I strongly suspect that it's also because the Paterno family donated a ton of money to build that library, and that's why his name is on it in the first place, so it would be kind of awkward to keep the building and take down the name.

There's probably also a contract around the donations that stipulates the naming.

Oh wow, le nubian - I would normally say to get rid of anything that hasn't been touched in 8 years, but not if you're maintaining the historical stuff.

Sophia, I had a good friend of 8 years standing break off and (4 years on) still isn't talking to me. Evidently I rang her cellphone too many times in a row when she didn't want to talk. Anyway, when it's something so bizarre, I can intellectually say that they're not worth the effort of friendship.

But emotionally I still find myself bereft, especially as we have enough real-life and online places in common that I still come in passing mention of her often on a weekly basis.

One thing that hobbles me when I try to get rid of stuff is that I feel so damned wasteful throwing out stuff that could, with a little effort, be useful. Stupid stuff, like small plastic bottles with secure lids that would be great for holding beads--except I've already got a stockpile of those sorts of bottles. Recycling around here, for a great part, is "If it's not metal or paper, your recycling bin gets dumped with the other can at the transfer station anyway". It feels so incredible disrespectful to just toss things. The thrift stores throw out more than they sell--I've followed trucks with the stores' logos to the dump, and I've seen the sorting people open bags, glance in quickly, and just toss the whole thing into the dumpster.

A 30-year-friendship blew up 5 years ago, and she refused to discuss what she said, in an email, was the instigating issue. It probably wouldn't linger so badly if I could have looked her in the eye just once and asked "Why?" And gotten an answer.

Dude, I loved Merlin!

I didn't have Merlin. I had Spirograph, though! Loved those things.

I had Spirograph, too. And Lite Brite, and the big Barbie head you could put makeup on. Oh, the Skipper whose boobs grew if you turned her arm. Good times.

Jesse,

almost all of the stuff I haven't touched in 8 years IS historical stuff. I need to sort through it all at some point, but now is not the time. I would like to put stuff in a scrapbook or something, but I am not artsy. like at all. I have thrown out quite a lot though. I probably should just rent a bin and toss way more shit.

What I probably need to do for the papers is scan it in and then put it in a well-organized computer system. Good luck with that, I say to myself.

I suspect Merlin was the sort of thing we heard about but couldn't get our hands on--Simon, on the other hand--we could get our hands on one of those, per peer group.

Okay, today's main nurse was so sweet. I suspect she was more conservative, and also nicer than I am--and working at it--she was asking me how to not get so upset over some things, and I was mainly just empathising--it was the sort of situation where I think you just get upset, because you probably didn't do much wrong, and the other person is being a douche. But when I launched into invective towards putative third parties, she seemed flinchy, a bit. So I tried to tone down my language to keep her comfortable, but, you know, drugs.

But she laughed, a lot, and made me laugh a lot, and gave me a big hug when I was discharged. So I feel I'm good with her.

Question I'm pondering: birthday present for my sister? Right now I'm at the point of a) something small and sentimental, possible something only a big sister can get (oh god, pressure) or b) getting in touch with all the other villa-stayer-atters and suggesting something, again probably small and sentimental.

The general response I've gotten so far on etiquette is that nothing is required of a destination party, and/but as a big sister I'm either required to/don't need to give her a gift. And if I do have to give her a gift it either has to be/will be the best gift not given to her by my parents.

So...confusing.

And tiring, just thinking about it.

I really should stop putting off buying the ticket home. There's absolutely no benefit to that. Well, the marginal one that I can't call home and speak to both parents about how much in advance I'll be coming in to spend time with too, since Mother is out of town.

Let me try and call the father (who claims he made up my name) first, and move on from there. Naturally he is completely useless on the gift-giving front.

I'm pretty sure families have their own gift-giving rules, and you should go with those. Or what you feel like/can deal with, either way.

almost all of the stuff I haven't touched in 8 years IS historical stuff. I need to sort through it all at some point, but now is not the time.

Yeah, just move that shit.

I ran out of tape! Oops. Also I have probably half of my books packed and am out of small boxes. I'll need to strategize what else to put in the bigger boxes so they aren't too heavy.