Crap. I just hit some key combination that closed the window and lost a whole long post. Anyway. I'm back from the business trip; it went well; my editors love me; I saw old friends; I had fun; I caught a cold from the angry-looking guy next to me on the plane, who told me his kid was sick. Thanks, dude.
Jilli, the LJ button was good and right, and anyone who doesn't like it should stfu. People who care about you want to help and are glad to be able to.
Aims, your demanding guests with the precious germ- and tv-free child need to have their expectations of you realigned with reality. What happens to me a lot is, I quietly accommodate an annoying request, to be polite, and then find I've set up an expectation with the other person: "Well, I didn't know you didn't like it! You never *said* anything!" Surely there's a way they can have their child shielded from the doggie germs and the mind-destroying tv rays without disrupting either your household or the game. The playpen/blanket combo sounds like a perfect idea.
smonster, moving to a different state without a job to go to is a scary thing to do, and probably not wise. I've done it twice, myself, and both times, after a scary few months, it's worked out well. So... yeah. Not giving advice.
Erin, you are a force of nature. I wish all the best to you and D. and M., and look forward to reading the saga of how you kick that woman's butt for her.
Shir, the Montreal opportunity sounds wonderful, and I hope it works out for you! ("The Montreal Opportunity." I need to write a thriller named that. "In a city where everyone smokes in public, one man dares to remain smoke-free... even if it costs him his life! ")
I had more to say, but I've forgotten. Love and ~ma to everyone and their people and their pets.