I've just gotten to the "fuck you" point in my current big project, which is too bad, since I still need to do most of the work. But all I want to say to my main contact is "Fuuuuuuuck yooouuuuuu!"

I will refrain.

I had lunch with a friend and we commiserated over how we're both totally burned out at jobs that are too good to quit.

We need a good rain here, send some on over.

My old arbor vitae trees are dying and I don't know why.

Thanksgiving is coming. I don't want to go to either of the places I normally spend the holiday, and I don't know how to get out of it. Short of leaving the country, which I can't afford this year.

Oh! My brother and SiL are coming home for Thanksgiving. I am SUPER excited about that!!! However, I am not feeling it for Christmas this year. I get so exhausted by cramming both of our families' celebrations into 2 days that just thinking about it this year makes me want to cry. Tim suggested we go to Colorado for Christmas to celebrate with my brother and SiL, but (1) holy shit holiday airfare, and (2) this is almost certainly his dad's last Christmas at home, before he moves to assisted living, and Christmas is ALWAYS at his Dad's (even though we all -- Tim, his brothers, and the SiLs -- have confessed that it's kind of turned into a grind), so that's not something Tim wants to miss, which I understand.

So I'm trying to think of ways we can modify shit this year -- see the families but still preserve our peace and sanity.

So I'm trying to think of ways we can modify shit this year -- see the families but still preserve our peace and sanity.

Oof, I have found the only cure for that for us was to move far away. But I am bad at boundary setting.

A co-worker from another state was in the office today and mentioned that his daughter loved my book and asked about a sequel. That was kinda nice.

That's just about the perfect compliment, Gud! I have it on my Kindle to read to my daughter at the end of the month when we are traveling.

Maybe you can calm the brain weasels, Steph, by reminding them that this is the last year you'll have to plan around the old traditions -- next year you can set new ones without expectations.

Maybe you can calm the brain weasels, Steph, by reminding them that this is the last year you'll have to plan around the old traditions -- next year you can set new ones without expectations.

Yeah, I think it's probably important to have this last Christmas with Tim's dad. It would be with my family, at least. I know the holidays can be super-stressful, so I think anything you can do to make it easier is a good idea. Like, once my grandmother finally insisted she had to cook everything, that helped.

Timelies all!

Well, I have proven myself talented once again. I was coming down the stairs this morning and missed the last two steps. Didn't fall down, but I did scrape the hell out of my left forearm on the end of the handrail. Owie...

What is with all you people bogarting my schtick? We've established that falling down stairs is my thing.

(I'm glad you weren't hurt worse, Sheryl.)

My non-competitive nature requires that I not fall down any stairs. I just really don't think I can do it that well and the competition is too accomplished.