Dear So and So

[lph]

Dear itty-bitty safety-craving girl inside my head,

really, it's not dangerous to move. Especially not all of a whopping 1500 yards away. Stop whinging. It'll be great. You're all grown up now, you can handle both an increased loan, and not having the exact same things you had here.

Oh, and listen to tangentgirl. She has it right about the nighttime thing. Shut up and go to sleep already.

[emily_in_nc]

Emily-

I'm crossing my fingers for you:) Please post when you have news!!

Unfortunately, nothing. I guess they either had second thoughts, found something they liked better, or who knows what. Disappointing, though.

As for the waking up in the middle of the night thing, I thought that was due mostly to work stress when I used to do that back when I was working. But I still do it from time to time here, and I'm retired now. I chalk it up to hormones at this stage of my life. :(

[redrhodie]

Dear Woman who honked at the little old man on the trike, who made you wait a second longer than a car would have,

You suck.

[lph]

Dear spaced-out guy who shouted out that I had "big, strong legs, big, strong legs! yeah, good, good...", and actually repeated it to my face as we stood waiting for each our green light:

you were probably on drugs, but thanks anyway. :D

[redrhodie]

Dear spaced-out guy who shouted out that I had "big, strong legs, big, strong legs! yeah, good, good...", and actually repeated it to my face as we stood waiting for each our green light:

you were probably on drugs, but thanks anyway. :D

That's really funny, but :eek:!

[redrhodie]

Dear itty-bitty safety-craving girl inside my head,

really, it's not dangerous to move. Especially not all of a whopping 1500 yards away. Stop whinging. It'll be great. You're all grown up now, you can handle both an increased loan, and not having the exact same things you had here.

Oh, and listen to tangentgirl. She has it right about the nighttime thing. Shut up and go to sleep already.

Moving is never fun, even if it's just across the street.

Congrats on your new place!

[maillotpois]

Dear Woman who honked at the little old man on the trike, who made you wait a second longer than a car would have,

You suck.

Totally! :mad:


Dear spaced-out guy who shouted out that I had "big, strong legs, big, strong legs! yeah, good, good...", and actually repeated it to my face as we stood waiting for each our green light:

you were probably on drugs, but thanks anyway. :D

Oh that's awesome!!


Nice contrast of the two posts.... :D

[Catrin]

Maillotpois - I love your signature and am going to "steal" it if I may - not as a real signature but as a quote.

[SadieKate]

Dear Woman who honked at the little old man on the trike, who made you wait a second longer than a car would have,

You suck.

Dear TE Web site:

Where is the "like" button?

Yours truly,

SK

[maillotpois]

Maillotpois - I love your signature and am going to "steal" it if I may - not as a real signature but as a quote.

Thank you. It's a motto that's gotten me through many a double century and long brevet. :)

[Catrin]

Thank you. It's a motto that's gotten me through many a double century and long brevet. :)

I see it as being applicable to more than cycling, it really nails it. I did quote you on my FB page and gave you credit.

[maillotpois]

I see it as being applicable to more than cycling, it really nails it. I did quote you on my FB page and gave you credit.

Thank you. :) And agreed.

[bmccasland]

Dear Wasps,
Soon you will die. Yes, I'm a biologist, and know you have a functional place in the world. But I really wasn't trying to harm you, and did not appreciate you sending a soldier out to sting me. Wouldn't mind meeting firemen and paramedics again, but that wasn't the format.

So be warned, your home is going to be destroyed, chemical means will be taken.

Sincerely,
The resident that is responsible for yard maintenance

[Veronica]

Dear Male Friend of My Sister,

A stripper for my sister's birthday?! Really... that's going to make all the guys at the party uncomfortable. My family can be tacky and uncouth all on their own. They don't need the addition of a stripper. I'm sure there will be lots of raunchy comments without the stripper. Please weather gods make it super humid so I can spend all day in the water.

Veronica

[Veronica]

Dear NBC Sports,

I was very excited by how much coverage you seemed to be giving to the Olympic Swimming Trials. Alas, I've discovered it was too good to be true. You're just airing the same two hours of coverage 4 or 5 times a day. :(

And yes Michael Phelps is amazing, but you do know there are 1,799 other swimmers taking part in the trials? I know they're not all newsworthy, but imagine being a 14 year old in the finals for the Olympic Trials. That's a big deal. You could talk about a few other people besides Michael Phelps.

Disgruntled Swimmer

[indysteel]

Dear Male Friend of My Sister,

A stripper for my sister's birthday?! Really... that's going to make all the guys at the party uncomfortable. My family can be tacky and uncouth all on their own. They don't need the addition of a stripper. I'm sure there will be lots of raunchy comments without the stripper. Please weather gods make it super humid so I can spend all day in the water.

Veronica

Oh, that's awful. Why does ANYONE think this is ever a good idea?

For my first job out of school, I worked for a state appellate judge along with another woman who had returned to law school later in life. She was a rather proper and prim woman, and I don't necessarily mean that in a bad way. But it was abundantly clear she wasn't somebody who would ever find a stripper entertaining.

Notwithstanding that, some friends of hers hired a stripper to come to our office for her 50th birthday. Our government, judicial office. That, in itself, was awful enough. But she was so mortified by the whole thing. I couldn't even watch; it was just too painful. Our boss, bless him, stopped the "festitivies" cold and told the man he had to leave. He then got on the horn with our coworkers friends and lit into them about sending a stripper to a government office during work hours. Thank goodness somebody had some sense.

[Veronica]

I could see it being entertaining in Vegas in a hotel suite with only female friends... maybe then.

My sister's house with my mom, Thom's parents, Thom... my sister's boyfriend, my other sister's husband, my brother... no.

When my sister who is hosting the party called to ask me what I thought... I just didn't know what to say. I am considered the prude in my family. A fact that I think would amaze some of my friends; my family can be very crude.

Veronica

[Crankin]

This sounds pretty awful, V.

[Veronica]

Birthday sister's BF thinks it will be okay for a short time and if kept relatively clean. I figure he knows her best. :D

Families are so much fun. :rolleyes:

Veronica

[Veronica]

Stripper may be morphing into an Elvis impersonator. I think I can get on board with that idea. :D Especially if it's a "young" Elvis.

Veronica

[tangentgirl]

Dear Male Friend of My Sister,

A stripper for my sister's birthday?! Really... that's going to make all the guys at the party uncomfortable. My family can be tacky and uncouth all on their own. They don't need the addition of a stripper. I'm sure there will be lots of raunchy comments without the stripper. Please weather gods make it super humid so I can spend all day in the water.

Veronica

Dear Male Friend of Veronica's Sister: Just take her to see Magic Mike (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1915581/). Apparently it's the Citizen Kane of stripper movies. (Does that mean the pole's name is Rosebud?) Done and done!

Dear LBS: Thanks for the amazing discount on tuneups, and thanks for being so nice. I know you are a small chain, so bigger than some of the other LBS's and able to give better discounts, but the niceness is free for everyone. So rock on, my friends, I'll be back. Well, duh, because I have to pick up the bikes, but you know what I mean.

[snapdragen]

Dear friend. I know you feel you need to watch over Mom and me, now that Dad is gone. But you really do not need to call me every. single. day. I do appreciate you and love you, but please.....

[Owlie]

Poor dog.

The kitty is blissfully unaware of the weather, save the fact that my bedroom is significantly warmer than the living room (where the AC unit is.)

Dear self:
Back to the yoga, I think. Also, get yourself organized. We start work on Sunday!

[bmccasland]

Dear face,
PLEASE stop itching. At this point I have not clawed the sting site, but it gets harder.

We've had enough fun, I want to feel normal again.

[snapdragen]

Dear face,
PLEASE stop itching. At this point I have not clawed the sting site, but it gets harder.

We've had enough fun, I want to feel normal again.

Have you tried benedryl? I know nothing of wasp stings......

[Sky King]

Dear Self,
What is your plan for exercise this next week w/o a bicycle. Better get on it because we know how you are when on vacation and clothes do need to fit when you return to work.

[Fredwina]

Dear New York State department of Transporation,
Do you have to fix every single state hiway in the Capital District all at once? It makes driving and cycling an issuue.
Dear self,
Yes, you should have ridden your bike to church as well as brought that Terry Skort with you when you moved.

[bmccasland]

Have you tried benedryl? I know nothing of wasp stings......

Have been taking benadryl at night, but it makes me drousy so don't take it during the day. Allergic reaction makes things worse. :mad:
But face feels almost normal today. Can't wait :rolleyes: to see the ambulance and ER bill.

[Becky]

Dear coworker-

Please stop repeating upsetting things that our boss has said to me, and then asking me to keep quiet. It's not fair to ask me to carry your burden but not allow me to act on it. If it's upsetting enough to you to repeat it, then repeat it to our boss's boss, or confront our boss about it. Don't stick me in the middle.

Stressed out.

