it is. a hillbilly conspiracy.

so using megan walker's budget template - 98% of my money is allotted each month on mandatory expenses. I am $200 in the whole each month at this point. Next month, because of COBRA payments that will go to $1900. So my parents want to talk money with me tomorrow. do not like this part of the grown-up thing.

msbelle, is it all just temporary until your NY place sells though?

Oh, ugh, msbelle, it sounds like we have the same budget. I'm very sorry.

Kidisms, West Coast Edition:

Matilda and I were lying in bed cuddling, as I was trying to get her down for a nap. She patted my face lovingly and said, "Mommy, I like that you have hairs in your nose. I don't have any, but maybe when I am a grown-up. Daddy has hairs in his nose but I don't see them because when he lies down he turns over and I only see his back. But I can see your hairs in your nose. They're very pretty. And I like that you have two holes in your nose. They're pretty and lovely. I love them both."

Thanks?

Um. She really has a thing for hair in personal locations, doesn't she?

the cobra is actually more than my monthly costs for the ny place, so once it sells things will get significantly better, but after I pay back all the money I owe my parents for the new house and the car, I will be at zero and still putting out more money than is coming in. It just means I need to go get a new job with benefits sooner rather than later. Taking a month too not think about getting a new job while mac was in school is a luxury I cannot afford.

In the short-term I could think about if I think I could handle keeping one or two kids at my place after school, so like from 2:55 til 6 for money. No idea what going rates around here are for that, but I bet it would more than close the $200 gap I am facing this month.

Ugh, msbelle, that's the worst, when there's nothing to adjust anywhere.

I've had a good day. I got to see Suzi and -t who I hadn't seen in far too long and then the crazy expensive (but perfect looking) fruit people at the farmers market were having a 5 lbs for $5 sale. So I have gorgeous peaches, pluots, and tomatoes for next to nothing.

Yeah, I think we're going to need to work on enforcing boundaries and personal bubbles.

In other random bzuh?: At the birthday party we just came back from, everyone got little gift bags that include a Jungle Fun Fun Pad, a little preschool-level activity booklet full of simple mazes and connect-the-dots tiger cubs and so on, but also including "Mix The Animals" pages, mostly blank sheets with a prompt at the top to encourage the child to do hir own creative work. The prompts are...wrong.

"Daddy Elephant Meets Mommy Zebra. What does their baby look like?" Uh, I don't know, like an abomination unto God?

"Daddy Lion Meets Mommy Monkey. What does their baby look like?" WHAT. THERE IS NO BABY. THERE'S JUST A SATED-LOOKING LION WITH A MONKEY-SIZED LUMP IN HIS GUT, YOU SICK FUCKS.

WTF, Jungle Fun Fun Pad? You make me feel unclean.

WHAT. THERE IS NO BABY. THERE'S JUST A SATED-LOOKING LION WITH A MONKEY-SIZED LUMP IN HIS GUT, YOU SICK FUCKS.

I just snorted iced tea. Bwah! And, you know, very true.

JZ, if it's any consolation, Sara is *still* fascinated by the whole tampon issue, which is sort of unavoidable when you're in a rest area bathroom sharing a stall. So tired of explaining that one.

WHAT. THERE IS NO BABY. THERE'S JUST A SATED-LOOKING LION WITH A MONKEY-SIZED LUMP IN HIS GUT, YOU SICK FUCKS.

Hah! Yes. Let's not teach the childrens wrong things.

Also: I just realized that the Dr. Horrible show that is playing at the Balagan theater here in Seattle is NOT, in fact, just a "we're playing the DVD and you get to sing along!" (which would be awesome and I would totally go to, and was just looking up tickets for), but is instead an entirely new stage-musical adaptation of Dr. Horrible, with new songs and stuff. WTf?!?! Now I'm torn if I want to go see it or not. Hrm. This was opening weekend (so I missed it), and I'll be out of town closing weekend (Labor Day), so my BIRTHDAY is the only day I could see it (Sunday night). Hrmmm...