sister and your whole family.

Shir, your approach to Saturday is fab.

There's got to be something that could be done. Mafia friends, dark magic, using his place to shoot porn, something.

Yes! And we will organize all of this at Katerina's yard party.

Wake Up Without Hugh Laurie: [link]

ma~~~ for your sister Connie

I'm sorry, Connie. I hope your sister's chemo is effective. It has to be a plus that she is in good health otherwise.

Absurdly lazy this morning. I had a headache when I woke up at 6, so I just fed the animals and went back to bed with aspirin. Stayed there a few hours. I still haven't done anything more ambitious than make a pot of tea and catch up on the internet. Need to get going, and yet.

{{{Connie}}} Tons of ~ma for your sister.

I don't want to re-open a can of worms here, but remember the recent conversation about ableist language?

I know this is something I have to decide for myself, but as I read blogs by (mostly) women with disabilities, I'm increasingly thrown for a loop as word after word gets called out as an ableist word.

Such as "intelligence." Really??? I don't get that one. Even reading that whole entry, I don't get it. Or perhaps what I mean is that I don't agree with it. But then I don't know to what degree my lack of agreement is clinging to my privilege.

I just don't know.

I know this is something I have to decide for myself, but as I read blogs by (mostly) women with disabilities, I'm increasingly thrown for a loop as word after word gets called out as an ableist word.

As I worked through it in my discussion with smonster I think it's counterproductive to follow every logical parallel to an offensive phrase to its conclusion. I think that curbing the language use needs to be in response to specific instances of objection, and shouldn't be a broadly generalized principle.