1. Got my divorce papers in the mail yesterday. Now I've got to sign them, take them to the court house to file, and get this ball rolling. Just want it over with, to be honest.

2. Stress from everything is taking it's toll on me, physically. I am home sick today, actually.

3. Just got word that my union and company finally have an agreement; we are not going on strike (not that anyone wanted it - it was a pissing contest between my union leader and the company). Thank God. I think it was a major contributor to #2 above!

1. Last day at work. Furloughs start tomorrow and I'm off until January 4. I honestly have no idea what to do with myself and think I will probably go crazy with boredom.

2. Looking forward to seeing the family, but dread-dread-dreading the flight and airport time.

3. Can't think of anything to buy for my dad, and I only have $20 to spend, and I'm really stressing about it.

3. Can't think of anything to buy for my dad, and I only have $20 to spend, and I'm really stressing about it.

Does he do iPod stuff? $20 worth of iTunes?

1. I've finally set the process in motion to give my dead car a decent burial; got the big old-fashioned stationwagon 8 years ago to accommodate my semi-disabled wife who since left me and my big dog who died soon after and I recently ran it into the ground driving it to LA to help out my dad who I'm no longer speaking to. So if the memories are all bad, why do I not want to give them up?

2. Operation Ignore the Holiday Season Altogether is going well, after a rocky start (that was probably misplaced sentimentality like #1). So don't expect a SecretQuonsar from me because I'm not expecting one from anybody. Priority is finishing LAST YEAR'S spring cleaning by the time this awful decade ends and then putting some thought into how to use my deteriorating creative skills in 2010. New website? Maybe, but NOTHING BLOGGY. And I may actually get back the .com domain name that goes with this nick, which I lost at about the same times as wife & dog.

3. Beautiful weather, sunny and getting up to 72°F, 22°C, one thing I love about this area, even if the local agriculture needs a lot more rain for me to have reasonably priced avocados, strawberries and broccoli... and wine. Nice to go to a locally owned supermarket and get really good produce AND Fritos and Kix cereal and Hebrew National hot dogs.

1. I am not enjoying this day.
2. I am not enjoying this week.
3. I am not enjoying this month.

But thanks for the Christmas cards.

1. At my son's preschool, they had slips on a holiday tree to give gifts for local children of refugees, I took one. I ordered a girl's coat online, and then nervously sat on my hands for a week wondering if it would come in time. It did, and I delivered it right into the hands of the woman loading up her station wagon with gifts for wrapping. Yay!

2. First case of actual, real live food poisoning Tuesday night. I have never experienced anything like this before, and hope to never again. Don't ever betray me again, food!

3. just found out that yet another friend is moving. I live in a transient town, in a much more transient world. I know I should try to enjoy the moment, but it is hard.

1. Got back from our first vet visit with the new pup. She's in fine health, and the vet was great with her. Despite his old school casual sexism, I think I am gonna stick with him.
2. For some reason, couldn't sleep last night, despite being exhaustion. As a result, I am cranky and a bit spacey today.
3. It's a nice day in Chapel Hill.

1. Wish I was wherever oneswellfoop is. Here it's 18°F, -8°C, wind-chill factor making it much worse.

2. Wearing to work today my newly knitted sweater. Nice and warm.

3. Just returned from company holiday party; am not used to eating so much sugar. Will be very hard to stay awake for the rest of ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz

1. Hating this new medication I'm on. I'm nauseous and hungry at the same time. wtf?

2. Just had a major office overhaul with one person moving out and two moving in. Strangely enough, there's more room in here.

3. Half day tomorrow!

The whole of NL ground to a halt because of the 'heavy snow' (quote from newspaper).
That's risible to the expats from Canada and Wyoming I talked to today.
The snow is between 2 and 10 centimeters (1 - 4 inch)!

1. Saw An Education last night. Lots of animated discussion between wife and I. It's rather cringe-inducing.

2. Coming up on my first 3-month melanoma follow-up. Running into people, I am usually on the fence whether to mention this or not. I have gained 5 pounds in the past month which is 1) a bummer, and 2) good news that nothing seriously pathological is going on in my body, for now. At least in my own assessment.

3. Had a dream last night in which Ardiril's name appeared a name tag that I had picked up for a conference I was attending. Weird.

1. Two bad calls at work today. They yelled. The first one gave me a headache and the second one made me cry. I'm not even sorry you have a rectovaginal fistula, you mean lady!

2. The boy is making FISH PIE tonight, which is AWESOME!

3. I'm wearing my big stompy knee-high Doc Martens boots, which make me feel nice.

1. Panic has abated for the time being.

2. Got myself an isolated cabin in the mountains for the next two weeks (oddly no cell reception there but cabin has satellite internet) where I plan to write, read and contemplate stuff. It's also a gorgeous place so I plan to do some winter hiking and get quality outdoor time.

