IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE ALL THOUGHT ABOUT

...but finally, somebody is doing something about it.

(Thanks to Courtney "Eyebrow Current" Brewer)

Comments

[kibby F5™]

*wishes his partner some ZIP in her life*

[Tamara Rhymes With Camera]

*Snork* American, and Americans *snork*.

[southerngirl]

SarahJ, thanks for the link to the Y. I'd actually already been there, but I didn't know that's how it was referred to. And I didn't know there were pics of you guys! Yay!

[«LabSpecimen»]

Jeff.... WAAAAAY up there, you mentioned Matisyahu. I just wanted to mention that I really like his music, and *my* radio station actually plays him. Neener! heh heh

[Eleanor]

*weak but genuine smile to partner*

I know I'm not 100% because I thought something was missing from Lab's link. Then I realized that what was missing was the "s" from eclipse.
Do I Win Something?

Well, last night in an effort to get a good night's sleep I took the following:
2 (two) sleeping pills )first time ever)
One Vicodin
One Benadryl

I slept very well thank you and feel lucky that I woke up - eeekkkkk!

I have many groceries being delivered between 11:30 - 1pm today that I ordered while in my sick fog. I hope there's something to eat. *sigh*

On HDTV (did I mention I have 2 (TWO!)), there's an HD channel called MHD which is a joint effort of VH1, CMT and MTV and they have cool concerts and other music stuff. Two nights ago I watched a Goo Goo Dolls concert and last night there was a Foo Fighters one that they did in Copenhagen. But there's not a schedule, so ????
Then they gave their web site, which they SAID (hah!) was MDH.com but when I went there this morning that was the Methodist Church site.
So then I googled and learned that this site started in January 2006 and can only be seen on Cox Cable due to bandwidth issues (whatever those are). So then )bear with me here, please) I went to all 3 sites to find a link and - nada, nothin', or "zip" as Theo said - hmmmph!

And all the Google stuff was just about how they were going to start this channel.

Anyone? Bueller?

It's raining.

[«LabSpecimen»]

BTW, Jeff, where were you when you were in Florida?

[DDi]

Good morning.

No time to fancy catsup. Still not feeling well. I felt better last night after taking the antacids, but since this morning I've been hit hard with nausea which is a new symptom that the RN made me swear I would not ignore. I'm on hold with the doc's office right now to see when they will take me.

I did catch Jeff's list.. *snork* Thank you. I will have to print that and add it my collection of "things I WANT to say, but CAN'T".

{{moat}}

I'll be back later.

[«LabSpecimen»]

Hope all goes well, Di.

[neophyte-the-newly-revisible]

glad you called the doctor, Di. {Di}

[neophyte]

*sigh* can't get the "remember personal info" thing to work right for me.

Hey... I wonder if it could remember personal info for me, like my dad's birthday?

[bbescuela]

El, try this.

[Jeff Meyerson]

Thanks, insom. I thought it must be something like that. Kibby is right - the confusion (on my part) was that we got the early sunrise (nearly 45 minutes earlier than Florida) but also an earlier sunset (15 minutes).

Susan, I hated the whole show. Bucky was OK - he did a country song by Tim McGraw. The main problem was poor articulation - he swallowed some of the words. But he was far from the worst last night.

El, sometimes when the digital cable freezes I pull the plug and it works, as Susan and others have said. If it's plugged into the tv just pull the wall plug out.

Lab, we stayed at my late in-laws' condo in Delray Beach (though about 6 miles west of the actual beach). It's at the south end of Palm Beach County, south of Palm Beach and Boynton Beach and north of Boca Raton.

[Eleanor]

bbescuela, I love you. :)

[DDi]

*tucks a blanket around wolfie and loves her some vita-water (that I can't link to because I misplaced my html badge, sorry!)*

*hugs neo*

Still not done fancy catsuping. Probably won't be able to catsup now that you guys are all java'd up and posting away. Doc can't see me till Friday, they are debating whether to send me to the ER prior to then just to get the tests run. In the meantime I am trying to be as productive (read: NOT productive) as I can at werk.

Jeff, that area is very nice... my sister lived in Delray for a little while. I got to visit her once down there before she moved to Pompano.

[Eleanor]

Susan, I plan to remain sitting upright for the All Request Hour, which I missed yesterday, due to being in my bedroom version of Intensive Care. As a matter of fact, I'm going to lie down for now and come back at 9a.m.PST.

