Dear So and So

[indysteel]

Dear women hikers who had their 60+ pound dogs off lead on a mountain bike trail. Are you daft? I had not one, but two, large dogs running full speed at me while you were nowhere to be seen. You're lucky no one got hurt. I was proud of myself for restraining my angry when I finally ran into you, but I really wanted to yell a few expletives at you. Idiots.

[Owlie]

Dear university:
I know there's that new financial aid rule that says I have to make satisfactory academic progress and therefore my summer aid won't be disbursed until final grades are in. Newsflash: Summer classes start MONDAY. Final grades are due Wednesday. Also: I'm a grad student. If my GPA is anything less than a 3.0, I get kicked out. "Satisfactory academic progress" is mandatory, don't you think? Jerks.

[limewave]

Dear In-Laws,

I was so excited when you called and asked what DS would like for his birthday. I gave so many suggestions: beach toys, toy guitar (this kid LOVES music!), his own hydration pack for family hikes, explorer toys like butterfly net, compass, etc. And then you asked if he'd like at truck for the sand box--while he likes trucks he already has dozens of them.

Considering that you all have only ever bought him toy trucks and he has an overflowing fleet of them, did ALL of you really need to buy him MORE trucks for his birthday? Even after you asked and I suggested something else?

10 birthday presents. 10 trucks. DS's disappointment could be seen by all. He just wanted a guitar and a hydration pack

Sigh.

~Limewave

DD,
Thank you for innocently saying something I could not. "Bear already has a bunch of trucks. He has that exact one! He has so many we just donated a bunch to church. Maybe we should give these to church? Why does Bear only get trucks?"
Love you kid.
~Your mom

[Crankin]

Indy, I could not have restrained myself from uttering angry swear words in a situation that compromised safety on the trail. You are a better person than me!
I've had one-two dog altercations on the road, right on my street. Dealing with my idiot neighbor was bad enough, but I was truly scared for my safety with a dog running at me. I used what I learned here on TE and it worked, but the situation didn't make my fear of dogs better. I just am not an animal lover, which I have always been hesitant to state here, but usually, if a dog is well behaved (i.e. has a well behaved owner), I can tolerate it.
People just don't think.

[azfiddle]

Limewave- you have all my sympathy!

My kids have never forgiven my mother-in-law for giving them scotch tape in a Christmas stocking (never mind we mainly celebrate Chanukah) and getting my son matchbox cars at age 12.

[malkin]

My granny always gave us weird stuff too, but these things miraculously always became useful or treasured in some quirky way.

She also took us shopping too, so there was never any disappointment.

Sorry you got kind of a clueless one.

[lph]

Oh Limewave, I know how you feel. One of DS's grandparents gives him the most clueless gifts ever, like books in a language he can't read. But it's pretty much outweighed by the others, who adore him

[Crankin]

I empathize with you, Limewave. My in laws once gave my older son a very expensive European made tricycle right when he turned 2, after we said he wasn't ready for one (he was not that coordinated back then). This was at a Thanksgiving dinner where my parents were there and my dad was unemployed at the time.
It caused a huge fight, with my DH reminding them we had asked them not to do this and my FIL calling my DH a f******* azzhole in front of my parents.
We didn't speak to them for 2 years after this and we lived about 5 miles away.
Lovely people.

[Reesha]

Dear Team E friends!

I am leaving for my cross-country biking adventure (American Lung Association's Big Ride Across America) in less than a week (it is VERY hard to believe it's time!). I have been so humbled by the support you have shown me as a collective group and so thankful for the donations made to this wonderful cause. For those interested in following my journey, I will be posting pictures/videos/updates and thoughts from the open road on my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lariss...84979924902812

Can't wait to share this journey with everyone!

[OakLeaf]

Good luck Reesha, and enjoy your journey!



Dear moles,

STAYOUTTAMYGARDEN!!!!!*

*and take the squash bugs, cucumber beetles, vine borers, flea beetles, and tomato diseases with you.

Thank you very much.

[bmccasland]

Dear Project Team and in particular Project Manager,
Why do you NOT get the concept that I need a correct set of project plans for my water quality submittal package?? A project feature was added that will driectly affect surface hydrology, so it is applicable for the WATER quality permit.
The fact that the permit application is going out late is because you keep adding features. I need to submit what we're planning on building. You make changes, the application needs to change, thus causing the schedule to slip.

[chatnoire]

Dear Project Team and in particular Project Manager,
Why do you NOT get the concept that I need a correct set of project plans for my water quality submittal package?? A project feature was added that will driectly affect surface hydrology, so it is applicable for the WATER quality permit.
The fact that the permit application is going out late is because you keep adding features. I need to submit what we're planning on building. You make changes, the application needs to change, thus causing the schedule to slip.

Ugh! I hate that. Not from an engineering standpoint for me, but in a lot of projects I worked on in a previous job, every time someone would get a "great idea" they'd want to include it. If I put my foot down, I was being insubordinate. If I included it, the project would get backlogged. Design by Committee is the Worst Thing Ever.

[indysteel]

Dear moles,

STAYOUTTAMYGARDEN!!!!!*

*

Let me know if this plea to the Universe helps! We have our own army o' moles that are tearing up our back yard and gardens. We've only managed to kill one, and that was purely by chance. They're evil.

[limewave]

Dear Shopping,

I have missed you. I remember from what seems like a different life, when you and I had a good relationship. I needed a sweater so you and I would meet to resolve the situation. Or maybe one of my household appliances needed replacing. You were there when I needed you.

And then the recession and kids happened We had to part ways. Sure, I went "shopping." But only after saving for weeks or months even, collecting pop cans and pennies, selling valuable items on craigslist . . . oh, I got creative. And you and I only happened when it was absolutely necessary--and not without its risk and stress.

Lately I've been walking past the kids room. Hard not to notice the drapes I hung with thumbtacks in DD's room. Or the broken blinds and bed sheets covering the window's in DS's room. Depressing.

Just imagine the delight I felt when there was a little extra padding in the bank this weekend. A smidge extra because we finally paid off one more debt that had been straggling us. Ha!

I'm going shopping! I told DH. SHOPPING! I haven't uttered those words in 4 years.

New window treatments for the kiddos! There rooms look completely transformed. And no guilt or stress about counting every penny.

Now, to sign DD up for summer camp!

But Shopping, just so you know, this won't be a weekly affair. We'll have to limit our visitations for special occasions.

~Limewave.

[OakLeaf]

Let me know if this plea to the Universe helps! We have our own army o' moles

Well, yelling at the rabbits to stayouttamygarden worked. After I put 2' chicken wire behind the electric fence.