I was just complaining about this in my LJ, but I'm feeling unhappy. Joe and I have been invited, at the last minute, to these peoples' house. I like them and all but I get the feeling that our kids are sort of not exactly wanted, if that makes sense. But all I really want to do is take the kids and go get ice cream or something.

They should know that parents who receive last-minute invitations don't have time to make arrangements to leave their kids at home. I vote for ice cream.

Exactly. Joe already said we'd come before we got the "not kid friendly" vibe.

I just left you a note in your LJ, but I'll repeat here fwiw. From what you wrote there, it sounds like it's less a case of your kids not being welcome as it is a not so kid-friendly situation in the first place. They're trying to include you, and it's nice that they like you guys and want you to come over, but I think if I were you I would just thank them for the invite and say you'd love to get together some other time when you have time to get a sitter.

I'd say, "Oh dear, I'm so sorry we have to back out but we just can't find anyone to look after the kids on such short notice."

ot if you want to be more tactful, what Kristin said.

Apparently there are two kinds of cats, those who are freaked out by floor-cleaning robots, and those who ride them: [link]

That's comedy gold, man. I am SO getting a Roomba when the nuns pay me for the freelance project.

I have 2 dogs and 2 cats AND a digital camera that takes video.

I know you know where this will lead.

I need cat health advice. One of my cats is getting older, 10 years, now. Lately, he's been leaving little dollops of poo on the floor. It's not like he's not using the litter box, he is. It's not runny diarrhea. It's just small spots of soft poo. I plan on taking him to a vet on Monday, but any idea what this is?

Thanks, Kristin. Yeah, I don't think they are exactly not welcome. I was probably trying to shorten the thing down too much - that happens to me all the time, usually because someone else is demanding my attention. Anyway, I know they know they are coming but the whole "Why don't you stick them in a playpen" thing sort of makes me feel weird. So, we are going because Joe really wants to go and I don't feel like making a big deal.

Maybe I just miss having easy-to-be-around friends. It really sucks that my friend C and her family left.

Off to the party, I guess.

I've been working on stuff in the office all day but now that I have time to be out on the floor like an actual manager the stalkerish guest is here and I want to hide until he goes away.