What Zen said.

askye, yuck. That is not cool at all.

No snow here or forecasted, but it is going to get below freezing this week. Which, given our generally elevated and uninsulated houses, sucks.

I found out today that another friend of mine (and Nora's) has terminal cancer. It's the head of the nonprofit down here that hosted our organization as well as thousands of other volunteers over the last decade. I feel so... beyond words. My stomach is so clenched I can't stand up straight. I've had a slice of king cake for dinner, and I think that's all I'm going to manage. I feel like I've been a bad friend because I have only seen him a dozen times, maybe, since moving here. His house got foreclosed on and the nonprofit went under, I think. I don't know how long he's been sick or what the prognosis is, beyond "terminal." (Plus, on my end, I'm still grieving KR's death and that's going to become a lot more vivid again over the next month because she was all about PARADES. There's going to be a lot of catching beads through tears at 8th and St. Charles.)

I called my friend tonight after I heard and I'm going to go see him Sunday, I think.

I just can't. Just can't. Fuck cancer. Fuck all of it.

*ahem* Thanks. Had to get that out. I think I'm going to just go to bed.

{{{smonster}}}

Fuck cancer.

askye, that sucks. I hope there's some resolution for it.

Zen, thanks. This is really beyond clutter, though, and I'd need to do a significant amount of work before I'd be comfortable having anyone over. He's already helped with some of the insulating, and I think I might need his help on one more window, though I think I can do the rest by myself. I definitely need to go grocery shopping tomorrow, after my interview -- I've got some leftover mac and cheese that I'm saving for breakfast, and then not much more that can be made into meals. The high tomorrow is supposed to be 17. I really wish there were grocery delivery here.

This is really beyond clutter, though, and I'd need to do a significant amount of work before I'd be comfortable having anyone over.

Eh, I understand that; I'm in that situation all too often myself.

I hate going out when it's freezing cold. I want delivery of everything.

Considering there have been multiple complaints about him to managment and to corporate HR I'm pretty sure that the resolution is going to be - my co worker will try to get into a different departmetn (he's already trying) and/or he'll quit. And nothing will happen to my supervisor and he'll continue to drive off employees.

In Feb there is a big survey they do for the entire company. I'm going to be brutally honest, it's not anonymous if you leave comments but it's the only outlet I have.

Another successful day on Elementary where I YET AGAIN did not end up in the slam.

For instance, at lunch, I did not throw and elbow into the person next to me and shove their unconscious figure beneath the table when I saw a certain person looking for a place to sit. EVEN THOUGH he had just put a whole bunch of whip cream on his desert AND was actively taking a bite. I'm a goddam humanitarian.

You're a saint. So, are you recurring? Or just happy to say yes to working when they need an extra?

They just call me a fair amount. It's pretty much luck.

A certain actress was directing this episode and even without a stitch of makeup she barely looks thirty.

Huh.

You must let us know when your episodes air so that we can keep our eagle eyes out for you.

Snow - well, DC got through it ... sort of. On the radio this morning, there were all these horror stories of multi-hour commutes. Luckily, I was on a bus with a good driver - took it slow, was careful, tapped the brakes - all the things you should do but so many don't. A good section of the city lost power and, in those areas, there were no traffic lights. This meant that a lot of drivers treated it as a "go right on through" sign.

Years ago, they were doing a "This Old House" in DC and there was HALF AN INCH of snow ... and the entire town shut down. The guys on the show - from Boston - thought it was hilarious.

It's nice in DC just now barring, of course, the 'feels like' 6 degrees wind. Still, sun and mostly shoveled sidewalks.

I have a word challenge for this clever community...

Without suggesting any sort of desperation, I need to hire 4 full time dog walkers...like NOW. We've been posting ads on craigslist, bulletin boards, facebook, listservs...you name it.

Still, we are not getting quality candidates.

I'm thinking it is our language. Too boring. Non-specific.

I need some really fun, engaging wording to capture people's attention. Sadly, I am much more passionate than I am clever.

YOU GUYS, on the other hand, are wicked funny and smart.

Anything pop off the top of your head?