Deena, insent.

It was an arrow to the heart the first time Nick and Kara said they hated me. By the time Aidan got around to it, though, it was pretty old hat.

sj love, received and replied.

I'm working. I do proofreading for the court reporting company my little sister works for. It's an easy way to make a little extra cash from home.

I have permission, and it deserves its own post:

Kara came out to me this summer. Since she'd been talking about having a crush on a girl online, I thought she already had. She didn't realize, I guess, and was all sweaty-palmed and nervous. She had a boyfriend (because it was the thing to do, I think?) for a little while and did not like it at all. She has an online girlfriend now who lives in Wisconsin. She is such a sweet girl, I just gave her hugs and love and told her I was proud of her, and she asked me not to tell her grandparents or my sister since that would open her up to recriminations, and I'd have to step in and slap people down, and then we would lose our current detente, which would be okay if that's what needed to happen, but she doesn't want it right now.

Anyway, I think it deserves celebration. She's figured some things out! Yay! She's thoughtful and loving and makes good choices. Yay! So she said I could tell you guys, since you would never out her to her grandparents, even if you knew them.

Yay, Kara. I haven't seen you since you were ltc's age, but I love you to pieces.

Yay, Kara. I certainly understand her not wanting to deal with grandparents or other people who might not be supportive. You are supportive, which is what matters.

After I decorated the Christmas tree (the kids weren't really feeling it this year), we talked about the year of Buffista largess, and the treasure chest Ginger sent her so she could play pirates, and the books that replaced the ones she murdered, and the ornaments on the tree that came from people here, and all the good things buffistadom has brought, and her being my raptor girl, and all the love and support we've gotten from you guys, and I think she loves you as much as I do. It was a wonderful reminder.

I was in Starbucks and they have a holiday "juniper latte" ... and my first thought was that it was spiked with gin.

Alas, no - it's flavored with juniper and sage and some kind of citrus ... I think they're getting desperate.

When they start flavoring coffee with parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme....

In other news, yay, Kara! Also, yay, Deena! You handled the news so much better than my parents did.

Hooray for Kara! And I'm delighted for both the girlfriend and the (DUH) wonderfully supportive parenting!

I ordered gifts from the internet today while ltc was out with Mom. I may actually be in good shape this year, and I think I already have too much for ltc. Oops.