But he's my dad, and I love him, and I just have to let it be what it is. And, yeah, like you said, try not to feed him certain cues.

This is the definition, in some ways, of family. I will never be what my parents want either. And Grace will always be someone different than I envisioned. I never wanted a son at all. But still we love all of these people, foibles and all.

This is the definition, in some ways, of family

I totally appreciate that "family don't end with blood (boy)". But in my mind, that's always meant that blood doesn't make anyone my family.

That's why I can have relatives I haven't spoken to in ten years and others who I might talk to, but only trivialities, and I don't engage with them at all. I don't give a flying fuck what the family tree says.

Do we have poetic sprog? [link]

Well, I meant it more that family are the people you still love even though they don't act the way you want them to.

In nice news to wash away the taint of the grad fiasco -- I have a fair number of former students on Facebook as friends. Many are grad students or have graduated from college. One just posted about Much Ado and said this was her favorite Shakespeare play and she remembers when we studied it in my class and went to see it performed. She casually mentioned and tagged all sorts of former students saying we should do it again.

Awww... so sweet. I love that my former students can talk about not only liking Shakespeare but they can make a choice about a favorite play.

Well, I meant it more that family are the people you still love even though they don't act the way you want them to

I'm not more tolerant of my family's foibles than my friends', was what I meant. It's not a distinguishing factor.

I don't give a flying fuck what the family tree says.

You are lucky. I'm still annoyed that my family tree is forever marred thanks to my cousin's son, who named (or at least agreed to name) his daughter Bella Renee.

Notes from my day:

• I was told it was National Donut Day and given a donut. Chocolate with chocolate glaze and with chocolate chips (or possibly chopped up chocolate candy bar of some sort) in the center topped with some sort of chocolate pudding like filling. God it was good.

• Coming down Main Street I passed a parked car with three of those little people-in-my-family stickers, two parents and a kid, I think, only the people were Daleks

• DFI sent me something! I thought it might be an interview date before I opened it, but it was another invitation to apply, this time for a position in San Diego. I'm gonna mull that one over, I have until 6/20 to respond, maybe my employment situation will be sorted out before that.

• I have been to the grocery store twice in the last two days and still have not remembered to buy Aleve. I even put it on my list! And then didn't look at my list while shopping. Sigh.

Jilli that reminds me that the local upscale thrift store has a black and white striped silk capelet - I saw it yesterday but didn't note price or size. Should I fix that

makes incoherent squeaky noises while flapping hands at the monitor

Um, yes, please. Striped capelet!

I even put it on my list! And then didn't look at my list while shopping. Sigh.

Story of my life!

After my transportation clusterfuck this afternoon, and thanks to Day 1 being today, I have had chips and dip AND ice cream for dinner. Because fuck you, that's why.

I'm still annoyed that my family tree is forever marred thanks to my cousin's son, who named (or at least agreed to name) his daughter Bella Renee.

The cousin who named her son One, and changed her conventional name to something "fancy" and one letter off another cousin.

DONE WITH HER (that's not the whole rationale, but it's what I tell my mother). Once a year I have to give her a cake my mother sends for her, but she lives in Santa Monica and I am 364 days clear of her otherwise. My mother is pissed, but I don't have to have her in my life. And I certainly don't need to stop judging her.