Pointless Announcements

My brother and I were the bad siblings. We told our sister about Santa and the Easter Bunny when she was 6. And then mum created this story that Santa is in fact the spirit of Christmas, and if we want presents we better believe in that.

You are clearly a great daddy, so don't be silly.

Obviously. Every parent who managed to keep the kid still believing in Santa by that age is a winner.

I'm back from a weekend of Atlantic City, Jerry Seinfeld, Shopping and Eating. It was nice to get out of the city for a couple of days. Did I miss anything important?

massive hugs to Sarah, bloke needs a good old fashioned kick in the pants. Does his own father behave in a similar way? As much of an influence as his workmates must have, it also makes me wonder about his own family.

I'd rather believe in Santa than Jesus

There's a guy I've known for a while who has become a problem. He suffers from some sort of mental "unbalance," for lack of a better word. I'm not entirely sure what's the matter with him but it's pretty apparent in his behavior/mannerisms. He is usually a nice enough person. He's made it very clear to me that he's interested in me, despite deflecting all of his advances and making it clear that I'm in a relationship. I've been very kind to him because I saw no real reason not to be, despite him being awkward and making me slightly uncomfortable. I just figured he didn't know better.

Recently, I found out he's been inquiring as to my boyfriend's address and directions to his house.

I told him that this is really inappropriate and frightening and his response was that he "got a strange phone call" and wanted to look up my boyfriend's address to "get the phone number" and see if it was him who called.

So much of this doesn't make sense and I'm genuinely frightened now. This guy was involved in the military somehow and owns firearms and I can't think of any reason this should be okay.

He also waited 24 hours then told me to "get bent" and accused me of violating his privacy, just to make it absolutely clear he's fucked in the head.

How the fuck do you fumble with two minutes left and the score is tied. Motherfuckers.

I just found out Trevor has a girlfriend via Facebook.

Oh god what is happening?

Grinning: "Yeah, it's not a big deal. Don't throw a parade or anything."

Actually I was thinking of grounding you to your room for the next ten years, hunny.

How old is he?

Two months shy of 13.

Meh. Girlfriend is probably just some girl he sits with at lunch and maybe says hi to in the hallway at school.

I know.

Most of his friends are female, so I am sure he talks more than just saying 'hi'.

He is already prone to heartache without throwing girls in the mix. uhg.

And I've been watching the torment and drama of all his older brothers friends as they get dumped and messed with for a couple of year now.

I want him to stay a little boy a while longer.

I was standing with my boyfriend's sister, who I don't know very well but I'll call her a friend, in the park in front of her apartment playing catch with her 5 year old son. Everyone else was inside. A new Cadillac pulls up to us and rolls down the window. It's a woman who does not live in the complex asking if we've seen her run away dog. Apparently she lost another dog a few months ago and it was found in this area. My friend says says no but if she leaves her number, she'll definitely call her if she sees it. Meanwhile, her son is throwing the ball to himself. He accidentally throws it too high and it lands behind him, on the hood of the woman's car.

As my friend is telling her kid to cut it out and stay still, the woman gets out of her car and picks the ball up. She hands it to my extremely apologetic friend. She totally ignores her apology. My friend is clearly uncomfortable and starts scolding her kid again but hands him the ball. Then...

Dog Lady: I'm sorry, I hope you don't mind me say this but THAT, THAT IS EXACTLY WHY HE ACTS THIS WAY.

Friend: Uh... what?

Dog Lady: He does it because he knows you're just going to give him the ball again. It might not be my place to say but you really need to just... (blah blah blah I have two sons they're so well behaved and Imma teach you how to make this lawless criminal into something almost as good as mine...)

I did not know until now but it turns out, my friend is incredibly shy and instead of telling this lady to mind her bitches, she just kind of stutters and smiles while her kid inches behind her, obvious freaked out by this lady grounding his mom. My friend finallyyy interrupts her but only to ask for her phone number again so she can leave.

Dog Lady: I really hope you don't mind me saying this but it just really bothers me when I see people who haven't trained their kids properly.

Me: Maybe if you trained your dogs better, they wouldn't keep running away from you.

Dog Lady: Uh... I'm sorry?

Me: I just said, maybe... if you trained your dogs better... they wouldn't keep running away from you.

Dog Lady: That's so rude! [gets into car] I can't even believe you would say that to me... [starts driving away] I hope you young "ladies" [she didn't air quotes with her fingers but she sure as hell air quoted the fuck out of that word with her voice] have a good evening!

