Dear So and So

[Owlie]

Yikes, Beth! You deserved that drink!

Dear weather--
I'm going to trust the Doppler radar--against my better judgement--and go for a ride. Behave, okay?

[NbyNW]

Hope you have a normal day today, Beth!

[Catrin]

Yikes, Beth! You deserved that drink!

Dear weather--
I'm going to trust the Doppler radar--against my better judgement--and go for a ride. Behave, okay?

I hope it was a good drink Beth, I saw the news this morning :eek:

Hope it was good Owlie! Our report said it wouldn't rain last night but it did...so no rides since last Sunday. That IS going to change this afternoon when I get off work. It is supposed to be around 70 and frankly, I have three bikes, and ONE of them is getting ridden when I get home from work - the on only thing that will stop me is a torrential downpour or lightening :cool:

[Becky]

Hope it was good Owlie! Our report said it wouldn't rain last night but it did...so no rides since last Sunday. That IS going to change this afternoon when I get off work. It is supposed to be around 70 and frankly, I have three bikes, and ONE of them is getting ridden when I get home from work - the on only thing that will stop me is a torrential downpour or lightening :cool:

That was exactly my mindset when I rode to work this morning. I'm pretty sure that I'm gonna get drenched on the way home, but I can't take not riding anymore :eek::mad:

Good luck....hope that the weather holds out for you!

[OakLeaf]

Yikes Beth - glad nothing actually happened!

[bmccasland]

Yikes Beth - glad nothing actually happened!

Me too. Many thanks to the informant who called the police, then cooperated with the investigation. So this morning going in, news crews were out front again for the morning news shows - and in the enclosed park area next to the building were our Federal police officers playing catch with officer dog. K9 was a very happy dog, lots of space to run in, ball to chase. The irony was amazing.

[Owlie]

Hope it was good Owlie! Our report said it wouldn't rain last night but it did...so no rides since last Sunday. That IS going to change this afternoon when I get off work. It is supposed to be around 70 and frankly, I have three bikes, and ONE of them is getting ridden when I get home from work - the on only thing that will stop me is a torrential downpour or lightening :cool:

The weather lied, dammit. (Okay, they said scattered showers...and apparently they were scattered near the trail!) I got soaked. I went out with the intention of doing 30 miles, and actually did 34, but I spent the last half with a wet chamois, wet jersey, wet socks and a very dirty bike. I wound up taking two breaks while I waited for the rain to ease up. It wasn't too heavy, and my tires handled surprisingly well for being dry-only tires, but if I make a habit out of getting caught in the rain (surprisingly fun, actually, and makes for a good story for the rain-hating BF!), I'm going to need new tires.

[snapdragen]

Can I have a stiff drink now? It is my birthday... Now that it's over, it's tough to see the story on the local news.

I think it's made the national news.... :eek:

[crazycanuck]

Dear bike/mind,

We now have you set up on the wind trainer & that's where we'll have to spend our bike time for a bit more...

I promise we'll have some easy (no arms on bike) fun w coach troy and some awesome mtb dvd's..

poo..

[alexis_the_tiny]

Beth, yikes! I hope that drink was a good, stiff one.

Dear landlord,

The flat I just viewed that belongs to you isn't a flat. On the charitable end of the scale, it's A Wreck. On the less charitable, it's a bleeping cra*khouse. You seem to have turned it into a place to dump crap you don't want and your current tenants have reduced it to the point where all it needs is a rat infestation to be complete. None of us want to fork over 3000 bucks a month for three bedrooms and a "store-room without windows but you can turn it into a bedroom" even if the neighborhood is lovely. The sad part is, this country's housing market is so dire that despite rust BLEEDING INTO YOUR WALLS, there will be someone offering you a thousand dollars above your asking price for it. Good grief.

[ultraviolet]

Dear magical ointment,

I know I've been calling you "unicorn snot" because of your strange silvery color, but I meant it with affection. Really. Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you for making my hand feel better. The pain is minimal--more annoying than painful--and the last of the blisters have receded, so I should be able to go without bandages now. So, thanks!

I guess I should also thank myself for being careful about keeping the hand bandaged well, mostly because it kept me from doing something stupid and breaking open the blisters.

In anticipation of getting to return to some activities (doctor says still no biking or weightlifting for a couple of weeks to protect the new skin trying to grow under the blistered areas), I've just treated myself to a couple of workout tunics/dresses from TE. Whee!

Love,
me

[bmccasland]

Dear Real Estate Powers That Be

Thank you for guiding prospective buyers to my former home. Now if you would just watch over the inspections and their final loan processing so we can close and I won't be stuck with some kind of crazy big repair bill. Merci beaucoup.

[Owlie]

Dear bike--
WTH? Now that I have a new saddle, I'm now way more comfy in the drops than I am anywhere else. You are extremely silly. (And once I can come up with $150+parts that I can comfortably spend, we are getting a fitting.) Now, if only I could afford to upgrade you to 105 shifters (and new derailleurs and cassette while we're at it, because I don't think 8-spd 105 shifters exist) so that I can shift from the drops...

Dear W--
Thank you so much. I needed that. And thank you for being someone that I can talk about the joys of grad school in biological sciences with. :)

[Roadtrip]

Dear Bike,

Please let me know when your done punishing my nether regions with your saddle/shorts/whatever so I sit for the two preceding days after a ride. Pathetic nine mile ride and you act like this is the Tdf. Lol.

Sincerely,
Me

[Becky]

Dear vet's office,

Please feel free to call anytime and tell me how my fur-kid is doing after his dental appointment and other assorted grooming. I know that y'all are busy, but I really do worry about him.

Hugs and smoochies,
Dog mama


ETA: Talk about the power of suggestion! The vet's office just called- he's fine :)

[indysteel]

Dear vet's office,

Please feel free to call anytime and tell me how my fur-kid is doing after his dental appointment and other assorted grooming. I know that y'all are busy, but I really do worry about him.

Hugs and smoochies,
Dog mama


ETA: Talk about the power of suggestion! The vet's office just called- he's fine :)

I'm glad he's doing fine.

I feel your pain. When my cats have been hospitalized, I've been a nervous wreck. Waiting for the vet to call with an update is agonizing. Henry Cat--the guy in my avatar--was at the vet for a week last year with a mystery illness, and it was all I could do not to call them several times a day.

[withm]

Dear Bicycling Magazine,

SEVEN pages on shaving your legs??? SEVEN? Seriously? SEVEN pages?

You could shave your legs seven times in the time it takes to read all those words.

Here's how to do it: Acquire razor. Lather area to be shaved with soap or cream of choice. Shave legs. Rinse. Repeat on other leg.

[indysteel]

And this is why I don't buy that magazine.

[Owlie]

Dear Bicycling Magazine,

SEVEN pages on shaving your legs??? SEVEN? Seriously? SEVEN pages?

You could shave your legs seven times in the time it takes to read all those words.

Here's how to do it: Acquire razor. Lather area to be shaved with soap or cream of choice. Shave legs. Rinse. Repeat on other leg.

Seriously? That's hilarious.

[OakLeaf]

Dang, I haven't got mine yet, I have GOT to see that! :D

[Catrin]

I regret the two year subscription I purchased when I was first getting started....

7 PAGES on how to shave legs?

[OakLeaf]

I only get it because it was a premium with my LAB membership. Maybe they should offer something else ... like REAL toilet paper. :rolleyes:

[Crankin]

Dear Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
Thank you for passing me on my CANS certification, so now I can do my job.

Now I just need my employer to "get me into the system", as in the computer system. Those assessments and treatment plans are piling up.

[Owlie]

Now I want to read, out of morbid curiosity, how you can manage to drag "apply shaving cream to legs, then drag razor over skin" out to seven pages.:rolleyes:

I told DBF about this. He wasn't all that surprised, sadly enough.

[Bethany1]

Dear people in the white Ford Taurus,

May your hands be blown to smithereens the next time you toss fire crackers at cyclists and other people for kicks. I didn't have time to get your plate number, but I hope someone else will.

[OakLeaf]

Oh man, how scary. Everybody okay?

[withm]

Dang, I haven't got mine yet, I have GOT to see that! :D

It was the July issue - cover story was The Perfect Ride or some such fluff. I've had it around for a week or two, and had just read it the other day.

I still can't believe they couldn't find a better use for those 7 pages.

[limewave]

Dear people in the white Ford Taurus,
May your hands be blown to smithereens the next time you toss fire crackers at cyclists and other people for kicks. I didn't have time to get your plate number, but I hope someone else will.

OMGoodness! That's awful!
---------------------------------------------------

Dear Pediatrician and Health Care Insurance:

Hmmm, so well visits are covered 100%. EXCEPT when done on the same day as a surgical procedure. And since when did removing a splinter from one's foot become a full-blown medical procedure! What awful timing on my part for finding it while we were in the doctor's office. Sheesh. $390 for a well visit and a "surgical procedure." The cost seems a little inflated if you ask me.

Limewave

[Owlie]

Dear people in the white Ford Taurus,

May your hands be blown to smithereens the next time you toss fire crackers at cyclists and other people for kicks. I didn't have time to get your plate number, but I hope someone else will.

:eek: Everyone okay? Hopefully someone else got their plate...

[limewave]

Network Solutions:

YOU SUCK.

-Limewave

[Owlie]

Dear J--
Hopefully the surgery goes well and it won't interrupt your degree progress.
(And what exactly were you doing, anyway?)

[Bethany1]

Yeah. Everyone's okay. Just was startled. I'm paying better attention to cars as they go by now.

DH figured they were out doing this to people since they had them in the car ready to throw out and not targeting us specifically.

[crazycanuck]

Dear Self,

Just because you feel a bit better & think you can lean forward on the wind trainer does not mean you should...No matter how much fun it was to sit on the bike and watch The Princess Bride!

Perhaps it's time for complete rest...I'm sure i can do that when we're away for a few weeks on our holiday..!

Agh..

[Becky]

Dear Self,

Just because you feel a bit better & think you can lean forward on the wind trainer does not mean you should...No matter how much fun it was to sit on the bike and watch The Princess Bride!

Perhaps it's time for complete rest...I'm sure i can do that when we're away for a few weeks on our holiday..!

Agh..

I'm sorry that you're still hurting :( But I totally agree with your choice of trainer movies!

[Reesha]

OMGoodness! That's awful!
---------------------------------------------------

Dear Pediatrician and Health Care Insurance:

Hmmm, so well visits are covered 100%. EXCEPT when done on the same day as a surgical procedure. And since when did removing a splinter from one's foot become a full-blown medical procedure! What awful timing on my part for finding it while we were in the doctor's office. Sheesh. $390 for a well visit and a "surgical procedure." The cost seems a little inflated if you ask me.

Limewave

wtf.

[MomOnBike]

Bethany 1

Where was that? I need to avoid that area.

[Owlie]

Dear bike--
It's always something, isn't it? You're getting to be rather expensive, you know.

Dear guy at new (to me) shop--
You're awesome, and you didn't treat me like I'm an idiot when I popped in to look at bikes. If I were guaranteed to be in Cincinnati after I finish this damn MS, and if Trek actually fits me (jury is out), I would probably buy my graduation-present Madone from you.

[bmccasland]

Dear summer, where for art thou???

I had a site visit for my beach restoration project and it was freaking cold! Where is summer??? :(

This is making my crazy father's constant request to come visit in Texas start to look good.

[HappyTexasMom]

Dear Back,

Why did you have to give out on me right when I'm about to move, and during one of the best bike commuting weeks of the year? It's not too hot and not too cold, and I can't ride my bike. And how I'm going to get everything packed and moved when I can barely hoist myself out of bed, I'll never know.

*whine*

[Bethany1]

Bethany 1

Where was that? I need to avoid that area.

LOL. Just around the corner from my house. No worries.

[Bethany1]

Dear Missouri River,

You have blocked all accessible bridges and streets in/out of my area and I was really hoping to have my sister come down and pick me up for a trip back to our parent's house. Now her seven hour trip will turn into a 10 hour one IF she braves the back roads to get to my house.

Then it will be another two hours added to get out of Nebraska and head off east.

