Lone picture of me from Saturday night.

hubba hubba

Catching up:

GGG just called, inviting me Shakespeare in the Park...

I missed the bestowing of this nickname. Is it the Dan Savge usage of GGG? Because if so that was an impressive first date. Particularly at a food court.

A few of DH's basketball kids call me Ma'am, others call me Mrs. Holt, or Mrs. Coach. Some of the neighborhood kids call me Miss Laura. I think it is a southern thing because I haven't encountered it other places, but it could be because I got old in the south.

I want to start calling you Mrs. Coach.

I was childhood traumatized at the age of eight when we moved South for a year and I pissed of my thrid grade teacher on my very first day of school by not calling her "M'am". My Mother further engraged her shortly thereafter by forbidding her to paddle me. When she would get her rage on at me (and boy would she, what that she couldn't smack a small child with her 1x4 because of whispering in class or not finishing times tables quickly enough) among her insults was that I was "poorly raised."

I once ran into her at the Winn Dixie with her real kids and I've never felt so bad for two small children before or since.

Well, that sucks, Aimee.

Teppy, that's a tough situation. At work when residents get a little too touchy-feely the staff have come up with a formula of, "I'm sorry, I like to save my ____ (kisses, hugs, whatever form of physical affection) for my ____ (family, boyfriend, whatever special relationship category that the person does not qualify as). How about a ____ (handshake, one-armed side-hug, whatever form of affection does not cross boundaries) instead?" The last sentence can be replaced with "I need my space" if need be (there are a couple of folks who occasionally try to sit on laps. And then change the subject away from the boundary - otherwise there can be a certain amount of obsessing and further testing of our boundaries. We say it cheerfully, with a friendly smile, and it seems to prevent hurt feelings, as well as enforce boundaries.

So for you it might work out to, "I'm sorry, I like to save my hugs for The Boy. I need my space. Say, did you ever get those pictures from your trip back? I'd love to see them."

I'm sort of inbetween on the hug thing . If someone initiates it, fine, I'll deal but it is rare that I initiate it.

To be honest -- I'd rather here it straight out. Sorry , not a hugger -- or WS approach is even better.

DH has a friend that is a Buddhist monk. At guitar gatherings he has to say 'monks don't hug' -- which is a little awkward -- however should people really touch without asking? I mean you are in a circle where asking is normal-- so setting up a boundry should be acceptable.

You know what's weird? Going shopping for just two adults, no children to consider.

Love the picture , Barb

Thanks, beth!

It's also rather disconcerting to call the boarders and when you say your name and which pets you're calling about, they start laughing.

should people really touch without asking? I mean you are in a circle where asking is normal

This is what bothers me the most of all.

It's also rather disconcerting to call the boarders and when you say your name and which pets you're calling about, they start laughing.

Well, it's better than if they start crying. Or if they say, "Excuse me - let me get my supervisor."

Yes - laughing is much better than crying. Or a spontaneous "when are you picking them up?"