Serene of the Oakland Serenes

To do before the kid arrives:

Clear some space
Rearrange the computer setup
Put away the laundry
Clean the kitchen

To do soon after the kid arrives:

Buy a dresser or get one on freecycle
Sign the kid up for school
Get the kid a bus pass
Have a welcome-to-the-bay-area party for the kid?

And I'm sure there are a million other things, but that's the most pressing stuff right now.

Things have gone -- umm, anti-nuclear? -- at my mom's house. My sister has moved out and is getting her stuff out. wtfpotatoes is having a hard time adjusting to all the turmoil, and is, frankly, being a pain in the ass to everyone (if you're reading this, wtfpotatoes, you know I love you, and you know it's true) -- to be fair to her, no one's being especially nice to her, either.

So the upshot is that I get a teenager for the next $amount-of-time [Edit: She arrives early Friday morning]. I adore her, and I'm 100% willing to be there for her, AND it will be an adjustment for my household. Please don't feel slighted if you don't see much of me in the next couple of weeks. And please, if you were ever inclined to come to dinner at my place, these next couple weeks or so would be a great time -- I'd like to envelop this kid in sanity and love, from all quarters.

Any artisty types (or just plain chatty types) who want to give my niece art suggestions and/or talk to her about her painting hobby, here's where you do the clicky-clicky. Thanks!