William! That's a mighty pretty Wallybee you have there. And honestly? I don't think I've ever seen such a smile on your face. Also, I'd like to live in the gazebo where the two of you are sitting. What a gorgeous, lush background!

Felicitations, Beth, on the Anniversary of your Natal Day! May there be many happy returns!

I am only mostly ded from the Bean and Punk and Stripy Mal photos. Hooray for Owen and Livia being kinder to Mama, and poor Kara, trying to untangle and understand Buffista (and adult) living situations.

(((Cass))) You got good advice here. I'm just going to nod. And offer more hugs. I do think your brother *should* agree, once he's recovered from his fit of apoplexy, that you've abided by his (stupid and harmful) rules, and should therefore be allowed to communicate with your niece. But there's no accounting for the mental states of Other People. But I'll keep all fingers crossed that he's capable of at least this much reason. You and the niecelet, meanwhile, are in my thoughts.

ETA: sj, vibing for the outcome you want, and less drama for you.

Hey, she calls me Penguin. Not a critter known for its land speed records. Though she assures me she will fully support me should I start scooching around on my belly.

She justs prepping you for caring for the egg while she goes galavanting off.

You two are lovely together!

waves to Kristin and Drew

We're in a hotel in Vegas and have to get heading home, but we don't wanna.

Well, I don't see why you should have to. If there is any place in the world you can get a job that entails just being fabulous, Vegas is that place.

Suzie, would it do any good in future conversations with TPTB for you to keep track on a calendar of times you asked for help, and the times they chose not to? To show why you have to have all that overtime.

Though she assures me she will fully support me should I start scooching around on my belly. Indeed, I think she's encouraging it.

t raises one eyebrow

If the next shot we see of this "encouraging" involves thigh-high boots and a whip it had better be the LAST shot we see.

Oh, Suzi, I have so been there, and I'm with Windsparrow in suggesting that (I know, it's more time spent on *not* getting the job done. Still) you document everything. Get a cheap hour-by-hour daily planner, and keep it assiduously. The next time someone attempts to scold you for not delegating or for working OT to get your work done, haul out the calendar and show them the times you asked, when you got the help you asked for, and when you didn't, and when you had to work OT. They won't like it, but them seeing it in black and white may prove your point.

Oh WindSparrow - they will approve the OT, that really isn't an issue. It is just that they keep telling me that I should be able to offload work to the group in Boise (who I visited last month) and trust that they can help - but even with forewarning, they have not helped with either of my last two requests.

The OT thing is only a sore subject cause I SHOULD be salaried and not hourly. But that was the result of a different group of people being difficult. If I didn't like my job and have such fantastic flexibility in the hours I work....

Oh, and I can't see any of the pics on my phone, but am eagerly looking forward to it later.

t waves back at Raq

Raq, so when I opened the trunk of my car the other day, I noticed a nondescript box. hm I thought' what on earth could that be?

Um. So. Should I just give you your Chucks in SF, or would you like me to mail them tomorrow?

t /sheepish

Aw! Lovely photos, billytea!

Suzi, very much nodding along to your rant and very grouchy with your co-workers, and mine. How many days until vacation starts?

She justs prepping you for caring for the egg while she goes galavanting off.

Cutest image EVAH!

LOL...SF is fine.

Although you had me worried for a second. "There's no way the car I hid the body in could turn out to be Kristin's!"

Something for billytea: [link] And anyone else who wants to make their own Wolpertinger.

It is just that they keep telling me that I should be able to offload work to the group in Boise (who I visited last month) and trust that they can help - but even with forewarning, they have not helped with either of my last two requests.

And the next time they tell you to get the Boise people to help, you pull out your calendar, say, "I asked them to help with X at Y time, and nada. I asked for Z at A time, nada. I asked them to do B, for C deadline, and nada. So if you would find a way please to make it clear to them that they should actually do something instead of just making pretty noises about doing something, that would be marvellous. Thanks."