I’ve never publically acknowledged it, but there’s about $1000 sitting in my savings account, earmarked for my sister’s bail should the need for it ever arise. Since this is all the money that currently resides in my savings account, I’m starting to think that maybe I should bulk it out a little for my own benefit.

“SIX MONTHS!” I yelled at him, because he was the kind of young man that one can yell things at. “I DIDN’T HAVE MY PERIOD FOR SIX MONTHS!”

At any rate, the roommate came home, lugging her luggage behind her, and halfway through a conversation about how clean the apartment was, she suddenly lifted her hand, showed me its back, and wiggled the fingers at me. The age-old female sign for:  ring.

See, here’s where the English language fails me. When you hear that I “took up” quilting as a hobby, the average person has the vague impression that I took a class, did some research, bought some supplies, and now sit at home with a shiny sewing machine, making beautiful blankets for Red Cross babies. The reality is that when I say that I “took up” something as a hobby, what I really mean is that I went out one day and, on a whim, bought a book.

I’ve been reading the news.

Prepare yourselves.