today we bought a bed. it is SO satisfying to know that my days of sleeping on the floor are numbered. since our financial situation is extremely tight due to coughing up for moving twice, an unexpected month's rent deposit, bills, and wedding gifts, i am impressed that we managed to get a bed before the end of the month.

tomorrow i go to my grandmother's grave to honor her one year death anniversary. this is purely for my father's benefit only. and not because he believes she's hovering over her grave but because he's retired and senile and doesn't know how to have a relaxed, welcoming, and fun family gathering in between his migratory lifestyle. Last week he arrived from his 6-mo. stay in the US Virgin Islands where he owns a ridiculously opulent home and sailboat. This week and part of next he's enjoying his unnecessarily large house in Wilmette before he heads off to his posh downtown Belgrade, Yugoslavia apartment and his coastal condo.

in high school he had a tough-love approach to teaching his kids about the value of money - basically, I needed a part-time job to buy my own tampons.

i'm turning 28 next weekend and for the first time in my life I'm finally getting a real bed.