[skhill]

Dear city emt riding without a helmet:

Yeah, I saw you, in your department issued gear on your department issued bike, riding around the 4th of July celebrations downtown without a helmet. What were you thinking? You of all people should know the difference a helmet can make. I'm contacting the department about your ridiculously reckless behavior, and a I certainly hope you'll be hearing more about this from your superiors.

--the civilian wearing her helmet

[snapdragen]

Dear Blue Bunny Red Velvet Cake ice cream. You are not helping, stop calling me from the freezer. :rolleyes:

[PamNY]

Dear Blue Bunny Red Velvet Cake ice cream. You are not helping, stop calling me from the freezer. :rolleyes:

I had no idea there was such a thing. Want some right now.

[snapdragen]

I had no idea there was such a thing. Want some right now.

It just arrived in our local stores this month, dammit. :rolleyes:

[lph]

I had no idea there was such a thing. Want some right now.

I still have no idea what this is, but even so I still want some :rolleyes:

[Blueberry]

Dear Drivers:

WTF???? Please, please be more careful. The person you ran over and killed yesterday (on the 4th of July) was our state director of mental health (http://www.wral.com/news/news_briefs/story/11280677/):( From what I had heard, a good guy, who did a lot of good for a lot of people. You were driving a logging truck. Come on people - be careful out there when you're piloting your cars, and especially when you're driving a larger and more dangerous vehicle.

ETA: You didn't go into the left lane because there were cars coming. WTF. You couldn't slow down and wait 10 seconds??? I really hope the reports that there are charges pending are accurate.

I don't even know what to say anymore:(

More ETA: They're now not sure they're going to press charges. Bleh. The driver saw the cyclist and hit him. How much more blatant does it have to get.

Disgusted.

[indysteel]

Oh, that's so sad, Blueberry. The impatiences I see on the road as a driver and cyclist really makes me sick.

[indysteel]

Dear Blue Bunny Red Velvet Cake ice cream. You are not helping, stop calling me from the freezer. :rolleyes:

We had the Blue Bell version of this recently. It was divine, as are most of their flavors. Hi, my name is Indysteel and I am an ice creamaholic.

[malkin]

Is there really cake in it?

[Eden]

Is there really cake in it?

probably.... I just found B&J's fro yo with blueberry and graham cracker - it really does have graham crumbs in it and is quite yummy.

[PamNY]

Is there really cake in it?

I think so. I read a description on a blog. I've already found out which stores in my area have this brand.

[Eden]

((((((((((:())))))))))))

What really saddens me is always the comments.....

I find it to be so maddening that people's "solution" is to stay off the road...

People a "speed limit" is just that an upper limit not a mandate.... when going around a blind corner or facing other obstacles to vision, handling, etc. the solution is to *slow down*, so that if there is something unexpected you will be prepared for it.

I've ridden/walked around in other countries where it is expected that the roads will be shared by many means of conveyance and the motor vehicle is not automatically accepted as most mighty, so never wrong. There's a different feeling... you can tell that drivers are actually looking out for you, rather than treating you as an enemy or target....

[Catrin]

...
More ETA: They're now not sure they're going to press charges. Bleh. The driver saw the cyclist and hit him. How much more blatant does it have to get.

Disgusted.

This is just awful, apparently his stopping traffic would have been worse than hitting a cyclist! :mad: :( :mad: :eek: By not prosecuting that is exactly what they are saying. (((Blueberry)))

[Catrin]

We had the Blue Bell version of this recently. It was divine, as are most of their flavors. Hi, my name is Indysteel and I am an ice creamaholic.

Hi Indysteel, I am an ice creamaholic as well :) Apparently July is "national ice cream month" which is part of the reason for all of the new yummy flavors I've been tempted by at the store. It is pretty hard to get me away from Blue Bell's Mint Chocolate Chip...but there is a contender or two... :o

[emily_in_nc]

This is just awful, apparently his stopping traffic would have been worse than hitting a cyclist! :mad: :( :mad: :eek: By not prosecuting that is exactly what they are saying. (((Blueberry)))

I read about this horrifying tragedy on the WRAL website this morning. It made me very sad and very mad. So few of the rural roads in NC have adequate shoulders, and there are a lot of big trucks flying along. These things shouldn't happen, but it seems like they do, far too often. Even once is one time too many. :mad: :( :mad: :( :mad: :(

I sure hope they press charges.

[Blueberry]

Good news (if you can call it that) - he has been charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle and failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision. I think that's probably everything they could charge his with.

Emily - this was north of Raleigh on 401 - a 4 lane divided road. I probably wouldn't ride that road, but you can, sometimes it's necessary, and he was completely within the law in doing so.

ETA: I knew better than to read the comments. I *knew* better. Grrrrr.

[Crankin]

Don't ever read any comments...

[snapdragen]

Is there really cake in it?

Indeed.

"Rich, red velvet cake flavored ice cream is elegantly paired with cream cheese frosting flavored ice cream and red velvet cake pieces"

Went to Weight Watchers today -- up 1/2 a pound. :(

[snapdragen]

probably.... I just found B&J's fro yo with blueberry and graham cracker - it really does have graham crumbs in it and is quite yummy.

I've had that! It is deevoon! :D

[Catrin]

I've seen these two new Blue Bell flavors and I REALLY want to try them...

Southern Blackberry Cobbler
Creamy ice cream with a luscious blackberry flavor combined with flaky pie crust pieces and a blackberry sauce swirl.

Summer Berries
A very berry-licious flavor! A refreshing, citrus ice cream mixed with strawberries, blueberries and swirls of raspberry and blackberry sauces.

They are enticing me away from their wonderful Mint Chocolate Chip...hmmmm a new flavor might be what the doctor ordered for my slight injury recovery - thankfully I CAN limit myself to a 1/2 cup or less amount. That is the only way I will allow myself to buy any at all...

[VeganBikeChick]

Dear Manager that I'm interviewing with on Tuesday,

I really hope I knock your socks off. I'm getting the chance of a lifetime to interview for my dream hospital in the town that I want to spend forever in. I don't know how to communicate to you how much I want this job, but I assure you I would be an awesome addition to your staff.

Thanks,

me

[emily_in_nc]

Dear Manager that I'm interviewing with on Tuesday,

I really hope I knock your socks off. I'm getting the chance of a lifetime to interview for my dream hospital in the town that I want to spend forever in. I don't know how to communicate to you how much I want this job, but I assure you I would be an awesome addition to your staff.

Thanks,

me

Good luck VBC -- sounds like you were made for the job!

[VeganBikeChick]

Thanks so much, Emily!

[indysteel]

Good luck, VBC!! Be sure to keep us posted!

[VeganBikeChick]

Thanks so much, Indy. Will do!

[Catrin]

Sending you good wishes for a good outcome VBC!

[VeganBikeChick]

Thanks, Catrin!

[Owlie]

Good luck, VBC!

[OakLeaf]

Good luck tomorrow VBC!

[VeganBikeChick]

Thanks so much owlie and oak. I'm loving all the TE support! You all are the best!!

[snapdragen]

Dear Guys at RoadForumsReview, or whatever the hell it's called.

Please shoot me if I ever make the mistake of reading any of you posts. Ever again.

:p

What a bunch of assholes.

Uh oh....what happened?

[jobob]

Dear Guys at RoadForumsReview, or whatever the hell it's called.

Please shoot me if I ever make the mistake of reading any of you posts. Ever again.

:p

What a bunch of assholes.



Wow. Painting with a broad brush there.

[VeganBikeChick]

I think my interview went very well; however I'm one of 6 applicants for 2 positions and there are internal candidates. I'll know more next week. Keep those fingers crossed.

[indysteel]

Oh, nothing happened to me. Just read quite a few different threads where the guys definitely were @$$ho)es. (I assumed TE would censure my words. Sorry).

But don't listen to me. I'm jaded. I was married 15 years, and he had 2 kids with 2 different women, pretty sure they weren't mine,...ha!

Still. Assholes.

I'm not sure what subforum you were reading. I agree that there are a few jerks. But I've also born witness on RBR--mostly within the Lounge--of some of the best sides of humanity. True kindness, wisdom and ceaseless support from both men and women.

[jobob]

I'm not sure what subforum you were reading. I agree that there are a few jerks. But I've also born witness on RBR--mostly within the Lounge--of some of the best sides of humanity. True kindness, wisdom and ceaseless support from both men and women.

And, on top of all that, recipes for Cucumber Basil Gimlet! :D

[indysteel]

And, on top of all that, recipes for Cucumber Basil Gimlet! :D

Exactly!!

[indysteel]

Trust me; I've ranted a time or two to my husband about stuff on the Lounge. Last week, I even got on my husband's case about a comment that he made on there that was out of line. I don't post much there myself. I mostly just read. I'm consistently moved and impressed with the wisdom and thoughtfulness there in threads about the more serious parts of life. I love TE, too, but for different reasons.

[snapdragen]

The Lounge will always have a special place in my heart, they were all there for me when my Dad got sick. It's pretty amazing when you get so much support from a group of invisible friends.