Could you please play I Can See Clearly Now.
Thanks. :)

*wonders if she'll ever be well enough to use exclamation points again*

[bbescuela]

*blushes*

[MOTW]

El - I have many groceries being delivered between 11:30 - 1pm today that I ordered while in my
sick fog. I hope there's something to eat. *sigh*
*chuckle* WITH you, not at you.
DDi, as wrenching as an ER experience can be, I'd say go with the tests. If they turn out to be anything urgent, the doc will MAKE time to see you or get you taken care of before Friday.
kibby - no, it was $300 total per month. For ten years. Just recently raised to $700 month to cover back-payments the Ex owes. He complained that $300/mo was TOO MUCH so he would skip a month (or 2 or 3), telling her he'd make it up later. But he never did.

[wolfie]

*drags tired self in*
bossman has the plague as well. he can't blame the wolfie however as she was healthy the last time she saw him.
*drags self back to work*

[Higgy]

TCMH is still feeling bad, and Owen is feeling better but is now quite congested. Nothing like a snotty baby in the house for some fun sound affects...

Me, I think my shingles might be flaring up. Anyone wanna trade?

[Tamara Rhymes With Camera]

*snaps fingers exaggeratedly*

*puts hand on hip* Oh, that Higgy!

[Higgy]

Hey, watch who'se hip you're putting that hand on, missy!

[wolfie]

We are such a healthy group aren't we?

[Tamara Rhymes With Camera]

*washes hands*

Are shingles contagious?

[Higgy]

and of course, I have a typo in there - just so excited to have a hand on my hip....

[Eleanor]

*back at MOAT*

*slaps self on forehead*

EASTERN TIME, STUPID, EASTERN TIME.

AAAARRRRGGGGH.

On the TV schedule for MHD {{{bb}}} it said there was a Bon Jovi/Sugarland concert on at 11a.m. Great, I said to myself, right after Susan.
Then I went in to rest up and decided to czech and see what was on -eeeekkkk, the concert. Eastern time. Sheesh. But I got to see about 20 minutes of it, fabulous, and since they have no original programming I'm sure they'll show it again. I'm just happy I have the schedule. :)

I think I can make it now :)
Thanks Susan.

[Tamara Rhymes With Camera]

Tylenol makes me sleepy.
And I have no caffeine.
Arrrgghhhzzzzzzzz...

I emailed The Kissing Brazilian yezzzz...yesterday. [politely covers an enormous yawn unrelated to the subject at hand] He's not online much and I don't know how good his reading-English is, so this could turn comical. Luckily I'm too sleepy to go out and chance running into him tonight. Heh heh, but tomorrow... [nods off]

[Susan]

*tucks in TRWC*

El, glad that helped.

I didn't put yesterday's playlist up, did I?

Ooops.

Here it is...

Tuesday 3-28-06 All Request Lunch Hour
News
Tec report
“Bad Case of Loving You” Robert Palmer
------
“Rockin’ Pneumonia” Johnny Rivers---Whitt…for all the ailing folks
“St. Elmo’s Fire” John Parr
------
“I Go To Extremes” Billy Joel
“Another Brick in the Wall” Pink Floyd---Vicky
------
“Like A Rolling Stone” Bob Dylan
“(Sittin’ On)The Dock of the Bay” Otis Redding
------
“Brass In Pocket” The Pretenders
“Cheeseburger in Paradise” Jimmy Buffett
------
“More Than Words” Extreme
“I Need a Lover” John Cougar

[djtonyb]

~Birth of a Birthday~

OK we have a final concept for the cake - it's going to be a 3 layer cake, with the upper and lower layers being orange cake w/chopped dried cranberries and the middle layer being cranberry flavored cake w/chopped candied organge peel. All layers will be doused with a Cointreau flavored syrup. Between 1 set of layers there will be orange marmalade, and between the other set, a dried cranberry conserve (which I made last night because I could find any cranberry stuff in the jelly aisle.). The cake will be coated in Orange buttercream frosting, and garnished with candied orange peel and reconstituted dried cranberries. Tonight I want to at least get the cake layers baked off and the frosting made, so that all I have to do tomorrow is assemble. Please note that although we did not dry the cranberries ourselves, we will be making our own candied orange peel.

Also, the decision will be made tonight as to what entree is going to be made...

&ltupdate 2>

[Marie in Kourou]

{{{{all the sick MOATies}}}}
*puts some equatorial sunshine into boxes and ships them out to all the plague-ridden MOATies (as well as the healthy ones, of course!)*

Di, get thee to the "ER"!

