Oh brane. I had you once.

sj, I am so excited for you! I think this could be great, and a welcome relief from the horrible neighbors and landlords you’ve dealt with. It really is a great time to be a first-time buyer.

Hi everyone. I’m in Westford.

Yeah, it’s not that exciting. I’m here again for the next day of my supervisor-training grad class. In and out in about 36 hours and have to teach on Friday back home--quite the whirlwind. My cousin and I didn’t get to meet last time due to bad weather, so I’m going to see her for dinner in Boston tomorrow night. I’m excited about that but sad to yet again be near Buffistas without time to see them. Pout.

so fly lady stuff - even though I had to talk my elf out of crazy today ( once every 5 weeks to clean off the cabinets - that isn't enough - Well maybe not but how often do you do it now)I'm liking my approach on her approach. Years ago I read her site and thought she was crazy (still do) but I took away one thing- the idea that I can do anything for 15 minutes. This time I am just trying to figure out how to keep my house cleaner - so I don't spent every other Wednesday feeling like cleaning my house is a priority . and so far I think I am learning a lot of things I can do in short periods of time.

Amazing to see how far the story has spread, and heartening to know it's not just us who have pure unbridled contempt for the prank-calling assholes.

It is amazing to me, because I hike in Rock Creek Park with business cards and meet strangers who already have our number programmed into their cell phones, but I still just want my dog back.

I had to talk my elf out of crazy today

Naw, man, elves are WACK. You can't talk them out of crazy.

Steph has my brain. That may be literally, because otherwise this coffee is broken.

Steph has my brain. That may be literally

I am going to get SO MUCH WORK DONE!

Do you need it back in the same condition in which I received it?

Do you need it back in the same condition in which I received it?

If you could blow off the dust, that would be great.

sj, I'm glad that you are looking forward to homeowning and it is something you genuinely want.

We bought at the wrong time, for too much money, and for no real good reason than it was what we were "supposed" to do. It's brought us a lot of stress and heartache. So that tends to color my feelings pretty strongly about the whole process= my apologies if I came off as overly negative.

We had the funeral for Tom's mother today- it was only 20 minutes and there were only 7 of us there, but it was very nice and tastefully done. Some lovely flowers and then the funeral director had arranged a tea for us at the hotel/golf course restaurant next door. Met Tom's niece and nephew for the first time, as well as his sister in law.

We'd decided not to try to track down Tom's half brother (father to the niece and nephew and abandoner of many years) so that they could attend without drama- apparently when Tom's half-brother's father died earlier this year, his family had been by the father's side during the end, and then M showed up and ordered them all to leave immediately. Ugh, he's such a horrible person.

I guess we will have to make some sort of good faith effort to contact him re: Scottish rights of inheritance, which I think sucks. Tom's mother bequeathed money to her daughter in law for the 2 kids, and left her half of the house to Tom. Her medical care sucked up all her assets, though, so there isn't much left to be claimed. I just hate for anyone to have to deal with that jackass.

Anyway, the kids are like 16 and 19 now, and they seem really nice. We will be having dinner with them tonight! (Note: do not mention wanting to kick their father in the nuts)

I'm glad the funeral went well, Nora. I've been thinking of you both. I know family stuff can be fraught during these times, so it sounds like you're making the best decisions you can.

Yeah, that's one of the biggest things for me with flylady, the giving permission to do short bursts. Which reminds me, I have to do my 15 minutes declutter yet this morning, and whaddya know, I have about 20 minutes before I need to leave the house (test driving Honda Pilot!) so that should work out just fine!

I shined the sink last night! FWIW.