So far, no family members have contacted Joe or me about attending this afternoon. Our friend Jessica is attending with her daughter and we are so grateful.

And so very grateful for the support you all have shown us. Family of the heart you all truly are.

I can't imagine NOT going to a child's performance.

My pseudo-son-Sam had a theatre day at his school...it wasn't even a public performance. I may have embarrassed him a little by saying, "Yeeeessss" just as the lights went down. But, how could I not? He totally nailed his part!

He said he was embarrassed, but he was also grinning from ear to ear and telling everyone it was me.

Em should be rewarded for courage and talent.

Aims coal in your family's stockings too!

It looks like my uncle might still be in the hospital for Christmas, which puts all our plans up in the air. He may or may not be having surgery on his lung on Saturday. Either way he could us some health-ma.

Hah. See, I might've been calling the family and being like "So which day are you coming to the performance, Friday or Saturday??"

The whole wheat noodles were store brand. Highly not recommend. Was trying something new. It was the only whole wheat on the shelf. The noodles were on the flat side, didn't swell much with cooking. And a little on the gritty side. The family thought it was good. I thought it was my worst lasagna in a long time. Thankfully the cheesey bread was my best ever. Nom nom nom!!

You've got high standards which is commendable, but I'm sure they're right and it was delicious.

My family is very big on calling and inviting until you get a result. Sadly, some people need to be bugged.

Health~ma for your uncle, sj.

And high sulfur coal~ma for Aim's relatives.

smonster, D sounds like a really nice guy.

Well get ready, b/c you are about to find out how much D likes carrots satsumas.

Oh, bonny. Don't be too hard on yourself - you could have been a boddhisatva and she still would have responded like a bitch. Doesn't sound like she treats her bf much better, honestly.

Aims, could you at least call your fam and just tell them that you and Joe would appreciate it if they came, and it would mean a lot to Em? Or would they not react well to a direct request?

Steph, I'm glad Tim had your back. He's a good one.

Health~ma for your uncle, sj.

I must have skimmed over something... hope he's okay.

First, I love the word 'satsuma.' Can't say why. I especially love the word, as pronounced by David Tennant. There IS an explanation for that.

Yeah, smonster, she really was bitchy to everyone around her...including a male non-boyfriend in tow. I just could not get over how she was yanking on the dog as if she was doing something wrong. Being an energetic puppy is not a crime.

BUT...I should not have stooped to her level. That was totally within my control. No excuse there.

The worst of it is, in retrospect, I suspect that there is a huge possibility that, quite apart from being horribly snooty, the woman really is frightened to be responsible for this living thing.

She said, in exact words, that she doesn't know what she is doing. That can't feel nice.

I just wish a) she hadn't taken on the task without getting some training first, and b) that she hadn't reacted in anger well before she got free help!

I need to put it in perspective. I had a truly wonderful doggy lama appointment yesterday, that might lead to big things for me...and the person wrote to day to say that the last 24 hours were the best her family has had with their new rescue. When she called me last week, she was ready to take him back to the shelter. So. Bonus there.

Plus, I was able to comfort a neighborhood woman whose dog I knew well, shortly after they had to euthanize him last night. The poor dear had to get away from the house because she was so sad. Fortunately, we were able to chat for a good long time and she is focusing on her living dog...an incredibly rare, white Doberman with totally white eyes. She's a sweet girl and very lucky this family adopted her.

The woman even spoke about getting a new rescue for Christmas. Bless them. I'm saying a prayer for Ocs, their recently departed. He was a blue Dobie and an absolute doll. I think I may have linked a picture of him from last year's Howl-o-ween. He played Hannibal Lecter quite convincingly. Sadly, he was only 5 when he died yesterday. The woman said he was just 'genetically broken.'

Anyway. For every bad experience I have, there are 20 or 30 lovely ones. I just need to shake the bad ones off faster.