Ouch, Cashmere. I hate those kinds of discussions. Aidan's been walking around the house saying, "Ice cream? Ice cream?"

Aidan and Kara (and Nick and I) were dedicated, but we'd never even heard of getting or giving gifts, so were quite surprised when Greg's family gave gifts to the children afterwards.

I guess now is not the time to mention that the dog and I are breakfasting on mallocreme pumpkins.

Heh. When he's adult, he can eat sugar with a spoon for breakfast. But I'm here to insure he'll feel guilty about it when he does.

September, on the other hand, will be lovely and nice and lots of fun.

ANd contains my BIRTHDAY right smack in the middle of it! (the 15th, in case you were wondering)

Zenkitty, weren't you the person that had a similar thing with a wedding a few weeks ago, with the expected gifts of money + something else for a co-worker? IS THIS THE SAME CO-WORKER? Because it sounds like you work with people who NO class of any kind AT ALL.

Don't bring a damn thing to this whatever baby ceremony. JEEEZUS.

I swear, I don't know where people get off saying a gift is EVER expected. A gift is NEVER "expected." That sort makes it NOT A GIFT and more an ADMISSION FEE.

Also, while I'm in FULL RANT MODE, WTF is up with your landlords breathing down your necks while you moved, vw? GOD. What possible justification could they have for that?

I have never before heard of a Dedication Party, though.

I haven’t either, and baby dedications is what I grew up with. I think my grandparents came and brought gifts for us at baby dedication. But, really, grandparents ALWAYS look for an excuse to buy a new baby a present.

When I was baptized, at five, my dad’s parents drove in and left a prezzie for me on the doorstep: a beautiful heart necklace with diamonds that I still have and love and wear on special occasions. But, once again, no party; no expected gifts.

I have never before heard of a Dedication Party, though.

I bet. But, how sweet!

September, on the other hand, will be lovely and nice and lots of fun.

This is my hope!

Also, while I'm in FULL RANT MODE, WTF is up with your landlords breathing down your necks while you moved, vw? GOD. What possible justification could they have for that?

I have NO idea. She just stood outside and watched us pile up the trash. We left a few boxes of some kitchen stuff open, so people would see it, and hopefully go through it. As people would walk by, she would say, “This stuff is for free!” It was so bizarre.

At one point, she met a girl outside the building, and I really thought she was bringing her up to show her our apartment. But, she didn’t. She took them to the second floor…which, actually, they weren’t all the way out either, so it was still really wrong and bizarre. But, if she would have brought them up to our apartment, I think there would have been six of us ready to pounce on her and kick her out.

Yesterday, when she called, I said I imagined I would be done with everything around 10pm. She started making trips up and down the stairs, going by the front door, at about 9:30pm. When Jane and I finished up the last of the cleaning and were waiting for the cab, we put out the deck chairs in the kitchen, right in front of the door, sat on them, and drank water till I got the call that the cab was there. I’m sure the landlady was terribly confused.

Oh, but teacup guy has endeared himself to me forever. For lots of reasons, actually. But, the main reason is, when we first got to the apartment yesterday afternoon, Mr. Landlord was putting up a new light fixture in the living room (WE never had a light fixture in the living room, but whatever). I had to run a few errands, so I left sj and teacup guy at the apartment. Before I left, TG pulled me aside and said, “Who is this man, and what is his business here?” I love him.

Also, while I'm in FULL RANT MODE, WTF is up with your landlords breathing down your necks while you moved, vw? GOD. What possible justification could they have for that?

This. And glad you have GOT OUT! GOT OUT! GOT OUT!!!

baby showers in function halls

People do this??

break a bottle of champagne on the baby's head

This seems so much simpler and to the point. In fact, I'm thinking we should have done this...although some inadvertent baptism could happen.

My parent's church was a delayed-baptism thing, so I wasn't. But I wasn't dedicated either, first I've heard of such a thing. Gotta love the American Melting Pot - mix all the rituals from everybody's background together, then strain out the ones that don't involve gifts.

Speaking of rituals, the embassy Halloween meeting went about like I expected. The rest of the committee wants to set up tables in someone's yard and have the kids go table to table to get candy. I said, "We could do a haunted house in the yard! Actually, my back yard would be perfect for that."

Someone responded, "That sounds complicated, and it might be too scary. We don't want them to be scared."

Oh, right, Halloween. Wouldn't want anything scary.

September started here with a lovely breeze and lower temps and puffy clouds, and it's going to be so much better than August. I can tell.

The East Coasters need a laugh to start the day.

Because September is starting out rainy, windy, and generally miserable here.

Because September is starting out rainy, windy, and generally miserable here.

At least it's not August.

DJ makes an excellent point. Also I'm working very hard to translate this:

rainy, windy, and generally miserable

into "cooler temps, a lovely breeze, and fluffy clouds", thankyouverymuch.

Someone responded, "That sounds complicated, and it might be too scary. We don't want them to be scared."

Oh, right, Halloween. Wouldn't want anything scary.

I really hate people sometimes.