Were you even a leader last year?

Yep, sure was.

you know they're paying the temp company more than you're receiving an hour!

Twice as much, actually.

Aims, I am angry and skeeved out on your behalf.

smonster, I think a jazz funeral for your not-really-a-relationship is a GREAT idea.

bonny, I did not know about the vampire coloring book! Oh dear, I think I need that. Because I do like coloring books. You might want to look at the Romanti-Goth Coloring Book, because it's a lot of fun.

Was everyone aware of this: [link]

Romanti-Goth Coloring Book, because it's a lot of fun.

Ooooh. A definite possibility. And, how much do I love that your book was first in line in the 'You might also enjoy' list? A lot.

I like coloring too!

Aw, Zen. I'm totally with you on the coloring, the stress and the weight. A big hug to ya (if appropriate).

I am waffling up and down with the same 10 lbs that are 15 pounds above my right weight. Gack.

I'm hoping the meditative power of the coloring will help me to balance out.

On the marker front, I dug through my pen drawer and did the skritch/toss test with my existing markers. (I have an irrational agitation with pens that don't work, so a couple of times a year, I go through my entire collection and toss the rejects.)

The result is that I've decided not to color with markers at this point. Not enough control or ability to blend. That is probably my skill level, but I'm going to stick with the pencils for the intricate stuff and the crayons for the rudimentary drawings.

Nice to have that research question to remove from my procrastination bag!

and smonster, i would so be in on a relationship wake. that's one of the best ideas i ever heard. party on.

smonster, years ago when I was trying to get my head out of a relationship that was super, super bad for me, I planned and executed a funeral at a local cemetery. Congressional Cemetery, to be specific.

Far from John Phillips Souza's shrine, I sang some sad songs (I highly recommend Mary Chapin Carpenter's The Word, said some words and buried some stuff. Into the hole went my favorite picture of us, a gift I made for him that he tossed back into my face, some rosemary/lavendar and a final statement to him.

A friend came with me, although she thought is was a weird idea. When it was all over she asked if I'd come back with her on another day to do the same with one of her regrets in life.

Ritualizing transition is SUCH a good idea, to my way of thinking.

I hope you will do it.

Yep, sure was.

Ah, time she does fly.

He's odious.

I really like the term "cheese weasel". Thanks for that new slur.

This is a long-standing insult in D&D circles, used to refer to players who try to exploit loopholes and unbalanced rules to over-power their character. (It does have a great ring to it.)

My Philly gaming group once toyed with the idea of creating an entire party of wood elves (a race beloved of cheese weasels), all with the surname of "Fiercecheese", and our choice of cheese for the given name (such as Brie or Gouda). I was the only one that actually did so, creating one V. B. Fiercecheese. (The V.B. sood for "Venezuelan Beaver".)

On packing for trips:

[link]

I did already roll my clothes but didn't know about packing heaviest to lightest.