You made me smile just then, omnis.

Sweet! My day is done. Can I go to bed now? Oh wait. Mom wants a Sunday family dinner at her place tonight. Scratch that. This afternoon. Not sure how many family dinners I can handle in one weekend. But hey, how often is my sister in town visiting. Times like this, it's hard to be an introvert.

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Right. There's a weird-as-HELL separation between respecting consent (or lack thereof) when it comes to kinky stuff, versus the really REALLY no-boundaries touchy-feely attitude that prevails in social situations.

I am going to be really optimistic and say that I think this means that they just honestly realize that there are varying levels of personal bubbles and thus can learn. It's not intentionally failing to get consent, it's that they don't know that THIS is also something that needs consent. Which sucks because you have to be the one who basically tells them over and over but they sound uninformed, not like assholes.

She might very well have just saved Christmas.

That is good to hear.

Family is nice but it's also stressful.

I used to think that little nephew just didn't like me but he's also just a whiner. I mean, he also doesn't really like (okay: know) me. But that doesn't seem to affect the whining levels. I am throwing every technique I can think of at him.

And I feel bad because I know in my heart, I prefer his twin sister. We bond over sparkly things and she is an enthusiastic, good reader and loves math.

I am trying to be really, really aware of this and look for ways to click with him too. Sadly, Avengers did not work even though he's got a lot of the toys. It might have been timing though, so I am trying that one again.

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Times like this, it's hard to be an introvert.

I feel ya. I hope the dinner's yumminess makes up for the energy drain.

Any chance that they might be back at the same cafe tomorrow? Maybe you could slip a business card to the guy and he could reason with her?

I _wish_ I had a business card on me in the moment.

It's unlikely I'll see them again...I don't think they are from the 'hood.

Thanks for the kind words, peeps. In the overall scheme of things, I guess I feel better about speaking than I would have had I not, but I just hate the ugly stuff.

Now, I'm off to a holiday 'do that I normally really enjoy. But, there will be a ton of people asking me about Bartleby. I've decided to take a bunch of pictures of Cagney and gloss over the sad stuff where I can. His cuteness should be enough to shield me.

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I am gumbo-ing. Just spent most of the last hour (or however long 3 Friends episodes w/o commercials) making roux. And the previous hour washing, de-stalking, and chopping greens and chopping trinity. I get to rest for like an hour now, though. Greens, roux, trinity, garlic, spices are simmering with a big ass smoked ham hock and I am looking forward to dinner!

Tom made marmalade with citrus from our farm box (where all the greens came from too) so all we have left to use up is cauliflower, broccoli, turnips, and sweet potatoes. Any suggestions?

Aims, I'm glad the M-i-L showed up. bonny, I admire your restraint. Cass, I also feel like I don't connect with my niecephews, but being far away definitely is a factor. I can imagine it feeling uncomfortable to realize you like one more than the other. Omnis, good luck with your family stuff, I am sort of dreading going through the same thing when I go up to Boston for concentrated family times. It'll be all right though!

Also, {{bonny}}. Thinking of you and Bartleby and Cagny, and it's great to see you here!

Man, I'm wiped. This is why I rarely make gumbo.

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Hm. I've never had food poisoning before so I'm not sure what's going on with my tummy but I've had totally stomach-specific nausea/discomfort since lunch yesterday (thai noodles from a cart i've never frequented before.) Nothing into intestines, entirely stomach. And still bothering me 24 hrs later...at first i figured it was maybe some chicken broth slipped into something but i've never had accidental meat introduction to my veggie tummy keep bugging for this long. Plus, meat or dairy tends to bother my gut, not my stomach. I really hope i'm not contagious, since I'm still at work....

eta: and about 18 hrs after eating the noodles i've developed the tell-tale dark circles under my eyes that usually indicate consuming chicken or dairy. Huh. They usually show up sooner.

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The Family Winchester is reunited. Mal and I got in Friday with no problems and all our stuff. However, the cat missed her connection in Miami, so we hung out at the exciting Caracas airport for FIVE HOURS.

But all is good, and Mal's been super brave.

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Mal is a champ for getting through that much travel. I'm glad the Winchesters are finally reunited.

Ugh, erin. I hope you feel better soon. Unhappy tummies stink.

Cass, I also feel like I don't connect with my niecephews, but being far away definitely is a factor. I can imagine it feeling uncomfortable to realize you like one more than the other.

I had moved to Portland just before my sister found out she was pregnant with the twins. So I've never been close to them.

It's odd because I was always the favorite aunt with my Niecelet and then Nephlet. But I've been just a random family member to these kids so having a preference didn't feel so bad.

Still, now that I am here, I am trying to make an actual connection. And trying to love somewhat equally.

Then again, I am also trying to reconnect with my siblings. And it's working much of the time. We're not going to be traditionally close probably but we can have moments.

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Nightguard is still really uncomfy when I first put it on. But the painful tightness seems to ease as I am wearing it so I am trying, trying, trying to wear it a couple of hours per day. Once I can get more used to it, I can try to wear it before bed and eventually sleep with it.

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Aims, I think I would do almost anything to get to see Em in the Nutcracker.

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Nora, what is trinity?

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