It's okay though. It's not like she needs me to go get some stuff, it would just be nice to spend time together.

[Bethany1]

Dear Cheverolet Company,

I wish your Silverados weren't so heavy duty as one did 3000 dollars damage to DH's small car yesterday.

On the other hand, I commend you on your durability efforts as there isn't any damage done to the truck.

Now if you could get your Silverados to get 40mpg like my small car, we could come to some agreement on the whole thing.

[jessmarimba]

Dear Missouri River,

You have blocked all accessible bridges and streets in/out of my area and I was really hoping to have my sister come down and pick me up for a trip back to our parent's house. Now her seven hour trip will turn into a 10 hour one IF she braves the back roads to get to my house.

Then it will be another two hours added to get out of Nebraska and head off east.

It's okay though. It's not like she needs me to go get some stuff, it would just be nice to spend time together.

My goodness, I was just in Omaha today. The river is insane. It looked like an interstate or a major highway was under water?? Thankfully I didn't have to deal with any of it for work but I did walk around near Riverfront and I could hardly believe it.


Dear airplanes:

Please stop making me sick. I can't do my job if I get migraines every time I fly.

[marni]

Dear summer, where for art thou???

I had a site visit for my beach restoration project and it was freaking cold! Where is summer??? :(

This is making my crazy father's constant request to come visit in Texas start to look good.

Oh you don't want to be here now or any time soon. Here in houston, if we are lucky, the nighttime temps get down to the upper 70's, daytime temps are in the high 90's with feels like in the 105 range. There is no cloud cover which means that the temp is already steamy high at 9:00 Am. I don't think the wind has been under 15 and is usually up to the 20-25 mph range for the last month and we have only had an inch of rain since january. The lawns, fields and trees are all looking brown and heat stressed and we here in Katy are all supposed to be in a voluntary heavy conservation effort which means no water to the lawn more often than 2x week and only before 8 am or after 4 pm, odd number houses on odd days, even on even and AC no lower than 82, and please use table fans as much as possible. The latest suggestion from our fine home owners association and lawn gestapo was to bar b que extra food all this weekend and store it for left overs.

And because they can't report any possibility of anything more than the rare scattered showers for the next 7-10 days the weathermen are going into hyperbolic ecstasies reporting on tropical storm Arlene, the first name gulf storm of the hurricane season.

By my count this is week 7 of over 90 daytime temps.

I am ready for fall and we haven't even gotten far past midsummer.

marni

[Biciclista]

Dear former Louisiana resident :D:p

Summer doesn't come until sometime in July.

Now you know why we wear wool all year round. :D:cool:

[azfiddle]

Bethany, sympathy for you and your DH on the car ...

Marni- Tucson has been in triple digits for sometime, and our morning lows have also been around 80. Monsoons finally arrived and we just got the first rain in 82 days last night, but that means the humidity is here too.

[OakLeaf]

Hey, you could be in Ohio, 90° for two days and 65° for two days, since May. At least if it would stay one temperature I could get acclimated.

[bmccasland]

Dear former Louisiana resident :D:p

Summer doesn't come until sometime in July.

Now you know why we wear wool all year round. :D:cool:

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. Seems the TE shopping trip to REI fell through last winter. :cool:
In my southern latitudes former homes, you don't ever put away all your summer clothes, and apparently here, you keep some wool on hand year round. I just need help juggling my wardrobe. I don't have enough WARM clothes. But when it's warmer when I walk out the door at 6:30 am compared to the temperature at 11:00 am, my body gets confused. :o

[jessmarimba]

Dear new guy:
If you would shut up and work (and not watch tv on your computer) you wouldn't have to stay until 7 or 8 to get stuff done. The rest of us are doing four times as much work without staying late.

PS. Put your shoes on. Your feet reek.

[snapdragen]

Dear new guy:
If you would shut up and work (and not watch tv on your computer) you wouldn't have to stay until 7 or 8 to get stuff done. The rest of us are doing four times as much work without staying late.

PS. Put your shoes on. Your feet reek.

Oh dear.


///snap slides her clogs back on....:p

[Reesha]

Dear sailboat adventuring friends,

Why yes, I will accept your invitation to join you on a voyage from St. John's Newfoundland back to Maine in two weeks. :D

:D :D :D :D

[jessmarimba]

Oh dear.


///snap slides her clogs back on....:p

Lol. I haven't figured out yet if its his feet or the flipflops he's been wearing since he started college. Probably both. I'm sure you're fine!

Reesha that sounds great, can I come too? :D

[marni]

Dear weatherman on the tv

Not only did you go into ecstasies about the pending possible tropical storm which it was clear was never going to make it into this drought ridden state, but you spent 12 minutes of the one hour evening news going into ecstasies about how this June was the hottest one ever!!!! The jumping up and down was a bit much.

Maybe you're one of the reasons we have such hot winds, and then to spend another minute gleefully contemplating the possibilities of July and August will continue to break records for lack of rain as well as temperatures.

Really, what is wrong with you?

[alexis_the_tiny]

Seriously, SEVEN pages on shaving legs? I hope they were jesting...

Bethany, good grief, what's wrong with them???!?!!

[ultraviolet]

Dear client,

I'm trying. I really am. But, I can't force you reply to email messages or talk to me. You're going on vacation starting...um, in a few hours. When you return, we're supposed to present this round of work to your executive leadership. I'd like to help you succeed, but I can't do it for you.

Regards,
The consultant billing you for time you're not effectively utilizing

[tulip]

Dear Little M,
You're really sick. I hate to think of you all wired up in the hospital. You're just 18 months old. Everyone is working as hard as they can to figure out what's wrong and to make you better. We've only known you for a few months, and your addition to the family has been incredible. We love you very much.

-Auntie Tulip

***
Dear Doctors,
Please help her. She's had such a hard little life so far, but it was really looking up until she got sick. She needs you.
-Tulip

[OakLeaf]

((((((Little M & family)))))

[indysteel]

Tulip,

I'm so sorry to hear about Little M. I'm sending some positive vibes her (and your) way.

[zoom-zoom]

Hey, you could be in Ohio, 90° for two days and 65° for two days, since May. At least if it would stay one temperature I could get acclimated.

I hear that up here in MI, too. Last year I did several long bike rides (metrics and longer) in the 90s...they were uncomfortable, but doable. Almost a month ago we had a day in the mid 90s with high humidity and I was ill after <20 miles. We have no acclimation to anything much above 75, this year. I'm kinda dreading a century through Death Valley in Oct. I don't deal well with heat under the best of circumstances. I'm kinda worried about doing heat and dry and sun without any acclimatization.

[zoom-zoom]

Dear Little M,
You're really sick. I hate to think of you all wired up in the hospital. You're just 18 months old. Everyone is working as hard as they can to figure out what's wrong and to make you better. We've only known you for a few months, and your addition to the family has been incredible. We love you very much.

-Auntie Tulip

***
Dear Doctors,
Please help her. She's had such a hard little life so far, but it was really looking up until she got sick. She needs you.
-Tulip

*fingers-crossed* for this baby and her docs.

[Catrin]

Dear Little M,
You're really sick. I hate to think of you all wired up in the hospital. You're just 18 months old. Everyone is working as hard as they can to figure out what's wrong and to make you better. We've only known you for a few months, and your addition to the family has been incredible. We love you very much.

-Auntie Tulip

***
Dear Doctors,
Please help her. She's had such a hard little life so far, but it was really looking up until she got sick. She needs you.
-Tulip

Oh my, I hope they are able to help her and she will have a full recovery!

[Owlie]

Positive vibes for M! (And for her family, and for you, Tulip.)

It's been consistently warm, mostly, but here it's been bouncing between 75-85 and pleasant, and 90s and horribly sticky. I don't do too well with heat either, so my July 4th weekend rides are going to be done early in the morning...

[ultraviolet]

Dear weather controllers,

If you could find a way to make Seattle warm up just a few more degrees in the next couple of hours, I would make you my new best friends. I would love, love, love it if my yoga class this evening was actually held outside. Sun salutations in the sun, with a view of the mountains? Yes, please!

So far, you've managed to not-quite-cooperate every time I've signed up for an outdoor class. This is my first week back since the Day of Kitchen Stupidity, and I would really love to be outside for it.

Thanks!
me

[kmehrzad]

Tulip, Am sending up prayers for little M.

[Crankin]

Tulip, I am thinking about your niece.

The weather here is finally nice. Of course, it's when I went back to work.
But, I'm still enjoying it early in the AM. I love this time of year. I wake up with the sun and am ready to ride or run at 5:15.

[Owlie]

Heh, being on the western edge of the time zone, it doesn't show up until 6 or so. :D
Dear body--
I want to ride tomorrow, and not feel like a zombie on the way there. I'm going to bed now. You are going to get some good sleep, OK?

Dear K--
Please go get that checked out. If you're having trouble breathing...

[bmccasland]

Dear idiot that passed for a electrician -
What were you thinking using an indoor rated fuse box OUTSIDE?

Dear former home inspector - the one that inspected the house before I bought it:
I trusted you to know the difference between the two boxes.

Thanks to the negligence or stupidity on both your parts - the house I'm trying to sell has been a risk for having an electrical fire :eek: and now I have to get it fixed before the sale will go through :mad:

[Owlie]

Beth...wow...

Dear weather--
Do you do this on purpose? Raining on the days I'm wearing a jersey with white all over the back (especially this one that I can't replace) is not cool. I'm hoping the detergent gods are friendly today.

Dear bike--
ARGH! I'm going to say for the moment that the shop is correct in that it'll take a few days to get you back to me. (I have my doubts, but...). You could have spent the weekend with me, having fun (and a bath, since you're dirty again), but no, you get to sit around in the back of the shop and have strange people poke you. And you don't get to go out and have fun. We have a mileage goal this month, and several carless days to work around. You're not helping.
(I think I was right about you wanting to sit on your tires and eat chips...)
--Me.

[bmccasland]

... due to the inspection results, the buyers have decided to cancel the contract. :( Despite the fact that their agent has explained to them that both major problems are fixable.

SO...
Dear couple that wanted to buy my house,.
Good luck to you finding a place in your low price range that doesn't have problems. Foreclosed houses are going to have even more problems and competition with those homes is the only reason I had to come down in price. If you think you're going to get a home with all new everything in an established neighborhood for cheap - you have another lesson to learn. Hope you like living in an apartment.

Meanwhile I have to have the two issues repaired no matter what.

[jessmarimba]

... due to the inspection results, the buyers have decided to cancel the contract. :( Despite the fact that their agent has explained to them that both major problems are fixable.

SO...
Dear couple that wanted to buy my house,.
Good luck to you finding a place in your low price range that doesn't have problems. Foreclosed houses are going to have even more problems and competition with those homes is the only reason I had to come down in price. If you think you're going to get a home with all new everything in an established neighborhood for cheap - you have another lesson to learn. Hope you like living in an apartment.

Meanwhile I have to have the two issues repaired no matter what.

:(

I could've bought flipped foreclosed houses in my neighborhood for around what I paid for mine, but I hate all that cheap bathroom/kitchen remodeling crap. I think a lot of people are paranoid about buying houses with issues and it drives me nuts...most of the time the issues are far less important than they're made out to be. BUT, the bank situation being what it is, it isn't always the buyer's fault. I okayed a lot of small stuff with my house that the underwriter made the sellers fix anyway.

[Reesha]

I'm surprised they bailed on you, Beth. After my inspection, I went back to see if the seller would repair some of the things the inspector found... and they did! I wonder if they are first time buyers.

[indysteel]

Oh, that sucks Beth. I'm sorry. Selling a home is so stressful. Perhaps they got cold feet and used the repairs as an excuse. With my last home purchase, the sellers had to refuse to repair major defects before I was free to walk. Perhaps with your next offer, you can have the home inspection condition worded in such a way that makes it harder for the buyers to back out of the contract.

[bmccasland]

I'm surprised they bailed on you, Beth. After my inspection, I went back to see if the seller would repair some of the things the inspector found... and they did! I wonder if they are first time buyers.

