I'd be tempted at this point to give up the general "people" line and bust right out with, "Let me be frank here. I cannot afford the restaurant you've selected, as I couldn't afford the spa before. My family is paying for two wedding party outfits, three tickets to another part of the country, whatever expenses are racked up while staying there, and whatever gifts we can manage to squeeze out of our bank account to show how much we love and appreciate B. I refuse to put myself, my husband, and my very small baby any further into debt to appease your class insecurity and insensitivity to other people. I'll be seeing you at the wedding but, it appears, not before and, if God is good, never again. Many hugs and kisses, Aimee kthxbai."

And I don't resent it, I wanted to. But shit.

You don't have to. She needs the validation; you didn't. I guarantee that your shower was more fun, more memorable, and less stress-inducing than hers is.

This is what really caused my jaw to hit the floor.

Yeah, that's such a shitty thing to say. Credit cards don't make anything more affordable, for fuck's sake. The money's still got to come from somewhere.

Punch her, Aims. Punch her a lot. Also {{Aims}} for the stress.

Also, "By the time this whole fiasco is over, some bridesmaids and several guests will actively resent at least the situation and possibly the bride. And it's ALL YOUR FAULT YOU WICKED HARPY. ARE YOU HAPPY NOW??" Wait. Is this the MiL-to-be? Maybe she's doing it on purpose!

I totally kid. I'd probably be all "Okay sure whatever you want, bye" and then seethe for ten years or so, then run into the bride at some other thing and have her ask why I was so tense at the wedding and explode. The sane path lies somewhere in between these two strategies.

t copies Emily's email into yahoo

t hands shakes over the "Send" button

Too hilarious for words: [link]

Yes, no police officer is safe from the Evil Sexual Temptress.

Oh, and Aimee, I hate the MOH a lot. "That's what credit cards are for", indeed. I'm surprised she didn't suggest you die and decrease the surplus population.

Emily, your e-mail rocks. Aims, you should send it. Maybe.

So if all else fails, it looks like I should have a temporary position (with the almost certainty of going perm after Fall rush) at the school bookstore. The pay is...less than I could use at the moment (it seems to cover rent and my bills, but not food), but he actually bumped it up a quarter since I'd expressed interest in staying (which...still doesn't really cover food). Though now I would feel bad if I did end up not staying with him. He really liked me and knew I was someone he'd get along with. Dammit, I can't even find good menial labor.

Hey, bookstore gig isn't all bad.

Hec, I thought of a backchannel musical challenge (it could be inthread but I am a git) for you. Interested? I can toss songs and you can psychoanalyse me find a mix for me....

Hit me, Cass!

Mmmm, jello wrestling Cashmere.

Hey, bookstore gig isn't all bad.

Oh, not at all. The gig itself seems easy enough (help people find their textbooks and whatnot). And if I can't find anything else by Friday, I'm taking it, at least for the two or three weeks. I just know I'd feel bad if A) this KC job comes through very quickly or B) I look around and find a better-paying job to go "permanent" (*cough cough*) with. Actually, I won't really feel bad about A at all, cause dammit, I want a real job that gives me real money for doing real work.

Actually, I want a fake job that gives me real money for doing nothing, but we can't have everything.