So much healing~ma to Typo Boy, and peaceful passing to Maria's uncle.

Wow, Vortex. I'm...sorry? I don't even know what to say. What a night. And Erika, I don't think kindness really plays into the situation you describe.

Smonster, packing is always terrifying, but I am SO EXCITED that you are moving to NOLA! We are going to have to get out there and visit you all some time. I loved that city the one time I went (for the 2005 F2F).

sj, YAY for an awesome weekend together! It sounds like you relaxed and enjoyed yourself along with seeing very cool things, which is the perfect combo.

I've been thinking of you a lot this month and wondering how you deal with it. This research trip is just a month; I really don't know how I'd handle it if he was gone more often.

Well...it's funny how things work out. If you remember back to when I first joined the board, my then husband traveled 180+ days a year, and I think going through that constantly (he was gone Sunday through Wednesday most weeks, so we never had more than a day or two when he wasn't either getting home or leaving) traumatized me pretty badly. Some of that was because it was the wrong marriage, but it also was just plain lonely. I wasn't single (and my single friends, who turned out to be NSM friends) had pretty much deserted me, but my couple friends were having kids and doing things as a family, which didn't leave me a lot of options for company. I felt like I had all the drawbacks to being married without any of the benefits. My ex is a very good man who tried to make up for it, but it was a recipe for disaster for me, especially in my mid to late twenties when I was really trying to figure out who I was.

Compared to that, Drew's occasional absences really aren't that bad. He doesn't tend to be gone more than a few weeks (and it's almost never those awful short spurts of here gone here gone here gone etc.), and I have girlfriends out here who aren't coupled with families and still want to spend time with me. They do tend to work theatre schedules, which is tricky, but it's not as bad. I also sometimes can tag along with Drew, like you did with your DH, and that helps a lot. Mostly, though, I think it's easier because I know this is the right marriage and I'm a lot more comfortable with myself.

Wow. That got really talky meat. Sorry about that. On my mind, I guess.

Dear erika's brother: go take a dump at McDonald's once in a while, and layoff the fucking burritos, champ.

Oh lord. Talked to my sister today and apparently the cousin intercepted the undertaker after he took off my grandma's jewelry (between the funeral and the cremation) and took all her rings. Including the gold claddagh ring my sister was hoping to give her daughter at her confirmation down the road.

Sooooo, we'll see. I may need to use the punchbowl to get the ring for my sister, because that's really important to her, moreso than the punchbowl is to me.

I also found out that the punch bowl is Waterford crystal and thus rather valuable, which explains why it is suddenly so desired by money grubbing relatives.

Kristin, I love reading things like this:

Mostly, though, I think it's easier because I know this is the right marriage and I'm a lot more comfortable with myself.

I do remember when you were with your ex, and I love seeing how much happier you are now. And I really am glad to know that you've got some good friends in LA; I'm glad of it for your sake but also for mine, as a reminder that it may take a while to make new friends, especially as an adult, but it *does* still happen.

Nora, I have no words for your cousin, just fists of rage.

Mostly, though, I think it's easier because I know this is the right marriage and I'm a lot more comfortable with myself.

Which shows, and I'm so happy for you both.

Sooooo, we'll see. I may need to use the punchbowl to get the ring for my sister, because that's really important to her, moreso than the punchbowl is to me.

No. No, you and your sister need to confront your scumbag cousin, tell her that you know that she intercepted the undertaker and took all the rings, that such behavior is appalling, therefore she will NOT be getting the punchbowl, AND she had better damn well give your sister the gold claddagh ring.

Does the rest of the family know the nonsense your horrible cousin is doing? Because if they don't, they need to know. That sort of behavior is awful and reprehensible.

(I wish I could come be the heavy for you in this family issue. I'd probably terrify your cousin, which only could be for the best.)

Intercepted the undertaker!

I think it's time to lay all this in front of her executor. You shouldn't have to negotiate with a punchbowl you were actually given by your grandmother to get something that your cousin, to not put too fine a point on it, stole. The ring belongs to the estate. The punchbowl belongs to you.

Intercepted the undertaker!

Actually worse than the "Grandma was getting forgetful" line!

The executor is her dad. But my mom is going to my grandmother's lawyer this week to discuss these shenanigans.

I also found out that the punch bowl is Waterford crystal and thus rather valuable, which explains why it is suddenly so desired by money grubbing relatives.

Here's how the issue of the Waterford crystal punch bowl should be resolved: You crack it over her pointy little shit-head. Don't you dare give her anything without a sharp poke in the ribs with an icepick!

There's always the Solomon approach: Offer to split the punchbowl with her.