Sox, in your shoes, I might lobby for both you and the friend's hubby getting spelled to have some pampering time, to make up for it.

Awesome, Hec, I've heard that my girl's getting some good notices. Which I think is awesome, both cause she isn't going around trying to look twelve, and because of the thorough dissing she got from Fontana Inc.(Which, don't get me started. It's like Olbermann and the baseball hall...major rant potential.)

I'm sorry Hil, losing someone you'll miss is always hard.

Good luck, Tom!

And vw, eep! IME 3 year olds are always a handful, but I make a distinction between mean behavior and high spirits/lack of control. My first thought is that the child may be acting out in order to force you to set limits. Maybe see if you can intervene earlier, pull the child to one side and then ask her why she just bit Freddy or choked Zola or whatever, validate her feelings (no matter how 3 year old they seem) and then suggest to her other ways to respond.

thanks brenda & windsparrow. That is a really good point!

Hil - so sorry for your loss

Thanks for the commiserations, guys-- I basically had myself a really good, rail at the fates sort of cry (even the Hub was shocked because I rarely let go to that extent) had a cup of tea and proceeded to watch Food Network and HGTV the rest of the night. (Alton has a tat, who knew? And boy, that Carter Oosterhouse is one big, earnest, SOB, but it's offset by the goofy adorableness.)

I'm not really though because when the friend got home around 9pm, which is a lot more like 12 hours, I found out she'd also gone to the spa. Can I pack up and leave now?

She did this without telling anyone she was going to the spa? ::blows whistle and throws flag if this is the case:: I mean, I remember that feeling of desperation and utter relief to get away from the wee ones, because no matter how much you love 'em, they're a handful, but six hours is already taking quite a bit of time-- to stretch it to nearly twelve seems kind of inconsiderate. I'd definitely lobby for some pampering time.

Sorry about the book, Barb.

Sox, I suspect that if you were to say, "I called the spa and they have an opening tomorrow at 2 p.m. Will you and him watch Iris while I go?" your friend would say she would. I don't think I'd let it grow into something bigger than that. While I think your friend took advantage, she might have also been thinking "I worked all day when I'm supposed to be on vacation while they got to play with the kids!" in the negotiations in her brain for the spa time.

Good luck to Tom! I second the notion of practicing a little and taking the time to think up good questions to ask them.

The universe really, really, owes the Buffistas some good stuff ... any hope it's saving it up and going to release it all at once?

... crickets ...

sigh ... we can hope, right?

I'm so sleepy, I think I just pledged allegiance to the clock.

vw, I SOOOO feel your pain. I wish I had any real suggestions, but I find it nearly impossible to deal with that when they're old enough to respond halfway rationally!

I wish it were Friday.

I am pessimistic about the universe. There's a lot of crappy shit going down in it.

(apparently these days I am Eeyore)

Happy Birthday, erika!!!