Yesterday night I made my best pizza ever. It looked nice and tasted great. I was so proud that I took a few snapshots of it before cutting the slices so I could show off to my family.
I know. Pathetic, eh?

I am not going to join the conversation about child support payments, except to say that in my parents' case, it was my mother who was the arsehole about the money. Money, money, money. Even now, when I am legally an adult and no longer live in the same country as she does, she is trying to get my father to pay more.

[Susan]

DJT...the cake sounds wonderful. We definitly expect several color glossy photographs of the cake...since I don't think you can mail samples to us.

The lasagna sounded good too...which is saying a lot for me because most food still does not sound good to me at all.

Today's playlist...

Wednesday 3-29-06 All Request Lunch Hour
News
“Pink Cadillac” Bruce Springsteen
------
“Sexual Healing” Marvin Gaye
“Patience” Guns ‘n Roses
------
“I Can See Clearly Now” Johnny Nash---Eleanor
“All By Myself” Eric Carmen
------
“Bridge Over Troubled Water” Simon and Garfunkel
“The Flame” Cheap Trick---Greg
------
“You Might Think” The Cars
“Heard It In A Love Song” Marshall Tucker Band
------
“Leave It” Yes
“Cool Change” Little River Band
“Seven Bridges Road” Eagles

[Marie in Kourou]

Tony, could you fly down here and cook for us? Just the description of the cake is mouth-watering.

[Deon]

Holy smokes, DJT!

I thought the birth of a birthday updates were going to be boring, but now I am snared. I must admit some initial mild curiosity about how a cosmo was going to be a cake. That took some real sideways thinking! I was imagining fountain or an airbrushed picture (*snork* not really!)

Anyway, I can almost taste this cake.

[Tamara Rhymes With Camera]

Tony, it's not the cake itself that interests me; it's that you care enough to do it that gets me all kindsa sniffly. Beautiful, man, beautiful.

[southerngirl]

*goes into sugar coma just reading about Tony's cake*

[djtonyb]

&ltgrin>

MiK - Where's my ticket?

Thanks, Deon. Coming from you, that means a lot, I know you don't usually get caught up in the foodie banter around here!

TRWC - Not that I'm kissing up because the hot weathers coming and he's got a pool. Nope, not me... ;)

[Tamara Rhymes With Camera]

*Snork!* Nevermind then. ;D

[«LabSpecimen»]

Okay, I gave this some thought during lunch. Drew a few squiggles, and here's what I have:

New York is north of Delray Beach by about 14.2 degrees. The sun is also north of the equator.

Think of an all-white globe with the equator and longitude lines drawn on it. If you shine a flashlight on it, with the flashlight being exactly even with the equator, then the daylight / nighttime line will follow along one of the longitude lines. But if you move the flashlish towards the top of the globe, above the plane of the equator, then the light-line will cross one of the longitude lines. That means the sunlight actually hits the northern parts of the globe sooner than the area near (and below) the equator.

The more the sun moves north (relatively), the more pronounced this gets. So, the days will be longer in New York than in Delray Beach. On the 22nd, that difference would only be about 2 or 3 minutes. But by the 31st, it's like 13 minutes more daylight time.

So, if you had observed the length of the day in New York while you were still in Florida, you wouldn't have seen such a drastic difference as you are seeing now.

[«LabSpecimen»]

I'm so very impressed, Tony. Great cake. Wow.

[MOTW]

Tony/Martha - your cake sounds creatively scrumptious!

[djtonyb]

I always like to make adults birthday cakes, ususally thay haven't had a birthday caked baked specifically for them in a long time. Also, you can put liquor in adults cakes. I've made a few where I've lit the candles and wondered if I should hide behind the couch...

[«LabSpecimen»]

*ROFL*

[wolfie]

Baking question...

Can someone (not me) add food coloring to a ready made fondant? If someone (nope, not me) softened it a little in the microwave so that it was melty and kneadable? Or should that someone (still not me) just make her (or his) own fondant? And can you stick it to itself with a dab of water or would someone (points in other direction) need to use some other form of gummy substance?

[Eleanor]

Love the White Globe concept, Lab.
When the ex and I were in Paris in the summertime it didn't get dark until 10:00p.m. local time. I assumed that was because Paris was farther (further?) north than San Diego. It was great.

