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Monday, September 29, 2014

October already?

Apologies for not getting to the awards last week.  Again.

What's going on? 

48 comments:

kathy a. said...

AW: Family BBQ yesterday at my cool youngest cousin's house. Excellent to see folks; great talks with various cousins and the fab aunt!

W: Oh, but was I snubbed by 2 judgmental close relatives. And my daughter, too, for much of it. My husband declined to go. Among other things, they declared some time back that I am not to speak of my SIL with the degenerative brain condition. Surprisingly, SIL continues to degenerate. And, fireplace 'em, anyway.

Have settled on "betrayal" as the word for this. These are people I supported and rooted for their entire lives. They have been acting pretty small for the big important fancy britches they display.

Liz said...

Just to clarify, they were snubbing you and your daughter, right?

I'm saddling up to ride out and smack them both upside the heads with my cluestick.

Liz said...

W: Last night's Feminist Hulk issue got worse today. I called digger to try to work it out, (Me: "Hey, I shouldn't have said it via email, it's so hard to gauge tone! Here's my issue!" Him: "YOUR IMPRESSION OF THE SEXISM INHERENT IN THAT THING IS WRONG AND I THINK YOU'RE BEING OVERLY SENSITIVE!" Me: "Dude, you asked me for a favor, I expressed an opinion of something, why aren't you just saying, 'Thank you for calling my attention to that!'?" Him: "Because you're wrong! And I'm not wrong! You're wrong! And if you think I'm wrong why don't you volunteer to do it yourself???" Me: "Hello, my hand is permanently UP. Why wasn't I called on?")
Upshot: he hung up on me.

HULK. SMASH.

AW1: Kathy to the rescue again!
AW2: My husband gets it. He really really gets it. And I'm so grateful.

kathy a. said...

Yep, snubbing of me and [lesser extent] daughter. We went to the outcast table with our hosts and the daughter-aged cousin and his sweetie, and had a great time. ;)

Liz, the posse is all over this one. The "you misinterpreted [because you girlz are too sensitive"] thing is old as the fireplacing hills. And not much thanks to the doorbell and call queen, thankyouverymuch. Yay, Mr. Liz!

Sue said...

((((Kathy a)))))

(((((Liz)))))

Many Hulk Smashing Cluesticks are needed so early in the week. Grrrr....

AW: I had a Less Than Terrible weekend at chunky meeting. Basically one day of sheer torture in the form of boredom and two good days, so on balance, not at all bad.

W: I have way too many work emails about All of the Things waiting for me.

AW: For today though, nothing but a nap and a good book.

KLee said...

Got through Saturday night's performance with very little miscues, no thanks at all to Missing-in-action actor. Part of the reason that I'm boiling mad over this is that I have been a serious cheering section to this young woman, and tried my damndest to make her feel special. Well, apparently she felt so damn special that she didn't need to honor the commitments that she agreed to.

Now, I've got another member of this group with whom I was talking about the situation, and I get the feeling that this colleague (for lack of a better word) feels that I did not handle the situation appropriately. It's not a given though, since we mostly talked about it via text, and you know -- that pesky interpretation thingie -- and I'm not accusing, but I am left wondering EXACTLY in which cases is it okay to bunk off out of town and miss a show that you have been committed to for almost 3 months?

I'm sorry for the excessive run-on sentence, too.

I'm in a HULK SMASH mood myself, Liz. WTF is wrong with people these days? I mean, really?

kathy a. said...

Passing the lasagne, as soon as it is out of oven. Attesting to my mad organizational skillz: 4 partial boxes of no-cook lasagne noodes in the cupboard, enough for one lasagne, if the middle parts are kind of mosaic-y. Which they are. But there is also leftover spicy veg sauce, and I scored fresh mozz, ricotta, and shaved parm at the fancy produce market.

KLee, sorry this thing is going so badly. xoxo

Liz said...

Mmmmm lasagne.

KLee, you handled it perfectly. I know you did, because I've been checking the news and you are not listed as having strangled the brat.

AW: Bought a deep fryer. Made fried chicken. Feminist Hulk quiescent due to grease overload.

esperanza said...

Wow, the posse is going to be busy this week.

W: so, so tired. Last night was one of the worst for sleeping in probably two years. Between the two Baboos, I'm sure I was awakened at least 20 times. Sweet is fighting snot and a cough and kept coughing herself awake. Mini was just being obnoxious. (Example, funny version. Time: 3:30 AM. "Mama, can I ask you a question? Can you please turn on my light?"). NO. NO. NO. Commence tantrum. At 3:30 AM. Not likely to lead to pleasant Mama behavior.

AW: School, blessed school. Sweet came out to the infernal car pickup line with far more energy than she had entered the building in the morning, already having learned her sight words for the week, and excited that she had been "the leader" today. Mini was out of the house for 6 hours. I don't know if she learned anything or not, but she was not here, and that's what Mama needed today.

AW: Also, a nap for Mama.

kathy a. said...

Go, Sweet! Hope everybody got more sleep last night, Esperanza.

