The cat cube I posted about all the cats ignoring of late? Has had a Loki in it all night. Like, since 6 pm, with a brief foray. I did open out the windows all day today, so it is cooler up there than usual, but still. It's like he knew.

Also, I had soufflé for lunch and dinner, courtesy of Panera. Does that count as pie?

This Hoarders show just motivated me to clean off my kitchen table. It's not totally done, but it's better. Tomorrow will be laundry.

I wish I knew if I got the job I applied for, because I think I should confirm that I don't need to pay estimated tax for next year before I bother filing now.

What state is she in?

She is in Tennessee, but wants to leave very very much. She's thinking of coming here to Virginia; there's a dental hygiene school in Richmond, and she'd have me, so she wouldn't be alone.

I don't even know how I am not dead.

Further evidence for guardian angels.

Depending on what the tuition is, and what her living expenses are, she may be eligible for enough in federal student loans to make that possible. Her age makes it tricky though - she may be on the young end where they still expect a parental contribution.

OK, federal - I guess there's an easily findable website for that. She will not be getting any parental contribution, because her mother barely makes enough to support herself and the younger daughter.

The school had a financial aid office that hooked me up with the info.

I think she's already talked to the school financial aid office. Maybe.

RIP Peter Graves. Alas.

New York has grants for residents and I was eligible for them pretty quickly after moving here. I imagine other states must be similar.

There are also training funds for the unemployed. Any chance she lost a job recently?

Other than that, yeah, financial aid office.

She will not be getting any parental contribution, because her mother barely makes enough to support herself and the younger daughter.

Yeah, that doesn't necessarily make a difference. There's some age cutoff where they stop taking parental resources into the question and the eligibility amount goes up. I don't remember what it was but it made a big difference for me.

I think it might be 24. There are, as far as I know, "supplemental" loans that you can live on, but most of the students I work with are older.

I don't know if there are any smokers or ex-smokers on the board right now, but...

You know how people smoking on TV or in a movie or what have you makes you want a smoke. Well, I have started watching Rescue Me, and it is having the opposite effect. I can just viscerally feel exactly how these guys smell, and every time they light up, it makes me nauseated. This might be good for quitting.

I think the age cutoff is 25.

Time changes are bad for cats and dogs.

Times changes SUCK for toddlers who simply don't get it.