Annoyance of the day: I came back from lunch to find an email from my seatmate (we cover each other's phones for lunch and are supposed to never be gone at the same time) saying:

I would appreciate you sending me an email or writing me a note going forward whenever there are instructions and I'm on the phone. Thanks.

Which is a reasonable enough request except that... SHE WAS ON HER FOUR THOUSHNDHT LOUD PERSONAL PHONE CALL OF THE DAY. Seriously. Dude. Fuck off.

AND she had already left by the time I got back (two minutes early tyvm). This whole "phones always covered" thing isn't a bug in my ass, its a firm policy. They make these coverage groups for a reason. She and I had talked about my extending lunch a bit on my birthday (trading off a quarter h our here and there is pretty normal) but now I'm thinking I'd better not do it. A NOY ING.

Hivemind: what do you bring as a symbolic gift for a bachelorette party? I'm going to my first one this weekend, and I have no idea what to bring.

If you bring penis-shaped pasta maybe you can anwser the age-old question: Which is less horrifying, red sauce? or cream sauce? (Or pesto!)

One fitted sheet is not a present!

It is if the thread-count is high enough! That shit is redonkulous. And heavenly.

don't know if I could call him Sambo without stumbling over it.

Maybe but the emphasis on the second syllable? Pretend it's French... Sambeau.

I am truly awful at remembering to do thank you notes, so my mother has already bought the thank you notes as a gentle reminder that it is expected of me this time.

When we threw my Sister's shower I made her a set of thank you notes with addressed envelopes (heck, I already had all the addresses on labels). I gave them to her when I gave her the list we made of the opening. She luuuuved me for that.

But then I realize there are people who DIG the chance to see every. single. gift. the bride gets, whether to live vicariously or to judge how their gift measures up.

I just think its fun.

I was always bummed as a kid when someone didn't open the present. The whole idea was to make them happy, not to fill up their car for the drive home from the roller rink. And as a child thank you cards were no comparison to someone reacting to something I'd been really excited to get them. As an adult it bugs me less because the gifts are generally more practical, I like thank you notes, and I understand time constraints now... but it's still sort of disappointing.

I think I found the perfect sugar cream pie recipe. This one uses heavy whipping cream instead of half & half and less sugar. I like the texture of this one better and the taste isn't nearly as sweet.

Pie crust is still a win. I'll have to wait until DH weighs in on the pie, though before I stop researching.

I'm having some Sprecher lo-cal root beer and I can't be sure if I like it or not. It's definitely not-sweet, which is something I sort of admire in a root beer.

I think kids are nominated, but then still have to go through an application process of some sort.

Heh-- I was just reading that. I'm trying to figure if Abby's teacher last year might have nominated her or if her grades/FCAT scores brought her to their attention (kid freakin' smoked the FCAT-- considering she'd never taken a standardized test before in her life, I was floored).

Only thing I worry about is that Nate'll be pissed that Abby got singled out like this, but then again, maybe it'll serve as incentive for him to work harder. Sometimes, it's hard to tell with him.

From the news stories I was looking at, Barb, it seems like the cost to you might be 5-6K. Please tell me they don't address those letters to the students and leave it to the parents to say, "we can't afford it."

Oy. Job hunting is exhausting. And I haven't gotten to dice.com or hotjobs yet.

any of the educational types around here ever heard of the People to People exchange program?

K-Bug went to Europe with People to People. It was a fantastic experience. She learned so much through the whole thing. I'm really glad she got the invitation and that we were able to do that for her.

Please tell me they don't address those letters to the students and leave it to the parents to say, "we can't afford it."

Oh hell no. It actually came to the house, as opposed to something they sent home with her and they have the sense to address it to the parents. I wasn't planning on saying anything to her until I can talk to Lewis about it. One reason I wasn't too twigged about it-- the website seems very geared towards giving the parents information.

the website seems very geared towards giving the parents information.

Thank doG. A 2008 newspaper article said a kid's 19 day trip to Australia, Fiji and NZ was over $8,000. I don't know about Nate, but I'm going to be jealous if she goes...

K-Bug went to Europe with People to People. It was a fantastic experience. She learned so much through the whole thing. I'm really glad she got the invitation and that we were able to do that for her.

How old was she when she went, Suzi? I can see by the website that they organize things by different age groups, which is reassuring, but still-- Australia at age eleven seems a little mind-boggling to me. Not impossible, just... mind-boggling.

Barb - if you are interested and have any questions, feel free to send me an e-mail at my profile addy.