Well, we put in a bid on a house. It's a foreclosure that's marked way below market for the condition and area so it's kind of an auction. We have a strong bid, but it may or may not be enough.

If we get it and sell our current house in a reasonable amount of time, then we'll own the new house outright sometime in summer to fall of next year.

Consuela, you can definitely go back to bed.

I just came from a funeral that was surprisingly hard for me. I mean, I was close to her family when I was a kid, but haven't seen her in years and years. Here's the great thing about community, though -- I was talking to a guy who I haven't seen in years and was never close to as a kid, because he's 3-4 years older, and he totally said the exact thing I was thinking about how this is the beginning of this phase in our lives.

I told his boss to thank him again for me. He made everything happen. And used words like respect and dignity, with the craxxy POV that patients warranted both.

Amazing.

Having discovered that Tabatha Takes Over is on YouTube, that's basically what I've spent the last two days doing. I mean, other stuff too, but I keep thinking I should really watch something else. And yet, I'm not.

Thanks for all the Charlie sympathy,all. I know it will get better given time, but it's nice to hear all the stories of pets for whom it has already gotten better. Last night hit me harder than it would have normally, since I am already worried about having to "abandon" him to overnight boarding while I am in San Diego (going for a conference), which I think is going to set us back some.

Thanks for the ~ma for K-Bug. We hope to know more on Friday.

Dropping CJ off at the high school was surreal. The police were getting set-up for the training and there was crime scene tape all over the place. It just gave me the willies. The school they are using is less than 6 miles from Columbine High.

Lee, you are doing a good thing. TNG (who is not so N anymore, as Matt pointed out last weekend) was afraid of the entire world when I got her. She would squat and pee if you looked at her sideways, much less raised your voice.

Now she scares away the burglars with her angry barking (at other dogs), and she's fine with strangers and will even go happily to the dog park to run around and play.

Having a consistent, supportive environment where he knows what is expected of him will help Charlie enormously. And I wouldn't worry too much about boarding him: it's only a little while, and he'll get over it quickly. They're certainly used to skittish dogs.

I would hire you for anything, but I'd never be able to challenge you adequately.

ita, I doubt that. I did turn down the possibility of opening an office for one firm, because I just don't have the experience or skill set for that, esp. with being out of private consulting for the last six years. Maybe in a couple of years, if I can survive.

Since my last post, I paid some bills, emailed the maintenance folks at my dad's building, and posted the obituary since my brother had to go into a meeting. Now I might just go take a nap...

So, how we pronounce things. US focused. Maps with colors.

[link]

Graduation is today.

I am required to participate in this the grard ceremony to hand out diplomas to ten students, one of whom is an absolute gem, in the most positive way possible.

But I'm tired just thinking about it.

OMG Kat, what a clusterfuck.