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.

Trudy, re COMM: That is either, beautiful or, if taken literally, incredibly gross. And I really do know that certain amounts of lying Of the type of "Wow, *something* smells good," or "We need to do this again real soon," are part of the deal with family members. He seems to want me on a string so he can blow me off, though. I thought a man had to date you to pull that trick.

I think I'm going to stay away from Facebook until everyone is done posting pictures of themselves with their fathers.

In better news, we have been kicking ass all day getting ready for our family gathering tomorrow. The veg are roasted for frittatas, the strata is in the fridge ready to be cooked, the baked beans are in the crock pot, banana bread and brownies are done, and about half the house is clean and organized-ish.