On a renovation note: I've been idly contemplating getting hardwood put in my upstairs (the main floor kitchen/living room are hardwood but the stairs/hall/bedrooms are carpeted). I don't currently have a roommate so now might be the best time?? But I have no idea how much it would cost or what anpain it would be. Also I really don't want the same look as my main room (I dislike the warm honey oak type color) but then it would be weird that they clash, right??

We recently did exactly this. We bought the flooring from Home Depot and went with their installers, who were actually a local flooring company contracted through HD (so, the advantages of HD financing and warranty stuff). No idea how much space you're covering, but for our job the price seemed reasonable. Happy to share details off-board when I get home if you'd like. Our upstairs was all one room; assume more of everything because your layout is more complex.

We had to move a ton of stuff out of the upstairs -- not everything; they work around furniture, but had to move electronics, get stuff out of shelves, move anything breakable, etc etc. We were getting other projects done at the same time and ended up moving OUR WHOLE LIVES into the living room and are still unpacking and it's hell but that's all on us.

The actual disruption from the work was minimal: we had to prep by moving aforementioned valuables, and then they came in and got their job done in a day.

Finally, we deliberately went for something that didn't match the downstairs floor because we figured we'd never get new engineered bamboo to match 70-year-old oak, and we'd rather not look like we were trying to match and failing. it's a marked contrast but not at all clashing -- it just looks (as intended) like we have two totally different colors.

Other than STILL having crap to unpack, I'm very happy we did it.

Huh. The signature on an email I just got says the sender is in a "Colon Free Zone". I wonder what that means.

the sender is in a "Colon Free Zone". I wonder what that means.

that they're sharing an uncomfortable amount of medical information with random email recipients

The signature on an email I just got says the sender is in a "Colon Free Zone".

I wonder if this is a punctuation thing or an anatomical one? Both could be disturbing, but in rather different ways.

Huh. The signature on an email I just got says the sender is in a "Colon Free Zone". I wonder what that means.

Maybe they mean cologne? Like, scent-free?

Maybe they mean cologne? Like, scent-free?

Oh, please let this be the answer.

Aha, it's a city! I think. [link]

Maria, you are absolutely right on the burden of dealing with other mourners. Family isn't too bad, but there's a lot of performative grief that is being laid on my sister & nieces by people who barely knew A, and it's so hard on them. I get the impulse, but seriously, do people not understand basic courtesy?

I get the impulse, but seriously, do people not understand basic courtesy?

Sure, but the outer tier of mourners are there for the drama and the future gossip of critiquing the performance. "So-and-so certainly didn't seem that upset." "Oh, I know. I wonder . . . "

Why is Boreanaz playing a SEAL so surprising, Tom?

Well, the Steely Dan album is lousy, too.

::gasps aloud::

::clutches Steely Dan closer to adoring heart::

Mourning is such a *production* in this culture. I hope it eases up for you and your family, Consuela.