Just had latkes. Yum. (Our Chanukah celebration stuff is on several days that aren't Chanukah this year -- it's pretty much whenever during December the family is together and whoever needs to do stuff feels like doing it. We kind of missed the "family is together" part, though, because my mom started cooking based on the time when my sister said that she'd be home, and she's now more than an hour and a half late and we've finished eating. I'm not sure who's going to be more annoyed once she does get home -- my mom because my sister was late and missed traditional family dinner, or my sister because we didn't wait for her and she's got to eat blue latkes.)

Hmmm. I under-potatoed my scalloped potatoes. It is now a particularly rich and cheesy potato soup. This could still be a win...

I love those! Hec, my mom wants short haircut advice...nobody here will cut enough.

Kristin & ND's landlord for the win! That's an amazing gift!

Hec, my brother in law never married his son's mother and they split when he was 3. They, too, worked out a 50/50 split. He put A LOT of work into it--including keeping his job prospects well within the area, and bending over backwards in giving his ex their house (he paid for it, she didn't work) and the better vehicle. He paid her more than an official custody arrangement would have required for support payments and carried all insurance and medical costs. I think the generous financial arrangements helped smooth the way but my nephew is nearly 7 and is EXTREMELY well adjusted, having spent more than half his life shuttling between households.

Hec, my mom wants short haircut advice...nobody here will cut enough.

Send her to me.

What part of "pixie cut" don't the stylists understand?

I went out and bought new bras for the first time today. It's soooo weird. I still can't shoot for the fancy ones just yet because I'm pretty sensitive--seams are painful yet. But I can wear CAMIS. SPAGHETTI STRAP CAMIS! And I found some awesome v-neck tops that look great, too. It's a Christmas miracle.

Suddenly picturing Mom asking for "a pixie cut, goddamnit."(I'm laughing...) Sometimes I think we are the lost tribe of goyische Emanuels. I don't think we've ever said "pixie".

"Pixie cut" in stylist lingo means: "No, seriously, I really do want it short and won't cry when it's an inch long all over."

I think when you're blonde nobody will believe you don't fetishize your hair like everyone else does. Because my mom speaks stylist, although pixie coming out of her mouth makes me snicker, but you know she was a beauty-school dropout in the age of the bouffant, right? But I'll pass on the refresher.

Pete: "Oooh! My miniature glow-in-the-dark crow skull fits perfectly in her hands!"