Emily, middle school is such a difficult age. And you're right about the irrationality.

I keep trying to figure out a rational way to respond,

There usually isn't one. I've found it easier to be all "oh sorry. natural consequence. I really don't want to punish you and I'm bereft that you've forced me into it."

Whee! Bereft.

Nuh uh, she's performing alchemy and then welding the result into a bike.

And THEN she will knit him a cozy for the bike!

I voted! And DAMNIT! forgot to get a sticker AGAIN. At my precinct one of the two check in laptop things wasn't working and one of the 7 voting machines wasn't working.

"oh sorry. natural consequence. I really don't want to punish you and I'm bereft that you've forced me into it."

brilliant! That certainly would work on me. Even now.

I can't concentrate at all this week! I'm totally on vacation in my heart even though vacation doesn't officially start until next Monday.

NY Times article on using electroshocks to treat migraines.

you sign the book under the signature you sent in when you registered, and they just compare that.

My favorite part is how if the signatures don't match* they still don't ask for ID. They just ask you to see if you can sign it "to make it look like the one in the book."

(*Like, say, if when you first registered in NY, you'd only been married a few weeks and didn't quite have your new last name down yet in signature form.)

I have to say, knowing how predetermined most of the races were in my district, I was quite tempted to vote at least once for the "Rent Is Too High" party.

Blah blah blah democracy blah blah citizens' responsibility blah....

Sorry. I'm just glad it's over. OK, over by this evening. Except for the recounts and lawsuits and protests and cursing Lieberman when he switches parties....

Isn't it really the "Rent Is Too Damn High" party? Even better.

My favorite part is how if the signatures don't match* they still don't ask for ID. They just ask you to see if you can sign it "to make it look like the one in the book."

Ha! Almost as great as when I was running around charging things to my (male) boss's credit card. With no problems ever.

Actually, there was one competitive race in our district, for State Senator. Which is why you're seeing all those signs to vote down the Working Family Party line: All the candidates are the same as the Democratic ticket, except for that one office.

And I did vote for the WFP candidate, because he's the one who is anti-Atlantic Yards.

Clean up your web rep for a small fee.

Isn't it really the "Rent Is Too Damn High" party? Even better.

I think it is, but they don't print the swearing on the ballot.