<p>So glad you thought the service went so well,missypie. It sounds lovely and I’m sure your dad would be very proud. Thanks for checking in. I’m going to the store soon and I’m going to be sure to get some barbecue potato chips in your honor!</p>
<p>missypie… Oh that sounds so nice for you and your family…stripper clothes included. How was your mom? Was she pleased with how things went?y</p>
<p>My mom was really pleased with the service. She is very glad that I was able to plan it, because she didn’t feel up to it. My sister kept having these grandiose, impractical ideas and I think I was able to incorporate enough of what she wanted that she was pleased, too.</p>
<p>In other (horrible) news, a girl at younger D’s HS had a sweet 16 party at her grandparents’ house. Her (estranged) parents went outside to argue and the dad shot the mom, then himself. We don’t know the family. Our HS had a dad to mom murder suicide in 2009, the dad killing the entire family then hiimself on Christmas in 2011, and this one in 2013. A domestic murder suicide of parents at the HS every other year seems like a pretty high rate to me, or do I just notice it more because it’s local?</p>
<p>missyp, your father’s service sounds just perfect, even with the stripper GF. </p>
<p>I’d say that your HS news and the rate of those events seems abnormal. Poor families and kids. Wow.</p>
<p>c_q, we must have been at the same place at the same time! I came up to Ralph Sampson’s elbow.</p>
<p>I hope your daughter’s GRE went well.</p>
<p>missypie, the service sounds lovely. I’m so sorry for your loss. What a tragedy about the murder suicide…the poor little girl.</p>
<p>missypie – the service sounds like it was beautiful, and you’ll have good memories of it. And on the stripper clothes – when my grandmother died, a very close friend of the family about my age showed up in sandals with dirty feet and with his girlfriend in a midriff-baring top. But as my sister would say, while you don’t know if there will be food after an Irish funeral, there certainly will be liquor. Which definitely helped.</p>
<p>Moda – the housing thing sounds interesting and helpful.</p>
<p>C-Q – hope it all went okay for your daughter.</p>
<p>Missypie it’s nice to have you back. Reading about your Dad’s service and how so many family members were able to attend and be part of it is such a wonderful tribute to him.
(But only you could totally crack me up with the “stripper” comment!) </p>
<p>That is so sad about the murder/suicide, how terribly sad for that young lady. That does seem like a lot of tragic events in your area in such a short time.</p>
<p>Moda I hope the housing works out.</p>
<p>missypie, we were all thinking of you, and so glad to hear that the service was meaningful to all involved, and that your family could play such a significant role, too. That’s the way it should be: the family laying their dad and granddad to rest, as it were. May his memory be a blessing.</p>
<p>Good morning!
Glad you feel good about the ceremony, Missy. That’s crazy about the girl’s parents at a party. I understand that a lot of people can be stressed and have trouble coping, but the level of self-absorption required for that kind of act with a houseful of children is just completely beyond comprehension to me. </p>
<p>There is something wrong and rotten with pockets of humanity. Guns are part of it, but don’t explain the affect disorder or complete disconnect with the things humans in theory hold sacred – like other humans. I am quite tired of it, and tired of the excuses for it. Short of hiding out in the hills and spending my life as a recluse, of course, there’s not much I feel I can do about it, but I so wish I could wave a wand and say “be healed!” ;)</p>
<p>I survived the “zero dark hill” and will make the climb again shortly, after I go raid Owlice’s cyber breakfast buffet. That’s what I need – a chef, a caretaker, a personal trainer – wait, I guess what I really need is a “wife.” Hi ho ;)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I wasn’t going to comment further on my dad’s service, etc.,…but just in case you want to have a teeny bit more sympathy for me, the whole time away at my Mom’s was totally dry. They are southern Baptist, absolute non-drinkers.</p>
