I moved into my place as a rental and then bought it, and have always wished I'd had the chance to paint and put in new carpet before I got all my heavy antique furniture in here. It's too much hassle now. I still haven't decided what color I want, anyway, or whether I want carpet or hardwood floors.

Juliana has a great aesthetic, I'm not surprised!

Phoebe can definitely fly, at least a little! She is now sitting on top of my deck table. I wish it weren't so windy. The wind is making me crazy and is going to continue for five days. But I need to get out on the deck and clean it up a bit. I don't want something tipping over on her, but I also don't want to scare her again. A dilemma. She and mama are doing call and answer to each other. It is super cute.

In other bird news, I had an oriole at my sugar water feeder, finally! Every year I see the oriole, rush out with the feeder, but it's too late. It has been back three times today, so I'm hoping it'll be a regular guest. I also need to refill the feeders, but again, extreme windiness.

If you are having trouble with your message notifications on Facebook GET Social Fixer. [link]

It has all sort of options to fix annoying problems, but one thing it can do for you is put a permanent left tab that shows unread messages - all unread mesages, only unread messages. And it does not take a up a ton of room either. Not the main reason I use it, but a definite advantage. Also makes visiting pages of people with Time line bearable.

I'm back from spending six hours doing something that should have taken three. Kaiser would be a lot easier to deal with if I was well. The good news, I guess, is that I'm full of bone-strengthening drugs, and they managed to schedule the type and cross and the transfusion on the same day. There's a couple hours between them, but at least I only have to brave one trip instead of two, and it will be done before the Memorial Day weekend so I can consider attempting the Decatur Arts Festival.

My only decorating suggestion is to find pillows or window treatments in a print or stripe you like, and then match everything to the colors in the fabric. That way, the fabric designer has done the work for you.

Ginger, I continue to regret you have to go though this, am glad at least one small aspect of your schedule went right, and respect your continuing strength in this battle.

Ginger, it's good to see you haven't lost the snark.

He could have a lot going on. God knows I've let things slip in the last two months. And you wouldn't know it from the outside because I haven't wanted to let anyone in on the painful parts until recently and still not publicly.

Ugh, yes. I still have yet to find the strength to write the thank you notes from the funeral. There are also FB messages that I have yet to respond to. Sometimes it's just all overwhelming. sj, I wouldn't read too much into it.

man. juliana doesn't have a job, right? she can just fly around the country and help the hapless?

Ugh, yes. I still have yet to find the strength to write the thank you notes from the funeral. There are also FB messages that I have yet to respond to. Sometimes it's just all overwhelming. sj, I wouldn't read too much into it.

That's completely different and completely understandable.

He could have a lot going on.

Yep. Or just be not good at responding to anything on FB.

Ugh, yes. I still have yet to find the strength to write the thank you notes from the funeral.

I have almost made peace with the fact that I am never going to do thank you notes from Mom's memorial. I just ... no. Can't. I still get guilt twinges about it, but that doesn't make feel like I can tackle them.

Oooh, I will help decorate, le nubian! I love spending other people's money!

I just got back from visiting my folks, and "shopping" in their attic and basement. TOTAL SCORES, y'all! A bedside table for Dan, once I mess with the contact paper my sister put on it as a teenager (and get a handle), picture frames, some gorgeous stonewear, two little bedside or table lamps of "crystal" and brass from the 60's (wiring checked by dad)...and a metric fuckton of curtains my mom had for years that she scored at a schmancy mansion estate sale years ago that are in fantastic condition.

And my old BFF from high school gave me a lesson on how to use the teeny little $15 sewing machine I scored. I SHALL MAKE ALL THE PILLOWS!!! When I get some fabric.

Cass, I am so sorry you are missing Kittenish so badly; the only kitty I've had to myself as a grown-up before Cosmo and Gimlet I got when he was an adult, and took him out of indignation and pity more than love, and we were basically roommates. I was sad when I had to have Solomon put to sleep, but it didn't gut me. I was gutted when two of my mom and dad's Scots have died (one WAY too young and in a tragically sad manner) and I can't even think about Gim and Cosmo. Ugh. And this in addition to your dad...honey, I am just feeling awful for you.

Ginger, I pee on insurance's head on your behalf. When you are sick and least able to deal with their bullshit....it's such fuckwaddery.