Lo

I was keeping my WI driver hate to myself, but then on Wednesday a chick rear-ended me a good five seconds after I came to a complete stop. I was too amazed to even be upset. The car & I are largely okay, though it does need some repair. Apparently this sort of thing is now "small stuff." Woohoo! - Lo

One time a guy dressed in black ran across the road right in front of me while it was snowing heavily. Usually the pedestrians just cross while texting without even looking at the lights, which does not mix well with the local custom of driving into the center of the intersection & waiting before turning left. Sometimes the light turns green and you just have to wait 30 seconds for everyone to move. After 5 years in California, this kills me. - Lo

no the best are bike riders at night all in black with no lights who glare at me when I flick the high beams because i can barely see them.... #MNdriverstoo - WarLord

We miss you, Lo! - Jenny

Yay!! - Heather

I seriously can't believe I lasted this long without internet. My laziness is almost an art form. - Lo

I was a hobo, I found a calling, I met so many new friends, saw so many old friends, danced in at least 10 states - alone, with strangers, with friends, in the rain, snow, hail, in front of the Capitol, under the redwoods, around the world's largest covered wagon. I went to Frederick Douglass' house, and Lincoln's, and Mary Carmen's, I learned to make killer cheesecake and how to drive in the snow. I realized that I never stopped being in love with the One Who Got Away, and then he became The One I Got Back. What a year... - Lo

Good for you, Lo!! I hope 2011 is even better for you...if that's possible! - Harold Cabezas

Try me. :) - Ha3rvey (on hiatus)

There are others... own your crazy, what other people think of you is none of your business, the best investment is in yourself, second best is friends, common sense is just that - common & often worthless, being responsible is overrated, most people base all their decisions on fear & that's dumb, it's great to be useless, hang out with people who aren't like you, tolerance is good but some people are not worth your time, and lots of things I realized about myself but are probably true for most people. - Lo

I don't think a kid would do this :-P - Eivind

*pops nitro pills and runs in thigh-deep snow* - Big Joe Silenced

Oh, and I finally talked to my knows-whats-going-on roommate, and am less worried about my missing roommate. We're following up, but it seems likely he's in India with family. - Lo

TWSS! ...wait, that doesn't really work in this context. - Big Joe Silenced

I feel like a huge ass, because I remember the first night he didn't come home, and thought "that's odd." He came home late, but he always came home. Then I forgot all about it, thinking about my life, and it took me a month to realize "wait a minute..." - Lo

This was back when we were poor-student enough such that it only made sense to have a single land-line in the house. It seems odd to think back about how paranoid we were about losing phone connectivity via a land-line. Of course, back then, it was my only connection to the (pre-www) Internet (yes, we capitalized Internet back then), so maybe that was it. I had a lot of MUDing to do. Today, I'd be more pissed about a $900 phone bill than about how it would get paid, but then, my Internet connectivity isn't by phone line anymore, and everyone in this house (other than the baby, I guess) has a cell phone they're responsible for. - Andy Bakun

In related news, it is COLD. And there is lots of snow everywhere. Driving in it is not so bad as I feared, and my new warm coat seems to be doing the job nicely. - Lo

\m/ - Eivind

Excellent! - RAPatton

And today there was a ton of free food. Huzzah! - Lo

I am thankful on Thanksgiving this year :D - Lo

Fantastic! - Heather

Fun-tastic! - RAPatton

I'll do it for science. - Lo

I'd try that. - Bren

The cake was an abject failure (pastry cream disaster), but I invented Boston Creme Bites instead. I'm pleased with the outcome. Though I still want to try a bloody version of BCP and call it "Tea Party Pie." - Lo

If this goes well, pastries for FFeeps for the holidays! - Lo

Awesome Lo keep the positive attitude, although i'm guessing the end result being eclairs helps with that :) - Steve C, Team Marina

So today was actually the big day, and holy cow was it a disaster. Still, I'm pleased, because although I did not get to do pastries, and I didn't finish all the stuff on my list, I did finish more stuff than I've ever done in a day before. Our poor head baker though, he did not have a good day, and looked all dejected when we left. Apparently the pastries didn't work out. But I have the day off tomorrow, woohoo! - Lo

Maybe I'll take the tao approach & just wait for a coat to come into my life. I actually have tons of hoodies & jackets, needing another was just peer pressure. I waited on buying boots, and someone just offered me some free this morning :D - Lo

At this point, I'm starting to suspect that they are deliberately trying to make sure that I never order from them again. And this all started with an e-mail where they said they missed me as a customer. Having been in customer service, it always pains me to see failures like this happen. *facepalm* - Lo

Failures like what? You still haven't told the story. - Brad Greer

I had chronic dry hands when I was a barista. Slather your hands in petroleum jelly right before bed and put old socks over them. Moisturizes while you sleep. - Jenny

yes! i used greasy hand lotion/salves and cotton gloves when my hands were dry and cracking from chemo. they totally worked. - kendrak

