It's my brother making me sad this Father's Day. Cause every time my dad and I have a civil/friendly exchange, he wants to read stuff into it, like, healing-wise. I just don't see that for us, anymore, which is still a little sad for me, but also I wish I could have some of the time I spent tinkering with that relationship to use for something else.(know what finally helped? this is silly, but I swear, I read "He's Just Not That Into You" and it clicked that it doesn't matter why he can't give people what they need...he can't and there's nothing I can do but go elsewhere, predominantly. I am not chasing anyone to try to hold on ever again. Not friends, not dates(if I ever have another one) and sure as hell not my contracted "extended" family. I'm not even really mad anymore...wish A. could get behind it.

My dad is just not that into...anyone, ever. He should have been a lighthouse keeper who hired a hooker to bake him a meatloaf once a month, really. but, no, have two families, and disappoint all of us...great plan. He is empirically a genius, but you wouldn't know it from the way he acts(or maybe they are like that)

My house is getting there with unpacking stuff. Got all the kitchen boxes unpacked, though there's still a bunch of stuff on the counters as I figure out where everything goes. Steph and Tim came over today to see the new place and help me move a couple things around and put in a new remote control light in the garage.

I think that most of the boxes that I still have left to unpack are books and clothes, so at least those go quickly.

Hil's place is great! The street is quiet and there's lots of trees and she has a front porch AND a back porch (with, inexplicably, 2 doors to it)! And a fireplace! So much room and so cute! And I envy the garage big time.

The previous owners had a hot tub on the back deck. I'm not sure that I want to do that, but at least I know that it's possible to do if I want to.

Yeah, there's plenty of room out there, which is nice.

I'm definitely going to get a table and chairs for the back deck, and maybe a grill. I'm not sure that I'd use a grill often enough to justify that, though. But I like eating outside when it's nice out.

The rain on my skylights sounds kind of cool.

I also really need to get a new couch -- I've had my current one since 2003, and it's really reaching the end of its useful (or comfortable) life, but I think I need to give my credit card a bit of a chance to recover from all the moving expenses, so maybe next year.

Oh, Hil, I know you're vegan (I'm pescatarian) and I want to say I think you'd get a TON of use out of a grill. Other than lifting the top, which might be difficult with physical limitations, the grilling is quick and delicious for veggies, and there's no clean-up really. I live for grilling season when I grill eggplant, squashes, portobello mushrooms etc. all summer long.

I haven't checked in here in a while, but I am thrilled that you love your new place!

erika, your attitude sounds healthier. It's so tempting to try to make a relationship fit a narrative (especially the "healing estranged family members" arc) but that's really not how humans generally work. All you can do is recognize people for who they are. That's... all very inspirational poster talk. I guess I mean "me too, only not quite because my family issues are different, but I hear you and wish to empathize." So there.

Totally unrelatedly, if I really dislike jump scares is it worth it for me ever to see Cabin in the Woods?