Yes, take as long as you can comfortably to move so you can save as much as possible. Glad she was just talking a visit. Drive to Iowa and back, hahaha.

I work with a bunch of kids. Not literal kids but I work with a lot of 19 or early 20ish young women who are freaking drama magnets. One in particular I wish would do something enough to get fired. Which I feel bad about but she was on Face time at the register in front of a customer. Then at the end of the day she had some kind of conflit with the customer, the managers on duty got involved, and all I know is that she grabbed another co worker and were in stock room and she was talking about how she handled the situation really well because she didn't hit the customer -- which was her first impulse. She was really really pleased with her self that she didn't hit the customr. And the other co worker was agreeing,

When I left I pulled one of the managers aside and told them about that just because it was just a huge judgement issue.

I just keep my head down and do my work and wonder how many chances certain people are going to get.

She and a few others treat work like it's a summer camp. They are always yelling and screaming and chasing or "scaring" each other. Or they are on their phones or complaining about being told not to be on their phones. And the employees from other departments will wander over. And all the shoe people complain about being told do their work and talk about how disrespectful the managers are for telling them to do their work or giving them warnings etc.

I don't really want to go to work with all this going on.

Oh Laura, I wish I could give you and B each huge hugs.

Well, crap. There's a family reunion on the horizon, so I will be going to Trumpistan in July. Woe is me.

I feel like I can put up with the Trump supporter who will be celebrating turning 80. She's mild mannered and a sweetheart and will not be a loudmouth about her beliefs.

Her oldest son is the Alpha Male of our generation and what he's put me through with all his Shunning and Ostracizing has scared his sister but good. She thinks if she gives offense she'll end up all left out. Like me.

I can probably put up with him, too. I do hope he won't corner me and insist I take on his religion again.

My problem is mostly with Cousin's Bitch Wife. She thinks I'm a Bad Influence. I sent a present to their kids... and she threw it away. Into the garbage. Unopened. Now I know what happened to the personal letters and birthday cards that mysteriously went missing.

I've been advised to stay out of her way and keep my mouth shut and get over their shit because it's water under the bridge.... but I don't know if I can behave perfectly enough not to set them off into a scolding fit.

This much dread doesn't bode well for a pleasant trip. It SUCKS.

Oh man, I dread those encounters myself. I've become expert at keeping to safe topics. At least with the political stuff. The personal nastiness, well that is a lot harder. This too shall pass. This too shall pass. Maybe there will be a seriously drunk and disorderly relative to soak up the attention!!

Katerina, are there people you are going for that you otherwise wouldn't see? Because that sounds like a whole lot of "gosh, I already have plans that weekend, so sad!" To me.

KBee, for real, that kind of shit is why I haven't seen or spoken to most of my extended family since I left for college. Are there any you'd miss if they didn't keep in touch?

Oh Katie, in your shoes, I just wouldn't be able to make myself go, no matter what they said about my non-appearance. They do not *deserve* the blessing of you in their presence, and I wouldn't squander it on undeserving beings, relatives or not.

KB, if I had a vote, I vote you visit a Buffista that weekend instead.

Thanks, you guys. It is incredibly stressful and I'm out on the Left Coast far away from the self righteous in Virginia.

I feel I have to go. My Dad offered to finance airfare and hotel because he's feeling strongly about family seeing as he is lucky to be alive right now after his health adventure.

The birthday girl is his little sister and the date they chose is Uncle Billy's birthday. Bill was the youngest and had the gift of making children and pets automatically adore him. We talk about him so much that DH feels like he knew him too. Sadly it was AIDS and he died pretty much when Freddie Mercury did.

I don't think I can take hearing about how he's in Hell.