'Dear Diary, Today I was pompous and my sister was crazy.' 'Today, we were kidnapped by hill folk never to be seen again. It was the best day ever.'

Jayne ,'Safe'


Spike's Bitches 38: Well, This Is Just...Neat.  

[NAFDA] Spike-centric discussion. Lusty, lewd (only occasionally crude), risqué (and frisqué), bawdy (Oh, lawdy!), flirty ('cuz we're purty), raunchy talk inside. Caveat lector.


Jars - Nov 04, 2007 11:53:05 pm PST #2562 of 10002

I'm sure most would say they're "Irish-American" or "Italian-American."

Yeah, you're right I'm sure. And yup, Boy is from Boston, where there's a whole Italian/Irish thing going on. Or at least, there used to be. Which is why the last thing his grandad said to him before he left for Europe was "Don't go marrying an Irish girl." Oops.

(That was a year that St. Patrick's Day fell on a Wednesday, and a schoolyard myth was that if you wear green on a Wednesday, it means you're gay, and he'd mostly been trying to decide whether he wanted to get beaten up for being gay, or for not respecting St. Patrick. Because, really, someone always found some excuse for beating up this kid.)

Oh that poor kid! Bless his heart. Damned if you do...

I just found out about that hitting people on St. Patrick's Day thing! It was in an old episode of The Simpsons.

ETA - So because I'm culturally ignorant, not really sure what the whole 'Yankee' thing is about, except that I've been told they suck. As a baseball team.


Cass - Nov 05, 2007 12:02:34 am PST #2563 of 10002
Bob's learned to live with tragedy, but he knows that this tragedy is one that won't ever leave him or get better.

Eep, Cass, hope the hardest part is, in fact, behind you. Anti-panic~ma, and best of luck to you and niecelet.
Yeah, I think the hardest part was getting her here.

Certainly my panic sort of melted when I saw her at the airport. Her first words were, "You're a sight for sore eyes," hugging me, which was kinda sweet. She just looked so ... Life Tired.

And we just stopped randomly talking and decided that maybe it was bedtime.

Cass, I hope that things can get better for your niece - I'm sure that spending time with you will help her, but from what you have said, it may not improve things with her mother.
Yeah, her relationship with her parents is going to take years to fix but maybe they can stop ripping each other apart. I just hate that she's hurting so much.

Bedtime, yes.


hippocampus - Nov 05, 2007 1:22:02 am PST #2564 of 10002
not your mom's socks.

I always find it weird when people (generally from America, I've found) call themselves 'Irish' or Italian'.

Jars - it also may have something to do with nearly everyone from America originating somewhere else. Part of how you distinguish yourself is by where you're from and who you're people are. Only blessedly more common recently is distinguishing yourself with who your (real) people are also.

{{Cass & Niecelet}}. It's really great that she feels she can come to you.

Gris (& Big Duluth too) - points waaaay up to Bonny's thread: bonny fides "Spike's Bitches 38: Well, This Is Just...Neat." Nov 4, 2007 8:02:58 pm PST Bonny is wise. and also a really good person.

eta: we cooked pumpkin last night - cream of pumpkin soup; pumpkin seeds (regular and old bay); the start of a puree for pie; and a pulauo (with punkin, potato, peas, carrots, onions, zucchini, and rice). That was one big pumpkin.


Anne W. - Nov 05, 2007 1:26:58 am PST #2565 of 10002
The lost sheep grow teeth, forsake their lambs, and lie with the lions.

Cass, much ~ma for the niecelet. I hope her visit winds up being a source of strength for her.

So because I'm culturally ignorant, not really sure what the whole 'Yankee' thing is about, except that I've been told they suck. As a baseball team.

There are a couple of shades of meaning. It can mean someone from New England (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachussetts--and I can't remember if Connecticut is on the list or not), with a certain stereotype of thriftiness and humorlessness lurking in the wings. It's also a term people in the American South use to refer to people from the North.

Edit: Sox, that was a big pumpkin! I cooked one this weekend, and I got enough for one pie and, alas, not quite enough to make soup.


