We talked about a lot of things, but we never had the best communication when it came to emotions.  I know, on occasion, I hurt you or you felt judged by me.  I wanted to say sorry.  The lack of communication when it came to our feelings was our biggest flaw, not just yours or mine, but us as friends.  I’m sorry for my share.  Truly, I am.

I understand why you cut off communication with everyone after high school.  I was surprised at first but then I thought about it and it made sense, even if I didn’t know all your reasons.  You’ve always been very sensitive and I suppose you wanted to start over fresh.  But if there were any resentments in the decision, I wanted to apologize for my part of things.  I think we were both in positions to hurt each other sometimes, and we never opened up enough to work out what needed to be worked out.

As much as I could, I tried to be a good friend.  I made mistakes, but I tried to be faithful in keeping your secrets and just being there.  I hope you’re doing well, wherever you are, and I hope you’re living for yourself and not to please others.  You’re an intelligent, beautiful girl but I know your confidence is easy to bruise.  Just try not to be unfair to yourself — that’s what I worry about most when I think of you.

No matter what anyone says or what you think, you are wonderful.

Be well, my Silly-Oofa.

I did a web search for Catholic churches because I’m trying to design and build a church with a graveyard for my Sims 3 game. It’s mainly for the graveyard aspect (The Sims doesn’t have religion) because Sim ghosts are awesome. I’m having trouble with the steeple (the roof height affects the entire roof, not just one portion, and it’s a big mess), so I thought maybe a different type of church architecture can look like a church but not include a steeple so that I don’t have to just stick an Egyptian obelisk on top and hope my Sims don’t notice the difference.

I came across this post about a guy who coached a Catholic kids team in Chicago and had to go through a program that focused half its efforts on preventing child molestation. Which reminded me of the time I was asked to undergo a background check to be an assistant for a babies’ Bible class.

Most people, when asked, will say “Oh, background checks are a great idea!”

Until they’re asked to submit to one.

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In America, the tendency is to think “Raw fish? Ew!” As a woman who’s been taught to fear raw chicken and raw beef and raw, well, anything, I felt it unlikely that I would enjoy raw fish when a friend suggested we go to our local sushi restaurant.

That was over a year ago, and Alex and I have since bought a “make sushi at home” book and introduced my brother to a local sushi place.

Just today I got a tuna/salmon roll with avacado, five types of caviar, crunchies, and spicy mayo (hold the extra seaweed) for $13 and ate each sweet messy piece with my fingers by stuffing it into my mouth and just savoring (I looked like a moron — it was great).

Here’s the thing my brother and his wife commented on after we introduced them to sushi, something many people neglect when trying to talk others into trying it — one roll can keep you full for hours afterward. Not just full but comfortable. Hours after we’d introduced them to sushi, they told us that they looked at each other and said “I’m still full. But I don’t feel sick, either.” It was the exact same feeling Alex and I noticed after our first time.

That’s the magic of sushi. It’s a feel-good food. It satisfies hunger without leaving you bloated or gross.

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A few months back, we got a new kitten.

Like anything new brought into my home, I wanted to make sure she was nice and clean. With dishes, I do this so I can eat off of them without worrying, but with a kitten it’s more of a “I want to rub my face in her fur without imagining her sleeping in or near her shelter litter box.”

I had to wait until I was sure she’d healed from spaying, as her stitches were water-soluble, and while I waited I looked around for some cat shampoo that wasn’t flea and tick.

I couldn’t find any at our grocery store or home improvement store (both of which had pet aisles). I’m sure we could have hunted up a pet store or ordered some online, but I only wanted to give her one bath, so I decided to look up whether or not it’s okay to bathe your cat with human shampoo.

(more…)

I’d extend my home security system to include an extra pet.

Like a lion or a tiger.

And I would design my yard so that I could let my guard-tiger run loose around areas of entry while we’re out.

Then I’d install a ton of cameras because, dude, if you get a burglar and he sees your guard-tiger, you want a clear shot of his expression.

*giggle*

(Would never actually do this. I wouldn’t have enough time to take care of one properly, and I wouldn’t want to own as much space as it would need. The idea is charming, though, and the thought of a burglar’s face walking into a house and being greeted by a giant cat has to be the funniest thing ever.)