I left the Saturday of Labor Day weekend (and got to Prague Sunday night, so didn't actually DO anything until Labor Day) and got back today (though I pretty much stopped all touristing on Sunday--took a train from Krakow to Warsaw, passed out in my hotel for 12 hours, got coffee, went to the airport and flew home for two days). It was pretty awesome! Other than the sad but expected confirmation that my brother is in fact a racist jackass. (He lives in the Czech Republic, so I was vaguely visiting him)

Question in re: racist jackass relative: so, he is very aware that my sister and I strongly strongly disagree with him on....just about everything. And after a bunch of the stuff he said (even WHILE we were really really trying not to get into it!) I would totally be peacing out on his ass. Except I worry that he will have children. And then if I had totally cut ties (or even just seriously told his ass off), I wouldn't be able to properly influence them. On the other hand, these are still hypothetical future children (who he and I were discussing when some of his most jackassery was put in words). Thoughts?

These are fun: Unsatisfied Women in Western Art History

Ever wonder why women are often unhappy in classic paintings?

My gut reaction is that the kids will be happier to be raised to be jackasses, rather than grow up in a family that is a tug-of-war of ideals and loyalties. Also, kids of jackasses can turn out okay. And maybe your peace-outing isn't the end that it seems now. And maybe these kids never do get born. And maybe your leaving now does nothing to change the jackasses life for the good or ill, or maybe it does.

You can't know.

And my opinion means shite, but do what is best for your health and those you love. You can't control everything. Especially an unknown future.

Now, I only wish that I could walk away from my own jackass if it wouldn't also mean walking away from my mother and father (it seems to be a paradox of emotion).

I'm stuck in trying to find the best way to deal with jackassness and I just can't find a good solution. KCD is the issue. One child refuses to deal with him based on the way he treated her while the other child still has a good relationship with him. I want to rip him over the way he is dealing (or not dealing) with the one without causing ripples with the other, so instead I'm doing nothing which also feels wrong.

Long story short - no easy answer.

Dinner finally eaten. I think everything is working.

Apparently Something in beisbol happened. My fb feed is blowing up with orioles from the locals.

They were winning last I saw. Just leaving the Cubs game myself.

They clinched AL East and are ADORABLE!!!! I'm not much of a sports fan but I love this team!

OMG so tired. The heat makes me so tired. Also my poor girl noodle has been doing homework since 2 pm, other than a break for dinner, and she's still working on it! She also took time to write out a chapter to a book since she's decided to be a writer, so I guess that took up an hour or so of her afternoon, but still! Too much homework for an 11 year old!

WRT Jackass relatives: mine are distant enough that I've decided I can't change them and let them be, but tend to call them out if they engage in jackhole comments in front of me. With a brother it's harder, I admit. While he's in the Czech Republic you have the advantage of distance to let you off the hook.

I need a little help. I'm trying really hard to keep my head above water. Please say something kind?