The Delaware Primer MMP

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
181

Okay, so here’s the deal(s).

Our vacation dates have been agreed between hubby and me since January this year and set in stone (i.e. ticketed and confirmed) since August. Hubby’s family has known about our vacation timings since July, probably. We fly out next Friday, 12th December and don’t get back till January 10th. As some of you may recall, my sister-in-law (S) signed her marriage contract in May, went on honeymoon in October and is now (by all accounts) happily deflowered. Normally, the wedding party/reception would happen either just before or just after the honeymoon, but S has decided to wait until December (the 17th, to be exact) have her wedding party. Now MIL has asked/demanded us 5 times in the last 3 weeks (since they finally set the party date) to CHANGE our holiday plans so we can go to the stupid wedding party! F! R! O! :confused::mad::dubious::stuck_out_tongue:

Part 2 - so S and her new husband have moved into a little house and decided to have a luncheon/grill/barbecue party today (the aforementioned pot-luck for which I had to produce a last-minute dessert). I asked hubby what time we had to be there and he told me 12:30pm. We left the house at 12 and went to MIL’s house, since neither of us knows where S’s new place is. (Backstory - we are going an outdoor barbecue/grill lunch with outdoor temps around 70°F/21°C but gusty winds, so I dressed HRH in a hot-pink tracksuit, with a vest and long-sleeve T-shirt underneath) As soon as we walked in the door, I knew the party was not starting at 12:30 - MIL was still sitting on the sofa in her nightgown. And the first words out of her mouth were, “You can’t take Noor to the party dressed like that! She looks like a BOY! You can’t take her out like that in front of … PEOPLE!” Uhh, what people? This is a family party! She seriously wanted me to take HRH home and change her into a blouse, tweed skirt and wool tights! :rolleyes:

Part 3 - We took Noor home and fed her some lunch (which was when I posted my “teaser”), then took her (in her tracksuit! Bite me, B|TCH!) to the party, which started by about 2pm. Food was finally served by 3pm (by which time I was STARVING). S’s new house is in a small compound with a communal barbecue/swimming pool area, so we were all sitting around tables near the pool, with me jumping up and down like a jack-in-the-box, chasing after HRH and herding her away from the pool. At one point, I was standing literally 12 inches away from HRH (who was standing about 5 feet away from the pool, but walking towards it), when MIL sees a need to screech, “Pick her up!” I ignored but closed in to about 6 inches, at which point MIL SCREECHED, “Aaaghhh, PICK HER UP!!!” I grabbed Noor’s hand, turned around to MIL and said, “What is wrong with you?” and walked off! :stuck_out_tongue:

I have a nasty, nasty headache!

182

dotty, I hereby nominate you for sainthood. Jeesh! :rolleyes:

183

Damn, Dotty, I don’t know how you hang on to any civility around her!

So today is my RDO, but I ended up having to get up early and drive my daughter to the University because she overslept. She needed to get down there fast, so I didn’t even get a chance to take a shower. I had throw some clothes on and race her down there.

When I came home, I discovered trash strewn throughout the lower floor of my house. The damn dog got in the garbage AGAIN!!! He’s outside and I’m sitting here steamed.

After I picked up the trash, I sat down to pay some bills. Yeah, funsies…:rolleyes:

Now, I need to take a shower and work on cleaning my house a bit.

There isn’t much else going on, guess I’ll cruise the net then jump in the shower.

184

Friday! Woohoo! The weekend approacheth, the day is half over, my sleep deprivation is slowly being rectified (went to bed at midnight last night – yes, that’s early for me), and I’m catching up on the blogging (3 reviews posted before lunch, yay! I could have done one or two more but I was testing a few new apps, taking screenshots, etc.)

Wanted to order some new winter boots from Sears but they were sold out of the ones I wanted – something they only told me when I went to actually place the order. You’d think such a big company could get whomever designed their site to post stock info right on the item page. Hmpf! Now I have to pick a different, less attractive style.

I’m eating blueberries right now. They’re awesome. (I don’t really like blueberries any other way but straight up. I don’t mind blueberry pie or donuts or whatever, but I really prefer just popping 'em fresh.)

mmmmmouse - Anytime. :slight_smile: I suppose I’ve become the resident iPhone/iPod Touch guru, so any questions or whatever, feel free to bend my ear.

Nava - Good for MathGirl. She seems to have a handle on how to deal with SheBoss, so all the better for her, and just proves that no matter where you are, the power trippy control freaks always show their true colours when confronted by someone who isn’t afraid to call them on their shit. :slight_smile: It also sounds like SheBoss’ boss is trying to reign her in, which is cool. Too often it’s the case where the chain of command backs each other up, even if for no other reason than to maintain a unified CYA profile. I’m so glad I work in a generally friendly environment. Even the owner is cool. Some of our clients, on the other hand…

VBob - Aw, crap. Now I’m going to have to try that chocolate cake mug thingy this weekend. It just sounds too good and fast not to try it. As for the cleaner – jebus, she’s got some issues. Let us know how it goes with JJB though – especially if either she freaks out or JJB gives her a good dressing-down. Then we have something to look forward to on its air date.

