Some things on my mind:

• I just found out that one of the guys on the Coaster Crew Norden trip passed away last December from pancreatic cancer. I only knew him for 2 weeks but he was a really nice man and this, paired with my outrageous emotion problem, is why I burst into tears when I found out. Robert’s in the second row on this little kiddie coaster that we took over in Finland. <3 I feel sick.

• In the last week, I have read back-to-back books that:
  • used the word “muck” (one used it A LOT, I wish I had counted)
  • had a character named Henry
  • referenced the TV show Succession
  • had a character that couldn’t swim
• My block was poppin’ off with neighborly activity all morning and it was driving me absolutely insane. I think I am fully at the “paranoid half-agoraphobe” portion of my life in that I am convinced all of my neighbors are talking shit on us (nevermind the fact that I am in a perpetual state of shit-talk in here myself) while I’m also living in a state of panic that one of them is going to ring my doorbell at any moment. In fact, this did happen after work on Friday and I was so annoyed:
  • Recall that I told you a while ago that the plumber our slumlord sends over who scares me because he’d bring his wife and teenage son to help and then spend the whole time screaming at them, now lives in the house that ROB THE HANDYMAN used to live in because this apparently where the slumlord stashes his bizarre worker bees whose wives have tossed them out on their asses. Anywhogivesafuck, his name is – well, lets not use real names here, Crag -and he came in search of wine glasses because HE WAS HAVING A LADY OVER THAT NIGHT. Oh I did not need to know that. I did let him borrow two glasses though but then I was immediately annoyed because this means he will be back at some point to return them. I made eye contact with him several times over the weekend, but he was busy doing Crag things so he never came over. But then this morning, he was in HNC’s yard for a really long talking. This was right after THE SLUMLORD was out there talking to HNC’s Squirrel-Hating Wife for a good hour, it felt like, and I was definitely sure she made sure to throw me under the bus at least once during that conversation because she is a pathetic hag loser. I don’t even look her way anymore, no more fake niceties. Line in the sand has been drawn and she can stay on her white trash side. So, between that and then Crag holding court out there forever, I got so anxiety-riddled that I made a DO NOT DISTURB, IN MEETINGS sign to tape on the front door just in case someone remembered my existence and decided to come over and ask me something stupid (“Do you want some of these bruised apples or extra cat litter?” is something that has brought HNC to my front door in the past). To be fair, I did have one meeting. While I was taping up the sign, I got to better hear HNC and Crag and here, Crag was over there getting RELATIONSHIP ADVICE and venting about presumably his ex/estranged wife? HNC said something that I couldn’t hear to which Crag replied with a bellowing I DON’T GIVE A FUCK!!!!! that likely sent birds flying away in droves. And then, “How was that?” so I guess HNC told him to do that!? Then I heard HNC say, “Come back anytime” as Crag cheerfully waved and walked back to his house.
    • OMG WHAT IF HENRY GOES TO HNC FOR MARRIAGE ADVICE.
  • I was so annoyed by this and the fact that Slumlord had a giant dumpster delivered to the front yard of his Domestic Abuser Son’s house (rumor has it he’s moving out) so there was all kinds of construction-like commotion that came along with that and I found myself saying out loud that I should just go back to the office because this block stresses me out. NO ONE WORKS ON  THIS STREET IT SEEMS LIKE. My direct next door neighbors do, but everyone else ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE HOME and I don’t think they have “WFH” jobs because no one here seems like an office person, if you know what I mean.
    • Speaking of Domestic Abuser, that girl was back with him last week!!! I was so disgusted. I’m glad I trusted my gut and didn’t get involved after all.
• CRAG LEFT MY WINEGLASSES IN THE MAILBOX AND ONE OF THEM IS CRACKED. Henry said “I WILL SAY SOMETHING TO HIM.” Ugh. I don’t even care. I hate everyone.
• Oh! Yesterday my friend Amber texted me from Kennywood because she told her kids she wanted to get a square ice cream and they were like “what is that, what does it look like” so she googled it and this happened:

OK, well we’re leaving soon for another Glitterbox experience (!!!) but let’s end with a song. This is one of my favorite synthwave songs ever and it makes me feel so sad but also calm in a way? I hope I get to see The Bad Dreamers live at some point (I think it’s just one guy). Wow, I am really emotional today, I hope this clown show helps me lol.