Liz may be a Mullet contender, for checking the news. ;)

kathy a. said...

Bryan Stevenson is a hero of mine. He has a book coming out next month! But for anyone needing some inspiration, here is his TED talk about justice, equality, and keeping eyes on the prize.

esperanza said...

AW: more sleep
W: Sweet still snotty

Queen of West Procrastination said...

W: another day of not being able to be in my own home. Carpenters are fixing doors and all the other things that the original carpenters messed up, which turns out to be a lot of stuff. We got to be home last night, but without a bathroom door. Friends, I need a bathroom door.

AW: we're set up well at Mr. Q's parents' house. (The original plan was to be with my parents, but they're sick.) It's quiet here, because it's just E and me, and they have a lot of stuff for the kid.

W: cat allergies and more potential hazards here than at home or my parents'.

Also: I'm peeved that they didn't come on Friday, when they said they would, and we had be gone for whole day, and now we're out today because weren't there on Friday.

Liz said...

AW: I met Nanc¥ Pel0si!!!

esperanza said...

I think you mean that N@ancy Pel0si met you!!!

Sue said...

What esperanza said. I hope N@ncy knew she was in the presence of greatness.

QWP - I agree, bathroom doors matter. It's good the work is being done, though showing up on the RIGHT DAY would have been nice.

Liz said...

Someone told her I was running. It was awesome. She is so kind!

Liz said...

"Friends, I need a bathroom door." may be the truest words ever written.

kathy a. said...

QWP -- aack! No bathroom door is unacceptable; so's the delay. Hope all is well today!

Woot, Liz! She was in the presence of greatness. :)

Something tells me it is a Baboo Birthday! Hope it is happy, and that the snot-B-gone spell is working. ;)

W of the saga: SIL's place wants to boot her. AW: they thought they found a more appropriate place. W: but no, she is too young and that place won't take her. AW: so SIL's place is still looking; and we got some new resources. and AW: Big Teaching Hospital has offered to send over a nurse practitioner who knows all about SIL's rare, early onset, super-fun kind of dementia. Summary: some weeks are weirder than others.

esperanza said...

I am curious about this bathroom door of which you speak. Ever since...oh...7 years ago, ours do not seem to close properly. Small children are able to enter at will, no matter how firmly the door seemed to be shut. If the lock mechanism is engaged, the small children open the door through such means as banging, hollering, and throwing a fit until it is opened. Maybe I need one of the kind that you are desiring, QWP, a type that provides privacy for the desired length of time. Hmm.

Yes, it is Sweet's birthday. 7 years old. Grumpy pants this morning. But! I may have found the magic bullet for "hurry up and put on your clothes." Listen to this..."if we are late, then we have to go to the front door, and I won't be able to walk you to your class. *Someone else from the office* (cue spooky music) will have to walk you to Mrs. P's room." That motivated her. And it's even true.

kathy a. said...

Hippo Birdie, Too Sweet!

Oooh, very good motivational tool, Esperanza. One day, your bathroom door will begin working again. xoxo

Liz said...

Someone else from the office...Dun dun DUN....

Wow.

esperanza said...

I may dress up as "someone else from the office." Apparently, it's very scary. :)

esperanza said...

i meant to say for Halloween. For heaven's sakes, Blogger, why can't I edit my comment??

kathy a. said...

Pixies. I'm going OUT later this afternoon! To an ART SHOW reception! In her 50's, a college friend took up welding, and she makes these amazing sculptures out of old metal things, and this is her first solo show! So exciting.

And also in AW's, Minnie the cat now asks for me to pet her! A lot! Pretty much the rest of the household is jealous. ;)

kathy a. said...

That was very fun! I haven't seen the friend who did the art for years. We had dinner after, with another college friend. yay

esperanza said...

W: Colleague sent me a non-emergency text last night at 10:23 PM. That was at least a half-hour after I had gone to sleep. Does this seem like a violation of basic manners to you? Is colleague unaware that a text message delivers instantly and causes my phone to make a noise? Send an email at that time of night, dear colleague. Ugh. In case you need to know this vital piece of information, colleague can attend a meeting on October 17.

Sue said...

Happy Baboo Birthday!!!

The art show sounds lovely kathy a!

You're right, esperanza, a text at that time of night is not cool.

W: My BIL's Mom died last night. She was elderly and had been ill for some time. She was such a lovely woman. I'm going to miss her a lot. Our boys loved her, as one of her great pleasures in life was seeing people eat her wonderful Italian meals. The boys were always happy to oblige. :)

Queen of West Procrastination said...

(((Sue)))

Esperanza, you're right that it's a basic manners violation. It's one that I've violated in the past (assuming everyone else shuts off ringers when go to sleep, and so somehow texting is okay), and it's definitely not cool.

AW: functional bathroom door!

W: allergies. I received some lovely hand-me-downs, but the previous wearer wore perfume. Two washings was apparently not enough, and by the end of yesterday, my sinus (their one that always gives me trouble) was inflamed. It was painful enough that it woke me up in the middle of the night.