I've never seen anyone be more of asshole while still retaining such impeccable southern manners.

Southern manners kinda require a level of bitchiness, I think.

No disrespect honey, but aren't you from El Paso? That's so far south it isn't even anymore.

Thank gawd.

lol. Jets?

That's how.

Raiders actually won today = happy pepper.

Happy pepper that gets to say Fuck All ya'll!

(that is the beauty being a raider fan, when we do win, we get to be really fucking obnoxious about it)

Also, Jess is really damn awesome and clever and I hope that dog came along after all that happened and you didn't have the ridiculous lady's number because she was ridiculous and a busy body.

I've completely lost my voice so you lucky bastards don't have to worry about me yelling at you. Seriously though, this sucks. I have a speech on Wednesday that I'm most likely not going to be able to present and I'm not sure how I'm even going to work since I need my voice for that too.

Thanks Kit. I don't want to keep being a buzzkill in PA about it. Things went to shit this morning. He stormed out and I called my Mum in tears and got her to come over. When he came home, Mum looked after babygirl so we could go out and have a chat. We didn't talk much.

Aw, Amber's boy has a girlfriend! So cute!

Bless your heart.

Anyway, Dog Lady sounds shady. "I lost my dog. LOL, not really, I'm just a kidnapper SNATCH."

Hey everyone, how's things?

I glanced at the last couple of pages and I must say, Santa is real and I'm sorry bloke is being a butthead.

Hi Melody!

How's your health?

The nerve!

Awww, thanks. It was a small expensive Yorkie. She showed us a picture of it and it had a pink bow in its fur. I think the best case scenario is that it keeps the freedom its worked so hard to reach and goes completely call of the suburban wild.

I would like that. But more likely, someone will probably find it, name it Muffin and keep it forever. Or a hawk carries it off. Circle of life and stuff.

Totally. My friend said she'd probably let security know that she's trespassing if she sees her again. Since it's true.

guys, i think i'm going to get a crock pot.

what is this world coming to.

Hey Melody, good to see you around!

So I ordered a used book from the US through Amazon last Friday. It got sent today, and it says the estimated delivery date is December 4th. Will it really take that long?!

Hi Melody!

Crockpots are aweseome! I'll give you a recipe for the yummiest beef and guinness pie.

yes, please do. i need help.

You can make everything from stew to apple butter to beans to pork loin in a crock pot.

Crock pots are the best. We actually have two and they're really handy, especially during the holidays or if we're feeding a lot of people. My husband brought a manly looking stainless steel slow cooker to the marriage, but we also have this one. Isn't it precious?

Also awesome: pressure cookers.

It shouldn't. Most stuff arrives long before the arrival date, but companies give a long window so that if it's delayed for some reason, you can't complain much, because you were told it would take a long time.

indeed. i'm getting this one though because the reviews are good and it comes with a meat thermometer and a hole at the top where you can stab your meat with.

Yeah, that's what I was wondering about. Oh man, I hope I get it sooner!

That's an awfully nice kitchen accessory there. I approve of this purchase.

thanks, it's not that expensive either. it's about $50 on amazon and $55 at bestbuy.

We have a million kinds of pots, except a crock pot. It does look splendid though. We might have a new ceramic pot that has that function or some steamer, but no one used it so far.

However, this is the best thing ever for roast meat. We call it a Roman pot, but Wikipedia says that's something in physics, so the English equivalent might be different. It's made of clay so basically when you put it in the oven the cooking is made with steam (you have to leave it in water for about an hour before using it), so there's no need for oil or any grease. We've used it for chicken, beef, lamb and stuffed cabbage and everything tastes amazing. The vegetables cook really well, too.

I think I would like one of those.

Had the final critique on my first table project today, which went really well. Mine was definitely the best out of everyone in my grade, and I'd say only one of the grad's was better.

I've done macaroni cheese in the crock pot. Thye recipe has no milk so it makes it super easy and cheap.

I start settling Lucy into my work/her childcare today!

I kind of really just want to vomit and go to bed. I will never eat food again.

Oh dear. Drink lots of non booze fluids.

Thats the thing. Its a small part too much booze. A bigger part a terrible diet over the weekend mixed with terrible sleep.
But ya no more booze fluids for me.

Just one more beer then throw up.

Yup, thats right.

I don't think I own a crockpot. But it looks cool.

I have a rice cooker, it's great.