I'd say don't, but I know how complex that is. You did what was best for you (YAY!) and count that as a win. Take that piece of straw and blow it into the wind.

Speculate on objectionable conduct: using as an office? brothel? den of iniquity? raising chickens? GOATS? LIONS AND TIGERS AND CROCS?!!!

TRAINING CROCS TO CLIMB UP THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING! That's why she needed apartments on two floors, obviously.

Oy, Tom. For all of it.

Did you say what the rest of the salad was, Kate? I t heart salads full of chickpeas.

-t, your mind works in the best ways.

Did you say what the rest of the salad was, Kate? I salads full of chickpeas.

Lebanese bread salad! Chickpeas, cucumber, red pepper, tomato, red onion, lightly toasted pita bread, parsley, mint, and a generous amount of garlicky-lemony-tahini dressing. Yum!

Co-op drama! On my birthday! So much fun! I have no idea what the “objectionable conduct” refers to.

Clearly she was orchestrating a co-op takeover by claiming victory in Apartment Connect 4.

I still feel guilty about my Mom, though.

I'm sorry, Tom. For what it's worth, I validate your boundaries and the right to have them. And drinking at the bar.

Also meant to say, Tom, good on you for standing up for yourself with your mom. You have come SO far.

I'm sorry, Tom. For what it's worth, I validate your boundaries and the right to have them.

Seriously. That's fantastic, man. (And yes, I still feel guilty when I assert my boundaries with my mom. But it gets easier over time.)

Also meant to say, Tom, good on you for standing up for yourself with your mom. You have come SO far.

Hell yes, you have.

Ugh Tom, good for you for not letting her horn in on your evening.

Speaking of anger, my son has been the tetchy one today, burst into outrage and screaming at me twice, once over the fact that we turned off his computer's internet access and later over having to go to bed. But I didn't lose my temper, I was able to just explain and support and try to redirect him. Why parenting so hard?

So I guess I should add an addendum to my description of my anger. I DO have a bad temper, but I do a decent job of keeping it in check.

A good thing tom. I have a good relationship with my folks, and i have to occasionally remind them that no - what ever they are concerned about is not my first thought.

from the number of corrections I have made, I might have had a little more wine than needed, without any excuse. Yay.

Clearly she was orchestrating a co-op takeover by claiming victory in Apartment Connect 4.

I like this theory. It entertains me mightily

Today, I have frustration.

OTOH, the birds were greatly amusing this morning. I don't know which songbird it is, but there's one that starts a lovely song just before sunrise, and it's back from wherever it wintered. And my doves, Ert and Gert*, were getting busy on the power lines. Doves are so very clumsy

* I've always had a pair of doves that hang out on or near my deck. I don't know if it is the same pair or not, but by default, they are named thusly.