Urgh. I just totally broke down crying uncontrollably talking to my sister, and then my roommate. I really, REALLY, used up all my energy reserves for that fundraiser, and I'm still paying the price. All I've done today is smoke, drink coffee, and watch tv. And I wish I could keep going in that vein, but I really, really can't.

I do have several scary books I might look in...would you like me to do that? I know it would be easier if I could say "twelve days," but it would be BS.

That would rock, thanks. And yes the hivemind truly is fierce. I shall look into the body farm as well as checking out Daniel's link when I get home. You all are fabulous.

Have you eaten, smonster? You should eat.

I ate brunch but probably need to eat again. Greek yogurt, maybe. Easy protein.

Also, I would not give him a key to the house.

Oh, hell, no.

smonster, you are doing a wonderful thing, I wish it weren't making you so exhausted.

And speaking of decomposing corpses, are you all aware of the Virtual Autopsy at the University of Leicester? It's an actual teaching tool, that anyone can use, with a series of 18 cases where you use autopsy information to determine cause of death. Much fun, if you're into that sort of thing.

You have gotten great advice from everyone. I want to warn you against doing something I tend to do, which is catastrophizing. All you have to deal with is what is happening right now, not every possible horrible outcome that could happen. An imagination is not your friend in this case. You have his shit in your house, which is annoying, but you might want to try not to look at it and see it there FOR ONE YEAR. You and Tim are both smart, caring people and you will find a way to work this out. Deal with what is--a troubled guy Tim wants to help (doesn't matter if it's from an old relationship or some dude he met on a bus) and who will need a place to stay. There WILL be a solution to this which works for everyone, and if you start from that place, then the job is just to work with Tim (and Dude) to find that solution. Maybe you can see if anyone you know needs a housesitter. Maybe you can find a short-term rental for cheap. Maybe the Parole Officer will respond better to Dude or Tim than Dude's mom. I know you feel powerless and scared, and that totally is the natural way to feel, but try to see this as solvable problem and approach it from that place.

Ate yogurt and cookies, and watched the season finale of Southland.

Need shower.

Thanks for the support, y'all.

I have nothing practical to add except that as my sister learned recently, parole officers have mothers and girlfriends calling and hassling them all the time and so tend not to be at their friendliest, so fingers crossed that her experience isn't indicative of the likely resolution of all this.

During the earthquake, the main island of Japan shifted eight feet to the East.

Oh, and the Earth wobbled on it's axis four inches.

And our days will be 1.6 microseconds shorter, due to the earth's rotation speeding up.