Back to bloggin’…

185

Howdy, all. I am here. It is FIRDAY, thank FSM and all His Noodly Appendages! Not that that makes a lot of difference, considering I feel like total crap today.

Dotty, have you guys considered relocating to Australia? Just sayin’. It sounds like the width of a really wide an ocean and 7 or 8 time zones would be a minimum of distance you’d want between you and that horrible woman. Doesn’t your husband realize how awful she is to you? Or is it a cultural thing, she’s supposed to be a bitch to her DILs because her MIL was a bitch to her? (At least be grateful you don’t live with her! :eek:) Anyway, I can’t believe you were as civil as you were. I would have told her to stop screeching and talk to me civilly and courteously or not at all, and then scooped up HRH and left!

Great job on the part of MathGirl, Nava. Sounds like everybody needs to get together and stand up to SheBoss, or better yet, go over her head and complain to her superiors about the way she tries to deny people pay for hour worked or refuses time off for medical necessities. Or just get rid of her because she’s a stupid idiot!

And speaking of stupid bitches (it’s really Stupid Bitch Day around here today, isn’t it?), it’s probably a good thing I tend to stay up too late. Last night poor Papa Tigs had been in bed sound asleep for 2.5 hours when the house phone rings. It’s one of the idiots on the night shift at the hospital help desk. Something or other shut down because of some heat problem or something, and waah, she doesn’t know how to find the phone number of the person to call. I cannot believe Papa Tigs was civil to her stupid ass. He had to get up, log into the hospital system, and walk her through looking in Outlook (!!!) for the number. And then he couldn’t get back to sleep for hours; I finally had to wake him up after his alarm had been ringing for 5 minutes or so this morning. I sure hope his day gets better.

I guess I should go back to doing something constructive. Although, frankly, a nap sounds more constructive than anything else I have to do right now. :frowning:

186

I’ve had a weird and kind of crappy week. I was out sick on Wednesday and that was the day that the massive layoffs happened. I still have a job, but my co-worker got laid off. So our team has been reduced to just me and the director. Judging by all the urgent meetings going on, I’m hoping I’ll have a job through January 2, but after that, I have my doubts. I knew one, if not both, of us would be let go, I just wasn’t sure which one of us would be first. (It would not be surprising if my director lost her job, either, she’s a PITA for everyone.)

Yikes! My boss just called. Almost gave me a heart attack - I thought I was going to be called in to a “meeting.” She was actually calling to tell me I didn’t take **enough **time off for the half day last week - I was only supposed to work 3.5 hours, instead of 4. So I’m going to leave a half hour early today. (A consequence of the layoffs is that everyone is taking their personal days, excused leave time, flex time, etc. now, rather than saving it for the holidays. Everyone seems to be going to the doctor/dentist, too.)

I’ve never been to Delaware, but my aunt moved there with her first husband. (Insert long story here about people making bad, and ultimately, tragic choices.) I also had a penpal in Delaware (Dover, I think) in the third grade. Her name was Honey. I’m sorry I lost touch with all the penpals I had in grade school and high school. It’s a lot easier to keep in touch with people now, but I do miss thick envelopes full of handwritten letters, pictures and cards and other fun stuff.

187

Glad you survived this round of layoffs, Shadow.

We had a nice lunch for coworker/teammate who’s leaving. It’s going to suck covering her job and mine until we find a replacement. Manager and I will split Teammate’s work so it’s not like doing two full-time jobs, but 1 1/2 jobs still doesn’t sound like a lot of fun. At least we got approval to backfill.

188

I got in early and off early today, only to be stuck on the bridge as they wrapped repair work for the day. So much for getting home early.

Glad my work week is over. Daughter and I have some shopping to do in the morning - groceries and some fabric mainly. I think I’m going to try to clean and organize the dump that is the green bedroom. We’ve been cramming stuff in there to get it out of the way, and now you can hardly get thru the door. So that’s this weekend’s fun.

No idea what to do for supper. Grilled cheese, maybe??

Happy Firday, all!!!

189

You also have a nasty, nasty MIL too! Not that you need ME to tell you that… :rolleyes: Gawds, what a bitch–maybe Australia wouldn’t be far enough!

Himself is having his first day of orientation and training, and we’re all like :eek: at this job–turns out he’s in the first class they’ve targeted to be remote agents from the get-go, previously they’ve only allowed trained agents to transition to telecommuting from the call center. This would explain the gruelling vetting process! It’s pretty telling that in this job market, with these guys running their ads in multiple Craig’s Lists, Monster, Jobdango, etc., for well over a month, Himself’s training class only has six people in it. He’s on a conference call with HR now, muted, so he can relay to me the details on the bennie package and it’s pretty much like this: :eek::D:cool:

I have a humongous pot of ham & beans in the oven baking away for dinner tonight, it will be served over cornbread–and I mean the kind with a can of corn in it along with chopped jalapenos and shredded cheddar cheese as well. This is so Himself has a full weekend to cope with the gastrointestinal distress before he has to be back in training again. Poor baby has a legume allergy but he does so love his ham & beans and if I get the right types of beans and cook them just right his reaction is not much worse than the average person’s…

It’s a purty day out, think I’m gonna take the goggies out for a run, they could use it…

190

I’m back home!

