Skipped well ahead to say Congrats to Sparky & DH!!! W00t!

And now back to catching up. Vacations are awesome (especially when Hawaii's involved), but I feel like I'm spending weeks to catch up from being gone one week.

Hope to see you all again later today!

Edited 'cuz +3 was really obnoxiously large.

As long as we're reading Salon letters...

What could POSSIBLY be more fun than the "Obama is not a natural born American" conspiracy folks.

It's the weakest conspiracy EVAH. They give no reason WHY he's spent his entire life pretending to be American. They can't even decide what nationality he supposedly is.

The best part is Camille Paglia is to some degree one of them and now I never have to read another sentence of her's ever again.

Your guide to Upper West Side Jewish stereotypes: [link] (Way too many Yiddish and Hebrew words there to translate them all, but "shidduch" means a sort of set-up date -- generally, a relative or a friend says, "You two might be good together," and you go out to dinner and then either bowling or to ESPN Sports Zone or somewhere like that.)

t edit: I know about five people who fit into their "The Zionist" profile, and several "The Nature Boy," too.

Damn it. DW's mom wants to have dinner with her tonight to discuss putting her cat down. The cat attacks her (sent her to the ER once) and is now stalking her around her house. We found a cat sanctuary that MiL agreed to take the cat, but once there, she couldn't leave her (after we drove her the 4 hours - each way!). When she wanted to get a cat, we told her to go to a shelter, which is what we always do and we have always had good cats. FiL (now deceased) insisted on a Maine Coon or Bengal. They flew (!!!) a Maine Coon kitten down from NoCal - picked her out of a photo w/o ever meeting her. Cat has been a PITA ever since. DW and I are so furious about the whole situation. And now we get to have this fun right at the holidays. Good Lord, I know you lost your husband and I'm sorry for that, but WTF man? We also have quite a lot going on right now and just don't need the extra stress. Argh Argh Argh!!!!

(((vw)))

YAY! to Sparky-sproglet. Although I really love Sail's comment about the new babylord and our open tentacles. Now *that*'s a welcome.

Hil, I hope the drugs help your shoulder, at least until you can have your specialist take a look.

Calli, welcome home! Wow, the queen of Belgium, huh? Small world.

I'm sorry about the tsuris, GC. Can you go with Maine Coon rescue? It sounds like the cat has taken an irrational dislike to your MiL, but perhaps another person would be fine. It makes more sense than a random shelter. Also--she'll put the animal down but she won't release it to a sanctuary? This doesn't sound very rational. Argh, indeed. Vibes for a quick and satisfactory resolution.

Sparky!!! Congratulations to you and your DH. Best wishes for a very easy pregnancy.

Ok. Someone tell me that going and playing with the kids is a good idea. It's just so ick out. I feel like getting myself a bowl of ice cream and plopping in front of the tv for the rest of my life.

Congratulations, Sparky! Lovely news of impending sparkylet!

Here are some cool photos of a model made to look 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 through lighting and mke-up alone. [link]

Also--she'll put the animal down but she won't release it to a sanctuary? This doesn't sound very rational.

I know, right??? She can be so maddening. She did call rescue organizations and the breeder she bought the cat from and all sorts of other places, but found nothing but the one sanctuary where she "couldn't leave her." Apparently not many people want to deal with an animal that attacks.

DW is saying she doesn't want me to come to dinner with her and her mom because, "I don't want you getting stressed out right now." Sweet, but I am already stressed and feel badly about not going. I don't think she'll let me though.

(didn't need to be said twice)