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.

Annabel is exactly 3 1/2 as of yesterday. She can still wear some 3Ts, but most of the pants are too short and the shirts are tight. She's tall for her age, and also broad-shouldered and sturdy-looking. This picture is a couple of months old, but gives a good sense of how big she's getting.

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

I think I'm going to draft the scene first, and then send an email to the info address saying I have some questions for a town librarian or someone in the historical society or something along those lines.

Laga, it's a start. I agree, he's not one for words, so it doesn't surprise me that it's cc'd to everyone. I'd say every time he is acting asshat like, to say, "Hey, you were wanting help in not being an asshat. part of that is knowing when you are. Guess what. Right now, you are!"

OK, I'm at work now. Yup. @ 22:00. Yup. Still lacking motivation. Amazed I got here.

Happy b-day JenP!!!

(oo, and here comes yet ANOTHER song about clowns being sent in)

GRIS! Hi! Missed you! I watched the first ep of Gossip Girl, but the whole moving thing means I missed last week. The friend out here who watches ANTM warned me that the group she watches with has been doing Gossip Girl as well, so I don't know that I love it, but I'll be watching!

I'd say every time he is acting asshat like, to say, "Hey, you were wanting help in not being an asshat. part of that is knowing when you are. Guess what. Right now, you are!"

I'm wondering iif t is possible to offer a conditional acceptance of the apology - that condition being he has to listen without getting angry, to that kind of prompt. I mean, working with developmentally disabled adults, I experience all kinds of bad behavior - intentional and otherwise. Not that I'm likening this guy to persons with mental retardation, but he has obviously exhibited delays in developing social skills. One of the things we say to the residents is "Please don't ____: It's not appropriate." It's said in a neutral tone of voice rather than arch or prim or shocked, and it gets pretty decent results. If your family can discuss this with the asschapeau delightful personage in question openly, perhaps you could negotiate a phrase that you can all use, that will help him to reevaluate his behavior, without getting defensive. There is always the "When you ____, I feel ____," formula. Of course, it's not easy to use that when you have no confidence in how it will be received and acted on - but again, if he really means the words of his apology, then this is something that can be negotiated.

Annabel is becoming such a little girl! She does have a bigger build than Franny, she's more like her BF.