That's a huge looong sigh of relief. Thanks all.

Yay, Thomash!

Susan, I hear what you're saying. I'm the type to self-flagellate, too. The fact you're aware of it, means you're doing a good job learning to head it off. Just because you don't sometimes, doesn't mean you're a bad friend.

I want to deal with all stressful situations smoothly and capably

Laudable, yes. Achievable, NSM. No matter how well we may feel someone else handles a certain situation, chances are they've had their moments, too. Most of all, lose the ALL. Thinking in absolutes is a good way to fail. You know that. Now, feel it. Really, I see how hard you struggle. You're working it. Take that as a positive and build on the successes. Shuffle the failures under the rug with the rest of the dustbunnies, they're insignificant in the long run.

Thanks, Laura.

Congrats, Thomash!

I am really not having a good day. There's not really any one thing I can point to as "this is horrible," but just sort of a build-up of minor annoyances, coming after two days of both a lot of minor annoyances and pretty bad vertigo. And now my Tivo seems to have died.

Hands Hil pie and glitter.

Welcome to Bitches Day. Ignore the bad and celebrate the pie.

YAY Thomash!

Yay, ThomasH!

Susan, when you think about people judging you, think about how you look at other people. If Betsy or ita or Teppy post that they screwed up or lose their temper does that make you forget the amazing people they are the rest of the time? Of course not--and people here are not judging your actions more harshly than you judge others, I promise. No Buffistas is only as good as their worst post, or I'd be screwed.

Most of all, lose the ALL.

True. Though I should've said "all types of" rather than "all." Because that's one of the things I've been working on--going through the various types of situations most likely to make me lose it, and rehearsing how to handle them better. So it's not like I'm going for "I'll never stress out at an airport again" so much as, "Given that I've lost my cool over travel problems on several occasions, how can I prepare myself so that it's a lot less likely to happen?" Lather, rinse, repeat for various other stress points.

Mmmmm Pie!

Imma gonna munch on this while I watch Lost tape.

Yuck on the vertigo and annoyances combo. Vertigo complicates everything.

My dear Susan! We who beat ourselves up over not being where we want to be are leaps ahead of those that have no objective to work on their shortcomings. Introspection is not a whole lot of fun. I have so much respect for what you are trying to achieve. Working on your career, your marriage, your personal being, and your family all at the same time is a huge challenge. I know you are up to this challenge.

And it's not like you forgot your kid and that he goes to school.