Glad you survived the layoffs, Shadow.

Want me to come over there and bitch-slap that woman, Dotty? She gives me the grrr.

So I had my well woman exam, and then she scheduled me for a bone density scan. Two hours at the doc’s. Then I went shopping, and found three nice blouses, and a fancy 2-in-one thing that’s fancy and beaded to go with my flowy pants for tomorrow’s company [del]Christmas[/del] Holiday party. We found out this week that the band Kansas was cancelled because of “these economic times.” Whatever. :rolleyes:

Then I had Chinese for lunch. It was yummy!

Then I went to get my oil changed at this place that Mr Rebo set up tire rotation with every oil change or something. I get there, they say 45 minutes, and one hour later had not even started. I grabbed my keys and left.

Tomorrow morning I’m volunteering at the Food Bank. I think it will be fun!

I have to marinade the shrimp soon, and go score a Feud.

So I’ll see ya when I see ya!

191

Howdy Y’all! The workweek is over! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!! Tomorrow is slouch day. I has decreed!

Supper tonight was Chinese take out. Ol’ y’all who took it out and brought it here. :smiley: Poor General Tso. We et his chicken.

Dotty ummm… another vote for y’all movin’ to Australia. Plus, as insurance, debilitate the MIL so she can’t travel.

I spent most of the day on calls. I talked a lot about iphones. Yes. Yes you do need an iphone data package. Yes. Yes it is goin’ to run you around thirty bucks a month. No. There is no such thing as a free iphone3G. Yes. I am sure of that. Multiplied times infinity and three bazillion. I think that’s how many times I said said any and all of those statements today. Oh and I think I talked to a drunk person at about 8:30 this mornin’. Fun day!

192

So, what you’re saying swampy is that there’s no free iPhone 3G and you actually have to buy a data package? Cuz I wasn’t quite clear on that.

Yay for layoff survival, Shadow! Hopefully someone else can take you under his/her wing so that you survive longer term in spite of your director.

Wow, Dotty, she’s reached a new low. :eek: Here’s another vote for Australia.

I’ve got a good small-scale chocolate pudding recipe, mousie. I’ll try to post it on the weekend, but it might be next week before I get to it. This weekend is going to be mega-busy.

I need to make sure I have cookie ingredients so that I can bake cookies for Sunday’s cookie exchange. Also need to get the book that we’re reading for book group next week. And some stuff so that I can redo the caulk in the bathroom. It’s icky.

Off to run errands then start cookies.

Back later with an update.

GT

193

seconded, thirded and fourthed

oh goodie! it’s official!

194

I am now officially owned by Sapphire. I signed the papers; I’m all hers! And she looooooooooves the deshedding brush I got for her, which is good, because I’m beginning to wonder if there’s any cat under all that hair. :slight_smile:

thinks about Dotty’s MIL and is intensely grateful that she doesn’t have one at all

195

Well, my plans for tomorrow are slightly changed. Daughter is going to proctor the SAT at the high school. She has to leave the house about 5:45. I expect to still be asleep. HEH! :smiley: So I’ll do laundry in the morning, and we’ll run our errands later.

That’s all. Life is boring again, and it’s nice.

**Dotty **- you’re a better woman than I. 'nuff said. Hope you have a wunnerful and relaxing trip.

I need ice cream, even if it is 28F outside.

196

Congratulations on Kitty Ownership!!

197

Congrats to Pie!

Soapy, I forgot to tell you that it’s so nice to have someone here that can do math.

Has anyone else gotten a spyware alert when watching hulu? Apparently, my computer won’t let me do it (without warning me). I tried Joost and didn’t have a problem yet, so I’m going with that. But hulu has better selection. Bummer.

198

FCM, 28F is not really cold. Only cold-ish. Ice cream seems entirely appropriate.

199

Money is so tight here that I have made a Decree: no presents for the parents or anyone else but the kids.

I have not made a Decree before. I have cajoled, advised, persuaded. This year I’m in more of a “fuck that, no way” mood. I am also picking up more days at work (at 0530, unfortunately). I have not forgotten about those impending divorce papers (but there’s been another wrinkle that I won’t bore you with). I’m still on my Feb timeline. I have almost given up the library job idea and my ANM told me that there will be an opening in recovery room come Feb. It’s FT, but I’ll take it (if they’ll have me)–I’d get bennys, stability and health insurance at just under my current rate of hourly pay.

Very busy weekend ahead and next week, too. Hooray to all who deserve it and too bads to those who have the misfortune to need them.

Dotty: I do hope you have not changed your travel plans ONE bit. And you need to slap her upside the head. I hate MILs, truly, I do. May I never be that way, ever. Stupid cow.

200

I’ve never gotten a spyware alert from hulu. Maybe it’s a new attack. What program is telling you about the spyware?

I’ve obtained everything I need for cookies. And have my book. Butter is softening and I’m going to do some cleaning before considering whether to make cookies tonight or first thing tomorrow. We’ll see how awake I am in a bit.

I might make the dough and throw it in the fridge overnight.

GT