That's all I have for now, except for wanting some cake. I don't think I ordered any in my online shopping. *sigh*
Cake.

[Deon]

"I've made a few where I've lit the candles and wondered if I should hide behind the couch..."

Struck me very funny too.

[djtonyb]

wolfie - whoever that may be could use ready made fondant. To color it, however, I would use gel or paste food coloring - they have less water and will distribute themselves more evenly with less kneading. Fondant's not a huge deal to make yourself, however, and you'll get the best coloring if you add the color before you start kneading.

Lab - any other hints?

[LabSpecimen]

I bought already made fondant and colored it using paste. Easy enough. I think it even says how on the package.

I don't remember how I stuck it together. If you google fondant tips, you'll know everything I know. *grin*

[Eleanor]

SMOKE AND MIRRORS DAY.

ROFL. Because in closing arguments in jury trials that's always what Deputy D.A.'s accuse the defense atty of.

Don't listen to her, people of the jury, she's just trying to confuse you. What she says is not fact but just "smoke and mirrors".

I sometimes miss the good ol' days.

[Kafaleni]

Okay.. It's taken me over an hour to heinz & check email. Then I forgot to take notes.

only child support story that I know...
A friend of my mother's got custody of their 4 children in the divorce.. father got visitation and a pathetic amount of support payments. He never visited.. no gifts, never spent time with his kids, payments came either late or didn't show up at all. Then he went back to court to revisit the support issue. Every man and his dog in the courtroom knew he was earning money under the table, but of course, there was nothing that anyone could prove. So he waltzed in, said "I'm earning virtually nothing" and had his CS payments knocked down to $10 per week. That's not per child, either. Insane, is it not?

BTW.. when your mommy loves you, she buys you an electric blanket for your birthday. The electric blanket has a warnings brochure that says "Don't let animals sleep on your bed while electric blanket is in operation as it may cause short circuits or fires" Okay, Mr Warning Writer.. you get the cat off. She hasn't left the room all night!

[Marie in Kourou]

I don't know what kind of news you guys are getting from France about the CPE, but frankly, the students blocking access to the universities are pissing me off. Look, if someone wants to study, let them! March peacefully until you have holes on the soles of your shoes, but let the ones who want to learn learn! You have no right to block entrances and push and shove us nerds and bookworms, OK???

*sits and fumes*

And don't even get me started on the CPE itself!

*goes off to study Russian - it's colors today, yay!*

[Kafaleni]

FYI.. Wolfie.. your "friend" needs to get some disposable gloves. Don't ask me how I know that black food colouring doesn't come off of your skin or out from under your fingernails very well at all.

Oh.. and Spicy Fruit English Muffins with blueberry jam are truly the breakfast of champions.. okay so it was an uninspired champion who doesn't want to be running late for work, but that's fine, too!

My cellphone is broken. Not totally broken, it just keeps turning itself off, like the battery connectors are a little iffy. There's a good special at the Telecom Shop this week though, ($99 phone w/$50 airtime credit) so I'm going to see them today and hope that they haven't sold out yet....

[wolfie]

She (or he) knows all about paste food colorings and fingers of many colors. She (or he) wants to know why they don't make a peach colored one so that she (or he) can turn her (or his) fingers back to something near normal. It took a month to wear the purple off last time.
Thanks everyone
*blows germfree kisses to all the moaties*

[Sarah J]

This is my favorite warning label. It came on my curling iron.

wolfie- sometimes rubbing alcohol helps get some of the color off. It helped me a lot when I was coloring marzipan for flowers on a wedding cake in August!

[Eleanor]

Announcement from the mini-moderator of the Y site.

A new photo has been added to the Y site.
1. You can click on "new photos"
or
2. You can go to the More Blogits Folder.

SouthernGirl may win the award (if we in fact have one) for the Coolest T-Shirt.

*waits for description*

Taking a second look, it also appears that s'girl has a *ahem* beverage of some sort in her hand.

