There's got to be some sexism inherent in Indian family culture, right? Assuming there is, make it work for you. Maybe you could ask your uncle if, when you have done something displeasing to him or his family, if he could be the one to talk it out with you, and if you could leave 'the women' out of it, and talk 'man-to-man'. Appeal to his inner patriarchal overlord.

Ha. I left out the part where half his talk afterward was about how women will drive you crazy, why do you think he drinks? He's already told me that if he has a problem, he'll tell me straight up. Which my mom specifically praised him for so I don't know why the fuck she gets all bent out of shape.

P-C, if it's any consolation, when I moved out after college (I was 22) my mother threatened that, if I didn't call home at least once a week, she'd report me as a runaway and have me hauled back.

Yeeps. Except I have to call every two or three days.

Observations -- your mother has expressed concern that you'll reject your family. Yet she herself is the biggest threat in that area.

Even my uncle made that observation, that she's the one driving me away.

Another option to consider for after your July 4th trip -- is there anyone else in your family that you can contact separately? For example, does your father (or a sibling) have a separate e-mail address? That might be a way to keep in contact with your family without dealing with your mother.

I can contact my brother and sister, and I can call my dad at work, but I'm not sure how useful any of that is since she's the one who always calls and the one who expects me to call, and my dad wants me to call in order to appease her.

This is good. Personal therapy mechanisms are important.

Who needs a shrink when you have "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor"?

It's one thing to know that intellectually, but I think you need to really *feel* it, because that will help you stand your ground and stay calm(ish) when she goes on a Crazy Mom Tirade.

Yeah, last night was interesting. I'm going to see if I can pull that off more often.

Thanks for the hugs, everyone.

vw, no I haven't heard anything- I assume they will continue the snail's pace that has been the hallmark of this entire process.

On the contrary, my dearest Bev, whenever I own wristwatches with a metal band, I find that, with daily wearing, the underside of the watchband becomes *severely* corroded in about 3-4 months. Also, bugs never bite me.

I feel you Steph. I have the wierd sweat that bleaches clothing. If you look at a suit jacket that I wear with a sleeveless top, you'll see that the lining is a different color. I thought it was my deoderant until I got a new pillowcase, and the same thing happened. only with satin though, oddly.

Also here's the pic that I posted that no one could get to (stupid myspace):

Yeah, that's what I needed. 100% sheer hottitude contemplating a new haircut. That and coffee and I'm ready for the day. Damn, G-C, you're a looker.

I am being forced to adhere to a template that I believe to have been designed by narcoleptic monkeys.

Goddamn you, corporate America.

Yay for G-C's cute hair! Love.

I am being forced to adhere to a template that I believe to have been designed by narcoleptic monkeys.

Heh. Welcome to corporate life.

On the contrary, my dearest Bev, whenever I own wristwatches with a metal band, I find that, with daily wearing, the underside of the watchband becomes *severely* corroded in about 3-4 months. Also, bugs never bite me.

I feel you Steph. I have the wierd sweat that bleaches clothing. If you look at a suit jacket that I wear with a sleeveless top, you'll see that the lining is a different color. I thought it was my deoderant until I got a new pillowcase, and the same thing happened. only with satin though, oddly.

We could team up to fight crime!

"Look out, it's Team Steph! Protect your fabrics and metallic objects!"

One of the columns is labeled "Patient#." With no space. And there's a footnote without a foot. And the column headings aren't consistent. And apparently I'm supposed to define abbreviations that AREN'T EVEN IN THE DOCUMENT.

I never really understood the way people complained about work in here all the time. And then I got a real job.

Ok, I'm know I'm one for hystrionics and overdramitization, but I am literally, sitting at me desk, crying into my yoghurt.

A huge mess was made on our books. I didn't make the mess, yet I'm supposed to read the minds that did and come up with answers. I've told the person asking for this that I didn't make the mess, I wasn't involved in gathering the ingredients to make the mess, I have no idea what the logic behind the mess was. But for some reason, I'm still being held for responsible for the fixing this mess.

I am so damn frustrated, I can't do anything but sit here and cry.

Jilli and Pete, congratulations on the new kitties! Pete can loom (adorably) to keep them in line. (And Ruthven is pronounced "Rivven" right? from the "Verney the Vampire"?)

Ruthven is from "The Vampyre" by Poldori (Lord Byron's doctor). I ... actually don't know if it's supposed to be pronounced "Rivven". I've always pronounced it "Roothven", and no one has ever told me otherwise. Even if it is supposed to be "Rivven", I'm going to keep calling the new kitty "Roothven".