Yup, first time buyers. They were OK, but apparently Mummy and Daddy Dearest got in a few cents and scared them off. Inspector said the house is in good shape, and the two major issues won't be a problem after repairs. My realtor says that often the parents ruin the sale for 1st time buyers. Most folks tend to forget about the maintenance they've had to deal with over the years - somehow they want new and shiny but don't want to pay for it. Or they have no idea of market prices and remember paying $50K for a "nice house" which now costs two or three times that.

[crazycanuck]

Dear Cousin D,

It's hard to belive 22yrs has passed since you left us so suddenly :(. I'll never forget you as you made the beginning of my teenage years more bearable :).

I raise my glass in memory of such a coolio dude!

C

[Owlie]

Dear neighbors--
Cut the fireworks. It's annoying.

[jessmarimba]

Dear neighbors--
Cut the fireworks. It's annoying.

I'm so with you.

[zoom-zoom]

Dear idiot that passed for a electrician -
What were you thinking using an indoor rated fuse box OUTSIDE?

Dear former home inspector - the one that inspected the house before I bought it:
I trusted you to know the difference between the two boxes.

Thanks to the negligence or stupidity on both your parts - the house I'm trying to sell has been a risk for having an electrical fire :eek: and now I have to get it fixed before the sale will go through :mad:

Oh, this crap sounds like the stuff we dealt with after we bought out house. Pretty sure our realtor and the inspector were in kahootz! :mad:

[Owlie]

Dear bike shop--
I know you're off today, but please call me back so I can pick up my baby. Please please please? I'm having withdrawal issues...

[Trek420]

... SO...
Dear couple that wanted to buy my house,.
Good luck to you finding a place in your low price range that doesn't have problems. Foreclosed houses are going to have even more problems and competition with those homes is the only reason I had to come down in price. If you think you're going to get a home with all new everything in an established neighborhood for cheap - you have another lesson to learn. Hope you like living in an apartment.

Yep. Some see foreclosed/short sales as the way to get homes cheap but many of those homes get trashed when or after their owners walk away.

Realtor friends of mine tell tales of owners or others who broke in taking everything that's not nailed down and some that is to sell.

Foreclosed and short sales are sold as is.

If you're handy with a hammer and saw you might get a huge deal.

Slowly I think buyers are learning it's better to look for the much-loved home which is not a short sale. You might pay more but will not have to do as much work.

[Bethany1]

Dear Grandma,

My mom gave me a quilt that you made for my dad 40+ years ago Sunday to repair. How cool of you to make it out his pants that he'd outgrown. It's been fun to look at the different kinds of pants he wore from the 1960's. Giggle.

It will be repaired, quilted and given back to my dad in a few weeks after I stop sneezing and itching from the wool and other fabrics.

I wish you were alive to see it when I'm done and I wish that I had more memories of you since you passed away when I was six.

[tulip]

Thanks for your prayers and good vibes, everyone. Little M is out of the hospital! She still has alot of healing to do, and we are all hoping there won't be any long-term damage. It was viral meningitis, not bacterial as was feared, or something unknown to the local docs since she just arrived from Ethiopia in April. She was asleep for 4 days, had to have a feeding tube...but she's a trooper that's for sure. My SIL is an amazing mom and refused to leave the hospital without her. She's a nurse in that hospital, so that helped, I'm sure.

Whew.

[indysteel]

Wonderful news, Tulip! I hope M continues to heal and get better!

[Becky]

Dear FSA:

Your bottom brackets are rubbish. Nothing should have that much drag or noise, especially after 1000+ miles. The culprit is getting trashed ASAP....and I won't be buying another one from you. Now, to find a suitable replacement....

[Owlie]

Dear large insect--
One, you're freaky-looking. Two, stop flying into my window. It's annoying. The glass is not going to disappear, and you're just going to end up with a headache. Go fly into that nice spider web near the window. You look like you might be a tasty meal for its occupant (and maybe one or two of its friends!).

Dear self--
Please stop playing with the Project One thing. I know you've just created the sexiest thing on wheels (in your opinion), but you need to stop. You don't have four and half thousand dollars.

[Owlie]

Not-dear bike shop--
You just take your sweet time, don't you? It shouldn't take this long. (You do this a lot, don't you? Last time I left a bike there, it took you a week to do a simple derailleur adjustment...) Am I going to have to visit you?

Dear self--
Please resist the urge to make buckeyes this afternoon. They're really Not Good for you. (Though they are delicious.)
Also, call the damn bike shop.

[Bethany1]

Dear self--
Please resist the urge to make buckeyes this afternoon. They're really Not Good for you. (Though they are delicious.)
Also, call the damn bike shop.[/QUOTE]

You are talking about the peanut butter/chocolate buckeyes right? If so, you can make them and send them my way. NE doesn't have a state food candy.

I should have picked up a couple of cans of Skyline Chili over the weekend while in Ohio for my DH, but didn't think of it.

And as usual there were plenty of state troopers from Columbus to Dayton out on patrol.

[Owlie]

You are talking about the peanut butter/chocolate buckeyes right? If so, you can make them and send them my way. NE doesn't have a state food candy.

I should have picked up a couple of cans of Skyline Chili over the weekend while in Ohio for my DH, but didn't think of it.

And as usual there were plenty of state troopers from Columbus to Dayton out on patrol.

I am! I didn't actually make them today, but I might tomorrow if we've got enough powdered sugar. My bike is ready for pickup, so a few rides will balance them out, right? :rolleyes: (Now that I think about it, they might make decent ride food if they didn't melt. Peanut butter and sugar...)

I found a chili recipe that's close to Cincinnati style, but for some reason they keep forgetting that it's not supposed to be spicy. I'm still tweaking the seasonings on that...

Did you live in Ohio at some point?

[OakLeaf]

And as usual there were plenty of state troopers from Columbus to Dayton out on patrol.

20+ years ago the conventional wisdom was that that was the most heavily patrolled stretch of freeway in the USA.

I wouldn't be surprised if it's still true. Thank goodness I live on the *other* side.

[jessmarimba]

It extends now...pretty much Columbus to Indy. At least the last time I was there.

Dear self:

Don't be a pushover when you call the contractor later. The new room shouldn't be leaking already, and he needs to know that his electrician sucks (or that he can't communicate effectively).

[limewave]

Dear Client,

Please fire me and free me from this disaster.

-In over my head

[redrhodie]

Dear Tire,

Stop being so mysterious. Are you flat or not? Please let me know tonight rather than in the morning.

[SheFly]

Dear fellow cyclists,

When my DH and I go by you at a much faster pace than you were keeping, I totally appreciate you busting a move to catch up to us and hang on - that takes a good amount of effort. However, it really is impolite to latch onto two riders you don't know, without saying a word, and sitting in the draft for 5+ miles. Yes, I know it was windy and you needed a break, but I don't know your style, and you don't know mine. It makes me uncomfortable, especially at 20 - 25 mph.

So please, next time we pass you, just acknowledge my hello.

Thanks!
SheFly

[jessmarimba]

Dear garlic:

Thanks for being awesome!! And making my bland dinner pretty amazing!



Dear earwigs:

You are some of the most disgusting creatures I've ever seen, and I do NOT appreciate you hiding in the clean laundry. STAY OUT OF MY HOUSE!! Even the cats are so disgusted that they won't play with you (and believe me, I've tried to encourage them).

[Owlie]

Jess--My friend has the same issues with her cats and centipedes. She hates them, and if her cats see one, they give her the "Can you get that?" look.

[azfiddle]

Dear Qwest:


Why did our phone service go out yesterday morning, taking the internet with it, as I was about to watch the excitement of the last 3 km of Tour de France on my last day of vacation? Can you please explain to me why our internet service go intermittent every summer when it gets hot, and again during Christmas vacation when it rains?


Now about your service: When I phoned it directed me through a series of choices that mostly don't relate to problem, even after I indicated it was a problem with the line.

Why did the automated responder apologize for having to send me to a human being to solve my problem? And when I spoke to that human, why did it sound like that person was possibly in a foreign country?

And really, do we have to wait until Saturday at 5 pm to have our phone service restored? Yes, I would appreciate having my calls forwarded to my cell phone, but even after I was able to recall the last 4 digits of my husband's social security number, I have no idea how to get you the 3 numbers on the bill because the bill is electronic and goes into an email account on my DH's computer. That was when I said thanks anyway and hung up.

And by the way, my daughter needed to print some time-senstive documents coming from England, that she needs for a visa, that was on a google doc out there in the clouds. You probably didn't know that the neighbor's unsecured wi-fi doesn't get picked up in the study where the printer is- but now she's really mad at you too because she was up all night arranging for the documents. Good thing my husband was able to figure out a solution to that and get the docs printed.

[Bethany1]

Owlie,

I grew up near Columbus, Ohio. I still have family there and visit when I can.


Dear New Kitten,

Please stop antagonizing my cat. Pouncing, boxing, chasing his tail and eating out of his bowl just makes him that much crankier.

Also, while climbing my curtains may be cute and funny, please stop as my other cat may get the same idea and I happen to like the curtains.

[jessmarimba]

Dear airlines:

Really? Again?? Last time I tried to fly home I was delayed 10 hours between broken planes and a blizzard. This time I had one mechanically challenged plane, managed to land for my layover relatively on time - and my second flight is already delayed over 2 hours by 5:30 am?? What am I supposed to do at Dulles for 5 hours? (Mind you, I could DRIVE to Richmond and back before boarding begins for that flight!!)

(Someone keep me away from Dunkin Donuts...they seem to be the only food available right now...)

[tulip]

Dear airlines:

Really? Again?? Last time I tried to fly home I was delayed 10 hours between broken planes and a blizzard. This time I had one mechanically challenged plane, managed to land for my layover relatively on time - and my second flight is already delayed over 2 hours by 5:30 am?? What am I supposed to do at Dulles for 5 hours? (Mind you, I could DRIVE to Richmond and back before boarding begins for that flight!!)

(Someone keep me away from Dunkin Donuts...they seem to be the only food available right now...)

You bringing your bike to RVA??

[Biciclista]

Dear AZfiddler and the rest of us
Isn't it scary how dependent we have become upon the internet? We no longer have alternatives. Heck, when my internet connection fails, I can't even call Qwest because their number is on my computer!!!

[jessmarimba]

You bringing your bike to RVA??

No, but I brought a helmet & shorts! Hoping to borrow one from an old running coach but nothing is decided yet. I rode the forest hill park trails on a beach cruiser last time and learned that was a bad idea :)

[tulip]

No, but I brought a helmet & shorts! Hoping to borrow one from an old running coach but nothing is decided yet. I rode the forest hill park trails on a beach cruiser last time and learned that was a bad idea :)

Check out RABA. They have rides every day. Good riding towards Ashland and east of town out near airport. How tall are you?

[marni]

note to self:

next summer, should you be hit by a desire to grow some basil, please show some restraint, plant one pot instead of 6. Think about the pounds and poundsof freshly chopped , frozen basil still sitting in your freezer, not to mention the half pints of pesto filling the pantry shelves. Even your friends are ducking and running when they see you coming.

Seriously, how much pesto can one person eat or give away?

Currently harvesting and throwing away 2 or 3 times a week.

me

[feral1]

I love pesto :p

[Trek420]

I love pesto!

[Jiten]

Is this the I love pesto thread?

Dear Pesto Maker, I love pesto, too.

[Owlie]

I'm kind of ambivalent toward pesto. Fresh is good. Jarred stuff...depends what brand it is. I also think it needs good pasta to go with it. There's a local pasta company that makes pretty awesome Garlic! Fettuccine (yes, that's what it's called) that goes very nicely with pesto.

I need to do something with the pot of basil that's outside.

Dear inner cyclist--
Don't feel bad about "wasting" today. I know you're going to feel like this is a case of sour grapes, but really, it's hot (or will be once you get out!), it's humid, it's foggy (so your drive to the trail would have been interesting, to say the least). On top of that, since you toughed that seatpost thing out yesterday (24 miles would have been quite enough, but you decided to do another eight!), your knee and hip would really like to take the day off. Go back to bed for an hour or two. It's not worth killing that poor knee and hurting it more for the sake of a 15 mile ride. And yes, I know you're not happy about not being able to ride for quite a few days this month because of the heat and the car issue. Deal with it.

