I tried to be super nice yesterday. I smiled and spoke to lots of strangers. This one couple waited to pull into the parking space next to me until after I had gotten Owen out of his car seat when I went into a store. As I walked out, I noticed they had a little girl, too. I smiled and thanked them for waiting and commenting what a pretty little girl they had. The little girl smiled at me but the woman didn't even LOOK at me. *shrug*

Customer service type stuff is exhausting. It's one of those things that I'm always surprised that I'm good at, but I can only do it for so long before it takes its toll on the rest of my life. At my worst I'd become wholly anti-social because I talked to people all day long at work and when I got home I couldn't bear talking to more people, even if they were my friends.

So, hey, if whining helps, whine away.

Joseph Ratzinger

That doesn't sound all that papal to me. Sounds more like someone who works at a meat-packing plant. Benedict goes better with the pointy hat. IJS.

Remember the car insurance trouble I was having some weeks ago, with someone else's claims showing up on my insurance?

Turns out they're all my stepmother's. She has the same name as I do, and has insurance with the same company. I'm laughing hysterically over this, and wondering how to tell her that her insurance rates are probably going to go way, way up.

Anne, that is hysterical!

It is pretty funny. I'm fairly certain that it stems from the fact that my first insurance policy was co-signed (or whatever they call it) by my dad. Obviously, he and my stepmom are on the same policy, so the fact that his name shows up in my insurance history probably triggered the funky overlap in records.

Also, damn, but my stepmom has had a lot of accidents. Five in the past year, at least.

(Note to self: when visiting them, make sure that Dad drives.)

Damn. You should keep us posted on her movements, just in case any of us are in range.

I need some dentist~ma for tomorrow. I really hate dentists. Hate. Last time I went I found out I had a gum infection but I don't think it's gotten much better. So tomorrow (it was supposed to be yesterday) I go and find out exactly what condition my gums are in.

I'm freaked out that I'll need some kind of surgery. Or some kind of painful treatment. What I really want to do is not going to the dentist and avoid the anxiety and just live with what happens. which I know isn't an option. And I don't really have anything to take for the anxiety, so hopefully I won't start bawling in front of the dentist.

That's some funny stuff, Anne.

Anti-anxiety~ma for askye.

askye, that was me about a year and a half ago, when I hadn't been to the dentist and yonks, and had a toothache. I just told them how scared I was (and was having an anxiety attack as I was doing so, so said that too, through my tears). Everyone was really kind and gentle to me, and understanding that I was a big, emotional freak, who was really scared. I hope everything goes okay for you, but don't be afraid to tell them you're scared.

dentist~ma, askye.