Got a e-mail from the high school that a student committed suicide. That's horrifying. Can't help but think how close we came to that. I can sort of imagine what those parents are going through, but not really.

{{{Gud}}}

I think I have good reason to feel exhausted, frankly.

Totally.

I am 98% finished with the house. FauxSon and his wife have busted their asses clearing and cleaning. They found lots of stuff they thought I'd want that I'd written off that I was actually glad to have, and he insisted on getting it all packed in my Jeep and his car tonight. He wanted to get it all carried up tonight, but I convinced him it could wait. He also insisted on knowing if the apartment management knew to call him if something happened, because he's afraid of getting a call saying there'd been a horrible smell coming out of my apartment for a few days, and that I'm supposed to keep in touch regularly. I'm supposed to be around for a long time. It's nice to have a son without having to do the hard parts (though when Hubby and I met him nearly 30 years ago, we apparently were instrumental in getting him to adulthood).

In addition, I can see the brightest stars from my balcony. It's going to be glorious in the summer.

Connie, that's lovely. And I'm glad you have faux-son around to keep an eye out for you.

I was doing too much multi-tasking tonight: making a pot of chicken-peanut-sweet potato stew; baking up some cookies from the batter I made last night; and watching the final of GBBO. So I ended up dropping one entire sheet of cookies on the floor -- I took them out of the oven and my pot holder wasn't solid enough, my hand started to burn, and I just dropped them instead of shoving them back in the oven.

So now I have 24 lovely chocolate-chip-nut cookies, and another dozen that were scraped off the kitchen floor and have dog hair all over them. I tossed most of them in the compost but decided to save the least awful-looking ones for myself. I have eaten a lot of dog hair in my time, I think my immune system can take it.

ION, I played two games of chess with Dad today. Which was really nice: he's demented and gets wound up and throws things away but he still knows how all the pieces in chess work. And I think it's pleasant to just hang out with him, without always having something to do (find his wallet, pay bills, etc.).

That is all so good to read, Connie. I hope your next chapter is every bit as wonderful as I am envisioning. Balcony! With stars! Yes.

Aw, Consuela. Good for you, correctly reasoning that the dog hair won't hurt you. That's great that you had a pleasant time playing chess with Dad!

I am working on my TV backlog. Kinda feels like a job, but one that I enjoy. Tomorrow will be all about housecleaning, which I enjoy less.

And I finally have a weekend where I don't have to pack, where I don't have a deadline hounding me. I can leisurely unpack and organize and wander off when I want to get lunch.

Excellent.

DH and I had a long talk about our trip to Portland. Although we have some good friends there, the houses we can afford are mostly newer ranch houses, which we both found depressing. We decided we really feel better in places built before 1950, no matter how ramshackle. To buy a house we would enjoy living out the rest of our days in would cost so much that it pretty much negates moving--although we saw some gorgeous places in town, all craftsman-y and adorable and we certainly wished we had more money!

This swings the needle back towards the Detroit area. DH can do his job and we can find a house we will ADORE for 150 to 250k. Now we are working on planning a trip up there. I don't know anyone there, but I know Aimee lives nearby and I have family in Chicago for weekend trips.

{{Gud}}

Connie, that sounds like a really productive day and a great view.

I am filled with tires. gave an hour long solo presentation yesterday and didn't die though, so I'm calling it a win.

One more day at the event, then home, and we're maybe selling our house. Offer~ma appreciated.