[withm]

Errr, I have 6 basil plants. I've found that it's the right amount for me.

I harvest periodically and make pesto - put in everything (basil, parmesan reggiano, nuts - pine nuts or more likely cashews, garlic) but the oil. Shape into logs, wrap each in plastic wrap, or sandwidh baggie, and put them all into a zip lock bag in the freezer.

The beauty of doing it this way is without the oil, that it thaws almost instantly. Just put your pesto log into a bowl, add some olive oil, whisk together, add more oil until you get the consistency you like, and you are good to go.

And while I'm sure that someone will find fault with this method, it has worked very well for me for many years.

[tulip]

You can also freeze it in ice cube trays and then have individual portions. Marni, I hope you stop tossing basil...there's always room for more pesto in the world.

[OakLeaf]

Wow, it takes a 2' row for me to get enough basil to put up pesto for the winter. +1 on the ice trays.

Taste of summer in the middle of winter. :)

I keep reading not to put cheese in pesto that you plan to freeze. Sometimes I do, sometimes not, if I use cheese it's always good stuff, never noticed a problem. Anyone have a comment on that?

[tulip]

I never put cheese in pesto. Basil, garlic, olive oil, pine nuts, sea salt. I also freeze mine with the oil...that is, if I have any to freeze. I usually eat it all up fresh. I guess I have to plant more basil (I have just four plants of Genovese basil, plus four or five of Thai basil, which I don't use to make pesto but I suppose I could).

[Owlie]

Ooh, Thai basil! I wanted a plant, but mum vetoed that on the grounds we wouldn't use as much as we would "regular" basil. If I had some, I'd be making as much drunken chicken as I could...

[marni]

lets see... I have 14 2 foot logs of frozen pesto and 24 jars of pesto and that's not counting the 12 or so I have given to my daughter, trainer and breast doctor's nurse. I have 6 pots not 6 plants, each pot is 2' diameter and holds multiple plants in spite of thinning.

Back to harvesting and throwing.

Owlie, I have regular, sweet italian, globe, cinnamon and two others flavors I can't recall, but I would love to have a drunken chicken recipe.

I would actually consider mailing it out to the pesto to those on the list who want it, but the cost and inconvenience sound a bit daunting.

marni

[tulip]

That's a lotta pesto, indeed.

[Owlie]

...that's a lot of pesto.

I haven't found a good drunken chicken recipe yet--I'll let you know when I do.

[tulip]

Dear Owlie,
Thanks for bringing up recipes with Thai basil. I have to go to the LBS today to drop off my bike for a new chain and cassette, and there's an Asian grocery nearby the LBS. I'm going to get all the fixins for summer rolls. While I'm at it, I think I'll treat myself to some good pho at the restaurant next door. Yum!

-tulip

[jessmarimba]

Check out RABA. They have rides every day. Good riding towards Ashland and east of town out near airport. How tall are you?

5'7". I think I've found a friend of a friend who has a bike that will fit, plus has the same size feet as me (I didn't bring shoes). Now I just need to find time to ride it :) Thanks for the ride suggestions!

[Owlie]

Dear Owlie,
Thanks for bringing up recipes with Thai basil. I have to go to the LBS today to drop off my bike for a new chain and cassette, and there's an Asian grocery nearby the LBS. I'm going to get all the fixins for summer rolls. While I'm at it, I think I'll treat myself to some good pho at the restaurant next door. Yum!

-tulip

You're welcome! Now I want Thai food.

I'm making "angry pasta" with some of the basil outside, before it smothers the lavender. I should actually go out and get it now, before it gets hotter.

[Blueberry]

Dear Paving Contractor:

1 business day's notice that you are repaving my street for 2 weeks is not cool. Nor is the fact that you told us to park cars in the driveway (as opposed to on the street) and then made it impossible to get out either end of the street. My DH can't bike right now, and I have places to go for work that are not within biking range. Sorry - but we need vehicular access one way or another.

It's also really not cool that you're 2 hours into work and have already cut the gas line (though it was funny that you knocked on the door while I was on the phone with the city folks asking about access - they were not happy with you).

It's gonna be a long 2 weeks (but I am looking forward to smooth pavement - if we ever get there).

Sincerely,

A Disgruntled Homeowner

[jessmarimba]

Dear Paving Contractor:

1 business day's notice that you are repaving my street for 2 weeks is not cool. Nor is the fact that you told us to park cars in the driveway (as opposed to on the street) and then made it impossible to get out either end of the street. My DH can't bike right now, and I have places to go for work that are not within biking range. Sorry - but we need vehicular access one way or another.

It's also really not cool that you're 2 hours into work and have already cut the gas line (though it was funny that you knocked on the door while I was on the phone with the city folks asking about access - they were not happy with you).

It's gonna be a long 2 weeks (but I am looking forward to smooth pavement - if we ever get there).

Sincerely,

A Disgruntled Homeowner

Ughhhh They did that to us last fall. Except we got NO notice - I went to leave for work, and our street was chopped up. We have alleys but next to no one has alley access to their property b/c of fences, etc.

The road is already torn up, too.

[Sky King]

Dear Dark Chocolate M&M's,
Please stop calling my name from the pantry. Yes, I know I rode 50 miles this morning but if I eat you than I won't be able to have a beer tonight, and when it is 90 degrees out I really like having a beer. I am going to sit here and pinch my belly roll instead!

[Crankin]

Dear Work Gods,
Thank you for letting me have a normal day. I felt competent, not stressed and I got all of my questions answered. Even though I have one client who told me she "already trusts me," the 7 year old with PDD and the 5 year old who threatened to kill her mom will keep me learning.
Maybe climbing the 2 mile 7-20% grade in the Berkshires burned all of the stress out.

[Biciclista]

Dear creep that stole my DH's helmet from the counter of the LBS
why on earth would ANYONE steal a sweaty helmet when they could easily steal a brand new one?
what kind of icky person are you anyway??

[spokewench]

Ughhhh They did that to us last fall. Except we got NO notice - I went to leave for work, and our street was chopped up. We have alleys but next to no one has alley access to their property b/c of fences, etc.

The road is already torn up, too.

Yeah, happened to us last year too. No notice. There are two ways to get into our house off the main street; two main streets and then the street I live on provides an arc that connects the two main streets. They gave notice to the people on the two main streets, but didn't give any notice to the arc in between that has no access to town except by the two main streets.

Sometimes you got to wonder about City workers. They get paid well, great benefits, but they sure don't seem to be accountable to anyone!

[tulip]

Usually paving jobs are done by private contractors. I feel fortunate to live in a connected neighborhood with lots of options for coming and going. Not that we'll EVER have our streets repaved, though. Consider yourselves lucky.


Dear Sky King's Dark Chocolate M&Ms,
Leave her alone! Come sit with me.
-tulip


Dear Owlie,
Thanks, I had the best pho today! And found a huge Asian grocery and bought all kinds of goodies. Yum
-tulip

[limewave]

Dear DH,

Please stop working a bazillion hours. The kids have forgotten what you look like.

~Limewave

[bmccasland]

Dear Bank Loan Officer,
Thank you for helping me find the best interest rate for me to pay for the plumbing and electrical repairs on my LA house. Amazingly, the best rate is from my credit card! :)

Self,
Hide that credit card until the "loan" is paid off, which means until the house sells.

Anybody wanna buy a house in the suburbs of New Orleans?? :o

[Blueberry]

Usually paving jobs are done by private contractors. I feel fortunate to live in a connected neighborhood with lots of options for coming and going. Not that we'll EVER have our streets repaved, though. Consider yourselves lucky.

.......

Dear Owlie,
Thanks, I had the best pho today! And found a huge Asian grocery and bought all kinds of goodies. Yum
-tulip

Yep - a private contractor. We have lots of options - but they're all chopped up right now:mad: Our road wasn't bad - I would much rather they have built bike trails.

Speaking of Asian food - next time you're down this way, check out the new Asian grocery. It's pretty amazing (over near where Southsquare used to be - the old circuit city).

[azfiddle]

Biciclista- Like you I find it pretty hard to believe anyone would want to steal a used helmet....

[tulip]

Yep - a private contractor. We have lots of options - but they're all chopped up right now:mad: Our road wasn't bad - I would much rather they have built bike trails.

Speaking of Asian food - next time you're down this way, check out the new Asian grocery. It's pretty amazing (over near where Southsquare used to be - the old circuit city).

Your neighborhood is connected; hopefully the paving will go quickly. They do seem to manage to pick the hottest days for paving and roofing. I willcheck out the Asian grocery next month. I'm trying to picture where the Circuit City was at S Square. Funny how one forgets those places once the are gone.

[Blueberry]

Here (http://carpedurham.com/2011/02/23/la-mings-global-market/) is more info! It's a neat place to wander (sadly, not a great bike location, though).

[indysteel]

Dear docs. Please figure out what's going on with my thyroid ASAP. I'm really looking forward to my nuclear scans. The presumed diagnosis of Graves' is not making me happy. This time last year, I was putting my beloved cat to sleep. This year, I'm heading toward an autoimmune disorder diagnosis. What in the world can I expect for next years? On second thought, don't answer that.

[Catrin]

Dear docs. Please figure out what's going on with my thyroid ASAP. I'm really looking forward to my nuclear scans. The presumed diagnosis of Graves' is not making me happy. This time last year, I was putting my beloved cat to sleep. This year, I'm heading toward an autoimmune disorder diagnosis. What in the world can I expect for next years? On second thought, don't answer that.

(((((Indy)))) Sending warm hugs, thoughts and prayers your direction.

[indysteel]

(((((Indy)))) Sending warm hugs, thoughts and prayers your direction.

Thanks, Catrin. I know as medical issues go, this isn't generally life threatening, but it's still upsetting. Any medical issue that impacts mood, energy levels, and weight scares me. I'm trying to just roll with it, but in truth I think I'm just waiting for a crying jag to ensue.

[OakLeaf]

((((((indysteel)))))) Hope they get it sorted sooner than later.

[indysteel]

((((((indysteel)))))) Hope they get it sorted sooner than later.

Thanks, Oak. I had an ultrasound yesterday that showed an increased blood flow to the thyroid suggestive of Graves'. My TSH tested on 6/23 as .135. Last year, it tested at 3.15, which I didn't know until today. That suggests that I was mildly hypo this time last year, at least according to some standards. Not sure why my OB/GYN didn't catch that. The difference in the course of a year has me confused. Anyway, I'm having a nuclear scan on Monday and Tuesday. I hope for some definitive information to come from that.

Diagnosis aside, I just hate the idea of having something that requires such constant monitoring. My sister has Graves and had her thyroid radiated almost immediately. I'd prefer to treat it with drugs initially to see if we can get it into remission (I'm not getting ahead of myself or anything). But my opinions are informed only by the internet; my doctor hasn't actually discussed any of this with me yet. She just keeps sending me for tests.

Beyond that, my symptoms are seemingly mild, although maybe I just don't know what "normal" should feel like. For now, however, I should probably ramp down my activity a bit. My resting HR seems normal enough at 63, but I feel like I'm REALLY exerting myself when I mountain bike. I haven't been running since it got so hot a few weeks ago and that's probably for the best. My max HR has always been on the high side, so again, I'm not sure what normal is for me.

[Crankin]

I hope it goes well for you, Indy. All you can do is be proactive, which you are.

I got past my last paperwork hurdle today. Now it's just the normal stuff, like clients not being there when you go to their house... I thought this would not be such an issue with in home therapy, but it's part of the deal in this profession... at least in the program I work in, I can bill for waiting, calling, paperwork, so I still got paid for an hour.

[marni]

Indy Steel, I will be thinking of you and wishing you well. This has been a rough year on a lot of us.

marni

[Owlie]

((Indysteel))

Dear body:
Why are you awake at this hour? I don't want to be.

[malkin]

Dear HR Department:

The new $3000 deductible on our health insurance does not make me feel either "proactive" or "empowered" about my health care.