Other forums within RBR? Meh....kinda strange....and yes, there are some true AH's there. :rolleyes:

[Becky]

+1 to what Snap and Indy said. I stay mostly in the Lounge....the rest of the subforums are just too weird most of the time.

[Blueberry]

Dear Large Vehicle Drivers:

what the f--- is it with you? First, a logging truck hits and kills a cyclist because "he didn't have room to move over." Now, a bus driver has hit a cyclist because he tried to pass without giving enough clearance. (http://www.wral.com/news/news_briefs/story/11305628/) At least both drivers were cited, but really????

[emily_in_nc]

Dear Large Vehicle Drivers:

what the f--- is it with you? First, a logging truck hits and kills a cyclist because "he didn't have room to move over." Now, a bus driver has hit a cyclist because he tried to pass without giving enough clearance. (http://www.wral.com/news/news_briefs/story/11305628/) At least both drivers were cited, but really????

Crap. Thank goodness the second cyclist survived, but even so, there's no excuse. And the first is simply tragic.

[Kitsune06]

Mimi and RD- My heart goes out to you both. May there always be at least a glimmer of light, even in the darkness. We will both be thinking of you two.

[jobob]

Dear misguided person(s) who stole Donald's bike last night:

Edited now that I got my ranting & raving out of my system :o

You must not have any clue what you have done, no-one can be that awful (I hope). Please return Katrina to Donald & Mimi, safe and sound and soon. Thank you.

[Sky King]

Dear "surgirl",
if you have custom plates on your car, cutting off people on bikes and almost hitting my DH is not the smartest thing you can do. Had he not been pulling a bob trailer full of groceries on his single speed he probably would have caught you as you peeled out to avoid us chasing you down. Would have called the police but knowing that the day before they issued an inattentive driving to someone who purposely pulled in front of tri-racer and then slammed on the brakes, causing the biker to crash, we decided it would be a waste of time. Instead the next time you have a flat tire, think of us :)

[VeganBikeChick]

TE Gals!

I made it to Round 2 of Denver Dream Job™! All your good wishes are definitely helping. This final round consists of me interviewing with the staff. There are 3 of us interviewing for one position. Continued good thoughts and wishes are really appreciated. Thanks!

[indysteel]

We'll continue to keep our toes and fingers crossed fir you, VBG! Congrats on making the cut!

[OakLeaf]

Sending job juju in your direction!

[malkin]

All the best to VBC!

[emily_in_nc]

That's great, VBG! Sure hope the second hurdle is just as successful. Best wishes and please continue to keep us posted!

[Becky]

Dear Self,

Life is not fair. You can either surrender to it and focus on positive things, or you can continue to be a miserable dolt. Suck it up already.

Me

[indysteel]

Dear Self,

Life is not fair. You can either surrender to it and focus on positive things, or you can continue to be a miserable dolt. Suck it up already.

Me

((((Becky)))). I vote for focusing on positive things, but you are entitled to feel blue when life isn't being fair, too. Getting to the good is a process in my experience, not an either/or proposition. I hope you start feeling better soon.

[Becky]

((((Becky)))). I vote for focusing on positive things, but you are entitled to feel blue when life isn't being fair, too. Getting to the good is a process in my experience, not an either/or proposition. I hope you start feeling better soon.

Thanks, Indy. I can always count on you for some words of wisdom.

This is an ongoing work issue that most assuredly fits into the category or "getting worse before getting better", and I'm just running out of patience with it. But I can't throw away all that I've worked for and achieved over this situation. "Getting to the good is a process" might be one of my new bulletin board quotes :)

[Owlie]

TE Gals!

I made it to Round 2 of Denver Dream Job™! All your good wishes are definitely helping. This final round consists of me interviewing with the staff. There are 3 of us interviewing for one position. Continued good thoughts and wishes are really appreciated. Thanks!

Good luck!

Dear customers:
I promise you, I'm not hiding anything in your size. That's not good for you, me or my employer. If it's not on the floor or in the back in its box, we don't have it. We might be able to get it. What goes on the floor is what The Powers that Be think will sell. That often does not include things in your size range. I frequently have the same problem. I'm not lying if I tell you we don't have something after I've checked both the stockroom and both racks. Stop acting like I am.

[alexis_the_tiny]

Dear self, getting hand foot and mouth disease is definitely a life experience I don't ever intend to have. Better kit up with the alcohol disinfectant spray, alcohol hand sanitizer, scrub downs and vitamins. Perhaps, some vodka at night for steady nerves.

:eek::eek::eek:

[indysteel]

Dear self, getting hand foot and mouth disease is definitely a life experience I don't ever intend to have. Better kit up with the alcohol disinfectant spray, alcohol hand sanitizer, scrub downs and vitamins. Perhaps, some vodka at night for steady nerves.

:eek::eek::eek:

Ugh; I caught that from a friend's toddler a few years ago. It sucked. The doc recommended that I gargle with a mixture of liquid Maalox and children's cherry cough syrup. It really did help with the horribly raw sore throat. The good news is that once you've had it once, you're unlikely to get it again.

[lph]

Dear Back,

Oh for goodness sake. You've swum 1200 metres in a wetsuit, not picked corn all day. I know Legs float more than usual and Head still has to go up to breathe, because Brain still hasn't gotten around to learning freestyle properly and is sticking with breaststroke. So you have to do a little more work. But you're attached to a perfectly healthy, fit 43 year old body, so shut up and stop complaining.

[maryellen]

The doc recommended that I gargle with a mixture of liquid Maalox and children's cherry cough syrup. It really did help with the horribly raw sore throat.

:eek::eek::eek:

who could even think of such a combo? glad it worked though. think I'll clip that remedy in the event of a raw sore throat.

[alexis_the_tiny]

Ugh; I caught that from a friend's toddler a few years ago. It sucked. The doc recommended that I gargle with a mixture of liquid Maalox and children's cherry cough syrup. It really did help with the horribly raw sore throat. The good news is that once you've had it once, you're unlikely to get it again.

I shall have to file that recipe away. Sore throats are a regular health hazard. According to my other colleagues, it is possible to catch it again. :eek:

[bmccasland]

Dear people who look at my house that's for sale,
Instead of grumbling that it's "outdated" why not see the potential, buy it, and fix it up yourself. The a/c is new, the roof is 5 yrs old, plumbing is in good shape, electrical passed inspection last year. So the kitchen needs work, so what? Nice cold air coming out of the vents right now.

Please, someone, make me an offer.

[lph]

It's funny bmccasland, we're in the process of selling our apartment, and we just had a real estate agent here yesterday telling us how the fixer-uppers usually are the ones that go way over the suggested price. Apparently enough people think they're going to make a really good deal, get involved in the bidding, and then the bidding psychosis sets in and they have trouble pulling out. The real estate market is insane in this town, though.

Hope you get your place sold!

[malkin]

We've had several cases of Hand, foot, and mouth around here this winter and spring. It seems like some people got it on purpose just so they could announce repeatedly, "I have COXSACKIE virus!"

[alexis_the_tiny]

Dear summer,

I love you and your boom of blueberries. They're ridiculous cheap even over here. I've eaten so many punnets that I really should have turned blue, or my poop should be blue by now. (Not that I look...):cool:

[OakLeaf]

I want some of those ridiculously cheap blueberries.

We've got 30 quarts in the freezer from the U-Pick and the season isn't over ... but ridiculously cheap they were NOT. (Worth it, OTOH, oh yeah. :cool:)

[malkin]

Dear FaceBook,
Thank you for not having an "ambivalent" button. It saves me from having clicked it in response to this news which so many other people "like" and I really just--...well... --am ambivalent (at best).

Signed,
the world's worst mother
and grumpy too

[Crankin]

Dear azzhole woman who went through a 4 way stop sign and hit me today,

Yea, you put on a good show of lying down in the front seat of your car saying you were hurt and I was going fast and went through the stop sign. There are truly nice people in the world, like the 2 older people who were witnesses to your stupidity and the policeman who came to take the report. I have to thank the woman who went and got my client (I was 500 yards from the entrance to her complex), to tell her I wasn't coming. And thank you to the nice person from my insurance company.
No, I am not hurt, but my new car is...

[tulip]

Oh, Crankin, glad you are okay and you weren't on your bike.

[spokewench]

Crankin! Glad you are okay. People are such pieces of work in this day and age:mad:

[Catrin]

Crankin, sorry to read this, but glad you weren't injured!

[SheFly]

Oh, Crankin! Glad you weren't hurt, but your poor new car! And some people are just azzholes. Good thing you had witnesses. She was probably texting or talking on the cell phone :rolleyes:.

Deep breaths. Vacation this week.

SheFly

[Veronica]

So glad you weren't hurt.

Don't let this keep you from having fun on your awesome trip!

Veronica

[Blueberry]

Crankin-

When I first read that, until I saw the mention of your car, I thought you *were* on your bike. So glad you are OK. Sorry about your poor new car, though. That really stinks. Some people really are azzholes - pretending to be hurt. Should have gotten video of that:rolleyes::rolleyes: (joking)

I think I missed where you're going, but I do hope you can still enjoy your trip!

