I realize this marks me as a sad individual, but there you have it. I hate to bargain. It's too much like conflict, and I hate conflict.

Oh me too. I will pay people to call the service department for me, no kidding. I bought a used car from Saturn so I wouldn't have to dicker.

So it's really funny that I seem to be in a most actionable position, should I care to initiate a harassment lawsuit with my neighbor. Apparently I have struck fear into the heart of management, which is pleasurable in an evil sort of way.

What would be my motivation? Cash would be nice, and revenge not really worth it. Having my right to quiet enjoyment spelled out wouldn't be so bad. I will probably live here until I croak or the Hayward Fault rips a big one.

I had no real problem with tooth extraction, but having a gap really sucks. I keep stabbing myself with food and plus there's the Hillbilly Smile factor.

I bought a used car from Saturn so I wouldn't have to dicker.

The same issue was a huge factor in our choosing CarMax. I don't consider it "sad" so much as "economically rewarding the dealers who do business in a civilized and honest manner."

So today's wonderful daycare story was that instead of napping, Dylan took off his socks and stuffed them so far into his mouth that he threw up all over himself.

His teachers are getting SOLID GOLD CHRISTMAS PRESENTS this year, I'm telling you.

it was weird to me that i was being asked to ask my child to keep *the truth* to herself.

I just had this conversation with someone - a very good friend, who believes in God, while I am an atheist. I'd told her I hoped to approach the Santa question like a religious belief question, IOW, try to teach her to respect someone else's beliefs, even if she thought them false. It suddenly struck my friend that for me, God is just as much a story as Santa.

Goodness, Jessica. No words.

Stephanie, our friends are Jewish and are struggling with the preschool lessons on Santa this month. They don't object to Santa but it's tough for them--they don't want her singled out but there is certainly a strong desire for "truth" to win out for them.

My kids are embracing Santa whole heartedly--including Owen picking up the phone to call Santa to inform him that he needs to put Liv on the Naughty List.

Jessica, I'm so glad that's you and not me. It so easily could have been.

Humiliation: unable to open two jars, Katerina has to go next door and ask the burly man of the house if he will do it for her.... oh yes, I am having me a power day over here.

Excitation: I am hoping most vigorously that the February Artist Guy will continue to be a flake, for then I shall be showcasing my life's work in felt in the window of The Book Shop in Hayward in February 2010, not November 2012. I am SO excited, you should all be imagining a sort of high-pitched squeeeee of delight emanating from the East Bay.

Calli, I hope the rest does your ankle good. And yes, I am back in NC. Got back Sunday, took Monday off.

Please keep us posted on your BiL.

Can't read the whitefont on my iPhone, so I can only imagine...

Stephanie, I think we talked about it here because Emmett was such a late believer about Santa. I think he was in sixth grade, 11 y.o. when he found out. And I think I pushed it there because I felt it might be socially fatally to enter Middle School still believing in Santa Claus.

I think like Mumps it's better to get it out of the way early as Ellie did.

Matilda is in full on Santa mode, though. Then again, she doesn't have a lot of distance from what she's watching on TV and when she gets anxious about a thrilling plot turn she will frequently turn to me and say, "Daddy, I think you should help Skraat now" before Skaraat gets smooshed between two glaciers.

Anyway, I have done my best to foment this lie by buying her the one present she was certain that Santa would bring her for Christmas this year.

Yikes, Jessica. That's, um, creative.

Fingers crossed for exhibiting, Katerina. How exciting!

{{Everyone who is numb or recuperating or injured or otherwise would benefit from hugs}}

I grew up getting "Santa" presents from my Catholic grandparents, but being raised Jewish, it never meant much more to me than a fun way to get extra presents. And I picked up pretty fast that Santa had the same handwriting as my Nana.

We also got Christmas presents on that side of the family from Golo (Grandaddy's giant) and Sven & Olaf (Golo's friends the Norweigen rats), who were and are all much more real to me than Santa ever was.