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.

I killed the thread, sorry. The last room looks almost decent if everyone ignores the boxes, and the rest of the cooking will have to wait until tomorrow.

Ugh. So, broke up with the young'un last weekend, because she'd been weird for a bit and I was sick of it, and figured she was maybe doing that "let me be shitty so the other person wil break up with me and I'm not the bad guy" BS. And Monday we still texted some. It trailed off over the week. And she posted a couple things on FB that made me a little curious. And then today posted about how she is SO happy, and didn't think a week ago she'd feel like this, and funny how life throws you curveballs. And I'm like "...so, what, someone found out you're single and snatched you right up?" Ugh. Now I"m worried I"ll see her making out with someone else at Pride and I"ll be lonesome and sulky. Grrr.

(/self-pitying rant)

Oh meara, I'm sorry. You'll find your someone some day.