[OakLeaf]

Wow Crankin. Glad you're okay!

[indysteel]

(((Crankin))). So glad you weren't hurt.

[Crankin]

I would never be riding my bike in Lowell.
Although, I was in a fairly residential neighborhood, not right downtown. With all of the egregious driving I see in that city, I am trying to not feel "prejudiced." I am sure the other driver saw a new Audi and hammed it up. The policeman seemed to "get" her and what happened, but until I hear from my insurance, I won't know. After waiting over an hour for Triple A (as it started pouring out), a 45 minute drive to my collision place in Acton, I almost had a heart attack when the owner was driving me home. He had on a talk radio station and in the 2.8 miles from the place to my house, I heard such vehement anti everything talk, including a rant about cyclists, I just about lost it.
But, after a glass of wine and a visit to the new ice cream place in West Concord, I am fine. I have 2 clients in the AM and then am going on a ride with a friend. Thankfully, DH can ride to work, so I can take his car for work.
This will not impact my trip at all. In fact, it couldn't have happened at a better time. I don't need to rent a car. Although, we have had to change the nature of the trip a bit. It turns out, the ferry schedules don't mesh with long days of riding and being able to enjoy the breakfast at our B and B and get a decent dinner back in Friday Harbor. So, we are going to concentrate on San Juan Island, relax, and do one long day riding on Lopez Island. We scratched the climb up Constitution Mountain on Orcas. I know I could have done it, but, I really need a *vacation.* Plenty of climbing around here...

[alexis_the_tiny]

Oakleaf, ridiculously cheap by my country's standard is when they cost less than 8 bucks a pound. :s But yes, SO worth it.

Cripes, Crankin, I'm glad you're ok. Karma will get her one day.

Dear Facebook,

You security center. Useless. 24 hours of multiple people reporting an account as hacked. You're still doing nothing. COME ON.

[tangentgirl]

Aw, Crankin, that sucks about your car. But...the San Juan Islands rock! DBF and I did a bike trip there a couple of years ago, right around this time of year. Beautiful and fun.

Dear kale chips: you are so good, so very very good. Nom num nom nom.

Dear friend who I work with sometimes: quit being a jackaass. Please. I like the work I do with you, and I don't want to have to stop working with you, but when you act like that, I have to consider other options.

[tangentgirl]

Dear burned kale chips: you are not nearly as delicious as your correctly cooked friends. Also, you make the house smell funny. Ha, ha, like a clown.

[Owlie]

Glad you're okay, Crankin.

Dear self:
Put your retainer back in. The reason you got out of the habit of wearing it doesn't live here any more.

[malkin]

Aww Crankin, dontcha hate close calls?!? Even when it isn't all that close, it is too close.

My dad used to live in Friday Harbor; have a wonderful time!

[VeganBikeChick]

Just had 2nd dream job interview. Still having post-interview shakes. Keep your fingers crossed for me, TE!

[indysteel]

Just had 2nd dream job interview. Still having post-interview shakes. Keep your fingers crossed for me, TE!

Will do! I probably don't have to tell you this, but please keep us posted. Did they give you a timeline for their decision?

[tulip]

Dear mortgage broker,
You rock! 3.75% 30-year fixed refi FHA loan with closing costs paid by the lender...fantastic news. Thanks for the heads up.

[malkin]

Wow, tulip that's great!!

[Blueberry]

Dear mortgage broker,
You rock! 3.75% 30-year fixed refi FHA loan with closing costs paid by the lender...fantastic news. Thanks for the heads up.

Happy dance for you - that's great!!

[VeganBikeChick]

YOU GALS!!!! I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!! Thanks so much for all the positive energy you sent my way. You all are such a special bunch of ladies.

Hugs, VBC

[indysteel]

That's fantastic!!! Congratulations!! Are you free to tell us what you'll be doing?

[malkin]

Way to go, VBC!

[VeganBikeChick]

Thanks!! I'll be working at the Children's Hospital there, admitting patients before they go in for surgery and discharging them afterwards. No weekends and normal day hours! Win win.

[OakLeaf]

Woohoo! Congrats VBC! :D

[Owlie]

YOU GALS!!!! I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!! Thanks so much for all the positive energy you sent my way. You all are such a special bunch of ladies.

Hugs, VBC

YAY! Congratulations!

[shootingstar]

Congrats. Vegan!

[marni]

whoot ! for vbc and much happiness with the new job!

[VeganBikeChick]

Thanks again everyone!!

[Pax]

YOU GALS!!!! I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!! Thanks so much for all the positive energy you sent my way. You all are such a special bunch of ladies.

Hugs, VBC

Woo HOOOOOOO!!!!

[indysteel]

Welcome back, Pax. You were missed!

[Catrin]

Great to see you Pax, and congratulations VBC on the great news!

[snapdragen]

Welcome back, Pax. You were missed!


Great to see you Pax, and congratulations VBC on the great news!

^^^This^^^

:D:D:cool::D:D

[OakLeaf]

welcome back, pax. You were missed!

+1!

[Pax]

Thanks gals, missed you too. ;)

[limewave]

Dear Self,

Don't wish yourself 3 years into the future. This is the stuff that makes life exciting! The stories you tell your grandkids. Its the mystery . . . how's it all going to turn out? Who knows! Ahh, life's adventures :)

~Limewave

[alexis_the_tiny]

Dear parents,

Stop fighting outside my room door. I'm too old to be cringing like a nine year old behind my book while you guys fight. You guys were my role models in communication and relationships. One is defensive all the time, the other one is passive aggressive all the time. And you wonder how I developed such a negative view of marriage or developed so much anxiety over communicating with people that I prefer to shut up and trash most of my relationships than to communicate with them. Seriously. Enough already.

Dear kid,

Biting me. Was. Totally. Uncalled. For.

Dear Jim Butcher,

Why is it that Ghost Stories is somehow less of a thrill to read that your previous Dresden files books? Sigh.

[Pax]

Dear Self,

Try not to be scared, it's just a different job within the university. You might still see your old work friends once in a while. Give yourself some time to adjust, hopefully the urge to cry every few minutes will pass.

Signed - not too old for change

[indysteel]

Pax, congrats on the new position. I hope it ends up being a positive change for you. Just try to be patient and kind with yourself as you get used to the new job.

How's your Honey doing these days, as well as your mom?

[Pax]

Pax, congrats on the new position. I hope it ends up being a positive change for you. Just try to be patient and kind with yourself as you get used to the new job.

How's your Honey doing these days, as well as your mom?

Thanks, Indy. Much appreciated. I got a new boss several months ago and it has been horrible, she's VERY insecure and views any discussion as mutiny; I took it as long as I could and finally asked for a transfer.

My honey is doing great, my mom not so much. The docs can't find the cause of her dizziness and it is wrecking her quality of life. We're off to a neurologist next week (finally) and are hoping for some results!

[indysteel]

Thanks, Indy. Much appreciated. I got a new boss several months ago and it has been horrible, she's VERY insecure and views any discussion as mutiny; I took it as long as I could and finally asked for a transfer.

My honey is doing great, my mom not so much. The docs can't find the cause of her dizziness and it is wrecking her quality of life. We're off to a neurologist next week (finally) and are hoping for some results!

Thank goodness they could offer you a transfer. Glad your honey is well, and I hope they're able to figure out what's going on with your mom. How awful. I've only suffered short bouts of dizziness. I can't imagine having it chronically. Hugs to all of you.

[emily_in_nc]

VeganBikeChick ~~~

CONGRATS! Just knew you'd get the job! :D

[emily_in_nc]

Crankin ~~~

So sorry about the wreck. :mad: Hope it all turns out well with your insurance. Very glad you're okay!

[crazycanuck]

Dear Universe,

*ahem*, you have much to answer for this year. My dear's been through enough w his parents, the news the other day was :(.

May you give my dear a nicer flow into 2013.

Thank you.

Dear dog owners,

Please please please ensure your doggie(s) is/are trained aren't left to train themselves so to speak. S*** DOES happen & leaves loved ones wondering WTF???

[VeganBikeChick]

Thanks so much, emily!

I'm going stir crazy here because while I got the verbal offer over the phone, I haven't gotten the formal offer in writing yet. My references need to clear first. So I won't put in my notice until I've gotten my formal offer, and the delay is driving me nuts. HR red tape at its finest!

[Sky King]

okay self,

get off of the computer and go ride before it gets hot. The one day you have to actually ride for more than an hour and here you sit. As your trainer would say "own it"

[emily_in_nc]

Thanks so much, emily!

I'm going stir crazy here because while I got the verbal offer over the phone, I haven't gotten the formal offer in writing yet. My references need to clear first. So I won't put in my notice until I've gotten my formal offer, and the delay is driving me nuts. HR red tape at its finest!

Been there and totally understand! Just trust that it will all work out.

