Suze, there wasn't good news to share. I failed at the iron level requirement twice. Did my best, but just didn't make it. SO, my supporthero and I are planning a blood drive for the Hill in September.

This way, I will be challenged to be around the equipment that squicks me AND be there for other people AND, in the end, get more blood in the system.

So. Qualified success, if not a physical win.

Bonny, I applaud your efforts, regardless of the personal results. And putting together a drive is a fantastic alternative. You are raising awareness, both in your neighborhood and here.

which I bought on the PS3 and I am in love with this show!

WORD. It's really wonderful. I loved this week's episode. And Crosby! I love him with Jasmine but I keep worrying that it won't end well and then poor Jabar. Such a great show.

I have writing group tomorrow and nothing written. DOH.

bonny, how are things at the house? You and b-boy okay? What about your neighbor?

Hey, hivemind, where do I find the little blank price tags on strings? Hardware store?

Hey, hivemind, where do I find the little blank price tags on strings?

Office supply store. like these, right? [link]

bonny, how are things at the house? You and b-boy okay? What about your neighbor?

Hey Hon, we are good. I did go over to the neighbor's a couple of times today and, except for another neighbor who is a wretched _everything is about me attention whore_*, things are going pretty well.

Servpro came by today with a big pumper thingie to extract the roughly 5 inches of water in the basement and now, there is a generator powering huge fans attempting to dry things out.

This evening, I sat outside with Kim for a while and listened to her evolving grief. She is tallying her losses and trying to figure out next steps. It looks as if the electrician who did work there a couple of weeks ago is at fault. If so, that company will be responsible for replacing her stuff. If it was just one of those old-house electrical things, it will ba a battle with her landlord. I'm hoping for the former.

Also, her cat, Louie, has not come back and Kim is afraid he suffered smoke inhalation and went off somewhere to die. A body has not been found though, so I am holding out hope.

Bartleby is still a teeny bit unsettled, but, in truth we are both just fine.

• In re: the attention whore. I kid you not, Kim was describing some of the political campaign artifacts that were really dear to her heart, that can never be replaced...the attention whore whips out a digital camera from his pocket, interrupts her in mid-sentence and begins crowing about how he hid the camera during a party a couple of years ago (as a Democratic consultant, Kim was ALWAYS having parties and entertaining people). "Isn't this great? My camera is just fine!"

Sigh. People.

With the disappointments of the day piling up, I got pretty drunk this evening. Some might say I am still so. And since I skipped dinner, I thought I might eat a sausage that I had in the fridge. So I cooked said sausage and tried to eat it, only to have my temporary crown pop right out of my mouth. This feels like a metaphor for my life somehow, even though I'm not sure what it means. Perhaps I should continue to get drunker.

In fact, every single member of the Zmayhem had a shitty day (though not as shitty a day as Tom had in the teacups o'doom).

Poor Emmett and all of you. Can it be a valuable lesson about peer pressure? Or maybe just a valuable lesson about cheesy puffs. Yeah, that seems more likely.

Perhaps I should continue to get drunker.

Another valuable lesson! I shall emulate it.

Sorry to everyone who had/is having a crappy day.

So I cooked said sausage and tried to eat it, only to have my temporary crown pop right out of my mouth.

Good grief! That's suckage right there. Though I hope, if it's a temp crown, you at least have a dentist and plans to replace?

oh damn. That does suck Cor. Drunker seems like a sane option.

I'm still awake, for unknown reasons. I think I just reread a chunk of bureaucracy again.