[Owlie]

Dear man driving a motorized penis extension:

No, I was not going to pass a slow-moving industrial lawnmower on a winding, tree-lined road with blind curves and a double-yellow line where the speed limit is 40 miles an hour and I can't see around said lawnmower. If you want to do it, be my guest. I'll happily talk to the cops about what happened.

[jessmarimba]

Dear HR Department:

The new $3000 deductible on our health insurance does not make me feel either "proactive" or "empowered" about my health care.

I don't know how much influence you have over their policies, but my company used to have a higher deductible insurance with a supplemental health reimbursement account that would refund us a good chunk of the deductible. I think it cost them significantly less money than the insurance with the lower deductible would have cost. Maybe it's a suggestion to bring up?

[Roadtrip]

Dear man driving a motorized penis extension:

No, I was not going to pass a slow-moving industrial lawnmower on a winding, tree-lined road with blind curves and a double-yellow line where the speed limit is 40 miles an hour and I can't see around said lawnmower. If you want to do it, be my guest. I'll happily talk to the cops about what happened.

Sorry to hear you had an encounter with the MPE. Tought you mostly stuck to the trail? Where were you riding?

Shannon

[Owlie]

Sorry to hear you had an encounter with the MPE. Tought you mostly stuck to the trail? Where were you riding?

Shannon

Thankfully, not on a ride. I was driving back from the trail. This was in the first few hundred feet up that road you took to that Starbucks where we met up the last time.

Speaking of which, the Montgomery Starbucks is now gone!

[bmccasland]

Dear Knee,
Is there a GOOD reason that you've decided to blow up like a balloon and hurt? I've been good to you, why are you doing this. Don't you hear Ann saying how good you're doing. Today was not fun. How about some nice narcotics for bed tonight?

[alexis_the_tiny]

Dear self,

Don't make transactions while on medication. Now you've accidentally deleted the phone number of a buyer along with the text message of her address to mail her stuff to. Brilliantly done. How now?? *Facepalm*

[Owlie]

Dear software--you are evil.:mad:

[Owlie]

Dear mom--
In the future, I'd appreciate it if you didn't take it upon yourself to clean out my room while I'm not around. I was hoping to break into the stash of stationery covered with pictures of cute animals colored by someone on an acid trip for grad school because I don't want to take it Too Seriously...and black/dark blue/dark green notebooks are a little boring. I can't, because you threw it out.

While on the subject: Your reasoning was because "you're an adult now." It was also your reasoning for replacing my bedding with white-and-boring. I happen to like brightly colored bedding. (Red sheets are good for other reasons too...) It's two or three years old--it doesn't bleed in the wash any more! If I'm An Adult, doesn't that mean that I get to define what being An Adult is? And if I want silly stationery made by a company that was popular in the 80s and 90s or my (un)necessarily huge stuffed toy collection or red sheets, is that a problem? Or does being An Adult mean being boring?

[badgercat]

....I was hoping to break into the stash of stationery covered with pictures of cute animals colored by someone on an acid trip....
....silly stationery made by a company that was popular in the 80s and 90s....

Lisa Frank? :o

[Owlie]

Lisa Frank? :o

Yep.:o

[Biciclista]

Dear Mother who is now entering her teen years
I have absolutely no problem with the idea of you dating. I hope you find someone that is good company and intelligent ( your #1 condition)
What I DO have a problem with is that you have decided that my DH can't meet these guys because he'll "say something" but you insist on ME meeting them and then you give me a long list of things I cannot discuss.
I cannot discuss my retirement (262 days from now)
I cannot discuss my age, her age, the ages of my kids, or anything related to those ages. Now I ALREADY know that she doesn't want age discussed, so it infuriates me when she has to "prep" me to meet some old f@rt who can't hear a word I said ANYWAY because he's deaf as a post and the only reason why he can hear HER is because he's reading her lips.
I can't tell you that I was laughing because the conversation we had was so pathetic
. him "How did you get this great cheese?"
her "a friend of ours from Italy brought it"
him "you went to Italy?"
her "no, it was a friend of ours, she brought it when she came"
him "how did you bring cheese in from Italy"
her "I didn't"
him " you could have gotten in trouble"

sincerely your long suffering grey haired daughter

[indysteel]

Oh Lordy, Bicilista; that sounds utterly comical--and absurd.

@Owlie, did you have a talk with your mom about establishing some boundaries? This probably goes without saying, but the most adult thing you could do in this situation is to have a rational discussion with your mom (and dad) about how you would like to be treated. I tend to think the average parent--even the best of them--struggle to see and treat their newly adult children as adults. Sometimes it takes some work and sensitivity to get them up to speed.

[Biciclista]

Dear Husband
Thank you for finally trimming the grape vines that were ascending onto our solar panels. I know you said you were going to do them "sometime next week" but you had 2 hours this morning to play on the computer before you left today for your all day bike ride and time to read the paper AND sleep in.
It really annoyed you when I mentioned that it might be something you could do before you left but you did it anyway. Bravo!
I don't mind that you were mad, I know you will get over it especially since you'll want me to be on my best behavior when you arrive with our new warmshowers house guest this afternoon
Love
your wife.

[indysteel]

Dear Husband
Thank you for finally trimming the grape vines that were ascending onto our solar panels. I know you said you were going to do them "sometime next week" but you had 2 hours this morning to play on the computer before you left today for your all day bike ride and time to read the paper AND sleep in.
It really annoyed you when I mentioned that it might be something you could do before you left but you did it anyway. Bravo!
I don't mind that you were mad, I know you will get over it especially since you'll want me to be on my best behavior when you arrive with our new warmshowers house guest this afternoon
Love
your wife.

LOL; that sounds like a conversation I might have had with my own husband. :rolleyes:

[snapdragen]

I cannot discuss my retirement (262 days from now)

232 days for me :D:cool:

[snapdragen]

LOL; that sounds like a conversation I might have had with my own husband. :rolleyes:

GG? Say it ain't so!! :D :rolleyes:

[indysteel]

GG? Say it ain't so!! :D :rolleyes:

Love hime though I do, his tendency to sit in front of his computer when we have stuff to do is not one of his better traits. But I gotta remind myself that it's balanced by a ginormous heart.

[lph]

Or does being An Adult mean being boring?

Nope, being an adult means not having to let your mother mess around with your stuff.

My mother was pretty good about that, but my MIL once tried to "tidy up" our bedroom when she was babysitting in our house one evening. It's the only time I can remember not even trying to be polite and diplomatic towards her.

[Biciclista]

also being an adult means being independent. It's hard when your stuff is still in your parents' home/domain. It's hard for HER to let go. Once you move out, all that will (should) change.

[chincitop]

Dear bratty 16 year old driving Daddy's lexus who just referred to me as "the fat sweaty girl."

I've biked 48 miles this week, swam 5, and ran 10. What have you done lately? This sweat is due to me biking 5 miles to get here in 80 degree heat. Learn what it means to work for something, *****.

/death stare

[limewave]

Dear DD,
Have a wonderful, fun-filled time at Camp! I am so excited for you! I promise to try and mute that part of me that thinks you are still my little baby and too young to do these big adventurous things. You constantly amaze me with everything you are learning. You are capable of so much. GO. Have a GREAT time! And know that I love you very, very, much.
Limewave


DH,
Take care of the dead squirrel already! I understand that it's maggoty and not a fun thing. But it's definitely the "man-of-the-household's" job. It might make good fertilizer eventually. But my flower bed is stinky and full of flies!
Limewave

[VeganBikeChick]

Dear LASIK office,

While I am thankful that you corrected my vision to 20/20, I am not thankful that you charged me twice for the procedure - and no, I'm not seeing double. Eagerly awaiting the call back from your billing person.

Former blind bat

[HillSlugger]

Dear Fate,

Sometimes I wish I'd never gotten married. Sometimes I wish I'd never had children. Sometimes I wish I'd never gotten remarried. I often feel like I'm trapped between an anvil and the hammer. Is there any way out of the middle?

[Catrin]

(((Hillslugger)))

I've been feeling sorry for myself recently for being fearful years ago and not coming out of myself - this has led to a lifetime of solitude. I am fine with this most of the time, but I wish that I had been braver. This will pass...

Then again, I love my current lifestyle, just wish that I could meet someone who would share my love for bikes. I have had my defenses up for so long that I don't know if I even can bring them down at 51...'Course, it doesn't help being a rape survivor (twice) and abusive relationships as a young woman.

Thank you for listening. Back to your regularly scheduled program.

Catherine

[Owlie]

((Catrin and Hillslugger))

Dear Skype:
ARGH!

Dear tea company--
I love your tea, really. But this is the second batch in a row with under-filled bags. Seriously, I have to use two of them.

Dear dad--
Mom and I are wondering what you were thinking when you did the grocery shopping this week. A 1-lb box of salad greens plus a head of lettuce? The three of us might have managed to eat it, but due to travel schedules...I will hold you responsible for the recurring nightmares about baby spinach.

[alexis_the_tiny]

Dear Gods of Rental Property, I've been looking for almost a month now. Don't you think its about time you rewarded my patience and persistence with a flat that isn't an overpriced crackhouse/dumping ground where the landlord hates our guts because it's 'not proper' for three unrelated single young people to be sharing a flat together? Kthnxbai.

[Crankin]

Hill Slugger, what exactly is making you feel this way now? Is it just a bad day, or something more?

Catrin, I say, it is never too late. People have an amazing capacity to change within themselves. Sometimes you need to isolate to break the pattern of abusive relationships/trauma, but it seems like it's been awhile. Never say never and PM me, if you want. I can share some amazing stuff. The positive stuff you never hear.

[Biciclista]

Dear Self
are you absolutely out of your mind ?? You agreed to house friends from Italy for HOW LONG? you don't KNOW how long? With an 16 month old baby????
Okay, back to cleaning and baby proofing the guestroom!!

[tulip]

Dear Self
are you absolutely out of your mind ?? You agreed to house friends from Italy for HOW LONG? you don't KNOW how long? With an 16 month old baby????
Okay, back to cleaning and baby proofing the guestroom!!

Certainly the will reciprocate, right?

[Owlie]

Dear salad:
I never want to see you again.

Dear self--if you want buckeyes, go make them. Just do it soon so you can put the dishes in the dishwasher and have them done before dad gets home.

Dear heat wave:
Are you done yet? This is getting old. I wake up and it's too hot and sticky to ride.

Dear body--
Yes, I know that you are capable of reproducing. You don't need to remind me. If you insist, though, I could get the message without the cramps and the back pain and the inability to eat more than a fist-sized serving of anything at a time, and the headaches that result from it. Stop it. It's not like I ever intend to use those parts...

[indysteel]

Hill Slugger, what exactly is making you feel this way now? Is it just a bad day, or something more?

Catrin, I say, it is never too late. People have an amazing capacity to change within themselves. Sometimes you need to isolate to break the pattern of abusive relationships/trauma, but it seems like it's been awhile. Never say never and PM me, if you want. I can share some amazing stuff. The positive stuff you never hear.

HS-I was wondering much the same thing. Depending on your answer, perhaps it's time to talk to a professional.

And Catrin, amen to what Crankin said. I do understand your loneliness; I've been there. A couple years before I met Brian, I finally had an epiphany. After years of emotional pain--of really feeling unloved and unloveable--I finally realized the power within myself to love myself enough to make up for all of it. The bad family, the abusive mother, the detached father, the longstanding drought in my lovelife. It took work and practice, but it freed my heart in some powerful ways. Even if Brian hadn't come into my life--i had confidence in my ability to feel happy and fulfilled. While I do hope you meet someone someday, I hope you see possibility and joy in whatver comes your way.

I also learned that even when feeling empowered by self love, I was still bound to feel lonely at times. With the guidance of my therapist, I finally learned how to feel that emotion without being consumed by it. That was a significant step forward for me. I am not my emotions.

[Biciclista]

Certainly they will reciprocate, right?

they have in the past, yes, but this is more than all the other times put together. MONTHS!

[redrhodie]

Indy, that's a really beautiful, hopeful, inspiring post.

[tulip]

they have in the past, yes, but this is more than all the other times put together. MONTHS!

Oh my...on the upside maybe you can stay at their house for months, right? Maybe a house swap would be better.