It will...this is a meant to be kinda thing. :)

[emily_in_nc]

Dear DH,

Thank you SO much for deciding (at the last minute) that you really do want to to go to your high school reunion as that means an unexpected trip to back to the US (for over 2 weeks!) for us! My mom is going to be surprised and thrilled, and I can't wait to eat all the foods I've been missing, drink WINE (which is way too expensive to buy here), see some beloved friends, and just be "home" for awhile.

Have I told you lately that I love you? :p

[Owlie]

Dear heat and humidity:
Go do anatomically impossible things. Thanks to you and your friend Mold, I just had to throw out a whole loaf of bread.

Grr.

[emily_in_nc]

Dear Tropical Storm Ernesto,

Please stay away from Belize, or, if you can't do that, just weaken instead of strengthen.

Thanks!

[malkin]

Dear woman ripping flowers out of my front garden:

What's up with that?
Although it is really better than shooting up a bunch of people. Next time, let me know that you need some flowers and I will cut them for you, so it doesn't make such a mess.

Signed,
not the world's best gardener, but I try.

[skhill]

Dear sleeping-in neighbors,

You missed a great sunrise this morning. When I went out for my run, the horizon was starting to glow, but a planet (Venus maybe? Jupiter?) was still visible. And over the next 40 minutes, the light and colors progressed across the sky, ending with a beautiful clear blue overhead. Lovely. It was cooler and less humid, too, making it delightful to be outside.

[skhill]

Dear heat and humidity:
Go do anatomically impossible things. Thanks to you and your friend Mold, I just had to throw out a whole loaf of bread.

Grr.

Ditto. Much as I hate to do it, I've been storing bread in the fridge, after having to throw out more than half a loaf a few weeks ago. And when I went to have the last piece of peach pie last night, it was fuzzy. :mad:

[OakLeaf]

I always store bread in the fridge, honestly. Sure it means it's no good unless I toast it, but it never seems to last past three days otherwise.

[lph]

Keeping bread in the freezer works well. Slicing it first makes it easier to thaw in a toaster, but dries it out a tad more. We either slice up the whole loaf first or slice it in thirds, freeze separately and thaw overnight or in the microwave. Not quite like fresh, but not bad, tastes about half to a day old.

[PamNY]

Dear Tropical Storm Ernesto,

Please stay away from Belize, or, if you can't do that, just weaken instead of strengthen.

Thanks!

Looks as if Ernesto didn't hear you. Good luck and stay safe.

[limewave]

Dear Self--wow, that was freaky. Almost made your first major mistake on the new job but turns out it wasn't a mistake afterall. You can now pull your heart of your gut and try to catch your breath. Now comes the challenging part, standing ground and telling the author they are wrong . . . while simultaneously stroking their ego. You can do this! You will not cry.

Limewave

[malkin]

Dear Sit Bones,
I ordered you a B33. I hope you like it.

It took a little while because of course I won't buy a saddle from any place but Wallbike, and Bill had to order it, because he doesn't normally stock Honey Gold, and I need it to match Brewer's saddle on the tandem.

love,
your brain

[Pax]

Dear TE gals,

Just found out mom is in stage five kidney failure, her next step is dialysis and a trip to Barnes in STL to see if she's a viable transplant candidate.

Please send her some positive thoughts.

[indysteel]

(((Pax))) I'm so sorry. Sending positive vibes to you and your mom. Please keep us posted.....

[OakLeaf]

Oh man Pax - adding both of you to my good vibes list.

[emily_in_nc]

Looks as if Ernesto didn't hear you. Good luck and stay safe.

Thanks Pam!

We were lucky -- Ernesto went north of us. We have had very high tide and 3" of rain, but the highest winds have been a 37 mph gust -- not even tropical storm force! I think we're going to come through this one just fine. Everyone prepared and was ready for it, which helped. We had plenty of warning!

[PamNY]

Pax, sending you good energy and wishes for peace and healing for your mom.

Emily, so glad you had nothing worse than rain and a little wind.

[VeganBikeChick]

So glad you're safe, Emily!

[Pax]

Emily - glad Ernesto passed by without much damage!

[Catrin]

Dear TE gals,

Just found out mom is in stage five kidney failure, her next step is dialysis and a trip to Barnes in STL to see if she's a viable transplant candidate.

Please send her some positive thoughts.

Oh Pax, I am sorry to read this, and sending her and you as many positive thoughts as possible. Also a hug.

[emily_in_nc]

Thanks, ladies (re. Ernesto)! The worst damage was to my butt -- I slipped and fell on our wet stairs going out this morning. I'm going to have a lovely bruise. Owie! :o

Pax, so very sorry about your mom. :(

[Pax]

We met with the nurse practitioner and mom is going to get a fistula put in in the next month to prep for dialysis... right now she's thinking a transplant is way too much surgery for her, so the trip to Barnes is on hold for now.

[Owlie]

((Pax and Pax's mom))

[indysteel]

Dear fellow residents of Franklin, Indiana. Are four-way stops really that difficult to understand? Here's how the work: Come to a complete stop and then wait your turn. You all seem to have trouble with both of these requirements as nearly EVERY day, I deal with somebody who just doesn't get it.

You also either get confused or angry when I honk. If you're confused, that means your truly don't understand how these stops work and/or aren't paying enough attention to figure out when it's your turn. Both of these options are scary. If you're angry, then you're arrogant jerks who think it's MY fault you're breaking the law. Again, this option is scary. In either event, you're some of the worst drivers I've ever encountered and I'm tired of you.

[Crankin]

I think I wrote a very similar post awhile back.
Here, people Stop at the sign and then wait until all drivers are at the sign. Then they wait more. They wave you through when it's their turn. They don't get it.
Say what you want about Arizona, but at least they got this one.

[indysteel]

I think I wrote a very similar post awhile back.
Here, people Stop at the sign and then wait until all drivers are at the sign. Then they wait more. They wave you through when it's their turn. They don't get it.
Say what you want about Arizona, but at least they got this one.

Yeah; that variation of the problem happens a lot, too. Is it really that hard to pay attention as to who got their first? The guy this morning went when it was my turn and so I honked. He then stopped in the middle of the intersection to yell at me. Because I was the one in the wrong apparently. :rolleyes:

[OakLeaf]

DH is one of the ones who doesn't get this. He thinks the rules for simultaneous arrival apply all the time. So he stops, waits for someone to pull up and stop on his left, then waits for them to go. I can't explain it to him. :confused::mad:

[indysteel]

DH is one of the ones who doesn't get this. He thinks the rules for simultaneous arrival apply all the time. So he stops, waits for someone to pull up and stop on his left, then waits for them to go. I can't explain it to him. :confused::mad:

That's too funny, Oak! I hope you don't live someplace with a lot of four-way stops.

Before I moved to Franklin, I didn't encounter 4-ways on a regular basis as most of the streets in and around downtown have lights. Plus, roundabouts are becoming increasingly common in some of the areas where I traveled most frequently.

Then I moved to Franklin where there's a four-way stop nearly every block. It drives me nuts. People run them with abandon or just can't wait their turn. I've started to have some anticipatory anxiety at one stop I hit each morning because someone proceeds out-of-turn nearly every day. It's a big intersection so you really have to be mindful. Sigh; yet another reason to dislike where I live.

And does anybody go the speed limit anymore? I don't mind traveling a bit above, but I really don't want a ticket and I'm not convinced speeding gets me where I'm going any faster (or safer) anyway, as there are so many traffic lights. But jeez-o-pete people are aggressive and impatient. If people want to speed, I can't stop them, but I really hate it when they tailgate me in an effort to make their irritation known.

[NbyNW]

Dear DH,

So you're home for 10 days and in all of that time you somehow couldn't find time to take the dog to the vet to get the paperwork started on his international transport requirements, so instead on your last day home you make an appointment for ME to take the dog to the vet.

And it's not like the baby is old enough to stay home alone, so he had to come along too. And the dog is overprotective of us so he freaks out the moment we step in the office. Next time I will leave it to you to muzzle an overprotective dog while the baby is screaming.:mad:

Thankfully the vet's exam rooms are very clean. But given a choice I'll try not to breastfeed there again.

Next time, maybe I will decline to do this at all, and the dog will just have to stay behind.

You owe me, big time.

Love,
Your wife

[skhill]

Dear my pack-rat tendencies:
Please take a break for a while. After helping my brother move this week, I realize it's time for a good clear-out. An amazing amount of junk has built up over the 12 years in this house.

[limewave]

Dear People I Works With--

You asked for a bold and progressive design. That's what you got. The overall consensus being "it's striking, progressive, and a stunning design."

And then you wonder if everyone is going to like it.

Well, it's bold and progressive. So the answer is "no, not everyone is going to like it."

Make up your mind: "bold and progressive" or "neutral and like every other cover"?

~Limewave

[Becky]

Dear Mother of my sister's groom:

Did your dress really have to be the exact same color as mine?

Signed,
Frustrated

[bmccasland]

Dear Designers of the MUP in Seattle,
Did you really have to put 90 degree turns and hard stops in the hill paths? :mad: How about some nice warnings painted on the path? :eek: Give me the spray paint and I'll do it.

