the amount of money and hoopla behind a logo.

It is mind boggling.

My aunt wants to bring my tweenage (I am a bad person and don't remember their exact ages?) cousins for a visit to my office. I think she's hoping to interest her kids in tech careers. Or any careers. But these cousins have never expressed any interest to me that they want to do this. Because they don't talk to me at all during family gatherings as they're sullen tweenagers and I'm 36.

I don't really want to blow them off, so I guess I could take them on a tour of the office and a free lunch, and then send them on their way to sight see?

I legitimately can say that I'm embroiled in Confidential Stuff since lately I'm all I Am Not A Lawyer But I Have My Communications Signed Off By Them.

Oy, I just got copies of the new slide decks and scripts for two classes I teach monthly, and I am not impressed. The images look pretty, but they've shortened and simplified the content and I feel like now it is so basic and entry level. Which some of my class attendees need, but not all. And there was a really good example that one of the presentations used throughout, and they took it away. Big change, not happy.

Shift, if they're sullen, they are probably beyond tweens (my neicephews have tended to not go sullen until 13-14.) But yes, a tour and lunch is perfectly adequate. You DO work someplace kinda cool, even if it is not Playboy.

Now I have a someone who has created a Walmart baby registry with my email address.

My emailganger just signed up for OKCupid. I could've had so much fun, but I just changed her password and then disabled the account.

I mean, if she wants dates, she really should use an email address where she actually gets the messages.

Suzi, sorry! I knew it was you--the fingers weren't paying attention! And I'm sorry for the underwhelm.

Of course, the same sort of luck is wished to Strix. Except for the underwhelming, natch.

I hated Dad's doctor for many reasons. Many. I couldn't get them to change, though. "He hadn't killed them yet." Right. It was only a matter of time.

shrift, I can't imagine anybody being unimpressed with you--you should be the favorite female adult role model among young, impressionable rellies. But if not, yes, I'd think a quick tour, answer questions, lunch, and on to sightseeing would be an admirable contribution.

flea, I'm sorry. The trend is endemic, I think. Everywhere, in every facet of life. Simplify, dumb down, strip and suppress ideas and facts that might spark independent thought.

Oy. So depressing, don't get me started.

Time for lunch, strip the (oops. forgot) winter decor off the front door broom and replace with spring stuff, boil a new biteplate night guard thing, and otherwise procrastinate to avoid working.

strip the (oops. forgot) winter decor off the front door broom and replace with spring stuff

I just tossed my mother's wreath yesterday! Oops.

Andi, is this the same Troublesome Food Cow-worker you've had problems with before?

Yeah, pretty sure she's come up before. To be fair I think that, unlike Beverly's mom, she does not think she knows better than the doctors and dieticians. I think she simply does not see the difference between the information and instruction we have been given and what she is doing. Dietician says, "It's not that you can never have ice cream; but you can't do it all the time and you have to watch those portion sizes." I come away from that thinking, oh hell yeah, three or four times a year we'll buy a pint of Haagen Daaz and we'll use those cute little parfait bowls. It'll be a special treat, just like ice cream should be! And I can plan ahead and have a little bit lighter menu for the rest of the day - big salad, marinated grilled chicken breasts, homemade vinaigrette easy on the olive oil... Coworker comes away from that thinking, Ok great, not every day. If we buy a half gallon of store brand ice cream three or four times a month, and we serve it in cereal bowls instead of soup bowls that'll be moderate portions. Hey look, we're having chili tonight. What? They put a recipe for vegetarian chili on the menu? That's just icky, all that celery! How can you have chili without lots of beef? Well fine, but I can't eat chili without putting spaghetti in it. And a teeny bit of sour cream and shredded cheese...

flea, that's just about "ready to gnaw a limb off to escape" annoying.

Suzi, yay for the raise. Not so yay for the blah new logo.

My FiL is grossly overweight and has diabetes. My MiL does not want to have to cook "special" meals for him, so he eats what she eats. She exercises and only take small portions, so she's healthy. He eats huge helpings and barely moves, so it just keeps getting worse. He says he "can't" eat less because he's too hungry. She says she shouldn't be responsible for what he does and keeps piling the food on his plate.

Never let two narcissists marry, kids. It's not a pretty sight.