Would it be tacky to ask for a new iPhone (not the new new one, just one of the 3GS ones that will drop in price when the new one hits the stores)

Yes, but especially so because of how your mother is. We both know she SAID she'd exchange it, but then would hold it over your head for the remainder of your earthly days. The Russian crosses are more visually interesting than their Western counterparts; put it on a ribbon and wear it with the corset.

Mom just doesn't get that I don't care about jewelry.

This is something I don't get. Mayhap it's because of the Italian genes, but I had jewelry from the moment of birth. I love it--real, paste, or costume--even though I am lazy about switching things out. There's a jewelry armoire in our bedroom fer chrissakes.

{{{{{{Sean}}}}}

{{{Askye}}}}

There's a jewelry armoire in our bedroom fer chrissakes.

I used to wear more jewelry. Then two things happened. First my cruddy old trailer got broken into and my jewelry box (not a heck of a lot of expensive stuff in there, but stuff I wore, that my dad, and grandmother, may they rest in peace, gave me) got taken. And second, shortly after that I got a job at which wearing much jewelry is highly impractical. But Daniel has been buying me some lovely pieces, enough so that I think I might need a jewelry box again.

But instead of a jewelry box, I might go with a fishing tackle box, on the grounds that it's less likely to grow legs and walk off.

This is something I don't get. Mayhap it's because of the Italian genes, but I had jewelry from the moment of birth. I love it--real, paste, or costume--even though I am lazy about switching things out. There's a jewelry armoire in our bedroom fer chrissakes.

oh, good, now I have somewhere to put it.

Don't get me wrong. the cross really is beautiful, I just know that I won't wear it. Firstly, because I rarely bother to swap out my necklace and secondly because I feel like a hypocrite wearing a cross given my heathenistic tendencies.

Also, in fun mom news, she wants me to go on a cruise with her for Christmas (again). It's actually a good bargain, but I want to say "if I didn't want to go if you were paying, what makes you think that I would want to spend money to go" Again, mom just doesn't get that I don't like cruises. It's like she thinks that I just don't understand and if she asks again/gives me more of it I will suddenly change my mind.

Um, sorella, why are we still up?

Yes, but especially so because of how your mother is. We both know she SAID she'd exchange it, but then would hold it over your head for the remainder of your earthly days.

Ah, just like the expensive coffee maker that I have still in a box. Families are fun.

That said, crosses on ribbons are pretty when dressing up. And, for me, when they are especially ornate, I feel less like a bad heathen wearing one. A simple cross and I probably wouldn't do it.

I likeany necklaces, but realistically find I only wear earrings and bracelets on a regular basis. I have a few necklaces and rings, but rarely wear them. But good luck getting her to exchange it, vortex.

I want to go on a cruise just to find out if I am a cruise person. I suspect not, but...maybe?? Couldn't be that much worse than holidays in the Midwest, could it?

Next time you see your Mother, Vortex, wear the two diamond crosses as ear rings. This way, she won't go and get you a third one.

Late to the conversation as usual, but oohh, chatting about regional store differences!!

I've lived in Massachusetts, Minnesota, Utah, and China, and like everyone else was at first taken aback by the overwhelming chattiness of everyone in the midwest, but I did find that with the exception of my very good friends people were not as nice anymore if they found out about my very liberal, non-Christian ways. But I still adore Minnesota. On the other hand, I was warned before moving to Salt Lake City that people would be different to me because I wasn't Mormon, but I never felt it. I was only in SLC for three months, but I really enjoyed it there.

I also found myself defending Bostonians a LOT to Minnesotan people, as a lot of them seemed to be convinced that everyone out there was rude and too busy and and I finally had to convince some of them to come visit me at home one summer to prove that this was not true. I love love love Massachusetts and I've never found the people there rude. But it's also home, so my opinion may be skewed.

Cashiers in China tend to either be super super super friendly (maybe slightly moreso to me than other people, as they are always freaking out that I can speak Chinese) down to the girl who works in one store near me who is usually sitting on a very low stool watching a movie on her computer and doesn't even look away from the screen to ring up what you buy, and then literally throws change at you. We find her hilarious. It's also lucky for her that she works at a store with a scanner, or she'd actually have to LOOK at what we're buying. In most stores, they just look at it and tell you how much.

To comment on a slightly more recent discussion, I love Anne of Green Gables. I remember reading the books when I was about nine and demanding to my mother that we promptly move to Prince Edward Island.

Wishing you much interview~ma, Hil! I hope it goes really well.

askye, I'm very glad to hear you're reaching 37 today. Many, many happies. Real, lasting ones. And best of luck with finding a therapist.

smonster, that comic on irony is fantastic. Have sent it to all my English teacher friends.

I remember seeing a movie (or the TV series, I forget) of Anne of Green Gables (and being made sad by the ending). I did not read it. I do love The IT Crowd.

I also found myself defending Bostonians a LOT to Minnesotan people, as a lot of them seemed to be convinced that everyone out there was rude and too busy

I adore Bostonians. I can't believe people would think them rude. I love Boston's combination of small town feeling in a decent-sized city, and the people completely reflect that. Maybe it helps that there's a lot Irish hospitality around. (My Irish Bostonian cousins, who I had never met before, had me stay for a week and showed me around Boston and the rest of Massachusetts. Wonderful people.)

Happy birthday, askye!

I have to say I kind of agree with the whole fake niceness of American shop people being weird. Like the whole having people to say hello to you as you come in? Creepy. People constantly asking you with big smiles if you need help? Creepy. People at the till telling you to have a great day? Just a big lie! I’ve worked in shops, I know you don’t give a crap whether I have a nice day or not, and you’re only saying it because your boss will fire you if you don’t. Which makes me complicit in your lack of agency. Weird and creepy. I’ll take honest rudeness every time. That said, people in smaller shops rather than chains don’t seem to do it as much, and are just generally nice.

Londoners have all been pretty friendly since I moved here too, which stereotypes would say is unlikely. That said, the stand on the right, walk on the left thing is STRICTLY followed. I’ve never seen anyone not do it. Don’t know what would happen if it did.

A friend of mine from Finland took a really long time to get used to small talk in Ireland. In Finland, you don't even make eye contact with people in shops, let alone chat to them. She's had people looking at her very strangely since moving back because she's accidentally smiled at a baby in the street or something.