[Tamara Rhymes With Camera]

I wrote:
[1-6: blah blah blah blah blah blah blah]
7. Now the serious. [Kissing Brazilian], it is not at all possible for us to be more than very good friends. I would not be emotionally able to handle a "benefits" situation, and I have an entire list of reasons why a romantic relationship is out of the cards for us. I expect you to be able to respect my feelings on this; if you cannot, we cannot be friends, which will sadden me deeply. I already have a very special place for you in my heart.
Very affectionately yours,
Tamara
-----
He replied:
1-Tamara, that sanguine thing* really matches my personality.
[2-3: blah blah blah blah]
4- I will always respect your feelings. I am ready to give to you whatever you feel confortable with about me. My friendship and deep consideration if that is what you want/need.
Very affectionately yours too,
[The Kissing Brazilian]
-----
* No kidding!
-----
YAY! Happy Tamara has a Brazilian musician-friend in Atlanta!
-----
Tamara would like to thank all the little people who made this moment possible, especially her reluctant surrogate father, Deon, who, many months ago, taught her all about personality types so that she would know how to recognize a great big romantic mistake when she saw one. ;) *MWAH!*

[Eleanor]

Did I mention that my food delivery came and that I got a five pound sack of beautiful apples FREE as some sort of promotion.
Yes. I. Did.

So now I have something to eat that's even healthy, since my order was just pathetic.

[Tamara Rhymes With Camera]

"Tamara, of COURSE he said that!"

I know, I know. But at least now we can give it one more go and see. :)

[Mad "about weasel" scientist]

*streaks through the moat*

[djtonyb]

*rolls eyes*

pssssst... Dr. Mad, that would be more suprising if you stopped wearing the see-through labcoat. Just sayin'.

[MOTW]

* kisses El and tucks blanket back under her *
* makes a pan of apples for her *

Peel & core one or two apples, cut into bite sized pieces. Place in a med-size pan with about 1 teas. of water. Add 1 teas. of butter, some cinnamon, allspice, sugar to taste, and a little lemon juice. Cover and cook over medium heat until done (~7 minutes), stirring occasionally. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream, if you have it.

[«LabSpecimen»]

Now I'm hungry.

[KDF]

*even though she didn't comment on it earlier, wishes to assure djtonyb/Martha/Julia that she is still drooling over and craving some o' that cake*

[Susan]

Mmmmm...apples. MOTW, that sounds good. I have made applesauce from scratch...but that sounds like more definite bites of apple.

[«LabSpecimen»]

*geh*
Tony, if they call you Martha again, can I kick 'em?

[Higgy]

Shall we start the betting pool now on the kissing Brazilian? Methinks this calls for a Poll instead...

*bums El's zip and heads off to the Y!*

[KDF]

*also is extremely happy that El is feeling well enough to make ANNOUNCEMENTS, and hopes that the Bag of Beautiful Apples will provide her with enough energy to be at full zipping strength by tomorrow*

[Annie Where-but-here]

El - An apple a day keeps the doctor away. All you have to do is when the doctor is coming, throw the apple at him.

[djtonyb]

Lab - I was Martha before Martha was Martha.

Peanut Gallery: Martha, Martha, Martha! Thats all I hear is Martha...

[«LabSpecimen»]

Mmmm. Peanuts.

[Tamara Rhymes With Camera]

Higgy, don't forget to include a "kidnaps Tamara to keep her barefoot and pregnant in São Paulo" option! ;)

Not that that would be so bad. As long as the Munchkin was with me. You know--a chance to learn another language, right? ;)

[Jeff Meyerson]

That is one fancy cake, Tony, even if not my taste. You should take a picture before he cuts it.

When the ex and I were in Paris in the summertime it didn't get dark until 10:00p.m. local time. I assumed that was because Paris was farther (further?) north than San Diego. It was great.

Correct, El, and the earlier in the summer you were there the longer the days would have been. We once were in Edinburgh (way north of Paris) early in July and it was still light at 10:30 at night. In NYC the latest the sun sets is about 8:30.

The electric blanket has a warnings brochure that says "Don't let animals sleep on your bed while electric blanket is in operation as it may cause short circuits or fires"

Kaf, I guess they're afraid of lawsuits if your pet pees on the blanket and causes a short.

NTTAWWT

[Eleanor]

Tamara darling.
*may have exlamation points back by tomorrow*

May I speak frankly and tell you that the only part of your e-mail to K.B. that resonated with him was this:
Very affectionately yours,

I think CG would agree with me, if he would just answer his gd phone so I could see if he wanted any of the apples for his kids before I get p!ssed and give them to Brian.

MOTW That sounds really good, and I have (amazingly) all the ingredients, including whipped cream except lemons. I just czeched the year old (at least) bottle of lemon juice in the fridge and it doesn't smell so hot.
However, I have some orange juice that I diluted a little that my daughter brought me over yesterday. Could I use that?
And I guess I'd have to use a pot? Or could I do it in the microwave?

