Cassie, COBRA can work retroactively.

When your company pays for the past few months you can submit the receipts.

Swiss has context?

The context of the Reuben sandwich, baybee!

Swiss is a go!

I think I generally suck though. At this stage in my life, I am sufficiently cranky to walk away from situations that piss me off, rather than, I don't know, staying, hanging in, dealing, fighting.

I suck exactly like this. Thank God. After a lifetime of battling, I done wore out my giving a rat's behind about other people's recreational drama.

eta: cuck? good lord, what could that word possibly mean?!

Coming late to the Shower From Hell discussion--is it just me, or has there been serious Shower Expectation Inflation in the past few years? I've been to weddings ranging from 60 guests drinking punch and eating nibblies in the church fellowship hall for the reception to 500 guests in a posh hotel ballroom with a sit-down dinner and dancing to a live band, and everything in between, all determined by the budget and cultural expectations of the happy couple and/or their families. And I celebrated at all of them, because as a guest the expectations were the same regardless of the scale of the party--I showed up nicely dressed, wished the couple well, and only paid for my gift and transportation to the site.

But showers were always simple. My three (yes, three--I had one in Alabama given by Mom's church friends, one in Philly given by my bridesmaids, and one in Seattle given by our friends) were typical. The first was in a church hall, with punch and nibblies. The second was a garden party in a bridesmaid's lovely yard, with a delicious cake she'd baked herself and assorted nibblies. The third was in the hostess's living room, with inexpensive potluck refreshments. It never would've occurred to me to expect a spa day or anything at a fancy restaurant or hotel, but from what I've seen of weddings after mine (in 1999), I get the sense it's the latest push from the Bridal-Industrial Complex to milk yet more money out of weddings.

I was hungry and it was melty. Possibly my lunchtime OTP.

Well, if you made it a quesedilla.

is it just me, or has there been serious Shower Expectation Inflation in the past few years?

Right up there with Kiddie Birthday Inflation.

Showers belong on verandas, you know?

There are suitable substitutes should a veranda not be available or seasonal.

My FB (former boss) had a beautiful baby shower at a hotel. It was for High Tea. And it was wonderful. Her SiL hosted and no one paid anything. My Michigan Bridal Shower was in a restaurant, but it was dessert only and my mom paid for it. Her choice to have it there. My baby shower here was also at a restaurant and was beautiful and the food delicious, but I know it was expensive and while I loved it, I would have been just as pleased with something more low key.

And kiddie parties belong in back yards. They should have pin the tail on the donkey and MAYBE a clown.

I'm making up rules today. Anybody else need some? For inlaws? People who comment on weight?