Roadblocks

I just navigated away from an advertizement that was saying, "My classmates and I have one thing in common...." because I was pretty sure the rest wasn't going to say, "...we all attend the same school!" and it's just too early to fight with an advertizement.

Anyone else read about the "blob" that researchers have discovered in the southwest? I was curious about how it is dripping, and yet was described as "cold matter". My question was not addressed. And neither was the one about the jobless rates. It would seem that new claims are decreasing in number, but old claims are increasing in number. Now, I'm no math major, but....

At least it was a break from all that yellow journalism. Pretty much all media sources out there right now ought to be ashamed. Did you read the one called, "Pro Baseball Player Makes Embarassing Mistake"? I read it. The runner didn't tag the base because he thought he felt something. He didn't sound embarassed at all. So really, it was the journalist who wanted him to be embarassed - was trying to embarass him! Ech! Don't get me started on journalists.

It's hard to catch people availible at this time of year. So, I considered it a moderate victory that so many of our acquaintence were free this weekend. I have been planning a barbeque for a while now, and Saturday was shaping up nicely. I asked Josh if he had plans, or if he wanted to make any plans, or if he wanted to NOT make plans, and then, when no opposition seemed likely, proposed the barbeque. He was happily making plans with me, when his mother called. While on the phone with her, he found out that he had forgotten his cousin was having a graduation party on Saturday. Suddenly, he was making scathing comments about me, and saying how no one would ever come all the way out to our house for any reason. When he got off the phone, I asked him why he was being so mean and angry, but all I got was an announcement that he wasn't. But he continued to fight with me about my not taking care of the calendar. You see, it is my fault that he forgot. I was angry, but I didn't feel like fighting, like I sometimes do. So I said it was fine. We wouldn't have a barbeque. "You now have no weekend plans. So, choose what you want to do." Okay, so it was a bit cold, but I wasn't doing any sort of volcano impersonation, so I was truly surprised when he asked what I was 'so mad' about.

It's pretty easy to tell why I'm mad. Especially if you happen to be married to me. Typically, Josh will come in and I will tell him exactly what I don't like, in an exasperated voice. If he then still asks me what I'm mad about, I go the, "I JUST TOLD YOU!" route. But really it's code for, "I don't see that I have done anything reprehensible, and refuse to acknowledge that I have caused pain, disappointment or inconvenience." Since I hadn't started this argument off with what I was having a problem with, I explained. Have you ever been arguing something with someone and you suddenly got the feeling that you weren't reading from the same script? Well, the argument that followed was one of those.

All else had failed, but as a female who was being attacked without provocation or desire to battle, I still had one option. I promptly broke into tears. He appologized later, of course, and admitted that he'd been mean, but by then I wasn't interested in talking about it. He decided that part of his apology was to have the barbeque.

I had to deal all evening with, "Are you mad at me? I'm sorry!" I ended up putting both children to bed. But I woke up about midnight with a terrible headache. At two, after writing emails to our friend Rob who is deployed in Afganistan, I went back to bed. I had nightmares that my poor tree was infested with these bugs as big as fingers that looked like crosses between sow bugs and centipedes, and that all my efforts to keep it from dying had been futile.

As expected, the kids have spent the day testing to see if the same rules apply as did before their vacation. I even walked by and caught the dog on Abbie's bed. The whole house knows that the only two articles of furniture that Jake is allowed on are the short couch and Grant's bed. But despite the fact that he was on board with the kids for their Holiday of Disobedience, Jake is insanely happy to have his little herd home. He is always very worried when we aren't where he left us.

The rain that was only forecasted for yesterday evening seems to like the area, and so has stayed.

And. My anniversary lottery ticket didn't win. I am heartbroken. There really is no justice in the world.

I finally saw the end of Trigun. That was fun. I've seen the end of Escaflowne, of course, but I had scheduled the last DVD to come at the same time as Trigun. Sadly, it has "Very Long Wait" next to its availibility status. At the same time, a series I recently discovered and was very excited about is suddenly no longer availible at all. Drat. I was going to get it next week, too. I requested something called Phoebe in Wonderland. If you've heard of it, tell me, but don't spoil it for me!

All those movie commercials! By the time you've seen the first commercial, you've already heard all the funniest lines, seen the best stunts....where's the fun in that? That is certainly one thing I don't miss about tv. Okay, well I hardly miss anything at all about tv.

I think I'm going to copy Into the Woods and Music Man for my brother. And maybe Sneakers. I brought The Rocketeer and Galaxy Quest for him when we visited. I don't think he would like V for Vendetta. He isn't a fan of melancholy or bittersweet endings.

Josh called a while ago and has asked his work buddies over on Saturday. Guess you can't get any more official than that. Wanna come over? We're grilling teriaki chicken legs and pork steaks. I think I might make a cake. And we're doing it either way, so you might as well drop by and have some. 1:00. See you there! ...I mean..here.