I agree with redhodie. Nice post, Indy. HillSlugger--you deserve to be happy. It's in your power. Fate has little to do with it. Indy's words are wise, and Crankin is too. Best wishes for your happiness.

[indysteel]

Indy, that's a really beautiful, hopeful, inspiring post.

Thanks, Red! I was reading Yoga Journal Magazine one day when something jumped off the page at me: "the only person who can provide an unwavering sense of love is you."

Now, I read that after having already done a lot of work on myself in therapy. I'd also gotten really into yoga and cycling and had made some wonderful friends in the process, I truly felt like I'd primed myself for that moment. What would it feel like to love myself enough? What would that look like? How would it feel? I distinctly remember sitting with that thought for days and weeks, until I realized that I was practicing it. Like I said, it took a lot of work. A lot. But the longstanding despair I'd felt lifted. What relief.

I love my husband and being married, but if I'm being honest, I've never felt as exhilarated as I did when I first took the leap of being happy but alone. Because, really, the despair I felt wasn't really about romantic love. The truth is, when you're not loved by your own mother, it colors everything you feel about yourself and your worth. That was the love I needed to fill on my own.

[Catrin]

... The truth is, when you're not loved by your own mother, it colors everything you feel about yourself and your worth. That was the love I needed to fill on my own.

Yes, and yes again.

I haven't been despairing, I've been single a very long time and I've been happy for a good portion of that time - partially because I walled off certain painful things. I did quite intensive therapy, but for a long time it was easier to remain single. I think I've been taking a self-assessment and seeing certain things for what they are - consequences of certain choices (or lack of choice) made long ago. However....that was long ago.

We do not have to stick with choices made long ago, what may have seemed appropriate at 15, 25, or 35 doesn't have to stick at 51. My bike has reawakened me to the love of life and the world around me. I've come a long ways in the last couple of years, but you are right, when your own mother doesn't love you and there was no father around, you do have to find some way to fill that hole. I think that I've been working on that without realizing it consciously. How can we open ourselves to others if we haven't found a way to fill that hole first?

BTW, it might come as a surprise, or not, but I over-think stuff :o :)

[Bethany1]

Dear back,

Please don't go out on me tonight or tomorrow. I know I was bad going to the mall and you despise trying on clothes, but I needed those skirts. I still don't understand why you hate me walking around while my kids get clothing as well. I don't want to spend the rest of the summer at the chiropractor office and needing physical therapy again.

Dear Surly Bikes,

I really loved testing out your long Haul Trucker. It was really comfortable and I didn't know steel was so easy on my back. Even your Puglsey was wonderful with it's 4 inch wheels. It would be perfect for the gravel roads out here.

[tangentgirl]

Dear Stinky Boys Club:

You suck. I haven't had to fight for my piece of cake like this for years - years! But here you are, once again, trying to push me to the side, even though it's completely counter-productive. Go back to 1959 where you belong. I have work to do.

Or, don't. There are plenty o' cake shops in this town.

[marni]

dear gym studs,

yes I get that you are young and fit full of yourselves. Yes I understand that most people choose to run 20 minutes on the treadmill instead of around the perimeter of the basketball court, but since there was no one in the court I decided to indulge myself. I told you I only had five more minutes to go and that I would stay out of your way. Why then did you decide that it was imperative to occupy all four of the courts simultaneously trying as hard as you could to make sure you were shooting at the wall or crashing into me while running for the ball, every single time I passed any one of you at any of the court areas.

And dear gym management,

Yes I know, they pay gym fees too but really, it is not fun to be bashed into repeatedly by guys who are 40 years younger and twice my body weight whether "accidentally" or "on purpose."

Incidentally this group is also notorious for smashing their free weights to the ground repeatedly and never putting away any of the equipment they use.

sore and bruised and irritated.

[Crankin]

My first supervisor had the saying, "if it is isn't one thing, it's the mother..."

Now that I am doing family therapy in people's homes, I am getting to see the real life application of this right before my eyes.
We really need to do a better job of helping people be parents.

[Biciclista]

dear gym studs,

yes I get that you are young and fit full of yourselves. Yes I understand that most people choose to run 20 minutes on the treadmill instead of around the perimeter of the basketball court, but since there was no one in the court I decided to indulge myself. I told you I only had five more minutes to go and that I would stay out of your way. Why then did you decide that it was imperative to occupy all four of the courts simultaneously trying as hard as you could to make sure you were shooting at the wall or crashing into me while running for the ball, every single time I passed any one of you at any of the court areas.

And dear gym management,

Yes I know, they pay gym fees too but really, it is not fun to be bashed into repeatedly by guys who are 40 years younger and twice my body weight whether "accidentally" or "on purpose."

Incidentally this group is also notorious for smashing their free weights to the ground repeatedly and never putting away any of the equipment they use.

sore and bruised and irritated.

WOW, I'd pursue this further. That's terrible. Is there another gym?? What a bunch of aszhats. to pick on a woman like that!!!

[Becky]

Dear self-

Take a vacation already, before you flip out on the wrong person (not that there's really a "right" person for that situation). The work will be there when you get back...

Oh, and going to FLETC for training as a civilian is a pretty cool opportunity- suck it up already and stop worrying.

[jessmarimba]

Dear new guy:

Yelling at me after I just saved your butt wasn't a smart decision. You underestimate me at your own peril.

[Owlie]

Dear self--
Why didn't you learn the first time that adding milk to melted chocolate is a bad idea?:confused:

[tulip]

Dear tulip,
I am so proud of you for learning to be financially responsible. Better late than never. Even though money has always been a source of angst and terror, you have learned that it's in your power to control it, not the other way around. Knowledge really is power. You've come so far since January, and I know you are on a permanent path to financial responsibility and freedom from debt. It's amazing how far a good software program, some basic knowledge, a few reachable goals, and a bit of courage can take you.

Yours truly,
moi

[indysteel]

Dear tulip,
I am so proud of you for learning to be financially responsible. Better late than never. Even though money has always been a source of angst and terror, you have learned that it's in your power to control it, not the other way around. Knowledge really is power. You've come so far since January, and I know you are on a permanent path to financial responsibility and freedom from debt. It's amazing how far a good software program, some basic knowledge, a few reachable goals, and a bit of courage can take you.

Yours truly,
moi

Way to go, Tulip! That's awesome!

As an employee of the US Bankruptcy Court, I'm thrilled that you will not need our services!!!! :)

[marni]

WOW, I'd pursue this further. That's terrible. Is there another gym?? What a bunch of aszhats. to pick on a woman like that!!!

I will sic trainer john on them tomorrow if they are there or the next time I see them. He too is a senior though not quite as senior as me, but he is one of the lead trainers and has more years at this gym than anyone else so when he speaks to someone it usually brings results.

Yes there is another gym but this is the one where the trainer that both my 90 year old resident FIL and I like, so moving to another gym is not an optimal solution. When the weather cools, I will just run outside on the sidewalk, but with feels like temps in the triple digits, that is not an option right now.

I don't think they were specifically picking on me, as much as showing off for each other and generally being the selfish inconsiderate louts they are in real life. There seems to be a lot of that "what's up with you b****" attitude among certain groups and ages and persuasions of youngish males around here- might have something to do with the strongly prevalent football culture. Our local high school has a football facility that is the envy of the local professional football team, but they just laid off 250 teachers. Go figure.

sigh....

[alexis_the_tiny]

dear gym studs,

yes I get that you are young and fit full of yourselves. Yes I understand that most people choose to run 20 minutes on the treadmill instead of around the perimeter of the basketball court, but since there was no one in the court I decided to indulge myself. I told you I only had five more minutes to go and that I would stay out of your way. Why then did you decide that it was imperative to occupy all four of the courts simultaneously trying as hard as you could to make sure you were shooting at the wall or crashing into me while running for the ball, every single time I passed any one of you at any of the court areas.

And dear gym management,

Yes I know, they pay gym fees too but really, it is not fun to be bashed into repeatedly by guys who are 40 years younger and twice my body weight whether "accidentally" or "on purpose."

Incidentally this group is also notorious for smashing their free weights to the ground repeatedly and never putting away any of the equipment they use.

sore and bruised and irritated.

Sounds like they sorely need a few good tight slaps. NOT that I'd advocate senseless violence against strangers though. :p

[Crankin]

Not to offend native Texans, but Marni, I don't see how you can stand living in that football culture after being in Acton :eek:.
Heck, I couldn't even deal with the suburbs of Miami, because of similar type people.

[limewave]

Dear DH,

For nearly 3 years now I have worked a second job to make up for lost income during the economy. The confidence I've gained and knowledge I've accumulated have been invaluable. I can't express how good it makes me feel knowing that when my back is to the wall, I can create my own productive and profitable business.

It was all great until I found out the real reason for the lower income. When we are in it together, that is one thing. But when you make decisions on your own accord that have that great of an impact on our family . . . All I'm going to say is that it's time for you to take care of the situation you independently created.

Yes I'm still mad. If I was mad at you every single day and every single hour from when I found out about your situation to when you'll actually be able to resolve it . . . well, we wouldn't be able to function as a family. You made a doozy of a mistake, but I still love you and we can move forward from this. I do see the positive steps you are taking the integrity you are showing.

So . . . I'm selling my business. It's done. I've set the wheels in motion. It's time for you to step up and do what you need to do.

Limewave

[tulip]

Limewave, you have alot on your plate. I will just come out and say it: Please, please please get some couples counseling. Do it for your kids if not for you. Whatever it takes to get you there. You don't deserve this crap, and your kids deserve to have a better relationship model.

While I'm on a roll here, please also start putting money away for yourself.

There, I'm done. No more advice.

Okay, I lied. I'm not done. Marriage is a team sport. You are having to be the referee.

Okay, now I'm done. For real.

[limewave]

Limewave, you have alot on your plate. I will just come out and say it: Please, please please get some couples counseling. Do it for your kids if not for you. Whatever it takes to get you there. You don't deserve this crap, and your kids deserve to have a better relationship model.

While I'm on a roll here, please also start putting money away for yourself.

There, I'm done. No more advice.

Okay, I lied. I'm not done. Marriage is a team sport. You are having to be the referee.

Okay, now I'm done. For real.

Done. Done. And done. We're on an upswing. He's actually been handling the situation for awhile which is why I have some money to buy my new mountain bike. Selling my business just eliminates the safety net. I think it will be good for all of us.

[indysteel]

Done. Done. And done. We're on an upswing. He's actually been handling the situation for awhile which is why I have some money to buy my new mountain bike. Selling my business just eliminates the safety net. I think it will be good for all of us.

((((Limewave)))). I'm glad you're taking some positive steps on your own and within your marriage to get things sorted out. I hope the upswing continues.

[Owlie]

((Limewave))

[marni]

Not to offend native Texans, but Marni, I don't see how you can stand living in that football culture after being in Acton :eek:.
Heck, I couldn't even deal with the suburbs of Miami, because of similar type people.

sometimes one ends up somewhere out of necessity- like a job for dh and being close to overseas educated daughter as she started in the American education system in college in Texas because short of NY, University of North Texas had the best music education available within her field.

Maybe someday we will get to live where I want to live, but in the meantime....I don't begrudge the years overseas, but .......Texas- well.....;)

[jessmarimba]

My ex boyfriend is at UNT for grad school. Denton is one odd little town.

Dear whoever built the wall upstairs:
What were you thinking? It's a gazillion degrees up here in the summer...we'd have a lovely little cross breeze from the windows at either end of the house except that there's a giant slab of drywall in the middle.

Dear self:
That second room upstairs isn't a legal bedroom anyway. Learn how to do electrical work and take that sucker DOWN.

[Rebekah H]

Dear Amazing, Wonderful, Supportive, Sweet, Heart-of-Gold Husband,

If your sorry @@@ tells me to eat a rice cake ONE MORE GD TIME, I am going to shove my size 8 foot right straight up your rectum until I reach lung.

Love always,
Rebekah

p.s.,
Thanks for putting my new grips on my bike super early this morning when it was your day off and the last thing you wanted to do was get up at 7am to wrench a bike. You're the best!

p.p.s.,
Really, rice cakes are the devil and they taste like snot. Dried snot. I'll just be fat if it really comes to that.

