Scrappy lots of strength to you.

And to you Laura, I'm sorry he was robbed, but I hope that the time with his aunts and uncles produces some break through.

Work was frustrating today. I don't know when, but the other day one of the cash drawers was $100 short. There were three of us who took cash on it and they can't figure out where the problem was so no one is actually in trouble. There were just some suggestions made.

And then we had 2 reallly shady situations with people trying to pick up stuff. One I think got away with something , but the other wasn't able to get a way with it. Mostly because the order had been cancelled, but she was still asking if she could take the product with her. No. 1) your name isn't on it and 2) it was cancelled, which means no one paid for it.

And then a couple of shady phone calls. Just ugh.

But I have three days off in a row. I'm going to try and Skype with my nephew at some point I haven't seen him in ages.

Mom said his new word is, "Horrified/horrifying" so everything is "horrifying" or he's "horrified" by something. Usually something he has to do but is trying to get out of.

Oh Laura, that is a lot of drama. Yay for in-laws taking him in for a bit. I hope they can help him find a better direction.

Ya know, stores sell stuff you might have forgotten.

True damn fax.

Let's just say he isn't running with a good crowd. Anyway, they didn't know the people doing the robbing, but housemate decided the way to handle it was to give descriptions and details and Facebook and vow retaliation and so forth in an escalation kind of manner. I have no doubt that he is honestly afraid for his life, but I also don't really think he has learned anything.

Probably not. But I hope you find a way to keep him safe but also somewhat accountable for his life. Becoming an adult. Not essy. And I think that is a huge step;

Sotnikova may have racked up points for technical difficulty...but she lost a LOT of points on fashion. That was far and away the ugliest costume i've ever seen on the ice. "flesh colored" parts of the bodice a shade darker than her skin...gloves 2 shades darker...tights 3 shades darker...oh my. And while I'm not against tights-over-boots, the tights really need to stay over the boots. It's the Olympics, people, there's no excuse for that kind of wardrobe malfunction. Seriously, Russia, you paid how much for these Olympics and couldn't afford a reasonable costume for one of your contenders???

Laura, I hope everything works out okay. I also hope that hearing the same message from a new source grabs his attention.

Thanks all. I am hoping that at least he figured out that he can't just come and go as he pleases here. I can't really let him stay in the middle of a drug war situation because it would be best that he lives long enough to learn to be a whole adult. But he doesn't get to come back here and disrupt the peace and harmony in my home either.

He is ridiculously fortunate with opportunities. His NY aunt said he could come to the city and get a tech job easy peasy and stay with her until he gets settled. We would cover his tuition for him to get in college somewhere in another part of the state. The world is his oyster, but he still chooses the muck. Kids!

He'll stop being an asshole yet, Laura. I'm sure of it.

Most of us do, Trudy. I know lots and lots of wonderful adults that were assholes at 22.

I have a friend who I've known since high school, who was an enormous douchebag throughout high school, college, and somewhat beyond college. But some challenging life stuff happened, like it does for everyone, and his responses to all of it really matured him and he's turned into someone who's really fantastic and not a douchebag at all.

(Ideally, no one would need challenging situations to make them grow up, but it was nice to see this guy respond positively, instead of becoming more of an entitled dick.)

Oh Em Gee, people. Yesterday while at work I talked with the mother of one of the individuals I work with. She is on vacation in Florida, planning to return this weekend. She teased me with the 80˚ weather and said she didn't really want to return to Minnesota, given the weather we've been having. Perfectly natural to make those kinds of jokes. But after having slept on the couch at that location because I couldn't get home last night after work due to blizzard conditions, I find I want to call her up to say "Fuck you!"

So sick of winter.