I've enjoyed Lego Star Wars on my Nintendo DS.

Hey everyone. Thanks for the words of sympathy earlier. I am doing my best to make my peace with his choice, as upsetting as it was, and am trying to focus on the excellent news that he survived prostate cancer and is likely not to have another problem with it. I do know his intentions were good, and since he has completely promised never to hide something like this from me again, I can move forward. He doesn't understand sometimes how lonely it is to be an only child of divorced parents. He has three sisters; he's never had to face a parent's illness alone. He and Mom are all I have, and I need to know that they won't shut me out of this kind of news. When I think about how I would have felt if things hadn't gone well and I'd never gotten a chance to be there for him, it breaks my heart. I think he gets that a little bit more after today. I love him so much, and I'm so grateful that we're getting a second chance to do this right.

Anyway. Longest January ever. Olivia's memorial service is Sunday, and then I hope and pray that that will be the end of crises for a bit. I'm going to give 2009 the benefit of the doubt and say that 2008 was nasty enough to appropriate an extra month for its nefarious purposes. Fresh start on Monday.

Erin, many many hugs and as much -ma as you need. I'm so sorry you're dealing with yet more girlybit badness.

Kristin, fuck this. I'm sorry you have to deal with that.

Also, {{{{Erin}}}

---------------------------------

It is supposed to be an *institutional* both boycott of Israeli institutions, and a refusal let citizens of Israel take place in non-Israeli institutions. It is not supposed to be an individual to individual boycott

But, that's the way it works: even if you're an individual, you're still part of an organization. You can't really seperate, so either you boycott or not.

And no, made no progress with that yet. I'm giving back to ex-workplace the laptop tomorrow, so I'm transfaring my files from there to the computer at my parents. And it's taking AGES. Maybe I'll write that while waiting...

He doesn't understand sometimes how lonely it is to be an only child of divorced parents. He has three sisters; he's never had to face a parent's illness alone. He and Mom are all I have, and I need to know that they won't shut me out of this kind of news.

Yes. This. I'm glad he is going to be okay, and I am also glad he was able to learn this lesson now.

And yes, it does feel like 2008 is taking a while to release its grip. Here's hoping that Sunday is the end of it for you, Kristin.

Oh man, I just lost my mind on a yahoo groups loop and I'm still steaming, so I'm hoping if I come in here and vent, I'll calm down. People are STILL bitching about the judging for the big RWA contest. The Morality Police going on and on and on about how they shouldn't be expected to judge the porno, AKA erotic romance. That it's against their MORALS and they're practically having rocks thrown at them because they say it's wrong, wrong, wrong like a wrong thing.

Thing is, they don't HAVE to judge them. No one's holding a gun to their heads. They can send the books back to the main office. A lot of them would just rather disqualify the books and remain self-righteous without even actually reading them rather than go to the trouble of sending them back. So one of the more self-righteous types, in arguing how WRONG it was to make her read these, said it was

an offense on the same level as insisting that a kosher-keeping Jew taste a pork chop for a recipe contest.

And I lost it. I just thought that was the most ignorant, callous, and ill-informed statement and that she was using it as a comparison for a writing contest?

Anyhow, this is what I wrote in return:

You know what? This is a wholly inappropriate comparison.

Because with this, as with all things, there are varying degrees. I have known people who keep kosher in their homes, but realize that keeping kosher in the outside world requires a great deal more effort and they make concessions and the degree of the concession they make can vary greatly from person to person. Some people, outside their homes, will try to keep within reasonable kosher laws (i.e. not mixing meat and dairy, but not concerned so much if the preparation is strictly kosher) some people are far more lenient and will eat shellfish or oxtail stew or a cheeseburger. Then there are people who are so strictly kosher, they simply will not eat anywhere they're not assured that not only is the meal kosher, but that its preparation has followed the dietary laws, down to where and how it was prepared.

What I'm saying is, that in all likelihood, a Jew who wouldn't want to taste a pork chop in a recipe contest, wouldn't put themselves in that position in the first place.

I doubt she'll get it, but at least I took the high road and kept from calling her an ignorant slut.

{{Erin}} fuckity. You need this not.

Pix - I'm so sorry. Your latest post sounds like you're giving it the best look possible - but still. AUGH.

Amych - can you make the 'new responsibilities, new payrate' talk with someone?

It is Saturday and I am of the gronk. Insomniac dog and toddler. Bad mix.

OTOH - Kung Fu Panda? Hours of family fun. Again.

ETA - Barb, that is a brilliant cluesticking. And civil. And classy.

Hey, all. Gosh, it's so nice to wake up and have it be SUNNY.

Also, when I stay the night at my folks, I don't have to make the coffee. BLISS.

Thanks for all the niceness, guys. I appreciate it.

Happy late birthday, Anne! It sounds like it was a really nice one.

JenP, my C-125 tests are negative so I am not diagnosed as having cancer. But my doc said that with losing my ovaries and starting the estrogen, then I would have to add progestin to lower my chances of developing uterine cancer, so I was all "Fuck that, rip out the whole shooting match."

Basically, I'm trying to find out what I can sorta expect. IS the whol hyst going to be so much worse recovery-wise than my cyst/faltube removal?

Can anyone suggest a good website?

can you make the 'new responsibilities, new payrate' talk with someone?

Sadly, no -- given the current round of budget freezes, there's been a lot of talk afoot about no raises at all this year. At some hazy future point, I'd say it depends on whether they reorg our group to make the current situation permanent, or try to replace the old boss's position (which would require unfreezing the budget enough to even get a position to fill).

::hugs Erin extra hard::

I'm so sorry you're going through this, babe. Like JZ said, your girlie bits should know better.

Pix, I'm so sorry about what happened, and I know *exactly* what you're feeling. My mom has had lupus since I was a kid, and has had lots of atypical presentations and consequences, and for a while my dad would never say anything until I got a phone call, "Well, I brought your mom home from the hospital yesterday..."

Essentially my brother and I opened an enormous can of whoop-ass on them both, and that put a stop to that. It's hard because I know the instinct it to wait it out, and in a way even deny what's going on, not to worry anyone, but it's not fair in the end. I'm just glad your dad's okay.

::hugs Pix, too::

::applauds wildly for Barb::

First, Happy belated Birthday to Anne! I love those decade celebrations. They say life begins at this one. Enjoy!

{{Kristin}} Parents! This stuff goes both ways. If you want to know about important things, like surgery, in your kids life you need to share these details from your life too! My mom does this all the time, but honestly we don't tell her stuff because she is too old and fragile. Both sides should be more open.

{{Erin}} My sisters and mom all had hysterectomies. My girly parts gently retired on their own about 8 years ago. Hormones they tried to push on me when I was losing mine made me insane, literally. Birth control pills did the same thing to me. I would venture to guess that if BCPs don't bother you then HRT won't either.

Red is just too hard for me to maintain although I think it suits me. With my hair so long now I don't want to try. I have considered lightening it a bit though.

Erin! I don't understand at all. I'd think that your girl parts should be constantly high-fiving each other and saying, "WOOT! Check us out, we're in ERIN, how lucky are we?"

I just loved this from JZ. Truer words never spoken!

Barb, at least we can call her an ignorant slut here. You showed most excellent restraint there.