Sometimes I wish I were ace, but only so my life and my mind would match more.

Teppy, you are pretty awesome.

I remember telling a teenage babysitter once when she said, "Owen is going to break some girl's heart someday" that he might break some boy's heart. Or nobody's heart. This was when he was four. It's just that simple. We don't know but we accept them for what they are and love them because we love them. Not for what they are going to be.

One of the reasons I love b.org so much (and roller derby, too, because it is fully accepting) is that we know humanity is one big spectrum and that keeps it interesting and wonderful and vibrant.

And even though I am a total misanthrope, I do like individuals. Most of them are here.

My sister and I have a running joke that I want my nephew to be gay - because what auntie wouldn't want a devoted gay nephew? So any time he, oh, loves Betty Buckley or refuses to take off a tutu we're all "point to Auntie Mame." (Because, seriously? That girlfriend was a beard.)

We don't do this within his hearing.

One of our cousins was APPALLED. Not that his being gay would be bad, but that "you should love him no matter WHO he is..." She really got rolling. It was hysterical.

On a less jovial note, I'm pretty sure one of my little cousins IS gay. Alas, he is of Super Catholic parents (who would come around eventually, but it would be rough going for a spell to be sure and they might try and make him be a priest in the interval). The bigger cousins have been trying to communicate to him for a while that we love him and are proud of him and that we have gay friends and don't give a shit. I only hope that when/if the time comes he knows he can turn to us the way Teppy's niece turned to her.

OK, entirely random question--where does one purchase cheap but not completely awful furniture, other than IKEA or Target? I'm looking for a specific size of bookshelf/cabinet to line my wall (can't be over about 38" high, but don't want it too much shorter or it's wasting valuable space) and nothing at either of those places quite works...unless I have a specific piece in mind, Craigslist has too many results, but my brain isn't really working this morning coming up with other places to look.

West Elm? I've gotten a bunch of stuff at overstock.com, too.

meara, if you don't mind assembling things, take a look at Fred Meyer. They have some surprisingly good stuff these days.

Our cats were so spoiled. Three adult humans, each checking the box *every* time any of us used the bathroom. Boxes got scooped several times a day. When something did linger, TC was pretty much, "Hey, if I could flush, I would. Little help, here?"

Steph, you are undeniably awesome. As is Cash. And Owen.

It's ironic and laughable I lived as many decades as I did in utter puzzled wrongness before I discovered ADD, the difference between extrovert and introvert, and the ace and autism spectrums. Suddenly I'm all, "Ohhhhh. I get it, now!"

It's ironic and laughable I lived as many decades as I did in utter puzzled wrongness before I discovered ADD, the difference between extrovert and introvert, and the ace and autism spectrums. Suddenly I'm all, "Ohhhhh. I get it, now!"

Word. sigh

Thanks guys! Ended up going with something from Target that I'm not sure why I didn't pick the first time. Probably I'll figure that out when they arrive. Oh well--wasn't that expensive, hopefully it'll work.

The glasses you chose look great, smonster!

Go Owen! Whether for now or forever, I hope being ace is a joyful part of who he is.

Steph, it's great your niece can talk about these things with you.

I spent several hours today walking with a friend in a huge park one town over. It was a sunny day, in the mid-50s, so that was pleasant. And it's so interesting to see the bones of the landscape--all the tree trunks and rocky outcroppings.