I have an appointment to donate blood on Wednesday. There's something I haven't done in a while. I hope they take it, I used to like donating regularly.

I've decided that my excuse to be out of work Tuesday morning for my court date is that I'm getting no hot water in my electric water tank and have to wait for the plumber first thing Tuesday morning. The lime and calcium corroded the heating element and needs to be replaced. yeah...

Then, oddly, the vitamin store had these "specific" packs. The pack for the guy was to make him successful, the woman's to make her sassy. The first adjective she got for what it could do for her was "beautiful." For him, masterful.

OK, I can't decide if I think that's more or less bad than when they do that to kids.

Got my hairs cut, can't stop eating hummus. These are unrelated.

It's happening again. My sister's in town with her boyfriend, staying over at my niece's place. We were going to have breakfast together this morning, time unspecified. We've been pushing forward the time of our meal all day. It's now 6:15 and I haven't eaten anything but soup all day, waiting for them to decide when to have a meal. Of course, they went and got breakfast and lunch without me because they were busy. Now we're going to grill steaks, and I still don't know when. I swear. From now on I'm going to proceed as if they don't exist.

Got my hairs cut, am not sure I like it, but my styling regimen is leaving the car window open on the way to work, so I can't complain (more sleep for MEEEEEEE!). I'll be wearing a sunhat or my Polish widows rag (I have a hair accessory that is a shiny lacy tube that I fold almost in half, and a coworker declared that when wearing it not only was I Polish (incidentally I am a quarter), but had a dead husband. Which was hilarious because I was leading a group of special needs volunteers, and one complimented my headwear, then immediately asked if I was Polish).

Oh hell no zen. You eat. If they miss a meal opp, you eat. If they want to meet and you are not hungry, you go and eat an app or a dessert.

They seem to proceed as if you don't. Don't join them in that.

Or even another option, tell them that their inability to keep to a plan or make one does not work for you.

Last option, you set the time and say it is firm, you will be at the time and place and will proceed with or without them.

From now on I'm going to proceed as if they don't exist.

That definitely sounds like the way to go. I don't fuck with mealtimes.

That's a drag, Zen. I don't entirely understand how that happens - if you have breakfast plans with someone, how do you end up having breakfast without them? I mean, if something comes up and you can't go out for breakfast, sure, I get that, but it sounds like that is not what happened.

Mmm, hummus.

Hey, is anyone going to be available for lunch/brunch/drinks around 1:30 next Saturday in Oakland? Looks like my exam should be over about then. I'll be near the Civic Center BART station, so I'd be up for any place handy to there or easily BARTable, although I will probably be very hungry so I won't want to have to go to far/wait too long before eating...

Especially since she brought country ham specifically for us to enjoy together at breakfast! I've been wanting that ham all day. Now I don't get it until tomorrow. All because I asked her to give me 45 minutes to get a shower this morning before they arrived, and she decided not to wait.

This is why I believe in firm plans. Not "for breakfast," what time and where and we'll both be there.