Has anyone here watched Olive Kittredge? I watched tthe first 2 of 4 episodes and I am not a fan. Am I missing something? It is so depressing! Just can’t figure out why it won so many Emmys.
Even though I have now “graduated” from HS, here is the annual post about Texas homecoming mums. Scroll down for lots of crazy pix:
mp, I had NO idea! What a riot. Loved the American flag one. So is there a down side? It looks like harmless fun.
Seems the actual dress might not be very important!
Had a nice dinner will c_q Monday evening. Nice to catch up.
Have been waiting for months to spend some time at the coast down south. Waited for the dog to leave and then for the reunion to be over and we are to leave in the morning. That is unless H has a tooth pulled in the morning and then it will be up in the air. I will say I am ready for a pity party. Seems my plans get pushed aside more that any one else in my family. :!!
Thanks, mp. I love looking at the mum pictures!
Oregon- oh, no! I hope you get to go.
The down side to the mums is the price. Even the guys’ “garters” can easily top $100 and I bet lots of guys pay well in excess of $200 for the girls’ mums. (That’s why a girl can’t ask a guy to homecoming…it’s essentially forcing him to spend a fortune on you.) Older D and her friends made their own Senior Mums but it’s still pricey.
But cost aside, it’s crazy tacky fun.
Oregon, I do hope you get to go to the coast!
Here’s a question that I would ask in the Café if it was a kinder, gentler place. Could you survive without ever telling anyone about your aches and pains and non-serious illnesses?
I so dread my daily calls to my mother because every conversation starts with what is wrong with her, what hurts, what side effects she is having from meds (in graphic detail). If there is time (after 20 minutes plus) she may ask about me/the kids, but not always. I truly could have met the Pope today and she would still lead the conversation with a stomach ache or itchy eyes and maybe ask at the end how was the Pope.
I listen and listen and know that she has no one to talk to about this stuff. (Except I’m sure she also unloads on my sister, but my sister just talks to her once or twice a week.) I will continue to call and will continue to listen. I’m just wondering how I would be under the same circumstances. If I was an 81 year old widow, could I keep most of the aches and pains to myself? Do you think you could?
One of D’s college boyfriends was from the Dallas area, and indeed did the mum thing. Fascinating. He told us his mom arranged the mum.
Yet another reason why I’m unqualified to live in Texas.
Oregon, I had a lovely time Monday night. Hope you were able to get away.
Training has been busy and exhausting. The plan was for me to observe the training so I could conduct it in the future, but my supervisor and I have discovered the training could be greatly improved (first time either of us has observed this particular training). It’s not organized very well and is lacking any documentation and supporting materials. So lots of work in the future.
Missypie, it’s hard to know how I’ll be at 81. I hope I will be more sensitive to others and more interested in what’s going on with their lives! Has she changed a lot, or is because she’s alone now and has previously complained to others and has no one else to talk to?
^Missy, that’s what I was wondering too – eg. Whether that’s more disposition or situational.
I do think though that when people ar depressed they grow more self-involved, which would likely heighten a tendency to disclose/complain.
My own mom is reluctant to tell me anything negative about her health…eg. I once found out she was in the hospital for an angina attack only because someone else “tattled” on her 
What I got after the fact was “Oh, didn’t see any point worrying you about that.” So health reports are usually dead last with her…which might be a blessing or a curse
I wonder if its as simple as misconstruing a question like “how are you?”
My 91 year-old mother never complains about her health unless you specifically ask about her health.
When I worked in a clinic and we had meetings we agreed to a 15 minute “bitch and moan” period.
I was so relieved as I dreaded hearing the same folks carry on and this seemed to provide some boundaries.
Perhaps you could direct you mother a little and tell her that you really really want to hear about her health for 5 minutes and then for then next 5 talk about other things and then say goodby. Set a timer. Ring your own doorbell after 10 minutes. It is all behavioral at this age. No point in trying for insight.
You are lovely to call daily but if you do not set it up for success you will just resent it and feel badly.
Set a timer, change the subject after 5 minutes and be consistent.
Hugs, you are good daughter.
No, I will not, and now try not to ever mention health with anyone except H. My mother was horrid in this area and so I am determined not to do the same. D finds it frustrating.
Still, I guess I am bad about mentioning how hot I am --pretty much all of the time.
Sleeveless pretty much all year long.
In answer to your question mp, I think it depends. My dad (who is seriously ill and almost 83) is a very upbeat person. Doesn’t talk about his health (or lack of it) much. My mom (also not well) does talk more about it, but she has less other stuff in her life. Dad keeps busy working out , walking, golfing, volunteering and socializing. (he also talks politics, but I try to steer away from that 
). Mom is very introverted and doesn’t go out much by choice so thus has less to talk about. I do listen and ask questions and hoping I can at least provide her with a sounding board.
Thanks, everyone. Mom probably shared all of her health issues with Dad, and now he’s gone and she still must have a need to share. Last night I immediately jumped in with politics (she’s always willing to enthusiastically trash the other party). But I’m not always successful…often the conversation starts Hello, Hi Mom, Well, my throat is no better…But I guess she must have been waiting all day to tell me about her throat.
LOL about being hot, Oregon. On our 15+ hour drive home from D’s city, H admitted that he was freezing about 9 hours into the trip…he hadn’t wanted to say anything for fear I was having hot flashes. (The thought was nice, but I told him that he had his own temperature controls in the rental mini-van.)
Wow! John Boehner resigns after the Pope visits!
My guess is that he wanted to resign before now, but want to make sure he met the Pope.
Here’s something to about which to fantasize today: a whole new wedding registry!
Next weekend a college friend and his partner are getting married. They’ve been together longer than H and I have been married. They bought a house together in the late 80s. I didn’t know if they would have a wedding registry, but I found it online.
I know it’s very small consolation for not being able to be legally wed all these years, but wouldn’t it be fun to chuck a lot of the old household stuff and register for new?!
Yes, and I would register at Pottery Barn!
I think we should be able to register for new items when you have your 25th anniversary! I would register at Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn, too!
Every time one of our original wedding gifts gives up the ghost, DH acts like it’s throwing away our marriage to replace said item (and, by extension, that maybe I’m going to replace HIM because he’s old and decrepit, too!). He says it in a joking tone, but there is a reason we still have 32 year old cracked stoneware as our daily place settings, dull steak knives and a colonial blue sofa! He just can’t bear the idea of getting new things.
Counting, clearly you need to have a reaffirmation ceremony…with a registry!
So today mcson is having one of his famous late-season birthday pool parties here where bourbon substitutes for warm summer air
When I came back from an event to this gala last year, I was (deliberately) flashed from the hot tub by one of his (very drunk) friends
This year, my plan is to not enter the back yard without a camera for some revenge shots. I am also resigned to emptying and cleaning the hot tub tomorrow.
Its interesting so far, as one couple from his uni days are already here…his ex-gf’s best friend and her boyfriend. New GF is holding up well so far, but its gotta be a bit weird for her.
Ex-gf’s BF is a doll and one of my fav peeps, so its a teeny bit surreal for me too, though I’m delighted to see her. But I’m not a historical revisionist, so it is what it is
kmc, please report on the party!
Saturday I was able to catch up on personal care (hair, brows, nails) after my three weekends of travel. I keep thinking that as an empty nester, Sunday should be able to be a day of rest. I really didn’t “do” anything yesterday after cooking lunch…finished my book, read the paper, etc. But now I feel like a slug for not getting more done over the weekend. Hmm…it’s only restful if my brain is good with it, too.
Watching the eclipse last night was pretty cool…being aware of other neighbors outside…I chatted longer with our across the street neighbor than I ever have.