3. So looking forward to this soul sucking year being over.

1. Hard to focus on end of program stuff like working out the finances etc.

2. Behind on everything and in denial about it.

3. Wishing everyone here going through rough time/holiday season/month/year some good luck and warm thoughts. I really, really mean it. You might think me a lil hippie chick, but I mean it. All the best to your heart, soul and families.

1. I have another sinus headache, I've had so many recently I've lost count

2. Feeling rather blergh, in part because of #1, not sure why otherwise

3. Today is the mister's last day at work for 14 days, yay!

1. Big company re-org stuff coming down. Hopefully I can surf through it.

2. Company holiday party tonight which should be interesting in light of #1 above.

3. Got invited to a New Years Party at a restaurant that's about 500 feet from home which will be nice for not having to drive home. City life is worth it sometimes.

Baking a ham.
Still a bit foggy at noon:30.
My son and his girlfriend are know-it-all idiots.

1. Took Smooshie the Cat to the vet yesterday because he has been eating less, losing weight, and not grooming. Based on his symptoms and elevated calcium levels when he was last tested in August, the vet feels pretty confident that it is lymphoma and that he's only got maybe a few months to live. He took blood tests to re-check his calcium level, and if it has increased since August he feels that's definitive. I will get the test result tomorrow. Poor Smooshie is only 6 years old, and it's not fair to him that he is sick. I am very sad.

2. Car was making a scary noise so I rented a car yesterday to drive to court many miles from home. Today I took the car in and the noise is mysteriously gone. Glad the car is fine, bummed that the rental car was a waste of money. I suspect the culprit was a branch or something that was stuck under the car somewhere but eventually loosened and fell off/out.

3. Sneezing all day, scratchy throat, post nasal drip, runny noise... This does not bode well.

3. just found out that yet another friend is moving. I live in a transient town, in a much more transient world. I know I should try to enjoy the moment, but it is hard.

pinky_p, I know just how you feel. I live in a college town and many of my friends are post docs on two-year fellowships. I have had to say goodbye to a lot of people, and it does suck.

Oh amro, I am so sorry. Smooshie has been one of my favourite MeCha cats (along with Whitey Ford and Bob) since I first saw his picture.

Yeah, very sorry about Smooshie.

Thanks essexjan and JanetLand. He is truly one of the sweetest, gentlest souls I have ever known.

And I only adopted him a year and a half ago! Too soon!

just found out that yet another friend is moving.
Is this a common friend of ours, pinky.p?

1) My life over the past three weeks has revolved around my lack of heat. Today I reached a new low, breaking down crying on the phone with two different home warranty people AND a set of different contractors.

2) I'm going on vacation tomorrow, but I'm having a hard time even looking forward to it. I suspect that once I'm at the airport I'll chill out and be able to relax.

3) My car didn't cost $1,000. It cost $930. So at least there's that.

*whuffles for Smoochie*

1. Board meeting tonight. I am dreading it because I bet there will be yelling. I don't like yelling.

2. It is the weekend. I'm glad for this because I've just been feeling very burnt out. Even though I have no reason to be burnt out because I have an easy job, I only work 32 hours a week, and I just had a week off last month because of my back. Fuck.

3. It's probably pretty pathetic that all I want to do is sit at home and play my zills and jingle my scarf. Goddamnit. I do not have the money to be all into a new hobby.

3a. Thinking about seeing about a census gig for the few hours I'm not at the library. That's probably a bad idea.

1. Local maker of groovy dichroic glass pendants that we sell in the museum shop just stopped by and gave us each one! Yay!

2. Does my boss' lack of planning constitute an emergency on my part? You bet it does! I'll be here a while tonight before I go to the grocery store, oh holiday joy.

3. I have no heat either - crazy boiler guy is crazy! Who knows when I will get a new boiler! Maybe never! - and I'm dreading the electric bill when it comes. Fortunately my house is insanely well insulated, so two electric space heaters keep it cozy.

I'm dreading the electric bill when it comes

That's my major issue, too.

1. Something fantastic happened, something I've been waiting literally decades for, and my best friend ruined my joy by telling me that it happened because she "prayed really hard."

2. Our oldish rescued Boston Terrier has started dropping random turds around the house when she runs and plays.
2b. My husband has vetoed the cat we were going to adopt because the dogs have become a lot of work.

3. I've been sanitizing my hands a lot lately because I've been picking up turds (not with my bare hands) and discovered that I really, really love the smell of alcohol. LOVE.

1) Me, hubby and the Sprout got our H1N1 shots today. I hate shots but I didn't cry and it didn't hurt much. Actually the kid hasn't had his yet - my doctor gave us his dose "to go" and my close friend who is a doctor will stop by later and slip it to him. A house call! I am very grateful to her for sparing him a doctor's office visit.

2) I've had a headache for 3 days now and I am ready for it to be gone. Supposed to go to a holiday party tonight but I feel sort of lumpy and unattractive and not very festive so I might not. But I should as it's always better to go forth and do things rather than stay home.

