Aw, thanks, BigD.

Hi there Bitches. Long time no see! I missed you guys, as I always say when I come back and resubscribe and read the last many messages. Somehow, I always fall behind again. We'll see if I can do better this time 'round, maybe.

Every time I stick my head in here, the baby talk makes my paternal instincts ache. Babies are awesome!

In recent discussion, I like the comparison of P-C's relationship woes to Jane Austen. Those connections strike me hugely. As do those of anybody whose cultural background pressures them to date within a specific group. I can't imagine having yet ANOTHER thing limiting my dating population - it's already limited more than enough by my own pickiness. I hope Number Five works out for you, though. If not, I hope you meet a really nice, funny, pop-culture-fascinated Indian girl in the near future: I actually know one who fits that bill, but she's in NYC. And I'm pretty sure I'm dating her myself, anyway.

Is anybody watching Gossip Girl other than me? Because I think I am in love with that show.

Well, Laga, it reads like he isn't much of a writer so it was an ordeal for him to come up with one email and he didn't have it in him to write two. I have a brother like that. He isn't an asshat like the BiL, but he would definitely do the double email thing.

Happy Birthday, JenP!

Laga, craptastic apologies followed by actual effort in making lasting changes in behavior trumps wonderfully worded, individual apologies followed by superficial and temporary changes. I suspect you know this. I further suspect that you are prepared to watch and wait for further evidence of improved behavior. At any rate this is more hopeful than if he had not even attempted an apology.

I'm waiting to hear from my sister. If she doesn't want me to reply I won't.

but yeah, at least he tried.

Mom says: Dad got one too; I peeked............you'd think the poor shlub would be smart enough to know not to send identical apologies.........I wonder what source he used to copy from..........

HAppy Birthday, JenP!! Hope it was a good one.

So, it turns out the little crossroads village I'm using for the next scene in my WIP has a cute little "about our delightful village" website, from which I've learned such useful details as the names of pubs that were posting-houses 200 years ago. I'm considering sending off an email saying something like, "Hi, writing a book, found you on Google Earth. Those hills about a mile north of town--they look kinda steepish. Are they? The 1790 map makes it look like the main east-west road was a bit south of the present motorway--that right? And how about those stone quarries and sand pits? Where were they in relation to the village center?"

Am I completely crazy if I send such a message--a bit more formally worded, of course!--to the email address on the website, which looks like it goes to a sort of town council/chamber of commerce info address?

Am I completely crazy if I send such a message--a bit more formally worded, of course!--to the email address on the website, which looks like it goes to a sort of town council/chamber of commerce info address?

I bet a local town librarian would love to help you.

Is Annabel really wearing 4Ts already? How old is she? I thought she was 3.

I don't know why I'm surprised, I guess because Franny just in the past couple months outgrew all her 3T pants and shirts and now wears 4T almost exclusively. The 4Ts seem so big for a 3 yo, especially the pants. But Franny's BF wore 4Ts by the time she was 3 and now that she's 4 she wears 5Ts almost exclusively. Her friend just has a much bigger build than Franny, she's at least 10 pounds heavier and maybe 1 inch taller. Annabel must be a tall kid.