Hey Fiona. Happy birthday to your B. That first birthday apart was bittersweet for me, too.

Dana, I'm sorry to hear about the pipe. I hope it's fixed soon and well.

I was taking the day off today, but last night my smoke detector starting beeping. It's got some funkiness that it the battery has to be replaced by maintenance and it is loud AF. Like I had to yank it out and hide it in a closet so I could sleep loud.

FF to this morning when I was sleeping in and for first time in ever, maintenance was on it and banging on my door bright and early. I threw on sweats hoping I could go back to bed when he was done, but then he realized that he needed a ladder. I was like "BRO! If the work order says replace the smoke detector, how do you not realize that it's on the CEILING." So, I had to wait, and wait, and wait. And I had an 11AM call that was supposed to be my only work commitment today, but alas.

This FUCKNUT lying, incompetent, suckup, shittastic cow-worker sent this long whining email about how he couldn't make the customer understand the legal stuff and they wouldn't do what he wanted and since it was "our" fault, "we" needed to fix it. I was like "sweetie, the issue isn't the "legal stuff," it's that you fucked up in November and didn't handle business and when the rubber hit the road now that its February, you suddenly realized that you couldn't just weasel your way into getting the project done. And since Legal requires that shit be done right, you are now behind the 8 ball." I am supposed to be off today, but I knew that if I didn't respond the higherups would believe his crap, so I had to spend 30 minutes crafting just the right email to shut that shit down.

But, I have a job and I'm comfortable, so I know that I am very lucky in so many respects. And I am very lucky to have a place like this where I am loved and can love on my Buffistas, so how y'all doing?

I'm actually doing OK. I have a job and I'm getting paid on a regular basis (slightly reduced from last year, but they reinstated the 10% that had been cut but kept the increased health insurance contribution). I moved and, while still unpacking, am getting settled. New apartment's an improvement - MUCH better management company and easier commute (no more starting the day with a two-block hike up a steep hill). The issue is that the movers lost/stole/broke a number of things, some dear to me - including an antique majolica pitcher that had been my grandmother's. I had saved up for a year and a half so I was able to pay moving expenses and buy some new furniture.

Hi Vortex! Sorry about the weasel, hope that shutting that shit down brought you some satisfaction, at least. Always a pleasure to see your pixels!

I am doing pretty well, although I have to remind myself of that fairly often as I am apt to feel sorry for myself over the least little thing. But really, at this point my problems are really because I am doing better than I was and now just about have the capacity to deal with things I was formerly throwing up my hands in despair about so they didn't count as problems because they could not be solved. So, I'm good.

Sucks about your cow-orker Vortex! But I have faith you are good at writing “oh no you fucking didn’t but in polite business language” emails.

I am....doing a tiny bit of work. But it shouldn’t be this hard. If I do two more things I think I will log off early. But here I am typing instead of doing one...

Hey Vortex! Sorry that you got no love from the cow-orker, but yes you are well loved here.

I'm good. Absurd stress in all directions, but I am surprisingly Zen about it all, as in it doesn't help to get upset, so whatevs. Got a roof over my head, food in the fridge and a most wonderful DH, so no important complaints. 1/2 vaccinated, so that's cool. Get the 2nd shot the 4th. Youngster DH isn't eligible yet.

Oh wow, Matt -- "good" to have a medical issue?? Good to find it, for sure, at least.

Well, as opposed to it being one of those things that just happens as you get older. As I told my doctor, I expected a slow incremental decline of energy and physical fitness due to aging, but 51 should be a noticeable contrast when compared to my thirties, not to the previous year.

Timelies all!

Happy Birthday Beverly!

We have water!

YAY water!!