Ok...I've slightly edited the post. Hopefully that will help with the confusion :)

Darn, I knew I should have posted LOL.

(just kidding about all of it)

This reminds me of when I told my parents about my tattoo. We were at dinner at a fun diner in Chicago. We'd had a really good day together, and I decided it was time to tell them about the tattoo. It's on a spot on my back where they could see it depending on the type of shirt I wear, so I decided I should at least tell them about it. (This was about five years ago or so, so they were still a bit more uptight than they are now, but better than they had been in the past...they've really grown. It's kind of cool to think about...anyway...)

So, we're sitting at dinner and I said, "Mom, Dad, I think there's something I should tell you."

They each got a look of panic.

"I've gotten a tattoo."

They each breathe a sigh of relief and said in unison, "I thought you were pregnant!"

So, I've decided that any time I need to tell them something they may not be thrilled about, I'll start it out with, "Mom, Dad, there's something I should tell you." They'll just be so relieved that I'm not pregnant that they won't care about what I'm actually telling them.

Hee! I like it.

Best wishes to RIO (even though I don't think you ever come in this thread), and Saget (who I don't think ever comes here at all)!

Yes, indeed, best wishes to Rio! If I get over to Natter at all this weekend I'll try to post it there, too.

ION, I'm still enough itchy I decided to keep going on the Benadryl. Bleah. Ima drink tons of water, today.

"Mom, Dad, there's something I should tell you."

After the one time I really had something bad to tell (about being assaulted) I had to be so careful using those words with my mom. Immediately after "I need to talk to you" or anything like that, came "nothingbaddon'tworryit'sokaynotlikelasttime" all in a rush before she could panic.

I'm a bit of a cow, but I've been known to say things like "I don't want to tell you this. You're going to get mad." And then pause for a while.

Honestly, my parents never get that mad, but it's probably because my bad news is relatively uneventful. I mean, stuff I tell them is.

Poor Sail! I hope it gets better soon.

YAY for Rio! How exciting! I'll have to get over in Natter to post that too.

In completely different news, my little brother's high school music teacher (who inspired my brother to go on and become a music teacher himself and was really a mentor to my brother) is in big trouble. My little brother called to talk to me about it last night. He is really upset and doesn't know whether or not to believe it all. Either way, this man's life is ruined. The whole thing is really sad and, if the allegations are true, proves that anyone can surprise you. He was an amazing teacher. I just...I don't know what to think about the whole thing.

I'm actually not any previous StuntHusband *arches an eyebrow at Jilli - there's MORE THAN ONE?* - nor am I Pete in another guise (which makes me snort coffee out my nose). Your warm welcome is very kind though.

I'm Alex, the StuntHusband who goes out dancing with Jilli because Pete doesn't much care for loud, smokey goth clubs filled with some Very Annoying Folk.

• curtseys*

billytea!!!!! Hi, sweetie.

Ok, so a nature program is currently telling me that reindeer and caribou are the same thing. Not just related or similar, but two names for the same thing. Can this be so?

Yup. Caribou is the North American version of/name for reindeer. [link] (Mighty tasty, either way.)

Yay for RIO!!

Huh. You'd think I'd have known that. (I'm with Jesse in taking any hole in my knowledge-base as a personal affront.)

Hey Not!Pete, welcome.