Ugh. That sucks a lot, sarameg! Is there any way you can "borrow" ahead on vacation time? (Not sure if my current company allows, but the old company let you borrow ahead up to 1 week, and earn it later, but if you left before you had re-earned it, you had to pay it back)

Or would they push it off to next winter? That would seem to be the key time to go there, no?

That is just Dewey Crowe levels of stupid.

HA. I'm now picturing what Raylan's face would look like if he'd been the one to bust this guy.

David, that's kind of my thinking. But some things actually can't wait, structurally. I have to do the roof-recoat and porch fixing sooner rather than later (as my dad has ironically pointed out to me.)

I can take leave-without-pay, but that's a serious hit. Thing is, I am my safety net and I don't give my safety net a lot of leeway to take risks.

Eh, we'll hash it out see if my brother and SIL can do it (their situation is much tighter than mine.) If they can, I'll pinch and work crazy hours. And eventually let go of my resentment over my subcontractor bullshit benefits and my parents seriously not hearing me on my life situation.

Really, I feel ridiculous.

Is there any way you can shorten your portion of the trip so you don't have to take so much time? I agree with David here. We took the SO's dad just on a day trip to Illinois, to see the Lincoln presidential library, and it was both incredibly difficult and wonderful. After we got home from the holidays, he landed in the hospital and things looked dodgy for a while and all I could think was how glad I was we'd taken the trip, that if he died that we'd have the memory. He recovered, but I'm still glad.

Toddson , insent - ignore if you want . For those that are newly diagnosed - I would test. It will give you an idea of how you body react to different amounts and different types of food.

signed not testing now, however will be soon because it looks like I'll be changing drugs soon

I'm a whiny ungrateful brat. I took LWOP for the African trip AND cut a week off it. Really, if the boys go, I go, bitching at my stupid employer and parents timing right up until.

Kat, insent.

But the woman just wasn't comfortable and felt like it was "too much" and went back to an ill fitting bra.

That's so depressing. Even an expensive bra is a great cheap way to make your whole wardrobe look better. I'm so pro a good bra.

Sara, that's a dicey place to be in. I...I'd push back. That's not advice, that's just what I'd do in that situation. But I have severe listen-to-me issues when it comes to my parents, and I totally understand the safety net issue also. I'm sure your parents would step forward to help be a safety net, but that's not the point.

And I really, despite mother in chemo, cannot--refuse to try--think about "might be a last chance" with my parents. I'm not mature enough for that.

Wow. That sounds like advice--to ignore me totally.

Speaking of safety nets--I HAVE A CAR. Thank you everyone, for your advice and help. Drew, thank you for your patience when I thought I had a sane schedule. Maria, thank you for the link that led me to what I think is a decent deal, and the chick was pretty calm on the upsell, so I think I did okay. And, Polgara, thanks for the lift out in rush hour LA traffic, and the moral support.

Meep. I have a car. Just have to return the rental, and it's like my life can start again. Is there a form for transfer of automotive affection? I need to stop missing the Jetta and fall for this one.

I'm pushing, they're not hearing. It's frustrating because...well, yeah. OH, car deets! Brother on chat must convey them to him!