1971 seems to be a big Buffista year!

Well I graduated HS in '72 so not so much with the being born in '71. But I do like all you kids playing on my lawn so I won't be shaking my cane at you, yet.

So I am working my way through my stress balls and it is one step forward and two back at times, but maybe making progress. To overshare I'll offload here since it is tough elsewhere. {{Hugs Buffistas}}

House - omg the list is so long, but I think I see an end in sight and it will go on the market soon. I've no doubt it will sell quickly and we will be able to settle with the evil bank and have a bonfire with all stacks of documents. But still with the long list of details to finish before the For Sale sign goes up.

Work - We finally managed to get co-worker to go the the doctor. It wasn't too hard once she couldn't breathe because her lung had collapsed. She has been in the hospital a week. Ended up in ICU yesterday when the procedure to fluff up the lung again did not go well. They are trying to build her up, put some weight on her and so forth so she can withstand chemo. Honestly it is real tough to try and visualize a positive outcome here. So yeah, I am covering for DH because he is full time on house renovation and covering for K because she is fighting for her life. So I'll be hiring someone in the next few days because I just can't manage it all.

Mom and family drama galore. Where to start. My niece that I helped get her daughter back from her mother now has been kicked out by her boyfriend. So she and her 2 kids moved in with her sister and her boyfriend with their kid. But since she works 90 min away she has stuck her sister with 3 kids for 12 hours a day. Sister's boyfriend blames it on me because I took the older child away from her wonderful life with grandma. Okay right, I also talked her into having 2 kids with 2 losers and not seek support. Whatever. My poor brother who is barely mobile with MS has been pulled into the drama of course. No clue how all this will play out.

My sisters are furious with step-dad (a constant state) because he is forcing my mom to go north when they don't think she is ready. I feel guilty that I caused her to stay a month longer than usual for Bobby's graduation. She never made it to graduation because she was in the hospital after getting a virus from babysitting her great grandchild. Mom says she doesn't go anywhere or do anything she doesn't want to. She also thinks my sisters don't get that she isn't going to feel better. She'd like to be up north for her 92nd birthday. The sibs all think that her husband makes all the decisions, and is wrong all the time, etc. My take is that there is a good reason they have been single for decades. They don't get the married dynamic. If he dotes on mom they say he is making her an invalid; if he pushes her to do things he is a bully. Seriously, the guy can't win.

Is there more drama in Laura land? Well, yes, but I've dumped enough. Also, parent of 18 and 21 year old boys with the usual drama that goes with that role. I observe parents with a whole lot worse kids than mine, so I'll keep mine.

I should get to work, huh.

Damn, Laura, that's too much stress by a metric ton.

What's going to happen after you sell the house? Will you move out of the neighborhood, or what?

Ideally we will take the proceeds from the house sale and accomplish a short sale purchase of the house we have been renting the last 3 years. It has been in foreclosure a couple years and I am hoping as the tenant we can go to the lender and make it happen without the house going on the market where it would be bid up way past our pockets. It will be tricky and take some finesse and timing, but possible. If not we will look for something else to buy in the immediate area.

The sheer fuckiness of Wells Fargo during this entire thing makes me realize that old cartoons about foreclosing on widows and orphans has a basis in reality.

In San Francisco the Bank of America headquarters has a large black lumpish sculpture out front which is locally referred to as "The Banker's Heart."

Ha, perfect! There is not a beating heart in any of those buildings.

My dad actually helped me with stuff around the house yesterday. First time he's been to my place in, like, years.(we live in the same town, I should note.) But it was nice, we thanked him, but he always has to lie at the end. This time it was "You know, next time you need things like this done, you should just call me." Whatever. That is so not true it makes Colin Powell look a little better about the yellowcake thing. The second I ask, you see, I become demanding, and he digs in his heels and whatnot.

Oh, Laura. I hope you get drama and stress free soon. Yeesh.

Laura, sending lots of love and "denouement" (unknotting) your way.

Worked in St. Louis #1 this morning, then went by a bookstore satellite that is closing (the main store is staying open). 50% off used and 20% off new. I think I'm good on books for a while. Jim Butcher, Oryx and Crake, Dead and Gone (Charlaine Harris), Eckhart Tolle, Tell Me Lies (Jennifer Crusie), Outliers, and splurged on a new copy of Flight Behavior (Barbara Kingsolver).

Now I'm home and showered and need to plan out my weekend for the proper balance of fun and productivity. Tonight I'm working merch at my friend's vaudeville show.

Oh, I need to get the new Kingsolver! Oryx and Crake is great; After the Flood, is the second book, and the third one comes out soon.

I love Atwood.

I've had to skip about a hundred posts...which I will go back and read...but I wanted to respond to le nubian.

bonny, my friend went on a "no inflammation" diet because she was experiencing some arthritis symptoms. She cut out all meat (except seafood) and some other shit. She said she feels really good.

I really think it will do me a world of good but I'm struggling with insane cravings, being paralyzed with not wanting to give anything up AND with stress eating mania.

Seriously? This week has been loco beyond the imagining.

People letting me down, crazy people being CRAZY, having to fire someone else from the pet company for threatening a client and basically being psycho, the IRS coming knocking, not being able to address my on-going hospital issue and generally feeling weary of life. Oh, and my oldest friend in town just moved away, topping a list of 5 people important to me who have left in the last 6 months.

Right now, I have a hyperactive Boston Terrier in my house...snagged from the fired employee's house. He's really not bad, but his spring will. not. wind. down. Fortunately, he sleeps well when he's in the crate, so Cagney will get a break soon.

Thank god for my new arty occupation. I may not be making any headway on the important stuff, but per Neil Gaiman's recommendation, I am 'making good art.' Or, at least I'm making art. Good is relative.