I wish I had some good advice Steph but I don't.

I had to deal with one branch of my family being ultra ultra Boycott Disney Southern Baptists, Left Behind loving and not so subtley racist. Fox News would blare practically 24/7 at the beach -- you could even hear it from our poorly insulated mobile home and a few times I feel asleep to it.

I took A LOT of walks.

But i never had to deal with direct c omments or people pushing me to get married.

That's fair, and I try to not be a dick *just* because someone is a conservative. But sentences directed to me about "Your friend Obama, the Muslim," kind of make me have rage blackouts. I'm willing to be called intolerant for not tolerating that kind of crap.

I feel for you. He sounds like my cousin Bobby, whom I will happily never see again. My sis and I had to deal with him at my mom's funeral and the aftermath. He's not just a conservative, he's an asshole. I'm not intolerant of such people because they're conservative - I know thoughtful conservatives with whom I can respectfully and politely disagree - but because they're being dicks. And/or stupid. There's no way I could stop myself from at least saying, "Our President Obama is not a Muslim and even if he were it wouldn't matter". Sometime during Bush's administration, I stopped being able to extend polite tolerance to people who feel there's no need to extend polite tolerance to me.

Yeah, my BiL put their house on the market because, as he was happy to explain to anyone who would listen, Obama the socialist was going to bring the economy to halt and he wanted to put the money into gold to survive the crash and the riots. Luckily, the real estate market was so bad, they didn't get any bids.

It IS damn hard not to ask him just to shutupshutupshutup when he gets going onthis stuff.

I don't see any reason why bigotry has to be tolerated, honestly. There are lots of negative things I don't condone. That's just one of them.

I don't see any reason why bigotry has to be tolerated, honestly.

Hundred years, all new people?

Hundred years, all new people?

Happens faster if you kill the bad ones now.

Aw, Tep. Dude. Um, there is A LOT that Tim's family doesn't seem to know about him, huh?

Heh... "Shut up your dad about he atholicay urchchay or I'm tellin him about the RESSESDAY" would be an evil, wrong, and mean thing to say. Super shitty to the point where its not even considerable... but if THINKING about the epic drama of just how that might go down gives you any sort of glee I vote you smile sweetly whenever Pop starts and plan an elaborate two gown wedding in your head the whole time he is talking.

Do you TELL the priest about the two gown wedding? Do you spring it on him at the altar? Hell, HE'S wearing a dress. What about the attendants, what all could THEY wear? Are you going to use OBEY in your vows? Just how might you illustrate that?

Or maybe kill two annoying as shit birds with one stone and tell him that you, as a good Democrat, have converted to Islam. Out of respect for his devoutly held beliefs you have kept this from him but no longer feel comfortable doing so. Then look at your watch, whip out a compass, grab the welcome mat, and drop for prayers. Five times a day. For the rest of the vacation.

Debet, Hil, and I saw a "Prayer Station" the other day in midtown and I was sorely tempted to offer the guy at the Halal food cart fifty bucks if he'd go over by them for his mid-day prayers.

"Fifty bucks cash, one of us watches the cart, two of us stand next to you looking badass while you pray. Whadda ya say?"

Man that would be fun.

Dealing with people on the craxy end of the conservative spectrum is super annoying, especially when you're trapped in a living space with them. I hope this and your back problems don't ruin your beach trip, Steph.

Elaborate fantasies are a valid coping mechanism.

So, I went to the park for free fish and took Frankie, where he made lots of new friends, as usual. One little boy insisted on walking him and then he started telling everyone "This is my dog." And fairly randomly, either "he bites" or "he doesn't bite." I was about to go home, but it turns out he was at the park by himself (four. years. old.) I asked him if it was okay at home and he shook his head and looked like he was about to cry. And so we stayed a while longer, until it started getting really stormy, and I asked him if I could walk him home.

Uggh. Simultaneously adorable and heartbreaking. Maybe it's just too noisy at home? It sounds like he lives with several relatives. But he said no one knew where he was. Oy.

And now it is thundering and storming to beat the band. Damn.

A new friend from OKC came over (she played hooky from work today) and helped me touch up the finish on a couple of furniture pieces. I can see how that would be obsessive and rewarding.