Melodramas

So, last night, after having a wonderful but too short dinner with friends, I put the kids to bed and proceeded to finish up Udolpho.  Josh came in, and the next thing you know - we're fighting.  I have to admit, a very large percentage of our fights start with me being angry.  This one didn't start with anyone being angry, but we both got there.  Many tears were shed, on my part.  The fight started with plans and money, then went through my joblessness and even took a detour into taiko. 

From there we briefly discusses some current events that go kinds like this:  After writing the newsletter, I passed it on to Julie, as usual.  Then, I remembered that she wanted me to check with someone else for details, so I forwarded the email to him.  Yesterday, he announced inaccuracy in the newsletter, not to me, not to PR, but to the whole group.  I know he has a thing for shaming people, so I was immediately offended that he would try this on me, after having plenty of opportunity to fix the problem before it was posted.  I wrote an email to him (and Julie and Andrew) asking why he had waited to responded so late (not that I don't already know he deleted the email I sent without reading it) and why he sent it to everyone.  He accused me of never having sent him the rough draft. 

If you thought my guilt was impressive, just wait until you see my riteous indignation.

I had been vascilating between immedeately sending this man proof that it had been sent to him already, and maintaining a dignified silence - because why legitimize his claim and let the world think he has a right to suspect or accuse me in this way.  After all, I don't work for him.  He is not even over me in the PR group.  He doesn't even BELONG to the PR group, and my sending him a copy to check was actually a courtesy, not an obligation.

That came up in the fight with Josh.  Don't ask me how.  It was not a linear argument.  At the time, I had actually decided that I would go all out and prove myself, even though it shouldn't be neccessary.  I was even mentally planning emails, dripping with disdainful ritieousness - I am sure Josh could tell.  He told me to, "Let it go."  He insists that I completely stop talking about it.  Josh blames me for prolonging the unpleasantness (not that he knows words that long) and absolutely refuses to let me send anything to this man. 

One thing.  I'm not really the girl who does stuff anytime her husband tells her to, or won't do something just because her husband tells her not to.  On the other hand, Josh really doesn't ask a lot of me.  Sometimes he gets mad when I haven't done something I've never agreed to do, but that's different, and his own fault.  But when I agree to do or not do something - I'm as good as my word. 

Which, partially, is the reason I'm so mad in the first place. 

From a strategic standpoint, I can see Josh's point.  From his perspective, he just made his wife angry, which he doesn't like.  The last thing he wants, is to not be able to make the angry stop by sucking up and doing laundry, because the problem is a fight with some other person.  Or maybe he just really didn't want to hear about it anymore.  Sometimes I give Josh credit he hasn't earned....

Anyway, my only question now is, Do I tell a few people interested parties that I am deliberately avoiding the subject?  I can't help but notice that Josh has sentenced me to the appearance of total guilt.  I guess I can always produce the evidence if it is requested directly....right?  Well, I would have to tell Josh that I was going to.  Right?  Since I agreed not to say anything?  Yeesh.  Maybe he's right.  So done talking about it.  It's just making it last longer.

And speaking of ridiculous melodrama - I finished The Mysteries of Udolpho.  Whew.  Now I might read Northanger Abbey, since Jane Austen spends most of the book poking fun at Udolpho.  After that, though, I'm going to want to switch to something more contemporary.  Any suggestions?

Oh, and I never mentioned last Friday!  I subbed across the hall from Grant.  Second graders are great.  It eased my mind.  I am not yet a complete misanthrope.  We had a great day.  It was an especially good joke that I was teaching E. King, since his mommy was across the hall teaching Grant.  I am very fond of my Class For A Day.  Grant promised to tell them hi from me.  We finished our spelling test early, so they all made get well notes for their teacher, and some of them drew pictures for me!

Abbie's tooth is going to come out any day!  It's her first one.  Let's all hope it comes out today, so she can bring it home in a "tooth box".

By the way - last night was so nice!  Met at the mall in Chesterfield and had Cheesecake Factory.  I had salmon.  YUM!  Baby Ethan was actually kind and patient and didn't start fussing until toward the end of the meal, even though he was having a cranky day.  Thank you, Ethan!  Liona is such a sweet little angel!  I think that they all should to my neighborhood.  Can you imagine!?  So awesome.  And the Millers!  Such wonderful people.  I am so happy to have Ted back in my life, and I am ridiculously fond of his wife, as well.  Like I said - too short!  Next time, we need to have a picnic. 

I am about to do something....I just don't know what, yet.  Tomorrow is the bathing of children and the cooking of Thanksgiving offerings.  What does that make today?  Laundry, I think.

Have a  wonderful Thanksgiving, guys.  Sorry about the spelling.  My spell check just died.