[MOTW]

Sauteed apples goes well with pork chops and rice. (Forgot - I also add just a pinch of ground cloves. A little goes a long way.)

[MOTW]

El - o.j. would work well as a substitute. You could nuke it on a lower setting (if you know how to reduce power on it) - like, 60 seconds on 70%, stir, repeat until tender. You don't want to overdo them. Would they explode? I just prefer to cook on the stove.

[LabSpecimen]

I like to cut up apples and grate parmesan cheese over them. Mmmm. Cheesy cheesy apple goodness! *drool*

[Tamara Rhymes With Camera]

Laynie, you can say anything ya like long's ya start it with "Tamara darling". ;)

[KDF]

If I were subbing oj I'd go really, really easy on the sugar, since you won't have the sweetness-cutting benefit of the lemon juice as in in MOTW's original version. Unless you reallllly like it sweet. In which case you should dump on a whole lotta sugar.

[Sarah J]

On Martha: when I saw that name I immediately zoomed in on it. It's an uncommon name, and the name of one of my sisters. It's kind of like my grandma's name: Venita. Whenever I hear/see that name I focus on it. It's funny how some names have more power than others on an individual basis. You guys probably wouldn't start at the name Martha.

[Sarah J]

I just talked to my dad and told him about my not going to class. He called me to tell me something else and then asked "Have you been going to class?" I couldn't lie! It's gotta be a parent thing, that he knew I was having problems with that. Crazy.

[djtonyb]

"That is one fancy cake, Tony, even if not my taste. You should take a picture before he cuts it."

Jeff - I've already started a series of crapcam photos. I'll try and get them posted tonight or tomorrow to the Y!

And yes, it is over the top a bit, but I haven't really stretched my kitchen skills in a while... It's fun to see if I still "got it"!

[djtonyb]

Sarah - all of our parents were trained by the same psychic.

[Marie in Kourou]

And they all got the same Nagging Tone taught to them by the same speech therapist.

[slyeyes]

And they all got the same Nagging Tone taught to them by the same speech therapist.

HEY!

[Eleanor]

HEY! HEY!

[Graz]

Hi all...thanks fer the birthday wishes and thanks to DjT for the breadcrumbs.

I hope everyone is doin' okay and only workin' half...er.... a third of what I am. I'll try to stop by later.

*grabs a handful of salsa and chips for the road*

*figures out the hard way that a handful of salsa is pretty damn messy*

*puts remaining salsa and chips in mouth*

Thee youth la'er!

[Peri]

I'm still heinzing but I had to respond to this:

AND WHY DO ALL SIGNS HAVE TO BE ALL UPPER CASE EVEN THOUGH THAT'S HARDER TO READ?

Posted by: «LabSpecimen» | 01:43 PM on March 28, 2006

Lab, I'm the sign maker at my job and I've been fighting that battle for years. People think it makes the sign have more impact and I can't convince them that it's not true. It's makes me loads better to hear you say that.

[Higgy]

Have we had a post-court Neo sighting yet?

Inquiring minds hope she's ok...

[Marie in Kourou]

Well, it's true. All parents have nagged their child at least once. Even my father nags me sometimes, and he is the most patient person I know. This is not a mothers-only phenomenon.

[Eleanor]

No , Higgy, I just czeched her blog, but there was only the pre-court post.

[Jeff Meyerson]

MiK: As the child of a world-class nagger I'd put my mother up against any other.

Take my mother, PLEASE!

Although I must admit that when we were stuck with, ahem, I mean when we had her alone for 6 days in Florida it was obvious that she was making a real effort. She still has the need to know EVERYTHING and still needs to share things that we DO NOT EVER WANT TO HEAR or think about (let's just say the word starts with "V") but otherwise she was fine.

OK, not bothering with a poll but, show of hands. How many of you have heard a version of this question:

"Did you send your grandmother a card?"

Be honest, now. (And you mothers: have you said it to your children?)

[Annie Where-but-here]

Jeff - you don't see my hand going up, do you? I have anti-parents - they don't ask, they don't get involved, they don't pry....they drink. Here's the usual deal when I call-
Dad:Hello?
Me:Hi, it's Annie!
Dad:Oh, let me get your mother....(in background to my mom - "Ann! Your alleged daughter is on the phone!"
Mom:Hello?
Me:Hi, it's Annie!
Mom:Hi....how are you?
Me:Great...how are you?
Mom:Good....well, this is long distance, so I shouldn't keep you on the line....