Jars - Nov 05, 2007 1:29:13 am PST #2566 of 10002

Jars - it also may have something to do with nearly everyone from America originating somewhere else.

Yeah, I figured, and it seems natural. Still sounds weird to my unconditioned ears though.

I still have some pumpkin pie in the fridge - I'm not a big fan, turns out, and Boy got sick of it after a while (It was a big pie. Really should throw it out...

I'm a bit worried I won't be able to find a pumpkin at Thanksgiving, as they're really only a Halloween thing over here. Maybe I can make a squash pie and just lie aout it...

ETA -

There are a couple of shades of meaning. It can mean someone from New England (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachussetts--and I can't remember if Connecticut is on the list or not), with a certain stereotype of thriftiness and humorlessness lurking in the wings. It's also a term people in the American South use to refer to people from the North.

I'm learnding! And now I can impress boy with my knowledge of his culture! Thanks!

with a certain stereotype of thriftiness and humorlessness lurking in the wings

In Ireland, this used to be the stereotype for Protestants. Why does everywhere have a group they stereotype like this, I wonder?


hippocampus - Nov 05, 2007 1:44:20 am PST #2567 of 10002
not your mom's socks.

Still sounds weird to my unconditioned ears though.

Truth. And it's a strange reflex, to want to reach into the distant past to state where you belong. My sister (New Zealand cit. Born in Philly) is REALLY confused as to what to say sometimes. Other times, like during certain elections, she knows exactly where she's from. "not there."

In Ireland, this used to be the stereotype for Protestants.

In the South, it can have the same meaning ::ducks:: (with love to my northern cousin).

Yep -it was a big pumpkin. About 12 pounds. A Turkey-Pumpkin. Still pretty sweet, though. DH cut it up. Love that man.

Can you get butternut or acorn squash Jars? Similar texture - and I hear, just add some maple syrup, if you have some stashed, or can convince someone to send it to you. ( t / pals in australia) ETA: actually, right now, that sounds kind of gross.

DH left for work at 5:30am. Iris woke at 5:25am. I am still not awake. Hands work - can type. no thinking.


Anne W. - Nov 05, 2007 2:05:03 am PST #2568 of 10002
The lost sheep grow teeth, forsake their lambs, and lie with the lions.

I was surprised at how not-orange my fresh-from-the-gourd pie was. It's more brown than a number of pumpkin pies I've seen. I've heard that most canned pumpkin has butternut squash in addition to the pumpkin - if so, maybe that's it. Still, it was yummy, and the vodka in the pie crust trick worked wonders.

Jars, if you buy a fresh, whole pumpkin now, it will likely still be good by Thanksgiving.


vw bug - Nov 05, 2007 2:34:06 am PST #2569 of 10002
Mostly lurking...

Oh, my! So much happened!

Doggie~ma to Darcy!

{{{Cass and Niece}}}. I hope she arrived safe and sound and that you're both getting some much-needed sleep. Much love.

{{{Gris}}} How frustrating.

It seems there were other things, but I'm still on my first cup of coffee. Fortunately, though, today I woke up. That's always a start.


Laura - Nov 05, 2007 2:53:09 am PST #2570 of 10002
Our wings are not tired.

I'm on the 3rd cup of coffee! Whee! It was so nice to get up with the sun this morning instead of in the dark. It won't last, but for now it rocks.

On pins and needles until I hear news from my sister on Darcy.

Cass, your niece is so lucky to have you in her life.

{{Gris}} Sorry that this wasn't the one.

I think I am going to work from home today. There is just so much housework to be done that didn't happen on the weekend. Bad moody because DH and I have completely different parenting notions. Blah.


brenda m - Nov 05, 2007 3:06:31 am PST #2571 of 10002
If you're going through hell/keep on going/don't slow down/keep your fear from showing/you might be gone/'fore the devil even knows you're there

Ack, poor Darcy. So glad she made her way home.

Tom and Gris, sorry for the suckiness.

Cass, I hope niecelet is okay. So glad she has you to turn to.