The best thing I've ever found is Dermalogica's multivitamin hand & nail treatment. It doesn't make your hands feel chapped after washing, locks in the moisture and promotes nail growth. Not cheap but you only use a dot of it. I'd go with the petroleum jelly, if on a tight budget. 2nd best is creative Cucumber Heel therapy. - Gabrielle

Cool, I was planning on trying gloves while sleeping, but old socks I have already. Thanks! - Lo

In related news, I set a new personal record for "most chocolate on pants" - Lo

Technically Sunday is my Monday, but yes... last Monday was the low point of my week, and tomorrow will be better for sure. There will be more of us, and the nicer coworkers, and it's hump day, and I think I finally learned my lesson about how not to deal with the boyfriend tonight. Thanks, Val <3 - Lo

My only real concerns at this point are repetitive-motion problems that could make working impossible, and getting fired for being too slow. Overall, it's great, and I'm glad to have one thing working out in my life - family, living situation, recovery program, finances, and preparing for winter are all in total disarray. On the other hand, I am feeling pretty serene about it all, which is mind-boggling huge progress for me. - Lo

Good for you, Lo. Getting through adversity with a smile on your face is one of the best character traits you could possibly have. - Jenny

Remove the onions and add lots of chocolate. - OCoG of FF, Jimminy

Cinnamon, brown sugar, more salt & pepper, tons of garlic is what I added... hilariously there is no nutmeg in the house for some reason. I'm wondering if maybe a little coffee would be good in there, but I'm a bit nuts when it comes to food. Maybe I'll fiddle with the leftovers. - Lo

(I'm not supposed to buy any candy, stipulation of the baking project) - Lo

My first step was going to be putting little samples of all the candy on parchment paper & putting them into the oven to see what happens. Now I'm afraid this box of Dots I got at the bank is going to be all I have! - Lo

:( - Heather

I saw it at the LIBRARY. - Lo

*collapses into bed* - Lo

Bonus: since I had orientation on Monday, I have to leave early tomorrow so I don't work more than 40 hours. I should get to do something fun for Halloween. :D - Lo

Fight through it - RAPatton

I have had many first days of jobs, and this was the best. - Lo

Awesome! Good to hear you like it. - Heather

Our girl is growing up. - Derrick

Aren't you a baker now? I thought they got up around 4 AM? - Eivind

Today is orientation, E. But baking is from 1-9pm anyway. I'm excited, I thought I'd have to get up early too, and I hate early. - Lo

She had to fly the nest sometime D. I just hope she remembers to call. - MoTO Boychick Devil

The prize is baked goods of your choice. To be mailed to you, but please allow 6 - 8 weeks for me to get around to it. - Lo

I HAVE A DREAM that one day chocolate and vanilla will come together in cake, both hard and soft, both light and heavy. And this cake will be the greatest cake mankind has ever tasted. This cake will united all people with it's deliciousness. - Sarah (or SCarla)

Hey, I like pie! - Johnny

Congratulations from this Lo! :) - LoisMarketing

I've been on a baking hiatus since the Cakepocalypse on Thursday. I really do have a problem; I'm all itchy for lack of baking. But who cares if I'm an addict, because CAKE BITES!!! NOM - Lo

I had to break for the night - baked myself to sleep - but got up early & baked myself awake. Houston, we have cake! Now it cools while I go meet sponsor. - Lo

Context: I'm to take a searching & fearless moral inventory, and I choose the format. I gave an example trait about myself, and my sponsor asked, "how is that moral?" I realized... I have no idea what it even means anymore. So my assignment is to ask people & look up definitions until something seems right. - Lo

So in case anyone was wondering, and since this project is due tomorrow morning... most people said roughly the same thing, which is things you did were immoral if you feel bad/sick remembering them. When I first got sober, there were lots of examples, but I've worked really hard to make my peace with all of them. I have come to the conclusion that I grew up with a byzantine system of self-imposed rules largely based on what others expected of me (or thought I did). Since I have tried to completely reject the ideas of right & wrong and erase them from my thinking (for my own sanity & as suggested therapy), I was left wondering just how I decide what to do. Because I haven't just turned into a huge asshole. Apparently my current "moral" system is all about results, i.e. what is practical. If something is likely to lead to a result I don't want, I don't do it. If something I do has a result that makes me or someone else feel very bad needlessly, I don't do it again. For my moral inventory, I think I may end up both cataloging the morals forced on me as a child, and then looking forward, the things that are most harmful and most rewarding to me now - without being so rigid about them. Thanks for playing, and stay tuned for my 4th-step-induced craziness! - Lo

<3 - Derrick

OMG, Sarah. I totally failed at replying to your letter, and then you called me. You're a good friend. Sorry I've been MIA, but shit gets overwhelming sometimes. I'll try to talk to you soon. But I really appreciated your message! I hope you're well, *hugs* - Lo

good luck! - Sir Shuping is just sir

Amen to that, Sir Shuping. Plus I find cookies to be tastier than currency. #IAmLizLemon - Lo