Often impossible things to say to a mother:

Look, I'm a grownup now. I will make mistakes (as you must have), and sheltering me won't help either of us. Save the concern for when you can make a difference okay?

Even if this is you admitting you did a bad job of being a mother, you do need to back off.

I'm not saying I can say that to my mother (mostly I say "you know, I don't care, and if you keep doing this, I won't tell you my plans anymore")

Or, also possibly hard to say, or maybe something to which you can't commit, but you could say,

Well, I'm going, so we shouldn't spend our time together arguing about it. But I'll let you know when I'm leaving, and call you when I get there, and give you my room number in case of emergency. As for being responsible, this is something I've planned for. I don't live to work. I work to live.

Ever since I said I was going ot go up to Atlanta to see Ginger Mom's been all "I don't like the idea of you driving in Atlanta."

I, however, am kind of enjoying feeling like an axe-murderer.

It's the heft of the axe. Comforting.

Catch up post:

Yay for smarty!pants!Emily!

Nice to see Cass’s back coming around.

Oh poor P-C’s feet. I’ve been fortunate that I never worked a feet killing job. However, marathons and the training for such have taught me a thing or two about foot abuse. Ouch.

And Woo Hoo P-C!! I knew you would do well on the phone interview.

Gas is getting crazy expensive here too. I do work within biking distance, but it is too hot right now for that. All winter long I can bike.

Bitchlist is a wonderful idea.

Job~ma all round.

And now that I've caught up I have to go home and feed the kids.

It's not so much the Axe Murdering Invisible Internet Friend thing that gets her (although I'm sure it does still freak her out), or even The Strange People Who Dress Up at Dragoncon that worries her the most. It's Allison's Not a Good Driver and Will Get in an Accident on the Interstate that's her main worry.

It's Allison's Not a Good Driver and Will Get in an Accident on the Interstate that's her main worry.

You have a cell phone, don't you? That helped alleviate my overprotective, boundaries-impaired mom's fears.

Job ~ma all around.

I want a nap. Anyone else?

I am so with you on this one. Unfortunately, I have at least another hour and a half at work. I was talking to someone else at work, and it appears there is not sleeping at night and sleepiness during the day going around. I blame it all on the grey skies and change of seasons. The grey skies I should be used to, but I'm afraid I never get used to the change of seasons. Fortunately (?) it only happens twice a year here.

I want a nap. Anyone else?

Had one. TWO HOURS AND 15 MINUTES! Granted, it was in the recliner in the nursery, but I was out like a light.

It's Allison's Not a Good Driver and Will Get in an Accident on the Interstate that's her main worry.

Well, there isn't much she can do. And telling a mom not to worry is like telling the world not to spin on its axis. You could pull up the stats that most accidents occur less than 50 miles from home. Not that that will make her worry less.

I'll make up a new version of the buffista database list and post it in Press and include a "top 10 under 10" pick-me-up list. Does that sound like a good idea?

I can report good results from an echidna skull.

Isn't Chop Suey American Chop Suey?

Chop suey shares its birthday with Jen amd meara. I kid you not.

Totally. He's got the metabolism of a hummingbird. He's only about 2 inches bigger in his pants size than he was in high school

Hummingbirds hibernate each night, which is just as well, because there's no way they can keep up their metabolism once the sugar-water shuts up shop for the night. Oh, but the ruby-throated hummingbirds take one night a year to pull an all-nighter across the Gulf of Mexico. They have a pretty slim margin of error for hitting headwinds or anything else that slows them down.

By which I mean, I shall be looking at Joe with a new measure of respect. If it seems like open mockery then that's just a trick of the light.

Sometimes you've just gotta do it (and that thing is pretty damn cool!).

Occasionally my spending habits are excessively driven by missing out on the Echidna: The Survivor video. I just... I assumed it'd always be there, y'know? t sobs

It's not so much the Axe Murdering Invisible Internet Friend thing that gets her (although I'm sure it does still freak her out), or even The Strange People Who Dress Up at Dragoncon that worries her the most. It's Allison's Not a Good Driver and Will Get in an Accident on the Interstate that's her main worry.

If you bring back pictures, you may be able to nudge The Strange People Who Dress Up at Dragoncon into first!

You could pull up the stats that most accidents occur less than 50 miles from home. Not that that will make her worry less.

Well now. Most driving occurs less than 50 miles from home. You'd really need to compare the accident incidence to the exposed-to-risk to determine which is actually safer.

Wally report! Alas, it's a little sad-making. AS is unhappy in her job, andindeed in her corner of the industry. She currently works for a life insurer, but she started in general insurance and that's where she really wants to be. Problem is, Melbourne doesn't have much of a general insurance industry. Career-wise, she needs to be in Sydney. This is NSM where I am, and we're not really at a point where moving interstate is such a good idea. I may need to spend tonight standing outside her apartment and shouting "WALLY!! WAAALLLLLYYYYYY!!!"