[Jeff Meyerson]

alleged daughter??? WTF?

That's a new one.

I won't ask Eleanor the question as the answer is obvious - "Jewish guilt".

I know my sisters both talk to my mother several (as in 4-5) times a day each. She never minds callingmy sister at work when she's involved in a statewide project to ask some trivial question. Once a week is plenty for me.

Conversation topics:

With my mother it is geared heavily to what movies she's seen lately and what books she's read, though anything can come up. (Exacmple: if she's having a dinner party I get to hear the entire menu and the entire guest list.) With my father it is usually sports-oriented.

We don't usually have the fun kind of "breakfast for dinner" conversations sly has with her parents.

[DDi]

Speaking of things you don't want to hear about:
Just got back from the ER. After a few x-rays, the conclusion was that it's a minor obstruction, I should focus on eating soupy type foods for a few more days until it passes on its own which the ER doc thinks it should do within about another 48 hours or so. It's a good thing that I went, because at the very least they were able to shoot me up with some yummy liquids and get me rehydrated.

I'm exhausted from sitting in a cold room under very bright lights, that by the way, do NOTHING for a woman's complexion. ;) My only source of entertainment for 5 hours was my purse. I read every receipt I had, balanced my check book, and then spent an hour plucking my eyebrows and deciding I really need to start tanning, or using different makeup.

So, thank you to all the moaties who encouraged my going to the ER... *clears her throat and hangs her head* You were right, I was wrong.

In regards to nagging parental units, don't EVEN get me started! My mother decided on her own about a month ago, to quit taking her HRT's and anti-dep all by herself, COLD TURKEY! She had been on the stuff under her doc's supervision for years. You can't just quit taking that cold turkey! Over the past 4 weeks she has gone from being normal, to being a raging lunatic (that is even an understatement) and no one can talk to her. Her husband and I both have tried to talk to her about it and she is convinved that her behavior is rational, and that it's our fault the arguments happen. *sigh* I have told B, that if ever a time comes when I am at that age and acting even remotely like her right now, he has every right to leave me or have me tied to a tree covered in honey on a bear farm.

[neophyte mbe lp]

home, not divorced yet, remind me not to take Xanax again, I'm ok; got to go back out.

I was glad to have you with me today.
{{{{{{{{{{MOATies}}}}}}}}}}

[DDi]

Addendum to my last post:
I'm not sure where I stand on the whole hormone replacement therapy stuff vs. homeopathic or herbal remedies, but I do know that once you're on HRT's, and espeacially once you're on an AD, your body gets very dependant on those medications. (I guess thats true with anything) You can't just quit cold turkey!

[Tamara Rhymes With Camera]

"My only source of entertainment for 5 hours was my purse" -- *snork!* Glad you're ok, Di. No surgery, yay!

[slyeyes]

So, Jeff, your Mom wanted to talk about her vonsils?

Honestly, No, I don't ask my girls if they've sent cards to their grandmother.

I send an e-mail ahead of time and say "Grandma's birthday is next week." Sending the card is optional.

They always send one. And call.

[slyeyes]

((Di)) I'm glad you got things taken care of.

((Neo)) Inquiring minds want to know what you wore. And if you shaved.

((Sarah) I'm glad you told your dad.

[Marie in Kourou]

We love you, too, Neo. {{{{Neo}}}}

I have certainly heard the "Did you send your grandmother a card?" spiel before. Many times.

Trust me, Jewish guilt and mothers are a LOT like Italian Catholic guilt and mothers... only, as an added bonus, you get your father guilt-tripping you, too, because you're his little bambina who must be protected forever and ever from the lowlife scum that passes for men these days, and you know, maybe you should be a nun, after all and there you go, no more nagging about the next generation of Italian babies and how Nonna will be die unfulfilled if she doesn't get to see her first grandchild, etc.

The pressure, people. Feel it.

[Marie in Kourou]

Di, my mother is an accountant (at least, that's what she studied). She balances her checkbook after every single check.
The bright side about the long wait in hospital is that your eyebrows must look fabulous.

This, people, is why I always carry at least two books in my backpack. I have been stuck in traffic jams hours long with nothing to read, and I am not perky company.

[slyeyes]

Holy cow! I just went over to the MB.

15 POSTS!! Does Dave have NOTHING to do???

*limbers up, stretches, takes deep breath.*

OK. I'm going in.