Ginger - I think the first one makes sense, although I would have probably said no quiero. But deseo might be more proper.

What are the 2nd two supposed to be in English, again?

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Sí, quisiera renovar mi participación en la Operación Round Up.

"Yes, I wish to renew my participation in Operation Round Up"?

(Not that my understanding has any bearing on how it would look to an actual Spanish-speaking person, but it's not so far off that it's uncomprehensible, anyway.)

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I highly recommend this method of coping.

Well, it is cold outside, and I am kind of responsible for this mess, even though we were slammed like slammolia last week and these are all people who called or e-mailed with stuff like "so-and-so gave me your number, and I was wondering if you could help me out..." and I lost my point somewhere.

One groveling e-mail sent. Must rest up before I grovel again.

It's much easier to faux-grovel electronically while grumbling underneath my breath and listening to death metal. Rather more difficult to faux-grovel on my francophone, as I cannot seem to beat the insincerity out of my voice with a dead horse or my Swingline stapler.

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Here is what the phrases are supposed to say:

No, I do not wish to participate in Operation Round Up.

Yes, I would like to renew my participation in Operation Round Up.

No change

(No, I don't usually do things in such a slapstick fashion. This particular project just showed up at the 11th hour and I'm scrambling.)

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My officemate had been threatening me that she submitted something she heard me say to overheardinnewyork.com but she wouldn't tell me what it was...I just saw it today. [link]

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context - we need context.

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Yes, I would like to renew my participation in Operation Round Up.

I think your version is fine.

For "no change", my "translator" said the same thing but it seems weird to me. You could say "nada ha cambiado" but that is "nothing has changed."

Not sure if I'm actually helping here, but that's my 2 cents.

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bon bon: Hee!

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context - we need context.

It's pretty mundane with context. I was talking to Bob about this post of his.

I'm waiting for my officemate to come back so I can give her grief, but she seems to have disappeared!

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Welcome, Almare!

Allyson, and Cashmere, someone we know has just had the reduction surgery. She's still recovering, but I think she's someone who'd be glad to share her experience.

...

I think Chris's screening went well, but I was not allowed to be present for it. We won't know anything for a week or two. I hate that. Thanks for the good thoughts. I'm glad it is over.

Cindy, I've probably missed you, but I'm sending ~ma anyway towards you and Christopher.

My brother was one of those kids whose birthday put him right on the line. He's plenty smart, but my mom, a teacher, didn't think he was mature enough to go to school so she kept him back. I think it worked for him in the end - he was always bigger and more mature than the others in his class. The only time it got rough was when he turned 18 the day before his senior year started. He was ready to be out of the house by then, but of course, he still had a whole year left at home.

Thanks, AmyLiz. Chris isn't on the line. He'll be 5 in a month and 10 days. He's just as immature as he is smart. He's also just quirky. Now I just have to wait. I suck at waiting.

I'm ashamed to admit he's much better off at the school than he would be with me.

Why are you ashamed? You do mothery things better for him than a Kristin or Kat would, but they've worked long and hard to be able to do teachery things.

Oh, yeah. I wasn't even thinking about the actual teaching, itself. You're quite right about that, and thank you. Before I even get *that* far contemplating it, I become aware of how not-cut-out I am, to home-school my kids, because of my temperment. I think I would tend to put too much pressure on them and make it too personal--I became aware of this tendency while supervising Ben as he does his homework. I have to make a concerted effort, and it's not just a matter of keep myself semi-objective. What's more, when I either approve of his work, or point out errors he needs to correct, it hits him in more places than when a teacher does, no matter how cheerful or unconcerned I am by them. Some parents who home-school, don't have to struggle with that particular dynamic. For us, it would be a biggie.

When you actually read what the big objectionable thing is, it confirms that these people are actually crazy.

Ugh. That frustrates and shames me. I want my kids to be good to their peers, and make friends with them, whether they have a mommy and daddy; just a daddy; just a mommy; just grandparents; just foster parents; two daddies; two mommies; or a butcher, a baker and a candlestick maker raising them. And I want them to understand that their friends love their families, and are loved by them, just the way our kids love and are loved by us. And I think it is of the utmost importance that I teach them that, and that the idea is reinforced in school. I also don't see it hindering any private, religion-based moral education. Loving others is supposed to be the biggest of our rules.

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