There's a trail that I don't ever want to do again, because frankly as designed, it's dangerous. :mad:

[VeganBikeChick]

Dear Mom,

To say I'm terribly disappointed would be a major understatement. It's not "financially feasible" for you and the family to come and visit me after my move to Denver next week, yet you have no problem buying my sister a $23k car not 2 weeks after she totaled hers from a DUI.

There's a reason I don't live in the same state nor visit much.

[bmccasland]

Dear office in another city,
I'm doing a tech review on your document. :mad: Prepare for a major rewrite! May I suggest that THIS time you use the outline as stipulated in the federal guidelines. They aren't really suggestions. When this document actually gets to Washington, you want it to be clear so that you get the construction funds. As it stands now, "just say no" comes to mind. And oh by the way, a 96 pg table in the Executive Summary is no summary. What were you thinking?! :eek:

[marni]

dear beth, your email sounds like the notes the SAG guy sends often and in multiple versions daily to the various project managers and proposal managers he has to deal with. You have my sympathy.

[Owlie]

Dear self:
Next time you clean the bike, consider getting the black shorts that you were going to wash anyway out of the laundry basket, rather than get black splash marks all over your green capris...

[Pax]

Dear Universe,

Please stop. I'm worn out and am rapidly approaching the end of my rope.

The job transfer that I was so excited about... did you have to make it implode yesterday? Couldn't the new boss have just been honest about the physical requirements before I walked away from my long term stable job? Now my bad knee is killing me and HR is scrambling to find a temp placement for me until something permanent can be arranged. Being in limbo work wise while dealing with my mom is just too much; I'm very tired of crying and could really use a break.

Signed, are you kidding me?

[indysteel]

(((Pax))). I'm so sorry you're hurting.

[Blueberry]

(((((Pax))))))

I'm so sorry that you're dealing with all of this:(

[OakLeaf]

(((((((Pax)))))))

Hoping things brighten up for you very soon.

[Pax]

Thanks gals, I just need some room to breathe, but the hits keeps coming. I'm so tired.

[Catrin]

(((Pax))) hope things ease soon!

[Blueberry]

Dear Ikea:

You sold me a defective part. I am now on my second phone call to you about said product (since you never returned my call as promised) and have been on hold (this time) for more than 20 minutes. Last time was longer than 30 minutes. This is your problem, not mine. I am not driving 2.5 hours each way to exchange the part. You need to figure something else out. Your customer service really stinks. This was the first time I had shopped in your store, and it will most definitely be the last.

[bmccasland]

(((((Pax)))))) Hang in there! Hope things work out for you.



Dear Cosmos - While you're in a giving mood with Pax, could you also work things out for my sister and her family. Food stamps not coming through, broken cars, tuition, not enough $$ to pay rent is just too much.

[Owlie]

((Pax))

Dear B:
Let this little episode serve as a wake-up call. The jaw pain, shortness of breath and left-arm numbness may not have been anything THIS TIME, but what about next time? Please consider quitting smoking and at least some exercise.

[Pax]

Finally, a little good news. My job is civil service so they don't just fire you when you can't do a job... so they found me a temp placement where I'll have to learn all kinds of new and cool stuff, but I get to sit down!!

[Crankin]

Nice, Pax!
Owlie, I hope your friend gets medical attention :eek:.

[indysteel]

Yay, Pax!!! I sure hope it was a blessing in disguise!

[Becky]

Dear AmEx,

I sincerely hope that the application procedure and ensuing debacle is not indicative of your normal level of customer service. My poor DH has made 5 different phone calls, talked to at least 6 different people, been told at least 3 different things, wasted at least 2 hours on the phone, and we still don't have a resolution to our issue.

The letter to your executive office is going in the mail just as soon as we get our promised phone call on Monday. We've never been treated so poorly by a financial institution, and someone needs to know about it.

Sincerely,
So Angry She Can't See Straight

[indysteel]

Dear AmEx,

I sincerely hope that the application procedure and ensuing debacle is not indicative of your normal level of customer service. My poor DH has made 5 different phone calls, talked to at least 6 different people, been told at least 3 different things, wasted at least 2 hours on the phone, and we still don't have a resolution to our issue.

The letter to your executive office is going in the mail just as soon as we get our promised phone call on Monday. We've never been treated so poorly by a financial institution, and someone needs to know about it.

Sincerely,
So Angry She Can't See Straight

I used to get great customer service from AmEx, but I had an incident recently that made me really wonder.

Last April, they detected fraudulent activity on my card (this part I really do appreciate). They closed the account--or so I thought--and issued me a new card. A couple months later, I mistakenly used the old card number to pay online for travel insurance. Just as I hit the submit button, I realized my mistake and expected the transaction to not clear. Suprisingly, it did. My first call was to the travel insurance company, which told me to contact AmEx.

The explanation that I got as to why the transaction went through was wholly unsatisfactory. They told me that it must have gone through because the insurance company had my number on file and/or because AmEx recognized them as a vendor I'd used before. The company did not have my card number on file and what does it matter if I had used the vendor before? Either the account is closed to further use or it isn't. What good does it do to close an account if the card can still be used? I ended up talking to the fraud department and they could not give me any better of an explanation. Maybe it was a fluke, but it bothered me. And their assurances that I won't be liable for any fraudulent purchases didn't fully appease me.

Anyway, I hope you get your issues with AmEx resolved to your satisfaction.

[Becky]

Indy, thanks for weighing in. On one hand, it comforts me to know that it's not just me & DH; on the other hand, it scares me that this level of incompetence is more widespread than I thought. I find myself really reluctant to even use the card and, as a result, we've discussed closing the account ASAP and getting the credit report hit over with. But now there's a chance that they won't even do that right?!?

Honestly, I'm not sure what they can do at this point that would satisfy me. *sighs*

[indysteel]

Indy, thanks for weighing in. On one hand, it comforts me to know that it's not just me & DH; on the other hand, it scares me that this level of incompetence is more widespread than I thought. I find myself really reluctant to even use the card and, as a result, we've discussed closing the account ASAP and getting the credit report hit over with. But now there's a chance that they won't even do that right?!?

Honestly, I'm not sure what they can do at this point that would satisfy me. *sighs*

Here's what I ask anybody who is concerned about a hit to their credit report: Are you planning to apply for credit, e.g, a new car loan or mortgage loan, any time soon? If you're not, then don't worry about it. And if you are, then just wait to close the account until you obtain the loan. But if you otherwise have excellent credit, I wouldn't worry about the minor hit you might take by closing the account.

[Becky]

Here's what I ask anybody who is concerned about a hit to their credit report: Are you planning to apply for credit, e.g, a new car loan or mortgage loan, any time soon? If you're not, then don't worry about it. And if you are, then just wait to close the account until you obtain the loan. But if you otherwise have excellent credit, I wouldn't worry about the minor hit you might take by closing the account.

Yup, that's the advice that we've received from others and, overall, I don't expect this to have a huge effect on our credit. But it's annoying just the same, especially when it's a debacle not of our making.

[Blueberry]

Dear People who Repaired my Birks:

Thank you! I'm so glad to be able to continue using my shoes, and the new foot beds are awesome (they could even go up a size to accommodate my expanded feet). Thanks for providing good customer service.

Happy footed person

[malkin]

That makes me happy about your Birks.

I hope repair does not become a lost art. There's a place in town that repairs glasses. I had one pair that was hopelessly bent with broken nose pieces from being in a pocket and another that was in pieces from being stepped on and the guy fixed them both up in one day for under $40 bucks.

[Crankin]

I love cobblers. We have a an older Italian man and his son who have a shop in town. It's just like the one my mom went to when I was a kid.

[malkin]

I once saw a remarkable documentary film about Italian cobblers who make ballet pointe shoes. (I learned some amazing things during my insomnia phase, but really, I don't miss it!)

[redrhodie]

I once saw a remarkable documentary film about Italian cobblers who make ballet pointe shoes. (I learned some amazing things during my insomnia phase, but really, I don't miss it!)

I would love to see that. My old ballet teacher was a dance shoe maker, and I asked if he would teach me the trade, but he strongly discouraged me. I think it's hard to make a living cobbling.

[Pax]

Had a girls day out with my honey and my mom yesterday! We took mom for a spa pedicure, then we "did" lunch at a nice restaurant, then went shopping. This was moms first time out in her new wheelchair so we wanted to make it fun, she had a great time. I love my mom.

[indysteel]

That's so nice, Pax. Glad you had a good day!

[snapdragen]

That's terrific Pax. I wish I could get my mom out of the house for something other than doctor appointments.

[Pax]

Snap - I hear you. She is normally too tired from all those doctors appointment to do anything else.

[spokewench]

What a wonderful day Pax

[bmccasland]

Dear GI Doc's office,
It would have been really nice if you warned me off the seeds and nuts prior to today's exam. Apparently they are "persistant" in the GI track, so now I have the opportunity to repeat the prep and the exam. :(

[Sky King]

Dear GI Doc's office,
It would have been really nice if you warned me off the seeds and nuts prior to today's exam. Apparently they are "persistant" in the GI track, so now I have the opportunity to repeat the prep and the exam. :(

what you aren't a mind reader :p sometimes the people in the medical world...

