You're welcome.

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I was able to reschedule my dress fitting today, and I am pleased to announce that my wedding dress is no longer just a bolt of silk on the floor! It isn't nearly complete, but it was nice to see some progress happening.

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I half expect her to tattoo (C)(R)(TM) all over her vajayjay next, and then send out a C&D letter to all 3.5 billion women on the planet.

When I saw that posted in COMM, I had to come see what it was about. I was betting it had something to do with Lady Gaga or Christina Aguilera. I was wrong.

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Good onya, Barb!

Sean, I'm with you on the commercial-hating, at least the type you mention. Actually I think commercials use some of the most innovative and effective cinematic and editing and CGI out there, and I like those elements. But stupid commercials aimed at stupid people are anger-inducing, and abrade my patience.

Bonny, my deepest wishes for peace and comfort for you.

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So I sent CfCWG (Cute former CoWorker Girl) a text saying "Hope you are staying warm and dry" (she works for the mouse in the park). She responded with a "Ha, I like the rain..." Let's see if that prompts a call when she gets off work.

ION- watching the Yankee game on DVR. I'm craving some of the Butter Pecan ice cream in my freezer. But last time I had a bowl, Texas won! (Pecan tree being the State Tree of Texas). I know the game is already over, and my eating a bowl can not have any effect on it. But. But. It's baseball, which seems to exasperate superstitious behavior.

eta: Crap, Texas just took the lead. See! Even considering the Pecan caused a problem.

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Is there a back up plan if things get too difficult at your parents place?

I anticipate a big yelling showdown to occur at some point, and, honestly, it needs to happen, which is one reason I'm going. If things get too ridiculous, I can always go stay with my brother.

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I skived off uni yesterday and watched The Girl build a self-assembly sofa. Occasionally I helped. Mostly I watched. It took her nine hours and she is a total star. We have a lovely sofa now. (I am avoiding work and feeling a bit crappy about myself and my ability to do a PhD, and it's a good thing I have a meeting with my supervisor today. And a clothes-swap party up in Leeds with friends from former uni, who usually talk sense into me. Hurrah.)

Man, it took everything I had to not run away the first time the first chance I had after he kissed me on that fateful day.

Heh. I was the one who did the asking out. The Girl practically disappeared for nine months - before changing her mind. (I love our 'I asked her out and she said no' story, and will be telling it at our wedding. Often.)

You held my hand and advised me and proofread my emails in English. Thank you!

I am secretly enjoying the English lessons. Glad it went well m'dear! May you have more success in the job.

Huge congrats on the teaching evaluation, Hil!

Or move to a motel for the week, and limit your visit to a bearable number of hours per day.

This is sensible advice, and what The Girl and I have done in the past with her crazy family. Wishing you solutions to the family stuff, PC. I can relate, believe it or not. TG's family is that crazy.

LOVE your interview summary. Barb!

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Staying in a hotel can be a very good thing. I adopted that policy for trips to San Diego a few years ago and it has made time with my family a bit more bearable.

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If things get too ridiculous, I can always go stay with my brother.

But what if the white devil is there?!?!

(I am avoiding work and feeling a bit crappy about myself and my ability to do a PhD, and it's a good thing I have a meeting with my supervisor today

Don't be down on yourself. PhD is not easy. If it was, everyone would do it. It sounds like you have a great supervisor. If he isn't worried, then you shouldn't be. It's just a matter of getting into a rhythm. And it will take a bit. I'm seeing the first year MFA grad students going through that right now. You have a whole new routine to learn, new people to meet, new surroundings, new house, new studies. That's a lot of new. Once you get used to it all, no worries, you'll be great!

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Go, Hil!

Barb, I don't remember saying it, but you're a star. I love how you handle this.

P-C - man, best of luck. I have no other words, I'm sorry.

I am secretly enjoying the English lessons

This actually caught me by surprise. I thought I knew how to arrange these continuous-tense with present/future (or, continuous-tense/non-continuous-tense). I've been doing it for years (well, since the... 8th grade, when it was taught?), in that way, and nobody told me anything about it until now.

I was shocked, SHOCKED, let me tell you. I really thought it didn't matter where you put the continuous-tense in sentences like this. I think it'll take me a while to shake off that habit: I can only get the strange feeling of "check your English grammar!", but can't really put my finger on where and what to check, which make me very self conscious, when I'm not sure what I should be conscious about.

(btw, after getting back emails from professors with mistakes and typos of their own, I feel a lot better about my English and no longer have the need to catch someone to proofread my English emails to them).

Don't be down on yourself. PhD is not easy. If it was, everyone would do it. It sounds like you have a great supervisor. If he isn't worried, then you shouldn't be. It's just a matter of getting into a rhythm. And it will take a bit. I'm seeing the first year MFA grad students going through that right now. You have a whole new routine to learn, new people to meet, new surroundings, new house, new studies. That's a lot of new. Once you get used to it all, no worries, you'll be great!

Also, THAT.

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