[marni]

[QUOTE=jessmarimba;589901]My ex boyfriend is at UNT for grad school. Denton is one odd little town.

didn't spend enough time there to appreciate its' intrinsic differences, but Austin (whose motto is "Keep Austin Weird" ) is definitely my king of town, much more than Houston.

I think I would take it as a given that anywhere in Texas that is a small college town will have some "unique" aspects, more so than possibly any other town in any other state in the nation.

marni

[Owlie]

Dear mom--
Seriously, lay off. I'm not sure where you get the idea that since I'm "an adult", I should only buy boring and strictly practical bedding, notebooks, etc, should stop wearing t-shirts, and that I should now be okay with you purging my books or pretty much anything in my room that you deem "childish". I'm pretty sure that you also object to my bike riding as some kind of childish escapist behavior, but at least you've gotten over thinking I'm going to kill myself by riding.

23 may have been "old in the '60s" (I think you're referring to the 1860s...), but it's not the '60s any more, and hasn't been for a while. (And if you' are talking about the 1960s, you were a child at the time. Of course 23 was "old"!)

Seriously, I will be extremely happy once I'm at a point where I won't have to move every year. That way I'll have somewhere to keep my books :|

[jessmarimba]

Owlie, your parents sound like mine. I think my dad told me that he bought his first house at 23 about a thousand times. Well thats nice, Dad, your first house was about what I paid for my last car.

Dear neighbors -

If I find out that you are the reason that my fence decided to spontaneously start collapsing in the direction of your yard I will be very, very unhappy with you. I don't have the money to fix that right now. I can't wait until you move out.

Dear idiot who ran into me this morning -

Seriously, who stops in the middle of a road and PUTS THE CAR IN REVERSE?? Especially without checking the rearview mirror? :mad::mad::mad: I don't know if my radiator was low on fluid b/c you smushed it, or my car just coincidentally started overheating today, but GRR!! It better have just been a one-time deal, b/c if I have to take that car in tomorrow neither of us is going to be very happy.

Dear trail building crew -

Thanks for being awesome. That was the best part of my week.

[marni]

For your information, dear Tim Melton, news commentator on Houston's channel 13 10:00 pm news,and I quote
" not that anyone is paying attention. Nobody does since Armstrong isn't riding anymore, but tomorrow is the last day of the Tour de France. When there are no Americans riding, no one cares."

Excuse me? and what about the other American riders? What are they, chopped liver?

marni

[Rebekah H]

Dear so and effin' so,

Thanks for ruining my night. I had an awesome ride today, got the tomatoes weeded, cut the grass, and was actually pretty for going out to dinner with friends, but you managed to screw that up all to hell in a hand basket. I could punch you with a sock monkey for that.

Jackass.

[Bethany1]

Dear LBS,

Why Oh why did you have to show me the new 2012 blue/white Mamba with hydraulic brakes and better shifters than mine and is exactly my size?

It's okay though. I still love my WSD Mamba. But still...

I'm Broke


Dear Teenage Son,

You are only 15. I am not buying a new fork. I am not buying you a full suspension bike because you think your bike is of "lower" quality than what I have. Get a job and if you keep whining I can alway sell your bikes to someone who would truly appreciate them.

Oh...clean your room. It reeks.

The Mom

[Owlie]

LOL, Bethany. DBF's parents did the opposite. He got the spiffy new stuff, and his mom got the hand-me-down components and wheels. (His dad rides a recumbent.) I keep teasing him: "Well of course you have a nice bike--you're an only child and had your parents subsidize your hobby!":rolleyes:

[Owlie]

Dear laptop:
I know you're old. But please, keep going for a little longer. Especially you, touchpad. I suppose I'll have to buy you a mouse one of these days, though...

Dear right eye--
No. No no no no no. Don't you dare. Please be a coincidence.

[crazycanuck]

Dear sternum,

Mmmk..it's been almost 2 months(and you even were treated to a little jaunt to NZ..) & i've rested you long enough. Why is it that when i try to get back into my fave outdoor things (swimming in this instance) you come back to bother me. Please please please let me do stuff other than medium walks outdoors...

I've done all the physio exercises, been eating well etc...

This is getting really frustrating...me thinks its time for a CT scan as x-rays don't show anything.

*sniff*...ugh..

[emily_in_nc]

Sorry to hear this, cc! Hope it's nothing serious. Definitely sounds like some medical investigation is in order. Please keep us posted!

[Biciclista]

Hey CC, get thee to a massage therapist that knows about trigger points! IT sure has made a difference with the way my frozen shoulder is healing.

[crazycanuck]

Mimi-i'm dealing w a good physio & am going to see an accupuncturist today.
Physio & I have been working on my posture & it's improved!

I went for a short outside ride this morning & it was just ok..I'm going to have to take it slowly for a while longer which is rather depressing...

*sigh*....

[ultraviolet]

Dear (ex)Client,

Yes, I fired you. No, I won't consider taking you back. What I witnessed (some would say subjected to) today in your offices was absolutely unacceptable.

It's over. It's you, not me.

[Pax]

Dear Morons in Washington DC,

My poor mom, she is so worried over this budget stuff she's losing sleep. Why must you always lay the fear on the doorstep of those most vulnerable? I've long said I loathe politicians, this BS simply confirms that loathing and adds a new, more personal level to it.

Signed,

Infuriated Taxpayer

[redrhodie]

Dear BB,

How can you be this old and not know right from wrong? You disappoint me, and you disappoint him. At least my suspicions about you are clearly confirmed. I'll no longer regret the distance I've kept from you. You are a trouble maker.

[Owlie]

Dear inner cyclist--

One day, you will have a lovely, shiny new carbon or steel bike that actually fits. Promise. However, for right now, we have other things to focus on--like those "job" and "grad school" things. You can have one as a graduation present once you finish grad school (if we've got money; if not, we'll make it a delayed graduation present), 'kay? (And maybe, just maybe, we'll go for a Project One Madone, if we've got money and we can't find anything we like...)

The more practical side.

PS: You can't have any more jerseys. Shorts maybe, since we're down to three pairs. Jerseys, no. (Unless that one you've had your eye on for a year goes on sale...)

[sgtiger]

Dear Self,

Stop making excuses and get back out there already! You know you'll feel better once you do.

Sincerely,

Where's My Motivation?

P.S. You don't want DH to dime you out to your BF again do yah? She's a tough coach.

[Owlie]

Dear rear tire/tube--
What on earth was your problem? Hopefully you haven't done what I'm thinking you've done...

[crazycanuck]

Dear Silver Lining,

I know you're going to make yourself known when all this upper body pain goes away...Good uni marks perhaps :D. Until then i'll just keep mozying..:)

It's back to cycling on the trainer for now as my ride outside brought back the yucky pains :(. The accupuncture didn't help either :(...

[jessmarimba]

Dear whoever outbid me at literally the last second on ebay today:

It's my birthday, dammit, and I wanted that bike. You're a meanie.

Signed,
Apparently ready to fork over the money...hide the bikes!

[Owlie]

Dearest right knee--
Would you either tell me what the problem is so that I can fix it, or stop hurting.

Dear various body parts--
WTF?

[bmccasland]

Dear Self,
You'll sleep better if you forego the 2nd iced coffee in the afternoon. What were you thinking?

Dear Calypso,
Midnight cat fights is why I want you in after the sun goes down. So you snuck out, had a lousy time, and now are totally wiped. Did you learn anything? Don't beg to go out tonight, you had me worried sick last night. Bad kitty. :( Hopefully the neighbors will find your collar.

[Trek420]

Dear Morons in Washington DC,

My poor mom, she is so worried over this budget stuff she's losing sleep. Why must you always lay the fear on the doorstep of those most vulnerable? I've long said I loathe politicians, this BS simply confirms that loathing and adds a new, more personal level to it.

Signed,

Infuriated Taxpayer

Your Mom is worried? If we fall off the economic precipice I'm worried. Put this in an online petition and I'll sign. :mad:

[Biciclista]

Your Mom is worried? If we fall off the economic precipice I'm worried. Put this in an online petition and I'll sign. :mad:

the whole world is worried while our egocentric senators play with our world.

[Trek420]

the whole world is worried while our egocentric senators play with our world.

I know I'm one of billions, and that some are more effected. I know it's selfish because other people even right here on TE are hurting real bad. But it doesn't make me feel better to be one of billions :o

I don't care if you're blue or red or purple or tea, chai, hot chocolate or coffee party ... where is the focus on jobs? I'm unemployed, with a full-time, union, high pay, high tech, high stress job I'm unemployed. That's because it's not where I want to be. And if we go like lemmings off the cliff (and I hear that lemmings don't actually do that but just using the analogy) all the possibilities I've got pending right now including my own employer will likely go fwoof.

So they'd better solve this before the decision maker on my transfer comes back from vacation! :mad:

[Owlie]

Problem is, if they don't get this sorted out (and by the sound of the current version of "compromise" working its way (or not) through Congress, even if they do), there are going to be a lot more people out of work.

Hold on tight. It's going to get a lot worse before it gets any better.

I'm sure the two government agencies that are likely to be my meal ticket (directly or indirectly) in the near future are slated for massive cuts.:mad:

[Biciclista]

To whom it may concern
Once upon a time we conjectured about "critical mass" as an idea about when there were so many people that life as we know it would change. They did experiments with rats who ended up eating each other as well as a lot of other strange behaviors.

I am thinking it is happening now.:confused: :(
We have an entire body of congress who were voted in for the people by the people who are doing everything that they can to sabotage US. and our planet.
Food safety? too expensive
Air safety? too expensive
water safety? can't they just buy bottled water? Oh, hm, that's not monitored for safety either, silly me.

children? too expensive (but don't let any women have abortions, or even miscarry when they are using drugs, that's criminal!!! - it's not too expensive to have the US government watching the insides of their uteruses)
Wildlife? Who cares if they all go extinct
National Parks? we don't need anyone taking care of that stuff.

Where should we tax, let me think.
Rich people? Goodness no, they create jobs
Large business? Holy$hit, they might leave the country, why, their jobs already did!
I know,
let's tax college students with ridiculously high tuition fees
Let's tax seniors by taking away SS benefits (you know the ones they paid for out of every paycheck their entire earning life?)
And what are we doing about it? are we up in revolt like they did in Libya?
er, um. no.


The worst part about this story is that it is not just happening in our country.
what about the good old days when it was considered good to help the poor, the weak, the sick. sigh.

[indysteel]

Dear irresponsible pet owner: thanks for dumping your cats on my property. I'm an animal lover, but I'm not in a position to care for four additional animals. I'm trying to get them trapped so that they can be spayed/neutered and vaccinated, but from there, I don't know how best to care for them. The local humane society has no capacity, and I have a cat with some health issues who cannot deal with the stress of foster cats. I don't know what to do, and it breaks my heart every day that I feed and water the cats you left to die. Shame on you.

[bmccasland]

Dear property management company:
Yes, I pay you to manage my rental house, but apparently you didn't happen to notice that you have now paid twice for the same plumbing repair, and deduced said cost of repair from my rental check twice. May I suggest a different plumber if they also billed you twice for the same repair? The one I used for the 8 years I lived in the house has better bookkeepers.

Y'all owe me some $$. :mad:

[bmccasland]

Dear irresponsible pet owner: thanks for dumping your cats on my property.

I don't know what to do, and it breaks my heart every day that I feed and water the cats you left to die. Shame on you. :(

Indy,
It's probably a good thing I don't live near you.. I think "sucker" is written across my forehead. Hope you can find a home for the kitties.

[indysteel]

I'd really like to take at least one of them in, but even before they showed up, we had settled on our two. I wish it were just up to me, but it's not. The sad truth is that Henry--my 12 year old--is already stressed out enough with our one year old cat, so I understand his reasoning.

But I can't stand that they're living outside. I have to find them a home before winter. They're sweet cats. After we get them fixed, we'll place an ad and try to vet any interest as best we can.

[Owlie]

Poor kitties. :(

[Bethany1]

Dear Sewing Machine Dealer,

Please be able to fix my sewing machine tomorrow. I broke a needle and jammed the bobbin case into the side of the machine while going over some rough seams.

