Irish wheaten bread, toasted (am actually eating this for breakfast).

What is it with potential personal care assistants? They come for interview. They seem enthusiastic. I offer them a job. They accept job. Then later I talk to them again, e.g. to ask for references, and they tell me they've changed their mind and they're unable to accept the job after all.

Am I coming across as that much of a scary potential employer? It really is a great job - I pay well, it's part-time hours for people who have other commitments, and it's mainly really easy work. So weird.

People that do that are flakes, Seska. I mean that in the nicest way, but nobody ever became an attendant because her life was free of personal issues...I thought it would be different in a different country, though.

erikaj - I'm with you on the flakey thing, but I can't work out why it keeps happening to me. I work my way through the list of 'potential' people and they all turn me down. Blah. Fortunately, I think I've now hit on one who actually wants the job and will do it well.

My mother is already driving me insane.

What part of my facing the screen and looking at a very official form seems to invite conversation about Michael Jackson's children and their supposed paternity?

Gronk. Today is definitely going to be a day spent at home. No way am I walking anywhere with my ankle hurting this badly.

What part of my facing the screen and looking at a very official form seems to invite conversation about Michael Jackson's children and their supposed paternity?

I suppose it depends on the form.

What part of my facing the screen and looking at a very official form seems to invite conversation about Michael Jackson's children and their supposed paternity?

Maybe you should ask her who this Michael Jackson person is?

Just respond absently with total non-sequeters. "Yes, thank you, that will be fine."

"No, I had the mashed rutabaga."

"3.5 million, unless you include interest."

{{{ Hil }}}

I like the "Who is Michael Jackson". But then that might launch into a whole conversation explaining who he is. Not helping your situation.

Hil, I'm sorry your ankle is hurting.

Barb - once I was on a beach trip with a friend who wanted to do nothing but gossip about PHil and la Brit. When I asked her to please not talk about *just* those two b/c I was sick of hearing about them, she acted like a kicked puppy. IOW, I feel your pain.

Seska, I hope you feel better soon and good luck finding an attendant.

My old phone just broke completely (in two) and I wasn't quite done transferring my contacts to my iPhone. Paging 1st World Problems, aisle 3...