I have an uncomfortable relationship with reality right now. I just have to take comfort in the fact that, if president, McCain would have access to health care that could probably build a bionic version of himself, if need be.

It's clever! It's informative! It's gay-youth-positive!

Keep it up, buddy.

Somewhat off topic, did you catch the fact that the guy behind vile Sarah Palin's speech at the RNC was Matthew Scully, former Bush speechwriter who I've stubbornly maintained a soft spot for because he is the author of "Dominion," aka "Animal Liberation for Christians"? I guess he'd rather get a paycheck than say, "No thanks to being the mouthpiece for THAT special kind of animal lover."

I am not necessarily freaking out because I think the country actually will become a theocracy if McCain/Palin win--that panic passed after a week or so. It's mainly that I straight-up can't fricking believe that former Hillary supporters (...for example) think there's ANYTHING to like about Palin's ascendence.

And you know? I think even if I were anti-choice (never never never), I would be kind of pissed about it. Because it's the mothereffing vice-presidency we're talking about here, and she doesn't deserve to be anywhere near it.

Anybody wanting to read former Bush mouthpiece Michael Gerson's drivel on the topic can check this out at Newsweek--

http://www.newsweek.com/id/160085

Where you will learn that it is ELITIST and LIBERAL to think that Sarah Palin doesn't belong in the vice-presidency. It is ELITIST to think that people in high levels of government should have "the right" kind of experience.

I loathe Michael Gerson so, so much.

Is the way I want her to be on my side. I think she is deeply charismatic but deeply unkind, and the only way to win is to be in her protected circle. But that doesn't include many of us! Even her scripted bit about Biden's wife couldn't translate to a second of authentic empathic feeling.

But I can see why people like her. I can't see why people want her to be vice president, but like her, yes. I think she did distressingly well last night.

Anyway. If it's not one thing, it will be another.

Hey AKA--This is off-topic, but since you mentioned light therapy, would you mind telling me what make and model has worked for you? I'm thinking about getting one for the upcoming 7-month winter.

ANYway, I don't take the pill right now, but when I did, I forgot to take it constantly. I am a perfect nuvaring consumer because I don't mind, um, insertion and I am absentminded about medication.

Strongly affected by PMS myself, I can certainly understand why somebody would want to take a pill that might help with symptoms even if they don't meet criteria for PMDD. I find this ad totally un-outrageous. It might be "normal" for some people to think about death on a fairly predictable monthly basis, but why should they have to? As for me, I hate medication more than I hate monthly death fantasizing, so I just deal.

"I have to say that I think the suicidal ideation is really bad for people. It can become like an agitated rumination. My former psychologist explained it this way. That those thoughts, once they take over are like a well-trod path in your brain. It is easier to go there again, until all of a sudden your mind is traveling that path quite against your will."

I completely agree. However, I have equally well-trodden paths in my mind that usually keep me from anything other than vague thoughts. As long as I have living family members, I am in no danger.

These thoughts are nevertheless unpleasant enough that I support anybody else choosing to get rid of them by whatever means possible--antidepressants, weed, exercise, cognitive training.

About the light. I am not good at blind consumer research.

Thanks a lot for the info.

Sometimes people who are thinking about suicide will mention it to a casual acquaintance before or instead of reaching out to close friends and family who may be more in a position to actually help them. A lot more people think about suicide than plan it, plan it than attempt it, and attempt it than complete it.

But someone who is a man, has money problems, has a possible alcohol problem, and has access to a gun? Demographically speaking, he's relatively high risk.

What can you do about it? Nothing. But you can call someone close to him and share what he said. That might end up being more than nothing.

Well, don't feel sorry for him at all. But I don't think the far right is going to stop at simply letting McCain campaign and lose. No, I expect one of the following: assassination, homegrown terrorist attack, or perhaps the softest stick of all, filing lawsuit after lawsuit contesting Obama's win, all the way up to the SC, where the presidency is once again handed to the candidate on the right.

McCain looked deranged to me. I eventually had to turn off the tv and listen to the radio instead. (I missed the air quotes, then, on "health of the mother," but damn, I heard his message loud and clear.) And while Obama appeared a bit off his game early on, he quickly settled in and even did that thing I love, i.e. openly laughing at some of McCain's more ridiculous lies.

So why did I hear pundits afterward saying that Obama looked "pinched" and "tired" and McCain looked easy and relaxed? There is no one reality here. We're all a part of one big abusive family, and denial is the overarching strategy.

Isn't blame the victim what John "health of the nation of whiny mothers" McCain does best?

Damn, that is cold. How old is this woman?

What is your "lesson"? Sometimes people just don't click. You didn't want an asshole friend, she needed someone who did.