[Owlie]

Dear sleep cycle:
Can we please get back on track before Sunday? That would be awesome.

[bmccasland]

Dear BIL,
The thanks I get for helping support your family for the past few years, is an email asking me to co-sign on a loan to fund the family's education? :mad: Could you at least acknowledge the fact that I've been sending DS (your DW) a check, monthly, and most recently bought a gift card at the local grocer. So you want to get a PhD?! You've had a scheme for things "working out" for as long as I've known you.

There will be no more blood out of this rock. For my DS, the monthly checks will continue, but I will never co-sign on a loan with you. :(

[Owlie]

Dear customer:
The fact that you spent money here doesn't entitle you to come here AFTER CLOSING to complain about something, especially when that something is a result of your own ignorance. You're lucky C is so nice. Leave the man alone, though, please! (Also, your existence does not entitle you to discounts. FYI.)

Dear C:
Sorry. I didn't want to deal with her. But some how she manages to seek you out anyway.:rolleyes:

Dear T/Financial Aid:
Took you long enough. Can I have my money now?

[azfiddle]

Dear "instructional team leader":

Yes, I am owning up to having screwed up a few times and have made a serious effort to be more organized this year. In spite of making that effort, or maybe because I've been hyper-conscious about it, after the last thing, I apparently messed up again. Given all that I should have just directly asked you to help out and check that student's records folder for me - that one you had told me to look up. I had a 14 hour day yesterday and at lunch I had students doing make-up labs and a lunch detention customer. It would have avoided a lot of unpleasantry. I didn't even have time to check my email between 8 and 11:30. But technically, you aren't my supervisor and I think you are overstepping your authority. Yes, I should have asked for help but you could have had the graciousness to offer instead of chewing me out.

I know you won't change and will be watching me for every little detail I may miss this year .... But I feel better for writing this.

[Veronica]

Dear PI Parents,

Kudos to you for choosing to send your child to a school you believe is better than their home school. But part of what makes our school great is parent involvement. Not a single one of you came to Back to School Night last night. Thus keeping my percentage of PI parents who attend BTSN zero. It's a disturbing trend. Just sending your child to a better school is no guarantee they will be a better student.

I hope you attend your conferences.

Veronica

[alexis_the_tiny]

Dear school,

After reading what people are saying about your instructors in literature and Women studies, I'm feeling really fired up and positively eager to enroll and start the class. It's been a long time since I've felt this way about literature. It's awesome.

(Also, I love online college classes. It's so awesome to finally be able to succeed in school even if people think I'm a bit old to still be piddling around undergrad classes.)

[laura*]

Dear friends:

You should reconsider where you've stretched your clothesline at the new house. I am at least the third person to walk into the 2x4 holding an end of the clothesline.

Your friend with the black "third eye".

[Sky King]

Dear Body,

I am not getting sick so just stop suggesting ...

[Biciclista]

to whom it may concern

i can't post here much but i think about it doing it a lot.

I am adjusting to my new life. I am not riding enough, without you know who badgering me to go for a ride; but I am riding once or twice a week.

I am not going for enough walks either, it is hard to go out the door past my driveway. (I have no trouble going places, it's going for a walk by myself that is hard.)

I am eating well, bathing, and sleeping. I am taking good care of my cats. I have fixed up one room completely, and a second is nearly done. I do not want for activity. I even have been painting; but i am kind of flighty.

I guess if anyone in the Seattle area wants to go for a ride with someone who is pokey, let me know. I will be around for 2 more weeks before I go to Italy.

This is not a plea for hugs and sympathy, I just thought it was fair to let people know what it is looking like here for me 6 weeks after the loss of my husband.
m

[snapdragen]

You're doing OK Mimi, you can't expect to feel "normal" right now, you're going through a huge adjustment. I'm glad to hear you're taking care of yourself, we like having you around.

How long will you be in Italy?

[Biciclista]

I will be gone for a little more than 2 weeks. Hope to find some riding buddies; I can't ride with my old friends yet, they are too fast for me at present.

[NbyNW]

Mimi, I'm plenty pokey these days. Check your private messages!

[OakLeaf]

You get hugs and sympathy whether you want them or not. :o I'm glad you're being gentle with yourself. Are you seeing family in Italy?

[Catrin]

I will be gone for a little more than 2 weeks. Hope to find some riding buddies; I can't ride with my old friends yet, they are too fast for me at present.

As Oak said, you get hugs, warm thoughts and sympathies regardless :) It is good that you are giving yourself time to process all of this. You know, your old friends might like to go on an easier paced ride with you, why not ask?

[indysteel]

As Oak said, you get hugs, warm thoughts and sympathies regardless :) It is good that you are giving yourself time to process all of this. You know, your old friends might like to go on an easier paced ride with you, why not ask?

+1. I agree with Catrin that your otherwise fast-paced friends are worth asking out for a ride. If I were in there shoes and a friend/riding buddy had lost their partner, I know that I'd be more than eager to oblige if they wanted company on a ride.

Safe travels to Italy, Mimi. I hope it's an enjoyable and restorative trip.

[Biciclista]

I did talk to my friends. Their idea of easy is to start me on another P12 (100 kilometer rides once a month ) in NOvember. On the back of a tandem!!!

[indysteel]

I did talk to my friends. Their idea of easy is to start me on another P12 (100 kilometer rides once a month ) in NOvember. On the back of a tandem!!!

Yikes! Sorry they misunderstood what "easy" means. :eek: I hope you have some additional takers.

[Biciclista]

They are SO FIT right now. Donald and I started the P12 thing winter 2010. ANd he had been doing the R12's too and HE sucked them into the R12's. (that's 200k's once a month) So I feel partially responsible.
:o

[Veronica]

I did talk to my friends. Their idea of easy is to start me on another P12 (100 kilometer rides once a month ) in NOvember. On the back of a tandem!!!


You can always soft pedal. :D

Mimi I am so impressed by your strength of spirit. And it's okay to be flighty. Geez... I think I'd still be curled up in a little ball, not thinking about doing anything.

Take care of yourself.

Veronica

[Owlie]

I did talk to my friends. Their idea of easy is to start me on another P12 (100 kilometer rides once a month ) in NOvember. On the back of a tandem!!!

Tell 'em that they can pedal on climbs and that you'll pedal on descents. :D

Love, hugs, and good thoughts to you. Enjoy your trip. :)

[emily_in_nc]

Mimi, you are way, way, way stronger than I would be. You are fierce, and I admire the h e l l out of you. The fact that you are doing anything at all -- much less getting ready to travel out of the country -- is a testament to your strength of character and spirit.

Hugs!
Emily

[Biciclista]

thank you all for your nice words. I am seeing family in ITaly, including someone who was recently widowed when i visited her the last time (and she's my age) and a bunch of other cousins. And both of my adopted daughters. (adopted as adults)
I don't know how strong I am. I know i have to keep busy, I know i have to stay strong. As horrible as Donald's cancer was, he exceeded expectations because he continued to work out. Two weeks before he died, he told me that he sang every day. He took walks every day until a week before he died. (and he continued to walk until the day he died). He also worked on his balance. Up to the very end, he put his pants on standing up... No kidding. I think it bought him time and quality of life too. With someone like that to inspire me, I cannot do less.

[maillotpois]

He was inspirational. And you know he wants you right back out there walking, riding and enjoying your life. That probably makes it a little easier, but not much. Big huge hug to you. Wish we were closer and DD and I would take you for a pokey ride.

[Biciclista]

I have two rides lined up, one friday and one tuesday. And maybe another ! thanks all.

[indysteel]

I have two rides lined up, one friday and one tuesday. And maybe another ! thanks all.

That's great, Mimi! I wish I could join you!

[Biciclista]

that would be awesome!
When I get back from Italy, I will be scheduling more rides.

[Crankin]

Have fun in Italy, Mimi. How wonderful to have family there.
I am so glad I got to meet you! Of course, my vacation seems like a dream right now, a hundred years ago.
Post pictures, if you can.

[Veronica]

Dear Self,

Maintain your positive attitude. Don't let the whiners and idiots surrounding you, bring you down. Seriously, what is their problem? It doesn't matter, it's their problems.

Veronica

[shootingstar]

Inspiring about Don's willpower.... and yours to continue onward.

A work colleague will be going to Italy with his wife in 2 wks. His first trip to Europe @ 45 yrs. old and he's nervous thinking about it. Probably the hardes thing for him might be the language matter. (And he's never been to Asia/Africa/South America either).

I also look forward to new painting works on your blog when you get around to it.

