What a rough day, Ginger. Hope the little guy is ok. Lots of figuring it out~ma for Mr. Peabody.

December 31st! 4 more weeks!

Awesome! Come on, BABY!

You know, I think that's Mary Alice from Ace of Cakes due date too!

Vibing hard for no more seizures for Mr. Peabody, for Tikka and Hershey to stay in their own dang yard, for Peter the Cat to be healthy again, and for that careless vet to get his butt kicked.

Happy Hanukkah to everyone who celebrates it.

...and now for an abrupt subject change...

I so shouldn't be taking the time to post while to-do piles loom menacingly, but I had to share. I'm editing a user manual (for a high-flow gas valve, not even remotely interesting) but suddenly this one paragraph is reading like erotica and I can't get past it without tittering like a middle schooler. Seriously...

As Demand increases, the solenoid exerts more force on the flow tube assembly, thus stroking open the valve until it reaches the appropriate position while further compressing the return spring. As Demand decreases, the solenoid exerts less force on the flow tube assembly, thus allowing the return spring to stroke closed the valve until it reaches the appropriate position.

Thank you for allowing me to share (though it is just remotely possible that you all have been A Bad Influence on me).

Also, Hi Everybody!!!

I can totally understand tittering at that.

I haven't gotten to paying medical bills yet. Decided to upload a YouTube "video" (more like a still photo) of one of my songs. In the meantime, I got an email back from KUT saying they'd heard my album and passed on it. While I'm happy they replied, props to them, it's also the first time I've definitely heard from a radio station that they didn't think my album was for them. When stations have a format, I can soothe myself by saying it was the format. But this is a public radio station. So it means they just didn't like the album enough. *sigh*

Holy cannoli! I opened one of my bills and it was $1,900 and saying it was "past due" even though it's the first bill I've gotten from them. Called them up and it seems they had my Medicare number wrong by one. They're going to resubmit it. I hope to god Medicare covers it because I cannot come up with that kind of money. Man, this is depressing. Makes me feel like the last thing I'll do is go to a doctor if I'm sick or injured.

Just opened my first Chanukah present. I got a bread machine! Now I have to decide what kind of bread to make first.

First night of Hannukah presents here was a plastic dreidel full of gelt for Dylan and what turned out to be some lovely cloth napkins for DH and me. (My parents dropped off a bag of gifts all labeled with what night they should be opened when they stopped here after Thanksgiving.)

I think Saturday or Sunday will be our big latke night. Maybe I'll invite the other atheist Jews in the building to celebrate fried foods and lighting small fires with us.

Oh, and my Mom also gave us an adorable mini-menorah which came with teeny little candles. On the box of candles was the warning "Always use a non-flammable menorah," which seems like anyone old enough to light candles shouldn't have to be told.

Hey, guys, happy Hannukah! (Have I mentioned how much I looove have Jewish Buffistae, so I can keep up with Jewish holidays and have AWESOME resources for being a good stepmom to a Jewish stepson?! Cause I do...)

I was sooooo tired and crazy busy to post more than a couple of line in Natter Monday and yesterday, but the upshot is that my new job is really good so far, but being dropped in midyear with a teacher who's been gone for a month -- poor guy, I met him briefly and we spoke about the class yesterday, his wife is failing fast and gis dad died last month. God. -- is so busy.

But it's good, tonight I don't feel like falling down and dying, and I can actually eat dinner and read a bit.

Also (x-post with Natter) finally talked to HR today. You know how first paychecks are usually weird; a month or so to get the first one, and you usually get some weird amount, like two days, or what have you? I was totally expecting that, but GUYS! I get a full months pay on the 17th!!!!

I can buy Xmas prezzies for the first time in year!! Ain't no one getting an iPad, but I can get a little something for my nearest and dearest!

Urgh-- minor First World Whine ahead:

I didn't expect it to hit quite this quickly, but I've definitely been slammed with the post-launch letdown blues. I'm exhausted, I feel like a failure, like I whored myself out too much, like it wasn't quite enough and that no publisher will ever want to buy another book from me, ever again.

Hell, I was vacuuming my house today. I hit nooks and crannies that I don't think have been vacuumed since before we moved into the house.

I hope this passes quickly.

Talk about your damned diamond shoes being too tight. Don't mind me. I'll be over the corner swilling rum.