Thanks all for the vibes, prayers, and warm wishes. Today was a bit better, and if all goes well chemo will begin tomorrow or the next day. No idea when she'll be discharged, but for now that makes it a stress we don't have to face yet.

can some other family help relieve some of your and your husband's stress? I know it can't be easy and you've been dealing with a lot.

My other sister has been down as many weekends as she can manage, and L's friends have been there for her as well. So yes, others are helping to shoulder the burden.

I'm not keeping a scorecard of who got what

Whatever my parent's will is, it's the same as when we were all kids, for me. Lil'bro would demand everything, and when asked if I wanted something, I'd say no, to make up for lil'bro. It stands now. Lil'bro is the executor. And if it ends up that I get less, or nothing, then that's what it is. And if I need a hand one day, and I hope I don't need to, then I'll ask if he is able to help. But I do fear for him, because he hasn't actually stepped out of the nest, and isn't working a job that could sustain a house, or has the life style to maintain a house (still lots of parties and out all hours). It pains me that our parents deaths will be what forces him to grow up, even though I know he can't bring himself to leave because he fears for our mother's health in the care of our absent-minded father (having trouble walking? Here, let me tug you).

Now, if it were older bro, there'd be issues, because he'd shoot that inheritance into his veins so fast you'd be wondering where Halloween went.

I still can't believe K is marrying him. She's delusional and damaged in the brainpan, because he's still fucked up and drunk all hours.

I'm sorry about the need for palliative chemo, Burrell, but I'm glad you have some family there to help.

I'm not keeping a scorecard of who got what

My sister's eight years older than I, and in between when she was a teenager and when I was, my parents' income nosedived. They wanted to be scrupulously fair, but there were things that they couldn't swing. Still, they managed to cover my undergrad college costs, and they were very fair with distribution in their wills (I guess as Dad's executor, and his "sell everything and split it" will, if it wasn't fair that's on me). It's kinda funny to see how it plays out in our politics and religious perspectives.

I can't help think, this coming from someone who desperately wants a sugar daddy and an unexpected but incredible inheritance, that isn't the inheritance of family more important? The inheritance of people, of the support network, the relationships, more important that a few extra bucks? Is it because I know that, no matter what, I'll be broke that gives me the disconnect from the money-grubbers? Because I'd think I'd be the worst offender, given my circumstances of hand-to-mouth living.

My oldest is 22 today. Doesn't seem possible.

I turned the ac back on before leaving for work this morning. I've not needed it since I got back from the west. It's supposed to hit 97 tomorrow. Yesterday morning, I woke up cold with the windows open. Weirdass September.

Wow -- happy birthday!

Many happy returns, Amy. Twenty-two!

I may take a minute later to look at his baby pictures. He was the cutest baby.

57 with rain coming down here in VT, tho' we're supposed to get up to 81 later!

We had a fairly pleasant time getting lost yesterday -- wanted to find Sterling Gorge, which has a geology path. I trusted in my GPS, which if I can reconstruct from Google Maps, was trying to put us on a dirt road -- literally, two tire ruts separated by not too low grass -- that would have taken us up to it. So we went back down to Stowe and tried to remember the half-forgotten directions, which took us way to hell and gone. Stopped by a not-entirely promising storefront which turned out to be an outdoor outfitters which actually had really great stock.

While the nice proprietor gave me accurate directions (and drew a map), my friend Pat wandered around, trying things on, and ended up buying $80 worth of clothes, so I think it's a fair deal for them being friendly and helpful.

And the directions turned out to be good, and we made it to the gorge, and thus another good day in VT was had.