::runs in:: Deb, congrats on your tv thing! That's so exciting! Here's hoping someone tapes it so I can see it later. Good luck, honey.

The idea that there's a workplace that would do something about it is wonderful to me.

All government/public buildings in my province are Scent Free zones.

We are discussing making my hair a rich warm chestnut. I am pleased, yet bemused.

That would look lovely, but you would need to make sure you're wearing the correct shade of lipstick.

You can tell I'm not because I'm not dead already. No, actually, love kids and would have one, but now=worst time ever. But if there was a star in the east, what a surprise the faithful would get.

"She told us it was too early for this...well, I'm not going to use the word she used, Messiah or no. Then she said we should read more books and stop looking for Mary in dirty windshields and grilled cheese. Because it's weird." one awestruck pilgrim recalled.

The gentleman on the left is David Evangelista, who will be doing my makeover.

Chiming in to say that Jilli is a wonderful person who should not feel guilty in the least. Also, I want the pink capelet!! Loves it!!!

My mom and dad sent me a little package with new niece photos and some small surprises. I want it now!!!

t /Veruca Salt

Re: the doctor's office. Shortly after I moved to NC, I had a doctor's appt at the Air Force Base (so, a military clinic) near my house. I'd never been there and called about 5 minutes before my appt time to say I was lost and could they give me directions. I arrived about 12 minutes late. I signed in. Then this woman called me into a room and literally snapped at me, saying they didn't see patients who come late. She did not care at all that I had called.

Normally, I'd be okay with this policy but a) I had never been there and b) I didn't know about the policy. I was so taken aback (and angry) that I called the patient advocate who said "Well, that's the way we do it and your husband should have told you of our policy."

My next phone call was to change to a civilian doctor. Now that I'm pregnant, the civilian hospital is and will be getting thousands that the military missed out on because they were such asses to me. The down side? I have always waited at least 20-30 minutes for every appointment, even when said appoinment consisted of "Any questions? Okay, see you in a month."

From way upthread:

I know March 16-18 DF and I have to do our Engaged Encounter stuff.

shudder Much luck with yours; ours was painful. The cool lefty diocese I belong to had hardly any EEs scheduled the spring before we married, so we had to sign up for one with the considerably stodgier San Francisco diocese, and it was many, many hours of feh.

Cringey, occasionally angry-making, mostly very very dull, and the guy leading things had a lecture script aimed mostly at baby brides and grooms, little fresh-out-of-high-school-or-possibly-(but doubtful)-college grown-up zygotes, from which script he did not deviate a jot even though fully half the room was solidly over 30 and about a quarter of the couples looked to be at or past 40.

The couple in their fifties nearly sprained something rolling their eyes forever and biting their tongues during the loooooonnnnnnng, dull Natural Family Planning--It's Totally Different From The Rhythm Method, With Mucus Plug Checking And All That Woo-Woo, And The Ladies Love It 'Cause They're Closer To The Earth, And Aren't We Just Progressive As Fuck! Except We're Not! speech.

ION, I met libkitty last night! She is funny and snarkful and has lovely large expressive eyes and very cool glasses (and also passed out genuine Alaskan candy -- Polar Bear Smooches), and Sparky picked out a truly rocking restaurant for all of us.

Plus, there was tiramasalata -- very much not to be confused with tiramisou, though not entirely dissimilar; it's the salty-goodness equivalent of tiramisou in deliciousness and eyes-rolling-back rich-food happymaking. Oh so tasty.

I definitely wouldn't object to being pregnant (except that the timing would put the delivery date awfully close to Emmett's birthday, which would be dreadfully unfair to him), but, as Hec notes, I am at present not. In fact, the Communists are on the march and will likely be laying siege on Sunday or thereabouts.

TV crews and free pastries and Deb and Marty and a special guest appearance by Betsy -- what could possibly be better?

As an addendum, I'll note that my prolonged encounter with the Catholic Church soured me on them considerably. Particularly (as JZ notes) their Insane-o Crazyland attitudes about contraception and sex, which they mealymouth tap-danced around in an especially grotesque display.

I ordered Emily's big birthday present this afternoon. I just went on their website to check the order status. It's not expected to ship until "on or before" January 13. Her party's on the 15th. And they won't overnight it. I don't think it's gonna make it here. I'm all disappointed.