Nick got glasses, though! We were able to add him to our insurance. It was awesome to be able to do that for him.

Yay, Obamacare! We're lucky since we only have two people who need glasses (since my lasik). But Liv will most likely need them in the future. Owen's is only very mildly near-sighted--he just has a lazy eye they're trying to correct.

I'm less Commiserating Friend and more Avenging Friend.

Avenging Friend is an important role. Possibly more important. It's better for the next stage.

That's a big step, Aimee. Good for you for taking it.

Steph, I've been in that position before. I've been in both those positions before. You can always offer him sympathy for the way heartbreak hurts and refuse to agree with any of his "what did I do to deserve this?" stuff.

Aimee, that is a huge step. I hope your sister becomes a new friend.

Wishing you a good response from your sister, Aims.

Avenging Friend is an important role. Possibly more important. It's better for the next stage.

Absolutely. You'll be very appreciated soon.

Which probiotic are you taking? Since I did a round of sulfa drugs for an ear infection, I've been taking Align, and the only difference I can tell is, um, stuff I don't like to talk about.

I don't have the bottle with me. It was whatever was cheapest at Walgreen's. I've been on the drugs since Tuesday and not noticing any bad side effects, so I think I'm set. Though I do think the steroid was messing with me a little.

Did I mention the steroid? I'm also paranoid about getting sick from lowering my immune system while AT A CON.

Home.

Cold.

Seriously, it's really cold and my heat was dialed down as far as it went. Turns out to be near 48. Huddled under several comforters now and hoping to wake to 62 inside. Crazy.

Thanks for the travelma. Lots of it. Good to be home. Want to kiss my bed.

Good luck, Aimee.

Also good luck Typo--no ideas other than "stop watching". Even though I think Rachel Maddow is super hot, I can't watch on any kind of regular basis because it raises my BP too much. Heck, after the 2004 election I stopped listenin to NPR on my morning commute because it all pissed me off too much.

Survived redeye from Lima (yay window seat). Even slept a tiny bit. But now I'm stuck in a middle seat on the six hour flight MIA-SEA...which I booked on alaska with the specific idea that since I've got huge status on them, I'd get a decent seat. WTF!?!?!

I cannot abide couples who are nasty/insult/mean to each other in public.

I think it was in Blink (the book by Malcolm Gladwell, not the Who ep by Stephen Moffat) that a researcher had an amazing rate of predicting whether couples would stay together, and it turns out it was based pretty much entirely on whether they were rude to each other.

I only get my news from NPR, I don't watch any tv news at all. And still I have to change the channel to happy fun music or pop in a cd sometimes. I don't understand the hatefulness I see on the Republican side, the absolute failure to give a shit about anyone less fortunate, the remarkable tendency of poor Republicans to vote against their own interests, and the complete failure of the Democrats to represent anything other than weaksauce Republicans.

Ahem. As you can see, I still get pretty angry. And my current job has lowered my tolerance, given the population I work with, because I see firsthand how fucking impossible their lives are. When it gets to be too much, I listen to something nice and defiant like Danger Days, or New Orleans music, which is great for being joyful in the midst of sorrow. And then I have a drink on my porch and vent with my roommate, if she's home.

I'd like to add that I know not all individual Republicans are like that; I was referring to the overwhelming political narrative and legislative priorities being advanced.

Also, a small antidote to the anger that a friend linked on fb: [link]