Manasquitotee!!!1!

Honestly, though, the idea of Jamaican mammoths cracks me up.

Mammothtees!

Dungongastadons!

I have now a picture in my head of Wooly mammoth crossed with a Labrador retriever. It has a tail that can wipe out cities: The Mammador!

I once tried to explain to someone that the street I live on - a fairly narrow residential street that crosses a major artery - is one way on both sides, but in opposite directions. On the east side of the major street, it goes east; on the west side, it heads west (so, basically, whenever you're on this street you're headed away from the major artery). They didn't get it.

sumi, thank you for reminding me about tack shops and dressage coats! I knew I was blanking on an obvious source. Now to search eBay for "dressage jacket" ...

ita !, isn't that style of coat just so sharp? They go with damn near everything.

I did discover that the J. Peterman company has made a black cotton velveteen version of my beloved red ringmaster/dressage jacket, so once I call the helpful customer service line and get some info about actual garment measurements, I'm ordering it. Because it is December, and I cannot wear my red ringmaster blazer and a top hat without many people asking where I'm caroling.

At one of the discount stores I frequent I found a jacket (from Talbot's - the local store closed and a lot of their stuff ended up in this store). It was a rust/wine colored corduroy, cut like the ringmaster/shadbelly coat, double-breasted with tails. Of course I had to try it on ... and looked terrible. ah well ....

Of course I had to try it on ... and looked terrible. ah well ....

I hate when that happens. Or finding the perfect garment at a thrift store, but it's two sizes too small.

Whoa, the Marlins just offered Pujols a ten year deal worth more than $200 million.

Reyes, Pujols, Hanley, Mike Stanton...Sheesh, that would be an insane lineup.

OK people, I have an issue that I need some help resolving.

--My mother wants to throw us a baby shower, which is obviously a wonderful and very generous thing. But she wants us to travel up to Massachusetts for it, in February, when I will be 7 months pregnant.

--M does not want to go, for various reasons: (1) He's a nervous flier, and it's a long trip, in potentially bad weather; (2) it's twice as expensive if we both go; (3) I think he's a little uncomfortable with the whole notion of going to a baby shower, which is traditionally just for women.

--For that matter, I'm not sure how comfortable I am with the idea of a baby shower. I'm all for seeing friends and for people giving us gifts if they feel so inclined, but I think many people will probably give us something even if we don't have a shower, and I don't know how I would decide who to invite. Just women? Just my friends, and not M's? None of my friends had baby showers (or bridal showers, for that matter), and it's not a ritual I feel any particular attachment to. Plus, we just saw lots of people at our wedding last year and many of them gave us lovely gifts then; I feel weird asking them for more gifts now.

--I *love* going back to MA, but it would have to be such a short trip that I think it would be more tiring/stressful/frustrating than joyful. I would really like to save up all my personal/vacation time next year for after the baby comes, so I'd be flying up late on a Friday night and then spending much of Sunday coming back.

I've come up with a few alternatives (having a mini-shower via Skype with a few family friends, or having a post-baby shower when we come up again in June of next year), but I really don't think any of them will fly with my mother. I know how badly she wants to do this for us. I just don't actually want it. But she will be SO disappointed if I tell her that.

So. What should I do? Suggest alternatives to my mother, and hope she eventually comes around and forgives me for not wanting the full baby shower? Or suck it up and just be grateful that she is so happy for us and wants to do this really nice thing for us?