Tom it sounds like going to the class is a very healthy positive thing. I hope you enjoy it!

Tom, you're more important to you than your father is. You take care of you. I'm appropriately jealous of you.

I need to find a "how to draw" class, myself. Fuck this shit.

This weekend Ben turns fifteen

Wow! Grown!

Tom, that's a shitload of stressful stuff, but I'm glad you've stuck to your boundaries w/r/t visiting your dad.

It's Friday! What are people doing this weekend?

Graduation party for a friend tomorrow night, involving massive quantities of Indian food and bourbon; Super Bowl at my mom's Sunday (mostly for the food and wine).

Apparently gluttony is the theme of my weekend.

Ben is not fifteen. Amy is a liar who lies. I know for a fact that he was JUST an elementary school student like yesterday.

ION, TOM SCOLA FUCKING ROCKS! Like, seriously! Taking the class because it is something you like and enjoy!! FUCK YEAH! I remember when I would ask you point blank what was something that you liked and you COULD NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER!

Your dad's health is going to be complicated on a ton of levels for you and it won't get easier as he gets older and/or sicker. It is MONUMENTAL to take time for yourself and say, "Self, I want to do this. It will be good for me and I FUCKING deserve to do something I enjoy."

Bravo, sir. BRAVO!

My feelings towards my Dad are ambiguous and complicated, to say the least.

I thought of that, Tom. My father was quite ill the last eight years of his life and was really pathetic in the last two years. He made our lives a living hell for years, but once he was so sick, my mom thought she had to take care of him. I was torn between hate and pity, which is an uncomfortable combination. I really just wanted him to die, but I felt guilty about it. I haven't missed him for a moment.

Let me know if you'd like to talk with someone who thinks that "Oh, shit, I'm going to miss the class" is a perfectly understandable response.

Oh, Tom, that is SO WISE of you. You will rock the class.

I'm so looking forward to Tom's pictures from the class.

Ben is not fifteen. Amy is a liar who lies.

He's so tall, though! And totally in high school. ::nods::

msbelle is wise. No shock there.

Ben is not fifteen. He is Glory. Right? No way he could be fifteen.

My fifteen year old is spending the snow day watching movies with a girl. A girl I haven't met yet (K-Bug has). I am SO not ready for this.

This weekend includes staying home Saturday, maybe venturing to the dojo depending on the snow levels. Sunday we are going over to a friends for the Super Bowl. Again, hopefully their neighborhood will be plowed by then. At least K-Bug's new car has 4-wheel drive.

This weekend: Saturday-skating, work, going to a friend's birthday party. Sunday-skating, buying the rest of the supplies for THE NEW PUPPY ARRIVING NEXT WEEK, going to the movies with friends.