I dunno Steph, F2F Vermont sounds pretty good to me.

Word. (also, hi burrell! I miss you!)

When I started school I was half deaf and extremely nearsighted. No one knew about the latter, so I didn't get glasses until 3rd or 4th grade. I think I missed a lot of socialization and cue learning, because I couldn't see or hear a lot of what was going on around me. But I looked "normal," so other kids just assumed I was stuck up and weird. I became the school scapegoat and punching bag for the next six years. I have a lot of blank spots in my memory from that time, and when I asked my mom about them she just shook her head and said that it's just as well I don't remember. In 7th grade I finally got so fed up with things that I took on the biggest bully of the school and fought him to a draw. After that I was invisible until I moved in the summer before 11th grade. That episode of Buffy with the invisible girl? It didn't really resonate because being invisible was the high point of middle-school for me. My last two years of high school were nice—I had friends, went to some parties, did the whole "hanging at the mall" thing. It wasn't a John Hughes movie, but it was enjoyable.

But the whole thing from elementary is part of why I won't be having kids. My spotty memories of what kids are like makes that thought appalling. All the truly delightful kids I've met as an adult haven't been able to change my knee-jerk horror at the thought of living with what my formative experiences of children convinced me they are—bullies or victims.

I'm going to the roller derby in Vermont next weekend! It's The Border Patrol Brawl, featuring the Green Mountain Derby Dames vs. The Montreal Sexpos!

Jealous! I'm going to try to make the WFTDA regional tournament here in Green Bay next week, Thunda on the Tundra to see some top notch derby bouts.

cider donut

Those are SO awesome.

One day I want to go to Steph's brothers brewpub!

Indeed. A couple who are both close friends made it there this spring. They got me a t-shirt as a birthday present (sadly, it's only large, and a rather small large at that, so I can't really wear it at my present girth, but I do like the shirt a lot).

I dunno Steph, F2F Vermont sounds pretty good to me.

Ditto.

Friday! What are people doing for the weekend? Who has three days off?

I am cleaning and running errands and going shopping with Juliana and cleaning some more.

Three days off!! I have no specific plans, but will probably go to the beach and/or movies. It looks like the weather will only be hurricane bad tonight through tomorrow morning, so that's good.

I have three days off!!

Tonight we are going bowling with the future in-laws. Remember the boy Emeline got the pink slip for kissing on the playground? Well, they are best buds and his parents and Joe and I and the kids are going tonight with my Kids Bowl Free coupons.

Tomorrow and the rest of the weekend will be spent painting the rest of the house. Except maybe our bedroom, but I might just paint it anyway. I am being wishy washy.

I have four days off...all my plans are Earl dependent. Tonight I am moving indoors anything that moves. Tomorrow I am planning to visit my parents, leaving either in the morning or the evening, weather permitting.

Three days off...

There will be karate class, a karate demo at Vitamin Cottage, and then being a hermit so I don't spend any money I don't have to.

I just heard that the LIRR has basically shut down because of Earl. WTF? It's not even raining yet!!