Did I mention? I had my annual review this week? I'm happy to say that in most areas the rating was "fully satisfactory" spiced up with a handful of "exceeds expectations". And so I get a merit raise - all of 1.25%. At that rate, it's just a gesture. But I'll take a gesture over "sorry folks, with all the budget cuts and state shut-downs, everybody's getting a pay cut" which is a result that I have been holding my breath over.

However, I'm hearing that those who are doing grocery shopping for each home, their performance goals for the coming year include keeping to a strict budget (I might be able to manage it if I controlled all menu planning and shopping, but only if I had free choice of where to shop) And the corporate purchasing policies make it impossible to shop at Aldi's, and most of the local farm stands and orchards - at least on a regular basis. It bugs me - not because it effects my paycheck, but because it is unfair to those who have that very challenging task.

Also, word is that TPTB will begin phasing out group homes for developmentally disabled adults. The projected strategy is to simply not fill beds that become vacant. I'm sure that will take years to do, but whether it takes five years or fifteen, I still don't really have a plan that I can do anything else. If they go back to large state-run facilities, I'm not sure I could handle that environment

It looks like my brother may have an auto-immune disorder(although it still isn't lupus...something weirder, with a longer name...dermato-something.) I hope the doctors can help him. It's some kind of connective-tissue thing.

Poor guy.

"Fava bean!"

That is awesome. And just slightly disturbing. He doesn't randomly say "Chianti," does he?

Matilda and Mal are cracking me up.

Aims! Go read Hayden's reviews, episode by episode, and leave your poor daughter alone! Or, yanno, sit down and watch with her. It's totally worth it. And then you'll be ready when The Legend of Korra comes out next year!

Vortex and Juliana in the same city? in an earthquake zone?

If it's the end of the world, they're throwing the party. And I am SO THERE.

Many men are the counter example. It's a pretty flawed theory.

Oh, for sure. But she's had a pretty bad time of it. To quote the ever-wise Christina Aguilera,

I know every apple here ain't bad,

But I found a worm in every single one I had.

I sent her an email last night reminding her about all the awesome guys she knows and I know. I used Buffistas as part of my example, matter of fact. I think her low self-esteem makes her an asshole magnet, in some ways.

Crap, I always miss something in a meara. erika, I'm glad they've got a direction, at least, and I hope there's a therapy or cure he can get started on ASAP.

Aims! Go read Hayden's reviews, episode by episode, and leave your poor daughter alone! Or, yanno, sit down and watch with her. It's totally worth it. And then you'll be ready when The Legend of Korra comes out next year!

Yes! Although I would avoid Hayden's reviews since they do contain spoilers.

Mirrorface? Are you someone I/we already know under a new name, or are you a lurker? Hi!

Also, word is that TPTB will begin phasing out group homes for developmentally disabled adults

I thought that was who you worked with--will there still be group homes for other people (who?) that you'd be working with, or would this be "sorry find a new job"?

It looks like my brother may have an auto-immune disorder(although it still isn't lupus...something weirder, with a longer name...dermato-something.

I am oddly disappointed it is not lupus. But yay for getting an actual diagnosis! That must be a relief for him.

I am crossing my fingers the cable guy didn't just screw me over. He was here to switch my phone from the phone company to the cable company (cheaper! I wouldn't have a home phone but it's for work). And first he hooked it up, asked for me to bring the phone over to the modem, and hooked that in and said "OK!". I was like "Er....not OK. I have several phones, and need them to work in the usual phone jacks". So he futzed around a while, and said "OK!" Except it was still giving the voicemail beep...for the phone company. So I said "Why is it still the phone company voicemail?" and he futzed some more..."OK!" So I got the voicemail for cable...and the password he told me didn't work. More futzing "OK!"...now the password worked, but when I actually CALLED the home number, it didn't ring, and still reached the phone company. More futzing. "OK!" ....finally it rings, and seems to be working. But geeeeez.

Mirrorface delurked in... the Music thread, right? Hi, Mirrorface! Good to see your pixels again.

meara, that's ridiculous.

You know what's fun? Listening to a musical genius trying to figure out a song on an out of tune piano. I thought "Claude Hooper Bukowski" was the theme from Sesame Street.

We've been catching up on True Blood this summer. Currently in season three. My word, this show likes its gore.

ION, today Milo looks, in The Girl's words, like a street cat. Poor kitty.

Many men are the counter example. It's a pretty flawed theory.

It's rather an odd one. Entire groups of people are rarely anything. Genders even less so. Most men I've met are wonderful. I did not so much want to have Teh Sex with them, but I feel that this can be excused.

Andi, do not explode anything! I will send pictures from Scotland! And possibly pictures of Shir. (And The Girl. But she's less interesting to the Buffistas.) ION, would they really go back to state institutions for developmentally disabled people? That sucks. I hope you get to do what you love for a long time yet, and congrats on the great work review.

ETA: Hello, Mirrorface!