I'd have thought a "I just don't do those" would be politely understood. They'd make you go into detail?
Not in my family.
Young Simon: So... how'd the Independents cut us off? Young River: They were using dinosaurs.
'Safe'
Spike's Bitches 47: Someone Dangerous Could Get In
[NAFDA] Spike-centric discussion. Lusty, lewd (only occasionally crude), risqué (and frisqué), bawdy (Oh, lawdy!), flirty ('cuz we're purty), raunchy talk inside. Caveat lector.
sj - Jul 15, 2012 2:51:30 pm PDT #17147 of 30001
"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."
Atropa - Jul 15, 2012 3:11:41 pm PDT #17148 of 30001
The artist formerly associated with cupcakes.
I'd have thought a "I just don't do those" would be politely understood. They'd make you go into detail?
You would hope. But some people, instead of saying "I just don't do those", make a snap decision that they're not going to any more baby showers ever again, because as a single person who has tried to be supportive of everyone else, they're just DONE and aren't going to attend/help out with the baby shower they said they would. And then send an email saying that NOT to the other people involved in the shower-planning, but to the expecting mom. The night before the shower.
... hey, look at that. I still have issues about that baby shower.
le nubian - Jul 15, 2012 3:17:20 pm PDT #17149 of 30001
"And to be clear, I am the hell. And the high water."
oh Jilli. what a nightmare.
Atropa - Jul 15, 2012 3:20:40 pm PDT #17150 of 30001
The artist formerly associated with cupcakes.
It kind of was. The mom and baby (now toddler, OMG) are wonderful people, and I made damn sure she had a good shower. But between that, and one of the other planners showing up 45 minutes late and throwing a prima donna hissy fit because she was a new mom, wouldn't anyone think about HER NEEDS, yeah. I don't plan baby showers any more.
(Plei and my parents kept me sane during that party. And Pete took me out for drinks afterward.)
sj - Jul 15, 2012 3:37:09 pm PDT #17151 of 30001
"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."
Jilli that story reminds me of when I worked at a small gift shop. My boss was 7 or 8 months pregnant and her sisters came in and screamed at her for over an hour about how difficult her friends were making the planning of the baby shower. I could not believe it.
§ ita § - Jul 15, 2012 3:39:49 pm PDT #17152 of 30001
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
I do have a handful of literally certifiable members of the family, but at least I have the freedom to turn down invitations. It's how I keep myself out of the institutions.
Vortex - Jul 15, 2012 3:48:35 pm PDT #17153 of 30001
"Cry havoc and let slip the boobs of war!" -- Miracleman
Vortex, your not baby shower is what I remember baby showers being.
That was exactly my intent. :)
WindSparrow - Jul 15, 2012 4:08:32 pm PDT #17154 of 30001
Love is stronger than death and harder than sorrow. Those who practice it are fierce like the light of stars traveling eons to pierce the night.
I would say I retaliate against baby showers by making the gift I bring, but I am actually rather proud of the baby blankets I make.
There was a stretch of time in my mid-20s when I kept saying someone should throw me a "looks like I'm going to be single for a while but I deserve nice stuff too" shower. Oddly enough no one did.
I loved Richard Scarry as a child.
I envied with the strong envy of a new reader my cousin's Richard Scarry's something or other. And began to covet it all the more when I discovered that my library only had a Richard Scarry picture dictionary. Wow, I can still feel that visceral WANT.
Smonster, Lots of ~ma for your sister.
§ ita § - Jul 15, 2012 4:37:58 pm PDT #17155 of 30001
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
I can only imagine retaliating against a shower by not going. But I can't even imagine that, since I've been lucky.
Kate P. - Jul 15, 2012 4:38:05 pm PDT #17156 of 30001
That's the pain / That cuts a straight line down through the heart / We call it love
We made onesies with iron ons (mostly Ramones and funny song lyrics) and hung out. It was fantastic.
Awesome! I should track down some Ramones iron-ons for Rose -- they are by far her favorite band.
My boss was 7 or 8 months pregnant and her sisters came in and screamed at her for over an hour about how difficult her friends were making the planning of the baby shower. I could not believe it.
Jesus.
smonster, lots of ~ma for your sister that it's something easy and cheap to solve.