So how do you politely say, "I know that money problems are relative to the person having them, but considering I frequently have to put off a utility bill to buy diapers and formula, I would appreciate you not bitching about a) how much you are spending on your $45k wedding and b) how much the inspection for you $35k BMW SUV is."

Stop taking the calls?

Oh, wait that's just me. Social advice is probably not my forte, because that's what I do. And then I wonder why I have no friends!

Ah well. I like the quiet.

The last time someone annoyed me that way (a very good friend, actually) I threw a Bitchism at her. All she could complain about was that the car she and her DH were looking to buy didn't have cup holders and OMG, they couldn't buy the car if it didn't have THOSE! So, I looked at her as straight faced as I could and said, "So what you're saying is that your diamond shoes are too tight." She looked at me for a second and then started just laughing like a loon. Now, whenever one of us pulls a first world bitch we use the phrase "cupholder" to pull ourselves out.

I would just not listen. Otherwise it gets into "you have no right to have problems" territory, which is a slippery slope. It would be like a single friend telling you you have no right to complain about Em keeping you up at night, since at least you HAVE a husband and a baby and she doesn't.

You can roll your eyes forever on the inside, though.

You can roll your eyes forever on the inside, though.

My alarm went off this morning and the kittenish crawled on top of me as if to stop me from getting up. She thinks she is a mighty beast. Though I did hit the snooze so her cunning flop on me plan worked.

And then I wonder why I have no friends!

I like you, Oliver! t /silly mid-80s MTV reference nobody gets

That's a toughie, Aimee. Cause I'd be tempted to say, "Hey, you could cut the champagne fountain and flowers and pay for your inspection and clothing and food for people who've lost their homes and jobs! Or you could just find a more sympathetic ear. Either way." Only I wouldn't, of course. I'd just roll my eyes on the inside.

You can roll your eyes forever on the inside, though.

One of these days, they are gonna get stuck there.

I'm gonna so the Sail thing one of these days. "Oooh....your poor feet being squeezed in their diamond shoes."

I like you too!

We should do something at some point in the future.

I've used the diamond shoes in actual conversation. Fun!

It was a very long night. The fever got up to 102. There was more thowing up.

Could've been food poisoning also. Hope you feel better, whatever it was!

It's massively thunderstorming here - really cool! We just made it back from the reception before the heavens parted. I am wiped, after guest and baby and driving all over the peninsula and socializing, but R is somehow bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

The guest really worked me over today also, checking my knowledge of Shakespeare, Kipling, Ben Johnson, Thornton Wilder, Oscar Wilde, P.G. Wodehouse, hymns, etc. I guess an Oxford don never really retires. I hope I got passing marks.

I had one of those days at the gym. It was cold and foggy when I got up. didn't really want to go t the gym. made my self go. bitched and moaned thru the first half. then - a miracle happened. byt the end I was dancing on the tredmill and happy and the sun was out. odd.