If someone will shell the friggin things, I will consume mass quantities of Brazil nuts. I will trade you for...homemade hummus? Is good? Or some other thing which I leave to you to suggest? Now here's a thing--pecans have become too sweet for me to enjoy; I prefer English walnuts. I designate, because Black walnuts are nut mecca for me. Alas, like Brazil nuts, they are difficult and frustrating to crack.

Did I wish you birthday happy, Sheryl? Seems like I did, but if not, Belated Happies!

My mail notices of my tickets and court date arrived today, and of course my nosy neighbor pointed out my "parking tickets" snottily, like he does, while my mum was on the phone, and I'm on the fence as to whether I'll confess to her, especially when I need massive amounts of monies soonish. (I really do have a hang up that I'm the good kid what with all of my younger and older brothers fuck-ups, and my duty to Not Be That Kid, but I am about to join their ranks, and in a way it's a bit of a relief). Unless these lawyer dudes have a payment plan, I'm going to have to own t my apparent f-up to those who can bank me.

I really hate me right now. I also really hate New Jersey right now. I want to drive drunk and get caught just for the fun of it. (Bad joke).

Another of the idiot things I've been watching while home alone is Family Feud. The question is "Name something that follows the word 'pork'?"

This guy just answered "upine."

Happy belated birthday, Sheryl!

Congratulatinos msbelle!

Oh, wonderful news, msbelle!

I spent the afternoon in meetings. Not getting work done, getting work added. After 2.5 days of meetings. And apparently I am an Executive Stakeholder in something. I think they are on crack, because they've put me on par with the CIO. But whatever. And next week, 4 days of 4 hrs each of training.

Yes, getting work done, I'm doing it at some point here.

My skin is being stupid and my shoulder hurts when I'm not using it only. Technically the muscles around/under the scapula. But still. And I don't have enough hummus for lunch tomorrow. And I still need to call my insurance guy to drop some coverage. And pay that bill.

My brain is a rabid squirrel right now.

Julie,

I'm not sure what your brothers got into, but you had a string of bad luck. It doesn't sound to me, given what you have discussed here, that you said "fuck it", ignored all of your responsibilities, fled to Mexico, and had a general devil may care attitude. We all have scrapes we get into in life where we need help.

I think you should just talk to your mother. If your brothers have been screwups, it sounds to me like you need the fair share of attention anyway. Don't let the screwups hog all the attention and time!

(spoken like a person with no brothers or sisters)

I love nuts. Even the ones with gross nicknames.

29 reasons to love Boston: [link]

My hangup as a child was that I was the one they took off the shelf to show off how awesome I was, and then put me back to collect dust, and that the grief my parents got was enough from my brothers that they didn't need more from me. And they give me enough hassle about how my job doesn't pay me a living wage, so any attempt at asking for financial help results in interrogations about what exactly I'm doing with the money I do get (I swear, they'd give me five grand for a vacation, but if I ask for help paying my bills there's a swinging exposed bulb over my head).

But I am going to have to suck it up this time. Oh god.