Yikes, 3 year olds. My niece has been a total shit from the moment she turned three. Er, I have no advice.

Thanks for the ~ma, guys. Not a done deal yet by any means, but at least they liked his code enough to have him in for a 4-5 hour interview. I will request interview~ma when it's time! (because you guys rock at the ~ma.)

Oh, Hil, I didn't see your post till after I posted. I'm so sorry about your friend. Peace to your family and to his.

Thanks, juliana. I'm not sure what I need, really. My mom says I'm not expected to go to the funeral, which I think might be in Arizona. I wish I could go sit shiva at his daughter's house -- she and her husband and kids live up in NJ, near my parents -- but I don't think I can take the time off for someone that's not my family, not when I've already missed a few days this week from being sick, and planning to miss a few more for the Jewish holidays in a few weeks.

Oh Hil-- I am so sorry.

Okay, this week has got to stop piling on people. Hey, week? See what you did with Tom and the job interview? That's the kind of thing we need more of, not all this sadness and frustration and weariness and canceled contracts.

And, bleah, vw. That sounds nightmarish. The nearest thing I can think of to that mess in our history is that Emmett had a couple of almost intractable biters and bullies in one of his daycare situations, and Hec may remember what the daycare staff did to rein them in and control the misery. But, ugh, I'm sorry.

And a shaky fist of rage at the idiots who canceled Barb's contract -- dammit, I want to read that book! And brackets and ~ma in abundance to Kristin and Hil.

Sorry , barb.

and peace , Hil.

and I think I crashed my computer by overwhelming my DH with craig's list jobs

It felt like it needed a separate post, but much ma to Tom and Nora for Tom's job.

If it doesn't work out, maybe he could become a detective like Nick Charles, as I always imagine Tom and Nora to be a lot like Nick and Nora!

we would fight crime!!

I know this sounds lame, but you and Tom should practice interviewing, so he can work on being as fabulous on the outside as he is on the inside. Speaking as the person on the other side of the table, he should research the company, so he can relate what he does to what they do. Download lists of common questions and he can practice. Not that he has to memorize things, but if he has points in mind to list, the whole process will be easier.

we would fight crime!!

Ooh! I'm liking that! Or maybe you could fight demons? While brewing tasty beers?

ion - Good morning from Thailand!

Okay, this week has got to stop piling on people. Hey, week? See what you did with Tom and the job interview? That's the kind of thing we need more of, not all this sadness and frustration and weariness and canceled contracts.

THIS. So sorry, Hil, Barb.

vw - sounds like you're doing all the right things. The behaviour you're describing makes me immediately wonder what the hell kind of behaviour is being modelled at home - I know one little girl at our school who was like that last year (she's got a lot better) and we know that she gets treated pretty horribly at home. Not to say that this is always the case, but when it's actively being mean on a regular basis (rather than being careless/high spirited and causing chaos) then you have to wonder what the motivation is. Can you get a translator to help with the communication issue with the parents? Because "thank you" is about the most unfuckinghelpfull response I can think of.