I said happy birthday to erika, right? Never hurts to say it twice - happy birthday!

I'm having a drink tomorrow with StW. I'm giving him the last of his stuff back. It'll be the first time we've spoken in person since, uh, May. Somebody say something wise I can use for a mantra? I find myself still angry and disappointed, and still caring what he thinks but not wanting him to know I care. I just want get through it calmly and politely, without crying in public or being petty or spiteful. Oh, self.

It is what it is.

It's what I've been using with Dad and moving and just life. Because things are so far from ideal and they are not what I want, but I can't change the fact that my Dad is declining. I can only deal with the reality. And that is what it is.

You wanted something from StW that he wouldn't or couldn't give you. And it doesn't matter which of those it was. It matters that it wasn't there. It's not going to have changed. You can return things, be nicely civil but it's over and that doesn't change. So respect yourself and just get through it.

Also, ((smonster))

Smonster, it's like the guy I was sort of dating who told me that he wanted someone to go with him on a spiritual journey, and he didn't think I was ready for that, so we decided to be friends. And then he turned around and started dating a 23 year old.

It was not that long ago that I would have thrown an epic fit when I found out (one of his friends blurted it out when we were at a bar). But, I decided that the important fact was that he didn't want to date me. In the long run, it didn't really matter why.

Just keep reminding yourself that it wasn't going to work out. And if you think that you won't handle it well, just cancel and drop the stuff off at his house when he's not home. It's about what's best for you, not making him feel comfortable.

It's funny how hard it is for the heart to catch up to what your head knows is right. Be kind with yourself, smonster.

And if you think that you won't handle it well, just cancel and drop the stuff off at his house when he's not home. It's about what's best for you, not making him feel comfortable.

This is my bottom line. Take care of you. Drop his shit off if you need to. Though if he hasn't needed it for 3 months...

I've booked the December cruise for the family Tea. Biyi's parents were concerned about the size of the ship (because of her father's motion sickness) and sought confirmation that it weighs more than 10 tons. It weighs 77,000 tons. I like to think they find that reassuring. (I have my own reactions, but then I didn't need reassurance in the first place.)

It is what it is.

RIGHT. I knew there was an obvious one I couldn't bring to mind. That will do nicely. Duh, it's what I returned to again and again with B.

It's funny how hard it is for the heart to catch up to what your head knows is right.

So freaking true.

Smonster, it's like the guy I was sort of dating who told me that he wanted someone to go with him on a spiritual journey, and he didn't think I was ready for that, so we decided to be friends. And then he turned around and started dating a 23 year old.

OMG! I remember the first half of that story, but I don't think you gave me the update! Wowza.

I'm going to go through with it and see him. It will most likely be absolutely fine. Thank you all, your support and wisdom is muchly appreciated.

My first world problem of the day is that my DVR rebooted this morning when I tried to hit play on last night's Daily Show and it erased all the shows I had saved as well as all the scheduled recordings, season passes, etc.

Good luck, smonster! You have received wise words here.

What a colossal pain in the ass, sj.

I am home sick and feeling mighty sorry for myself. WAH!

I am feeling TOTALLY STRESSED right now as well. Things are insanely busy at work, which I am trying madly to manage, since I am flying home to be with my mom when she gets the result of her biopsy. She called yesterday to make an appointment, and they scheduled it for today, so yesterday was all about a mad scramble to get the soonest flight out. I am taking a red-eye on Thursday and flying into Baltimore and driving the 90 minutes to her house when I get there in the morning. It makes me tired just to think about it.

Oh, and someone sideswiped my new car during the night and left two big scratches and dents in the passenger door.