amyth, your middle brother seems to be not so much flaky as so self-centered that it never occurs to him that visiting his brother or going to his funeral is not All About Him.

I am definitely an INTJ introvert. At any gathering, even F2Fs, I spend my time thinking that these people don't want to talk to me because I'm too old, not cool and lousy at small talk. I never learned how to read people so that I can be smoothly part of a conversation, rather that either shutting up or talking too much. What's funny about this conversation is that I think of many of you as much better at these things.

I don't think there's any good or bad about going to funerals. However, if there are people who care if you're there or need your support, it's rather appalling to say you're not going because it's inconvenient.

Wow, no more getting-hit-by-a-bus jokes for me! Dude.

Thanks, Connie, and I'm sorry, too, for bringing up such an unpleasant topic for you.

Thanks, Bitches for letting me vent! I think I've gotten it out of my system.

ETA: yes, Ginger, you're right, flaky was imprecise. He's definitely self-centered. But I need to learn to let it go a little better, because getting angry about it doesn't get me anywhere except angry.

Team Edward???

A deluded fairy who rampaged through the glitter section of a local mall. Perhaps he was concussed at a Hot Topic.

When I left work tonight, I noticed there was still a band of brightness over the mountains to the west. And the sun clears the mountains in the east by the time I get to work in the morning. It will be warm again, it will be light again. The circle has it reassurances.

I work in the corporate world and if my boss or CEO learned I'd not gone to an immediate family member's funeral and used work as an excuse, I'd be canned for not going.

Um, seconding that amyth's bro sounds very self-centered.

At the very least.

continue listening the the sequel to Bram Stoker's Dracula written my his great-grandnephew

Bath yes, honey bathbomb thingie YES, Dancre Stoker's "sequel" to Dracula NO NO NO. Could not stand that book.

amyth, I'm sorry your brother is being a jerk.

Yes, self-centered is putting it nicely.

Dang, I was hoping it was more the kind of thing I'd say to my sister--"Well, I really hope dad doesn't die right BEFORE this birthday thing we have planned for him, because I'm busy with work before then". Which, um, we did say (we also said that if he did, we could repurpose the birthday thing as a funeral thing!). But he was in...rather less likelihood of dying, and it's not like I wouldn't have GONE. But it sounds, sadly, like he wasn't so much joking. I'm sorry, amyth. :(

In other news: I just did my taxes! I get lots of money! Which I knew, because of the tax credit. But still! I feel I should do something big with it.

I know, you could buy a house! Oh wait. Nevermind.