I really hope I didn't do serious and expensive damage as it's my favorite machine.


Dear Bandit,

I know having a kitten around is exhausting. I do understand your frustration and know it's hard as you were here first. Buttons just really needed a home because she'd be stranded otherwise. You were adopted as a kitten because my friend found you outside in -20 degree weather over a year ago and gave you to me.


As more and more people are losing their homes, their animals are either left behind or dumped off somewhere as humane societies can't keep up. It's really sad. My parents just lost their home of 30 years and that's how Buttons came to be at my house. The sad part is the bank will sell that house for a fraction of what my parents paid for it.

[Owlie]

Dear self--
You probably should have learned to sew. Also, you need to find a way to put some money aside for a fitting so you don't end up with this knee pain every time you ride.

[Sky King]

Dear Left Leg,

Okay time for a heart to heart. You can handle this - knee just calm down so the calf muscles can work and not pull on the tendon. All together now!

[Owlie]

Dear car--
Stop leaking coolant. While I can technically live without AC, I'd prefer not to, given how hot it is. Also, we'd prefer to not have the additional expense of taking you to the dealership as well as the inconvenience of not having a car. (You're also interfering with my riding, and that makes Owlie very unhappy.)

[tulip]

Dear ML,
Your strength and spirit amaze me. It hurts to see you suffer. Even so, your grace and beauty shine brightly. You are loved. May peace and love envelop you.
Your loving friend,
Tulip

[indysteel]

:(

Indy,
It's probably a good thing I don't live near you.. I think "sucker" is written across my forehead. Hope you can find a home for the kitties.

We managed to trap the kitten and the cat that I assumed was female (and perhaps the kitten's mother) this morning and took them to the vet. The kitten is male; the cat female and in heat. They've been spayed/neutered. They're likely going to keep the female for a few days until she's no longer in heat because, as they put it, males would "tear her up" right now. So, that leaves two other males to fix. I was primarly concerned about fixing the female, so I feel better about that.

DH and I are debated taking in the kitten. We're both really torn. We love our cat/human household as it is, but by the same token, I think we'd love to give the kitten a home. In the very least, it might be best to bring him into the household with the hope of getting him rehomed....but we could only do that if we were prepared to be his forever home.

Having gone through this just last year, it's not necessarily an easy process to introduce a new cat to a household. When we introducted Izzy last year, for reasons that remain unexplained, Henry got incredibly sick. He didn't test positive for any known cat virus, so we were left to wonder if the stress of a new animal was to blame. He spent a week at the vet with a persistent high fever. I had just lost Sophie Kitty a month earlier, and the combined trauma worked a number on me. I'm still not over all of it.

I'm not a religious person, but I tell ya; I've been praying for guidance about this.

[Biciclista]

Dear Indysteel

Thanks so much for making a difference. You prevented a litter of uncared for kittens to be born and many more. You will probably find that the kitten is the easiest one to find a home for. Good luck with those kitties and thanks again.

Another krazy cat lady

[indysteel]

Dear Indysteel

Thanks so much for making a difference. You prevented a litter of uncared for kittens to be born and many more. You will probably find that the kitten is the easiest one to find a home for. Good luck with those kitties and thanks again.

Another krazy cat lady

Thank you for that.

In the process of figuring out how to handle this situation, I hooked up with a local organization that offers low cost spay/neuter services. I can add them to my list of organization to give to and volunteer for. I was planning to use their services to help with my strays, but they had to cancel today's "community day" because of the heat. They apparently transport the animals to a vet/feral expert about an hour away, so the weather sometimes interferes. I'm hoping to get my two remaining males into them next week.
If they'll take the bait.

Thankfully, I had also talked to my vet about the situation. They're awesome btw; I couldn't love them more. They told me to bring them in as soon as I got them trapped. With only two traps, I knew I had to do it in stages, with the hope that I'd catch the kitten and female first. I am so relieved that they're the ones that showed up first thing this morning! Whew!

The kitten is so sweet. He looks like a bat. We named him Kalamata because he's blackish/brown, but shortened it to Kallie. Now that we know he's a boy though, Kallie seem a bit odd I guess!

[Veronica]

You could just call him Kal.

I ended up taking our last feral catch to our regular vet. The kitten had broken his leg about two weeks before I caught him and had a nasty looking infection. The spay/neuter vet didn't want to deal with that.

The leg had already started to heal so it didn't get set properly. But they took care of the infection. Curly Kitten - he lives in our backyard still with his dad, Curly - is doing great. You can barely see his limp now.

I have 5 ferals that I feed. All have been neutered and now they really don't act like ferals. :D

Anyway... I hope it works out and whatever you decide to do with them is going to better than if you did nothing.

Veronica

[indysteel]

You could just call him Kal.

I ended up taking our last feral catch to our regular vet. The kitten had broken his leg about two weeks before I caught him and had a nasty looking infection. The spay/neuter vet didn't want to deal with that.

The leg had already started to heal so it didn't get set properly. But they took care of the infection. Curly Kitten - he lives in our backyard still with his dad, Curly - is doing great. You can barely see his limp now.

I have 5 ferals that I feed. All have been neutered and now they really don't act like ferals. :D

Anyway... I hope it works out and whatever you decide to do with them is going to better than if you did nothing.

Veronica

DH suggested Ollie (as in Kalamata Olive).

I'm trying to get my head around the idea feral/outside cats, especially with our winters. Currently, the cats mostly hang out under the deck of the house next door to us that is unoccupied at the moment. We could build them a shelter, too. They otherwise have quite the expanse of land to safely roam because our property borders the city park.

How did you come to have ferals btw and have you ever tried to find homes for them?

ETA: If I may also ask, what routine care do you provide for them? Yearly vet visits and the full round of periodic vaccines? Do you treat them for fleas and worms?

[Biciclista]

All of my present cats were born feral (3 of them) I joined a group like you are describing and for a few years I fostered feral kittens and socialized them.
If you decide to take these cats on permanently as ferals, you can make them a shelter for the winter time. They will stick together and stay warm. Most feral cat caretakers I know do not deflea their cats, but if one is reallly sick, they try to retrap and treat them. (or even put medicine in food which doesn't make sense when you're feeding more than one)
I started with ferals when I looked out my back window one day and saw kittens in my back yard. It took a month to actually trap them, but I did trap all of them and their mother; spayed the mother and let her free, and socialized all the by then 4 month old kittens. One of them was Enza - and she is one of the greatest cats I've ever had.
http://www.mimitabby.com/sicilia/burberry.jpg

[Veronica]

I don't know where Mama Cat came from, but I started feeding her right after we lost our Greta Dog in 2003. She stayed pretty feral, had a litter in 2004 that I barely saw. But in 2005 decided to have her babies in our backyard. That's when we decided we needed to get a trap and start the neutering. We've probably neutered twenty cats over the years - mostly boys and they for the most part haven't stayed around after.

Our population has leveled out in the last few years to five - 3 girls, two boys. Two of the girls are from Mama Cat's last litter. I don't know where the third girl came from. She's the only one I can't pick up now.

We decided all we were going to do was neuter, release and feed and water, especially since for a while they kept disappearing. Curly Kitten was an exception. Although I think that if something happened to any of my friendly four now, I'd probably take them in if I could get them into a carrier.

We never thought about looking for homes because for the girls it took years to get them to let me handle them. We lost Mama back in December and she was finally letting me touch her. Sometimes I wish we had tried to place the Curlys - but I'd have missed out on their antics in my backyard. Curly in particular is quite friendly - he loves his belly rubs!

Our two indoor babies aren't allowed to socialize with the outdoor ones. Cassie is content with that. Tucker would like to go out and play and sometimes escapes. Because of the potential contact with the ferals, our indoor cats get vaccinated as if they went outside.

We've been lucky in that we haven't had a flea issue with Cassie and Tucker. Tucker had worms once after a lengthy escape and play session with Curly Kitten. I know that means he ingested a flea - but otherwise we haven't seen any.

We're in CA and it almost never freezes so I don't have winter issues. Our backyard is fenced so that keeps them relatively safe from the coyotes. We're on a dead end street with little traffic and back onto open space. I do end up also feeding skunks, raccoons and the occasional opossum. Part of me would like to be the crazy cat lady who takes them ALL in... but it's not practical. There are days when Cassie and Tucker don't get as much play time as they'd like. So I do what I can.

Veronica

[indysteel]

Thanks for sharing your stories and experiences. It gives me some reassurance that tending to them as outside cats isn't the worst thing that could happen to them. That's not to say that I'm not going to pursue/consider any other options, but I've felt a lot of guilt as it is about them.

[Biciclista]

The reason I STOPPED socializing feral kittens for the cat rescue group was that it disturbed Enza and my other former feral so much! YOU really do have to look out for your own cats first.

[indysteel]

The reason I STOPPED socializing feral kittens for the cat rescue group was that it disturbed Enza and my other former feral so much! YOU really do have to look out for your own cats first.

Absolutely. Believe me, Henry is at the forefront of my mind, especially since he's been having health issues lately as it is. He's about to turn 13, and while I'm hopeful he'll be with us for several more good years, I am bracing myself for what's to come. Emotionally and financially, he's my priority.

And I'll be honest, the problems he's had over the last few weeks have reminded me of just how upset and worked up I get when one of my cats isn't doing well. I wish I could remain calmer about their health issues, but I historically have not been able to.

Again, thank you. Your perspectives are most helpful.

[jessmarimba]

Also wanted to chime in. Both of mine were ferals, though I did not socialize either of them (answered posts from foster moms).

I have a feral community in my yard now. I water but don't feed unless it's REALLY cold (the dumpster is in the alley behind my house & they seem quite well-fed), but I do let them in the garage with a space heater when the weather gets terrible. Like when it hit -30 last winter. All of the ones that I was watching out for then made it.

I'm pretty sure they have a "home" inside an old truck cap that is in my neighbor's yard, too, but I don't think he knows about it.

I have taken my Skunk-kitty out on a harness and run into Mama cat - I didn't let them touch but they wanted to be friends, so I think I might be ok if I end up taking one or more of these guys in someday.

[Owlie]

Dear grad school--
Screw you. I don't want to live with unknown undergrads, especially ones who don't seem to have anything to do but drink. Or eat my food, or party from Thursday to Sunday, or don't clean, or are just generally rude and inconsiderate. I had enough of that in college.
Off to begin the futile search for an apartment.

[Catrin]

Dear grad school--
Screw you. I don't want to live with unknown undergrads, especially ones who don't seem to have anything to do but drink. Or eat my food, or party from Thursday to Sunday, or don't clean, or are just generally rude and inconsiderate. I had enough of that in college.
Off to begin the futile search for an apartment.

You can find a place! Isn't there student apartments, or do they make you share?

[snapdragen]

Dear lovely employer. It's just wonderful that you have now decided to look at hiring and promotion practices. Too bad it will not benefit me, as you think your "study" will take a year, and I'll be gone in 6 months.

snap "underpaid for her job specs for 4 years" dragen

[crazycanuck]

Snap, are you coming to Australia post retirement?

Dear body,

I know i've treated you poorly in terms of diet for all these years. Making the next step will not be a bad thing as folks you know have done the same.

May this be the beginning of a wonderful, healthy gut/body etc. Sometimes this stuff happens at odd times and you just have to trust you're doing the right thing. See, de Physio & trainer aren't full of sheep kapoopies...

[snapdragen]

Snap, are you coming to Australia post retirement?

Dear body,

I know i've treated you poorly in terms of diet for all these years. Making the next step will not be a bad thing as folks you know have done the same.

May this be the beginning of a wonderful, healthy gut/body etc. Sometimes this stuff happens at odd times and you just have to trust you're doing the right thing. See, de Physio & trainer aren't full of sheep kapoopies...

It's on my list of places I want to go....so you never know!:D

[crazycanuck]

Just remember you're always welcome at our abode :D

I found out today that part of what i've done to myself is...i've really really aggravated my sternalis muscles..

I have to self massage my sternum(amongst other stuff) :eek: which is going to be..interesting...:eek: When the physio did it today it was...owwww..