Welcome Calvin! More Babies in our midst.

Welcome Calvin! Congratulations, Gris!

Oh, Gris... you ARE going to get him a Hobbes, aren't you?

You have to.

Seconded!

And much love and congratulations to you and your DW, Gris, and felicitations to Calvin on landing himself such a sweet familial gig. And your poor DW -- 8 lbs 7 and breech is a big bucket of no fun. If the hospital can recommend anyone, get someone to come in and give her a postnatal massage. She's more than earned it.

That's got to be a very hard conversation, both to have and to anticipate, Suela. Vibing much strength, steadiness and virtual single malt to you.

And sarameg, I'm so glad your SIL has your family.

And many good thoughts to Connie's housemate.

Also, from way back, but sumi's brother is still kind of a butt.

Re: heat -- when I lived in DC, I kept it at 60 when I wasn't home, about 68 when I was home during the winter. Summer, 75 when not home, 72 or so when I was. Here in CT, the thermostat is set at 70, I don't adjust when I leave because 1)the thermostat is wonky so I'm afraid to adjust and 2)it's upstairs in the loft, so that means stairs every time I come in and leave. Eff that.

GRISDADDY! Congratulations! Isn't it just yesterday you all started dating?!

sarameg, what an awful situation for your SIL. People are just plain awful sometimes.

We left the beach in Jamaica because it got cold, and that was when it got close to 82 or so. Oh. My. If it's 69 on Memorial Day here, I'm in the water. (OMG, SQUEE, I'm almost in a size 10!!! I am going to splurge on SUCH A ROCKIN' SUIT for this summer!)

If you go to Jamaica this summer, ita !, you should take me as your PA. I'll schlepp bags and bring you drinks and be a cabana girl, and we can look at weapons and drink coffee and rum and talking about ways to effectively incapacitate an opponent! And I'll write some articles, and it will be a tax-deduction! This is THE BEST PLAN EVER! For, um, me.)

My close cadre of friends are all talking about an en masse trip to Jamaica or Mexico in 2013. Several people went to resorts there for their honeymoons, and I am so jealous. I certainly wouldn't turn my nose up at Mexico, but I REALLY want the Jamaica thing to pan out.

If it does -- and people are serious, we're starting to talk money and saving and times -- it would have to be summer, since so many of my friends are teachers -- I would love to pick your brain, ita !. I'm SO ok with a resort, but I like to SEE a place too, and you really don't get that with a resort vaca.

Jilli, darling, you have NO twee worries. Zero. Nada.

There are times that I fear I come off like ZD.

Nope. Not twee.

Oh, Sarameg. Your poor SIL. Does this at least mean that she'll never have to talk to her parents again?

She'll keep trying, so she can tell her kids she did. It's hard, but something I love her for. She got the NASTIEST insane letter from her mom last year, and personally, she's written them off. But for her boys, she keeps trying, just without her whole heart in it. She's the fucking grownup here.

I had my first guitar lesson, tonight. I know an A chord and an E chord, and I have an assload of homework and my fingers hurt.

I've been up since 5:30. However, not a productive up. A "why the fuck didn't I take the decongestant last night" up. Uhhhhg. Need to get moving.

I'm creeped out by Nunya purring and staring at me like a piece of meat. "Yeah, I want to snuggle that."

This has been going on for days!

I feel so cheap.

I'm wondering if the increased heating bill would be worth not being molested by my cat.