Have we heard from Ginger today? I wonder if she's already lost power.

Thank you all for the birthday wishes! And happy, happy birthday to Pix!

Congrats also to Pix. I'm just getting a snowstorm and a house.

Many hugs and brackets for those that need them. While my parents aren't perfect, and they've screwed me up a bit mentally, they are good people whom I'm lucky to have as my folks. I'm sure they wouldn't mind adopting a few more. You will definitely be stuffed full of food and homemade wine.

Heard quote on NPR this morning, talking about cost of college education. Went something like, "the only thing that costs more than a college education, is not having one."

Sean - he puts you in a no-win situation. Go to school with no plan he can see = bad. Not going = bad. I say go, get your own damn plan, and he'll see it if he wants to. If he doesn't, screw him. You see it and that's what matters, babe. It takes a lot of work and a lot of time, but it's freaking worth it. I promise.

Sean, it seems to me, the folks who know you (i.e. Us), know you can do it. If your father says otherwise, clearly, he doesn't know you that well. I have confidence in your abilities. You can do it!

My dad just...sort of reflexively craps on any idea I ever have. Maybe he's negative, or maybe it's something about us together, but... I say get started. It might not be what you need to do, but from that you could find something else.

Sean, I am so glad that so many others are weighing in on this. Because I have issues around going back to school. You should totally get your degree so you can make me envious. And proud. Incidentally, as regards fields of study - I started out with chemistry, then changed to psychology before dropping out.

I have power, and so far things seem to be considerably less apocalyptic than predicted. The roads are a mess, but nobody's driving except sand trucks and TV reporters.

Completely unrelated to the weather, I managed to pull something in my back that’s really painful. In the ultimate non-sports injury, I was reaching behind my head to adjust a pillow and something went “pop.” I hope I haven’t broken another damn rib.

My mother and sister go through periods of rewriting my father.

Geez, Ginger, I hope you haven't broken a rib either.

Happy Birthday, Pix & Maria! I hope you both have a lovely day, however you end up spending it.

Sean, let me also weigh in on the "just do it"'s. I got an AA in Liberal Arts in my 20s, an AS in Computer Information Technology in my 30s, and finally a BS in Organizational Behavior (just shy of 40). It's a journey, and part of the journey is (sounds very hippy-dippy, but nonetheless true) "finding yourself". And "a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step" - it's a truism for a reason. Try not to knock yourself out over what every step on the path will look like. Just figure out what the Next Step looks like and take it from there. We've got your back.

Sorry so many of us have suffered at the hands of people who maybe were doing their best, but nonetheless inflicted some wicked psychic damage. Supportive hugs all around (friendly waves to those whose preference lies that way).