That is a lot, ND. I hope it works out soon.

In other news, it's now "remember your cousin in order to invite her to your daughter's wedding reception, but only two weeks out and it's two states away" season. I've never met her daughter (because the cousins couldn't be bothered to visit my parents as they were dying or attend the funerals, much less visit for fun or suggest I'd be welcome to visit them), and the cousin hasn't so much as sent me a Christmas card in the past decade. The same thing happened last year, for their other daughter (whom I've also never met). Salty? As the Dead Sea. At least I like supporting local potters. Registry? Never met it.

{{{ND}}} That's a heavy load to bear. Vent all you need to.

What she said.

Still no payments today either. Now I'm trying to figure out a lease payment on the warehouse. This is crazy. I can't pay my bills if my customers won't pay theirs!

Oh man, ND, that is rough. I'm sorry.

Calli, can you not just decline to attend or provide a gift?

Wishing i could send my mom out there to get the money for you. She has certain talents in that direction, as well as making me look soft and yielding in general.

We joke that it's kind of an Okie thing, because my grandpa was from there and he had it, and James Garner spent money and *twelve years* in court tracking down the profits from *Rockford*, and Elizabeth Warren's Elizabeth Warren. (Maybe the unofficial state motto is "pay up!")

In West Baltimore you could have your crew beat them up, I think. Sometimes makes me feel better, but then, you'd probably be better with a crew that *isn't* debating whether "beatdown" has a hyphen in it.(I mean, if you consider us a crew, that is)

Calli, can you not just decline to attend or provide a gift?

I could. Like, legally and all. But cousin was Mom's favorite and there's Family Expectations and yadda yadda. I don't care about cousin being disappointed. But he'd probably say something passive aggressive to my sister, and she shouldn't have to deal with that nonsense. Dropping a box in the mail is easier than dealing with family drama. It won't break the bank—I'm not giving up my cheese money to make this happen. I'm just a bit grrrrrrr about it.

FAIR.