AW: Mr. Q drove to work today, which meant he could leave later than usual, and I got to stay bed a little later. It's so nice having him home again.

kathy a. said...

Cluesticks for midnight texters.

Sue, so sorry about your loss -- she sounds like such a lovely woman.

QWP, so sorry about the allergies -- yuck. I wonder what would get the scent out?

kathy a. said...

So, my friend and I were minding our own business at the art reception when we got cornered by one of those guys who stands too close -- who was also promoting his business, which seems to be relationship counseling using principles of a martial art. (He can also improve your golf game with his methods! That's on the flip side of the card.) Not making this up!!

Passing out his cards is not enough; he wanted to illustrate his fabulous method by asking me to imagine something stressful, and then yadda yadda about "pushing back" and "grounding" and yadda. Thankfully, we are mature women who have raised teenagers, even, so we were able to mostly keep straight faces in the moment. But it was hysterical!

This man knew nothing about us except we were college friends of the artist. He was pushing on me because when he asked "what do you do under stress," I was not the one who announced "Prozac takes care of that."

Sue said...

Lol kathy!!

Extra points to both of you for keeping a straight face (mostly). :)

Sue said...

Yay for functioning bathroom doors!!

I once believed that once my boys were old enough, I would leave behind those days of using the bathroom with an audience. Ha!

EVERY cat we have owned has freaked out when the bathroom door closes. They seem to believe we've been taken away to another dimension and they worry about our return (and who will feed them if we're really lost forever???).

*sigh*

kathy a. said...

We had one cat who did that. Two of our current cats do not want to be caught in a bathroom, because they still remember me catching them in there and taking them to the Dreaded Vet.

Liz said...

Nothing involving phones is allowed between 9PM and 9AM. That was the rule of etiquette I was taught and still live by. If that rule is broken, it better be because emergency services were also called. *

* or because you need rescuing from a party. Those calls are always appropriate.

Liz said...

W: doctor says I may have pneumonia. Husband says I'm not allowed out of bed. I have things to do, people. But I know he's right.

Doctor prescribed a boatload of medicines, including 2 inhalers, antibiotics, syrups, gel caps, and nasal irrigation.

kathy a. said...

LIZ! Your beloved and your doctor are right. NO superhero stunts, unless you can do them safely from bed. Hope you are better soon. xoxoxo

esperanza said...

Oh Liz, I've had pneumonia. It kicked my booty for longer than I wanted it to. Rest.

QWP, Preacher household = ever-present possibility of middle of the night emergencies, so ringers stay on. As the other preacher texting me should have been able to figure out.

AW: nothing lifts my mood faster than a bargain. Two skirts, $1.50 total, at the thrift store.

kathy a. said...

Oooh, Esperanza scores!

Liz said...

Yay skirts and bargains!

Sue said...

Oh Liz, that's awful! Lots of bedrest as per your orders.

esperanza wins bargain of the week!

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Oh no, Liz! Take care of yourself, and I hope you kick pneumonia soon.

So, remember how I have a functional bathroom door again? It's now easier to open. I forgot to lock the door this morning, and a toddler strolled in and cheered for me for using the potty. Note to self: start locking the bathroom door, now that doesn't have be wrenched open and closed.

kathy a. said...

omg. That is definitely a sign the potty training is taking hold!

Liz said...

Good job on the potty training!!

I am in bed with the laptop, writing thank you notes and begging letters. This is a compromise because my husband won't let me make begging phone calls. And I've canceled my coffee appointment, and didn't go to the dem biz b'fast, and told the folks at the two events this weekend I'm not gonna be there and and and

So. Thank you notes and begging letters.

Sue said...

Good for you Liz. Take care of yourself now so you can be strong enough to pick up the work once this pneumonia is gone. In my experience, trying to muscle through something as serious as this will only drag out the sick-in-bed time.

W: The Mountain of All the Things is not getting smaller. I completely forgot that Saturday is our annual traveling dinner fundraiser. There is a group appetizer course where folks pay their money for the evening and get their instructions re: where they are going. Then it's on to the soup/salad course at one home, then main course at another home, then dessert as a group.

It's a lovely evening, but LATE. We're hosting ten people here for soup/salad.

Double Whine: That means I have to clean my house before tomorrow evening. And write a sermon. And visit my sister and BIL (funeral mass is Monday).

How did I so completely forget that the dinner was happening this weekend????? It's a good thing someone mentioned it yesterday. Just sayin...

Wow. That's whiny even by my standards.

kathy a. said...

Sue, sending the cleaning fairies, stat! Soup and salad is at least reasonably easy to pull together -- assuming you can locate enough plates and bowls -- and no danger of guests lingering since they will be on to the next stop. :)

Sending much love to your family and BIL's. xoxo

Got nothing on the sermon, unless maybe you can work in breaking bread together, working for a common cause, love one another.

Liz said...

Do clam chowdah and then do a sermon on the Loaves and Fishes.

kathy a. said...

Even when she's sick, Liz is brilliant.