I haven't heard much from it, but it sounds kinda weird. I'd recommend Absolution or Black Holes and Revelations instead, which are both pretty great.

My brain hates me. I had a nightmare last night …… It was so realistic I woke up shaking and I still feel like I am going to puke.

Me too, sj. I had a really compelling and horrible dream that my dad broke my glasses, and then everything was about how we had to move, and I wanted to break some flowerpots out by the side of the house and I just didn’t dare, so I woke up all sweaty frustrated confusion.

...a corset and a floaty skirt in shades of moss, pink, purple and silver.

Ooooh. Purty! I recommend going two-piece with the bodice and skirt. That skirt sounds appropriate for wearing to Buffistaville. Squeee! Engaged! SO exciting!

What should I do if other family members bring it up?

Behave graciously and absentmindedly. Do not refer to the Issue, for it should die mercifully without further input. Walk away from combustible conversation. Tell yourself you are entitled to boundaries, and your parents are obligated by politeness to fight fair (they won’t, but you can feel superior about their misbehavior.) And then buy Katie a pony for her solid advice, dawg.

I could have done so much worse. So much worse.

Sometimes I like to remind my dad that although I have never finished college (oh, the shame!) I have also never left a crack baby on his doorstep, stolen his TV or asked for money, and I have never moved back in with him. I have never had to go to rehab or declare bankruptcy and he’s never had to talk to the police because of me (since that teenage chalk graffiti incident, anyway). He always has to agree that those are all good things for him.

I had a weird experience today. I was frustrated by the pile of kitchen implements jamming the utensil drawer. Suddenly I looked at the drawer next to the silverware and realized I didn’t have a clue as to what was in there. It turned out to be packed with Echinacea capsules that had expired somewhere between 2001 and 2008, and all kinds of cheap packaged spices that barely had aroma any more. It’s like that valuable little chunk of kitchen real estate suddenly reappeared for me when I wanted to use it. Alternately, it is like I have verifiable problems with my memory and probably should not be allowed to run around loose.

I need to clean my apartment, because looking at the mess is stressing me out, but I don't know where to start. Everything is in the wrong places.

Stay strong, P-C. It is the only way to get past this situation and move forward to an adult relationship with your parents.

Feel better, Ginger. I heard about the car pileup from the icy conditions earlier and was hoping you didn't have to go out for any reason.

Congrats, Erin. DAN is one lucky fella.

I need to get over my super laziness. So much to do, so little motivation.

My head already feels better, Laura. Prednisone has its dark side, but when it works, it works. I have beer. I have meds. I have dog food. I'm not planning to go out among the crazy people over the weekend.

Katerina has a drawer of requirement!

OK, I cleaned some. Nowhere near done, but there's visible clear space on the floor where there wasn't before.

I should be working but doing the Natter diet (reading the last 150-200 posts) is far more appealing.

Congratulations, Erin and DAN. (I had to correct that from DNA.)

Hairpats and hope you feel better’s to all who need them.

This interview is at a small Catholic school near a city that I don't know much about other than that at least one Buffista lives there.

If it’s Dominican U in San Rafael, it’s a beautiful campus. And Admiral Nimitz's daughter is one of the nuns there.

Hey Katie Bee, congrats on the bookstore show!

Congratulations, Erin! And safe travels, Barb!

I have beer. I have meds. I have dog food. I'm not planning to go out among the crazy people over the weekend.

Enough of the first two and the third one just becomes food. IJS.

My schedule for Wednesday looks complicated. I'm giving a talk in the morning, then I have three interviews in the afternoon. There doesn't seem to be a good time in there to eat lunch. I guess I'll have a few Larabars or something in my bag.