I went to my first HOA meeting yesterday. Found out that the emergency fund for the condo complex has been drained with a bunch of unexpected expenses the past few years, so there's a one-time thing where we each have to pay $800 over the course of next year to cover that. Oh well. I guess it's for useful stuff -- most of the expenses had been things like storm damage. (Also, apparently, that hot tub that the previous owners of my unit had on the back deck? It violated the HOA rules, and the HOA had to sue to get them to remove it, and there were $5000 of legal expenses there.)

And I just met the person who's just moving into one of the units across the street from me, and she seems nice. She graduated from nursing school a few years ago.

Bad books, eh? Was it Twilight or 50 Shades? Going Rogue? Art of the Deal?

Worse! Although I probably would have said something if it were Art of the Deal! Spoiler font to not offend Close, one was Fifty Shades Darker, and the other was an astrology thing called Sex Signs. Sigh.

HOA stuff is often fraught, but being involved helps. Yay for nice neighbors! I love seeing you free from the evil landlord.

Ick books. Relationships with family members significant others or significant other's family is sometimes more complicated than it should be.

I just feel bad that I am having a hard time finding her likable. I've always gotten along well with his friends, including every one of his ex-girlfriends. They are my FB friends. His friends hug and chat with me when I run into them in a store or whatever. Silence from this one. We ride in the car and B is all animated and conversational on numerous topics, and not a peep from her. It is just a new experience for me. She did friend me on FB, although her stuff is all public anyway, but 99% of what is there is crap, and she posts a lot. I try and find something to like. Sigh.

Those hardly qualify as Real Books. (haughty sniff) Unlikable girl, I look down upon thee for thy taste.

My nephew is getting married at the end of the month and it's a semi formal event. I have been looking EVERYFUCKINGWHERE for a dress that is appropriate and (hopefully) somewhat flattering. I was willing to pay up to, I dunno, 60 bucks for such a garment. I'd about given up when I made a trip to the local Dress Barn and found an adorable dress which is comfy, just dressy enough, fits perfectly and, due to the magic of the double discount, cost $21! I KNOW RIGHT.

That's some kind of sorcery there, Scrappy. Well done!

I don't remember if I mentioned last summer that Tim's niece (the one who's a Buffista spirit baby) low-key came out as (in her words) "Just basically queer all the way around" -- genderqueer and pansexual. So Tim came out to her, and they've been a nice family support to each other (although Tim isn't really out to much of his family).

And that's the short backstory to say: she's going to Pride with us today, which is really fantastic. (Less fantastic is that I woke up with a bit of a migraine because of the weather, but I'm throwing drugs and coffee at it. Begone, migraine.)

Well done, Scrappy!

Be gone migraine!

I'm trying to get some motivation happening, and it isn't. Maybe a shower?

Happy Birthday, Teppy!

Happy Birthday, askye!

(I feel like I should have known/remembered you share a birthday.)

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

It's not super jump scary. It's more meta-narrative tropes.

Emily, I watched it, because of Joss and Drew Goddard. I get that they were supposedly trying to satirize the slasher genre, but I walked away wishing I hadn't bothered.

It is ultra-gory. I don't know that I think they truly satirized it as much as they simply played in the sandbox. I can't remember if I thought there were jump scares, though.

It's been a long time, but it seems to me a lot of reviewers liked it (or at least liked it in the context of what it is). I remember thinking they just got roofied by Whedon and Goddard's gift for dialogue.