The doctor page forgot one:(Or maybe they just like it in Bodymore, Murderland) ADASTW (Arrived Dead and Stayed That Way)

Whee! Another thunderstorm!

Even though it made my porchmenders go home early, I don't care. This one is bringing the cool air with it, too.

When my Sister got married she made a "cousins don't get dates" rule on the logic that a) the family is huge; b) about ten of them are old enough to be dating; c) they'd all have plenty of people to hang out with in their dateless state.

One of the cousins had a Boyfriend of several years, but she's a good egg and understood as this is fairly common enormous family logic.

Another cousin, however, simply showed up with his Girlfriend of about three months. (This was particularly egregious since his Mother is little Miss Propriety entirely too often). Part way through the ceremony I look out into the congregation and see my poor Girl Cousin staring daggers at Boy Cousin and fighting back tears.

I grabbed Girl Cousin as soon as possible (man I love that kid) and assured her it was a crashing situation. The whole thing was awful. (Oh, and the uninvited Girlfriend was dressed in something rather... short and tight)

Fast-forward a year and Boy Cousin and Girlfriend get engaged. We're having lots of fun deciding how many dates we'll each bring to the wedding and what the hell we're going to wear. Like, texts flying within minutes of the engagement. Good times, good times...

In case you're bored: Sex on Star Trek

Consists entirely of clips from ST:TNG, edited to make the whole thing about sex.

Consists entirely of clips from ST:TNG, edited to make the whole thing about sex.

Wasn't that episode called The Naked Now?

Sparky, what level was the yoga class? I'm asking because in my Level 2-3 classes, my instructors almost never practice or they assume we know alignment etc. Its only in basics classes, mixed levels or during The Practice (the 2 hour 30 minute class) that the instructor breaks a sweat.

My neck hurts. Please to help me get my body back into health.

ALSO, let my family serve as warning: Vegas is not for babies.

Miss Manners says that you only have to give a gift if you go, not if you're just invited)

Oh, no. Well, she probably wouldn't say "have to," but if you are invited, you should send a gift. The gift is not repayment, it's an expression of your good wishes.

I dunno. I view "and guest" invites as essentially similar to offering a vegetarian option, or having some crayons and games at a kiddie table. If it can't be done, it can't, and guests should be understanding and certainly shouldn't demand special accommodations. But presumably you'd like your guests to have a reasonably good time, or why bother with the whole thing? (And it sounds like JZ & Hec went above and beyond. Which is not surprising.)

I think of the weddings & receptions I was invited to, the one where I knew the fewest people was actually my brother's. If I couldn't have brought a friend, I'd have coped, but ugh. And in that case it's not like I could have skipped it, or ducked out early.

Dear people,

You requested part of a conference proceeding from a conference that took place at one of the smaller universities in India in 1981. No, I can not just download it for you.

Please to be dealing with that fact.

OKTHNXBYE

Miss Manners pointedly notes that one is NEVER obligated to give a gift at a wedding or any other event for that matter, for the very reason, as Strega notes, that a gift is not a payment for anything, it is an expression of good will.

She also thinks gift registries are tacky; she's not willing to compromise for the modern world! And I think she would politely shudder at the "+ 1" phenomenon, but I don;t have a cite to hand.

I found this

But the innovations that are most widely followed, even by those who resent them, are vulgar, impractical or nonsensical -- and almost always expensive. Here are some that Miss Manners refuses to sanction:

. . .

That hosts must allow anyone who is single to bring along that ubiquitous person known as "And Guest." And Guest doesn't know the hosts or care about the wedding, and if left at home, would allow the person who was invited to meet someone better disposed toward the occasion.