[Crankin]

Shooting Star, I didn't go to Europe until I was 50. Went to the UK the first time, but just 2 months later, I went to Germany and Italy (where I had my exchange student in one place and my son in the other to translate). The language stuff doesn't bother me, but traveling was just not something my own family did. They went to the same place, on Cape Cod, every summer, and really did not see why anyone would want to do anything else. My parents took occasional trips to NYC, always around my dad's business trips. After my parents moved away from MA, they did do more exploring, usually by car in Florida, Arizona, and California. My mom never went out of the country, except to Mexico (by car), although my dad did go to Europe and Japan on business. His parents even lived in Florence for several years (my grandfather moved his shoe business there), but we (my mom, brother, and I) never went to visit. In fact, my extended family made fun of people who traveled, as in "why would they want to go anywhere except Massachusetts?" Perhaps this is a hyper version of New England chauvinism, but mostly, they are afraid of doing or experiencing anything different. A few years ago my aunt was at my house, and my DS was showing her pictures he took in Spain after he got back from his deployment there. Her comment was, "It looks like a fairy tale." She couldn't comprehend that there are places like that in the world, that are real.
While I enjoy traveling now, I don't do well with the time zone changes and often get sick either at the beginning of a trip or, more often, when I get home. It's not fun, especially when I've been sick at the beginning of a bike tour, as I was in Prague.

[Veronica]

Travel to Europe is not cheap. The median household income in the US is $50,000. Most people just can't afford to travel to Europe.


I've only been to the Azores. Whenever we think about planning a vacation, we talk about Europe, but there are some fascinating places to visit here. It's cheaper to fly to Hawaii than to Boston from CA. Flying to Europe from here takes FOREVER. When you only have so many vacation days, you don't want to waste them on travel. If we can, we prefer to drive to our vacation destination.

Veronica

[limewave]

We are celebrating our 10 year anniversary next year. Because of extenuating circumstances we never had a honeymoon. We always imagined that for our 10 year we would do a honeymoon/anniversary extravaganza and travel abroad. Well, that's not going to happen. We certainly can't afford it. In fact, we've nearly settled on a plan that includes driving two hours from our home and camping for four days. We decided that if our circumstances happen to improve, we'd buy ourselves really nice carbon fiber road bikes and spend our anniversary riding from camp :)

To be honest, I hate flying. I always get sick. I like our travel trailer, it feels like home to me. Hotel rooms feel like a cage. DH and I once got lost in a "french-speaking" area of Canada and it made me nervous, lol.

Someday I will travel and explore other countries, but its not in the cards right now and I don't have the desire to make it work. I have friends that have taken their kids to Europe as a high school graduation gift . . . that's something to think about. I would like to do something like that for my kids.

----------
Dear DH,

DS rode his bike without training wheels for the first time last night. I am sorry that you missed it. Missed seeing his proud smirk stretch across his face, his shoulders back and bursting with confidence. You really should work to change things so you don't have to be gone as much. I am proud and happy that I was able to teach DD and DS to ride their bikes. But it saddens me that you've missed out on so many things. I wish these events could be "family" instead of "mother-child" memories.

~Limewave

[indysteel]

I have friends that have taken their kids to Europe as a high school graduation gift . . . that's something to think about. I would like to do something like that for my kids.

Don't sweat it if that also turns out not to be in the cards. I think a lot of Europe would be wasted on, or underappreciated by, kids that age.

IMO, the experiences you're providing them on their bikes is pretty darn cool. Lucky kids; I wish I'd learned to mountain bike as a child. I'm sorry your DH missed DS's big day on the bike though.

[Biciclista]

We were really poor in the 1980's. My husband received a check for something work related; maybe a grant because he had been unemployed and got a job, something. It was for $800. He gave it to me and told me to go to Italy. Our idea of a vacation previous to this was to drive to the coast (3 hours) and sleep at his sister's house, then turn around and come home the next day. THat's when i first got to Europe. while many of us really cannot afford to travel, i do believe a lot of it is priorities. You can save money for a trip or you can save money for a bike. Or bike events. or or or. Crankin, I do know the mentality that you are describing, it cracks me up. I grew up on the east coast, so I recognize it. Most the people I knew had been to NY NJ and PA. period. That was the whole world to them.
I am typically a very frugal traveler I do not spend on hotels and I rarely eat out. Yep, it's kind of like it was when we were poor. I am sleeping at cousin's and friends' houses when i go next week. For others of you who are not blessed with friends and relatives in Europe, there are home exchanges, warm showers and um drat, I can't think of the other one. You don't have to spend a fortune on travel. But bottom line, this country we live in is huge and has lots to offer right around here.
WHen my sons were in highschool, their orchestra took them to Europe. Oh that was expensive. THere were fund raisers, but bottom line, Donald and I had to cough up a lot of dough for two kids. We wondered how our petulant teenaged sons would show their appreciation upon their return. Oh brother, we never should have worried. THey came home and gave us hugs and went on and on about how wonderful the trip had been for them. It opened their eyes to the world. Both have traveled since. They are international travelers and are both more sophisticated for it.
I used to love to fly, but circumstances have made flying at the least unpleasant, and airports downright miserable. But at least for me,it's worth it.

Shootingstar, I will post a few more paintings by the weekend.

[indysteel]

I'm glad your boys got so much out of a trip to Europe at that age. I guess I've talked to too many friends and colleagues whose teenage children seemed oblivious to where they were. I suppose, like most things, it depends on the kids and their parents.

[Veronica]

Dear Student,

The evidence is overwhelming that you cheated on your test. I'm sorry but you are simply not smart enough to add up three numbers that require regrouping in your head. Plus the one problem where you show your work, you have the wrong operation and didn't even add correctly. I hope you're honest when I give you the chance to 'fess up, but I fear you won't be.

I know academics are difficult for you, but cheating is not the answer. Maybe if your mom would fill out the paperwork so we could do some testing on you...the paperwork she's had since last year...

Your unhappy teacher

[Crankin]

My older son went to the UK, Scotland, and Wales with the HS band. He came back bitten by the travel bug. He had previously only been to French speaking Canada on his 8th grade French trip. My other son, at that age only cared about racing his bike, but since joining the military, he has traveled extensively, and not just to horrible places. His wife also loves to travel. I agree with Mimi. You can plan for travel abroad, just like anything else. I know many, many people who save for things like a family trip to Disney World, which costs a fortune, and in my mind has no redeeming value, especially if you really have to scrimp and save for it. I know it's a question of values, but there are 2 things I regret not doing as my kids were growing up. One is doing family outdoor activities like hiking overnights and more camping, as well as bike trips, and doing more travel to places other than Cape Cod or back to AZ. The thing is, my kids love outdoor stuff, went to an Audubon overnight camp that emphasized ecology and independent outdoor activity rather than team stuff and would have taken to that type of lifestyle. Sure, we didn't have as much money then, but we could have saved for things other than what we did at the time.
Thankfully, I didn't turn into my parents and my kids ended up liking adventure.

[shootingstar]

I've been to Europe 3 times. But only started that type of travel a few years after I finished university. My parents only took day trips with their big family. Just couldn't afford it. But it was....a big deal for us to go to Chinatown in Toronto when we lived 100 km. west of Toronto in a German-based smaller city.

Travel any further was somewhat foreign to my parents anyway....except they did do their big trip: they immigrated to Canada from mainland China in the 1950's. I guess that was their life-changing "adventure". :rolleyes:

I have never been to Asia yet and right now, I'm losing the motivation. Wrote up about it (http://cyclewriteblog.wordpress.com/2012/04/01/asia-in-my-dreams-romanticizing-the-east/)

Living in Canada or the U.S. which are huge countries, really does mean a ton of opportunities to learn and see alot also.

[Biciclista]

Dear Mother

Why does it surprise you that I might feel a little anxious going overseas this week?

AUUGGHH!

[malkin]

Dear Biciclista,
Thinking of you often, with best wishes for your trip.
Jeez-I thought anxiety and travel went together even in easy circumstances.
(Well, for me anxiety goes with pretty much everything, but I mean for like, normal people.)

[Biciclista]

Malkin,
duh, no kidding. My mother gets more obtuse every year.

[Wahine]

Dear People of the world,

With regards to Biciclista's post, anxiety is a natural part of stepping out of your comfort zone, whether it's travel or physically challenging yourself or putting your work out there for the whole world to see. If you aren't anxious once in a while, you're not challenging yourself. If you're not challenging yourself you're not growing. If you're not growing, what's the point?

This. (http://www.reallifecoaching.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/wherethemagichappens.jpg)

[salsabike]

This. (http://www.reallifecoaching.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/wherethemagichappens.jpg)

Oh. LOVE that.

[tulip]

Dear People of the world,

With regards to Biciclista's post, anxiety is a natural part of stepping out of your comfort zone, whether it's travel or physically challenging yourself or putting your work out there for the whole world to see. If you aren't anxious once in a while, you're not challenging yourself. If you're not challenging yourself you're not growing. If you're not growing, what's the point?

This. (http://www.reallifecoaching.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/wherethemagichappens.jpg)

Perfect timing (for me). I'm totally out of my comfort zone at the moment. Thanks for the reminder.

[maillotpois]

Excellent! Thanks.