{{{{{Deena}}}}} I also call it a hot water heater.

We are the house of sickies today, and ltc is exceptionally cranky about it. She doesn't want to eat anything but junk, and we've given up so we're just giving her whatever she wants so she'll eat something.

Oh, Deena! I am sorry that so much is happening at once. Hugs and love to all.

Things are pretty overwhelming here too, but I'm pretty chill about it all, just doing what I can.

New doggo is a true delight, happy that he is doing so well. Went out to a neighbor's spring gathering last night with DH, son, and DIL. Spring fling is like the last time of the year we can be outside and not melt. Despite all the incredible yummies I stuck to my diet plan with one tiny exception. One of the guests made a big pitcher of blackberry margaritas made with fresh berries, orange juice, hot peppers, and booze. It was absurdly tasty, but I only had one small plastic cup.

We had to leave early because SIL called and said she was taking MIL to the hospital. DH is down with her now. I think she is going to be okay, but she really doesn't take good care of herself and her kids are getting frustrated. Parents!

Eldest son is still a source of deep pain and anguish, but I don't have a lot of options. Way too much to go into it, but he just is not progressing. I'm not giving up, but it is exhausting. Kids!

Got a zillion irons in the fire on the homefront and workfront, so to keep myself overloaded I took on moderating the NYT Readers Facebook Group, which has been more work than anticipated, mostly because the other admins don't do much. But it's generally a pleasant enough diversion from my other responsibilities.

Today, going through boxes of crap that includes clothes I wore when I was nearly 100 pounds less than today, in my 30s. The kids were mostly amused by the bathing suits that look like doll's clothes. I can conceive of being an 8 or 10 again, but not a 3 or even some of the things were large kids clothes. Ha. But I have to go through the boxes, not just toss them.

Enough already, Laura! Just click post already.

Poor ltc and family. I hope she is feeling better quickly. Hugs to all.

Aw, poor ltc. And poor mommy and daddy.

Laura, when I feel frustrated with my kids, I remind myself that none of them are alcoholics, drug dealers, convicted felons, or prostitutes for crack, all of which can be found around the family tree (lots of good, happy, successful people too, but they don't stand out quite so much in neon).

I was talking to my therapist about how I'd thought I was fat when I got pregnant with Nick and mentioned that I wore size 10 - 12, and she said "that's what I wear!" And I was kind of shocked because I thought of her as skinny.

Some of my textbooks for the genealogy course arrived today (I think that's the fastest Amazon has ever delivered anything -- that was about 12 hours from ordering until delivery, and they delivered on a Sunday), and I'm starting to do the readings. A lot of the stuff that these books look at as "any experienced researcher knows this" is stuff that I don't know, because I've done almost no US research into anything before the twentieth century, since none of my own family was here then. So I've definitely got to learn about things like Civil War pensions and homestead claims and all of that stuff. And land records! I think that, in my family, the first of my direct ancestors to own property in the US were my parents.

And, if I want local clients, and I want to look into historical records, then I've definitely got to improve my German skills. Though that's something that I've been trying to do anyway, for my own research.

It appears that I volunteered to host the Seder this year. Sure, we'll be four people and they'll be friends and non of them is orthodox to the point of checking if the floor underneath the closets is clean, and yet I suddenly question my sanity.

How cool, Hil! That sounds really interesting.

Shir, oof! I have no idea how involved that is, but it sounds scary.

It appears that I volunteered to host the Seder this year. Sure, we'll be four people and they'll be friends and non of them is orthodox to the point of checking if the floor underneath the closets is clean, and yet I suddenly question my sanity.

Me too - we normally go to my mom's or my grandmother's but neither of them are hosting this year and my 11 year-old asked if we could do our own. It will just be immediate family + my sister, but I don't actually own a Haggadah, so I've been piecing one together at this DIY Haggadah site.

And searching up "modern liberal atheist Haggadah" gives you WAY MORE EXTRA THINGS to put on a Seder plate than I was previously aware of. Like I knew about the orange, but there's also a pine cone and a tomato?

And searching up "modern liberal atheist Haggadah" gives you WAY MORE EXTRA THINGS to put on a Seder plate than I was previously aware of. Like I knew about the orange, but there's also a pine cone and a tomato?

I have my own humanistic Haggadah (which I will update this year with some parts of the queer-feminist Haggadah I saw last night). I got rid of every violent part I could find and added stuff I liked about freedom and liberty and social responsibility. It's in Hebrew, but I'm happy to send it if it helps. And I'm sure that the Humanistic Judaism Society will have some suggestions...?

And oh, Lord. The Seder plate. Do I have one? I'll have to get one. And understand how to make it vegan. And in the spirit of the Seder I'm trying to arrange. Huh.

I have no idea how involved that is, but it sounds scary.

Deena, it's just a lot. Mentally. How else can you value being free, if you're not subjected in one evening to thousands of years of tradition and social expectations and norms?

I'm in the hot water heater club, although like "ATM machine" and "VIN number," I've mostly trained myself not to say it.

blackberry margaritas made with fresh berries, orange juice, hot peppers, and booze

I don't know, Laura. That there sounds like it might be the key to health.