You just keep being the voice of sanity, dear. Call it everytime in a way palatable to his wee age. Get him parrotting you. And go grab some play dough. SMASH.

I know how the car issue is. This past trip home we suddenly only had one car, and while I survived it, it would have been best if there were two running cars. We had to schedule trips and I had to be patient in explaining that I can't, in fact, shop with other people. I can accompany them. I'm happy to! But because my mode of shopping when I actually want to buy is tortuous, I can't do it with others present. I'm too conscious how tortuous it is.

I am way way too enamoured of the roomba. And disgusted. I mean, I just vacuumed sunday, with the good vacuum, which did pick up a lot. And there is still more! Mostly can hair. My cats really shed. I didn't realize how much until compared with my parents', including a fluffly longhair. I could pick her up without getting totally coated. That is so not true of my guys.

What do you get when you have 8 degrees Fahrenheit and 25 mph wind gusts?

Me walking from my car into work this morning. I felt my lungs flinch.

But we've reached our high temp of 23. And I've lived in this state too long when I think, "Huh, 23, that's not too bad."

Happy New Year.

Had dinner in VA with friends last night and a nice two-day visit with one of my aunts; am now back in Del. Work tomorrow.

I missed the Natter turnover. Ah, well.

Oh, and welcome, ebc.

Speaking of uncomfortable family stuff, one day I basically spent THE WHOLE DAY with my parents. And then a neighbor came over. I had no downtime whatsoever. So then we go out to dinner (at which point, I'm wanting to hide under a bed and trying desperately to be civil and yet not blank.) We order our drinks and when the waitress came back with them: "I'd like a really LARGE margarita,please." Out of the blue, as until it came out of my mouth, I hadn't planned on ordering one. My parent just look at me and my mom starts to laugh. I mutter something about "too much people" and my dad starts laughing. I don't know if it was the booze or just the end of the need to even pretend to fake it, but I suddenly was much better off.

Anyway, now every single relative my mother talked to that week (and that would be every sister, brother, in laws, cousins and family friends) now knows that story. I'm the family misanthrope. Public knowledge.

Happy New Years, everyone! Oh, and Happy Birthday to Susan W!!

I've been on hold for half an hour with the pizza place and just hung up because I don't need overpriced barbequed chicken that badly. They've got to be insanely busy for them not to be picking up the phone like that.

After my mother read the Vampire book, her big learning was not to talk to me when I go out for a cigarette, because Allyson described it as being a needed break from all the people. Heh.

Yup!

My dad has still not learned that if I wander off (nic or no), he needn't follow me. He shouldn't! I'm not doing it because I'm bored and want company... he is getting a little better, though.

Suddenly I want to take up smoking.

I need to learn to leave the room when I am getting annoyed - that is my big problem, I just stay there and get more annoyed.

Thank dog I do not have a battle of beliefs with my family though, just annoying habits.

Allyson, it sometimes amazes me that such different people can come from the same family. I agree with whomever said to try and address the nephew when he spouts off the stuff. if you can get a flight to NY and reroute your return flight, you are welcome here.

Suddenly I want to take up smoking.

That reminds me of an old boss who would smoke when she was really stressed out, but it was mostly for the walk around the park she would take while smoking. She couldn't justify just going for the walk, when she was so busy.