Calling someone with bad news is definitely not my idea of a good time. It must be someone's idea of good manners?

My first job out of college, on my first day, my boss had me send a letter (this was 1994) to the other person who interviewed for my position. I mean, he gave me a tape that he dictated and I had to transcribe it. And it started with "I am pleased to announce we have hired Stephanie L..."

And I thought, who that fuck DOES that to someone who you're rejecting? "I am PLEASED to announce?" That's just cruel. It totally gets the person's hopes up and then crushes them. But it was my very first day in my very first job, so I didn't want to start my career as a Working Lady by saying, "Um, bossman, I think this gives the wrong impression..."

"I am PLEASED to announce?"

That's the thing. When someone calls sounding like she just got a puppy, all "I'm from [org] and I'm calling for [Calli]" I kind of expect the rest of the conversation to continue in a more pleasant direction.

Meh. Mercury's in retrograde until tomorrow afternoon. Ima let this go.

I was rejected AGAIN by the same big company I interviewed with last year. Hrmph.

Oh boo. I would say the cost of living depends--for the same price that I would've paid in DC, I got a place much closer to all the "stuff". And in DC you have to go pretty darn far out to get to relatively-cheap suburbs. However, I'm not sure how that all works in LA, since there's so many different neighborhoods/cities that are so spread apart!

And I thought, who that fuck DOES that to someone who you're rejecting?

It's so nuts it's pretty similar to the pilot of Newsradio (where Jimmy James makes Dave fire his predecessor on his first day).

In Illinois, if your executor is not an Illinois resident they have to put up a cash bond before they can access any accounts. Definitely something to check on if you've moved states. That could be an awful position to put someone in inadvertently.

Timelies all! (Timelies now pops up in my spellcheck thingie. Hee.)

In the airport waiting for our flight to Columbus.

I would like to read the full WSJ version of this article because the Jez synopsis seems to be putting high heels and ugly at opposite sides of a dichotomy. And assuming, of course, that high heels are uncomfortable and ugly shoes are comfortable.

High heeled boots can be comfortable, and middle ground!

Mildly relatedly I had been assured that Jimmy Choos are ridic comfortable. I can concur, for number of styles = 1. Flats. No idea about the rest of them.

mac is back to being furious with me. His grades are not all passing and he thought they would be. I am keeping with what I said that no electronics until he is passing everything and HE IS PISSED. He's been punching his bed, yelling to himself in his room, crying, stomping around the house. "It's all YOUR fault. Everything is YOUR fault. Why should I put effort into anything." I am not hearing all of it, but those things clearly directed at me. That child would blame me for his acne, I swear. He just cannot deal with this being all on him and yet? it is, so he best get on board or these scenes are gonna play out for several more weeks.

I have not raised my voice once since I got home.

I was going to go for a walk/jog with the dog when this started up. He didn't get going until after the nanny left even though he knew the score. He waits until I am trapped, knowing I will not leave when he is acting out of control and I fear he might do something. manipulative little thing. so now I sit. silent. no tv on, no music. in fact this is the first I have been typing, I was just going through emails. I guess I could go get a book and read. I hope he just falls asleep soon and I can have the rest of the evening to relax.

oh he just started on a string about how "you don't care about me."

Big hugs, msbelle. So BTDT. As much as a horror as it is having 20 & 22 yo boys, that age was way worse. It may be wrong, but I visualize the day (probably when they are 30) that they apologize for being such asses when they were younger.

It would be a whole lot easier if you didn't care.

You are a good mother. Even if he can't see it now, we do. So much love to you. And wine. Lots and lots of wine.