There are four cars in the back, along with motorcycles and a boat. None of them work, and one has a puddle of transmission fluid under it.

Oh dear. That's unfortunate, Allyson. I hope none of the local animals gets into the transmission fluid—that's not a pleasant way to go.

Anyway, I'm glad your neighbor understands that the source of the crazy is the landlady.

Yeah, it's 5:22 am and I'm online. How ya doing, insomnia?

How ya doing, insomnia?

Not going to bed yet, waking up and unable to go back to sleep, or none of the above?

Either way, I'm sorry.

Waking up at 3:30 am and not being able to go back to sleep. Usually it hits me from the other end of the night, but insomnia's a tricksy creature.

But, thanks.

Skipping out of rage.

I have this coworker, who I'm sure is a good person, but lack most of social skills. I'm doing QA control at the moment, sending him stuff to fix, and getting back the stuff, sometimes with his comments.

And the guy just doesn't know how to write "I don't agree with you" in not insulting way. I just got from him "check the dictionary for X, I'm doubt it if anyone's searching for what you're suggesting".

And I get these comments from him all of the time. I'm seeing red here. The way he's phrasing himself doesn't even wanna make me consider for a moment his suggestions, and answering back the using the same tone won't get us anywhere.

I'm waiting to board my plane to San Francisco. Also enjoying a breakfast of a diet coke and a twix bar.

I have relatives who "collect" vehicles like that, Allyson.Sorry yopur parking lot's a junkyard.

Noah and Grace have killed me ded this morning.

Waking up at 3:30 am and not being able to go back to sleep

Oy.

Is there anything fun and relaxing you can do until there's light and actual morning? Maybe not sleep, but at least something else that's nice?

Oh, Shir, I'm sorry you have to deal with such a not-nice person (with his own annoying brand of Humpty-Dumpty, to top it all). No good suggestions other than the good old schoolyard "ignore him, he doesn't deserve your energy and rage", but nothing, you knoe, constructive or actually helpful, though. Sorry.

Cashmere, have a safe flight.

No good suggestions other than the good old schoolyard "ignore him, he doesn't deserve your energy and rage", though

I can't. I have to work with him, answering him, etc.. It's a good thing we're not sharing an office, and I have the time to take deep breath before replying.

Hey, that time waster link, with the dancer? I'm so right brained, even when I'm trying to see it the other way around, I can't.

I can't. I have to work with him, answering him, etc..

I didn't phrase myself properly, sorry. I was trying to say that sometimes the easiest thing is just to ignore his tone, be as straight-to-the-point as possible, and - oh, so much easier said than done - not let him get to you.

Hmm, can you have a special file in which you can write all the things you *want* to tell him, but restrain yourself? This way at least you'll have some way to vent, and not keep things boiled up inside?

(Also, what are you doing, working on the weekend? I've got a deadline next week, what's your excuse?)

I was trying to say that sometimes the easiest thing is just to ignore his tone, be as straight-to-the-point as possible, and - oh, so much easier said than done - not let him get to you

I can't. It feels like he's disrespecting me. Knowing that he's not making it bearable.

can you have a special file in which you can write all the things you *want* to tell him, but restrain yourself?

It's not that bad. The good thing about my rage? It's gone within 15 seconds.

Also, what are you doing, working on the weekend? I've got a deadline next week, what's your excuse?

I'm gonna visit my grandfather in Rehovot in an hour and a half. Don't have anything better to do until then, and I feel a little bit behind.

It feels like he's disrespecting me

Does he talk like that to other people? Then it's not that he's disrespecting *you*, but rather that for him, this tone doesn't mean disrespect?

(It's so hard to differentiate between an act, and what stands behind it, isn't it? But I tend to think that as long as you're not 100% sure what's the intent behind the act, it's better to deal with just the act itself, not the possible-maybe-personal-interpretation behind it.)