{{{sj}}}

I pay for our utilities with a check, because the last time I had it on autopay ConEd stole accidentally charged us $10k and took 6 months to pay it back. I could pay online but I want an actual paper trail because I don't trust them.

Yikes!

jeeeesus christ.

OMG, Jess. Your monopoly is worse than my monopoly.

I've been reading...and meaning to go back and respond to stuff, but it's pretty clear that's not going to happen. Please take it as read that I had the appropriate responses to everything, and I've been thinking of you all.

I am off work today because I took yesterday off due to a head cold. So I had to COVID test and can't return to work until my results come back. But after they sent the "we got your test!" email, the sample leaked and they cancelled the test BUT DIDN'T TELL ANYONE. So, no work for me today.

I'm DebetEsse in terms of reading-not replying. Have been sending love and ~ma to many people, in my head, anyway.

I haven't written a check in ... over a year? I pay everything electronically, but only some on auto-pay, because that way lies madness (for me).

Also, Jessica, WTFF?! My surprise at learning that was a utility? None. I have zero surprise.

Gentle hugs and ~ma to ltc and to her mom, who deserves a break.

I started a new job today! Front desk at a physical rehab clinic, and it turns out it's pretty much exactly like my old job but with different software. So, not too tough. And I'll be working at the clinic closer to me, which just opened last summer, and with MY physical therapist (for the shoulder surgery), who is a great guy, and 100% endorsed me applying.

It will much quieter over there, which is the speed I need right now.

My surprise at learning that was a utility? None. I have zero surprise.

ConEd is pretty good at delivering gas and electricity, and totally shit at everything else. They've been incorrectly billing customers in our area for well over a year now with no signs of stopping. (We now monitor our reported usage to the penny and call them if anything seems even a little bit off.)

Escape rooms in theory sound fun to me, but I'm self aware enough to know that timed puzzle solving would hit my anxiety buttons. Now if escape rooms had a bar and a live camera feed so you could watch the people in the room, I'd send Mr. Loomy into one and watch the chaos.

I wrote a giant 5-figure check for our car, and I was a little shocked it was that easy. Like, if I'm giving you $30K, don't you want it as a certified check at the very least? But apparently no. I can just write a personal check like I'm paying for Girl Scout cookies (which are almost as expensive as a new car) and they give me a car in exchange. Very weird experience.

I'm self aware enough to know that timed puzzle solving would hit my anxiety buttons.

Escape rooms would hit my anxiety buttons AND my extremely-competitive-oh-god-I-HAVE-to-win buttons at the same time. That is a terrible combo. So no escape rooms for me.