<p>Last night I caught up on Modern Family and read the paper. The house is a mess but it will wait. (There are still piles of Christmas linens waiting to go up in the attic for storage. I am sort of digging the fact that it’s bothering H more than me.)</p>
<p>MP - welcome back. So glad that your father’s service went well and that you managed to make everyone happy.</p>
<p>Terrible news about the shooting! I agree there is just something wrong with society. Sure guns add to it but there is something more basic as well. </p>
<p>KMC - I actually put on my Christmas list one year that I needed a wife. You know someone to cook, clean, etc. I didn’t get one however… 
I really would be just glad if my H could put his dirty dishes in the dishwasher. He picks them up and puts them by the sink. The dishwasher is RIGHT by the sink. How difficult is it to just put them in the dishwasher? I mean I do it – both mine and his!</p>
<p>I want a wife, too! Or that robot maid from The Jetsons.</p>
<p>Rosie! I loved the jetson’s - especially that sandwich making machine. </p>
<p>Missy - the service sounded lovely but I will be glad to be slightly Irish - although in a Talbots way vs a mid-drift bearing one - when it comes to libation. Then again, a bag of chips and diet coke would probably work for me as well.</p>
<p>Yesterday was a total bust and so I am committed to getting a lot done today… One can hope!</p>
<p>Missy, housework and annoying chores such as trips to the attic can and will wait. I wish you time to re-collect before having to face the onslaught of the daily tasks.</p>
<p>Adding my name to the list of those wishing for a wife. Well, either a wife, or more hours and energy for each day!</p>
<p>If I could have a nutritionist, personal trainer and maid I would be thrilled! :)</p>
<p>I’m in for someone more like a butler. But if I can share your personal trainer, NM, that too. And a gardener. It doesn’t take a lot to make me happy.</p>
<p>oh I am totally with NMN - I would love a chef/personal trainer! Preferably one who also had great fashion sense and organizational skills to act as stylist and life coach. If a person had the skill set needed, I honestly believe this would be a great business!</p>
<p>They’d basically take on new clients as they reduced the need load of those well on their way! Before long you’ve got a nice little following where you are simply helping to maintain your client base taking on fewer new clients who are now all on a massive waiting list because you are just. that. good. You’ve also taught your clients the skills to healthier cooking AND how to shop to make that easier. Just saying… I like the idea. :)</p>
<p>Decorator/stager coming tomorrow afternoon. Hoping to pick carpet and probs the paint for the foyer, as well as light fixure. The idea is to have them so in love with walking in the front door and the entire first floor so they aren’t focusing on anything but positive! BUT this also means I need to get this place looking as good as I can make it in it’s current state and the last two remaining rooms are my office and the playroom which as evolved into our family archives room - all the photo albums, picture storage boxes, memorabilia - basically the two rooms where a lot of stuff has gone in organizing the rest of the house! So… gonna get on that one. NOW! </p>
<p>Oh… eyes still so puffy underneath, which was my whole reason for doing this. Only been a week and it’s clear there is a need to wait for at least three. But I forgot to ask when I can start to wear a little make up. I think I am beyond sick of looking at myself without it.</p>
<p>I’ll sign up for the chef/stylist/Jetson robot too!</p>
<p>Missypie, thanks for the funeral update.</p>
<p>Thank you to everyone for the positive GRE vibes yesterday. D was happy with the verbal score, has to wait for the essay score, and the quantitative score was not as low as it could have been, theoretically. And it’s done.</p>
<p>Tiredofsnow, that’s funny - I was behind Ralph Sampson in line at the cafeteria once, and I was staring into his rear end.</p>
<p>Forgot to mention that '13 neighbor boy got accepted to U of Iowa med school yesterday!!! His first acceptance so he is in! Whew! 
He has one more interview at Johns Hopkins scheduled.</p>
<p>Missypie, so glad that the service went well. Sounds like your family had a personal, comforting, individualized, meaningful ceremony. You be glad you had the service your mom wanted, and, I hope, the one your dad would have wanted.</p>