Yeah, it only took three documentaries, the involvement of some of the world's most famous musicians, millions of dollars raised, multiple witness recantations, pressure from the families of the victims, exclusion by DNA plus no evidence, and 18 years to get three clearly innocent kids released from jail.

At least they're not in Texas? [link]

Why is my thumb suddenly swollen? I haven't jammed it or strained it in the last ten minutes, but the base of the joint is rapidly swelling and becoming tender. The fuck? It's the same side as the IV, but the IV was in the forearm.

Yikes, ita. This sounds like what I've been battling for the last couple of weeks (started at the base of the forefinger, spread to the base of the thumb, currently now in the base of the pinkie). It feels like the problems I have intermittantly with my feet, which is arthritis, so I hope it's not the same thing for you.

ION, OMG we just got hailpocalypse in Boston! I've never seen weather like that up close and personal (and got back to the office from an errand with only about ten minutes to spare before it hit).

Wow, I had forgotten all about that story. It's weird to read about it now -- satanic rituals really were the Big Bad there for a while, weren't they?

Yep. Unfortunately the middle brother of my surrogate family was killed in the early 90s as part of a ritual. The Sacramento Bee had a good series of articles on it, but unfortunately most of their archives aren't free. The family has long since mostly healed, but everytime I see Joe's daughter (who was a toddler when Joe was murdered), it's heartbreaking. Jessica has his eyes. I'm happy to share Joe's last name in email if anyone is interested in reading about him. I know the killers served prison time but I think they're all released by now.

ETA: It was in 1988. Weird, totally thought it was 1990s.

I would totally be a person loaned! I can talk to people about stuff! I do it all the time!

Today we went running around town. The retail turnover here is huge, so it was all, wow, that restaurant closed? Where did that new solar business come from? And even us, we were in town to move some of our gear from the old music store, because the landlord was foreclosed on, so our boss had to move to a different loc. It's kinda a great move; better parking, visibility, access, foot traffic. But the space is smaller, and it's a little more awkward for us. We're not sure if there's going to be recording space still, and the classroom situation is going to be way different, with a coffeeshop/stage area, etc. But the new space looks good; it's just a lot of work.

Ooh! Hummingbird. I'd better boil up some new nectar.

Anyway, we also had our first business meeting back, and although I was feeling overwhelmed before, and I still feel like there's a shit ton to do, I also feel like it's achievable. I just have to make sure these few weeks before the school starts back up are productive.

I put in a request for quote at the dealership on a camaro, just in case it all goes south.

I said, "do me a favor, go out back and take a look at my trade-in. it's 7 years old. I bought it from you. I can't drive it because the gas pedal broke and there are none available in the US. Now think really hard about how you could convince me to buy another chevy from you considering that it could possibly be totaled over a 50 dollar part in 7 years. I'll see you at 6."

He said, "wow. I understand."

I said, "I understand that you'll have the deal of the century when I get there."

Ugh, Allyson.

I think my brow lady lurks and felt that my favoring my left brow was unfair. So she made it slightly too thin. Now my right brow looks like the better brow. It's the ugly bridesmaid dress of waxing.

Uhm, hi.

I like that I'm in a job where I can write in an official type place that one of the designers is like unto a ninja god.

I dislike that it means I'm falling behind in all kinds of communications with people I like.

So, yeah, hi y'all!

Hi, you!!

One of the networks in my building is called CaptainReynolds. How do I find out who this person is?

I just had an awful meeting where they rewrote the document I've been working on for a week in a format I completely fail to understand. Like, there's just no logic I can see to it, and I feel really stupid. And I look bad, too.

Hi DJ!

Allyson, your next car should be free.