The other day, I asked one of the ladies at the house I was working at, if she would like to walk to the store for a pop, or to look for garage sales. This is someone who can speak, but is not necessarily with it for conversation on a consistent basis. She replied, "Mississippi."

So I said, "Call me lazy, but I'm not going to walk to the Mississippi river with you."

Without missing a beat, she said, "Lazy."

Yeah, thanks.

Edited to increase coherence.

I cleaned some of the things. And tomorrow, I will clean some different things. And make some phone calls.

But now I am going to go to bed with a magazine, and then sleep.

Teppy, you and the Boy are in my thoughts, and I hope you can get something with beef for lunch tomorrow.

Sometimes there's a fine line between "Why am I awake?" and "Why was I born?"

Buffistas are making me tear up. Teppy, you ARE amazing, as is The Boy, and what a wonderful family you have. I'm so sorry you all have to lose someone you love so much.

Sometimes there's a fine line between "Why am I awake?" and "Why was I born?"

We love you, Ginger. That might be the answer to the second question, but is almost certainly not the answer to the first.

Seska, I am now pondering what box to pack your Mac&Cheese in. My current favorite is shoe box in which we have been keeping cat toys. Someone, who shall remain nameless, wrote on it "pussycat playthings" back when we first put the stash of cat toys in it. The next best option is an Amazon.com box, I think.

God damn, why am I awake and at work?

God damn, why am I awake and at work?

Morning brings out these existential questions. In my case, I woke up irretrievably before 6 and when I gave up and went to make coffee, I knocked a sugar container, which I should have put back in the cabinet, off the counter and it broke open.

These things wouldn't happen if a magic robot gave me my coffee while I was still safe in bed.

How are things going with the Boy's mother, Teppy? I know your support is a blessing for him. For one, you saved him from coming back from his mother to face a dog-shit debacle.

This so does not compare to the serious stuff in the lives of others (and I'm so sorry Steph and Nora are having to deal with such hard stuff) but today is my first day back from an awesome vacation. I just do not want to face my day, which will not be fun.

And I'm waiting for client in Starbucks and there is a really loud and annoying day trader I here who is way too proud of his purchases. Or sales or whatever.

When I leave here, I am taking my client to jail so he can be arrested. Which is the law at work but it still is a crappy way to start the week.

God damn, why am I awake and at work?

Because you have that Midwestern sense of responsibility that is both a virtue and a burden, often both at the same time.

Idea to toss out -- If Boy's mother is stable tonight, it might be a good idea to take Boy out to a movie, or some other mindless activity. Give his brain a chance to recharge.