You know, it just occurred to me, after fifteen years of driving to my sister's house for various holidays and trips at least three times a year, that it might be smart to leave a change of clothes, pajamas, and some toiletries there.

I totally do this. It was accidental at first, but now I actually think about what I should leave behind.

A mere two-hour drive does not require serious packing.

A mere two-hour drive also means you can hatch an escape plan if you need to without it being quite so obvious. Thanksgiving I was just tired and over it, no drama, but Saturday morning I was all "yeah, I have theater tix tonight so I'ma have to hit the road by about 2." Tickets were for Sunday night. Nobody needed to know.

A mere two-hour drive also means you can hatch an escape plan if you need to without it being quite so obvious.

God, yes. Back in the years when drama was running high, I would lie about having to get back to New Jersey and leave, and stay in a motel just to get away. Things are much better now, there's been no drama at all the last few gatherings (knock wood), but it's really nice to know that I CAN leave if I need to and get myself right back home.

Kat, my sister had a similar surgery for scarring from a tracheotomy and her throat was sore and her voice raspy for a week or so.

FOUR MORE HOURS with her for the entire rest of my life.

Yay!

I am joining an elf union next year. I just wrapped all my sister's gift for her husband, and all my parents' gifts for the family, except for mine. (And I bought my own present anyway...I don't know why we're bothering with the charade.)

Also, my mother is in a place where I am not sure if she has dementia, I think she may just be crazy. She made us just go and exchange the shirt she bought for my brother for the third time because "it had too much white around the collar." Oy!! Anyway, whatever is wrong with her, she still refuses to admit she's got any problems.

Gah. That fire this morning? 17 firefighters injured, 8 critcally. Two died. (One of them is the husband of Daley's personal secretary, it turns out.)

Again, for a defunct dry-cleaners. Horrifying. There were, apparently, between one and two hundred firefighters at the scene trying to dig people out. It was shift change, so a lot of people showed up who were on their way home.

The fact that it happened today just compounds the tragedy. God.

I am making Nutella cupcakes. I hope they come out well.

I hope it's nothing, Kat. It makes sense she'd be sore.

ita, I don't think I can make tomorrow, but I'll know closer to tomorrow

Give us a holler! I have an appointment from 5:30-6, but I will try to get everything out of the way before that just on principle.

I should totally drag down my second piece of luggage. I can't believe I'm packing a second bag just to take my sister LAUNDRY DETERGENT.

Um, we forgot to exchange the movie oops.

SUCK IT JZ's EVIL ex-coworker.

Ugh Sue, that has got to be tough.

Ugh Sue, that has got to be tough.

Yeah, but pity my poor dad more than me, he bears the brunt of most of her haranging. And, for some reason, I can make her listen to me. My dad, NSM.

JZ, any chance you could buy Rage Nurse a small mirror compact as a parting gift to remind her that's whose company she's going to be stuck with once you're gone?