I knew a non-stop talker, it's like they're terrified of silence or think that it's a major social failure if there isn't "conversation" when there are at least two people in the room. I could see actual anxiety in her face as she kept talking.

As a dog owner, that shit from other dog owners infuriates me. I'm sorry, Karl.

All the talky-people just need to shut the hell up. Including me most of the time.

sara, that's great, and I'm glad you got to a point where you can appreciate your parents for what they are now, foibles and frailties included.

JZ, I am so sorry for all of you. I hope Matilda feels better soon.

Right now I'm annoyed with one friend who is basically like "no I can't do anything without my gf because we only get so much vacation time and it wouldn't be fair to use it without her" and I'm like "you LIVE together, you can't spend ONE weekend apart??"

I am lucky that SO does not feel this way. We both take time away with our own friends, and we're happier for it.

Speaking of SO, I am so goddamned proud of him. He is publicly fighting the current narrative about Sunday's tragedy (deifying the murderer) and has received a lot of support from folks who agree that didn't feel comfortable speaking up earlier. Shared, with permission:

Alright. I've been largely quiet on here about how this all makes me feel. Here goes.

Sad? Absolutely. But not for the same reason as many others. I'm sad that Sue was taken too soon by someone who claimed to love her more than anything. I'm sad that Sue will not see her new grandchild. I'm sad that Sue will not get to share her kindness with anyone else ever again. I'm sad for both families who have been shattered by this senseless event. I'm sad that there are children and grandchildren who have to carry this with them for the rest of their lives.

But mostly, I'm angry. I'm angry that Jim would do this. I'm angry that so many want to focus on his suicide without putting as much weight in the murder he committed first. I'm angry that his years of public service somehow outweigh the fact that he killed his wife. I'm angry that many are assuming he had a work related mental illness and are quick to use that as an excuse for what he did. I'm angry that so many people are coming forward with stories about his actions over the last few decades in his personal life, but they're quickly disregarded because he was a well respected first responder. I gained a great deal of knowledge of my profession from him, but it is greatly overshadowed by who Jim proved to truly be. I'm not currently and likely will not mourn Jim's death.

I know my opinion is not a popular one and I'm alright with that. I mean absolutely no disrespect to either family with my feelings. Everyone is processing this in their own way. This is mine.

Good for him, Maria.

Your SO is great, Maria. Good for him speaking out like that. (I am weirded out because I know a Jim and Sue couple, but I guess a lot of people probably do!)

Ooh, Jesse, sorry to hear the gf came on the trip. Right now I'm annoyed with one friend who is basically like "no I can't do anything without my gf because we only get so much vacation time and it wouldn't be fair to use it without her" and I'm like "you LIVE together, you can't spend ONE weekend apart??"

Yeah, that wasn't quite the argument, but close -- lots of work travel by my friend, but they also just moved in together! Ah well, we gave it a shot, and it does sound like my friend agreed it wasn't a huge success. But also not a disaster! So that's something.

Go Maria's SO!!

Jesse I feel like it's even harder when it's queer couples because the "boys weekend" concept doesn't work/isn't culturally ingrained (though of course we could argue about toxic masculinity and gender roles and why those concepts are fucked up, but whatever)

{{Matilda and family}} I am so sorry that she has had this summer experience, but also grateful that you have a village to pinch hit for you. Hip~ma for your mom and wishes for quick recovery.

Couldn't say this better than Laura.

Maria, The fact that your SO's opinion is unpopular is so depressing and terrifying. That's great he spoke up and so eloquently.

I am lucky that SO does not feel this way. We both take time away with our own friends, and we're happier for it.

So much this. There is time with friends, time with your SO, time with friends and SOs. All important.

Maria, it is good that you are there to support SO and it is helpful that his expression of reality has helped others as well. Grief can be absurdly complex.

Timelies all!

{{Matilda and family}}

Mr. S's 3 year checkup was today at 11, so I took the whole day off.(He went to camp/daycare after the checkup, as no vaccinations were involved.)

I hope Matilda can make a quick and painless recovery ... and not infect anyone else.

JZ, I'm so sorry about Matilda. A few years ago, I learned the hard way that Public Health in NS doesn't even recommend quarantine for kids with Hand, foot and mouth because it's so virulent that by the time kids are symptomatic, they've all been exposed. I still side-eyed my coworker who had a kid in daycare. (ETA: I wasn't actually around any kids for weeks previous to getting HFM, but she's the only person I know that had exposure to it.)

That said, the first couple of days were the worst, so I hope that's passed for Matilda. Be prepared by knowing that I lost a toenail a few months later.

Much ~ma to your SO, Maria.