3) I'm working freelance for 2 days next week! My old company occasionally calls me to do interesting things and next week they're sending me on a fun assignment. That means that I make some easy money, I get to step away from my life as a mom and I get a little time to myself when traveling and working. YAY!!!

1) Insanely hot day yesterday has morphed into rain and cool southerly breezes, and I am DAMN happy about it.

2) Taking my mother out to her doctors appointment - they're measuring her up for her second cataract operation. Hope it goes as well as the first.

3) Staying overnight at my parents to get up at some insane time in the morning help mum at her Christmas market stall. Not looking forward to that at all.

Sorry to hear about Smooshie, amro :( Poor kitty.

1. Just got back from my Thursday bridge game. another great score. Me and my partner (of many years) have just hit a streak where we are playing really well together.

2. I am ready for my hacking cough of a month or so to be OVER thank you very much.

3. Super-envious of special-k's cabin in the woods.

Oh, amro! I'm so sorry to hear about Smooshie. Here's hoping he defies expectations and comes through it okay. He's an awesome cat.

1. Just got home after working late and then doing some errands.

2. I'm now off work until after Xmas! Yay!

3. Have to take partner to the doctor tomorrow so he can get a shot IN HIS SPINE*. It's creeping me out lots more than it is him.

*cortisone shot for a pinched nerve that's had him barely able to walk for the last month. He's looking forward to the relief.

1. Shit sucks. I and 5 others will be the only people kept on at my company from my whole 350 person office. I feel lucky to be kept but also worried about the tremendous new workload and also somewhow complicit and guilty though I only knew 5 min earlier than everyone else because the prez called the few us in to say "ignore what you're about to hear."

2. See above. Also I have to stay late to work, and certainly can't ask anyone for help right now.

3. Anxiety is already causing me stomach and skin problems. I'm a delight!

Poor Smooshie. ヽ(~-~(。。 )ゝ

1. We've had 3 biggish quakes over the last 10 hours - not enough to do damage or anything but enough to go "whooooah". They've come from two different places and were much bigger closer to the epicentre. What is making me nervous is that I'm a tad paranoid that we are going to get one in between those big ones - which would be Tokyo. This would be a Bad Thing.

2. I hope my glasses can be fixed cheaply and quickly, working on the computer without them is making me a bit headachy which isn't much like me at all.

3. I've been getting more snuggles from the small human lately and I like that very much. Even with extra boogers.

1. Sitting in a teleconference where I understand <10% of the items being discussed. Phone is on mute, I'll just sit here and listen lest I display my ignorance.

2. Lots more Christmas shopping to do, not enough time.

3. Boss's boss invited me up for Christmas drinks this afternoon. Would rather dig my eyes out with a fork, but when he says 'jump' I say 'yes sir, how high?'.

3b. Just found out that, if you type < then 10% in the comment box (as above in point 1), it does some weird 'hide the rest of the text thing' on preview.

1. Wimpdork tomorrow!!!
2. 'Graduation' from Cornell on Saturday!!
3. Flying to Atlanta on Monday!

1. Had a stupidly-super productive afternoon: Called and got my 401k rollover process started (which I've been meaning to do for a year and a half), called and got the internet phone appointment scheduled (which I've been meaning to do for three weeks), called and figured out that the auto body repair place will negotiate with the car insurance company so that I can stop worrying that their two estimates do not match (which I've been wrestling with/procrastinating on since August), called and made sure the insurance company would cover a car rental for the time when my car was in the shop, called a bunch of my clients who have flaked, canceled, or no-showed in the past few weeks and got all of them scheduled for the next few weeks, called another client whose child has been self-harming and checked in with her about that, began the process of tracking down an old old old 401k from a company that's no longer in business, discovered in that process that I have some small amount of unclaimed money being held by the state of Massachusetts and started the process for claiming that, cleaned up some of the papers that had accumulated from all those various administrative tasks, gave the cat a bath, went to the gym, AND just made a pretty gold-ribbon bow for the wreath on our front door. Given that I hate talking on the phone and was totally exhausted when I got up today, I'm rather impressed with myself.

2. Planning on making a very meat-centric dinner this evening that will include flank steak as well as a spinach salad with blue cheese and bacon. I'm in anticipatory-yum mode.

3. Cat seems to have just about forgiven me for the bath.

Is this a common friend of ours, pinky.p?

nope, Stew. a friend of mine from my regular playgroup whose husband took a job in another state. Add this to 1) the PhD friend who finished in record time and is really looking forward to relocating, 2) the MLS friend who will likely move to CA in May, 3) the mom friend who wants to move closer to her family in So. Carolina, and I am glum.

(((amro & smooshie)))

I am looking at my last reply with Metafiltered eyes and just want to say that "regular playgroup" does not mean anything kinky.