given the backstory that was included, making the reunion part of a performance piece seems to fit their relationship

Fitting the relationship, sure. Affecting, no. There's nothing about that that speaks to me, and the fact that they're doing it for other people makes it so much less likely to affect me.

That's the artifice--his choice to make it a performance piece, instead of whatever normal people do in that circumstance.

Well, they are both performance artists, right? I'm not saying he couldn't have just called one day, but that's not their deal.

I'm also not saying I get or really care about performance art as a thing.

That's not how HSAs are supposed to work--they're supposed to roll over. The point is that you could in theory be saving all that cash as a young person so that you'll have it for those high deductibles as an old person

FSAs are different though.

Well, they are both performance artists, right? I'm not saying he couldn't have just called one day, but that's not their deal.

Not everyone's real experience touches me. Being real isn't enough to hit me. An also calculated minimal "poignant" interaction leaves me completely cold, and that's just as valid as Hec being touched by it, surely?

Apparently people got way smashed at the bars they went out to on Friday. I don't know how to express how much I'm not getting drunk around co-workers (unless they're the chick from my school, but yardie trumps all) and the tale of the drunk guy literally picking up the smallest developer on the team squicks me to no end...

And I just ditched a meeting with the hope that I was *told* to ditch the meeting--either he told me to not worry about attending, or not worry about editing the presentation--but five minutes before the meeting he must have meant attending...oh, I have no idea. Whatever it is, I'ma just tough it out, because conviction is key. Oh, and edit the hell out of this other presentation. Grammar and pithiness.

If someone looks at my doodles and calls me an artist, is deflecting that seen as annoying fishing for compliments? I just say I'm an enthusiastic doodler, but everyone's responded to that by upping the compliments, and that makes me feel even more self-conscious than before. I need the perfect gracious conversation-killer.

I'm sorry, Amy

How frustrating, le nubian.

I'm spending too much time watching HGTV. Apparently $900,000 is a perfectly reasonable amount to spend on a house for a family of four in the suburbs somewhere. In possibly related news, I may never stop renting.

Calli, just wait it out until you get to the shows in Atlanta, where people are apparently buying huge houses for less than $125K now. Yikes.

I am in Oregon, did my site visit, (tomorrow i get a boat ride!) And now i am considering dinner. The best option appears to be the casino up the road, except aren't they full of smoke?

But the only decent Italian place is closed. Sigh.

The restaurant might not be full of smoke.

Calli, just wait it out until you get to the shows in Atlanta, where people are apparently buying huge houses for less than $125K now.

Yes, exactly!

My parents are addicted to HGTV. Mom tapes every House Hunters International as well as Selling LA and Selling NY. Selling NY is my crack, too. I just sit and stare and drool.

If someone looks at my doodles and calls me an artist, is deflecting that seen as annoying fishing for compliments?

I can doodle, dear. You do a lot more than doodle, even with the pen. You make art on paper, thus you're an artist. Just stop picturing it with a capital A.

Thanks Dana. I never been in a casino, believe it or not! I am both excited & nervous...